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Are fragrance 'candles' damaging your walls & ceilings?

By
Real Estate Agent with Greenridge Realty Oakmont

A few years ago, my sister-in-law held a baby shower in her home, and had three glass oil-burning candles lit.  Before long, everyone started noticing that we seemed to have grey smudge marks on our faces and arms.  We soon figured out that the candles were the source of the soot! 

Luckily, the damage to the home was covered by insurance - I believe around $5,000 damage within the few hours time of the candles burning.  Everything in the entire home had to be cleaned - even closets full of clothes had been invaded by the oily soot.  Walls had to be sealed and repainted.

The reason that I am bringing this up is that I have noticed an increasing number of homes with a grey smoky haze on the walls.  In a couple of the homes, it is obvious some kind of candle had been burning on a shelf, with heavy smoke/soot on the ceiling directly above.

A strange common pattern with this soot, is that one of the places it shows up the most is on ceilings in the lines of the ceiling joists. 

If you burn any oil candles, lamps, or fragrance candles, check your ceilings.  If you see these lines where your ceiling joists are, stop burning the candles before you have more serious damage.

Many candles burn inefficiently and cause soot because of the fragrance oils used.  You can avoid this problem by using fragrance 'tarts' with electric melters instead of candles, oil-wicking reed fragrance sticks (non-burning) or other fragrance providers besides candles.  Only burn clean-burning candles with no fragrance oils in them to eliminate this problem, and don't use oil-burning lamps or candles.

Also, consider that if oily soot is on your walls, you and your family are also breathing it into your lungs.

For more information: http://chimneykeepers.com/candle_soot.htm

www.BigRapidsHomes.Info

www.Greenridge.com/LynnAfton

 

 

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Comments (8)

Mike Jones
SUNSTREET MORTGAGE, LLC (BK-0907366, NMLS 145171) - Tucson, AZ
Mike Jones NMLS 223495

Lynn,

We burn Lamplight Ultra-Pure.  No fumes, no soot.  You can buy it at the hardware store.

Mike in Tucson

Oct 07, 2008 05:02 AM
Sylvie Conde
Sutton Group-Associates Realty Inc., Brokerage - Toronto, ON
Broker, Toronto Real Estate

Wow, that's very interesting. I've never heard of this before. I burn candles all the time.  I think I'll start checking the ceilings (never crossed my mind  -  always assumed the 'dirt' was dust and the fact that my kitchen fan isn't exhausted to the outside).... but maybe it's the candles.
Thanks, Lynn. :)

Oct 07, 2008 05:47 AM
Charlene Storozuk
Dezigner Digz - Burlington, ON
Home Stager - Burlington Ontario

Lynn, this is a very informative post.  Thanks for sharing it with everyone.  If I can, I'd like to add one more thing since you mentioned using alternative fragrance providers.  Be very careful if you are using air fresheners that plug into your electrical sockets.  My brother-in-law was a captain on the Fire Dept. for many years and he told me that there have been cases where they have gone on fire.  It's certainly not something that happens all the time, probably a fluke, but better to know that there is that possibility.  Never leave them plugged in for long periods of time while you are away such as on vacation.

Oct 07, 2008 06:16 AM
Michael Fontana
Round Rock Home Stager Austin Home Staging - Round Rock, TX
@ The Stage Coach

hi, Lynn:
excellent information! Our youngest daughter has bad allergies, and in our research we found that burning candles can do more harm than good.  Besides soot on the walls, like you say it goes in our lungs and sinuses.  And if your heat or A/C is running, it gets in the vents, then stays in your air long after the candle is gone.

As lame as this sounds, we have resorted to putting our scented candles in bright, sunny windows.  As the room warms, the scent is released.  But this does not work at night. :(

thanks for sharing!
The Stage Coach Home Stager Austin Home Staging Round Rock Home Stager

Oct 07, 2008 07:35 AM
Jen Bowman
Keller Williams on the Water - Holmes Beach, FL
Realtor - Anna Maria Island & Bradenton FL

Good post Lynn! I only burn beeswax candles and soy candles in my home.  They are clean burning. The beeswax is actually supposed to help purify the air, or so I have heard.  I burn my old regular petroleum based candles outside only.  By the way, I have found great prices for the beeswax candles on ebay.  They are handmade and wonderful.

  signature

Oct 07, 2008 10:03 AM
Sylvie Conde
Sutton Group-Associates Realty Inc., Brokerage - Toronto, ON
Broker, Toronto Real Estate

Jen, you are correct about the beeswax candles.
A friend and client owns an alternative shop and I was there recently, and she told me all about the beeswax candles.  I actually bought one, and forgot all about it, until I read this just now.  I'm burning it now.  It will clean the air.  I will be breathing cleaner air, hopefully. :)

Oct 08, 2008 11:20 AM
Valerie Osterhoudt
Johnson Real Estate, Inc. - Cromwell, CT
ABR, Cromwell, CT Real Estate ~ 860.883.8889

Lynn... When I was visiting my sister in NC a few years back, we went to Asheville NC to see the Biltmore.. WOW, that place still blows my mind.  Afterwards we went into town, and I bought these beautiful Mexican Church candles... They were about 3 feet in height.  I couldn't wait to burn them when I got home. 

Wouldn't you know, they left black on my walls and ceiling (only in the livingroom) where I used them.  That was the first and LAST time I burnt them. 

valerie osterhoudt

Oct 17, 2008 11:51 AM