Home Improvement News Bureau

Ghosts And Goblins Create Holiday Problems

Tips to make sure your Halloween is a happy one

MONEY PIT NEWSBUREAU - October 1, 2004.  Halloween trick-or-treaters are cute in their costumes, but the tricks they can leave behind are anything but.

There’s nothing quite like waking up on November 1 to find toilet paper cascading from your trees, eggs dripping down your windows, your jack-o-lantern smashed on your sidewalk, and your mailbox and garbage cans dented, dinged and deposited down the street.

Tom Kraeutler of The Money Pit Home Improvement Radio Show has heard these and many more tales of mischief night woe on their program.  He says of all the home improvement problems he solves on the program, Halloween cleanups rank as one of the more unpleasant chores of home ownership.

 “As unpleasant as it may be, it is important to clean up the mess quickly,” says Kraeutler,  “Eggs can damage painted surfaces and wood siding, so tackle this first.  Use a solution of ammonia and water to scrub doors, windows, trim work and siding.  Ammonia will help neutralize the acid in the eggs, he said.”

Kraeutler offered the following tips to help speed clean-ups from neighborhood goblins:

• Use a long-handled branch trimmer to pull paper down from your trees.  Use the power spray setting on your hose to wash down the remnants, unless it is below freezing outdoors.
• Pumpkin, while terrific in pie, isn’t so good for your sidewalks, creating a slick, slippery mess.  Clean up the large pieces, then hose off with a detergent such as Pine Sol.
• You may be able to hammer your garbage cans and mailbox back into shape, or this might be time to consider new ones.  Plastic garbage cans on wheels are more durable and easier to manage.  Plastic mailboxes resist denting, while a brick housing for your mailbox provides additional protection.

Kraeutler says you don’t have to lie in wait for trouble to begin.  “Taking a few precautionary steps can ‘trick to put the tricksters’ right out of business before the damage is done,” he said.  Among his suggestions:

•  Leave floodlights and interior lights on bright settings on Halloween to discourage mischief-makers.  If it looks like you’re home, you’re less likely to be a target.
•  Consider motion lights that light up when people get near the home.  This can alert you when egg throwers are approaching your house, and help keep you safe all year long.
•  Store garbage cans inside to prevent damage.  Make sure cars, bikes and other objects are indoors, as well
• Cover ground-level front windows and shutters with clear plastic sheeting.  It won’t be pretty, but it will prevent eggs from getting on your windows and trim.  Cover your door, too, if it is accessible.  Just peel down plastic and throw away the next day
•  When the majority of trick-or-treaters are done, bring your jack-o-lantern inside to thwart late-night vandals
• Dress a fashion dummy in Halloween costume and chain to your mailbox.  If they can’t get to your mailbox conveniently, they can’t dent it with a baseball bat.  Or, fill your mailbox with bricks.  If they do hit it, the painful vibration will give them something to remember.

Create a looped tape of scary sounds to play on an outdoor boom box and frighten off unwanted guests.  If pranksters were brave, they wouldn’t be throwing eggs in the dark.

Finally, hold a Halloween party of your own, in your front yard. The costume and festivities will keep mischief-makers at bay.

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