The Do’s and Don’ts of Candles

 

 

 

• Always put candles on a heat resistant surface. Be especially careful with night lights and tea lights, which get hot enough to melt plastic. TVs are not fire-resistant objects
• Put them in a proper holder. Candles need to be held firmly upright by the holder so they won’t fall over. The holder needs to be stable too, so it won’t fall over either
• Position them away from curtains. Don’t put candles near curtains or other fabrics – or furniture. And keep them out of draughts
• Don’t put them under shelves. It’s easy to forget that there’s a lot of heat above a burning candle. If you put it under a shelf or other surface then it can burn the surface. Make sure there’s at least three feet (one metre) between a candle and any surface above it
• Keep clothes and hair away. If there’s any chance you could lean across a candle and forget it’s there, put it somewhere else. You don’t want to set fire to your clothes or your hair
• Keep children and pets away. Candles should be out of reach of children and pets
• Keep candles apart. Leave at least four inches (10cm) between two burning candles
• Take care with votive or scented candles. These kinds of candles turn to liquid to release their fragrance, so put them in a glass or metal holder
• Don’t move them when they’re burning. Extinguish candles before moving them. Also, don’t let anything fall into the hot wax like match sticks
• Don’t leave them burning. Extinguish candles before you leave a room. Never go to sleep with a candle still burning. And never leave a burning candle or oil burner in a child’s bedroom
• Use a snuffer or a spoon to put them out. It’s safer than blowing them, which can send sparks and hot wax flying
• Double check they’re out. Candles that have been put out can go on smouldering and start a fire. Make sure they’re completely out.