Buzz
Lighting a candle may seem like a breeze—just a quick flick of a flame and presto! But when your candle is snug in a jar, things can get a tad tricky once the wax starts to melt. Especially if your hand can't quite squeeze into the jar's opening. Plus, if the wax pools unevenly, it could smother the wick, leaving you in the dark. Fortunately, a few clever hacks can keep your candle game strong.
Instructions
Lighting a Wick That's Out of Reach
Opt for a fireplace match or a long-handled lighter. Fireplace matches extend about 12 inches (30 cm), making them ideal for lighting jar candles. Similarly, a long-handled lighter boasts a nozzle that can reach deep into the jar—simply insert the tip near the wick, then press the trigger to ignite it.
- If you have a taper candle handy, you can also light it first and then use the flame to reach down into the jar.
Turn the candle upside-down for easier lighting. If you lack a long lighter or match and your candle has burned down too low to light conventionally, try flipping it over. Strike your match or lighter, then hold it directly beneath the candle wick. The flame should naturally rise toward the wick, facilitating easier lighting.
- Flip the candle back upright once the wick ignites to prevent wax spills.
- Attempting this method alone may suffice, but you can also combine it with other techniques for extended reach.
Maximize your reach with a standard lighter using your index finger. Don't lose hope if all you have is a regular lighter. Grasp the lighter near its base with your thumb and middle finger. Extend your index finger upward to ignite the flint, then promptly depress the lever to maintain the flame.
- Because you're holding the lighter closer to its base, you can extend it further toward the wick. This positioning also allows for easier insertion of your fingers into the jar.
Extend the length of a match by holding it between your middle and ring fingers. If you only have a standard match, adjusting your grip may be all you need to light your candle. Ignite the match, then swiftly nestle its tip between your middle and ring fingers. Once secure, flatten your hand and extend your fingers into the jar's opening until the match reaches the wick.
- Orienting the candle sideways can facilitate this process.
- Ensure the match isn't held upside-down, as the flame might flicker upward and cause burns.
Create a slow-burning makeshift torch with tightly twisted paper. In a pinch, grab a piece of notebook or printer paper to extend your reach into a tall candle. Hold the paper lengthwise and twist its ends in opposite directions until tightly rolled. Then, light one end and quickly use the other to ignite your candle. Extinguish the paper by dipping it in water or holding it under running water.
- Avoid shaking the paper to extinguish it, as hot embers could scatter.
- Work swiftly, as the paper will likely burn fast. Also, ensure you're prepared to extinguish the flame before lighting the paper.
- The tighter the twist, the slower the paper will burn.
Consider using uncooked spaghetti if you're still unable to reach the wick. Your pantry might hold the most surprising solution to your problem! Take a single piece of uncooked spaghetti and ignite one end. The spaghetti will burn similarly to a match, providing enough time to reach into the jar and light your candle.
- To extinguish the spaghetti, either shake out the flame or dip the end in water.
- Lighting the end of a wooden chopstick may yield similar results.
Fixing a Short Wick
Remove excess wax from the wick using a spoon. Position the edge of the spoon or knife next to the wick and gently push away. This action will scrape away the surplus wax without causing harm to the wick.
- This task is simplest when the wax is slightly solidified but still pliable. However, you can attempt it even if the wax has completely solidified—it might just require a bit more effort.
- If desired, you can collect the excess wax for use in a wax warmer.
Even out the candle surface by warming it with a blow dryer. Set your blow dryer to low heat and direct the airflow towards the candle. Concentrate on areas where the wax is most elevated, pouring off any excess wax as it accumulates on the candle surface.
- Avoid focusing the blow dryer on one spot for too long to prevent overheating the glass jar, which could make it challenging to handle.
- Alternatively, you can place the candle on a baking sheet and heat it in an oven set to 175 °F (79 °C) for approximately 5 minutes. Remember to wear oven mitts when removing it from the oven!
Resolve tunneling by housing the candle inside a vase. Tunneling occurs when a candle burns vertically, leaving unmelted wax along the jar's edges. This buildup can lead to the wick being buried beneath molten wax. Upon detecting tunneling, position the candle inside a larger vase or hurricane glass. This insulation aids in achieving more uniform wax melting around the jar's perimeter.
- Allow the candle to burn for about 2-3 hours, or until melted wax spreads evenly across the candle's surface to approximately 1⁄4 inch (0.64 cm). However, monitor the candle intermittently as you may need to pour off any excess molten wax to prevent smothering the flame.
- Another option is to wrap aluminum foil around the candle's mouth, ensuring to leave an air vent at the top.
Burning the Candle Properly
Keep the candle wick trimmed to ensure even burning. Prior to lighting the candle, use scissors, nail clippers, or a wick trimmer to shorten the wick to approximately 1⁄8–1⁄4 inch (0.32–0.64 cm). Long wicks can cause the candle to burn too rapidly, leading to tunneling. Trimming the wick also prevents soot buildup, which can result in smoking.
- Trimming the wick also reduces the risk of soot stains on the candle jar's sides.
- Wait until the candle has completely cooled before trimming the wick.
Light the candle in a draft-free area for slow, even burning. Placing the candle near a vent or an open window increases air circulation, accelerating the burning process. Rapid burning heightens the likelihood of uneven burning and tunneling.
- Furthermore, wind blowing on the flame may cause scorch marks on the jar.
Burn the candle for at least 1 hour per session to prevent tunneling. Aim to burn the candle for 1 hour for every 1 inch (2.5 cm) of diameter, particularly during the initial use. Insufficient burning time during the first use can result in tunnel formation, making it challenging to achieve even burning subsequently.
- Tunneling can occur at any point during the candle's lifespan, so ensure adequate burning time each use.
- If you prefer shorter burning sessions, opt for jar candles with multiple wicks or consider taper candles.
- However, avoid burning the candle for more than 4-6 hours to prevent overheating, glass breakage, or fire hazards.
Extinguish the candle using the lid or a snuffer to minimize smoke. The most effective way to extinguish the candle is to deprive it of oxygen. If available, cover the candle with its lid to suffocate the flame. Alternatively, utilize a snuffer to achieve the same result.
- Blowing out the candle generates smoke and can scatter wick ash throughout the wax, potentially compromising the candle's appearance.
Reposition the wick after extinguishing the candle to prepare for future use. During burning, melted wax may cause the wick to shift off-center, leading to uneven burning and reduced longevity. To prevent this, gently realign the wick to the candle's center while the wax is still soft.
- Exercise caution—allow the wick to cool slightly after extinguishing the flame, and avoid touching the hot wax.
Helpful Tips
-
When lighting a candle with a wooden wick, ensure you light it across the entire width rather than just one corner. This promotes more even burning.
Important Warnings
- Avoid moving a lit candle to prevent wax spillage or splattering.
- Never leave a candle burning unattended.
