Fir-ever Fresh: How To Store a Christmas Tree

Of all the holiday decorations, Christmas trees always steal the spotlight. They’re the center of attention, standing tall while showing off their twinkly lights and festive ornaments. 

As the holidays roll around, decorating the Christmas tree becomes a family affair, as everyone gathers around to string lights and hang their favorite ornaments. However, not everyone loves the mess and upheaval of getting a real tree each year, so that’s where artificial trees come into play. These plastic trees offer a great alternative to the hassle of setting up a real tree while providing all the same benefits.

That said, if you go the artificial tree route, you’ll want to ensure your tree looks its best each holiday season, so that’s why you need to understand how to store your Christmas tree. In our guide below, we offer a few helpful tips on storing artificial Christmas trees to keep your tree shining bright for years to come. 

Preparing Your Christmas Tree for Storage

Before we cover some of our favorite Christmas tree storage ideas, let’s review some of the best ways to prepare your artificial tree for storage. 

When storing your artificial Christmas tree, first remove all the ornaments and lights, ensuring your tree is completely bare. To keep things organized, designate a box for your Christmas tree trimmings and wrap your string lights around a spool to prevent tangles. We recommend storing all your holiday decorations in the same place so you know where everything is when it’s time to deck the halls next year. 

Next, gently wipe down your Christmas tree’s branches with a dry cloth. Work your way from top to bottom, ensuring you get rid of any debris. Depending on the kind of tree you have, you might even consider running a vacuum cleaner over it to pick up any lingering grime. Trust us, putting in the work now means you’ll save yourself time and energy next holiday season when you go to put up your tree. 

Now it’s time to decide where to store your artificial Christmas tree. Since you only use your tree for a month or two out of the year, you’ll probably want to find a storage spot that’s out of sight and out of mind. For you, that might mean placing it in the garage, attic, spare closet, or even a climate-controlled storage unit. Just be sure to find a dry storage spot that won’t expose your tree to high humidity or outside elements. 

Best Christmas Tree Storage Ideas

Without further ado, let’s dive into the best ways to store a Christmas tree!

Place Your Tree in a Christmas Tree Storage Bag

When it comes to Christmas tree storage solutions, we love artificial tree storage bags. These bags are specifically designed for storing your Christmas tree, allowing you to zip your tree right up inside. They not only help keep dust, dirt, and grime away from your tree, but they can also prevent pests and critters from making a home in your tree’s branches. 

Use the Box Your Tree Came In

If you’re wondering how to store an artificial Christmas tree, you can always use the cardboard box it arrived in. Of course, this is easily one of the simplest solutions because you know your tree will comfortably fit inside the box. That said, cardboard is not the most durable material, so it may not protect your tree from moisture, insects, and other pests. If you go this route, just be sure to store the box away from anything that can interfere with it. 

Take Advantage of Plastic Wrap

Another DIY Christmas tree storage idea involves wrapping your tree in plastic wrap to help keep it in tip-top shape. Just wrap your tree from top to bottom in plastic wrap and then place it in a Christmas tree bag or cardboard box. 

Invest in Plastic Bins

Depending on the size of your Christmas tree, you might consider breaking it down and placing it in plastic storage bins. We like this option because plastic bins help keep out the elements while offering you an easily stackable Christmas tree storage solution. Once you place your tree in the plastic bins and label them, you can conveniently store these boxes anywhere you have the extra space, like under your bed, in a closet, or stacked on a shelf in your garage. 

Learn More About Stor-It

If you’re interested in renting storage for your Christmas tree and other holiday decorations, it’s time to turn to Stor-It. Not only do we offer all kinds of storage options in the Treasure Valley, but we’re also here to provide you with the best short- and long-term storage tips. Whether you want to check out our storage space size guide or need advice on packing up your home, we’re here to help!