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Viewing: How To Organize And Put Away Holiday Decorations
Thursday, February 11, 2010
The holidays are a wonderful time of renewal. Personally, I love the way the world takes on a whole new look. My neighbors are big on decorating their homes with festive lights, and yes, those ever-popular blow up characters. Not wanting to be left out of all the fun, my family too begins to adorn both the inside and the outside of our home beginning the day after Thanksgiving. It sure is fun putting up all of those decorations, isn't it? Then, the holidays are over; the weather turns cold and blistery, flu season takes hold and we're all exhausted. That's when it is time to put all of those decorations away -- Uggh!
Whether it is Christmas lights or patio supplies, organizing and stowing away seasonal items can be a real hassle - not to mention a big mess. That's why it is so important to do it right the first time. Otherwise you will find the job of getting them back out next year even more drudgery.
So, what's the best way to organize and store your seasonal goods? Here are a few suggestions to make the job a little bit easier.
Find the Right Storage Spot
The first step to stowing away items that are only brought out occasionally is to find the right place to store them. Whether it is the basement, garage, attic, storage shed or closet, be sure that you choose a cool, dry place that critters looking for a good nesting area cannot get too. Also, be wary of storing things in extremely high places that you can't easily reach. While using a sturdy step ladder can help you get your things down later on, the harder it is to reach them, the more complicated the jobs of putting the items away and getting them back out will be.
Use the Right Storage Containers
Once you have found the perfect spot to store your seasonal items, be sure to keep them in the right types of storage containers. Clear plastic boxes or cartons are best. They allow you to see what's in each box, while keeping dampness, insects and other damaging pests out of them. Take a few extra minutes to mark all storage containers to help you better manage your mess and try and use approximately the same size containers to make stacking safer and easier.
Group Like Items Together
Who hasn't searched for the Christmas tree topper only to pull out the Halloween decorations instead? What a hassle! Be sure to store like items together. For instance, keep all Christmas decorations in one area; and summer toys in another. It'll make pulling out what you need much easier when the appropriate season arrives.
Safety First!
Most of us have grabbed for a box or two above out heads only to find an avalanche of boxes and bags coming down on our heads. This can be a dangerous situation for both you and your prized belongings. Whenever storing seasonal items always use appropriate safety precautions. The best way to protect yourself and your boxes is to use a step ladder to reach those hard-to-reach shelves and storage containers. Be sure to choose the right size step stool. Oftentimes a one or two step ladder will suffice; but more often than not you will need to use a three-step or even step ladder to elevate you to the right height.
When setting up your step stool be sure that it stands firm and level on the floor. A wobbly stool can be a real safety hazard. Also, be sure to lock the legs in place to avoid any unintentional spills. If your step stool does not already have foot treads, be sure to place some underneath its feet for even more stability. And, if climbing on a higher step ladder, ask a friend or family member to stand at the bottom to help keep it stable and to reach for larger boxes and items to make the job a little bit easier -and safer.
Grabbing What You Need
By using a step stool to bring you to the height you need, you can easily see which containers you need and grab only those that contain the items you are looking for. Once you are finished decorating, you can then replace the containers on the shelf until it is time to put everything away for the season once again.
As you can see, storing away seasonal items is much easier if you take a few minutes to label and organize your boxes properly. Once everything has a place and is put in its place it really is no hassle at all to repeat the decorating cycle year after year.
In the market for a sturdy step stool? Look no further than Ed Jenkins Step Stool Supply where youll find a wide variety of step stools and step ladders, perfect for helping with your holiday decor organizing.
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