How to Check Christmas Decorations for Mould, and How to Pack Them Away Properly

It's Christmas season, and pulling out the decorations is one of the most exciting moments. But after spending a whole year packed away, your festive favourites can be at risk of mould, musty smells, and moisture damage.

Here's a simple guide to help you check your decorations … and then pack them up the right way so they stay fresh for many years to come.

When You Bring Your Christmas Decorations Out, What to Look For

Musty or "old cupboard" smells

A strong, stale odour is one of the first signs of moisture exposure.
This often happens if decorations have been stored in damp cupboards, garages or wardrobes.

What to do:
Place the decorations in a room with an Ausclimate dehumidifier running for a few hours; this reduces moisture and removes odours quickly.

Visible mould or mildew

Check for:

• White or green fuzz on soft items
• Black spotting on paper or wooden ornaments
• Discolouration on wreaths or garlands

If mould is present, it can spread fast once back inside your home.

What to do:

• Remove and clean affected items lightly
• Safely discard anything with heavy mould
• Increase airflow and run an air purifier to capture airborne spores

Damp or "soft" feeling fabrics

Felt ornaments, stockings, Santa sacks, tree skirts, and ribbons can easily absorb humidity.

What to do:
Dry items indoors with an Ausclimate dehumidifier running nearby to quickly bring humidity back down.

Rust or corrosion on metal hooks and bauble caps

Even small amounts of moisture can cause corrosion.

What to do:
Replace rusted hooks and keep metal pieces dry before displaying.

Warped boxes or soggy cardboard
If the original storage box looks softened or bent, that's a sign of high humidity.

What to do:
Transfer everything into sturdy, sealed plastic containers.

How to Pack Up Your Decorations to Prevent Mould Next Year

Once the festive season wraps up, a few smart packing habits will protect your decorations until next Christmas.

Make sure everything is completely dry first
Before packing:

• Let wreaths and garlands air out indoors
• Check fabrics, ribbons and stockings aren't damp
• Avoid sealing away any moisture

Even a tiny bit of dampness trapped in a container becomes a mould hotspot.

Clean decorations before storing
A light clean helps remove dust, oils and potential mould spores.

Try:

• Wiping hard ornaments
• Dusting artificial branches
• Shaking out tinsel
• Letting outdoor decorations dry thoroughly before packing

Use airtight plastic storage tubs, not cardboard
Cardboard absorbs moisture and encourages mould.

Switch to:

• Sealed plastic tubs
• Zip bags for small pieces
• Vacuum bags for soft items

Add moisture protection inside each tub
A few extras go a long way:

• Silica gel sachets
• Small moisture absorber tubs
• Acid-free tissue paper (instead of newspaper)

Store in a dry area with airflow
Ideal storage spots:

• Inside wardrobes
• Shelves elevated off the garage floor
• Spare rooms

If the space tends to get humid (garages, cupboards, spare rooms), running a dehumidifier for a few hours occasionally throughout summer helps keep moisture and mould at bay.

Use a Winix Air Purifier when packing to reduce airborne spores
Especially useful if:

• You found mould
• You're sorting old boxes
• You're in a poorly ventilated space

An air purifier helps capture any released spores so they don't settle back on clean items.