Lava Lamps

Lava lamps were invented in 1963 by a British accountant, Edward Craven Walker. The exact ingredients are a secret, but we know they include coloured wax and coloured water. They make a great addition to your home and can be relaxing to watch.

Lava lamps safety

Lava lamps are generally very safe to use as long as you follow the manufacturer’s instructions and take a few sensible precautions before and during use.

Safety first

  • Make sure you buy your lava lamp from a reputable dealer, and follow the manufacturer’s instructions carefully.
  • It’s important to register a new lava lamp with the manufacturer so that you can be contacted if a safety notice or recall is required. It also makes it easier for you to return a faulty product or order a repair. To register any of your appliances, regardless of age, visit our Product Registration page.
  • Use our Product Recalls checker to find out if any of your electrical items have been recalled.
  • Check that your appliance has a UK plug; if it doesn’t, don’t try to use a UK travel adaptor. Get in touch with the retailer and ask them to fit a UK plug.
  • Do regular checks of the plug and socket for burn marks, sounds of ‘arcing’ (buzzing or crackling) or if it feels too hot to touch. If you have fuses blowing or circuit-breakers tripping then contact a registered electrician to investigate.
  • Any socket you plan to use to plug in a lava lamp should have RCD (residual current device) Protection. An RCD is a life-saving device that protects against dangerous electric shock and reduces the risk of electrical fires. If you don’t have RCD protection in your fuse box for your sockets, consider using an RCD plug to protect you and your property from serious appliance faults.

Using your lava lamp safely

  • Always unplug your lava lamp before cleaning.
  • Ensure all parts are at room temperature before you switch it on, and remember to unplug from outlets before putting on or taking off parts.
  • Keep the cord away from heated surfaces.
  • Do not use attachments not recommended by the manufacturer.
  • Never use your lava lamp if it has a damaged cord or plug, if it is not working properly, if it has been dropped or damaged, or dropped into water.
  • When not in use, store your lava lamp on a cool, dry, and flat surface. Wrap the cord around the base of the lava lamp and keep away from moisture.