The “Keep or Toss” Checklist
The holidays are over, and the bins are out. Your instinct is probably to grab everything that looks festive, shove it into a plastic tote, and force the lid shut until next November.
But wait.
Every year, we pay to store things we don’t actually want. We store broken lights, “meh” ornaments we felt guilty throwing away, and flattened wreaths that have seen better days. This year, before you head to your Personal Storage unit, do a quick audit.
Here are the four things you need to toss, recycle, or donate right now to save yourself space (and sanity) next year.
1. The “One Bulb Out” Light Strands
We all do it. We plug in a strand, see a dead section, and think, “I’ll fix that next year.”
- The Reality: You won’t. Next year, you will be just as busy. You will pull that strand out, get frustrated, and run to the store to buy a new one anyway.
- The Rule: If it didn’t work this year, it doesn’t go in the box. Recycle the copper wire and reclaim that space.
2. The “Guilt” Ornaments
These are the decorations you put on the back of the tree where no one looks. Maybe it was a gift from a coworker three years ago, or a generic bauble that doesn’t match your style anymore.
- The Reality: If you didn’t love displaying it this year, you won’t love it next year.
- The Rule: Donate it. Someone else might love it, and you get to reclaim space for ornaments that actually make you smile.
3. The Bald Wreaths and Garlands
Artificial greenery lasts a long time, but not forever. If your floor is covered in green plastic needles every time you touch your garland, it’s time to retire it.
- The Reality: Old, shedding plastics can actually attract dust and pests inside your storage unit if not sealed properly.
- The Rule: If it’s shedding, shredding, or bending out of shape, toss it. When you buy a high-quality replacement next year, keep it fresh by storing it in a Climate-Controlled Storage unit to prevent heat damage.
4. The Wrapping Paper Scraps
Why do we save those awkward, crinkled tubes of paper that barely have enough left to wrap a jewelry box?
- The Reality: Paper attracts silverfish and absorbs moisture. Storing piles of scrap paper is a fast track to clutter.
- The Rule: Keep the full rolls. Recycle the scraps. If you want to keep the rolls pristine, use a vertical wrapping paper storage bin rather than piling them in a corner.
Start the Year Light
Storage units are for protecting your valuables, not your trash. By spending 20 minutes filtering your decor now, you ensure that when you open those doors next holiday season, you are greeted by organized, working, beautiful decorations.
Ready to store the “Keep” pile? Find your perfect unit size at one of our storage locations today.