10 Holiday Hacks to Help You Survive Christmas

How to Clean Christmas Wreaths

To freshen up an old wreath, clean it by using salt. Go outside with a large paper grocery bag and half a cup of salt. Pour the salt in the bag, place the wreath inside, and fold the bag closed. Then shake gently for 20 seconds and your wreath will look as good as new!

Keep Wreaths from Dropping Needles

If your fresh pine wreath is getting needles get all over the floor, we have a tip for that, too. To keep the needles from falling, spritz your holiday greenery with hairspray right after you purchase it. The hair spray will keep the needles moist and where they belong.

Over-the-Door Wreath Hanger

Here’s an easy way to hang a wreath on your door: Grab a self-adhesive plastic wall hook (like the kind 3M sells) and affix it upside-down on the reverse side of your door. Loop the wreath’s hanging ribbon around the hook, but then pull it over the top of door and hang it on the opposite side. This over-the-door setup allows your wreath to hang securely without your visitors being able to see the hook.

Make Your Tree Last Longer

Make your Christmas tree last longer with an item you already have at home—Pine Sol cleaner! Keep your tree healthy and fresh by adding a capful of Pine Sol to its water once a week. Thanks to Pine Sol’s antibacterial properties, it will keep germs from forming on your tree's trunk. Pine Sol is our favorite way to extend the life of your Christmas tree, because it adds a piney fresh scent. But if you don't have any, you can also use a capful of mouthwash!

Watering Your Christmas Tree

If you have trouble getting a watering can to reach underneath the lowest bows of your Christmas tree, throw several ice cubes into the base each day to easily keep it watered.

Keep Your Tree from Dropping Needles

The best way to keep your Christmas tree fresh is with a humidifier! Place a humidifier near your tree to help needles stay moist and fragrant. If you don't have a humidifier, spritz the air near your tree with some water several times a day to make the air a little less dry.

Christmas Decorating Trick

If you want your home to look super-Christmassy, scan your living room for brightly colored objects that aren’t red or green, and move them to invisible or inconspicuous locations for the season. Without the other colors to distract people’s eyes, your red and green Christmas decorations will stand out even more.

Smells Like the Holidays

Christmas is a time for all of the senses…including your sense of smell! Give your home an instant cozy and home-for-holidays feel by making it smell that way. Add a combination of whole cloves, crushed cinnamon sticks, juniper berries, orange peels, nutmeg, and allspice to a saucepan. Then cover with water and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer gently (uncovered) for 15 minutes and your house is guaranteed to start smelling like Christmas.

Best Way to Clean Up Pine Needles

If you’ve ever tried vacuuming up your Christmas tree’s pine needles, you know that you end up with a serious clogging problem. To prevent this, simply slip a pantyhose leg over the nozzle, then turn on your vacuum and start cleaning, holding the hose securely in place. The vacuum will suck up the pantyhose along with the needles, creating a sack you can remove once the house is clean.

Stop Christmas Day Chaos Before It Starts

Here’s an easy way for your kids to tell which presents belong to whom on Christmas morning: Wrap each child’s gifts with his or her own wrapping paper. This is especially helpful if your children aren’t able to read gift tags yet. The wrapping paper tornado will be a little less chaotic if all revelers can spot the presents meant for them from the get-go.

For more great tips for the holiday season, check out our Christmas Tips and Ideas board on Pinterest. And don't forget to follow us on Facebook for our Tip of the Day!

The suggestions offered here are for informational purposes only.  The Authors and Publisher do not accept liability for damages arising from the use, attempted use, misuse or application of any of the suggestions included on this website.

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