Holiday Decorating Safety Tips

You’ve successfully stuffed yourself with turkey and pumpkin pie, watched football until your eyes bulged, and slept it all off in your comfy recliner. Now it’s time to decorate. That’s right, it’s time to lug the holiday decorations up from downstairs, wrestle with garland, climb tall ladders, and hang fragile glass ornaments—all while listening to cheerful holiday tunes. Sounds like fun, right?

Truthfully, I can hardly wait, but I do realize decorating is hard work. And many folks begrudge it not only because it’s time consuming but also because it’s a little unsafe. Limit the number of hazards you face this year by following these guidelines:

Ladders. Before you even think of climbing a ladder, ask yourself: Is the ground firm and level? Is your ladder the right height for the job? Are you under the ladder’s weight limit? If you answered “no” to any of these questions, you better rethink your objective—or go buy a new ladder. I’m pretty fond of the Little Giant Ladder System, ($435). With minor adjustments, it can switch from an A-frame to an extension, to a stepladder, and even to scaffolding.

Lighting. After you’ve unpacked your lights, check for any broken bulbs and toss strands with any cracked sockets or frayed or bare wires. Look for the Underwriters Laboratory label on the packaging to verify the lights were examined for safety. If you plan to use any lights, decorations, or extension cords outside, ensure they’re rated for outdoor use. Be mindful not to overload circuits, extension cords, and plug-ins, and always remember to switch everything off before heading out or going to sleep. 

Trees. Plan on decorating with a real pine this year? Water the tree daily and spray it with flame retardant to prevent fires. And if you prefer to go the more fake route (like me!), look for the “flame resistant” label before lugging your artificial tree home. For either tree variety, try buying shatterproof ornaments this year. That way, if you get a little clumsy, you won’t be sweeping up dangerous shards of glass. Lowe’s sells some nice-looking ones, and Bronner’s Christmas Wonderland in Frankenmuth, Michigan boasts the largest variety I’ve ever seen.

For more holiday safety ideas—especially if you have small children—check out this article.

Until tomorrow,
The Home Know-It-All