12 top tips for a joyous and stress-free Christmas

It's that time of year again. Wham and Slade are on hard rotation, mince pie sales are peaking and Santa is being inundated with good old-fashioned physical mail. But with all the shopping, cooking and carting the family from pillar to post, the whole experience can seem like hard work. Take the stress out of the build up and make the most of the day itself with these tip-top Christmas tips from the listeners (and guests) of The Chris Evans Breakfast Show.

1. Put your Christmas tree in an old duvet cover when you’re transporting it home and keep it on when you carry it into your house - no needles in your car or on the path from the front door. Do the same thing when you’re removing the tree after Christmas and you can get it out of the house with the minimum of mess. (Sara Baber in Redditch)

2. When you move the furniture to get the Christmas tree in, you are left with dents in the carpet . So put ice cubes in the dents and leave to do their work - 24 hours later, no dents! (Chris in Thatcham)

3. Do the 'squint test' on the lights on the Christmas tree. Once you have the lights on the tree, turn the rest of the lights in the room off, stand back and squint at the tree. You can then see any bare spaces so you can rearrange the lights for maximum coverage before you add the decorations. (Bobbie-Lynn Denham in Brixham)

4. When decorating your tree, pin little photographs of family and friends who can't be with you to celebrate Christmas on the branches. They feel closer and can watch all the shenanigans. (Jan and Rob)

5. For the ultimate DIY decoration use a cream feather boa instead of tinsel - it looks like snow. (Michelle Mangnall in Southsea)

6. When you have your peeled spuds waiting in water, put a slice of white bread on top. It will keep them nice and white. (Graham Jones in Derby)

7. To serve the perfect gravy pop it in a teapot. It's big enough to serve all the family and the lid keeps it warm. (Amanda in Norwich)

8. Make mulled wine or mulled cider in the slow cooker. That way, you are greeted by the most welcoming and festive aromas on walking through the door after work. An instant cure for any chilly or busy commute home and gets you straight back into the festive spirit. (Liz Nixon in Saltburn)

9. Encourage children to behave well with Santacam - a specially made bauble worn around your cherished one's teacher's neck which lets Santa 'keep an eye' on their behaviour in the weeks leading up to Christmas. (Mandy in Lincoln)

10. When wrapping presents, always use a Pritt stick to hold the paper in place before you use your sticky tape. (Rob in Halsham)

11. Put the roll of wrapping paper on the top of a double radiator - it's the perfect dispenser. (Cindy)

12. To easily remove sticky price labels off gift bags without breaking your nails or destroying the gift, use a hairdryer to heat up the glue and peel the labels off easily. (Elaine and Sue)