Gifts are given, treats are eaten and, before you know it, another holiday season has come and gone. It’s time to pack it all up until next year.
Preparing for future holidays can be made easier with a little thoughtful planning when packing at the end of the season.
“Packing and organizing items carefully can prevent damage or even worse, breakage,” said Marisa Elias of TWO MEN AND A TRUCK San Diego. “Taking extra time to make sure items are properly packed can preserve decorations for years.”
Here are some tips from TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® San Diego you should keep in mind when packing away your seasonal decorations:
Delicate items
- Wrap breakables in tissue or packing paper. Do not use newspaper — the print may wear off on ornaments. Shred used paper and recycle it as packing filler.
- Decorations with photographs or food should be sealed in a bag to keep them intact and prevent insects or mice getting to them.
- Boxes with dividers are best to pack ornaments. Check with local moving companies for these kinds of boxes with adjustable inserts.
- Keep extra hangers, hooks and ornament parts in a labeled bag or box.
Lights
- Wrap lights around empty wrapping paper tubes to keep them from tangling.
- Leave the plug accessible by taping the ends of the light strands to the end of the tube. That way, you can quickly test the lights before unwinding them next year.
- Store colored lights in a dark place to prevent fading, especially blues, greens and purples.
Wrapping paper
- Hanging garment bags provide good storage for wrapping paper rolls. Use outside pockets for gift tags, cards and tissue paper.
- Cut an empty wrapping paper tube from end to end and slide it over a used roll to protect it until next year.
- Save ribbons and bows by packing them loosely to keep their shape.
Miscellaneous
- Wrap holiday candles individually in cellophane. Store in a cool place so they don’t melt.
- Pack an “open first” box for the decorations needed right away, like extension cords.
- Take special care if items are stored in a damp area, such as a basement. Keep boxes away from sources of heat and moisture.
- Most importantly, label every box. The more detailed the description, the easier it is to find. Use different colors to distinguish different holidays, such as orange for Halloween, brown for Thanksgiving, and red or green for Christmas.
TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® is the largest franchised moving company in North America. It includes more than 225 locations and more than 1,400 trucks on the road. Each location is independently owned and operated, and sells boxes and packing supplies. Locations complete both home and business moves, as well as packing and unpacking services.
For more information, call the San Diego TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® at (858) 877-2100 or visit twomenandatruck.com.
