Christmas Tree Safety Tips

Make your Christmas tree a safe and clean holiday decoration with these simple tips:

1. Vacuum any needles that fall on the carpet as they can cause stains.

2. Apply commercial spot remover to any pitch stains. Use small amounts and blot with a clean, white cloth. Do not use carbon tetrachloride, gasoline or lighter fluid.

3. Keep trees away from heat sources such as fireplaces, radiators, heater vents or television sets. Use fireproof decorations and light reflectors. Lights with brittle or cracked insulation should be replaced.

4. Plug in all light sets to detect burned-out bulbs or short circuits before using them on the tree.

5. Don’t overload electrical circuits. A typical tree stand with 36 bulbs adds 250 watts to the circuit. A 15-amp fuse is capable of handling 1,500 watts. If a fuse blows, it means the line is overloaded or it is attached to defective equipment.

6. And last but not the least, never leave home without turning the tree lights off.