What are the things that frustrated you when this year’s holiday decorations went up? Now is the time to figure out how to solve those problems so that next year’s holidays will be a joy to decorate for. It’s important to pack and store your decorations wisely so that they are not damaged in storage, easily unpacked to use, and hopefully easy to put away every year so the cycle of holiday decorating/un-decorating is one you look forward to.
Storage That Preserves
It doesn’t matter how carefully a box of ornaments is packed if it will be put into an attic with wildly fluctuating temperatures or a damp basement. Storage needs to be climate controlled between 50 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit and dry. If there is no spot in your home that is suitable, self-storage units can work if they are climate controlled but many find that an unused closet or decorative chests will work well in their home.
Cardboard boxes can damage delicate items because they are acidic and allow moisture to contact their contents. Archival storage boxes, acid-free tissue paper, and bubble wrap are good choices for long-term storage.
Pack It Wisely
Keep the stuff that goes up together, stored together. Categorizing and labeling logically will make next year’s labor much easier. Don’t pack broken items or things you no longer love. If it is a broken memento, get it fixed. If you don’t like it, don’t keep it — give it to someone who wants it.
- Batteries should never be stored in decorations because they will corrode and ruin your item.
- Egg cartons keep small breakables separated and safe.
- Plastic bags can contain a group of similar, sturdy items.
- Save those silica gel packets from other things and put them in with your decorations.
Putting your treasured holiday decorations away with care is like insurance: it protects the future. The Schwab Agency has been protecting Texas futures for over twenty years and can help you with your insurance needs. Give us a call at 817-485-5050 or come in to our Colleyville office to see what we can do for you.