Christmas decorations are a great way to produce a cozy look when the cold winds blow. But only if they stand up well to those cold winds. Decorations can easily become damaged in wind, rain, or snow putting a serious damper on your holiday spirit.
So what do you do to ensure your decorations last throughout the holiday season? Here are a few ideas.
Look for Weatherproof Items
When shopping for Christmas decorations, look for those that are listed as ‘waterproof’, ‘weatherproof’, or ‘made for outdoor use’. This will ensure they hold up well throughout the season.
Waterproof Items
Even items that are listed as weatherproof can get battered-looking after enough time in the open air. To keep them looking their best, apply a layer of water shield. This will extend the life of your decorations in a big way.
Use Polyurethane
If you have wood items that you just can’t resist adding to your décor, you can keep them protected by adding a clear coat of polyurethane or acrylic. In doing so, be sure the coat you apply is thin. If it’s too thick, it may look sticky or cloudy.
Before applying the coating, test a small area of the decoration to ensure it won’t damage the piece.
Keep Directions in Place
No matter how weatherproofed your decorations may be, they always run the risk of blowing away if a strong gust of wind comes along. You can keep them stable by anchoring them to the earth. Monitor any small parts that can blow away as well.
Keep in mind that decorations that blow around can also do damage to your property by scratching your door paint, breaking your windows, and more. You’ll want to make sure that all decorations located near doors and windows are especially secure.
Prevent Light Displays from Icing Over
If rain or snow-covered decorations ice over, they could become permanently damaged. Prevent this from happening by positioning light strands in a way that lets air circulate around them. Use electrical tape to secure connectors on tree decorations to tree trunks a few feet above the ground to keep runoff from collecting and doing damage.
Prevent Shocks
The moisture from snow and rain can damage your electrical circuits. A ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) can be used to prevent shorts, and most are required by the city for outdoor lighting. Cover the female and male ends of light strands with electrical tape or wrap them in a plastic bag to keep water out.
Outdoor decorations are a vital part of many Christmas celebrations. The tips in this article will help you keep yours safe and secure. What steps will you be taking to keep damage to a minimum?
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