Do I Need to Trim a Candle Wick?

Recently, a lot of people have been asking if they need to trim their wicks, and there are various answers being given. The short answer is yes, but it is important to do so correctly to make your candle last longer and burn better. There are a few things that make it necessary to trim a candle’s wick and determine how often to cut your wicks.

When and How to Trim a Candle Wick?

The exposed wick of a candle should be ¼ inch tall; this is the ideal size for proper burning and an even melting wax pool. Some people say that you have to trim your wick after every burn, but sometimes it is not necessary. 

While a wick is burning, some of the material is used as fuel and is burned away. This means that your wick will be shorter after it has been burned and may be close to the appropriate size of ¼ inch. If your wick is the right size, you do not need to cut it any shorter. However, there are a few things to watch for that are signs you need to trim your candle’s wick.

When to Trim a Wick:

The first sign you need to trim your wick is simply if it is taller than ¼ inch. A large wick creates a large flame making more heat and producing soot. This is why a large wick is a part of the solution for fixing a tunneling candle.

A second sign you need to trim your wick is if there is a carbon deposit at the tip, most often referred to as a mushroom top. This carbon build up does not mean that anything is inherently wrong with your candle. Yet, if it is left on your wick, it prevents a candle from burning well, creates excess soot, and looks unsightly.

The third sign that your wick may need trimmed is if there is soot coming off of it. While there are various things that can cause a candle to produce soot, one of the common factors is that the wick is too large.

Now that we have looked at examples for when to cut a wick, we need to discuss how to safely trim candle wicks.

How to Trim a Wick:

The best practice for trimming your wicks is to do so before you light your candle. This way you can ensure no pieces of the cut wick are left in the candle before lighting it. Leaving wick trimmings or other debris in your candle creates a fire hazard.

While you may have trimmed your wick prior to lighting, it does not eliminate the possibility of your wick needing a snip mid-burning. If you notice any of the above signs while your candle is lit, you will need to address them. To ensure proper fire safety, you should not trim your wick while a candle is burning. If you notice that your candle is producing soot or creating a mushroom wick, extinguish it. Then, you can safely cut the wick to ¼ inch. Afterwards, simply relight your candle and continue to enjoy its beautiful glow.

Once you have trimmed your wick, you can throw away the cut piece. If you cut it shortly after it was extinguished, make sure it cools before throwing it away.

What Tools Should I Use to Trim a Candle Wick?

Since we know when and how to trim a candle wick, it is good to look at what tools are available and best to use for the job.

The simplest tool is a pair of metal scissors. This method is certainly the one most people have on hand and is good for the task. If the trimming falls into your candle while it is cool, be sure to pick it up. If your piece falls into a liquid wax pool, you can use the scissors or a spoon to carefully get it out of the hot wax.

To combat the annoying trick of keeping wick pieces out of your candle there are some “scissors” made specifically for candle wicks. These tools have a wide base meant for holding the trimmed pieces and keeping them out of your wax. They also have a long handle with an angled tip that makes it easy to reach into large containers. Though candle wick trimmers are not strictly necessary, they do make it easier to cut your wicks.

Conclusion

It is necessary to trim the wick of a candle to ¼ inch for reasons of fire safety and proper burning. Examples of when a wick needs cut is if it is taller than ¼ inch, forming a mushroom, or producing soot. Keeping the pieces of a wick out of the candle is important to keep your candle burning properly and following proper fire safety rules. Common household tools are useful for trimming wicks, but specific trimmers for candles make it easier to reach into containers and to catch the pieces of wick.