Command Outdoor Light Clips, Clear, 20 Clips, 24 Weather Resistant Strips

String lights look good in photos only when the line is clean – a sagging cord or a strand hooked over a nail every few feet reads as temporary. These Command clips are small clear hooks on water-resistant adhesive strips: one every 2 ft (60 cm) along a fence rail, a soffit or vinyl siding keeps the cord in a tidy line, and nothing has to be drilled. The pack holds 20 clips and 24 strips, and the maker rates them for 15 to 125 °F (−9 to 52 °C).

They are made for smooth surfaces. Brick, cement board and rough-sawn wood are on the maker’s “not recommended” list, so a rough cedar fence needs screw hooks instead. Wipe the surface clean and dry first, and wait an hour after sticking before the strand goes on. For a run across open space – from the house to a post – the clips only hold the ends; the span itself needs a guide wire or a post.

Tip: Count before you start: a 48 ft (14.6 m) strand at one clip per 2 ft (60 cm) needs about 24 clips, so plan a second pack or let a post carry part of the run.