Care & Storage of your Christmas Ornaments
Jean Rennick

Defined Tag: Christmas.

Most people reuse the decorations of Christmas past instead of buying new ones. However, some families buy commemorative ornaments every year in order to remember a particular Christmas. Properly storing these holiday essentials is the key to making them last for future generations to enjoy.

First, let's talk about organizing and storing Christmas ornaments. If you have any collectible or specialty ornaments it would be best to store them in the original packaging they came in. For ornaments that are more common, you can purchase special storage boxes specifically designed for storing ornaments. If you have a hard time finding the specialty ornament boxes you can always make a homemade version by following the instructions below.

Place your ornaments in individual plastic disposable cups and then place each cup inside a cardboard or plastic box, then surround each cup with crumpled or shredded paper. This will help to keep ornaments separated and provide a cushion to prevent breakage. For smaller ornaments, you can easily store them in simple empty egg cartons and add some newspaper inside the cartons for further protection.

Next, let's look at some ways to store our Christmas tree lights. The first thing we want to do is ensure that our lights are free from any tangles or knots. Now we need to wrap our lights around something. A really great and easy way to store our Christmas lights is as follows. Take an empty tube left over from some wrapping paper, and then cut a tiny slit at each end of the tube. Now take one set of lights, thread it through one of the slits, and then simply wrap the rest of the strand of lights all along half of the tube. Do the same with another string of lights through the slit on the other side.

You can also achieve the above using a square or rectangle piece of cardboard, but it wont be as neat. Another option is to store each individual set of lights in its own plastic bag. It's also worth noting that most Christmas tree lights are designed to work for around 90 days before they need replacing, so if your current sets of lights have been used for 3 or more seasons it would probably be best to throw them out and just replace them with new ones when needed.

If you happen to have an artificial Christmas tree that you use year after year you probably have been storing it in its original box all this time, but in truth, this is not the smartest idea as these boxes are not ideal for preserving your Christmas tree during the off-season. It would be best to buy a special storage box or bag that is specifically designed for storing artificial Christmas trees after the holidays. You can find these at many retail locations and online stores; they are also cheap and definitely worth the cost since your artificial tree will last much longer and be in much better shape for future Christmases to come.

Jean Rennick is editor of <a href="http://www.GetCelebrating.com">www.GetCelebrating.com</a>, where you'll find articles and information on seasonal holidays, and everyday occasions.<br><br>