Organizing the Clean Up of Holiday Decorations | Family Economics

By Marie

We've just wrapped up the Easter holiday at our house, and now it's time to say goodbye to all the decorations. Back to the garage they go. But since my garage shelves are filled with all kinds of holiday decor, I've organized it in a way that will help me find those Easter eggs easily again next year. Here are a few tips to staying organized with your holiday decorations.

1. Giant Plastic Tubs: I love those big 18-gallon rubber storage tubs. They fit almost anything and have larger sizes for large decorations. Sometimes I like to get clear tubs so I can see what’s inside. But sometimes it's best to get the colored kind so the items inside don't fade if it's next to a sunny window.

2. Color Coded Tubs: They make and sell all kinds of storage tubs now, and in lots of bright colors. I've purchased my tubs in coordinating colors, helping me find the holiday decorations easier. I have orange ones for Halloween, red for Christmas, and green for Easter. It's great because I know just which tub to get down from the shelf.

3. Label, Label, Label: It's best to label your rubber storage tubs, especially if they aren't clear. You can purchase a label sticker to place on the side of the tub that is facing out, or simply write in bold black marker right on the tub's side. And if you can, label both sides, just in case they get turned around. You don't want to have to get to the top of the shelf and bring down the wrong tub!

4. Put them in Order: I have one long shelf that has all my holiday decoration tubs on it. I try to keep them organized in order of the calendar year. The Valentine's Day decor tub is next to the Easter tub, which is next to the 4th of July tub, and so on. This will help you stay organized and get you to the right area much faster.