The holidays are such an exciting time of the year. It can be easy to forget about the safety concerns that arise from hanging greens, and lights, lighting candles and more.

Keep an eye out for these potentially dangerous situations.

• Inspect your light strings each year. Discard any with frayed cords, loose connections, or cracked light sockets. Be sure to unplug the light string when replacing bulbs and make sure the voltage and wattage match the original bulb.
• Turn off all Christmas lights when going to bed or leaving your home.
• Purchase a freshly cut tree. They are less likely to catch fire. Be sure to keep your tree hydrated and away from open flames.
• Use an outdoor timer to switch your lights on and off.
• When purchasing light strings, extension cords, electrical decorations, etc. look for the certification mark to ensure the products comply with safety standards.
• Never use more than one extension cord together.
• For outdoor lights, keep electrical connectors off the ground. Use insulated tape or plastic clips to hold them in place.
• If using a ladder, choose the correct size for the job you are doing. Be sure the ladder meets safety standards.
• Avoid overloading electrical outlets. Overloading of outlets is a common cause of electrical fires during the holiday season.
• Use battery operated candles instead of open flame candles. Candles are a common cause of household fires year round but especially during the holidays.
• Keep clutter to a minimum. Potentially flammable materials need to be stored away from open flames, heat from lights, fireplaces, etc.  

Your safety is important to us here at Perfection Cleaning. Wishing you all a safe and happy holiday season.

Do you have any safety tips to share with us?