New Gadgets Helping To Make Holiday Decorating Easier
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- Getting a job done fast means having the proper tools, and that holds true for decorating your home for the holidays.
This year, there are four items that you'll want to have on hand before you roll up your sleeves.
There are so many gadgets designed to make decorating a snap -- starting with power cords.
"When these glow, these tell you that you have power itself, where if you are using traditional type cords - orange cords, green cords or something - you can't tell if you really have the power on," said Andy Amrhein, of Evey True Value Hardware.
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If you run those cords outside, you know you must keep them dry.
"Now they make a device that you can turn your extension cords and make them waterproof. So what you are doing is the two ends themselves are just going into the box, you are closing it, snapping it shut, and it's going to keep the cords waterproof," said Amrhein.
For decades, people have used timers to turn the lights on and off. Now they're going high-tech by utilizing the Bluetooth connection in your phone.
"Just came in. I have only had it a day, but we've got some of these where you actually are using your smartphone now to turn all your Christmas lights on and off with," Amrhein said.
He also says a $70 tree-stand is making it a snap to put up a perfect tree in three or four minutes.
"It's on the driveway. You just slide this in. You just tighten all the knobs on it. This is done and finished. Then, your tree stand at home, you just drop it right in, and you don't have to worry about it," Amrhein says.
And getting it oriented and straight is so simple.
"This tree stand sits very, very snug. So you get the side. You get the angle for it. Then, when it is all set, this could still be tilting at an angle but the tree would be coming up straight. You just put the tab in and it's locked," he said.
Not sure how to hang things, like displaying your favorite wreath on the front door? Consider this.
"Magnetic wreath hangers. You've got a steel door and you don't want to put holes in it. This will hold it on," said Amrhein. "You have a solid glass door? You get a magnetic wreath holder out and just get another one or a smaller one, and it will just hold straight through the glass itself."
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