Trim your candle wick and other maintenance tips

If you light and blow out your candles without maintaining them, you are doing yourself and your candles a great disservice. A few maintenance steps, like trimming the wicks and protecting the wax from dust, will ensure that your candle burns evenly and for longer. Here are some reasons why you should trim the candle wick, and other tips for caring for your candle.

Why you should trim the candle wick

Trimming a candle wick seems like such a small act that it wouldn’t impact the use of your candle too much. After all, your candle will still burn whether you trim the wick or not, right? While that’s technically true, the little action of trimming the wick can help extend the life of your candle by up to 25 percent!

It is important to trim your wick properly after every burn. If it is too short it will not burn correctly. Trimming the candle wick also helps control the amount of molten wax the candle uses, which limits the amount of soot it produces. Reducing soot makes it easier to reuse the candle jar when the candle is finished.

How to trim the candle wick

Each time you burn a candle for four hours, extinguish the flame and allow the candle to cool to room temperature. It usually takes about two hours for larger candles. Then trim the candle wick to about 1/8th of an inch before relighting it. We have a wick trimmer that acts like a scissor and has a little basket that catches the gross burnt wick. Shop Aluminate wick trimmer at 20% off with code BestDad20.

Other maintenance tips

Trimming the wick isn’t the only thing you can do to take care of your candle and make it last longer. These eight tips will help you get the most out of your candle:

Use the candle as soon as possible. You have two months to light a candle for the first time before it starts to lose its scent. After a year or so without lighting it, the fragrance will disappear especially if it is not stored properly.
Burn the candle for about two hours the first time. This will ensure that the entire top layer of wax liquifies before it solidifies again. If you don’t burn the candle long enough, only the area close to the wick will melt. This can form a tunnel, leaving a ring of hard wax on the outside of the candle.
Place your lit candle on a heat-resistant surface: Use a surface that can absorb and dispense heat easily, such as a candle holder, coaster, glass plate, and ceramic plate.
Do not place a lit candle in a drafty area. Do not light your candle near vents, fans, open windows, air conditioners, and any other places where the flame could be exposed. The breeze will cause the candle to burn unevenly and may even extinguish the flame.
Re-center the wick. If you notice that the candle wick isn’t straight while burning, extinguish the flame and allow the candle to cool. Then use your fingers, tweezers, or pliers to move it to the center.
Do not burn the candle for more than four hours. Once you pass the four-hour mark, the candle will start overheating and producing smoke, which could change its scent and stain the container.
Keep the top of your candle clean and dust-free. If you don’t burn your candle often (I wonder why you wouldn’t!), the top will collect dust and other particles. Storing it in a covered cabinet or replacing the lid can help keep the top clear. If you notice dust on the top, carefully wipe the top of the wax with a damp cotton ball before lighting it.
Don’t let soot build up on the glass. Too much soot will be harder to clean. Dab some soap on a damp cotton ball and wipe it on the soot as soon as any stains appear. Let the glass dry completely before using the candle.