May 13, 2024 Aldo PuseyHere's why your candle causes soot marks and how to prevent them Redeem now The INSIDER Summary:• Not everyone knows that there is a right and wrong way to burn a candle.• The first step is to always trim the wick. • Trimmed wicks make for a cleaner burn with less smoky residue.Ever buy a brand new candle only to watch its glass jar turn black and smoky? There's a way to prevent those unsightly smoke stains, and it's incredibly simple: Always trim the wick. This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers.
Become an Insider and start reading now. Have an account? Log in.This was the most important thing I told customers when I worked for Yankee Candle, and I still abide by the rule in my own home. Start by trimming the wick to 1/4–1/8 of an inch in length, every time you burn.Trim the wick like the candle you see on the left.
Caroline Praderio/INSIDERYou can use a plain old pair of scissors to do this, but once the candle burns down, it'll get harder to reach the blades far enough into the jar — that's why I like to use nail clippers instead.But if you're a serious candle fanatic, you might want to invest in a wick trimmer. Think of them like a modified pair of scissors built specifically for this purpose. You can find a trimmer online for around $10.Here's what a wick trimmer looks like. Wikimedia CommonsTrimmed wicks make for a clean burn.
Check out the difference between these two flames. Trimmed wicks make the flame look clean and bright. Untrimmed wicks are a lot more likely to take on a weird mushroom-esque shape (see below) that dulls and obscures the flame. Trimming makes a difference.
Caroline Praderio/INSIDERAnd you'll avoid smoky candle jars, too.Untrimmed wicks are a major contributor to that unsightly black residue. Short wicks make for a controlled flame and less smoke. Need proof? Here's a candle we burned for several days with an untrimmed wick:Don't want your candle to look like this?
Trim the wick! Caroline Praderio/INSIDERBut for this candle, we trimmed the wick before every burn:Caroline Praderio/INSIDEROf course, wick trimming is only part of proper candle burning technique — but it's a crucial (and easy!) way to get more from every candle you buy. Sign up for notifications from Insider! Stay up to date with what you want to know.
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