Holiday Decorations on Windows and Doors Without the Damage

Holiday decorations on windows and doors are part of the season in Quebec, from wreaths on the front door to lights framing the living room window. Done carelessly, though, they can leave scratched glass, sticky residue, crushed weatherstripping and drafts that last long after the tree is gone. With a few simple habits, you can decorate generously and still find your windows and doors in good shape in January. Here is how to light, hang and remove everything safely.

Why Holiday Decorations Can Harm Windows and Doors

Windows and doors are built to seal tightly, and decorations often interfere with exactly that. A cord pinched in a closed window keeps the sash from locking. A wreath hanger hooked over the top of a door presses on the weatherstripping all season. An adhesive hook stuck to a vinyl frame can pull the surface when it is removed in the cold.

The timing makes it worse. Decorations go up just as the deep cold arrives and stay through the coldest weeks of the year. Any gap they create lets in cold air and moisture, which can turn into frost and ice along the frame. Most of this damage is avoidable once you know where the risks are.

Lights and Cords: Keep Windows Closed and Locked

The most common mistake is running an extension cord through a window or under a door. The sash or door cannot close fully on the cord, so the seal is broken and cold air comes in day and night. The cord itself can be crushed, and the window may be left unlocked for weeks. It is also a fire and electrical risk if the insulation of the cord gets damaged.

Instead, use an exterior outlet protected by a ground-fault circuit interrupter (GFCI), ideally with a weatherproof cover, and outdoor-rated cords and lights. Follow the light manufacturer's limit on how many strings can be connected end to end. If you have no exterior outlet, it is worth asking an electrician to add one rather than passing cords through openings. Outside, use plastic clips designed for gutters, shingles or railings instead of nails or screws.

Never drill or screw into window frames, aluminium capping or door frames to hang lights. Each hole is a potential water entry point, and moisture behind the capping or in the frame can cause damage that only appears years later. If holes from past years are visible, have them sealed properly.

• Do not pass cords through windows, patio doors or under entry doors
• Use exterior outlets with weatherproof covers and outdoor-rated cords
• Attach lights with clips, not nails or screws in the frames
• Choose LED lights, which give off very little heat
• Keep connections off the ground and away from snow and meltwater

Holiday Decorations on Windows: Clings, Hooks and Spray Snow

Glass itself is quite forgiving. Static window clings and suction cups usually come off clean if the glass is clean when you apply them. Adhesive hooks are another story: on vinyl or painted frames, they can pull away the finish or leave residue that is hard to remove. If you need a hook, put it on the glass with a suction cup or use a tension rod inside the window recess.

Spray snow and window paints are popular, but test them on a small corner first and choose products labelled as washable. Remove them with warm water, a mild soap and a soft cloth. Avoid razor blades and abrasive pads: scratches on glass are permanent, and some glass has coatings that should not be scraped. To learn more about these coatings, see our page on low-emissivity glass.

Do not apply decorative films or dark stickers over large areas of insulated glass without checking with the window manufacturer. Strong sun on a partly covered sealed unit can heat the glass unevenly, which in some cases can stress or even crack it. Small, removable decorations spread over the glass are a safer choice.

Wreaths, Garlands and Entry Doors

Over-the-door wreath hangers are convenient, but a thick metal hook sitting on top of the door compresses the weatherstripping and can keep the door from closing tightly. Choose a thin, flat hanger, check that the door still latches without force, and look for drafts at the top corner. On a door with glass, a suction-cup wreath holder on the glass avoids the problem entirely.

Magnetic hangers work only on steel doors, and they can scratch the paint if dirt gets trapped underneath; a piece of felt helps. Fiberglass doors are not magnetic, so use a suction cup on the glass or an over-the-door hanger. Avoid tape and adhesive hooks on painted or stained door surfaces.

Garlands around the frame should never block the latch, the hinges or the threshold, and they should not be stapled into the frame. If you are not sure what your door is made of, a small magnet will tell you: it sticks to steel but not to fiberglass or wood. Our exterior doors page shows the main door types.

• Steel door: magnetic hanger with felt underneath, or a thin over-the-door hook.
• Fiberglass door: suction cup on the glass or a thin over-the-door hook.
• Door with glass: suction-cup holder on the glass, away from the edges.
• All doors: no tape, staples or screws in the slab or frame.

Patio Doors, Candles and Inflatables

A sliding patio door is easy to forget during decorating. Keep the track and threshold free of garlands, cords and fake snow, and make sure the door can still be locked. Outside, do not pile snow from the deck against the door to make room for decorations, because meltwater can freeze in the track.

Candles in windows are a lovely tradition, but real flames near curtains and blinds are a fire risk. LED candles give a similar effect with far less fire risk. Outdoor inflatables and stakes should stay away from basement window wells and should not lean against the glass, where wind can rub them back and forth.

Taking Decorations Down Without Damage

Removal is when most damage happens, usually on a cold January day when everything is stiff. Wait for a milder day if you can, and peel clings and hooks slowly. Plastic and adhesives become brittle in the cold and are more likely to leave pieces behind.

Use mild soap and warm water for residue on glass, and test any cleaner on a hidden spot of the frame first. Avoid strong solvents on vinyl, rubber seals and painted surfaces. While you are at it, take a minute to inspect each window and door: check that seals are intact and windows lock firmly.

• Remove decorations on a milder day when possible
• Peel adhesive products slowly, never with a blade
• Clean glass with warm water, mild soap and a soft cloth
• Test cleaners on a hidden part of the frame first
• Inspect seals, locks and thresholds before closing up for the rest of winter

Noticed a Problem While Decorating? Get a Free Estimate

Decorating is one of the few times a year when you look closely at every window and door. If you noticed fog between the panes, cracked frames, a door that no longer seals or drafts that were not there before, take note of them. A loose hinge screw or a worn sweep can often be handled yourself, but fogged sealed units, cracked frames and seals that no longer close are worth having a professional look at. Photos taken now will help when you plan repairs or replacement.

Unisson Groupe manufactures and installs windows and doors in Saint-Laurent and serves homeowners across Greater Montreal. You can browse our uPVC windows, then request a free in-home estimate when the holidays are over. Bring your notes and photos to the visit so each problem you spotted can be reviewed.

Frequently Asked Questions