What is the worst? A string of lights is in a ball at the bottom of a box. If you pack your Christmas decor the right way, you can save yourself a lot of headaches, because it can be time consuming and you might want to just throw everything into a box. Here are a few tips to make packing painless.
How to prevent light strands from getting tangled.
There are a few ways to make unpacking easier. There are reels for holiday lights that can hold three reels, and a bag for packing. These will keep the lights from getting damaged. You can make your own storage by cutting corrugated cardboard into ten-inch by twelve-inch sections and then cutting two-inch slots every inch along each side. Wrap your lights around the cardboard and string them through the slots.
If you have some cardboard laying around, this setup is free and will save you a lot of frustration. It will make locating particular strands easier next year if you label each strand with information like the length and number of lights.
How to keep your Christmas textiles safe.
If you have blankets, tablecloths, tree skirts, or other fabric holiday items to store, consider taking a page from a department store and using a pants hanger and garment bag. This will protect bulky fabrics from damage until next year. You can slide a wrapping paper roll or paper towel roll over the bottom of the hanger to prevent it from wrinkling.
How to keep your Christmas ornaments safe.
A divided box is the best solution for breakable items. If you want to make your own dividers, you can use a premade one. The first step is cutting strips of cardboard to three inches by the length of your box, and then a corresponding number of strips that are the width of your box. Next, cut a 1.5 inch slot on one edge of each strip. You can make an easy divider for your ornaments by fitting the long strips into the slots of the shorter strips.
How to keep your Christmas stuff organized.
You can just throw them all in a box, but finding smaller items like hooks, tags, and twist ties will be a challenge. If you want to make your life easier, pack them in a clear plastic box. The boxes will hold all the small parts of your holiday decor and allow you to see where things are. It will save you a trip to the store for more of what you already have.
How to pack away Christmas wrapping paper.
If they aren't stored well, bows, and ribbons can take a beating. Pack them in a container to avoid crushing them. You can either buy bins for wrapping paper or make your own with a concrete tube or piece of plastic. If you want to attach the cap to the end of the tube, you have to get a large piece of tubing with a large diameter. If you have a rigid container for your paper, you can use the same design for ribbon and bows to keep them from getting crushed.
