Oh, Christmas Tree

Those who use them know: artificial trees are the bulkiest of all decorations to store. Bag, bin, or box, you’ll want to disassemble your tree and bend the branches back gently for more compact storage. A self storage unit can be the perfect environment for your tree, since a cool, dry environment and good airflow can help protect it from mold and mildew caused by moisture. Consider adding desiccant packs for extra protection and choose an all-weather storage material instead of cardboard, if possible.

Don’t Get Your Lights in a Tangle

You only need one tangled mess of lights to know you don’t want to deal with it again. So here’s the plan: first, plug them in to check and replace any faulty bulbs. Thank yourself next year. Start with a light reel or a simple piece of rectangular cardboard to wrap the lights around. Avoid tight loops, which can damage the wires. Consider twist ties or Velcro straps to keep lights securely wrapped, and don’t forget to label each strand before placing it in containers in your self storage unit. Most lights look the same when they’re not lit up.

About Those Inflatables

We know, they’re so much fun. But after they leave your yard, those big blow-up holiday friends need to go somewhere. A self storage unit is a great way to keep those big investments safe and out of the way until next year while ensuring they stay dry, ventilated, and away from extreme temperatures. Make sure inflatables are clean, dry, and rolled up inside a storage bag according to the manufacturer’s recommendations.

Another tip: place all small parts, blowers, manuals, and accessories in a bag or container and keep them with the original inflatable for easy retrieval next year.

Be a Smart Recycler

Fragile ornaments can be irreplaceable, so you’ll want to take extra care to pack them safely after the holiday season. If you have the original boxes, great. But if not, pack each one separately. Some common items that make great packing materials for ornaments include egg cartons, apple cartons, fast food drink carriers, and shredded paper. These can be affordable, and often free if you ask at local stores. You can also purchase boxes with pre-made cardboard dividers specifically for ornaments.

And remember: stack them low so they don’t topple, and never place anything heavy on top.

Keep Candles in a Temperature-Controlled Environment

Here’s a benefit of temperature-controlled self storage units that you might not think of often: protecting your candles. Holiday candles can be extra ornate, and that may mean you want to display them instead of burning them. To keep them pristine from one year to the next, store them in cool temperatures. When storing molded, tapered, or pillar candles, be sure to wrap them in cellophane or wax paper to prevent sticking and color transfer.

Keep Gift Wrap Wrinkle-Free

Are you a “stock up at half price” kind of shopper? If so, you’ll need to store those post-holiday deals, along with any partial rolls you have, without bending or wrinkling them. Remember that clothing rack we mentioned? Put your rolls into a large garment bag on a hanger and zip it up. Your paper will be good as new when you need to wrap gifts next year.