The holidays wouldn’t be the same without festive decor. There’s nothing quite like hanging ornaments on a Christmas tree while seasonal music plays in the background! But what about those outdoor decorations waiting in your storage bins? Read on to learn how to protect your home’s exterior from Christmas decorations, no matter how you prefer to express your holiday joy.
1. Check Your Electrical Outlets
Most Christmas decorations require electricity. Your yard might quickly become covered in snaking extension cords hooked up to outlets around the outside of your home. Although the cords are weatherproof and able to withstand changing temperatures, the outlets may have become damaged over the past year.
Check each outlet to ensure the covering is secure against the wall of your home and that nothing shows signs of wear or tear. Chips along the outlet or visible burn marks may require a visit from a professional electrician. You won’t have to worry about burns along your siding or potential house fires if your outlets get a thumbs up from an electrical expert.
2. Use Removable Mounting Equipment
Instead of nailing lights or other decor to your siding, look for removable mounting equipment that doesn’t make holes in your home. Sticky hooks can hold signs and gutter clips can hold various types of light strings depending on the cord size and bulb weight. Find your decorations before buying mounting equipment so you can feel confident you’re getting the best hanging tools.
3. Rethink Your Lawn Care
Inflatable snowmen and wired reindeer take up lawn space, so they’ll leave brown spots behind when they go back into storage. Brown spots indicate dead grass, but they can also reveal fungal problems. If you have zoysia grass, it’s susceptible to the Rhizoctonia Solani fungal strain that spreads outward from a single point and quickly takes over a yard.
Spray your yard with antifungal solutions now and you’ll prevent outbreaks through the spring. If you’re unsure what will do the job, professional lawn care teams can locate signs of fungus growth and make your yard look perfect for holiday parties.
4. Wear Soft Rubber Shoes
If you want to put decorations on your roof, you can combine your safety with additional home protection. Wear rubber shoes to avoid slipping while positioning decor and you’ll stop your footwear from potentially damaging your shingles. It’s an easy fix that prevents numerous types of damage.
5. Find Decorative Ties
Traditional string lights and garlands look fantastic when they wrap around porch banisters. Unfortunately, they might scratch the paint or crack the wood if they hang by nails or harsh metal wires. Decorative ties are the perfect solution for this problem. They often use soft rope or ribbons to tie decorations to banisters without damaging anyone’s home. You can also use them throughout the year to pull curtains back or hang indoor decorations after the holiday season ends.
6. Use Wire Hangers
When someone puts a wreath on their front door, the wreath might scratch the paint. It happens when wreaths use small hooks or nails to stick closely to a door. Removing the hanging equipment could strip the paint away, but not if you use a wire hanger.
It’s easy to cover thin wire hangers with garlands, a wreath, or ribbons. Use one to hang decorations you already have or make a wreath at home before using the hanger to place it on your door knocker or a nail in your siding. The decorations will hang gently against your home and won’t tear the paint away when it’s time to take everything down in January.
Protect Your Home From Christmas Decorations
Your festive decor doesn’t have to create costly repair projects. Use these tips to protect your home’s exterior from Christmas decorations, and your property will look great without risking any damage.
Author bio: Rose Morrison is the managing editor of Renovated, where she offers advice on home renovation, maintenance, and organization.nd slow-paced lifestyle now, because your little ones will be back in school before you know it!
