Diffuser Safety.
Do not allow diffuser oil to spill or drip on to fabric, or painted surfaces- wood - work top surfaces- floors. Staining or damage may occur. Place diffuser bottle on a coaster. Do not swallow diffuser oil liquid. Avoid liquid contact with eyes or skin. Rinse thoroughly with fresh water if it occurs.
Should someone with COPD burn candles?
Avoid scented candles, air fresheners, and strong-smelling cleaning supplies. Instead, try natural or unscented cleaners.
Can burning candles cause an asthma attack?
According to Asthma organisations - Scented candles give off odours that often aggravate asthma symptoms. Scented candles need to be lit in well ventilated area. If you have asthma, avoid close contact, and avoid directly inhaling the scent.
How do you use scented candles safely?
- When burning candles, follow these safety rules:
- Keep burning candles within sight.
- Read and follow the manufacturer's use and safety instructions.
- Only use candles in a well-ventilated room.
- Don't burn a candle all the way to the bottom of the container.
- Scent is tied to memory, and aromatherapy has been proven to affect mood, so it’s no surprise that a candle with a certain smell can create a sense of nostalgia and promote relaxation. Unfortunately, any time you use an open flame or heat source for an extended period, you put your safety at risk.
Follow these tips to make sure the memories related to your favourite smells always stay good.
Burn time.
It’s true that scents can be relaxing, but it’s important to be aware and alert when burning candles. One hour or even just 30 mnutes of burning is sufficient to allow a pleasant lingering scent. The maximum burn time is four hours. Let the candle come to room temperature before relighting. If you’re using candles to create ambiance or to help you relax or to sleep, it’s wise to consider a safer alternative, like flameless candles or scented oil diffusers. Or meet both needs at once by using a wall plug-in air freshener that includes a built-in nightlight.
Place candle on a coaster to protect the surfaces from heat damage.
Flameless candle alternatives
There are many safe alternatives that imitate candles’ flickering glow and inviting scent. Electric candles and nightlights provide gentle light to rooms, while oil and reed diffusers can quickly disperse scent throughout a room, even without heat. Some electric or battery powered candles even come with a remote control that can be used to turn them on and off, adjust how they flicker, and more.
If a candle comes in a must have scent that you can’t find anywhere else, flameless candle warmers are another great option. They’re especially useful when you can set timers for automatic shutoff.
Lighting methods
- If you do choose to burn candles, keep in mind that certain lighting methods are safer than others. Long lighters are a safer option because they keep your hands away from the flame and become cool almost immediately after the flame is extinguished. Some of them also provide a switch that lets users adjust the size of the flame, giving you even more control.
- Pocket sized lighters share some same safety features with long lighters, but they’re often only safe and effective for tapered candles or fresh candles. Using a small lighter to light a candle in a jar or container is dangerous, as holding the lighter upside down to reach the wick tilts the flame up toward your hand. Holding the lighter upright and turning the candle upside down isn’t wise either, as wax or flaming bits of wick can fall out, creating a potential burn or fire hazard.
- Finally, matches are generally the least safe way to light a candle. They can break, fall into the hot wax, and if they’re not extinguished and disposed of properly, can cause fires when thrown away. If you do choose to use matches, opt for wooden ones over matchbooks, and store them away from the candle, especially when the candle is lit.
Maintenance and candle-safe containers
- It’s also important to keep the candle’s wax pool clean. Dust, hair and remnants of wick or matches are flammable and may cause the candle to burn too hot for its container. Do not use plastic containers, which can melt, and make sure glass is solid and not cracked. Inappropriate containers can release hot wax and free the flame. When the flame is not confined to a container, the risk of fire increases greatly.
- To protect the container and the area surrounding the candle, trim the wick to 1/8 inch before each burning. A scissor-like tool with a small plate near the blade, called a wick trimmer, can help you complete this task properly every time. The small plate helps you remove the wick from the candle to keep the wax pool area clean. Also, if the wax in your candle gets too low, it can’t be safely burned. A good rule of thumb is to stop burning when a jar candle hits ½ inch of wax. For candles that aren’t in containers, the limit is 2 inches before the candle is too low to burn.
Safe candle placement and use
Remember to keep candles away from drafts, high traffic areas, pets, and children. Also avoid placing lit candles near curtains, under shelves or cabinetry, or on the floor. Candles should be placed on a stable, heat resistant surface.
When burning candles, follow these safety rules:
- Keep burning candles within sight. And away from danger.
- Read and follow the manufacturer’s use and safety instructions.
- Only use candles in a well-ventilated room
- Don’t burn a candle all the way to the bottom of the container.
- Use a snuffer to extinguish the flame, not water.
- Extinguish lit candles before leaving the room or going to bed.
- Keep candles at least 3 inches apart.
- Use a snuffer to extinguish the flame, not water.
- Keep away from blinds, curtains etc.
- Avoid lighting a candle under a shelf as this is dangerous.
- Avoid lighting multiple candles and multiple scents.
