Do you think candles are dangerous? What kinds of precautions do you take when you use them?

Question

Have you ever used a "hurricane lamp," one of those glass chimneys that keeps the breeze from blowing out the flame ... or even a Moroccan lamp?

Are you nervous until you blow them out?

They are just so nice, but I am a little afraid of them, in case I might be inadvertently careless.

But I like them so much ... especially the ones that are beautifully scented and the rolled beeswax ones .... and the big pillar candles.

And you? What do you like?

Answer 1

You are better off being a little nervous rather than too lax! Whether you use candles or not, every home should have an updated fire extinguisher. In most cases there should be several fire extinguishers strategically placed throughout the house. And learn how to operate them. You'll feel better knowing!

Answer 2

- I always assume that the glass could break, so the candle is placed in a larger bowl or plate that can take heat.
- If you have cats or dogs, you may have to be extra careful.
- Consider what could blow around if an unexpected wind comes through your window. Will the curtain touch? Loose papers, etc.
- Never go to sleep with them on.
- Someone suggested having a fire extinguisher - absolutely common sense, whether you like candles or not! Just remember the proper place to hang them is near your exits. The idea being that you should never have the fire to your back while you fight it. And it goes without saying that you have several working smoke detectors.

Answer 3

there are many ways to keep yourself safe and still use candles.

if you love the scent, use a candle warmer for jar candles, like yankee candles, or Home Decor brand candles (available from Fred Meyer in the NW, or from Walmart (can you believe it? same brand, same design, same scents, different labels))

if you love the ambiance of the flickering flame, make sure you place the candle in a candle holder designed to withstand the heat. for the simplest holder, most craft stores (michael's) have plates/holders for different pillar sizes. you can place a glass cylinder around the candle (give it an inch leaway around the candle circumferance)

another option is to place the candle in a large bowl surrounded by glass beads, beans, coffee beans.

#1 rule - keep candles away from draperies, walls, dried floral arrangements, desks that hold papers, napkins, furniture. centered on a coffee table, dining room table. Make sure you leave space above the candle, ceilings and cabinets can be damaged by heat (and smoke if you don't trim the wick properly)

make sure you have time to burn the candle. a good rule is 1 hour for every inch in diameter to burn evenly, divide by the number of wicks if has multiple wicks. don't light a candle in one room if you plan to work in another.

for a great place to burn candles, think about your fireplace. it's designed for fire! you can place a screen around it and keep out kids and cats (always keep the candles out of reach from both!) you can even get wood fire scented candles!

you can have separate decorative candles and candles for burning. or burn pillars for a hour, leaving an inch hole around the wick, blow it out, let it cool, burn it again the next day, repeat until you have room for a tea light or votive, then you maintain the clean lines of the pillar, and still have the ambiance of the flickering.

finally, soy candles don't produce as much smoke, they burn clean.

Answer 4

I light my candles in a hurricane all the time. I dont worry about them because I make sure they are not near anything that will catch fire....ie curtains, paper, ink pens, nothing! and nothing should be over the top of it either.

Answer 5

mum used to have a pair of candle sticks to hold the candles properly but they were too nice to actually use so she used a saucer and by dripping hot wax onto it and setting candle to it . that is very dangerous if they fell over while you were napping or gone to bed but the candle sticks were very safe....can.t comment on nice smelling candles as i,m male...FOXY

Answer 6

just keep em away from flammable objects liek curtains and pillows and try not to let them burn down all the way just cuz wax is a pain to clean up.

they arent too dangerous if u just use some common sense.

Answer 7

for me, lamps and candles are for aesthetics only

Answer 8

put them in enclosed lanterns or in ornate glass vases, then they cant fall over or catch curtains.