How often do you light candles in your home? Do you have scented candles in every room or are you more of a birthday candle once-a-year type person? No matter what your candle preference, you should always practice safety when it comes to using candles in your home. Unfortunately, candles are fire hazards and can cause terrible damage if they are left unattended. The slightest breeze can cause a candle to ignite other objects in a room which could lead to an extensive home fire. You should always treat candles the same way you would treat any open flame in your home; with respect.
When using candles, be sure you place them somewhere sturdy out of the way of drafts and/or high traffic areas. Candles should be in heat resistant containers that will catch drips. Metal, glass or ceramic pieces are best because they are heat resistant and will protect your furniture from heat damage. Be sure you keep children and pets in mind as well when deciding on a spot for your candle. They should not be able to grab it or knock it down at all.
Make sure your candle sits upright in the container so it will burn evenly without flare ups. Trim your candle’s wick to ¼ inch before lighting to also help burn an even flame. When you are finished with your candle, be sure it is fully extinguished before leaving the room or going to sleep. You do not want it reigniting itself and burning without your supervision.
Keep your candles at least 12 inches away from anything that could catch on fire, too. That includes decorations, furniture, curtains, bedding, etc. The most important thing to remember is to always have an eye on your lit candles and don’t let them burn all the way down.
*
