Professional Organizers Share the Genius Trick to Store Holiday Decorations – That Will Save You Weeks of Cleaning Glitter
Wrapping items before storage is the key
Sparkling Christmas decorations might look beautiful and festive, but storing them without spreading glitter around your home for the rest of the year can prove to be a tricky task.
Luckily, say our professional organizers, it doesn't have to be – all you need is a little expert know-how when it comes to stashing away your decorations until next Christmas.
How to Store Holiday Decorations So You're Not Cleaning Glitter Until March
Whether you declutter your Christmas decorations each and every year, or have boxes stacked high with sentimental pieces, there's one thing almost all festive flourishes have in common – glitter. And, while these may make for a stunning holiday display, storing them can be another matter. In fact, it's a storage conundrum even professional organizers have to grapple with.
For example, Tracy McCubbin, CEO and founder of dClutterfly, stresses, 'Make my opinion be known, but I hate glitter! After dealing with clients' donations for years, my car, our truck, and our warehouse are forever covered in glitter.'
For this, she has one simple rule – 'no item with glitter goes on our truck if it's not in a plastic bag.'
Cathy Orr, cofounder of The Uncluttered Life, agrees with Tracy. 'Let’s just say, glitter gets everywhere and into everything,' she says. 'You can put your holiday decorations away in December or early January and find it in nooks and crannies in March. For this reason, it’s crucial to have great solutions for holiday decor storage.'
She also recommends wrapping glitter-covered items ahead of storage, and suggests the Handy Laundry Christmas Wreath Storage Bag available at Amazon for storing away the items needed to make a festive wall display with wreaths, which Tracy describes as the 'biggest glitter offenders.'
'It keeps the branches in place, glitter loss to a minimum, and the wreath clean all year long,' adds Cathy. 'It also comes in a variety of sizes.'
Alternatively, you can also use clear storage boxes for storage, which Di Ter Avest, professional organizer and founder of Diisorganized, recommends.
'Clear, sturdy bins are my go-to because you can see what you have without having to open everything,' she says. For this, she recommends the Sterilite Storage Boxes, available at Amazon. But, adds Tracy, 'Even if you are storing your wreath in a bin, always put it in a plastic bag first!'
Garlands, ornaments, and artificial trees are all often covered in glitter.
This wrapping technique also applies to storing fragile, glittery ornaments, for which Allie Licata, owner and lead organizer at The Curated Home Company, also recommends using ornament boxes with individual compartments, such as the Stack and Carry 2 Layer Christmas Ornament Box available at Target, which fits 24 ornaments.
'As you take each Christmas ornament idea off the tree, place it directly into its own compartment in the ornament storage box,' she advises. 'Wrap delicate and fragile ornaments with one to two layers of tissue paper or paper towels to provide extra protection and keep the glitter in place.
'When ornaments are tossed into one bin, glitter gets onto everything and can spill out each time the bin is opened. Ornament boxes with individual compartments keep glitter ornaments separate from non-glitter ornaments, so the glitter doesn't spread. The secured lid also keeps the ornaments from falling out, so no excess glitter gets on floors or in closets.'
And, once you've taken down your Christmas tree, the same principle applies. 'Before moving the tree, shake or vacuum any loose glitter or tree needles,' adds Allie. 'Then place the tree directly into the zippered storage bag, such as the Christmas Tree Storage Decorative Basket available at Target, and zip it closed before carrying it to a storage place.
'Artificial trees can leave glitter everywhere when you move them from room to room. A zippered storage bag keeps that glitter contained instead of spreading across floors, closets, the garage, or attic. It also makes cleanup and setting the tree up next year much easier and less messy.'
Finally, whatever you're storing, adds Di, 'Label like your future self will thank you,' to turn storage from frustrating to effortless and avoid any common storage mistakes.
'Instead of writing “Christmas,” be specific: “Tree Décor – Red and Gold,” “Outdoor Lights,” or “Gift Wrap Supplies,”' she advises. 'Add labels to the front and the top so you can spot things fast.
'It also helps to keep all holiday décor in one dedicated zone – one shelf, one closet, or one section of the basement. When everything lives together and is clearly labeled, you won’t be digging through boxes or cleaning glitter well into spring.'
What to Shop
All prices were correct at the time of publication.
'A good Christmas tree storage bag is worth its weight in gold,' says Cathy. 'It needs to have both structure and flexibility, and enough space to fit the length and width of the tree. This particular tree storage bag has handles, which make removing and returning the bag easy to do.'
This wreath storage bag is made of waterproof plastic to protect your decorations from moisture, dust, and pests, and prevents glitter from being spread around your home. It also features two handles for convenient portability.
'Even though this is not holiday decor storage, it’s important to have good storage for wrapping paper and accessories,' says Cathy. 'Again, glitter tends to find its way onto bows and tags, and holding it all within a covered, sealed bag makes storage and accessibility easy when you need it the next time.'
These ornament storage boxes are conveniently stackable and feature a hinged lid for quick and easy access to your items.
These BPA-free plastic storage bins feature secure pull handles to make them easy to access from up on a shelf, while the transparent design lets you see the contents with just a quick glance.
These wreath storage bags are made from sustainable, water-resistant, high-grade, and durable premium polypropylene woven fabric, to ensure they last for seasons to come.
Meet the Experts
Cathy is a cofounder of The Uncluttered Life and the Declutter Deck, recently featured in FabFitFun. She is also a certified master in the Kon Mari method.
Di has been a professional organizer since becoming a wife and a mother taught her the importance of regular decluttering, tidying, and organizing. She has helped hundreds of clients rethink their relationship with clutter, and strives to help them free up more time for doing what they love.
Tracy became a professional organizer in 2006, and has shared her hands-on experience with her clients for over 20 years. As a hater of any glitter-covered decorations, she uses her expertise to share storage tips that really work.
Allie is the owner of The Curated Home Company and a professional organizer based in Doylestown, PA. She regularly helps clients organize their seasonal decor before, during, and after the holidays, which always includes shopping for the right storage products that make sense for their space and items, and overall, make decorating and cleaning up from the holidays easier. Her goal is always to reduce stress and mess (especially glitter) and help her clients enjoy the holidays more, without dreading the cleanup.
'My biggest hack for not cleaning glitter out of the rugs is to not buy any decor with glitter on it,' adds Tracy. But if you prefer traditional decorating ideas, this simple, smart tip is all you need to prevent spreading it around your home for the whole of next year.
