Candles are best extinguished by using a table knife

Dear Heloise: I work for a candle-making company and advise customers how to practice healthy candle burning.
No one reads the disclaimers on the bottom of candles. If people did, they would know to keep the wick trimmed to 1/4 inch and out of a draft so it will burn evenly. We make pillars, and when burned properly, they will not melt wax on surfaces, but will burn straight down.
When burning pillars for long periods of time, they should never be left alone, and when the flame becomes very long and nervous, the wick should be trimmed.
And this is the best candle hint: Ask people how they turn their candles off, and the most common reply is "blow them out." Some stammer and suggest that the best would be a snuffer. I have to tell them, "No, no, no!"
You need to take a case knife -- translate that into "table knife" or any metal blade -- and push the burning wick into the pooled wax. The flame is immediately extinguished, with no smoke, no smell of blown-out candles, and the rims of your candles will never be black from the soot. If you are using a hurricane-type glass chimney, you will not have your chimneys getting sooty, either. After extinguishing the flame, be sure your wick is standing straight and ready for the next lighting. Pauline H., Houston
Pauline, thanks for the candle cautions and hints. We tested your hint about extinguishing the flame, and it worked beautifully. Heloise
Dear Heloise: Here's a hint I've sworn by for more than 25 years now. I always keep baby powder in the car for when the kids have spent the day in the wet sand at the beach, etc. Liberally sprinkle powder directly on the sandy areas, and the sand comes right off. It does leave them powdery white, but the sand in all the nooks and crannies is gone, so no uncomfortable toddlers and babies for the ride home. Also, the sand on their feet stays at the beach and not in the car. Sue Acosta, Simi Valley, Calif.
Dear Heloise: Recently, I went to a golf pro shop to check out a new pair of shoes. Seeing no shoehorn to help with trying on a pair, I whipped out my pocket hankie, and presto, the new shoe was on. Two young assistant golf pros noticed my actions and were impressed with my substitute shoehorn. Just take the folded handkerchief, lay it in the back of the shoe, and the foot slides in maybe even easier than with the conventional device. Bill H., Rockwall, Texas
Send a money-saving or timesaving hint to Heloise, P.O. Box 795000, San Antonio, TX 78279-5000, or you can fax it to (210) HELOISE or e-mail it to Heloise@Heloise.com.
King Features Syndicate