It may be tempting to put off the daunting task of taking down your holiday decorations, but keep in mind that they are meant for temporary use. Leaving them up for an extended period of time can decrease their lifespan and increase the risk of electrical hazards.

• Dispose of your Christmas tree early in the new year. Live trees dry out with time, making them more flammable. Consider finding a local recycling program in your community to help dispose of your tree.
• Remove and store all holiday decorations by the first week of January.
• When taking down your holiday decorations, remember to unplug the cords using the gripping area on the plug. Pulling on the cord itself can damage the wire and increase the risk of electrical hazards.
• Inspect your holiday decorations and dispose of any with frayed or exposed wiring.
• Be sure to label and store outdoor and indoor decorations separately so you won’t get them mixed up next year.
• Keep electrical holiday decorations in a dry area and out of reach of pets and children.
• When using ladders to remove decorations near electrical conductors or equipment, only use ones with nonconductive side rails. And follow the rules of ladder safety.
  
  

While it’s a good idea to take down your holiday decorations early in the new year, please be careful and follow these guidelines to begin a safe and healthy 2022.

For more tips on safely wrapping up the holidays, visit the Electrical Safety Foundation International.