Storing Christmas ornaments and Christmas Decorations properly

Tips and step-by-step instructions on how to find cheap packaging and pack and store christmas ornaments and christmas decorations collections efficiently and safely

Your Christmas tree decorations and Christmas ornament collection represent a significant investment in money, time and wonderfull and important family memories. They deserve thoughtful consideration to enable them to be easily displayed next year. They should be cleaned and organized each year as you store them, in a way that will preserve them well and make them easy to find and reassemble in a logical order.

Proper storage of Christmas decorations and wrappings may be a challenge, especially if your storage space and your time are limited. Never throw out a shoe box. Consider buying those large stackable plastic boxes with lids that seal and divided compartments, which are ideal for storing ornaments and keeping vermin and moisture out.

After preparing a suitable storage area, and collecting the appropriate storage containers and wrapping materials (see below) select a suitable workspace where you can organise your collection. Store your decorations in the order in which you will put them up next season.

Check your Christmas ornaments as you take them down and categorise them as you go. Lay each category of Christmas items out together, before you pack that category, so you can visualise them and use the right amount of your storage containers and pack them in a way that keeps each category together. This will make the decorating job a pleasure next season.

Begin dismantling the Christmas tree decorations by removing all hanging ornaments first and laying them on a large table. Repair or discard broken and worn-out items. Separate those tired, old, outdated ornaments to give to a local charity or sell off in a garage sale and make a list of the type and size of ornaments that you would like to add to your collection for the future. This list will help you decide on any mid-year chances to acquire new ornaments for your collection that can often be found at bargain prices out of season. Also have a think about the tradition of giving family members a new Christmas ornament each year to add to their collection. Christmas ornaments given by a family members becomes so much more treasured collections.

Some decorations and ornaments are able to be washed others need to be wiped. Keep a medium sized paint brush with your collection just for dusting intricate pieces. Some you may find safer to just blow any tiny particles of dust off to avoid damage to delicate pieces, however you should ensure they are all stored in clean condition.

Don't forget to check that you have all of the pieces of your Nativity sets and Christmas villages when packing. Sometimes some of the pieces can end up in the children's toy box and be lost.

Christmas linen such as tablecloths, dinner napkins, stockings, pillow sacks, and tree skirts should be laundered before storage. Dusty ornaments or other decorations should be wiped clean. Ribbons that can be untied and re-tie each year will save money and ensure you end up with a good collection. Iron them before you pack them away.

Many tree baubles are fine glass and are quite delicate and fragile and so need appropriate storage containers for long term preservation and enjoyment. Acid free tissue paper is your best friend for these.

Storage boxes with sectional compartments are best. If you did not get a decent original box with the items, then its best to deliberately buy one or make one. For small hanging Christmas baubles a clean egg carton can be ideal. For large baubles try cardboard fruit trays (available in different sizes from mandarins to grapefruits, collect them free from the local supermarket). Just like an egg carton these have a shape that keeps the baubles apart and cushions them.

Divided boxes designed for wine or liquor bottles are also ideal for protecting your tall standing ceramic Christmas shelf ornaments like; Santas and Snowmen and Angel, collections. Shredded paper can be a good buffer to avoid breakages but don't let small items get lost in shredded paper as it can cause them to be dropped when unpacking next Christmas.

Plastic cups placed in a box and surrounded with shredded paper can be a cheap ornament container. The ornaments will be separated and cushioned from breakage, and also will be easier to retrieve next Christmas.

If you can hear your packaged ornaments shake, you know they're going to break. So use a lot of padding. Used gift-wrap is usually available in abundance at Christmas time. Keep some, it can be ideal to wrap items in, and when scrunched up, it can fill in that space between to secure the ornaments so that they don't move around.

Metal hanging tree ornaments are mostly flat and easy to stack and store, however they must be stored free of any moisture. Do not wrap them in plastic bags which will seal in air-born moisture. Use acid free tissue paper between them so they do not touch each other. Use a moisture absorbing desiccant material to ensure they stay dry.

Take care when taking down lighting, Use the ladder or a sturdy chair to reach, don't tug the light strings or flick them as you will cause damage. Check your light strings and replace burnt-out bulbs. make sure you store you spare bulbs with the tree lights. Wrap the strands around cardboard tubes or squares to avoid tangling. Or put each string of lights in a separate bag to ensure they are not tangled when you get them out next year.

Tree lights should also be wiped clean, but be sure to disconnect any electrical items before doing so. Don't pack the extension cord with the lighting as it is for sure that you are going to need it during the year. Pack outdoor lighting in a separate box and label it so.

Remove garlands and store them separately. Discard any garlands made of fresh, edible material that will attract pests. Then remove tinsel and garland trains and store them in their own container. Always store the tree stand in its original box. The same applies to an artificial Christmas tree and for fiber optic Christmas trees, rope lights and lighted external display items, make sure the electrical controller pack goes into the same box to keep it all together.

After the containers are packed, clearly label the contents on the outside of each container and then fill the box with the same items from year to year. Make a list on the outside of the container to help you find the ornaments you want when it's time to decorate. You will be glad for the time used in carefully packing your Christmas ornaments and decorations when you get the ornaments out for the next Christmas season.

Double-check for missed ornaments. Don't forget the tree topper. Remove the tree from its stand, take it outside and cut up for recycling. Check each room in the house for decorations that you may have missed. Don't forget the entry and rear doors.

Label a separate box to hold specialised Christmas tableware, napkins, napkin holders, towels, candy bowls, and unused paper plates etc.

Recycle your Christmas cards or even re-use them yourself. The card fronts can be re-used by cutting of the front punching a hole in the corner, and then tie with ribbon as a very expensive looking gift tag next year.

Don't forget to store separately your paper goods: Christmas cards, gift wrap, bows, ribbon and gift tags. If your supplies are low, replenish them from the end of season sales. A long, flat under-bed box makes ideal storage for these. Don't forget to include tape, a pen and a spare pair of scissors.

Designate a suitable area for your main Christmas storage, and use the same space each year. Somewhere out of the way, as you wont need them for a whole year. Avoid using attic or basement areas where extreme temperature or humidity changes can harm your treasures. Make sure the area is not accessible by vermin and cleaned each year before storage, so pests are not attracted to the space.

Don't store holiday candles with your decorations. A candle's scent can attract pests, and any heat may warp tapers. Its best to keep Christmas candles with other candles in a cool dry space. Wrap them in cellophane to keep them from melting together or transferring color if they do become warm. Avoid plastic wrap or waxed paper as these materials can melt onto the candles in excess heat.

Now that you have found a good plan, bookmark this page, so you can come back to it when you start the job.

Have a great family Christmas.