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Six candle safety essentials: wick, clearance and extinguishing

Practical candle safety: trim the wick to about 6 mm, keep combustibles at least 30 cm away and extinguish before leaving.

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Wikimedia Commons · Paolostefano1412 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.5 (unmodified original; license option selected). · CC BY 2.5 ↗

A candle is both decor and an open flame. These six steps prioritize fire prevention based on the National Candle Association's safety guidance. Always follow the candle's own safety label and maker's burn-time limits.

Your try-it-at-home checklist

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1. Before lighting, trim the completely cool wick to about ¼ inch (6 mm) and remove wick trimmings and match debris from the wax.
2. Use a stable, heat-resistant holder and keep the candle at least 12 inches (30 cm) from curtains, books, bedding and other combustibles.
3. Avoid drafts from windows, fans and vents. Place the candle where children and pets cannot knock it over.
4. Keep a responsible adult present whenever a candle burns. Extinguish it before sleeping or leaving the room; never carry a lit candle as a search light.
5. Use a snuffer or gently blow out the flame; never pour water on a burning candle because hot wax may splatter.
6. Confirm the flame is fully out, and do not move the candle until the wax cools. Never burn down to the base; follow the maker's minimum wax and burn-time limits.

National Candle AssociationCandle Safety Tips ↗Official consumer safety checklist: trim wick to 1/4 inch, keep 12 inches from combustible items, never leave unattended, extinguish safely and cool before moving.National Candle AssociationYour Foolproof Guide to Burning a Candle Correctly ↗Additional official care advice about removing debris, trimming wicks, controlling drafts and following maker burn-time limits.Wikimedia CommonsCandle.jpg ↗Original lit-candle photo by Paolostefano1412; dual/multiple licensing explicitly offers CC BY 2.5. The photo is not a safety-method illustration.

Your try-it-at-home checklist

Further reading

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