Decorations are a very big part of holiday traditions to many people. So you don’t want to pull your favorite ornaments and wreaths out of storage only to find them broken or damaged! With these steps, you’ll ensure that all of your items remain safely intact all year long, so you’ll have the best holiday season possible next year.
- Artificial Trees
Decide where to keep your tree, considering the fact that they can weigh a lot. If lifting it or hanging it are out of the question, a storage facility is a great solution. And to keep the branches fresh – or keep them from bending the wrong way while sitting in storage – wrap the entire tree in plastic wrap, tightly. This will ensure that your artificial tree stays intact.
- Christmas Lights
Oh the dreaded lights. Your strings of bulbs always end up tangled over time. There’s a quick and easy solution that you can probably make from a leftover box this holiday season: Wrap the lights around a piece of cardboard. Tape one end of the lights to the center of the cardboard, and carefully wrap the rest of the string around until you reach the other end. Wrapping each string separately can keep the lights from being tangled, and it can also give you a great way to stay organized next season. Label each piece of cardboard with the location it goes – like on the tree, or outside – to avoid confusion next year.
3. Wreaths
Your greenery needs love, even if it is artificial. Wreaths can be crushed under some of the heavier holiday items, and any add-ons – like ribbons, bows, or fake berries – can be easily damaged or deformed. If your wreath is small enough, you can store it in a hatbox, which will help to keep its shape. If not, another alternative is to hang your wreaths on wire hanger, and cover them with plastic bags to protect from dust during the off-season.
4. Ornaments
Your Christmas ornaments are precious, but they are also delicate. Anything made out of glass can easily break if left rolling around in the bottom of a bin. One easy solution comes from your kitchen: Use a leftover egg carton. You can keep your smaller ornaments separate and safe by placing them inside. For larger ornaments, create a DIY separator by gluing plastic cups to a piece of cardboard. The cups will act as a larger version of the egg carton.
5. Christmas Linens
From tree skirts to table cloths, you probably have a handful of linens that are only used for one month out of the year. Instead of letting them take up space in your bathroom closet, put them in storage. Employ some old hanging dress bags, and hang your linens in them with pants hangers. You’ll avoid creasing, and keep them from smelling musty when you take them out of storage.
