Getting ready for the holidays isn’t always the easiest of tasks. Cookies need to be baked, presents need to be wrapped, and trees need to be decorated. However, the most daunting task of all is hanging outdoor lights. A tangle of complexity carefully executed on steep roof tops isn’t for the faint of heart. However, the warm, cherry glow that dances across a snowy ground on a crisp December night is now easier to achieve than ever. Just follow the steps below and securely drape your lights from your gutters. You’ll have a dazzling home in no time!
Note: Before you start working on your holiday project, make sure you have all the necessary materials: a ladder, gutter hangers, measuring tape, and an extension cord.
- Begin by measuring the length of the gutter where you will be hanging the lights. Do this by aligning the tape along the wall below the gutter. Include the distance from the gutter to the power outlet so you know what length extension cord to use.
- Gutter hangers can be found in hardware stores or the outdoor decorations section of a department store. They are plastic; one side has an egg-shaped hook to clip onto the gutter and the other side has a clip or smaller hook for the wire of the lights. Plan to have one gutter hanger per foot of gutter.
- Place the ladder under the middle of the gutter you will be decorating. Make sure the ladder is stable and on level ground.
- Find the center of the string of lights. Starting in the middle of the gutter, place a hanger over the edge of the gutter. After the hanger is secure, attach the wire of the string of lights to the clip (or smaller hook side) of the hanger.
- Repeat this process on the other side of the gutter; make sure the gutter hangers are placed one foot apart until reaching the end of the gutter. When the last hook is hung, attach the power cord to your extension cord.
- Repeat these steps until all lights are hung.
- Lastly, gather your family outside with a cup of hot chocolate and reveal your work of art!
Remember, safety always comes first. After all, a ladder is a tool not a toy. So be sure to always keep three points of contact on the ladder, follow all precautions listed by your ladder’s manufacturer when making the climb to hang your house lights, and wear a safety helmet at all times.
From all of us here at Ned Stevens Gutter Cleaning®, we wish you and your family a very merry Holiday Season!
