| Proper Christmas ornament storage will | | | | Some are specifically designed to store |
| keep your beautiful ornaments unmarred | | | | ornaments and have appropriately-sized |
| for next year and decades to follow. | | | | compartments. Plastic boxes are |
| Antique glass ornaments are quite | | | | sturdier than cardboard boxes, but the |
| fragile. It's surprising that some have | | | | completely airless space they create is |
| remained unbroken for a century! Modern | | | | not necessarily suitable for valuable or |
| ornaments, especially the ones made of | | | | antique ornaments. Special acid-free |
| treated glass, are stronger -- but they | | | | cardboard containers are the best choice |
| are still susceptible to damage. Proper | | | | for these valuables. |
| storage and handling will preserve these | | | | Each piece should be individually |
| beautiful ornaments for future | | | | wrapped before being placed in a |
| generations to enjoy. | | | | Christmas ornament storage container. |
| Handling Glass Ornaments | | | | Use acid-free tissue paper, or acid-free |
| Glass decorations must be handled | | | | paper towels (the kind sold as |
| carefully and with due caution. When | | | | microwavable). Newspaper is not a good |
| they are removed from storage, work on a | | | | choice; the chemicals in the print -- |
| padded surface as you remove their | | | | and in the paper too -- can harm the |
| wrappings. Place a padded tree skirt | | | | finish on the decoration. |
| under the tree to soften the impact, in | | | | Place bubble wrap or crumpled paper |
| case a glass ball falls from the tree. | | | | towels in the bottom of the Christmas |
| An old-fashioned Christmas tree fence is | | | | ornament storage container before you |
| useful to keep young children and pets | | | | put any wrapped decorations in it. If |
| away from the ornaments. If you don't | | | | the box doesn't include sections, use |
| have a fence, hang the delicate glass | | | | extra tissue between decorations to |
| balls near the top of the tree, and put | | | | provide more protection. Add a last |
| unbreakable spheres on low branches. It | | | | layer on top of the ornaments before |
| is helpful to spray a pet repellent | | | | fastening the lid. |
| under the tree. | | | | Place some silica gel desiccant in every |
| If your ornaments are displayed for over | | | | container to remove dampness. You can |
| two weeks, position them away from | | | | buy it at craft stores. |
| sunlight. Direct daylight can cause the | | | | For more security, store large glass |
| paint to fade. | | | | decorations separately from little ones, |
| Cleaning | | | | and glass ornaments apart from wooden or |
| The colors painted on antique ornaments | | | | metal ones. Mark all your Christmas |
| were generally favorite family recipes. | | | | ornament storage boxes plainly, so that |
| These were not very durable. Age has | | | | you won't have to unpack all of them if |
| made them yet more fragile. Most are | | | | you want a particular ornament later in |
| water-soluble, so they should never be | | | | the year. |
| washed. Avoid glass cleaners and other | | | | Even with all this padding, ornaments |
| chemical solutions as well. Some of the | | | | can still be injured by extreme |
| modern lacquers are also water-based and | | | | temperatures and/or humidity levels. |
| will last longer if the same precautions | | | | These elements can cause stress |
| are followed. | | | | fractures eventually. Unheated attics |
| Gently flick glass ornaments with a | | | | and cellars are poor locations for |
| feather duster to clean them. | | | | Christmas ornament storage. Keep |
| Ostrich-feather dusters are especially | | | | ornaments in a closet instead. |
| effective. | | | | You only need is some time and some |
| Storage | | | | thought to make your ornaments |
| Strong Christmas ornament storage boxes | | | | undamaged. Good Christmas ornament |
| with close-fitting lids are needed to | | | | storage isn't hard, and it will preserve |
| store ornaments. Many manufacturers | | | | these fragile treasures for generations. |
| produce cardboard or plastic containers. | | | | |