Friday, October 31, 2008
Dear Readers: With the holidays quickly approaching, here are some important candle safety hints from Heloise Central. Every year, there are more than 15,000 candle fires!
• Check the candle label to see the suggested burn time, which can be from two to four hours. Times can vary, but do not burn overnight.
• The wick must be trimmed to 1‚Ñ4 inch before burning to keep the candle burning optimally. And any wick residue, matches, etc., should be removed before relighting the candle.
• Don’t move or touch a burning candle, or place it near drafts, vents or ceiling fans.
• Don’t group candles closely together.
• Temperature changes can affect candles as well. So, don’t place them in extreme hot or cold areas of your home.
• Choose candleholders carefully. They should be labeled for use with burning candles.
• It might seem obvious, and you hear it all the time, but do not leave a candle burning when you’re not in the room, even for a minute or two.
• Use a candle snuffer when extinguishing a candle. Never use water to put a candle out, because it can cause the wax to splatter.
Heloise
Dear Heloise: Before I place candles in glass or metal holders, I spray the bottoms with some nonstick vegetable spray. After the wax has melted and cooled, it pops right out of the holder. Ann S., via e-mail
Dear Heloise: I travel on business 10 to 15 days a month and learned that it is worse to run out of a consumable on the road than at home. To make sure I never run out of shaving cream, toothpaste, etc., I do the following: If I empty the shaving cream at home, I take a new one and put it in my travel kit, then take the one from the kit and use it at home. The one at home is always less full than the one in the travel kit, and therefore gets exhausted first. Frequent Traveler, via e-mail
King Features Syndicate