Candle Care: The importance of WICK TRIMMING!

Published On Jun 13, 2023

If you want to maximize the performance and lifespan of your candle for a clean, even, and long-lasting burn - trimming those wicks is an absolute MUST!

The main takeaway is to snag a wick trimmer and keep your candle wick(s) trimmed to 1/4" at all times - yes, that means you should trim before your first burn AND that you should extinguish your candle if you notice wicks are getting a bit long.

How does wick trimming promote a clean burn? 
Keeping wicks trimmed can help to prevent excess smoke/soot production. Untrimmed candle wicks can create larger flames that can result in smoke or soot from the candle while it is lit. If you notice that a candle is sooting, extinguish your candle and try trimming your wicks to 1/4", letting the candle cool, and relighting.

If excess sooting occurs after trimming, following bottom-label instructions, and these tips, please discontinue burning and contact our team for further assistance.

How does wick trimming promote an even burn? 

Candle tunneling is an issue that occurs when a candle is not melting evenly/to the edges of the jar and as such creates a "tunnel" through the candle. Tunneling  is most usually seen when a candle is not burned for enough time to allow it to fully burn to the edges (we call this a wax pool!) during its first few burns. However, tunneling can sometimes occur if the wick of a candle is burning irregularly due to an untrimmed wick. 

How does wick trimming make a candle last longer? 

If properly cared for, your DW Home Candles should last you for many hours, often beyond the burn time estimates we provide for our items. With proper wick trimming as part of candle care, you'll find your candle will burn evenly with less tunneling, smaller, more controlled flames, and less wasted wax. All of this lends to a candle that can be enjoyed from top to bottom - just remember to extinguish when 1/4" of wax remains in the jar. 

How to trim your wicks:

We always recommend trimming your wick to 1/4" before your first burn and every burn thereafter, along with extinguishing and trimming if needed. It's literally as easy as 1, 2, 3:  

  1. If candle is lit, always extinguish the flame and let the candle cool down to room temperature.
  2. Using your wick trimming tool of choice, try to make one clean horizontal cut in each wick, measuring about 1/4" above the wax surface. 
  3. Discard any excess debris and wick from the surface of the candle. 

Wick trimming is an important step to taking care of your candles that can be a complete game changer when it comes to have a clean, safe, and long-lasting candle experience. Click here to snag the perfect ergonomic wick trimmer and to explore our wick trimmers + other candle care tools. 

 

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