The holidays are over and it’s time to take down the Christmas tree and other holiday decorations. Rather than just throwing all the ornaments, lights and other items randomly into boxes for storage until next year, take the time to properly prepare and package the holiday decorations for storage.

Clean and De-clutter

As ornaments are removed from the tree, inspect them for damage. Do the same for other items that have been displayed throughout the home. Thoroughly inspect all items and repair or discard, as appropriate.

Prior to storing, make sure that decorations are clean. Wash and thoroughly dry decorations that are washable and vacuum those that are not. Donate decorations that you no longer want to charity. Keep only those decorations that you know will be of use during future holidays.

Package Properly

If possible, use the original packaging for storing ornaments. If the original packaging is not available, wrap fragile ornaments and decorations individually in tissue paper and place inside small heavy cardboard or plastic boxes.

Place desiccant packets in with ornaments or decorations that might draw moisture, such as those made with cinnamon or salt dough. Be sure that the child’s name and the year are written on the back of handmade ornaments.

Carefully coil strings of lights and secure with twist ties to avoid tangles. Enclose non-fragile decorations inside plastic or another dust-proof covering. To avoid damage during storage, place coils of lights on top of boxes of ornaments inside a large, sturdy container with a secure lid and store in a cool, dry place.

Tags: Christmas, Christmas tree, Decorations, Holidays

This entry was posted on Wednesday, December 30th, 2009 at 10:50 am and is filed under Cleaning Tips, DIY, Holidays, Home. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.