Publication date: 07/02/2010

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Get your home ready for July 4th festivities

The holiday weekend is upon us, and you are probably planning a shopping trip to stock up for the big barbecue. Besides getting the steaks and ice for the cooler, there are also a few other things you can do around the house to prepare for your guests.

Show American flag

One of the first things most of us do for the holiday is put up the American flag. But what if your flag is old and needs to be replaced? Bill Miles, the owner of American Flag and Banner in Clawson, (248) 288-3010, www.americanflagandbanner.net, said there is a protocol to be followed when disposing of an American flag.

"You can burn the flag only when disposing of it, or you can separate the field of stars from the stripes and cut these sections up so they can't be used again," Miles said.

If you don't have time to do that, you can also bring your old flag into American Flag and Banner and they will donate it to a local Boy Scout Troop or the American Legion to be used during flag-burning ceremonies.

Miles said a 3- by 5-foot flag is the typical sized replacement flag for a pole mounted to the front of the house, while a 4- by 6-foot flag is best for a standard 20-foot flagpole.

If you have a smaller flag pole attached to your house, Miles said you may want to consider getting a new one that features ball bearings which turn the pole automatically to keep the flag unfurled instead of it becoming wrapped around the pole when it's windy.

With most large flag poles nowadays being made of aluminum, Miles said the only thing that may need replacing is a frayed or broken rope.

Get rid of mosquitoes

To keep mosquitoes from ruining your get-together, get rid of any standing water in gutters, puddles and planters, and put fresh water in the birdbath. If you have fountains or a pond, use Mosquito Bits or Mosquito Dunks by Summit Chemical, (800) 227-8664, www.summitchemical.com, to kill the mosquito larvae. Then cut your grass as short as possible and use Mosquito Beater by Bonide Products, (800) 536-8231, www.bonide.com, on the lawn to keep mosquitoes at bay. Running a fan on your deck or patio is also a good way to keep mosquitoes away at night.

Improve your outdoor lighting

If you have decorative solar lights around your walkways, patios or decks, make sure they are ready to provide light for your party. First, change out the rechargeable AA batteries for fresh ones.

Next, clean the photocell to make sure it will turn on the light at night. Most solar lights need a full eight hours of direct sunlight to completely recharge. Now that trees and bushes are in full bloom, you may need to reposition your lights to ensure they get enough sun to work correctly.

For patio furniture that includes an umbrella, there are some unique lighting options available that provide light without being too bright. You can choose from either an LED light ring that is shaped like a doughnut and fits around your umbrella pole, or choose light strings that attach to the ribs of the umbrella and provide both light and a decorative touch.

Make sure doorbell, lights work

When the doorbell rings, sometimes it's hard to hear it if you are either working outdoors or busy in the kitchen. To make sure you can hear when guests arrive, install a wireless doorbell system. These remote systems allow you to place the ringers throughout your home so you can always hear the doorbell. You can even get systems with an intercom.

Consider changing the standard bulbs in your porch lights with CFL's, and also replacing them with motion-activated fixtures. You can find both of them at hardware stores and home centers. They will provide your guests a clearly lit path when they are either coming in or heading home.

Before heading out to the market, visit my friends over at www.cookinwithroscoe.com for grilling recipes you can brag about. Now put on the baseball game and fire up that barbecue. Now you are ready to enjoy not only this holiday weekend, but all those after in style.

Note: This article was accurate at the date of publication. However, information contained in it may have changed. If you plan to use the information contained herein for any purpose, verification of its continued accuracy is your responsibility.

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