The Maids Car

Welcome to the New Maids.com = Built to Make Your Life Easier

Get a quote Call The Maids
close menu

Cleaning Categories



Ready To Schedule?

Blog Title Shape

How to Clean
Outdoor Christmas Decorations

December 10, 2021

Christmas means family get-togethers, lots of food and drink, and plenty of decorations. While many of us enjoy decorating for the holidays inside our homes, some of us relish the idea of making a statement with outdoor Christmas decorations. But to keep up with the times, you’re going to have to go big with life-size lawn decorations that light the night with Christmas cheer.

The days of whoever puts up the most Christmas lights in the neighborhood wins are over. Decorating the outside of your home for the holidays these days takes creativity, organization, and plenty of inflatable and blow-molded Christmas lawn decorations. These holiday decorations aren’t cheap, so learning how to clean outdoor Christmas decorations and maintain them will keep your Christmas lawn display looking festive year after year.

How to Clean Christmas Blow Molds

Blow molds are lawn decorations you often see in classic Christmas movies. From Santa and his reindeer to families of snowmen, these light-up holiday lawn decorations bring a touch of nostalgia to our lawns. For traditional Christmas purists, blow-up nativity scenes just won’t cut it, even if these modern decorations take up way less storage.

But like today’s popular blow-up Christmas lawn decorations, blow molds have to brave the winter weather, bright sun, and plenty of dirt and grime. That’s why it’s important to know how to clean outdoor Christmas decorations like blow molds and keep them looking their holiday best season after season. Here’s how to clean, maintain, and protect your blow molds.

For spot cleaning heavily-soiled areas on your plastic decorations, use baby wipes or a soft cloth and a gentle cleaner. You’ll want to clean gently, especially if your blow molds are older, to prevent damage. Many plastic Christmas lawn decorations get their classic colors from water-based paints, so harsh cleaners and too much scrubbing can fade or even remove the paint.
Now that you know how to keep your lawn decorations clean for the holiday season, here are a few pointers to keep your blow molds looking festive:

Request An Estimate

  • Clean your Christmas blow molds thoroughly before you put them away in storage.
  • Let your blow molds dry completely before you store them.
  • Consider displaying your lawn decorations out of the direct sun or only use them at night to prevent the plastic from degrading from UV rays.
  • Give your blow molds new life by replacing the outdated lighting with LEDs.
  • Repair cracks from the inside of your blow molds with clear epoxy.
  • Replace broken pieces with plastic pieces cut from a milk jug using a clear epoxy.
  • Give faded colors a makeover using spray paint formulated for outdoor plastics.
  • Store your blow mold Christmas decorations out of the weather in an attic or basement.

If you prefer the updated look of blow-up decorations, you’ll be happy to know cleaning them is just as easy as cleaning blow molds—but with less maintenance.

How to Clean Blow-Up Decorations

Inflatable holiday lawn decorations are kind of an updated version of the traditional Christmas blow molds, but they are much easier to store. These modern Christmas lawn decorations typically light up and can be quite a bit bigger and more elaborate than their plastic counterparts. From complete life-size nativity scenes to Santa’s sleigh and all eight reindeer, the Christmas decorating possibilities are almost endless.

Whether you set up a couple of inflatable decorations or your yard is a menagerie of all things Christmas, you need to know how to clean outdoor Christmas decorations that blow up. The main difference between blow-mold Christmas decorations and blow-ups is the construction material—hard plastic for blow-molds and pliable plastic or vinyl (much more durable) for blow-ups. That means you don’t have to worry about washing off the paint, so you can be a bit more aggressive when cleaning.

Here’s how to clean blow-up decorations clean and presentable this holiday season.

  • Wash them with some liquid dish soap and water.
  • Take care of stubborn stains with a bit of baking soda and water using an old toothbrush.
  • Avoid getting the battery pack or other electronics wet when cleaning

Regular cleaning throughout the holiday season will keep your lawn decorations looking bright and prevent any buildup from grime and dirt.

How to Prep Outdoor Christmas Decorations for Storage

We told you learning how to clean outdoor Christmas decorations was easy! Now all you need to know is how to keep your decorations in holiday shape while they’re on display and in storage.

  • Display your blow-up Christmas lawn decorations away from trees and other landscaping to prevent punctures.
  • Give your blow-up decorations a good cleaning before putting them away.
  • Remove any batteries and save them for next year.
  • Let your blow-ups dry completely before you let all the air out.
  • Patch holes or small tears with strong, transparent adhesive tape.
  • Roll up your blow-ups instead of folding them to prevent damage.
  • Store blow-up Christmas decorations separate from each other and away from sharp objects that could damage them.

Lastly, if you need to know how to get water out of inflatable decorations before you store them, try one of these tips. Keeping them inflated and out in the sun to let them air dry can dry up excess water if it’s warm enough. If it’s too cold, let some of the air out and bring your blow-up indoors to dry.

Whether you’re a blow mold or blow-up fan, it’s good to know how to keep your Christmas lawn decorations clean and ready for action. For more tips and holiday help, check out our other holiday cleaning guides and our popular holiday cleaning service.

Count on The Maids to make life easier by helping you enjoy a clean home more often—without all the work. Get your free estimate today to find out more about affordable residential cleaning services all year long. Looking for the perfect Christmas gift? Check out our maid service gift certificates and give someone the gift of a cleaner, healthier home.

The Maids Car

Sign Up For More Tips and Tricks!

Consent(Required)
We respect your privacy. We never rent or sell your information.

Request an Estimate

Let's Get Started
^