Taking Down Holiday Decorations Safely

Even though we still have New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day, many people will be looking at when to take down their holiday decorations. You maybe haven’t started taking down decorations yet, but when you do, we want you to practice safety so you do not injure yourself or others. Taking down decorations is just as dangerous as putting them up. Follow our tips below and check out some of our storage tricks.

Tips for Taking Down Holiday Decorations

• Pace Yourself – instead of making it a one day event, try slowly taking items down throughout the week.
• Avoid Overreaching – try to work at or below shoulder height.
• Practice Safety with Ladders – if you need to use a ladder, make sure it’s base is on a balanced surface and that someone is holding it. If you are using a step ladder, buy a large enough one to support your weight.
• Broken Ornaments – these can cut you very easily. Either toss them or handle with care if they are of significant value. Don’t let small children take these ornaments off the tree.
• Heavy Boxes – don’t overfill boxes as this could cause a back injury. Use more boxes to keep them light.
• Sprains/Fractures – just in case someone falls and hurts themselves, know the symptoms and signs of sprains and fractures. The most common are to the wrists and ankles.

Steps for Taking Down the Christmas Tree

• Step 1: Store Decor First – Remove from the bottom of the tree up to prevent knocking ornaments off.
• Step 2: Bundle Up Your Tree – Place a large sheet at the base of the tree. Use a turkey baster to remove excess water in the stand. Lay the tree on it’s side and remove the stand. Then carry or drag the tree to the curb and roll it off the sheet.
• Step 3: Needles – For bare floors sweep and dump debris into the sheet and dispose outside. You can also use a vacuum. Check for ornament hooks though, they can break vacuums. If you are on carpet, try sprinkling baking soda on the needles and then vacuuming.

Holiday Decoration Storage

• Ornaments
  • Try a segmented cardboard box.
  • Protect fragile ornaments with newspaper or tissue paper.
  • For further protection, try bubble wrap
• Lights
  • Test each strand before putting away. Replace dead bulbs or discards strands that do not work properly.
  • Keep all extra bulbs and fuses together in a small kit.
  • Store each strand in a 1 gallon freezer bag then stack in a storage container.
  • Use clips or wire to tie strands together.
  • Look into purchasing a Christmas Light storage wheel.
• Wreaths
  • Invest in a plastic wreath storage box.
  • There are also soft plastic and cardboard wreath boxes.

Sources: Better Homes & Gardens, THV 11, Martha Stewart, Good Housekeeping

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