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My Reward PointsCandle experts emphasize the importance of maintaining a clean, polished, and beautiful candle jar. But candle jars may turn black after prolonged use due to black soot buildup on the sides.
This issue is common and can affect the appearance of the candle. This black soot may rub off on hands and fingers. This blog helps you understand why the candle glass is turning black, its causes, and provides effective and easy ways to overcome it.
Why Do Candle Jars Turn Black?
Candle jars turning black due to incomplete combustion, which occurs when the candle flame is not fully fueled or when excess wax is sucked into the flame too quickly. This results in the formation of soot, which causes a candle's glass to turn black, reducing its burn time.
The type of wax used is the primary cause of black soot; paraffin wax produces more soot than other types. Wick material, wick length, and environmental factors also contribute to the formation of soot. Proper candle care can help ensure a clean-burning candle by choosing the right wax, maintaining a healthy wick, extinguishing the flame, and preventing flickering.
Factors Affecting Candle Jars to Turn Black
Soot, a black powder produced during incomplete combustion, is primarily responsible for the blackening of candle jars. Soot is largely responsible for the smoky residue that is left behind when candles burn. Factors contributing to this issue include the wick size, low-quality wax, incorrect jar size, misuse of fragrance oil, and an unsteady flame.
1. The size of a wick
Candle Wick material and length are crucial for clean burning, as thick metal cores emit black smoke, and longer wicks result in larger flames and more soot particles.
2. Poor-quality wax
Due to soot, a byproduct of incomplete combustion during burning, low-quality wax can turn candle containers black. It is particularly noticeable with paraffin wax, which emits more soot than other waxes.
3. Incorrect jar size
Inappropriately sized jars for candles can cause soot buildup, turning the container black due to limited air and wax accessibility for combustion, potentially leading to incomplete burning and soot generation.
4. Fragrance oil overuse.
Excessive fragrance oil can cause candle jars to turn black due to potential degradation of burn quality and increased soot production, resulting in the disruption of the wax-wick equilibrium, causing less efficient flame burning and more soot stains.
5. Unsteady Flame
Incomplete combustion in a candle jar can cause it to turn black due to uneven flame and out-of-sync wax heating. This results in black smoke rising into the air and soot accumulation within the vessel.
Effective Ways to Clean Soot from a Candle Jar
The following are some of the effective ways to clean soot from your candle jar:
- To clean the interior of a candle jar, you can use a damp paper towel or cloth.
- Scrub the interior of the jar in a gentle manner, paying particular attention to any black deposits.
- To assist in the disintegration of the soot, you can use a mild detergent.
- Clean the inside with a paper towel or napkin to prevent the glass from going black.
- Apply rubbing alcohol to the areas with the most soot buildup for tougher stain removal
- Use a cleaning brush to scrape out black deposits in hard-to-reach areas, especially for jars with elaborate graphics and shapes.
- As a natural cleaning option, you may try mixing vinegar and baking soda together.
- Use an old toothbrush to clean the inside of the candle's glass, but it requires time and patience.
How to Keep Candle Jars From Turning Black?
- Choosing high-quality candles significantly reduces the risk of a candle jar turning black, as low-quality candles often contain chemicals or waxes that emit more soot during combustion.
- Regularly trim candle wicks and avoid soot accumulation on the glass, especially before each burning.
- Proper candle extinction measures, like using a candle snuffer, can prevent candle jars from turning black and reduce soot and black residue on glass.
- To keep candle jars from turning black, keep candles away from drafts. because a flickering flame can result in incomplete combustion, which ultimately develops soot, which changes the jar's color.
Conclusion
This article discusses the causes of a candle jar turning black and the methods to remove it without harming the environment. Oxidation (a chemical reaction) can occur when two items come into contact, causing soot accumulation on a candle jar. However, soot accumulation is natural and encourages the continued burning of aromatic candles. Proper wick trimming, ventilation, and superior wax can improve the candle's life and its burn
