The HTRC

The Homeowners & Trades Resource Center

You are here: Home / Around the home / Holiday & Vacations / Holiday Checklist – The day after

Holiday Checklist – The day after

First off, we hope everyone had a great Christmas and are looking forward to the New Year. Many people will be heading out today for the annual gift exchange / returns, while plenty of others will go out shopping with all those gift cards they got.  If you have been following along with our Holiday Checklist & Planning series you may remember we had some after Christmas items listed in the Getting Ready for the Holiday’s article. In case you missed them, we have included them below along with a few tips and tricks that may help you out. While this article is mainly written for the day after Christmas, many of the same things listed apply to Thanksgiving, Halloween, Independence Day, etc…

A time to review:

Take a few minutes and review what worked and what didn’t. Make notes for next year’s holidays to make life a little bit easier. If you haven’t started a notebook or journal, now might be a great time. I personally keep notes on my computer, sorted in different folders.

Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree:

There are three main types of Christmas trees, a live one that was cut down, an artificial tree, and my favorite one – a live tree. Depending on the type of tree depends on what should be done with it.

An artificial tree, can be packed up at almost any time, but is generally taken down anywhere between now and just after New Year’s Day. As each type of tree is different, you might want to refer back to the directions for how it should be packaged up for next season. If you are storing it back in its original box, or even in a plastic bag, make sure all holes are taped up. If you have had enough of your existing one – you may see if there is a recycling center near you or give it away to a charity.

A cut tree can be removed at almost any time but should be done before it dries out. Most trees if properly cared for can last up to 5 weeks. Before you go to get rid of it, all the tinsel and decorations should be removed. Most trash companies will not pick up Christmas trees as part of their normal pickup cycle, but may pick them up during a “bulk” pickup day. I would suggest that you contact your local company and see if there is a tree-recycling center nearby where you can drop it off. The nice thing about these places is that they can turn your tree into mulch and use it throughout the year. You can also recycle your own tree by using the needles for mulch around acid-loving plants, mulching the tree yourself, or for those of us with a pond – deep sixing it for the fishes. (MORE: Safety Sunday: Ahhh, bye-bye Christmas)

A live tree requires no disposal, but requires planting after the holidays are over. The first step is to re-introduce the tree back to the outside. You should leave it in a sheltered place on a patio or in the garage for approximately 3 to 4 days keeping it well watered. After this period, you should plant the tree as you would normally. In some Northern areas of this state and the bulk of this country, that may be problematic, as the ground is frozen solid. In these cases, the hole is generally prepared before the winter starts.

Ornaments:

While you are taking down your ornaments, throw out any broken or damaged ones. You might also want to take a few minutes to sort through your decorations and keep only what you love for next year and give the rest away. (MORE: Safety Sunday: Ahhh, bye-bye Christmas)

Christmas Lights:

Christmas lights are generally taken down between the days after Christmas until the first weekend after New Years. You should do a final test of them and replace any blown bulbs. If there are any worn wires, you should simply get rid of them. (MORE: Safety Sunday: Ahhh, bye-bye Christmas)

After Christmas Sales:

Stock up on greeting cards, wrapping paper, ribbons, ornaments, and other decorations to replace what was used this year. Most places are probably cleaning out unused stock and if it works for your plans, you can save a ton of money. While you are out, you might want to consider picking up some storage containers for the next step.

Packing and Storing:

By the time it gets to this point, most everyone’s nerves are a little frazzled and occasionally we get a little lazy. If you can work through this, it will save you a lot of time come next year. The first step would be cleaning up one area that is reserved just for the lights, ornaments and other associated holiday items.

Instead of just bundling all the lights together and throwing them in a box, consider placing them in separate shoeboxes inside a larger tub. In most cases, we recommend using plastic boxes that seal to help prevent rodents from taking up residence. Don’t forget to store all the extension cords and timers with them.

Setting up a tub that contains all your wrapping paper & mailing supplies is also a great idea. If this tub will only be used for Christmas presents, it should be stored with all the Christmas decorations. If you also use it for the birthdays and other associated gift giving times, you might want to keep it separate or make sure it is towards the front or on top of the other decorations.

Uggghhh – taxes:

While April 15th is still a long ways off, the end of the year is almost here. If you know you need some more deductions, you only have a few days left to make charitable deductions, make an extra Mortgage payment, or other items that might be recommended by your accountant. (More: Taxes, Recordkeeping, and Clearing up the Clutter)

Related posts:

October and Fall / Autumn Maintenance Checklist
Labor Day & Safety
Let's Blog Off: Reducing Stress for Thanksgiving
Safety Sunday: Halloween - 10 tips for Trick & Treaters
Safety Sunday: Only You… Camping & Outdoor Fire Safety
De-cluttering your home - Getting ready for the Holiday's
Updates, Happening’s, and some Festive Cheer for all…
Happy Holidays - 2012
Tweet

Filed Under: Holiday & Vacations Tagged With: Holiday December 26, 2009 By SLS

Featured Posts

February – Winter Maintenance Checklist

Ahhh February, we are now in the second full month of winter and many people in the northern states and elsewhere are starting to feel run down from a lack ...

Read More

Getting ready for Spring: Your deck & grill

Hopefully, this last snow storm was it for spring (really?) meaning most of us can start getting ready to grill and get back to enjoying the great outdoors. Needless to ...

Read More

Taxes, Record Keeping, & Clearing the Clutter

Taxes, Record Keeping, & Clearing the Clutter

Oh no, it’s April 16th and taxes were due… are due on the 18th? In reality, my taxes were actually filed back in February, but if this were any other ...

Read More

FAQ: Should I close my crawl space vents during winter?

FAQ: Should I close my crawl space vents during winter?

In short the answer is generally yes, they should be closed up during the winter months. If you follow our Monthly Maintenance Schedule, we recommend the month of October as ...

Read More

FAQ: Do I need to change my HVAC filter monthly?

FAQ: Do I need to change my HVAC filter monthly?

If you follow our Monthly Maintenance Program, the first item we have listed is "Change out your HVAC filter." This has brought up a few questions, namely: Do I need ...

Read More

FAQ: Exterior HVAC units - Should I cover my unit, or... fall & wintertime questions

When it comes to the exterior HVAC unit most people wonder about hiding them and reducing the amount of noise. We delved into that topic in our Spring & Summer ...

Read More

FAQ: Ceiling fan direction - summer & winter

One of the biggest questions out there is which direction should my fan be running and how can I tell. You look at the switch and realize it isn't any ...

Read More

The HTRC - Copyright © 2006–2023 by TheHTRC.com & SLS Construction & Building Solutions LLC http://SLS-Construction.com