How to Keep Trick-Or-Treaters Away From Your Door

We’re jumbling a couple seasons together, but there are Halloween Grinches. Some folks just don’t welcome trick-or-treaters, whether it’s because they don’t want the ringing doorbell to wake up a baby, or they aren’t physically up to the repeated trips to the door, or perhaps they can’t afford the expense of feeding every candy junkie within a hundred miles.

No judgment. And some folks have philosophical differences with the holiday. Whatever your reason, if you want trick-or-treaters to steer clear of your house, there are things you can do to save you from a house dripping with eggs and soap, or a lawn full of plastic forks.

For some, it’s simply too big a pain to hit pause on “Stranger Things” or “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt” or whatever they’re watching on Netflix, climb off the couch and give out treats.

The folks at Netflix say the peak use of the pause button on remotes nationwide happens at 7:29 p.m. on Halloween. So if you know your neighbors are home with candy, that’s the time to knock on their door.

Step one to surviving Halloween intact if you don’t plan to take part is to keep your porch light or front door light off. Don’t invite kids to your home only to hand out disappointment.

To appease any ghosts or goblins who arrive at your doorstep, consider putting out a large bowl of candy with the sign: "Take One!" or "Help Yourself!"

Another idea: Put an empty bowl on your front step with a sign that says, "We are out for the night, take a few pieces of candy." It'll look just like you're gone and celebrating but that someone came by and took all the candy, says LifeHacker.com.

To keep an eye on mischief-makers, the Chicago Tribune suggests a camera and security system in case things go too far.

Photo: Trick or treat, by George Ruiz, via Flickr and Creative Commons