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" Biggest Cleaning Challenges 1. Taking off ornaments and lights 2. Hauling the tree to the curb 3. Cleaning up needles Fastest Fixes  1. Store decor. Pull off the tree skirt, and toss some towels around the base of the trunk to cushion fragile ornaments that might drop \u2014 you don&amp;#039;t want to be cleaning up broken glass, too. Get out the storage boxes (or use empty cartons or sturdy gift boxes headed for the trash), and start removing the decorations from the bottom of the tree up to keep from knocking off lower ornaments as you reach for those on top. Leave the hooks on (if they won&amp;#039;t damage the ornaments) so they&amp;#039;re ready to go next year; quickly wrap ones that don&amp;#039;t have their own boxes or slots in tissue paper, crumpled gift wrap, or newspaper. Last step: Remove lights, one string at a time, looping them around your forearm as you would extension cords. Secure in the middle with a rubber band, pipe cleaner, or twist tie. Pack.  2. Bundle the &amp;#039;baum. Place a large bedsheet or drop cloth on the floor. Remove the skirt (if it&amp;#039;s still there) or the towels you placed at the base; shake the mess onto the sheet. Grab a turkey baster and siphon out the water remaining in the stand. Enlist an assistant, and set the tree down on its side, stand and all. Then remove the stand. Hold the sheet like a giant sling and, with your buddy&amp;#039;s help, carry (or drag) the tree to the curb. Roll it out from the sheet. Walk away. Don&amp;#039;t look back.  3. Nab needles. For bare floors, sweep and dump debris into the sheet and dispose of it outside. Otherwise, break out the vacuum. Do a fast scan for ornament hooks so they don&amp;#039;t clog the machine. Turn on the rotating brush and position the nozzle on its lowest setting. For the most stubborn stuff \u2014 needles on the carpet \u2014 sprinkle the area with a little baking soda to coat needles, and suck them up. Relax, you won&amp;#039;t have to do this again for another year.  Make Christmas Cleanup Easier Next Time   Buy a tree-disposal bag (at holiday or home stores); place it under the stand when you put up the tree Keep your tree well watered, and fewer needles will fall Invest in a pre-lit artificial tree. See GHRI&amp;#039;s picks: Best Artificial Christmas Trees.  "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
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