Iowahippiechick

We burn a lot of candles in our house.  (Craig likes the ambiance - for me it’s the fragrance.)  Because a burning candle  is such a common sight  for us, we sometimes get a little lax in our fire safety habits.  And over the holidays - we had a little mishap to prove that point. Thankfully not a fire, just spilled wax on our living room carpet.  (Candles are lovely, but must be used with care!)

For a refresher on fire safety & candles … please read the following list from the National Candle Association:

1. Always keep a burning candle within sight.  Extinguish all candles when leaving a room or before going to sleep.
2. Never burn a candle on or near anything that can catch fire.  Place candles away from drapes, bedding, flammable decorations, etc.
3. Keep candles our of the reach of children and pets.  Don’t place lighted candles where they might be knocked over by children or pets.
4. Trim candlewicks to 1/4 inch each time before burning.  Long or crooked wicks cause uneven burning and dripping.
5. Always use a candle holder specifically designed for candle use.  Use heat-resistant holders, large enough to contain melted wax.  Be sure the candle holder is placed on a stable, heat-resistant surface.  this prevents possible heat damage to underlying surfaces and prevents glass containers from cracking or breaking.
6. Keep the wax pool free of wick trimmings, matches and debris at all times.  Always follow the “use and safety” instructions carefully.  Do not burn a candle longer than recommended.
7. Keep burning candles away from drafts, vents, ceiling fans and air currents.  This helps prevent rapid, uneven burning, flair-ups and sooting.  Drafts can blow lightweight curtains or papers into the flames.
8. Always burn candles in a well-ventilated room.  Dont’ burn too many candles in a small room or in  a “tight” home where air exchange is limited.
9. Don’t burn a candle all the way down.  Extinguish the flame if it comes too close to the holder or container.  For a margin of safety, discontinue burning a candle when 2 inches of wax remains or 1/2 inch if in a container.
10. Never touch or move a burning candle when the wax is liquid.
11. Never use a knife or sharp object to remove wax drippings from a glass holder.  It might scratch, weaken, or cause the glass to break.
12. Place burning candles at least three inches apart.  This ensures they won’t melt one another, or cause flares.
13. Use a snuffer to extinguish a candle.  It prevents hot wax splatters.
14. Never extinguish candles with water.  The water can cause the hot wax to splatter and may break glass.
15. Be very careful if using candles during a power outage.  Flash-lights are safer sources of light.
16. Make sure a candle is completely extinguished and the wick is no longer glowing before leaving the room.
17. Extinguish a candle if it flickers repeatedly, smokes, or the flame becomes too high.  Let it cool, trim the wick, check for drafts.
18. Never use a candle as a night light.

dawn @ iowahippiechick

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