Home And Family

The smell of Christmas cookies, garland, sight of the great Christmas tree and the sound of Christmas carols serenading us are signs that Christmas season is coming near. Households are getting busy with all the preparation for this special time of the year.

Decorating the house is one of the hardest things to do and being creative is the key for a successful Christmas decoration. Using Christmas lights can brighten your home and make your Christmas decoration more lively which is the true meaning of the season. This holiday season should be a joyous time to share with your loved ones.

In this season you can find many types of decorative Christmas lights in many home improvement centers. You can find icicle lights, the conventional mini lights and mesh style lights that are used to wrap around a tree trunk.

There are also many colors available that will suite your taste from clear white to colored bulbs and those that blink, chase and stay lit. The right decoration and style of home will depend on your taste and what look you want. It also depends on how much you want to spend on your Christmas lights and other decorations.

Nowadays mini lights are more popular because of their power, inexpensive cost and also because of their tiny lights unlike a C-9?and C-7?that have 5 to 10 watts similar to the bulbs of those conventional ones. They also consume a lot of energy because their bulbs turn very hot when used for a long time unlike the mini light抯 1.5 or 2.5 volt bulbs. In other aspects C-9?and C-7?are more reliable when it comes to durability and reliability. When a bulb is missing, broken or twisted, all bulbs on the string will not work. A C-9?and C-7?will continue to operate when a bulb is broken.

It is most convenient to look for light strings that have male and female receptacles in both ends. In this way it is easier to route because you can plug two strings from end to end.

In the case of a mini light, it is better to choose strings that have 50 bulbs than those with 100 to 200 bulbs because you can replace a string when defective or not working well. Regardless of what kind of Christmas lights you抣l choose, remember to go for those that are UL-approved and take extra care on manufacturer抯 directions on the package.

Here are some creative tips on how you can hang Christmas lights:

1.Find a suitable electrical receptacle for the lights and use a heavy duty extension cords that are 120-volt electrical outlet and protected by a ground fault circuit interrupter. Use a controlled switch outlet with an automatic timer that turns on at dusk and turns off late night.

2.Use a long measuring tape, measure the length of the house from the ground and its height or trees and bushes you intend to put your lights on. Measure the needed length of strings that you need to use.

3.Before plugging your Christmas lights visually observe and inspect them for broken bulbs and defective wires. If there are broken bulbs, replace them with new ones. Remember to use safety gloves and long-nose pliers when pulling out a bulb. After replacing the bulbs you can now plug them and test the string again. If the string didn抰 work, check if the fuse had blown.

4.Use a step ladder if your home抯 eaves are low or you may also use an extension ladder. Remember to place it firmly on the ground and against the eaves so that it will be sturdy and can support your weight.

5.Hang the lights along the eaves and use plastic clips, these clips grip gutters and have a hook that holds a light string or a wire.

6.When attaching light strings to a window trim or any other vertical places, remember to use plastic clips that have screws and put them 12 inches apart. Do not use nails and staples because it can harm the wires which might cause electrical hazards.

Christmas is a time to shine. Make sure to be creative when choosing and decorating your Christmas lights. Make sure to fill your home with Christmas lights and make it the shiniest home around your community.