• Home
    • Who Am I?
    • Our Story
    • Contact
  • Life
    • Tom’s Corner
    • Travels & Day Trips
  • Cottage Life
  • Policies
    • Affiliate Disclosure
    • Privacy Policy
    • Testimonials
  • Home & Garden Ideas
    • Your Garden
  • Giveaways
    • Giveaway Rules
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
    • Twitter

Raise Your Garden

Musings on the Seedier Side

  • Composting
  • Easy Garden DIY
  • Garden Tips
  • Lawn & Landscaping
  • Must have plants
  • Pest Control

January 2, 2020 in Easy Garden DIY· Garden How To· Garden Tips

10 ways to simplify cleaning up Christmas decor

This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through one of my links, I'll make a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your support!
Picture

If you’re anything like us, you have a whole section of plastic bins in your attic, basement or garage labelled “Christmas decor.”

But how much do you actually use each year?

10% 50% 90%?

In our household, space is tight despite having a good sized basement because we turned half of it into a playroom. No regrets.

Still, we have eight Christmas bins stuffed to the brim. There’s also lots of outdoor decor that we tend to store in the original boxes stacked high in the basement.

Over the years, I’ve found it’s better to be mindful of the way Christmas decor is stored because it makes life so much easier the following year.

I always regret rushing and then being frustrated when I can’t find what I want in early December. Since I’ve gotten my act together, this year I quickly located my Christmas cookie cutters ~ that’s a first!

These are my tips for putting your Christmas decor away for the New Year!

1.) Only store what you’re actually using

The time to sort and purge Christmas decor is right after the season when all your bins and boxes are out. It’s time to evaluate what you have, need or no longer want.

Those gnome elves that you haven’t displayed in five years? It may be time to donate them. The Santa outfit? Out it goes. Space is valuable.

Why store “stuff” you don’t use year after year. Aim for using 90% or more of your Christmas items that you store to keep you accountable.

​Oh, and the outdoor lighted deer that no longer works….it’s time to throw it out.

2.) Real tree…out it goes

Picture

I’m not here to get all “bah humbug” on you about your real tree. I love live trees! Just dislike the needles they shed when their time is done.

Live trees have a shelf life of approximately 4-6 weeks at the very most. So if you’re the type who puts their tree up the day after Thanksgiving, you’ll probably want to take it down very soon after Christmas.

​Otherwise, you’ll be finding prickly needles in your socks still come July! Not to mention it can become a fire hazard! 

3.) Use those shoe boxes for cheap & creative storage

Picture

I save shoe boxes year-round to get a better handle on my ornaments. Each box has a theme such as teal ornaments, fishing ornaments, sports ornaments, very fragile ornaments, bird ornaments, snowman ornaments, snowflake ornaments…you get the drift!

I use a Sharpie marker on the lid of the box to list the precise ornaments that belong in each box. This makes cleaning up a breeze and ensures that I’ll have room to store each and every ornament in each box and in the bins.

So the same ornaments go in the same box in the same bin year after year.  It works well!

​If you prefer plastic shoe box bins, those are great, too. I also have a 50/50 ornament rule that goes as follows: only 50% of my ornaments can be glass and will be hung high on the tree.

But the other 50% must be non-breakables that can go low on the tree so they don’t get broken by kids and pets.


4.) Vow to have a better system for storing your ornaments & bins

Picture

Label your “better” Christmas bins with masking tape with “favorite ornaments” or something similar so you can quickly locate them the following year.

Color coded bins are also extremely helpful. I put my best ornaments in red bins and my less favorite ones in green bins and label each as such.

So on busy years, I just pull out the red bins and forget about the green entirely. But years I have the time to dote on decorating, I get them all out for extra pizzazz!

​Life also becomes much simpler if you choose one corner of your basement, garage or attic to store all the Christmas items instead of allowing them to sprawl all over the place.

5.) Save tissue paper, bubble wrap and shoe boxes year-round

Picture

I like to wrap the fragile ornaments in tissue paper or bubble wrap prior to storing in my shoe boxes. And I save these items year-round from events like Birthday parties and other celebrations.

People think I’m insane when I whisk away tissue paper from the family party but I’ll argue, it’s better to use it on my ornaments than just throwing it out!

​I always save a little space at the top of my bins so when I acquire more tissue paper from the latest party, I can just run down in the basement and throw it on top mid-year.

6.) The lighting dilemma

Picture

If your Christmas lights are like mine they seem to work fine right after they are taken off the tree but mysteriously get broken when placed in a bin.

Only half of my lights are in working order when I examine what strands will be used in season. So don’t bother replacing lights prior to putting the strands away for the year.

Too frustrating! Instead, buy several packs of replacement bulbs at that 75% off sale and replace right after you string them up.

If you really want to pat yourself on the back next year, separate each stand of lights into those plastic grocery store bags.

This means winding up each string carefully and placing the set of lights in their own bag. There is no way they can get tangled with another string of lights if they are in a separate bag…right!

Then all the bags get placed into a “lights only” bin. 

7.) Speaking of th0se 75% off Christmas sales…

Picture

Only you can answer this question honestly. If you buy Christmas cards and wrapping paper highly discounted, will you even be able to locate these items to use the following year?

Or will they get lost in the shuffle and you’ll end up buying more right before the season anyhow?

​If you won’t be able to locate the ten rolls of wrapping paper until it’s too late to use them, then don’t bother storing them the whole year. It’s not worth the wasted space!

8.) A word on plastic wreath storage containers & plastic storage containers for wrapping paper

Picture

It took me ten years to splurge on a plastic wrapping paper storage unit. Best decision ever! That $8 has saved rolls of just partly used wrapping paper from molding in the basement.

Personally, I don’t like to give or receive gifts in moldy wrapping paper that smells like “icky” basement. So I would throw out rolls that were opened and got damp.

​Out goes the 75% off savings because I didn’t end up using it. Even worse, I stored all those smelly rolls for no good reason.

Picture

9. Placement is paramount when bin & item storing

It’s just obvious that you want to keep your heavier bins on the bottom and your lighter bins on top when storing. But I like to keep similar items in each bin.

It’s also convenient and smart to put things like Christmas hand towels, cards and Christmas cookie cutters on the top of the bin for easy access.

​We may not even decorate our tree until a few weeks before Christmas, but I’ll be looking for my Christmas kitchen towels and my gingerbread cookie cutter the day after Thanksgiving!

​Make it easy on yourself.

10.) The extra, empty Christmas bin theory…

If you really want to be nice to yourself, have one empty bin in the basement labelled “Christmas.”

​Those clear, see-through bins are even better!

An extra bin makes it easy when you find a snowflake ornament in June that never got put away or score some cute Christmas decor at a yard sale.

What tips do you have for me?

65 Comments

Previous Post: « Anise Cut-Out Cookies – Kris Kringle Cut-Out Sugar Cookies
Next Post: Growing upwards with the ECOFLEX® Vertical Gardening Wall Giveaway from New Age Garden® (ARV $180!!) »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. AvatarSarah Bridges says

    December 11, 2020 at 1:22 am

    Great tips! I need to do some of these this year so I don’t end up with a mess in the closet like last year, haha.

    Reply
  2. AvatarTerry Poage says

    December 11, 2020 at 1:43 am

    These are great tips. I hate cleaning up after the holidays.

    Reply
  3. AvatarJohn Dickson says

    December 11, 2020 at 1:58 am

    Love this.

    Reply
  4. AvatarGabrielle R says

    December 11, 2020 at 2:05 am

    What great Christmas cleanup hacks! I will definitely be using some!

    Reply
  5. AvatarApril B says

    December 11, 2020 at 2:22 am

    Good practical organizing advice. thanks

    Reply
  6. AvatarHana Harman says

    December 11, 2020 at 2:32 am

    Thank you for great tips

    Reply
  7. Avatarjohn kennedy says

    December 11, 2020 at 2:53 am

    Great time saving tips for me..thanks

    Reply
  8. AvatarJanis says

    December 11, 2020 at 3:07 am

    Thanks for sharing these pointers.

    Reply
  9. AvatarBetsy Pauzauskie says

    December 11, 2020 at 3:53 am

    You are organized! I was too at one time & am now differently organized. When my children were grown, & began having their own children, I bought them storage containers for gift wrap/ribbon/bows, ornaments & wreaths. I downsized our artificial tree (several times) and gave our 3 daughters’ families Christmas ornaments they cherished which we’d collected over the years from Hallmark, Enesco, etc. that had hung on our larger tree(s). We’re now down to a small artificial tree that I decorate with Hallmark miniature ornaments. We hang a wreath on the front door too. Both are very easy to set up and to store. I hope it’s fine to share your great tips with our daughters, as I’m sure they’ll find them helpful and pertinent to their stages of life. I can’t think of a single tip, except that life is full of changes as you live it. You will adapt nicely, I can tell.

    Reply
  10. Avatarcindy quisenberry says

    December 11, 2020 at 5:32 am

    great tips! Opened the ornaments this year and the plastic holder they were in had turned to crispy plastic. So now I know how to put them away so they last until next year.

    Reply
  11. AvatarSandra McFadden says

    December 11, 2020 at 8:09 am

    Thank you for sharing your helpful tips been doing many of them for years. Merry Christmas.

    Reply
  12. AvatarLiz Kilcher says

    December 11, 2020 at 10:44 am

    cleaning up is easier than putting it up

    Reply
  13. AvatarDonna Evans says

    December 11, 2020 at 11:26 am

    We use designation storage boxes for all out decorations.

    Reply
  14. AvatarRichard Schott says

    December 11, 2020 at 12:10 pm

    It’s time to sort out my decorations and dispose some of them.

    Reply
  15. AvatarDiane Warstler says

    December 11, 2020 at 12:58 pm

    Some really great ideas! The plastic storage tub for wrapping paper and bows is an absolute must!

    Reply
  16. AvatarSusan L Craig says

    December 11, 2020 at 1:19 pm

    I learned a thing or two – thanks for the post.

    Reply
  17. AvatarAudrey says

    December 11, 2020 at 1:56 pm

    A lot of great tips!

    Reply
  18. AvatarJeffrey Smead says

    December 11, 2020 at 2:04 pm

    def. will come in handy

    Reply
  19. AvatarSheila gagnon says

    December 11, 2020 at 3:03 pm

    Fabulous tips. I was surprised to learn a few tricks. Thank you

    Reply
  20. AvatarRena T Walter says

    December 11, 2020 at 3:13 pm

    Less is more is our motto, it works for me.

    Reply
  21. AvatarChad Boyd says

    December 11, 2020 at 3:33 pm

    These are all great tips! Thank you for sharing.

    Reply
  22. AvatarKelly Dixon says

    December 11, 2020 at 3:35 pm

    I love this product.

    Reply
  23. AvatarDeeAnn S says

    December 11, 2020 at 4:02 pm

    I’ve been using most of these tips for a number of years. I do have more than I use because I change my tree to different colors/themes every year. Hope you have a great holiday.

    Reply
  24. AvatarBrittany Gilley says

    December 11, 2020 at 4:04 pm

    thanks for all the useful tips

    Reply
  25. Avatardennis case says

    December 11, 2020 at 4:05 pm

    great ideas

    Reply
  26. AvatarMichelle Proper says

    December 11, 2020 at 4:10 pm

    I’m going through all this at the moment! So much stuff and time for stuff to get donated or thrown out!

    Reply
  27. AvatarSam says

    December 11, 2020 at 4:52 pm

    I really like the clear bins, they make stacking and storing easier and you can see too what is inside for the most part

    Reply
  28. AvatarAlice Morris says

    December 11, 2020 at 5:08 pm

    Just use common sense

    Reply
  29. AvatarAnita Kennett says

    December 11, 2020 at 6:20 pm

    Very helpful,thanks

    Reply
  30. AvatarMelinda Barlow says

    December 11, 2020 at 6:44 pm

    Great ideas, since I Ted to do some theme trees and do a Halloween tree and harvest tree I sort my ornaments by color in clear flat storage bins. Special holiday ones are sorted and marked for holiday. Keepsake ornaments etc are kept in special bin. People look at all bins and think I am crazy but it saves so much time and energy when you can put your hands on what you need when you need it. Loved your suggestion about keeping an empty bin for those yard sale finds and the inevitable found item.

    Reply
  31. AvatarCat Delgado says

    December 11, 2020 at 7:09 pm

    I love the tip for storing the tree lights!

    Reply
  32. AvatarDeb says

    December 11, 2020 at 7:11 pm

    I start with the same method, but by the time I’m through, it’s chaos. Great ideas.

    Reply
  33. AvatarDebbie Welchert says

    December 11, 2020 at 7:44 pm

    Thanks for all the great tips I know I need to organize a little better.

    Reply
  34. AvatarJennifer Phillips says

    December 11, 2020 at 8:03 pm

    Some great tips, but too many of mine I am overly attached to, Especially the glass ornaments that were my mom’s or grandmas. I won’t use them because I’m scared they will be broken but I will not let them go and I don’t have a way to show they off so packed carefully away is where they are. Kind of sad, but one day they will be brought out again. Probably within the next couple of years since I am now becoming an empty nester.

    Reply
  35. AvatarKen Ohl says

    December 11, 2020 at 8:08 pm

    Love the pointers Decorating is such a big job for sure

    Reply
  36. AvatarCynthia says

    December 11, 2020 at 9:41 pm

    I’m very organized person.

    Reply
  37. AvatarPeggy Rydzewski says

    December 11, 2020 at 9:50 pm

    I like the idea of repurposing items.

    Reply
  38. AvatarLisa Cress says

    December 11, 2020 at 11:53 pm

    Thanks for the great ideas! Best to your family!

    Reply
  39. AvatarKaren Jaras says

    December 12, 2020 at 1:40 am

    I usually clean as I decorate and one final clean when it is done. The depressing part is that in a few weeks I have to pack it back up again and clean up again.

    Reply
  40. AvatarKathy Pierce says

    December 12, 2020 at 2:54 am

    Neat ideas!!!

    Reply
  41. Avatarpaula burnham says

    December 12, 2020 at 3:05 am

    Great tips and Merry Christmas

    Reply
  42. AvatarMichael Villani says

    December 12, 2020 at 12:55 pm

    always great ideas

    Reply
    • AvatarSandi McGinnis says

      December 12, 2020 at 1:05 pm

      These are great tips,however most of my tree decorations are vintage,handed down from my mom and grandmother. Although there are always a few items I dont use,I would never part with any.After reading all the awesome ideas on this page,I was wondering if you could add something on protecting older ornaments from fading or breaking while being stored.

      Reply
  43. AvatarMichael Coovert says

    December 12, 2020 at 1:22 pm

    I have an even better system – don’t put any decor up. Then there is nothing to clean up. I am seriously not a Scrooge. But I am disabled so I really have to be smart about rationing my physical activity.

    Reply
  44. AvatarRonnell Storie says

    December 12, 2020 at 2:04 pm

    Easiest way to clean it up is to never have it.

    Reply
  45. AvatarElizabeth Krill says

    December 13, 2020 at 7:32 pm

    I save ornaments (like plastic ones) that aren’t as nice for indoors, to put outdoors as decorations.

    Reply
  46. AvatarRobin says

    December 15, 2020 at 4:16 am

    These tips are wonderful. I love the 75% to 90% off Christmas sales. Not only can you find great buys on items such as Christmas tree lights, ornaments, and hangers, I also like to keep an eye out for other useful items such as extension cords, packing tape, shipping boxes, and surge protectors which are often also discounted and can come in handy year round.

    Reply
  47. AvatarLeela says

    December 15, 2020 at 7:59 pm

    Everything looks so beautiful.

    Reply
  48. AvatarEmma Lee Welker says

    December 16, 2020 at 9:48 pm

    Great ideas about the Christmas wrappings, how to store.
    After Christmas sale is great for buying everything on Christmas, especially lights and
    oraments.

    Reply
  49. AvatarEmma Lee Welker says

    December 16, 2020 at 10:44 pm

    I save the toilet paper rolls and paper towels rolls to store to store special blubs. And the
    final resting place: plastic boxes that keeps them safe

    Reply
  50. AvatarKim mignella says

    December 17, 2020 at 3:27 am

    great ideas, still don’t like to clean

    Reply
  51. AvatarDave Taube says

    December 20, 2020 at 2:22 am

    Thanks for the great suggestions. I’m definitely going to use some of them, especially the plastic storage bin for storing my wrapping paper.

    Reply
  52. AvatarKathy Derrick says

    December 20, 2020 at 2:51 pm

    Good to have everything organized. Makes it easier the next year to unpack them.

    Reply
  53. AvatarJulie Waldron says

    December 20, 2020 at 3:45 pm

    These are some great tips, some I already use and some I will have to remember! I have old shoe boxes from 20+ years ago that I store ornaments/small decorations in.

    Reply
  54. AvatarJoanna says

    December 20, 2020 at 4:02 pm

    Very good ideas. I use those tubs. Thank you!

    Reply
  55. AvatarCrystal Abel says

    December 21, 2020 at 5:24 am

    I need to organize my Christmas things better. I might get some of those tubs.

    Reply
  56. AvatarBarbara Calder says

    December 23, 2020 at 5:14 am

    Thank you for the great and easy to use organizational tips.

    Reply
  57. AvatarLaurie Nykaza says

    December 23, 2020 at 9:23 am

    Wonderful information for this time of year when were getting out all our items to use. I also find egg cartons are great for storing my antique ornaments in and then I store them in plastic bins.

    Reply
  58. AvatarChristina Wahrmund says

    December 27, 2020 at 5:38 am

    Adorable pet pictures. Love them!

    Reply
  59. AvatarWendy A says

    December 27, 2020 at 7:01 am

    Great tips! I already do a few of these, but I love the last one. I always have stray ornaments and other Christmas stuff that sits on top of a box under the stairs because I don’t want to dig all the boxes out. Thanks!

    Reply
  60. AvatarMichelle McCafferty says

    December 27, 2020 at 7:12 pm

    Great tips for organizing all those wonderful Christmas decorations for next year!

    Reply
  61. AvatarJill H says

    December 28, 2020 at 3:09 pm

    I need to go through and donate. I haven’t decorated at all in a few years.

    Reply
  62. AvatarKathy Bowen says

    January 2, 2021 at 12:42 pm

    Great ideas. I know full well how important organization is with Christmas decorations. My Mom is one of those over-the-top decorators that start in October for Christmas. We all pitch in (and love it too). Detailed marking of the contents of each container is essential. BTW, the animal photos in this article are precious.

    Reply
  63. Avatarclynsg says

    January 2, 2021 at 7:28 pm

    We have been sorting out the various Christmas decorations slowly over the past couple of years. It is still not done, but is much more organized now.

    Reply
  64. AvatarJeffrey Smead says

    January 3, 2021 at 3:23 pm

    already organized and cleaned up; good ideas however

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

about laura sproull

about laura sproull

Hi! I'm Laura and hail from Western New York. I consider myself a lifelong learner who loves gardening with a 360 degree view. Thanks for stopping by!

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter

top diy posts!

top diy posts!

Categories

Archives

  • Garden Supplies
  • Handmade
  • Indoor plants
  • Raised Beds
  • Seeds
  • Succulents & Cacti

Footer

Looking for something?

Let’s Connect

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Archives

“And he who waters will be watered himself.”
• Proverbs 11:25 •
Follow Me on Instagram!

Copyright © 2021 · RaiseYourGarden.com · All Rights Reserved.