'Tis The Season For Sneezin'

CHICAGO (CBS) -- If you're spending the weekend packing up your Christmas gear, take note: How you store your ornaments today could affect your health when you take all that stuff out again next year.

In fact, taking a few extra steps can help prevent allergy attacks, CBS 2's Pamela Jones reports.

From the bright green needles to the baubles and beads, the Christmas tree in Carol Leopold home is packed with cheer.

But she and her set of 11-year-old twins have allergies, so a "live" tree could make it sneezin' season around the house, draining the happy out of the holidays.

"I cough really hard and I can't really breathe," one of her kids says.

Their allergist, Dr. Joseph Leija of Gottlieb Memorial Hospital, insists on artificial trees for his patients. It's just part of the remedy for dust and mold allergens.

He also recommends boxing each ornament separately before putting them in a bigger box that is sealed. Leija drapes his garland and tree in plastic, then stores it in a sealed box.

The rustle of tissue at the Leopold house means it's packing time there, with ornaments getting wrapped and placed in a sealed bin.

Here are some other tips:

When you get ready to pack up your artificial tree, check it for dust first. You can take it in the garage and use a blow dryer on cool (at a safe distance) or leaf blower to blow off the dust. Then, wrap the tree in any plastic, such as a trash bag or dry-cleaner bag.

Make sure you dust off those ornaments, too before packing them.