Get ready for a night of treats on Halloween, not headaches

  • By James and Morris Carey For the Associated Press
  • Wednesday, October 17, 2007 12:58pm
  • Life

Halloween is just around the corner, and if you’re not careful, your home could give an unwelcome fright to the neighborhood ghouls and goblins.

Take these steps to make sure the children are safe and your sidewalks, stairs and porches are clear and well-lit:

Clear the way

First, remove hoses, ladders, planters and anything little ones can trip over. Repair cracks in paths using a concrete caulk and smooth out uneven surfaces with a concrete patching product. Replace loose or damaged bricks and mortar, and check for rot in wood steps and porches. Repair using a wood patch or replace boards as needed.

Then make sure all walking surfaces are clean and dry to prevent slipping. Use a broom before trick-or-treaters arrive and wait until the next morning to use a garden hose to wash away any candy that may have missed bags or little mouths.

Light up the night

Halloween may be the “darkest” night of the year, but it doesn’t have to be the deadliest. Use battery-powered jack-o-lanterns and chemical light sticks for decorations instead of candles, which can lead to fire.

It’s also a good time to consider permanent path lighting that will make paths safe year-round — a poorly lit path is an accident waiting to happen. Low-voltage systems are more affordable, energy-efficient and easier to install than ever. Although elements can be purchased piecemeal, most manufacturers offer a kit that contains everything needed to brighten up a home’s exterior.

Where more lighting is needed, such as at the front porch, consider motion-activated lighting. This type of fixture turns on when a sensor detects motion, a feature that protects against intruders. Make a motion-activated front porch light fun for Halloween by replacing the standard bulb with a black light.

Sound the alarm

Though you’ll likely hear the muffled call of “trick or treat” through your entry door, there’s no better time than Halloween to make sure that your doorbell is in good working order.

Here is a quick and easy fix: The most common doorbell problem is corrosion on the contacts. Just a little corrosion is all it takes to break the electrical connection. To fix it, turn off the power and remove the button cover. Loosen the screws holding the wires and use sandpaper or emery cloth to clean each wire where it connects until they all shine. Clean the screw contacts, too. Then reattach, turn on the power and test them.

If it still doesn’t ring, replace the button. And just for Halloween you can change the door chime to one that mimics ghosts, ghouls and goblins.

Protect the kids

Finally, for kids’ costumes, bright colors with reflective tape are most visible. Be sure all materials are flame-resistant and fit properly: not so long as to cause tripping, nor loose enough to catch on things.

When it’s time to leave, review safety instructions, give each child a flashlight and put identification and quarters for phone calls (or a cell phone) in their pockets. As night falls, be sure Fido is secure (so as not to bite) and prepare yourself for a trick-free night.

For tips from James and Morris Carey, visit their Web site at www.onthehouse.com or call 800-737-2474 between 6 and 10 a.m. Saturdays. The Careys are also on KRKO (1380 AM) from 6 to 10 a.m. every Saturday.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Life

What’s Up columnist Andrea Brown with a selection of black and white glossy promotional photos on Wednesday, June 18, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Free celeb photos! Dig into The Herald’s Hollywood time capsule

John Wayne, Travolta, Golden Girls and hundreds more B&W glossies are up for grabs at August pop-up.

Rodney Ho / Atlanta Journal-Constitution / Tribune News Service
The Barenaked Ladies play Chateau Ste. Michelle in Woodinville on Friday.
Coming events in Snohomish County

Send calendar submissions for print and online to features@heraldnet.com. To ensure your… Continue reading

Edmonds announces summer concert lineup

The Edmonds Arts Commission is hosting 20 shows from July 8 to Aug. 24, featuring a range of music styles from across the Puget Sound region.

Big Bend Photo Provided By Ford Media
2025 Ford Bronco Sport Big Bend Increases Off-Road Capability

Mountain Loop Highway Was No Match For Bronco

Cascadia College Earth and Environmental Sciences Professor Midori Sakura looks in the surrounding trees for wildlife at the North Creek Wetlands on Wednesday, June 4, 2025 in Bothell, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Cascadia College ecology students teach about the importance of wetlands

To wrap up the term, students took family and friends on a guided tour of the North Creek wetlands.

Mustang Convertible Photo Provided By Ford Media Center
Ford’s 2024 Ford Mustang Convertible Revives The Past

Iconic Sports Car Re-Introduced To Wow Masses

Kim Crane talks about a handful of origami items on display inside her showroom on Monday, Feb. 17, 2025, in Snohomish, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Crease is the word: Origami fans flock to online paper store

Kim’s Crane in Snohomish has been supplying paper crafters with paper, books and kits since 1995.

The 2025 Nissan Murano midsize SUV has two rows of seats and a five-passenger capacity. (Photo provided by Nissan)
2025 Nissan Murano is a whole new machine

A total redesign introduces the fourth generation of this elegant midsize SUV.

A woman flips through a book at the Good Cheer Thrift Store in Langley. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Pop some tags at Good Cheer Thrift Store in Langley

$20 buys an outfit, a unicycle — or a little Macklemore magic. Sales support the food bank.

The Mukilteo Boulevard Homer on Monday, May 12, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
‘Homer Hedge’: A Simpsons meme takes root in Everett — D’oh!

Homer has been lurking in the bushes on West Mukilteo Boulevard since 2023. Stop by for a selfie.

Sarah and Cole Rinehardt, owners of In The Shadow Brewing, on Wednesday, March 12, 2025 in Arlington, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
In The Shadow Brewing: From backyard brews to downtown cheers

Everything seems to have fallen into place at the new taproom location in downtown Arlington

Bar manager Faith Britton pours a beer for a customer at the Madison Avenue Pub in Everett. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Burgers, brews and blues: Madison Avenue Pub has it all

Enjoy half-price burgers on Tuesday, prime rib specials and live music at the Everett mainstay.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.