3 Tips for Safe Christmas Decorating
I love decorating for Christmas. As far as I’m concerned – the shinier, the better. It’s one of the few times in the year you can go full-out glitter without getting the weird looks you’d get in, say, April.
With that in mind, it’s important to be safe when you’re decking your halls for the festive season. Here are three tips for getting the joyeaux noel look without the risk of spontaneous combustion and a home insurance claim:
Safe Christmas decorating with lights
Holiday season means Christmas lights. Whether you’re the all-out Santa-sleigh-on-the-roof decorator or more of a Christmas-pinecone-collecting-dust-in-the-corner person, there are a few things you should keep in mind.
For instance, if you’re planning on lighting up your corner of the community with an indoor/outdoor Christmas light extravaganza, stay away from stringing together multiple extension cords to make it work. Instead, use a power bar with several outlets and its own circuit breaker. Spend a little more on some good power bars and you’ll stay safe and organized this holiday season.
If you are going to use extension cords, make sure the current rating (amps) doesn’t exceed the extension cords rating. The cord can overheat and start a fire if it’s overloaded. It’s the same thing if you run it under carpet or in front of a doorway – it can get too warm or worn and become a hazard. Safe Christmas decorating starts with the right lighting strategy.
Love your Christmas tree
If you’re in the market for a live Christmas tree, you probably know that you need to water it. But there are a few more steps to keeping your tree in tip top shape. Buy a fresh tree when you’re at the store. Pick a tree with a strong green colour and a noticeable fragrance. When you tap the butt of the tree on the ground, check that only a few needles fall to the ground.
When you get it home, take the extra step and cut the tree two or three centimetres diagonally so it can take in water. You’re also going to need to keep the tree in two or three litres of water and check it daily to ensure the level doesn’t drop below the trunk. Even still, be sure not to buy the tree too early because the freshest one will only last you about two weeks. A dry tree is a fire hazard, and you want to avoid that.
The deal with safe Christmas decorating
There are a few extra things to keep in mind when making up indoor holiday season displays. If you plan on using artificial snow to decorate something, use it in a well-ventilated area because it can be harmful if inhaled. If you’re using candles, double-check that the displays are kept on a flat non-flammable surface and far away from little hands.
If you are dressing anything up with mistletoe, holly, Jerusalem berry or other berries, ensure these are well away from children and pets as they can be poisonous if swallowed. The same can be said for poinsettia plants.
This is an amazing time of year, and it’s fun to decorate. Do it safely and enjoy the season even more.
Image Courtesy of Adobe Stock