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Busy families, this is for you! Get ready for next year’s holiday season with these practical storage tips. Keep your decorations organized, tangle-free, and clean for an easier setup next time.
🎄 Tips For Organizing Christmas Decorations
Categorize your items. Examples of categories could be tree decorations, wreaths, candles, garlands, etc. Make as many or as few that work for you.
Pack like items together. Next year when you are looking for a wreath, you will know it is stored with all the wreaths.
Separate outdoor decorations from inside decorations. It helps you avoid debating whether a garland is around an interior door or on the outside railing.
📦 Tips For Storing Christmas Decorations
Use clear containers so you can see what is inside, or label the containers. You can either make a label listing everything inside or number the boxes and keep the list of what is inside on your computer or a Rolodex.
Clean items before packing.
Gather your storage supplies before starting–permanent markers, labels, plastic totes–etc.
Label, label, label. Label the box and label items going into the box for locations, light colors, etc.
Christmas Tree
Lights
Check each strand of lights to see if all bulbs light. If not, replace the bulbs or toss the strand. Wrap the light stand around your arm. When wound, attach a twist tie to the middle.
You can cut a piece of cardboard and make slits on each side to wrap the lights around or use a hanger or paper towel roll. Whatever method you use, place lights in a zip-top plastic bag where you have left some air in for cushion. Label the color of the lights in each bag.
Beaded Garland
To keep your beaded garland from twisting together, thread it into a plastic water bottle to store. Each bottle should hold two stands. If you don’t have a water bottle, you can use any tall narrow container, such as one used for tennis balls. See below for other types of garland.
Ornaments
There is a variety of ways to store ornaments. If the balls are nonbreakable, you can place them like ornaments together in a zip-top bag. For your breakable ornaments, you will need to use containers that hold each bulb individually. You can make your own by gluing cups to a piece of cardboard that fits your container (tip via Martha Stewart).
Other containers you may use include packaging plastic apples come in, take-out drink holders, and egg cartons. Each piece should be wrapped in tissue, felt scraps, coffee filters, or bubble wrap. Do not use newspaper, as the ink may come off on your ornaments or colored tissue paper. Wrap your more precious ornaments in acid-free tissue paper or bubble wrap.
Storing Artificial Christmas Tree
It is probably dusting if you have had your tree up for a while. You can use the dust attachment on your vacuum or a handheld vacuum. Whichever you use, it should not pull needles off the tree–this will damage the motor. Start at the top, work towards the bottom, cleaning each branch. Find the complete instructions at WikiHow: How to Clean an Artificial Christmas Tree.
Place each row of branches in a garbage bag and label the outside. Store all in a plastic container. If you prefer to store the tree whole, consider using shrink wrap.
🌲 Storing Outdoor Christmas Decorations
Wreaths, Bows, And Garlands
Follow the instructions above for inside decorations. If you want to keep long lines of lights together, consider wrapping them around a coffee can or an oatmeal box. You can use a clean plastic garbage can to store garlands in.
Icicle Lights
Icicle lights tangle easily. To avoid tangles, wrap them in brown paper.
Inflatables
Hose down and let dry inflated. If it needs additional cleaning, use a mild detergent with no degreaser. Do not use dish soap, as it contains degreasers and will remove the sealant. Likewise, don’t use bleach. Once dry, fold up like you would a tent and store.
🎁 Wrapping Supplies
To prevent your paper from unwinding, cut open old toilet paper rolls and slide over the paper. Store paper in a shallow container so it doesn’t get crushed. You could also store your paper in a garment bag or a shoe bag that you cut open at the bottom of each pouch so the paper can slide through.
Ribbon
A small basket container helps organize your ribbons.
Do you have any suggestions for storing Christmas decorations? Please share in the comment section.
Check out January Holiday Planner. It is a year-round Christmas planner and will help you get a head start for next Christmas.
❓ Questions People Ask
How Do I Keep My Christmas Lights From Tangling?
Wrap them around your arm or a cardboard form, then place them in a labeled zip-top bag.
What’s The Best Way To Store Fragile Ornaments?
Use containers that hold each ornament individually, wrapped in tissue or bubble wrap.
How Can I Store My Artificial Christmas Tree Without Damaging It?
Clean it thoroughly, then store each row of branches in a labeled garbage bag inside a plastic container, or use shrink wrap if storing the tree whole.
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