How to Put Out a Candle
Candles evoke an ambiance of tranquility and peace, their soft light dancing in the darkened room as they release delicate fragrances into the air. They’re not just decorative items but also tools that can aid relaxation, meditation, and even celebrations.
But at the end of these moments, arises the question — how to put out a candle? The answer is not as simple as it might seem.
Despite being a common household item, candles come with their own set of rules and precautions when it comes to extinguishing them properly and safely. You see, blowing out candles is an age-old tradition on birthdays but in terms of candle care, it might not be the best practice.
Blowing out a candle may seem like a quick and easy solution but it often leads to unintended consequences such as hot wax splattering onto your table or smoky residue clouding up your room. Not to mention those tiny sparks flying around which could potentially start a fire if you’re not cautious enough!
Hence understanding how to properly put out a candle is essential. Moreover, remember that each type of candle requires different ways of extinguishing; whether you’re dealing with tealights or pillar candles can make quite a difference too!
It’s all about knowing how to snuff out a candle without causing any damage or unnecessary smoke. Trust me when I say this – your nostrils will thank you for learning how to extinguish candles correctly!
How NOT to Put Out a Candle
Have you ever been in a situation where you’re left wondering about the best way to extinguish that flickering flame on your favorite candle? Let’s hit the pause button right there and talk about what not to do when it comes to putting out candles. Blowing out candles may seem like a no-brainer, an instinctual reaction.
Perhaps it even brings back memories of birthday parties and wishes made. However, this method is far from recommended when dealing with everyday or decorative candles.
Not only can it potentially scatter tiny pieces of burnt wick into the surrounding area, but it could also smoke excessively, causing unnecessary air pollution inside your home. The abrupt extinguishing of the flame can also cause hot wax to splatter around if blown with too much force.
Another thing some people might try is covering the candle with its lid while it’s still lit. While this does deprive the flame of oxygen and eventually extinguishes it, there’s a high risk involved – heat buildup. Sealing a lit candle with its lid can cause overheating which might lead to breaking or cracking of the container due to thermal shock.
And now we come to the most daring ones among us – those who think using their fingers would be a quick solution for how to put out a candle. This method is as dangerous as it sounds – after all, playing with fire is never advised!
It’s easy for one’s skin to get burned during this process as direct contact with the hot wick or wax is inevitable. So next time you need inspiration on how NOT to snuff out your glowing ambiance creator, remember these points: blowing out candles isn’t just about making wishes anymore; cover them up safely after they’re put off; resist any urge involving digits meeting flames – risk isn’t worth taking when there are safer methods available for how you can properly put out your candle.
1. Don’t blow them out
Believe it or not, the most common method of extinguishing a candle – blowing it out – is actually one of the least recommended. It’s the image we all think of when we celebrate a birthday or end an evening by candlelight. But in truth, this method has some serious drawbacks.
Firstly, blowing out candles doesn’t merely put an end to their warm glow. Instead, it forces hot wax and soot into the air, which can stain nearby surfaces and create a mess.
Not to mention, it’s also likely to cause wax splatter— that’s right, your breath could send hot liquid wax flying everywhere! This can ruin decorative elements around your home and possibly even cause minor burns if you’re too close.
Furthermore, when you blow out a candle by using your breath forcefully against the wick directly, you’re also more likely to send tiny particles of smouldering wick aerosolized into your environment. You’ve probably noticed this as that smokey trail that lingers after snuffing out the flame – something that isn’t particularly good for indoor air quality nor pleasant for anyone with allergies or sensitivities to smoke.
So if blowing out candles is such a no-no in the grand scheme of things – what should one do instead? Well fear not dear reader because there are quite a few techniques on how to put out candles properly (and safely), without causing any unnecessary drama at all!
2. Covering the candle with its lid is not recommended.
The initial instinct, when considering how to put out a candle, might be to simply cover it with its lid. After all, it seems logical enough: cut off the oxygen supply and the flame will die.
However, this is not recommended because the decrease in oxygen could cause the candle to produce smoke which can discolor the inside of your favorite candle jar or holder. On another note, a lack of proper ventilation while covering a lit wick could end up creating an environment conducive to soot production which can also have a negative effect on your candle’s longevity.
Moreover, it’s worth mentioning that if you’re using a glass lid or some similar variant for covering purposes, the heat from a still-burning wick could potentially crack or shatter that lid. The safety hazards associated with this practice make it less than ideal.
So in lieu of blowing out candles or hastily capping them off while they’re still lit (which we’ve now established as counterproductive), you might be wondering: then how do I extinguish my candle properly? Don’t fret!
There are safer and more effective methods available for ensuring your scented companions live out their full lifespan without incident. As we delve deeper into how to snuff out candles correctly and efficiently, you’ll discover techniques that prioritize both safety and fragrance preservation.
3. Forget using your fingers to extinguish your candle.
In the realm of candle extinguishing, there’s one method that stands out as a decidedly poor choice: using your fingers. The idea of it might conjure up images of rugged outdoorsmen and survival experts, but in reality, it’s an unnecessary risk.
Using your fingers to snuff out a flame is not only painful but also potentially hazardous. Imagine accidentally knocking the candle over instead of pinching the wick properly!
It goes without saying that spilled hot wax isn’t just messy—it can be downright dangerous. We’ve all been tempted to use this seemingly no-nonsense approach at some point or another.
Perhaps there’s a certain appeal in the thought of grabbing hold of fire itself, looking danger in the face and saying “not today.” However, it’s crucial to remember that candles aren’t just tools for setting mood or providing light; they’re open flames in our homes! Rather than trying to emulate some sort of flame-taming superhero (and risking burns or even fires in the process), there are far safer and more effective ways to put out a candle.
It goes without saying that blowing out candles seems like an old standby—but even this can lead to issues like excess smoke and possible spray from melted wax. So what’s left then?
How do you properly extinguish a candle? Thankfully, we still have options aplenty left on our list—options which are safer, cleaner and won’t risk causing harm.
In fact, let’s delve into two such methods now! Prepare yourself for an exploration into the worlds of snuffers and wick dippers—that’s right—we’re going beyond mere blowing here.
Two Best Ways to Put Out a Candle
Stepping away from the traditional, and indeed, overly hazardous methods of extinguishing a candle, we delve into two safer and more effective alternatives: candle snuffers and candle wick dippers. Both these tools not only help prolong the life of your candles but also ensure a smokeless end to your aromatic journey. Now, if you’ve ever wondered how to properly put out a candle without risking singed fingers or a smoke-filled room, then a candle snuffer might just become your new best friend.
Reminiscent of antiquated times when gas lamps were still in vogue, it’s essentially a small bell-shaped device at the end of a long handle. The idea is simple – you lower this bell onto the flame and deprive it of oxygen, causing it to die out instantly.
Not only is it an entirely safe process but there’s something innately satisfying about watching that tiny flame disappear beneath the snuffer. The second method involves an instrument known as a wick dipper.
The name itself suggests its function – you use it to dip the wick into the melted wax pool and then immediately straighten it back up again. This method ensures that not only is your flame extinguished efficiently with minimum smoke but also primes your wick for the next burning session by coating it in wax.
These two options are perfect alternatives to blowing out candles which is typically associated with birthday rituals rather than everyday household use. It’s important to remember that knowing how to put out a candle is equally crucial as knowing how to light one up.
While each method has its own charm, they both share one common goal: preserving our beloved candles while keeping our surroundings safe and clean from sooty residue or unwanted smoke trails. Gone are those days when you had to endure walking around smelling like burnt wood every time you needed some mood lighting or wanted your home smelling like vanilla bean!
1. Candle Snuffers
Candle snuffers, now there’s a tool that has withstood the test of time. Invented around 1776 during the colonial era, these little devices have been an absolute game changer when it comes to extinguishing candles. They’re designed in such a way so as to deprive the flame of oxygen and snuff it out without smoke.
It’s not just about their functionality but also their aesthetics – some people buy them purely for decorative purposes! So, how do you use one?
Well, it’s surprisingly easy. This is how you properly put out a candle without all the unnecessary drama: simply hold the snuffer close to the wick without touching it and allow the dome or bell of your snuffer to cover your candle’s flame entirely.
This method completely blocks any oxygen from reaching the flame and boom – your candle is extinguished safely in no time at all. But what makes using a candle snuffer better than just blowing out candles?
You see, when you blow out a candle, you push too much air into it which disturbs its composition by creating smoke and soot that can blacken your container or walls nearby. But with a snuffer there’s none of that; no mess and much less fuss!
Now I know what you might be thinking: “Isn’t it easier just to blow them out?” Sure, I guess old habits die hard but trust me – once you get used to using a snuffer for putting out candles, there will be no turning back! It really takes ‘how to extinguish a candle’ from being an irritating chore filled with smoky aftermaths into something simple and clean!
2. Candle Wick Dippers
Diving into our second preferred method, let’s talk about Wick Dippers. For those not in the know, a wick dipper is a thin piece of metal with a small hooked end.
It might look like an odd addition to your candle paraphernalia but bear with me on this. So how do you use it to snuff out a candle?
Simple! You gently push the burning wick into the melted wax, and voila, the flame is extinguished.
No smoke, no soot, just an efficient and clean way of putting out your beloved candles. The beauty of this method lies in how it even coats the wick with wax for next time making it easier to light up again when you’re ready for that cozy ambiance.
Now you might be thinking, “What about all that wax? Won’t I have to clean that off before I light up my candle again?” Here’s where things get interesting – all you need to do is lift the wick back up using the hook on your dipper after extinguishing the flame and leave it standing upright in its usual position. That’s right; your work here is done!
It’s like blowing out candles without actually having to blow them out (and without any unpleasant aftermath). Not only does this method prevent smoke from accumulating around your home but also extends the life of your treasured candles.
So when someone asks you how to put out a candle or even better how to properly extinguish one, now you’ve got two impressive methods up your sleeve – Candle Snuffers and Wick Dippers. Now go forth and enjoy those scented wonders without ever worrying about cleaning up soot or dealing with lingering smoke ever again!
Conclusion
Having traversed through the intricate details of how to properly put out a candle, we hope you have gained new insights to enhance your candle usage experience. You see, it’s not just about appreciating their luminescent beauty or relishing in their soothing scents. It’s also about understanding how to put out a candle without causing any undue harm or reducing its lifespan.
Remember, we learned that blowing out candles isn’t necessarily the best approach. Aside from generating unnecessary smoke and soot, it can also cause damage to the wick and potentially shorten the lifespan of your beloved candles.
We’ve explored better alternatives like using a candle snuffer – an elegant tool designed specifically for safely extinguishing candles – and using wick dippers that not only stifle the flame but also prime your wick for its next use. As we wrap things up, let’s not forget why it’s important to know how to snuff out a candle correctly.
It isn’t just about preserving precious wax or maintaining our favorite scents; it is about creating rituals in our lives, both big and small. By taking care of our candles properly, we are honoring these small moments of tranquility they provide.
How we light them, watch them burn, and yes—even how we extinguish them—matters because each action becomes part of our own personal rituals. So next time as you reach towards your favorite aromatic delight with lighter in hand, remember: You’re not just learning how to blow out a candle; you’re learning how to welcome more peace into your life—one flame at a time.