Published: December 30, 2008 11:13 am      

Containing stress | Storage designed with next holiday in mind

By TOM LAVIS

TLAVIS@TRIBDEM.COM

Now that Christmas is over, it’s time to put away those decorations in an orderly fashion.

Instead of facing a jumble of confusion when you unpack for next Christmas, area retailers suggest a wide range of items to take the stress out of storage.

Whether it’s old toys that have been replaced by new ones, artificial trees or that small army of inflatable lawn figures, the right container will keep them safe and secure.

Now, just days after buying half-price wrapping paper, cards and gift bags for next year, the problem arises as to where to store everything.

Retailers have the answer with storage boxes and easy-to-install shelving that will lessen the anxiety and make next Christmas less feverish.

Instead of using trash bags or cardboard boxes for storage, it may be the right time to invest in some alternatives.

Judy Adams, store manager at Cambria Ace Hardware, 1765 Goucher St. in West Hills Square, said these items are designed to relieve the stress of storing holiday decorations.

“People are just starting to take down their trees and exploring what's available to make it easier to store,” she said.

To take the worry out of jamming the artificial tree back into its deteriorating cardboard box, manufacturers offer a large duffle-style bag with wheels.

“You just disassemble the tree, smoosh it down to pack it away and wheel it to the basement, attic or garage,” Adams said.

“It can accommodate a tree that is about 7 feet tall.”

The oversized bag usually sells for $25 but is on sale for $14.99, she said.

For those looking for a simpler solution to tree storage, Banana Bags may be the right choice.

“They were new to the market last year and we sold out quickly, so we ordered more for this season,” Adams said.

They come in two sizes. Packages with five bags measuring 36-by-60 inches or four bags measuring 40-by-72 inches are priced at $5.49.

“They are multipurpose bags that can be used for storing decorations or covering lawn furniture,” Adams said.

“This eliminates the need for using old cardboard boxes or poking holes in garbage bags when storing items.”

Ace also has an array of plastic containers to fit most any space.

Prices range from $4.99 to $19.99, and they come in sizes from under-bed storage to taller containers that stack.

“We have totes with red lids that are easily identified as holding Christmas trimmings,” Adams said.

Steve Krenisky, a floor manager at Lowe’s Home Improvement, 1730 N. Center St., Somerset, said storage items are in demand.

“We have been selling a steady stream of items because people are trying to avoid storing items in a haphazard manner after the holidays,” Krenisky said.

Totes range in price at Lowe's from roughly $6 for an 18-gallon container to $18 to $20 for the hefty 50-gallon size.

The totes come in a variety of sizes to fit in most any space or stack on a closet shelf.

“We even have wreath storage boxes that sell for $10.97,” Krenisky said.

For those who know the frustration of untangling strings of Christmas lights left knotted from the previous year, a Holiday Storage Bag may be the answer.

“It comes with four reels to wind up lights so they can just be peeled off next year without all the tangling,” Krenisky said.

“You simply wind up the lights and place them in the bag.”

Plastic shelving units have become popular because they are easy to assemble and can be adapted to fit a variety of spaces.

“These new shelving units require few or no tools to assemble, and many of them just interlock,” Adams said.

They are ideal for attics, basements and utility rooms and provide more convenience than just stacking totes or boxes on the floor, she said.

For heavier items, metal units that hold 1,000 pounds per shelf are available, Krenisky said.

“These are heavy-duty units that require some assembly,” he said.

January through February is when the biggest rush on storage items occurs, Adams said.