{"id":1817,"date":"2021-12-10T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2021-12-10T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.storage-mart.com\/blog\/organization\/how-to-clean-ornaments\/"},"modified":"2023-06-20T17:30:16","modified_gmt":"2023-06-20T17:30:16","slug":"how-to-clean-ornaments","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.storage-mart.com\/blog\/how-to-clean-ornaments","title":{"rendered":"Cleaning, Organizing, & Storing Christmas Ornaments"},"content":{"rendered":"

When my family decorates our\u00a0Christmas\u00a0tree,\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0very methodical. First, we unwrap the vintage glass ornaments my grandmother received as a wedding gift. Then, we take out \u201cbaby\u2019s first\u00a0Christmas\u201d for me and my brother\u00a0– and yes,\u00a0the macaroni wreath with a picture of\u00a0our\u00a0dog from third grade goes up,\u00a0too. Then we have the funny ones, the\u00a0ornate\u00a0ones, then the glittery ones, and then the plain ones that fill the gaps (if we find any).\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

All of these ornaments are precious to me, which is why I take good care of them. Cleaning my ornaments as I pack them away<\/a> for storage keeps them looking shiny and bright for years, even long enough to pass them down.<\/span><\/p>\n

How to Clean Vintage Christmas Ornaments<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

Before you begin,\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0a good idea\u00a0to put on protective gloves. Even the oil from your hands can damage the paint on ornaments.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What\u00a0you\u2019re\u00a0trying to\u00a0accomplish\u00a0here is\u00a0a\u00a0<\/span>gentle\u00a0<\/span><\/b>dust removal. To that end, use a dry dust cloth;\u00a0<\/span>never a wet rag<\/span>. For especially delicate ornaments<\/a> (such as those with glitter)\u00a0you\u2019ll\u00a0want the even lighter touch of a feather duster. For\u00a0detail\u00a0work, use a small paintbrush or even a makeup brush to get into hard-to-reach places.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Cleaning Glass Christmas Ornaments<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

For your more ordinary glass bulbs,\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0fine to spray glass cleaner onto a soft cloth and wipe them clean.\u00a0Be cautious not to apply too much\u00a0glass cleaner;\u00a0any paint or glitter\u00a0adhered to the surface might shift or smudge. Applying the cleaner to a rag or paper towel is the best way to ensure the glass is cleaned without leaving excess product\u00a0\u2013 or streaks.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Making Minor Repairs<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

While I love to think that my ornaments will never break, I\u00a0cannot\u00a0ignore my cats, dogs, or my cousins \u2013 all\u00a0of\u00a0whom\u00a0love to play around the tree. In the event an ornament breaks and the cat is blamed \u2013 and\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0<\/span>always\u00a0<\/span><\/i>the cat \u2013\u00a0I\u2019ll\u00a0try to repair the ornament before deciding to throw it away.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Always make sure any shattered glass\u00a0or\u00a0pointy\u00a0shards are\u00a0cleaned up first. Wear thick gloves\u00a0to pick up the larger pieces, then a damp cloth to wipe up the shards.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

To make minor repairs to your ornaments, I recommend using a\u00a0toothpick and a\u00a0clear\u00a0adhesive for hardware or marine use. I\u00a0like\u00a0Beacon\u2019s Multi-Grip.\u00a0Clean the ornament\u2019s fracture of\u00a0any debris, then dip the toothpick in the glue and apply a\u00a0<\/span>small<\/span><\/b>\u00a0amount to the affected area.\u00a0The toothpick gives\u00a0more control\u00a0during\u00a0application and\u00a0reduces excess.\u00a0Put the\u00a0broken pieces together\u00a0and hold\u00a0for a minute, then let them dry completely for 24 hours\u00a0for\u00a0a\u00a0long-lasting\u00a0repair.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

How to Store Glass Ornaments and Other Breakables<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

While\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0tempting to reuse the original packaging year after year\u00a0<\/span>after year,\u00a0<\/span><\/i>it does break\u00a0down over time, becoming ineffective at keeping your ornaments safe.\u00a0I\u00a0recommend investing\u00a0in a proper\u00a0Christmas ornament\u00a0storage\u00a0box\u00a0designed specifically for ornaments. These\u00a0<\/span>Archival Ornament Storage Boxes<\/span><\/b><\/a>\u00a0are made from acid-free, lignin-free, buffered material, and come in a variety of sizes and volumes to fit your needs.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

If\u00a0you are\u00a0down with DIY, you can make your own with just a bit of effort (and an office file box and some cardboard).\u00a0I love HGTV, and they have some great\u00a0ornament storage hacks\u00a0that<\/span>\u00a0easy\u00a0to adapt to fit the less-than-standard-sized ornaments.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>Here are More Ornament Storage Options<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n