Once the hustle and bustle of the season has ended, its time to clean up the evidence of the joyous holiday. The key to next years ease of decorating is this years organized clean-up strategy.

When removing ornaments from the tree, wrap any delicates up in paper or bubble wrap, then place in small plastic tubs. These tubs should be labeled to remind you what's in there next year. The smaller tubs can then be kept in a larger container. If you used any festive wreaths, these should be placed in rigid boxes before also placing in the larger container. The star on top of the tree needs to also be wrapped independently before placing in the bigger box too.

Depending on how many small plastic boxes you have and the maximum amount of weight you can lift, you may need one to three bigger-sized plastic tubs. Keeping everything in one very large plastic tub can be difficult to carry upstairs from the basement or to lift down from the attic. Be wise and store your items according to your circumstances.

Lights from the Christmas tree can be a tangled mess of string. Unless you have a pre-lit faux-Christmas tree where the lights remain attached, youll need a system to keep lights from becoming a big mess. The best idea is to use a Christmas light reel to keep strands of lights straight. Start at the base of the tree with the outlet plug and work your way around the tree, winding the strand of lights around the reel.

This is ideal, as it is exactly the place you want to start from next year. Keeping the reels in another separate tub is a good idea, as putting them in the main box may increase the weight too much. The reel box could include other bulky things, like the tree stand, skirting or other big items.

The artificial tree will be ok to put back in its original box if you kept it. Another option is using a canvas sack, or new box. It has been known that bugs and insects can crawl through any gaps or holes in plastic sheeting or bags, so I wouldn't recommend wrapping the tree in plastic. It's best to keep the tree in a cool, dark area, to stop any warping from too much heat.

If you bought a live tree, it needs to be disposed of in the correct manner, instead of being left outside to rot, or thrown out on the side of the road somewhere. The website: www.earth911.org. can help you to find out your nearest recycling plant.

Ask the waste disposal people on the best way of disposal, and perhaps they'll suggest a place you can take it to. Recycling is easy, as it is naturally grown, and will degrade and rot of its own accord. This does seem a lot of hassle, but it is the right thing to do, and if you find it difficult, then remember the situation for next year " perhaps it will inspire you to buy a faux tree.

It's easy to just throw all the decorations in one big box and shove it in the basement, but it's always better to go the extra mile to prepare yourself for next year. A lot of time will be saved " especially when trying to untangle the lights!