We’re about to jump ahead, fellow former procrastinators – to thoughts of Christmas clean up and storage. Reread this one later for ideas when – refusing to delay – you tackle The Big Take Down.
Boxing Day December 26, 2016 includes some helpful tips. A friend and I tried an UNtrim the Tree party last year. We had a great time together removing decorations and cleaning up needles. It was definitely a Charlie Brown tree by that time! The work went fast, and it was fun to hear the stories that go with the ornaments. For my friend, taking down Christmas decorations makes her sad. We agreed fun and fast together was lots better!
So I do recommend pairing up with a friend to take down your decorations. Do each other’s if possible. Plan pizza or Chinese at the end or some other enjoyable reward. Tweak this for families with kids old enough to help out. Whether it’s before January 1 or after, like ours, The Big Take Down heralds a New Year. It hints of new beginnings. We still celebrate Jesus.
These additional ideas may help your clean up:
- Next year, if removing non-Christmas items to make room for seasonal decorations, place those items in the bin for that room. They’ll be there ready to come out again when you pack up the decorations.
- Christmas Day, save tissue paper to reuse packing up.
- Label #1 the box or boxes you want to open first, if that matters.
- Recognize that you have not used some decorations in too many years to remember and could pass them on. Refresh your holdings by eliminating excess. Dump out the sparkly crud that collects in the bottom of boxes. Get rid of the projects you saved to do but never have.
- Wrap lights around flattened cereal boxes or cardboard. Then place each in a plastic store bag to prevent tangling with other strings. Label for tree, mantle, banister.
- Remove batteries from items to avoid corrosion while in storage. Place batteries in a plastic bag in the same bin.
- Hang wreaths in the basement or attic. Cover them to keep out dust. Hang flat items in back of closets or large furniture. We hang our big advent calendar behind a china cabinet.
- Slide delicate items into old socks to keep them safe.
- Store candles where they will not melt. That may mean separate from other decorations.
- Pack special items where they’re less likely to be damaged. Our large nativity goes in its box under a skirted table.
- Important: Make note of where you store anything not in a Christmas bin. We keep this list posted inside a kitchen cabinet door.
How can you celebrate Jesus as you pack away decorations?
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