Candle Care – Trimming Your Wick

Should you trim your candle wick? Absolutely! Trimming your wick before each burn is an essential part of candle care. If you’ve been lighting and blowing out your Luci di Lucca candles without doing any kind of maintenance, you could be shortening the lifespan of your candle. Simple steps like trimming the wick and protecting the candle with a dust cover will not only prolong the life of your candle but also help it burn beautifully.

Trimming your candle wick before each burn will help reduce soot and residue that the candle produces while burning. A trimmed wick also helps your candle burn more evenly and last longer as well.  Longer wicks tend to burn at a faster rate, which means your candle will be used up more quickly. By keeping the wick at about 5mm (1/4 inch), you’ll help your candle burn slower and last longer.

In addition to trimming the wick, protect your candle when it’s not in use by covering it with a dust cover. This prevents dust and debris from settling on the wax and interfering with the burn.

How to Trim Your Candle Wick

For trimming, use a wick trimmer or small sharp scissors (I use  Friskars scissors with titanium micro tip blades) to cut the wick before lighting the candle. Always trim it at room temperature, and if you forget to trim it before lighting, wait until the candle cools down before making any adjustments. Keeping the wick short also helps avoid the black smoke that sometimes clouds candle jars.

Remember to remove any debris from the wax before lighting the candle for a clean, steady flame.

Following these simple steps and getting into the habit of trimming your wick before each burn will ensure your candles burn cleanly, last longer, and remain aesthetically pleasing throughout their use. Happy candle burning!