With summer just around the corner, many Delhi residents are enjoying the landscaping tasks that make our homes, and neighborhoods, so lovely.  In many cases, the mailbox is the first thing people see.

An attractive, well-maintained mailbox adds to the appearance of your home or business and our community.  A sturdy mailbox protects your daily mail from the elements and a new box is safe for you and your carrier to use. 

The Delhi Post Office shares the following tips for sprucing up your mailbox:

1. If your mailbox is mounted on a pole or a post, check its stability and make sure it is properly anchored.
2. Your mailbox identifies your address, not only for the letter carrier but for the police, the fire department, emergency workers and other service providers. Make sure your address appears on both sides of the mailbox, so people who need to find you can do so, and so can your mail.
3. Check the door and its hinges. Make sure it closes properly to keep your mail in and the wind and rain out.
4. Do you see any sharp edges or nails sticking out? Protect your own hands, as well as those of your letter carrier by filing them off.
5. Also sand and repaint or replace your mailbox if it's rusted   You don't want to have to get a tetanus shot, and neither does your letter carrier!

Is it time to replace the whole box and post?  Postal officials always encourage residents to contact their local post office, such as the Delhi office, before making permanent changes to a mailbox post to assure that the location is within reach of the letter carrier’s vehicle. 

The Postal Service website, www.usps.com, also includes a featured section on installation of residential mailboxes.  This includes a diagram and recommendations, such as position your mailbox 41" to 45" above ground level so a carrier can reach the box safely from inside a postal vehicle.   

Curbside delivery – where the carrier does not leave the vehicle – is the safest form of delivery for residential areas.  Postal safety experts add that the next best scenario is to move your mailbox to the bottom of your steps, away from such hazards as wobbly handrails, wet stairs, slick sidewalks and even family pets. 

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