Getting ORGANIZED when putting your Christmas decorations away!

Thought I would share these tips....

I'm not packing the tree away for another week!

Problem: The light strings are always tangled, and you don’t know what kind of replacements you need for the dead and faded bulbs.Solution: Whenever you buy a new string of lights, immediately label the plug with a number keyed to a written description of it (the type and number of bulbs in the strand, for example, and where you purchased it). That way, any damaged bulbs will be easy to replace, says Steve Pearson, a three-time winner of the Merriam, Kansas, Festival of Lights Contest. As for the knots and snarls, Taylor offers this tip: Take an empty coffee can, cut a slit in the plastic lid, and put the receptacle end of the light cord through it. Wrap the string around the can, store extra bulbs and extension cords inside, then replace the lid. (When it’s time to unpack the lights again, plug each strand into an electrical outlet to make sure it works before you unroll it.) Always store colored lights in a dark place to keep the bulbs from fading (blues, greens, and purples fade faster than reds and yellows do).

Problem: “Santa’s” suit is starting to look dusty and worn.Solution: “If your costumes are homemade or valuable to you, treat them as you would a wedding dress,” says decorating expert Kelley Taylor. “Dry-clean them, press them, and keep them folded neatly in a sealed, acid-free container so that no moisture or moths can get in.”

Problem: Half-used rolls of gift wrap wind up torn or wrinkled.Solution: “Consider limiting yourself to one or two kinds of all-occasion gift wrap and one or two colors of ribbons and bows that you can use all year,” says author Donna Smallin. If you must have themed wrap for every occasion, she adds, you can protect any opened rolls by cutting a leg from a pair of panty hose, slipping it over the tube, and securing the open end with a twist tie. Or slit an empty wrapping-paper tube from end to end and slide it over the partial roll.

Problem: Artificial wreaths get crushed or become mildewy.Solution: “Cover indoor wreaths with plastic bags, then hang them on the walls in a spare closet or on two-by-fours in your attic,” says former special events director Sandy Stuckey. “Put one nail on top and one just below the base so the wreath keeps its round shape.” Artificial wreaths and garlands that have been displayed outdoors require an additional step: “Bring them inside to a warm spot first and let them dry for 24 hours before storing them,” says Kevin York, vice president of Christmas Decor, a home-decorating company in Lubbock, Texas.

Problem: Plastic lawn ornaments and other large, oddly shaped decorations take up too much space when boxed.Solution: When you buy new clothes, save the zippered garment bags and use them to protect bulky plastic figures, such as sleighs and reindeer, suggests author Valerie Parr Hill. Then hang the bags in a closet or on a nail in your attic.

Here's a chart to keep your decorations/boxes organized!

http://www.realsimple.com/realsimple/web/pdf/1205/decorations.pdf

HAVE FUN!