Troubleshooting your candles
Flame drowns
If the wick was trimmed too short and the flame is drowning out, follow these steps to remedy it. Extinguish candle and VERY CAREFULLY use a paper towel to absorb some of the melt pool to relieve the stress put on the wick. You want about 1/4” of the wick to be above the melt pool. The wax is very hot, so please use extreme caution while doing this. If the candle is hard/unlit use a butter knife to gently carve out a trench around the wick - be careful not to cut the wick.
Drips
Keep wick trimmed to 1/4″. Shelter candle from drafts. Do not leave a burning candle unattended. If you see that the side of your pillar is about to “break out” and overflow (or already has done so), extinguish it and let it cool. Re-light and it should fix itself. Be extra careful to keep pillars out of drafts, as this is usually what causes burning problems with pillars.
Flame sputters
Moisture in wick. Allow candle to dry at room temperature for a day or two before re-lighting. If storing candles in the refrigerator or in a damp location be sure to place the candles in a sealed plastic bag or container.
Flickering
The wick is too large and consumes wax faster than it can melt it. Extinguish candle and trim wick to 1/4”. Shelter from drafts
Smokes
Extinguish candle and trim wick to 1/4”. Shelter from drafts
Won’t stay lit / Small flame
Wick too small. See ‘Flame Drowns’ above.
Wick burns hole down candle center
Candle lit for too short a period. Allow candle to burn almost to its edge before extinguishing. Rule of thumb: burn 1 hour for every inch of diameter.
Flame too large
Wick too large. Keep wick trimmed to 1/4”.
Candle warping
Candles stored/placed in direct sun or in a warm location. Store candles in a cool, dark location. Do not place candles in a warm location for long periods of time. Keep out of direct sunlight.
Do not burn large candles for longer than 3 hours at a time. The heat will break down the composition of the wax and cause warping. Extinguish flame and let cool before re-lighting. The composition of the wax will return to normal once allowed to cool.
Colour fading
When displaying or using; keep out of direct sunlight and direct lighting. When storing; keep in a dark, cool location.
Wax on clothes
To remove wax from clothing: 1. Wait until wax cools. 2. Put the item in the freezer and chip the cold wax off when it’s brittle. 3. Place the cloth between layers of Kraft paper or paper towels and iron any remaining wax onto the paper, changing it frequently. 4. If all else fails, take the item to the dry-cleaners letting them know you have a wax stain.
Wax on carpet
Placing a paper towel over the wax and then heat with an iron (use a low setting). The wax will be absorbed into the paper towel. Change paper towel frequently. Do not let the iron touch the carpet or fabric directly!
Wax on furniture
Once the wax has hardened, scrape it off with a plastic spatula or credit card. Use a cloth dampened with hot water and/or furniture cleaner to remove any wax residue. The method used for electronics (below) may also be used - especially for more delicate surfaces.
Wax on upholstered furniture
If wax has melted into the fibers use the same method as for carpet. If wax is on fabric surface allow to cool before gently peeling off hardened wax.
Wax on electronics
Gently pry off any large chunks of hard wax. Use a hairdryer (on med. or high) and direct the heat at the wax. As wax softens and melts use paper towels to wipe up wax. Continue until clean.
Cleaning candle holders and containers (not gel candles)
Sit holder in hot water for few minutes. Wax will soften and be easily removed. Wipe holder with soap and warm water to remove any residue. Alternatively, a holder may be placed in the freezer for about 10-30 minutes. The cold will shrink the wax and make it brittle, making it easy to remove. Let holder return to room temperature before washing with warm water, or reusing.
Cleaning gel candle container
To clean out jar remove excess wax and wick with a metal spoon and fill with hot tap water and dish soap. Let sit for a few minutes. Wipe clean while water is still hot but comfortable to handle using an abrasive plastic sponge. Remaining gel will stick to sponge. Wash with soap and water. Reusable (spices, buttons, bubble bath, etc.) or recyclable.
