Storing Lights, Gift Wrap, Candles

Instead of coiling your holiday lights in a bundle that becomes hopelessly tangled the following year, wrap them around cardboard tubes.

• Save cardboard tubes from wrapping paper or invest in inexpensive cardboard mailing tubes available at office supply stores.
• Tape the ends of the strings of lights to the tube with low-tack masking tape.
• If the tubes are capped on the ends, open them and slide extra lights and fuses inside so they'll be stored with the lights.

Hanging garment bags can be used to hold rolls of wrapping paper and ribbon. If the garment bag has outside pockets, tuck gift tags, unused cards, and tissue paper inside them.

Store holiday candles in a cool place (the refrigerator is perfect).

• Wrapping them in cellophane (available at paper goods and crafts stores) will keep them from melting together or transferring color if they do become warm.
• Avoid plastic wrap or waxed paper -- these materials may melt onto the candles in excess heat.

Save the original packing for items with small pieces, such as nativity sets or holiday villages. That way, all the parts will be together when it's time to set up your decorations next year.