After the holiday season has come and gone, one of the biggest challenges most folks face is storing their Christmas lights and other decorations. How to pack them, where to put them, and what to do to make sure your precious holiday items stay in pristine condition while stored are three of the biggest challenges you’ll face.
If you’re not sure how to do those things, need holiday decoration storage tips or want to use as little of your home’s precious storage space as possible, the following information is for you. It’s a list of the top tips on how to store Christmas lights and décor, brought to you by Southern Self Storage, the storage experts! Read on to get the tips you need to store your holiday décor perfectly!
How to Store Christmas Lights
Below are a bunch of great tips to use when storing Christmas lights for the season. Use them as you see fit!
- Wrap each strand of lights individually in a plastic bag from the grocery store. Not only a great packing idea but it also helps you recycle.
- Use a piece of cardboard to wrap your Christmas lights. Cut a cardboard box into 12” x 18” rectangles and wrap the light strings around them neatly. It works like a charm!
- Use a dedicated plastic bin for all your lights. That way, you’ll find them more easily next year and be able to get started hanging lights as soon as Thanksgiving’s over.
- Use velcro strips to keep each light strand separate and stop them from getting tangled.
- Organize your lights by color and length.
- Store Christmas lights in a cool, dry part of your home, or in a climate controlled storage unit.
- Purchase Christmas light reels. These handy devices make wrapping and storing your lights much easier and faster, and keeps them in great condition.
- Use paper towel rolls on light strings with small lights. Cut the roll open lengthwise and then wrap it around the coiled-up lights.
Tips on Protecting Your Christmas Decorations While Stored
Humidity and temperature is the enemy of Christmas lights, holiday decorations and anything else you use seasonally and store during the off-season. Below are a few Christmas light storage hacks to help keep humidity from ruining your good times next year.
1. Choose the Best Storage Area
You’ll want to avoid basements, which are usually too damp. Attics are typically too hot for Christmas lights and décor, leaving indoor closets and, if it’s dry, the garage. If you don’t have better options at home, a climate controlled storage unit from Southern might be your best choice.
2. Purchase Silica Gel Packs
These packs, which you’ll find in bottles of medicine or with new shoes, absorb moisture and keep your tchotchkes safe. You can save them when you purchase things or, if you need several, purchase a few online.
3. Use Airtight Containers
One of the best methods to protect holiday décor from humidity is to use airtight containers. However, depending on how much you need to store, this could become an expensive solution.
4. Use a Dehumidifier if Needed
If you have no choice but to store your holiday decorations and seasonal items in the basement, be sure to use a dehumidifier down there also. It’s the best way to prevent moisture from causing any problems for your stored stuff.
5. Let Outdoor Christmas Lights Dry Completely Before Storage
Outdoor Christmas lights can become wet from rain, snow, and condensation. Storing those lights when they’re still wet is a big no-no as the moisture can cause massive damage to electrical wires, light bulbs, etc. For that reason, letting all your outdoor holiday lights dry thoroughly before putting them in storage is a very good idea.
6. Put Some Charcoal Briquettes in Socks
This holiday storage hack might sound odd but, surprisingly, charcoal briquettes absorb moisture! By putting 2 or 3 coals in socks you keep things clean while also absorbing destructive moisture until next season!
How to Store Holiday Inflatable Decorations
Fun, bright and usually quite large, holiday inflatables have become popular in the last few years. Storing them, thankfully, doesn’t take up a lot of space, but inflatables still need to be stored correctly to prolong their usable life. Below are a few tips and hacks to help you do that.
- Deflate the inflatables completely. Excess air during storage can damage seams and folds.
- Check for damage and, if possible, repair it before storing your inflatable decorations.
- Fold inflatables as little as possible. Instead of folding, consider rolling them up. This will prevent any damage folding might cause.
- Let inflatables dry completely before storage to prevent mold and mildew.
- Don’t store heavy items on top of inflatables. Place them on top where they won’t get damaged.
- Store all inflatables in a cool, dry place.
Tips for Storing Christmas Trees
Our last tips for today are all based around the one holiday decoration folks care about the most; the Christmas tree.
- Keep and use the original box the tree arrived in.
- If you don’t have the original box, consider a Christmas tree bag. These specialized bags breathe while in storage so no mold or mildew forms.
- Place your tree on top while stored. This will reduce damage from compression.
- Store your tree horizontally to reduce stress on the branches.
- Reinforce an old Christmas tree box with duct tape so it lasts longer.
- If your tree was outside, check to make sure there are no animals in it, like birds, mice, squirrels, etc.
Store Your Christmas Lights and Other Holiday Decorations with Southern Self Storage
If you’ve got a lot of holiday decorations, whether from Christmas, Halloween, or Thanksgiving, but don’t have the storage space at home, Southern Self Storage can help! Our safe and clean storage units are affordable and can be reserved online with no credit card necessary! If you’re ready, reserve a storage unit today and it will be ready and waiting when you arrive at your local Southern location. Until then, we hope the tips and hacks on how to store Christmas lights and other holiday decor have empowered you to store your precious baubles and bangles like a true professional!