The holidays are a time of joy, family, and giving. But it's also a time of stress for many of us, especially when it comes to storing Christmas lights. If you're like most people, you probably have a ton of lights that take up a lot of space.
And if you're not careful, they can easily get tangled or damaged. In this blog post, we'll show you how to store Christmas lights to take up minimal space and cause minimal clutter.
Take Inventory of Your Christmas Lights
It's that time of year again. The time when you get to dig through dusty boxes in the attic, searching for holiday decorations that you're not even sure still work. If you're like most people, your Christmas lights are probably one of the last things you pack away at the end of the holiday season.
But if you want to avoid a tangled mess next year, it's actually best to take inventory of your lights first. Figure out what you have and how much space you need to store them. This will help you determine the best way to store your lights.
Untangle Your Lights
There's always that tangled mass of cords and lights that seems impossible to untangle among the piles of ornaments and half-burned candles. But never fear; with a bit of patience and some careful planning, you can get those lights sorted out in no time.
The first step is to group the lights by type. If you have a mix of LED and incandescent bulbs, it will be easier to keep them sorted if you untangle them separately. Once they're sorted, start with the easy ones—the lights that aren't too severely tangled. Gently pull each light apart, being careful not to break any bulbs in the process.
You may need to use a pair of needle-nose pliers to gently loosen the tangle for the more difficult knots. And finally, for the really tight knots, you may need to cut the cord and re-wire the lights. But once you've conquered the tangle, you'll be able to enjoy your holiday decorations for many years to come.
Identify Damaged or Broken Christmas Lights
One of the most important steps in storing away your Christmas lights is identifying which ones are damaged or broken. This might seem like a no-brainer, but you'd be surprised how many people just stuff everything into a box without taking inventory of what they have.
This will save you time and frustration when you go to set up your lights next year, but it will also prevent you from accidentally throwing away good lights. So take a few minutes to untangle everything and test each light before you pack them away. It's a small investment of time that will pay off in the long run.
Trust us; it's much easier to do this now than when they're strung up on your tree! So before you pack away your holiday decorations, make sure to take a few minutes to sort through your Christmas lights.
Use Hangers
Look no further than your closet if you're looking for a creative way to store your Christmas lights! Hangers are the perfect tool for organizing strands of lights, and you can use them in various ways.
For example, you can wrap the lights around a hanger and then hang the hanger on a hook or nail. Or, you can thread the lights through the holes in a hanger and then hang the hanger on a rod or dowel.
Whatever method you choose, hangers are an easy and efficient way to keep your Christmas lights untangled and ready to use.
Use Paper Towel & Wrapping Paper Tubes
For the next option, consider paper towels and wrapping paper tubes! Simply coil your lights around a paper towel tube, and then slide the tube into a wrapping paper tube. This will keep your lights from getting tangled and make it easy to find them when you need them next year.
Plus, you can recycle the paper towel and wrapping paper tubes when you're done! So this storage solution is practical, but it's also environmentally friendly.
Bagged Christmas Light Storage
One of the best ways to store your Christmas lights is by using unique light bags. You can find these bags at most stores that sell Christmas lights and decorations. They are usually made of PVC or another durable material, and they have a zip closure. The bags often have a handle so that you can easily carry them from one place to another.
You can also find bags that come with a cord or strap so that you can hang them up. This is a top-notch method of keeping your lights organized and protected from damage. Light bags are essential for keeping your Christmas lights in good condition for many years to come.
Start by coiling the lights around your hand or another object. A twist tie can also help keep the coil together. Then, gently place the coil into the bag and zip it shut. Be sure to label the bag so that you know which lights are inside.
And that's it! Your lights are now safe and sound and ready to be used next year.
Use a Cord Reel
If you have a lot of lights to store, or if you just want an easy way to keep them organized, consider using a cord reel. Cord reels are perfect for storing extension cords, holiday lights, and other types of cables.
They come in a variety of sizes and styles, so you can find one that fits your needs. You can also find cord reels that come with a storage bag or box. This is a great way to keep everything together in one place. Using a cord reel, simply coil the lights around it and wind the cord onto the reel.
Be sure to leave enough slack so you can easily access the lights when you need them. You can also use zip ties or velcro straps to keep the lights in place. Once the cord is wound onto the reel, you can store it in a closet or another out-of-the-way place.
Conclusion
Now that you know how to store Christmas lights properly, you can keep them organized and safe for many years to come. Using one of these storage solutions can minimize clutter and make sure your lights are always ready to use.