Let's face the facts: sooty glass and tunneled wax can take even the best of candles (that's us) from high- to low-brow in a matter of hours. We're not ones to settle for mediocrity.

So, while our candles unfortunately do not come with maid service, we have a few tips and tricks to keep your HLC looking like a five-star.

• Trim the Wick...Every Single Time

Each time you're looking to light up, start by trimming the wick to between 1/8 and 1/4 inches long.

While a specialized wick trimmer is the ideal tool (and looks damn cute on a coffee table) feel free to use any scissors or nail clippers you've got laying around.

Or, since our wicks are made of lead-free cotton, you'll find that even taking a tissue and gently rolling the tip of the wick between your fingers works too.

Why go to all that trouble?

Trimmed wicks make for a cleaner, brighter burn—meaning no more soot spots or billows of smoke.

Trimming the wick keeps the flame in control and helps prevent uneven burning, dripping, and flaring.

• Burn, Baby, Burn

Once your wick is trimmed, it's time to strike a match, sit back, and relax.

If you want your candle to burn evenly and last as long as possible (which, why would you not?), make sure that you let the wax melt all the way across and pool to the edge during that initial burn.

This should take around 3-4 hours.

• But, Like, Don't Get Carried Away

Yes, we, too, wish we could burn our candles all day, every day. Unfortunately, this isn't the case.

We recommend burning your candle no more than 4-6 hours at a time. This will prevent the candle from overheating, which can lead to uneven burns, excess smoke, and mushroom-looking wicks.

• Dig Your Way Out Of Any Tunnels

Forgot to snip that wick and stuck with a tunneled candle? Don't sweat it.

Pull out a hair dryer (or lighter) and use it on low to even out the wax surface.

Then, use a butter knife to cut out any wax above the level of the wick.

You can also use a paper towel or cotton ball to remove melted wax so that the wick is above the melt pool.

• Be Your Own Turn Down Service

Clean your candle after each use, especially if you see soot marks or dust.

Use a nylon stocking or another thin cloth to carefully wipe your candle clean.

• Don't Let the Fun End When the Wax Does

Don't let those stunning candle jars go to waste.

When your candle has burned all the way down, rid any remaining wax residue with hot water and a little elbow grease.

When all is said and done, you'll be left with a cute little cup to repurpose as you please.

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