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The presents have been unwrapped, the fruitcake has been put away (again), and the last carol has played on the radio. Now there’s not much left to do…except take down all the holiday decorations.
 
As much as we all love holiday decorations, they are often a bit of a hassle to put up and to take down. That said, a little bit of prep this year might go a long way in saving yourself a little headache next year.
 
Here are some things to be aware of as you put your holiday decor away that will help set you up for decorating success in Christmases yet to come.
 

Keep it all Together

 
Ever gone to put your Christmas decorations away…and found a box of decorations that somehow never got put up (#facepalm)? It happens to the best of us. To avoid such a mishap in the future, stash all your holiday decor in the same storage space. If possible, label the boxes, or use a certain color box to indicate holiday decor. If you find that your holiday decor is taking over your garage or in-home storage space, expand to a self storage unit and keep your decor safe and out of the way until you need it again.
 

Throw Away Unwanted Items

 
There’s no reason to store something that you don’t want anymore. If you have broken items, either get rid of them or make sure they are properly repaired before packing them away. If a certain item doesn’t have a good place to be displayed in your home, got in the way of your day to day life, or simply doesn’t bring you joy anymore, don’t be afraid to donate it and keep your holiday decor to items you truly love.

Untangle Lights

 
Holiday lights are the stereotypical holiday headache makers. There’s nothing like spending 30 minutes untangling a strand of lights only to find out that none of them work (even if they worked before you untangled them). Before packing, untangle all your strands, test them to make sure they’re working, and then wrap them around a plastic reel to ensure smooth sailing next year. (And if you really want to be on top of your game, go buy some extra strands of lights while they’re on clearance, and stash them in their boxes alongside your other lights. You’ll have replacements strands ready to go next year, just in case.)
 

Package Appropriately

 
When you’re putting anything into storage, it’s important that it be packaged properly to ensure that it doesn’t get damaged or broken during moving, or during its 11-month stint in a box. Before packing items, dust them or wipe them down, put them in protective boxes, bags, or bins if you have them, and place them carefully in a larger storage box. Fragile items should be wrapped in bubble wrap, or, ideally, in the styrofoam packaging they came in. Artificial trees should be put in a storage bag (yes, there are bags specifically for this purpose) or placed in a sturdy cardboard box. Be extra careful with special ornaments or other keepsakes, and label your boxes “fragile” as appropriate.
 
Following these tips should help you out when it’s time to bust out the holiday decor next year. With any luck, putting up your decor next year will be as joyful as the season itself.
 
Looking for the perfect place to stash your holiday decor until the season rolls around again? Arizona Storage Centers offers convenient, secure, and reliable storage, along with the best service in the business, for customers in the Phoenix area. We have facilities in Phoenix, Glendale, Deer Valley, Gilbert, and Chandler, so no matter where you are, you’re never too far away from your unit. We’d love to chat with you about how we can help meet your storage needs. Give us a call at 480-386-6022 or stop by one of our centers today.