Can candles ruin your walls?
Soy candles, beeswax candles, and vegetable-wax based candles that are 100% (not blended with paraffin) are your best options….What to Look For
Every candle is fueled by its wax, and the wick is the vehicle, which creates a capillary action, that carries the fuel to keep the flame burning. This produces a black smoky substance from the flame (carbon) that causes your walls, fixtures and such to become black when the carbon is released into the air.
Begin by lightly cleaning the walls with a vacuum and an upholstery brush attachment. This will help remove any loose debris. Next, make a cleaning solution with one gallon of hot water, three tablespoons of dish soap, and a half cup of baking soda. Use a rag to scrub the walls with this solution.
Applying paint directly over top of the remaining stains or odor will not cover them up. You’ll need to apply a good, solvent-based stain-blocking primer to prevent them from bleeding through the paint. You may be able to get by with a product such as Zinsser’s Cover Stain, which is an oil-based stain-blocking primer.
You will have to clean and prepare the walls properly before you paint, to prevent the smoke and nicotine from bleeding through again. Wash the walls with an aggressive cleaner and then seal them with stain-blocking primer to ensure that stains don’t creep through later.
A 2009 study by U.S. researchers found that paraffin-based candles release carcinogens and chemicals that could raise the risk of asthma. A longer candle wick will produce more soot and a smoky flame, which releases even more air pollution. So yes, candle smoke is bad for you and your lungs.
Directions for Removing Smoke Stains from Walls
Do not use a latex primer because soot is water-soluble, and will bleed through the latex. Wear gloves and safety glasses when using TSP. The right combination of paint and primer will permanently mask soot-covered walls. Simply covering the soot with low-priced latex paint won’t solve the problem.
Candles smell and look nice, but after burning and enjoying them it starts to become apparent their impact on our homes and interior décor. Although beautiful, candles can deposit soot on surrounding surfaces, including tables and walls.
