December 29th, 2008
Sound Advice: Post-Holiday Cleanup
It may only be the fifth day of Christmas as I write this, but for some people, it’s already time to begin un-decorating. One thing I learned from my mother is to store any of my “every day” decor that I removed in order to accommodate seasonal decorations in the box the seasonal stuff is usually kept in. By doing this, I don’t have to have two sets of storage boxes, and I always know where things are.
The other thing I learned from my mother is that there can never be too much white tissue paper. Every few years, we toss the paper protecting our collection of ornaments, and replace it with pristine new paper. This year, the local dollar store was the source for such paper. When it comes to containers and wrapping materials, you can’t beat the dollar store.
Finally, if you’re the kind of person who drapes her house in lights, I’d just like to remind you to replace any burnt-out or broken bulbs now, so you don’t have to hunt for them next year, and to coil your lights neatly, so there’s a minimal amount of detangling required in the future. It’s the little details like this that make decorating and re-decorating a joy rather than a chore.
A bonus tip: If your front door is sporting a pine wreath, and your home has a functional fireplace, consider clipping the pine off the wire wreath form, and using it to add scent to the fire for the next few weeks - you only need a little. A sprig or two in the flames with a DuraFlame log gives your fire the piney scent we all love, without the creosote we all hate.
