String lights
Unplug them, let them cool and inspect the cord and plug. Coil them loosely, around a piece of cardboard or your hand, without kinking the cord. A damaged string does not go back in the decor box; it has no place there.
Care
Care and upkeep
The holiday ends, but the decorations stay, and how you put them away decides whether they delight you next season. A little attention when packing up, and the lights do not tangle, the ornaments do not break and the tablecloth does not have to be thrown out because of an old stain.
Decor packed away without rushing and with a label on the box feels like a gift to yourself a year later.
How this section works: we give general advice on care and storage. Check the cleaning products for a specific fabric and the storage method for a particular string of lights or tree in the manufacturer's instructions and on the product label.
Care by type of decor
What to do with each kind of decoration once the holiday is over.
Artificial tree
Remove the decorations, dust it off, take the tree apart according to the instructions and stack the branches by tier. Store it in a bag or box in a dry place.
Glass ornaments
Wrap each one in soft paper or fabric and place them in dividers. Put heavy boxes at the bottom and light ones with fragile items on top, and write “fragile” on the lid.
Textiles
Wash or clean tablecloths, napkins and covers, dry them completely and only then fold them away. Stains are best removed right away, while they are fresh.
Wax
Remove hardened wax from a table or candle holder carefully once it has set completely. On fabric, leftover wax comes off through paper with a warm iron, but first check the label to see whether the fabric can be ironed.
Pine needles
Carry a real tree out wrapped in an old sheet or a tree bag so the needles do not scatter through the hallway. Vacuum up needles from the floor, wipe it with a damp cloth and check under furniture and in the gaps along the baseboards.
How to store decor between seasons
- Sort decorations by location or by type: tree, window, table, entryway.
- Label every box in large, clear letters and mark anything fragile.
- Store the boxes in a dry place, away from radiators and a damp balcony.
- Natural decor that has started to crumble or smell musty goes in the compost, not back in the box.
- Put a note on top about what needs fixing or replacing for next season.
- Take the batteries out of LED candles and battery-powered lights so they do not leak.
Read next
- How-to
How to hang string lights safely, set up a tree so it stays steady and make a decoration from dried oranges and branches.
- Tools
Handy things for decorating your home: a steady stepladder, no-drill hooks, scissors, boxes and LED candles.
- Planning
A schedule for getting your home holiday-ready and a budget in general terms: what to do early, a week ahead and on the day.
What we rely on
- Instructions from manufacturers of string lights and electrical appliances
- Holiday fire-safety guidance from Russia's Emergencies Ministry (in general terms)
- Editorial materials of the Prazdnichnyymir guide
The advice here is general and based on the instructions of string light and appliance manufacturers and on widely accepted rules of fire safety at home. Always check the instructions for the specific item on how to plug in a particular string of lights, where a stand or candle can go and how to handle the product.