Tips for storing all those holiday decorations
We had a super Christmas holiday with our family this year. We hope you did, too. But it’s time to pack it all up and store it until next year. If you do it right, it will be much more secure and much easier to take out next year.
Here are some of our favorite tips.
When taking things down, look for burned-out lights, bad wires and other damage, and replace these items if you need them next year. They usually are on sale right now at a real bargain.
Package like decorations together — all outdoor lights in one box, indoor lights in another and Christmas-tree balls in another. Label boxes as to their contents as well.
As far as the lights go, you can roll them up onto a reel straight off the house or bushes. Next year, you only will have to unroll the lights, and they will be ready to plug in. Special storage for smaller strands can be taken care of on a scrap of cardboard cut into a large “H” shape. Several of these storage “cards” can be stored in one box.
Wrap ornaments and other collectibles carefully. Use extra-strong boxes for these, and don’t forget to label them.
Pack fake trees properly to make setting them up again next year easier. Some people leave their trees decorated and covered up to protect it all. You can put this on a dolly and roll it into storage.
Check with your local waste collection agency to see if it picks up and recycles real trees that have served their purpose.
Store all of your boxes or bins in a dry area that is somewhat temperature-controlled, like a basement, interior closet or attic. You don’t want to expose these items to excessive heat, cold or moisture.
It will be a ho-ho-whole lot easier to fire things up next year if you do it right this year. Happy holidays from both of us to all of you!
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