By Doug Eisele

As a child, I remember the excitement of unpacking our family Christmas decorations with my brothers and sisters. I could hardly wait to open the nativity scene and place it under our tree.

Unfortunately, the temptation to play with the small delicate wood and plaster figures was too great. Over the years, they suffered many bumps, bruises and broken limbs. By the time I was 10, our nativity figures needed some serious "medical" attention!

Holiday decorations are typically made of fragile materials that are easily damaged by accidents, mishandling, heat, light, moisture or improper packing and storage. The "injuries" are usually discovered when unpacking decorations from the previous year.

Boxes of special ornaments and family keepsakes are often stored in places that can do them the most harm. Basements, attics and storage sheds are, unfortunately, the places where many of these fragile objects are kept from year to year, exposing them to extreme environmental conditions that can cause them to crack, fade, melt, mold and deteriorate beyond repair. When disaster strikes, some damage can be professionally restored.

It is important to consider the potential for damage when placing holiday decorations on display. Some items can be damaged if placed too close to burning candles, Christmas lights and fireplaces. Keep fragile decorations out of the reach of small children and pets.

For most, our holiday decorations represent fond memories of a Christmas past. They hold enormous sentimental value and deserve proper handling, care and storage to preserve them for future generations to treasure and enjoy. A small investment of time, quality packing materials and proper storage space will help to prevent the unnecessary loss of important family traditions.

Fragile holiday ornaments should be individually wrapped in acid-free tissue and placed in shallow divided plastic boxes with lids for storage. Adequate soft packing materials should be used to cushion breakable objects. Heavy ornaments should be placed on the bottom of the storage box. Hooks and hangers should be removed and stored separately. Ornaments that contain photographs and/or natural materials that may attract insects or mice should be sealed in strong plastic bags and placed in hard plastic containers for storage.

Items made of wax, thin plastic or cookie dough should never be stored where they are exposed to high temperatures. Never store holiday ornaments in an attic or outside storage shed. If off-site "self-storage" is used, indoor temperature-controlled facilities are preferred over small outdoor storage bins. These units are usually constructed of uninsulated metal and offer little protection from extreme temperatures and fluctuating humidity levels.

Storage boxes should be labeled and placed on sturdy storage shelves in a closet or a cool, dry basement where temperature and relative humidity (RH) are controlled. Boxes should not be stored near sources of heat and moisture. If these items must be stored in a basement, they should not be placed near a furnace, water heater, floor drains, electrical panels or under HVAC ducts and water lines.

Large items should also be wrapped in acid-free tissue and placed in sealed plastic containers to prevent damage.

When you purchase or receive new decorations, save the original fitted packing materials for reuse and storage.

Place small packets of silica gel in sealed storage containers to prevent mildew.

Lights, tree stands and heavy outdoor decoration should not be stored in the same container as fragile indoor keepsakes.

Remember, when stacking packed storage containers, place the larger, heavier boxes on the bottom. Select storage containers that have strong lids that will support weight and use stackable, interlocking containers whenever possible.

Douglas Eisele is president of Old World Restorations, Inc. in Cincinnati, Ohio. They restore: paintings, frames, objects, sculpture, works on paper, photographs, metals and more. Visit the website at www.oldworldrestorations.com or contact Doug by phone at 513-271-5459 ext. 102. or email deisele@oldworldrestorations.com.

Hummel nativity set
damaged by improper
packing and storage.

Damage to fragile holiday decorations can be professionally restored.

Keep treasured holiday decorations out of the
reach of small children
and pets.