BLOG
The end of another holiday season means it’s time to start taking down holiday decorations inside and outside of your home. But did you know there’s a right way and a wrong way to do so, especially when it comes to the holiday lights?
Avoid both major and minor issues during this process by following these tips:
Taking Down Indoor Lights
It’s always a little sad to see the indoor decorations go away at the end of the holiday season, but a new year awaits! If this is on the top of your to-do list, we have great tips for you, like make sure to take your lights down one strand at a time so you don’t have cords and tripping hazards spread out on the floor. Learn more helpful tips below.
- Unplug First
Before you do anything with your lights, make sure that every strand of lights is unplugged and that your power strip or extension cord is not plugged into an outlet. Unplugging them will assure that no electric shocks or other damaging things happen to either you or any family members. To be completely safe, detach the first plug from the power strip or extension cord first, and then begin to put everything away.
- Avoid Tangles and Broken Bulbs Next Year
If you’d like to fully ensure that when next year rolls around, you won’t run into any frustrating tangles or electric problems, here are a few storing tips. Cut out a rectangle shape of cardboard, and wrap your lights around this. You can also wrap your lights around Pringle cans (or anything similar to this shape), plastic hangers, and power cord holders. Take this extra step and say goodbye to those annoying tangles and failed bulbs.
Taking Down Outdoor Lights
Taking down outdoor lights is a bit more complicated, but we’ve got lots of tips to help ensure you do this safely and properly. For instance, all outdoor holiday lights and lighted decorations should be plugged into GFI outlets to protect you and your family from electrical shocks or electrocution. Here are some more!
- Weather
For starters, make sure the weather temperatures are just right. Electricity and water are a dangerous and potentially lethal combination, so aim for a clear and calm day, not during wintry or raining weather. Also be sure to take down decorations during the middle of the day, not when it’s dark outside. This will help you see any potential dangers, and also make it less likely for you to slip when on your ladder.
- Ladders
Speaking of ladders, over 6,000 people die from falling off ladders each year and more than 30,000 people are injured. To make sure this doesn’t happen to you or your loved ones, use the following tips.
-
- Never climb up on the bucket ledge or top step of a ladder. Just don’t do it.
- The position of the ladder matters when it comes to safety. For starters, the ladder should extend at least 3-inches above the roof line. Make sure your single or extension ladder is at a 75-degree angle. That’s the safest way to climb up and down ladders.
- Purchase a ladder stabilizer if you don’t already have one. It also never hurts to have one or two extra people to hold the ladder in place.
- Every ladder should list the maximum weight it can support, so make sure to follow that suggestion.
- Always make sure that the lock is engaged before climbing up an extension ladder.
