|
|
|
|
Click Here for a Printable View 
Holiday Storage
Stringing lights and hanging ornaments on the tree are part and parcel of the anticipation, fun and excitement of Christmas. But the prospect of putting everything away once the holidays are over is less appealing! These tips will not only help you stow your decorations away as quickly and neatly as possible, but will also aid in getting them out again next year.
|
- A place for everything. Reserve a space in the garage, attic, basement or shed for storing your holiday décor. Make sure it’s free of moisture. Having one designated area for the decorations makes it easier to find everything when it’s time to decorate.
- Box it up. Plastic boxes are a great choice for storing — and protecting — delicate ornaments, glassware or lights. Clear boxes let you to see what’s inside; colored ones make identifying holiday décor easier. Or mark any box with a colorful, easy-to-spot label.
- Label the boxes. "Stair garland." "Porch lights." "Ornaments." "Window candles." Clearly marking the contents on each box makes it easy to find what you want.
- Label specific decorations. You trimmed the artificial garland carefully so the sizes would be just right for your stair railing and doorways, and you know which candles to put in which windows. Now put a tag on each item, directing where it goes when you unpack it next year. You’ll also save time by leaving the lights attached to artificial garlands or wreaths when you put them away.
- Tips for storing specific items:
- Lights. Don’t let untangling strings of lights become a holiday tradition! Organize lights before you put them away, making sure to dispose of any that are damaged or burned out. Commercial light holders efficiently keep strings neatly organized.
Store light strings together in a large plastic tub. If you use a special string of lights for a specific purpose, mark down its use on a label and attach it to the holder or string with tape or a rubber band. Attach bags of extra bulbs to the ends of each string.
Once you've packed away all the lights, put the extension cords you use with them. Make a note of which extension cords go with which light strings so you won’t need to measure them again next year.
- Artificial trees. Storing your artificial tree in the box it came in isn’t the best preservation method. Cardboard boxes don’t lock out dust – and they deteriorate over time, making them prone to insect infestation. A plastic storage bag or box (or, in the case of a large tree, several boxes) is a much better choice – and is easier to carry.
- Candles. Avoid storing candles in an attic, shed, or other warm areas where they could melt. Wrap them in old socks before putting them away to prevent them from getting scratched.
- Wreaths. Artificial wreaths should be stored in containers that will preserve their shape. In damp climates, remove wire or metal decorations and store them separately in a plastic bag to keep them from rusting. Place the wreath in a handy wreath box, large square box, or large plastic trash bag. If you have room, hang it on a wall in the garage or basement (cover it securely with plastic to keep it free of dust). Store the wreath hanger with its wreath so it doesn’t get lost or separated.
- Garlands. Bulky garlands store well in large plastic storage boxes because there’s nothing to break – you can squeeze a lot into a big box, then just fluff it out next year!
- Ornaments. It’s generally best to store special ornaments in the boxes in which they came. Egg cartons work well for smaller ornaments, but you may want to take special precautions storing expensive or heirloom ornaments. (Example: silica packets can be packed with items to control humidity levels.)
Fragile ornaments that have no boxes of their own can be stored with shredded newspaper: fill a box with shredded paper, put the ornaments inside, and add more shredded paper on top. This protects your ornaments without you having to wrap them individually.
Ornament storage boxes are a safe and convenient way to pack your ornaments. Individual, divided sections separate ornaments and prevent breakage.
- Miscellaneous items. Pack logically: if you have room, store holiday placemats with holiday dishes, Christmas cards with wrapping paper, and plastic matting used to protect the floor under the tree with the tree stand and skirt.
|
|
www.Solutions.com
Keep this in a notebook or file folder for reference.
Copyright 2007, Solutions.com; all rights reserved. For personal use only.
Click Here for a Printable View
|
|
|
