Anyone ever leave a candle burning overnight?

[shmoogrrrl]

I had some Yankee Candles burning last night and I accidentally left one of them on all night. I blew it out this morning when I came downstairs to grab something, then went back up stairs.

I am noticing what appears to be soot EVERYWHERE in my house. It is in our silverware drawer, some of Katie's toys, her potty seat in the bathroom, and other random things around the first floor. I can't find anything upstairs or in the basement. There is no smell though.

My question is, nothing is different about the house that I can find, with the exception of me leaving the candle burning all night. Could that one candle (the large jar Yankee Candle, but it was low) cause all of that soot stuff to be all over our house? I had some in my nose earlier this morning, but I figured that was because I had to put my face over the candle to blow it out.

Any thoughts?

 

[TimeforMe]

Yes, I've actually done that twice. I don't recall any soot problems although I have read a post where another DISer said her YC was giving off a lot of soot.

 

[disneysteve]

Now you know what life was like before electricity . Yes, burning candles produce soot. If you burn one candle in the same place regularly you may get a soot mark on the ceiling over it. One thing that can help is keeping the wick trimmed to about 1/4 inch. A longer wick will generate more smoke and soot.

 

[PrincessDeb]

I have a friend that accidentally left her large candle burn all night (not a Yankee but similar) and it left soot all over the white walls of the room it was in (a mud room/laundry). She said the only way she could get rid of the soot was to repaint the room. She tried scrubbing the walls and ceiling and it wouldn't come off. I hope you have better luck!

Deb

 

[palmtreegirl]

I use candles all the time and one thing that I found that helps control the soot is a candle topper, the ceramic ones that look like lamp shades.

I use a Mickey one I bought in DTD and the soot, for the most part, gets trapped on the inside of the *lamp shade*.

 

[jeleebeene]

I have had this happen before - but not with alot of soot. I did find some around the area where the candle had been burning, but not anywhere else around the house.

It is scary waking up and realizing you left a candle burning all night - I about had a heartattack when I did it!!

 

[amid chaos]

We use a candle warmer with all yankee candles for this reason. it heats from the bottom, no soot, just the wonderful smells...and the candle lasts ALOT longer.

 

[HisEllyNelly]

Oh yes, ex-dh left a 3 wick burning all night once. We had a bit of soot but not all over. I alway keep my wicks trimmed though, it does tend to help.

 

[dbogen]

Originally posted by amid chaos
We use a candle warmer with all yankee candles for this reason. it heats from the bottom, no soot, just the wonderful smells...and the candle lasts ALOT longer.

I have seen these and wondered how well they work. My DH is an assistant fire chief and he doesn't like it when I burn candles ""do you know how many house fires are started by candles?"" I may have to look into getting myself one.

Deanna

 

[arminnie]

Originally posted by dbogen
I have seen these and wondered how well they work. My DH is an assistant fire chief and he doesn't like it when I burn candles ""do you know how many house fires are started by candles?"" I may have to look into getting myself one.

Deanna

I just saw those warmers at a store when I was in Orlando last week and also wondered how well they work. I'm glad to hear a first hand report from amid chaos.

I'm afraid of forgetting them or having something happen, but I do love the smell.

A neighbor of mine where I used to live had a candle burning in the middle of the day in the living room - not sure what happened when she was out of the room but a fire started - she ran out the front door which locked behind her and her pet was killed and the unit destroyed. The heat popped out the windows in adjoining buildings. And the fire department was only about 1/2 mile away and got there right away.

Also I use ceiling fans a lot in the summer (really makes a difference in costs to cool a home) and it's not really good to have a lit candle under a fan.

I really like the idea that they would last longer too. So I may have to look into one of those warmers.

 

[amid chaos]

You still need to be careful. the entire jar turns to liquid wax when using the warmers, but at least it's not a flame.

 

[poohtown]

once when we lost electricity I left a candle going all night. When I woke up I didn't have a soot problem but I did have a nice huge burn in my countertop. I haven't used a candle since. Freaked me out, just the thought of what could of happened.