The countdown to Christmas is well and truly on.
With just a couple of days until the big celebration, many Brits will have finalised their festive decoration. But if you love jazzing up your lights, you might benefit from this little-known hack.
A particular TikTok user caused a stir online after revealing a tantalising tip about the often overlooked feature of red holiday lights.
The user, @viznelly, boasting an impressive 4,800 following amassed over the years, posted a video divulging their newfound understanding, confessing they “didn’t know” about the peculiar attribute these bulbs held.
The clip triumphantly declares: “I was today years old when I found out what these are for. Remove regular bulb and replace.”
Following up, a prompt interrupts: “Wait for it,” before highlighting the red bulb as it embarks on a captivating twinkle among its plain white peers.
This nifty trick not only brings an added zest of Yuletide joy with its engaging blinking pattern but also acts as a quick fix for any non-functional lights ahead of the celebrated season.
Considering bulbs tend to give in to wear and tear, especially when rolling out lights from previous celebrations, this handy hint could safeguard festive households against the expense of a fresh set.
The enlightening TikTok swiftly attracted viral fame, amassing 1.8 million likes and more than 6,800 comments, although viewer reactions varied.
Commenters shared a mixed bag of reactions, with one confessing: “I’m still confused, why is it still red?” A different commenter expressed their preference: “The blinky lights are nice but having one red bulb would bother me.”
A third was just as puzzled, stating: “I still don’t get it.” Luckily, some sharp-eyed individuals recognised the usefulness of this seasonal tip. One person observed: “Wait what? I thought they were replacements.”
Another admitted their lack of knowledge: “I clearly know nothing.” Joining the conversation, another wrote: “I thought they were replacement bulbs if one burnt out, lol.”
Clearing up any confusion, it’s revealed by Christmas Light Source that swapping any Christmas tree light bulb for a red-tipped one will make your lights flash – a nifty little holiday trick that doubles as a cost-saving measure.