I fell off a ladder hanging Christmas lights three years ago. Only two rungs up, so the damage was just a bruised ego and a ripped gutter clip. But I was alone, it was cold, and I realized how stupid it would have been if I’d been higher.

Now I have rules. Not suggestions — rules.

Ladder safety first

Extension ladder, not a step ladder. Gutters are high. A step ladder on uneven ground is asking for trouble. Extension ladders have wider bases and you can level the feet.

One person on the ground holding the ladder. Always. If you don’t have a second person, don’t get on the ladder. I know this sounds extreme. It’s not. Even pro installers follow this rule.

The 4-to-1 rule: for every 4 feet of ladder height, the base should be 1 foot away from the wall. Too steep and it tips backward. Too shallow and the feet slide out. Mark it in your head before you climb.

The clips that actually work

Skip the cheap plastic gutter clips. They snap in cold weather and the lights sag by New Year. All-purpose light clips that grip the shingle or gutter edge are worth the extra few dollars. They stay put through wind and freeze.

For windows and door frames: adhesive outdoor Command hooks rated for cold weather. Clean the surface with alcohol first. They hold through January and peel off without residue.

Test before you hang

Unroll and plug in every strand on the ground. Replace any strand with more than two dead bulbs. Chasing individual dead bulbs on a ladder in December is a special kind of misery.

For connecting multiple strands: check the maximum wattage on the first plug. Most strands say “connect up to 5 strands” or similar. Exceed it and you’ll blow a fuse or start a fire. LED strands draw less power so you can usually daisy-chain more of them.

Use outdoor-rated extension cords only. Indoor cords crack in freezing temperatures. And plug everything into a GFCI outlet. If you don’t have one outside, get a portable GFCI adapter.