Christmas decorations: clean and store them in a damp climate

Why the box in the trastero needs a look first

Christmas decorations spend ten or eleven months in a storage room, a garage or the top of a wardrobe. On the coast, the winter and spring air is damp, and a cardboard box on a cold floor slowly soaks it up. When you open it in late November, you may find a musty smell, sticky ribbon, rusty hooks or lights that no longer work.

Checking everything a few weeks before you decorate gives you time to clean, repair or replace what is needed, instead of doing it the evening you want the house ready.

Baubles, glass and delicate ornaments

Wipe glass and ceramic baubles with a soft, dry microfibre cloth. If they are dusty or sticky, use a barely damp cloth with a drop of mild soap, then dry straight away. Do not soak them: painted finishes, glitter and old hand-painted pieces can lift or fade with water.

Handle glass ornaments over a towel or a soft surface in case one slips. Check the metal caps and hooks for rust, and replace any that are marked, since rust can stain the ornament and the tree.

Lights, garlands and the tree

Always test string lights before hanging them, and unplug them first. Look for cracked wires, loose bulbs or damaged plugs and throw away any set that looks unsafe. Wipe the cable with a dry cloth; never wash electrical items.

An artificial tree usually gathers dust on each branch. Take it outside or onto a terrace if you can, and brush or dust the branches with a soft cloth or a hair dryer on a cool setting. Check the stand and the branch labels so assembly is quick. Fabric items such as tree skirts, stockings and table runners can be washed following their care label, and must be completely dry before they go anywhere near a box.

Storing them so damp cannot get in

After the holidays, pack everything only when it is fully dry and clean. Use plastic boxes with a lid rather than cardboard, which absorbs moisture, and wrap fragile pieces in acid-free tissue or clean cloth rather than newspaper, whose ink can transfer.

Put a silica gel pack or a moisture absorber in each box and keep the boxes off the floor, on a shelf, away from outside walls. Label each box by room or type, and keep lights coiled around a piece of card so they do not tangle.

Where Lavanda can help

If the house is large, or you arrive just before the holidays, we can help with the cleaning of the rooms where decorations will go and with putting the home in order before guests arrive. The decorations themselves are a pleasure best left to you.