We can all agree that the merriest Christmas tree is the safest Christmas tree. And for a tree to be safe, we are referring not just to the tree, but to everyone and everything around it…including your pets. This list of tree tips will help keep your home and family protected throughout the season. 

Safe from little hands. Have you seen the meme circulating where only the top half of the tree is decorated because there are toddlers in the house? Well this is not just funny, but a good idea too! If you’re going to have decorations at the bottom, ensure they are safe and soft for little inquisitive hands. 

Paws count too. If you have pets in the house, you’re going to want to keep the same mindset as for toddlers. Cats especially love dangly, shiny things and dogs like to snoop to see what’s in it for them. If you can’t keep a barrier around the tree, place ornaments on lower branches that can safely be swatted and maybe even chewed.

 Water, water, water. If you have a real tree, always ensure its base is topped up with water…especially if you’re gone for long periods of time. The easiest way to water it is to keep a full container right under the tree so you can fill it every time you check it.

Lights on. Can you imagine that back in the day, they put actual candles on the tree as decorations? Thank goodness technology has arrived, and we can now adorn the tree in tiny, safe, low voltage lights. Even with this level of protection give each strand a visual look every year and if you think for one second a strand doesn’t look just right, toss it and replace it. Make sure all your Christmas lights have been tested in a lab by the UL or ETL/ITS. 

Lights off. When you go to bed or leave the house, be sure to turn off the tree lights too. If you plug it into a smart plug or a hot switch, this makes the task that much easier. “Alexa…turn off the tree.” 

Location. Keep your tree away from a heat source such as heating vents, fireplaces, heat producing appliances, candles, portable radiators, etc., to not just avoid a potential fire, but to keep it from drying out too quickly. 

The holiday season is typically a rush rush rush time of the year, so it can be easy to forget simple tasks like watering the tree and turning out lights. But since it’s so important, make a list and check it at least twice like Santa, so you can keep your San Joaquin Valley Homes house and precious family safe during the holidays.