Best Practices for Storing Artificial Christmas Trees

It’s that time of year again!  The cozy holiday season is here, but after the presents are opened, the eggnog is gone, and the Christmas cookies are eaten, it means one thing: time to take down the decorations!  While setting up all the decorations is a fun part of winter, often de-decorating can be a bit of a bummer.

I suggest making it a little bit fun by putting on some fun music or even a movie in the background to keep you entertained while you work.

The biggest decoration is sometimes the most frustrating to take down.  A real tree can drop needles all over the place as you haul it outside, plus you always run the risk of a Griswold family Christmas-tree squirrel getting inside the house! 😆 

If you have an artificial tree, you know there are many benefits but packing it back up for storage is not necessarily one of them!

Follow this guide to storing an artificial Christmas tree to make sure it’s well cared for and lasts a long time. Proper storage helps your tree keep its shape, protects the lights and branches, and saves you frustration when next December rolls around.

Step 1: Remove the Decorations

This may seem to go without saying, but I’ll say it anyway.  Make sure you take all the decorations off the tree!  This way, nothing will get crushed or broken in storage.  

If your tree isn’t pre-lit, be sure to remove the lights as well.

Be sure to wrap fragile ornaments in tissue paper or bubble wrap to keep them safe while stored away over the year. Can also place back in the original boxes. 

This is also a good time to give the tree a quick dusting with a rag or vacuum. You’ll thank yourself next year!

Step 2: Give Things a Once Over

If your tree is not pre-lit, check the lights when you remove them. There’s no use storing a broken set of lights. Toss them if they no longer work.

This is also a good time to sort through ornaments. You can donate any that are no longer meaningful or used on your tree. Be sure to discard any broken ornaments, too. If you keep intending to fix it but never do, it’s time for some tough love!

Step 3: Take the Tree Apart

Artificial Christmas trees typically come in sections these days. If your tree is pre-lit, be sure to disconnect the lights at each section of the tree before taking it all apart. Then, begin at the top and work your way down.

Step 4: Smart Tree Storage

It’s time to bag it up! If it’s going to be a rough ride up the attic steps, before bagging, loosely tie sections with soft ties or ribbon to keep branches from shifting and bending during storage. If you have ample storage space in your home and can store in a closet on the same level that you display your tree, use an upright Christmas tree bag to store your tree exactly as it is. If storage space is an issue, you’ll want to fold the tree branches in as closely as possible and then use an artificial Christmas tree storage bag. 

You may feel like simply putting the tree back in the cardboard box it came in, but cardboard can attract pests and water damage in storage.  It’s best to find a quality storage bag to make your tree last as long as you can.

Step 5: Until Next Year!

Say goodbye to your tree and keep it stored away in a temperature-controlled space for the rest of the year. It’s also important that the area is dry and clean so the tree is well protected. You can also toss a few silica packets or moisture absorbers into the storage bag to protect against humidity and musty smells (a must here in Houston!). 

Storing your tree well now means a calmer, easier start to the holidays next year, and that’s always worth the extra few minutes. ;0)

If you’re looking for ideas about storing other Christmas decorations, check out this blog post, Holiday Decorations Storage and Organization Tips. It includes storage bin suggestions and other products that may help you get organized so that everything is streamlined and ready for next year.

Happy Holidays!

SFK

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