The holidays can really take a toll on your home. Normal cleaning duties get overlooked, extra dishes and linens get used, and the guest bedroom. And then there are always the decorations that need to be taken down and stored.

Here’s a plan to help you get things back in shape — and give you a head start on next year!

Step 1: Go room by room and remove and box up all decorative holiday items like candles, bath towels, doormats, wall hangings and figurines.

Tip 1: Consider putting a bow on these boxes or wrapping them in holiday wrapping paper to help you find them next year. Note that they are non-tree items.

Tip 2: For boxes with holiday linens, towels and blankets, fill a couple of small bags with cinnamon and cloves, poke holes in the bags, and then toss into the box to keep the contents smelling fresh and festive.

Tip 3: To protect leftover wrapping paper, take an empty roll tube, slice it vertically from top to bottom and then wrap it around the first roll.

Step 2: Remove and store reusable wreaths.

Tip: Attach the wreath to a hanger. Pull a garbage bag with a drawstring over the hanger and wreath, closing it at the bottom. Hang in storage or the garage.

Step 3: If you have any outdoor decorations, gather those up next, again storing them together. Remember to identify the box as “outdoor holiday decorations.”

Tip 1: With outdoor lights, wrap the strands on a piece of cardboard or store in a commercial light storage roll or container.

Tip 2: Pack extension cords with lights so you don’t have to go looking for them next year.

Step 4: Now it’s time for the tree. Start by removing the ornaments.

Tip 1: Leave the hooks on the ornaments to save time next year.

Tip 2: Place and stack the ornaments in sturdy, plastic ornament storage boxes. Egg cartons can work, too, or fill the box with layers of shredded newspaper to avoid wrapping each ornament separately.

Step 5: Remove the strings of lights and store.

Tip: Another good idea for storing light strings is to take an empty wrapping paper roll, cut a slit at the top to hold the plug in place, and then wrap the string around the roll.

Step 6: Remove the tree from your house and make arrangements for its pickup.

Tip: Limit needles on your floor when taking the tree out by laying it on a sheet, rolling it up just like a burrito, and unrolling it once outside.

Step 7: Store all the boxes in one area for convenience.

Tip: Consider numbering the boxes so you know in what order to bring them down next year.

Step 8: Donate old toys and clothes to a local charitable organization.

Tip: Get the kids involved in going through their toys and clothing to determine what should be given to needy children.

Step 9: Take a day of rest!

Tip 1: Have a potluck dinner and gift exchange to help empty your refrigerator of leftovers and your closet of gifts that can’t be returned or weren’t quite your style.

Tip 2: Make a scrapbook of holiday cards with the kids while updating your holiday gift card address list.

Editors note: Looking for ways to pack and store all those Christmas decorations? Solutions has an entire line of Holiday Storage to tuck away your ornaments and lights until next year.