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It's safe to hang Christmas lights from gutters with a few considerations. First, when installing the lights, follow safe ladder-use guidelines and avoid getting onto the roof. Second, for best results and the integrity of your lights, use clips to keep the bulbs away from inside the gutters where they could run into trouble with water or ice. 

Several options for hanging Christmas lights won't damage gutters. Using shingle clips avoids any hardware contact with them, and using plastic gutter clips minimizes the likelihood of scratching gutters. Remember not to rest a ladder, especially a metal one, against the gutters, and use a ladder stand-off device or stabilizer if you need to use an extension ladder. 

Yes, you can hang Christmas lights from the soffit of your roof, but it requires a bit more effort than hanging from the gutters or eaves. You’ll need to add an adhesive hook or tie to the underside of the soffit to keep the lights in place. Consider adding a soffit hook every 12 to 18 inches for best visual results.

No, you should not leave LED Christmas lights up all year. While the LED lights themselves are very durable, their wiring and casings can be as vulnerable as any Christmas lights. They’re subject to drying out, experiencing cold or sun damage that causes them to crack, and even damage caused by gnawing pests. (The same is true of incandescents.) If you want your lights to last the years that they’re rated for, bring them inside after Christmas is over.