Do you know how to store Christmas lights until they are ready to sparkle again next season? It is easy to decorate a Christmas tree with new twinkle lights at the start of the season. Just like ornaments, Christmas lights must be stored properly in a dry, safe place. Those who pack up their Christmas lights too carelessly always end up in a jumbled mess. In today’s post, I will show you how to store Christmas lights tangle-free. You can easily make this annoying process easy with these tricks and keep them under control. Let us now find out how to store Christmas lights to start your holiday cleanup!
How To Store Christmas Lights?
You can easily learn how to store Christmas lights by using the following methods.
- Use The Original Packaging
- Use Cardboard
- Use A Pringles Can
- Use A Paper Tube
- Use A Cord Wind Up
- Use A Coat Hanger
- Use A Power Cord Holder
- Use Plastic Sheets
- Bunching
You don’t always need fancy equipment for storing Christmas lights. These nine simple ways will help you to store your Christmas lights neatly to prevent tangles and frustration next December! It is very important to store these lights to avoid potential damage. Without wasting much time, let us now check out how to store Christmas lights.
Different Ways To Store Christmas Lights
In this section, I will tell you how to store Christmas lights safely in detail.
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Use The Original Packaging
The best way to store your Christmas lights is using their original packaging box. You don’t have to put them back in the box instead use the exterior of the box to store the lights. First, tape one end of the light strand to the edge of the box. Start wrapping the lights tightly around the side of the box. Now, secure the other end of the light with tape when you’re finished. To keep your lights safe, wrap them in bubble wrap or tissue paper.
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Use Cardboard
Do not panic if you don’t know how to store outdoor Christmas lights. You can use an old piece of cardboard to wrap and store your Christmas lights. Simply cut the cardboard into a rectangular shape. Then, make a slit in one of the ends of the cardboard to tuck one end of your lights. Now, carefully wrap the lights from one side to the other around this cardboard. Make one more slit wherever the other end of the lights is once you’re done. Tuck the other end of the lights into this notch. Make sure you wrap a layer of tissue paper around the cardboard to protect your lights.
Keep on reading to know how to store outdoor string lights.
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Use A Pringles Can
Who knew that an empty pringles can will be useful to store your lights? Yes, that’s true! Before you start, make sure you’ve thoroughly cleaned the inside of the can to keep your storage area clean. Make a vertical slit on the top of the can by using a pair of scissors. Tuck one of the lights into this slit and start wrapping the lights around the can. Now, tuck the other end of the lights into the same slit. Secure the can with the lid to prevent the ends from slipping out of the slit. Finally, wrap a few layers of tissue paper around the can to protect the lights.
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Use A Paper Tube
Paper towels and wrapping paper tubes can also be used to store the Christmas lights. Simply drop one end of the lights down the tube till it reaches halfway. Secure the lights with a piece of tape and then start wrapping the strings around the tube from the outside. Secure the other end of the string with tape once you reach the other end of the tube. You can also tie a ribbon around the outside for extra security. Make sure you wrap the paper tube in bubble wrap to keep it more secure.
When it comes to how to store LED Christmas lights, you can use this same hack.
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Use A Cord Wind Up
Cord Wind Ups make it easy to store the lights neat and tidy. You just have to grip the handle and insert one end of your string lights into the end of the cord. Now, wrap the lights around carefully. You can use the built-in hooks to secure your lights. Once you are done, make sure you add a layer of padding (newspaper or fabric) to protect the cords and bulbs.
Let us now check out how to store Christmas lights on a hanger.
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Use A Clothes Hanger
Surprisingly, you can also use your clothes hanger to store your Christmas lights. It prevents your lights from getting tangled or crushed. Tuck one end of the light strand into one hook of the hanger. Start the lights vertically around the bottom and top of the hanger. Now, tuck the other end of the light into the other hook or in between the strands of light. Make sure you wrap the hanger in tissue paper for protection. If your hanger doesn’t have hooks, simply wrap the lights around the hanger.
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Use A Power Cord Holder
Another popular way to learn how to store Christmas lights is by using a power cord holder. First, lay your lights untangled on a flat surface or floor. Attach one end of the light strand to the cord holder and start wrapping it up. You can also use the handle to spin the reel and wind the lights slowly. However, you can also plug in more lights into the same place.
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Use Plastic Sheets
All the above methods are best for standard strand lights. Now, you must be wondering how to store Christmas lights with stakes. It is best to buy a 12-inch roll of plastic sheeting to store your lights. Roll out enough plastic sheeting from the roll to accommodate your entire lights. Then, spread the lights out on top of the sheet. From one end, start rolling the lights and plastic wrap together. This will keep the strands neatly inside a sheet of plastic.
You can keep on reading to know how to fold Christmas lights.
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Bunching
Instead of using any object, you can also bunch the lights again and held them together with a cable tie. To start, grab a light two lights away on either side and group them together. Like this continue to bunch every other light until you reach the end. Now, wrap the loose ends around the middle of the bunch and connect the plugs. This method is a bit time-consuming but will keep the lights in an even pattern.
I hope till now you’ve understood how to store Christmas lights properly. These storing Christmas lights hacks will surely keep your lights safe and convenient for storage. You can also check this YouTube video of how to store Christmas lights for reference.
You can learn much more about various topics on prozgo.com
FAQ
What Is The Easiest Way To Store Christmas Lights?
Roll out a length of plastic sheet equal to that of the strand lights and cut the plastic sheet from the roll. Place the strand on top of the plastic sheet and roll the plastic sheet and strand lights together. This will keep the icicle strands from tangling and bundle everything neatly inside a sheet of plastic.
How Do You Organize Christmas Lights?
Simply wrap the length of your lights around your hand to create a loop, and then secure it together with a cable tie or two and pack them away for next year! For an extra level of organization, you could even try using labeled cable ties to remember which lights usually go where in your home.
How Do You Keep Christmas Lights From Overloading?
However, if possible, it’s better to distribute the strands between several different outlets in order to reduce the electrical load placed on any one outlet and avoid circuit overload from Christmas lights. Even better, plug your Christmas lights into surge-protected power strips rather than outlets.
Can You Cover Christmas Lights With Tape?
Avoid Taping Christmas Lights to Your Home
Scotch or duct tape may seem like the easiest method for hanging holiday lights, but universal clips are a better choice for outdoor light jobs since, unlike tape, they won’t retain moisture near your electric lights.
Is It A Fire Hazard To Leave Christmas Lights On?
Christmas lights are always festive and help get everyone into the holiday spirit but they can also be a fire hazard. and trees and other decorations when you go to bed or leave the house. Lights could short and start a fire.
What Are Good Christmas Lights To Buy?
LED Christmas lights are better for most people because they’re more efficient and more durable, but if you can’t lose the distinctive and traditional look of incandescents for indoor use, we recommend Christmas Lights Etc’s Clear Christmas Tree Mini Lights.
Conclusion
In the above post, I’ve discussed how to store Christmas tree lights in detail. The best way to store Christmas lights is to wrap them around cardboard, a hanger, or an empty can of Pringles. You can also a paper towel tube instead of a can and the steps will be the same. If you want to store multiple strands of lights in the same place, you can use a cord holder. No matter which storage method you choose, you must wrap a few layers of tissue paper around the lights. Once you learn how to store Christmas lights, you can easily get this job done without any hassle.
How to store Christmas lights?