The Importance of Proper Wick Care | Longer-Lasting Candles

How to Care for Candle Wicks for a Clean and Even Burn

Proper wick care is essential to getting the most out of your candles. Learn how to trim, clean, and maintain both cotton and wooden wicks for a longer-lasting, clean-burning experience.

Wick Trimming Guidelines for Perfect Burns

Cotton Wick Care

  • Trim to 1/4 inch before each burn to prevent:
    • Excessive soot.
    • Uneven melting or tunneling of the wax.

Wooden Wick Care

  • Trim to 1/8 inch to ensure clean combustion and optimal performance.
  • Longer wooden wicks can cause incomplete burns, creating soot or inconsistent flames.

Troubleshooting Common Wick Issues

Curled Wicks

  • If your wick forms an upside-down "U" shape after cooling, use wick trimmers to remove the top of the curl.
  • Pro Tip: If both sides light when curled, one will naturally extinguish as the wax softens, ensuring even burning.

Short Wicks

  • If the wick is trimmed too short and won’t light:
    • Use a fine-point tool (like a toothpick) to carefully carve a 1/8-inch moat around the wick.
    • This exposes more of the wick, making it easier to relight.

How to Clean and Maintain Wicks

Wooden Wick Maintenance

  • Use angled wick trimmers for precision when trimming accessible wicks.
  • For deeply recessed wicks:
    • Wait until the wax hardens and the vessel cools.
    • Gently break off the charred portion with your fingers.

Preventing Debris in Your Candle

  • Always avoid leaving wick trimmings or debris on the wax surface:
    • Debris can discolor the wax and affect scent performance.
    • To remove debris, turn the candle upside down over a trash can and shake gently. Most residue will fall out without affecting the candle.

Why Proper Wick Care Matters

Caring for your candle wicks ensures:

  • Cleaner, soot-free burns for a healthier home.
  • Optimal fragrance diffusion for a better scent experience.
  • Longer-lasting candles, maximizing your investment in high-quality coconut-soy wax products.

Finding candles made in the usa that combine beauty and performance is easy with the Select Barrel Collection from the Willis Candle Shop. Our handmade candles are poured using a premium coconut soy candles blend, delivering long burning candles with great smelling candles in every size. Customers can choose from 6.25 oz white frosted glass or red frosted glass, 10 oz black frosted glass, 11 oz clear glass, or our 14.75 oz Contempo glass candles. Our wood wick candles are especially popular for their crackling sound and ambiance. Discover all available scents by visiting our fragrance labels page. Check out our Select Barrel Candle Collection.