Dickinson, ND families who store holiday decorations in garages or unheated spaces know what a North Dakota winter does to them — broken ornaments brittle fabric faded colors and lights that never work again. Proper storage prevents all of it.
Dickinson's winters are among the harshest in the country — and unprotected holiday decorations stored through sub-zero temperatures pay a significant price. Extreme cold causes plastic components in artificial trees and light strands to become brittle and crack. The electronic components in light-up holiday displays and musical decorations fail in freezing temperatures. Glass ornaments can experience thermal shock in rapid temperature changes. Dickinson's extremely dry winter air causes fabric decorations to become brittle, fade faster, and lose their texture over multiple storage seasons. And spring's rapid humidity increase after a dry winter creates mildew conditions in fabric items stored without proper protection. A climate-controlled unit at Storage Unit of Dickinson maintains stable conditions through every season — protecting every piece of your holiday collection year after year.
Christmas ornaments are the most personal part of any holiday collection — and they are among the most vulnerable to improper storage. The only acceptable storage method for any glass or delicate ornament is a dedicated compartmentalized ornament box where each piece has its own padded individual space. Never store ornaments loose in a generic bin where they roll freely — breakage is virtually guaranteed over multiple seasons. Wrap all glass ornaments and any irreplaceable heirloom pieces individually in acid-free tissue paper before placing in compartments. Store all ornament boxes flat on shelving. Label every box specifically by type and contents — "glass ornaments" "children's ornaments" "family heirloom ornaments" "wood ornaments" — so every piece is identifiable and the most meaningful items are clearly marked for extra care. In Dickinson's extreme dry cold a climate-controlled storage environment is particularly important for delicate ornaments with glue joints and painted surfaces that respond poorly to sub-zero temperatures.
Tangled Christmas lights pulled out of storage in December are one of life's great frustrations — and they are entirely preventable. The solution is simple and takes only a few minutes when packing up after the holidays. Wind every light string carefully around a cardboard spool a dedicated light reel or a flat piece of cardboard cut to the right size. Secure the end with a twist tie so the string stays wound during the storage period. Store each wrapped string in its own labeled zip-lock bag noting exactly where it is used in your home — "indoor tree lights" "front porch" "back fence" — so next year's setup is systematic fast and frustration-free. Test every string before storing and discard any with multiple burned-out sections rather than storing a problem that will disappoint you next December.
Artificial trees: Store in dedicated tree bags not original boxes. Never store in an unheated space — sub-zero temperatures make plastic branch holders and internal wiring brittle causing failures that shorten the tree's usable life significantly. Candles: Store in climate-controlled conditions — temperature cycling between Dickinson's cold winters and warm storage environments causes candles to develop cracks and lose their shape over multiple seasons. Wreaths: Store in dedicated wreath boxes or bags hung vertically. Never stack flat which permanently crushes the shape. Fabric decorations: Launder all stockings tree skirts and fabric ornaments before storage. Store in sealed bins in climate-controlled storage — Dickinson's spring humidity surge creates mildew in fabric stored without protection. Nativity sets and fragile figurines: Wrap every piece individually in bubble wrap or acid-free tissue paper and store in a dedicated labeled box. These are often irreplaceable family pieces that deserve the most careful storage treatment in the collection.
Storage Unit of Dickinson offers clean, secure, and climate-controlled storage in Dickinson, ND — the only responsible storage environment for holiday decorations through North Dakota's brutal winters. Call (701) 690-5512 today to find the right unit and make sure every piece of your holiday collection — ornaments lights trees and all the traditions that come with them — comes out of storage in perfect condition next December.