- Trim the Candle Wick
The ideal length for a candle wick is one-fourth of an inch, so make sure to trim the wick one-fourth of an inch before lighting the candle. If it still produces soot, trim it even further until you get a clean flame. And always make sure to trim the wick before each use.
- Don’t Move the Candle Much
Make sure you don’t disturb the flame once the candle is burning. Pace the candle somewhere it won’t be disturbed or moved and then light the flame, or simply blow it out before you move it to another spot.
- Keep the Candle at a Distance from Flammable Items
Always place the candle at a safe distance from the walls, drapery and other flammable objects. Keeping it at least a feet away from the walls avoids soot marks on the surface.
- Keep Candles Out of Drafty Spots
Candles are likely to produce soot when they are burnt near air vents, open windows, or fans. While a still flame uses fuel at a constant rate, a flame that’s bouncing with the breeze draws up fuel at a variable rate. The size of the flame shrinks when extra oil is drawn into the wick, thereby leading to incomplete burning of the fuel. As a result, the candle expels the excess oil into the air in the form of soot.
- Install an Air Filter
It’s a good idea to install a nice air filter that collects all dust particles, impurities and other debris in the air, thereby avoiding soot deposits.
- Check for Mushrooming
Make sure to blow out the flame and trim the candle wick when it starts to mushroom at the top. Re-light the flame once you remove the black soot ball on the wick.