How to Store an Artificial Christmas Tree

Remove the tree-topper from the tree. Get the biggest pieces from the top off first, so you don't feel overwhelmed by it later.

Remove all decorations from the tree. This could include any tinsel and garland(includes popcorn and fruit-bed strands), along with lights (if the tree isn't a pre-lit tree) and decorations. Make sure to completely remove all the tinsel that exists on the tree - down to the last single errant strand that you could miss from year to year. Tinsel likes to collect dust that will accumulate in the box from year to year.

• Unplug and remove all the Christmas lights from the tree. Unless the tree comes pre-lit with Christmas lights, you must remove all lights from the tree until the tree is barren.

Fold up any branches that you had to help expand (to make the tree hold ornaments more evenly) when you began to set up the tree earlier in the season. Fold them all up so that all the Christmas tree branches fit within the confines of the container/storage box where you are storing the tree during it's time away from the location.

Deconstruct the two halves of the tree, if you had to construct them together at the beginning of the season. Some of the newer variety of artificial trees need to be deconstructed without breaking the tree, to keep the tree together. If the tree is pre-lit, you'll need to complete this step. If not, you can skip to the next step.

Put the Christmas tree two halves back into the box.

Remove and put away all of the foot pedals from the Christmas tree.

Seal the box and place the tree box into storage until you need it again the following year.

Clean away any bristles that could have fallen on the floor while you were cleaning up the spot where the tree was placed with either a broom and shovel or a vacuum cleaner.