Holiday Lights Have Feast on Battery Packs

Q: I have Christmas lights that go around a door and a large mirror in my den. They look great, but they’re battery-powered, and the batteries need to be changed every three hours, which can get expensive. Is there a better alternative?

C.O.

Anaheim Hills

A: In applications like that, in which an extension cord can’t be easily hidden, you’re stuck with battery-powered lights, says Mike McCoy of Current Supply in Westminster.

Most direct-current Christmas lights are made very inexpensively and therefore not very energy efficient. You can try using rechargeable batteries, which cost more initially but will give you more use in the long run, or you go with the most inconspicuous extension cord you can find.

Q: My carpeting is desperately in need of cleaning, and I can’t afford the $100 or more to have it professionally done. If I rent a machine to do it myself, are there any tricks I should know?

M.M.

Costa Mesa

A: Find out what kind of cleaning is recommended for your carpeting through the manufacturer or your carpet dealer, says Mark Silverberg of New York Carpets in Anaheim. Most rental cleaning systems are safe as long as they’re used properly.

One of the biggest mistakes people make when cleaning their own carpet is using too much water or detergent, because these can affect the way the carpet binds to the backing.

If you soak the carpet too much, you could also cause the tack strip to rust at the edges, which would permanently discolor light-colored carpet. Follow the directions carefully, and you should get a reasonably good cleaning job.

Q: Our interior walls are made of drywall that has a rough orange peel texture. In the guest bathroom, the previous owners did some remodeling and scarred the wall with ugly gouges. Can this be smoothed out to make it blend into the wall, and also, how would I smooth out the gouged molding underneath?

H.C.

Lake Forest

A: To fix gouges, first fill them in with a spackling putty, says contractor Jared Smith of Huntington Beach.

Sand them smooth when you’re done, then use a wall texturizer, available at most hardware stores, that comes in a spray can.

It basically sprays a texture on the wall to make spots blend in, but be sure you mask the counter and floor well, because it can get pretty messy.

As for the molding, first give it a good sanding job, then fill in the dents with putty and sand again till it’s smooth before applying a primer and finish coat.

If you have a question about your home or garden, A Helping Hand will help you find the answer. Send questions to John Morell, Home Design, The Times Orange County, 1375 Sunflower Ave., Costa Mesa, CA 92626.