When buying a wreath for New Year’s room decoration, you need to pay attention to its marking. This was told to socialbites.ca by Natalia Korotchenko, department manager of the OBI chain of home and summer cottages.
“The IP 20 marking indicates that the model is designed for the home, it is recommended to keep the wreath away from water and regularly clean it from accumulated dust,” said Natalia Korotchenko.
To decorate objects on the street, you need to choose garlands marked at least IP 44.
“The device cannot be submerged in water, but splashes and precipitation do not affect its performance. It is advisable to place such a wreath under a canopy or in a special visor that prevents the snow from settling on the strands, ”the expert warns.
However, according to him, products marked as IP 54, IP 65, IP 67 are resistant to heavy snow, rain and ice.
“Such models usually use thick wires with a diameter of at least 3.3 mm. The power of street garlands should be either 24 V (connected via a transformer) or from batteries. Please note that the latter can be discharged faster in the cold. 220V mains is suitable for connecting to household sockets,” said Korotchenko.
“When buying a garland, you should pay attention to the integrity of the insulation, the wire should fit tightly to all elements, there should be no jagged seams,” he said.
“The box should contain information about the manufacturer, date of manufacture, number and type of bulbs, degree of protection and voltage level. The sharp smell of plastic should warn – most likely, the manufacturer saved on raw materials, ”the expert warned.
He also reminded that wreaths should not be placed near radiators and heaters and should not be left on all night or when leaving the house. Also, to prevent fire, shredded needles should be removed as they are highly flammable.
Former designer Julia Golub suggested make the tree greener.