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How to hang Christmas lights without all the stress

Avoid one holiday meltdown this year

How to hang Christmas lights without all the stress

Avoid one holiday meltdown this year

WEBVTT JACKIE: A LOT OF WHAT WE THINK MIGHT BE THROWN IN THE BLUE BIN SHOULD GO RIGHT HERE AT A DROP-OFF CENTER. RECYCLING COMPANIES HAVE A MESSAGE FOR YOU THIS TIME OF YEAR BEFORE YOU’RE THROWING THE BOXES AND DECORATIONS INTO THE BLUE BIN. >> WE SEE LOTS OF ITEMS THAT PEOPLE ARE NOT SURE WHETHER THEY SHOULD BE RECYCLED. JACKIE: AS WRAPPING PAPER AND DECORATIONS PILE UP, CHITTENDEN WASTE DISTRICT WANTS TO REMIND PEOPLE WHAT SHOULD -- >> WE ARE HAPPY TO ACCEPT WRAPPING PAPER AS LONG AS IT IS JUST PAPER. IF SOMETHING LIKE THIS WHEN INTO THE BLUE BIN IS WHAT WE CALL A TANGLE R. THE WORKERS AT THE FACILITIES HAVE TO PULL THAT OFF THE LINE. JACKIE: THOSE LIGHTS CAN BE RECYCLED IN A DIFFERENT WAY ALONG WITH DEAD BATTERIES AND CHRISTMAS TREES. THEY ALL HAVE A SPOT AT THE DROP-OFF SITES AROUND THE COUNTRY -- COUNTY. >> REMOVE ANYTHING THAT NATURE DID NOT PUT THERE. WE WANT TO PROVIDE PEOPLE APACE -- A PLACE TO BRING THESE TREES. JACKIE: CSWD WANTS TO REMIND FOLKS THAT STYROFOAM IS NOT RECYCLABLE. >> WHEN IN DOUBT, THROW IT OUT, UNFORTUNATELY. JACKIE: IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT YOU SHOULD OR SHOULD NOT BE RECYCLING YOU COULD CALL THEM OR COME TO THE DROP-OFF SITES. WE SAW LOTS OF PEOPLE COMING IN AND DROPPING UP CHRISTMAS TREES EARLIER TODAY AND SOME OT
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How to hang Christmas lights without all the stress

Avoid one holiday meltdown this year

Are you the Scrooge on your block with the unlit, dark house while all the others are decked out in colorful Christmas lights? And while your neighbors might think you're just not festive, it may just be you, like so many others, hate stringing up Christmas lights! It's totally fair because if you've never done it before, the process can be seriously intimidating, and why should you have to spend money to hire someone to do it for you? You're already draining your bank account on gifts, anyway. But this is the year your house doesn't look like the Grinch's lair because this guide can teach you how to string up outdoor Christmas lights, and it's not as panic-inducing as it seems. What you'll needChristmas lightsMeasuring tapeLight clipsHow it's done Start by measuring any straight line you plan to string with lights. This way, you'll know just how many strands you actually need. (Side note — don't forget to measure the distance to your power source!)2. String your strands together — group similar lights (colored with colored, white with white) to keep things from looking too mismatched.3. Before any hanging is done — test your lights. You don't want any burnt-out bulbs after they've already been installed.4. Attach your light clips and make sure all the lights are in the same direction.5. Start from the ground up — use net lights to hang over bushes, use a hanging pole to tackle trees and wrap around railings, using the clips to secure the lights. 6. There's no way around it — you're going to have to get up on a ladder to install lights on your house, but forget the duct tape and use light clips to attach to your gutters. It'll make your life so much easier. Now you're done! Flip the switch (or plug them into an outdoor timer) and you're ready to get lit.

Are you the Scrooge on your block with the unlit, dark house while all the others are decked out in ? And while your neighbors might think you're just not festive, it may just be you, like so many others, hate stringing up Christmas lights! It's totally fair because if you've never done it before, the process can be seriously intimidating, and why should you have to spend money to hire someone to do it for you? You're already draining your bank account on gifts, anyway.

But this is the year your house doesn't look like the Grinch's lair because this guide can teach you how to string up outdoor Christmas lights, and it's not as panic-inducing as it seems.

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What you'll need

How it's done

  1. Start by measuring any straight line you plan to string with lights. This way, you'll know just how many strands you actually need. (Side note — don't forget to measure the distance to your power source!)
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2. String your strands together — group similar lights (colored with colored, white with white) to keep things from looking too mismatched.

vlog-TV
YouTube

3. Before any hanging is done — test your lights. You don't want any burnt-out bulbs after they've already been installed.

vlog-TV
YouTube

4. Attach your light clips and make sure all the lights are in the same direction.

vlog-TV
YouTube

5. Start from the ground up — use net lights to hang over bushes, use a hanging pole to tackle trees and wrap around railings, using the clips to secure the lights.

vlog-TV
YouTube

6. There's no way around it — you're going to have to get up on a ladder to install lights on your house, but forget the duct tape and use light clips to attach to your gutters. It'll make your life so much easier.

vlog-TV
YouTube

Now you're done! Flip the switch (or plug them into an outdoor timer) and you're ready to get lit.