How to store your Christmas lights to prevent tangling

One of the highlights of Christmas is the joy of decorating. Many look forward to December 1st as the day to retrieve decorations from their year-long storage and begin setting up trees and lights.

Over time, Christmas decorations often become more elaborate, extending from inside the home to the outdoors. Yet, one of the most daunting tasks is the untangling of Christmas lights, a chore that can sometimes lead to frustration and the temptation to discard them entirely.

Despite the affordability of some lights, it doesn’t make sense to throw away something that’s still functional, especially when budget-conscious. Finding simple solutions to save these lights and avoid the annual tangle has proven beneficial. These tips might also be helpful to others facing similar issues!

Get yourself some cardboard

Cut a piece of strong cardboard — such as that from a packing box or the like — to about the size of an A4 sheet of paper. At one end, cut a slit. Slide one end of the strand into the slit and start wrapping your lights around the long edge of the cardboard until you reach the light’s end. Tuck the loose end into a notch. Finally, to protect your lights wrap some tissue paper or bubble wrap around the cardboard. Then you can put them away for another year.

Hold onto those cardboard rolls

If you’ve got a leftover cardboard roll from your wrapping paper, a cardboard roll from your kitchen paper towel or an empty Pringles tube, you can use it to keep your Christmas lights untangled. (If you’re using the Pringles tube, by sure to clean it out, you don’t want to attract any insects to your storage area with leftover crumbs.) Using your cardboard roll, cut a vertical slit at one end about an inch (2.54cm) long. Slip one end of your lights in the slit (widen the slit if the lights don’t fit). Then wrap your lights around the cardboard roll, working your way up and down the length of it until you’ve run out of lights. Try and finish so that the lights finish at the same end of your vertical slit so that you can tuck the end in.

If you’ve used a Pringles tube, you can place the lid on top, which will help prevent the ends from slipping out and unravelling during storage. If using a plain cardboard roll, protect your lights by wrapping tissue paper/bubble wrap around the tube before putting them into storage.

Use a coat hanger

A plastic coat hanger — the ones with the little hook at each end — can also work a treat when it comes to storing your Christmas lights in a way that won’t have them tangle. While the method works just fine without the hooks, having them adds an extra bit of security. You’ll want to take one end of your lights and tuck them into one of the hooks (if you’re hanger doesn’t have the hooks, just tie the end of your lights to the body of the hanger). Then, wrap the lights around the outside of the hanger. Gradually work your way from one side to the other, then back to the original side. Depending on the length of your lights, you might have to do this several times. Tuck the remaining end into the other hook. If there’s not enough room or you don’t have the hooks, just tuck it between the strands of lights.

To store the lights, you can either place them in a box or, because it’s a ‘hanger’, hang it out of the way somewhere until next year. If you’re going to store the hanger with other items, we recommend using tissue paper/bubble wrap around the outside to protect your lights.

Rolled in plastic

The above methods work really well for standard strand lights, but for those who have icicle lights, another storage method is necessary. A successful approach for icicle lights involves rolling them in a plastic sheet. It is advisable to use something about 30cm wide and to roll out a length that matches that of the strand of icicle lights. Place each icicle strand on the plastic sheet and roll. This method keeps the individual strands together and prevents tangling. The only task for the following year is to unroll the plastic.

It’s worth noting that old newspaper can also be used for this tip, placing the individual strands on the newspaper and rolling.

These methods have proven effective and the time saved in storing Christmas lights this way means one less headache at Christmas the following year. Additionally, it is crucial to follow regular electrical safety precautions when stringing up, taking down, or storing Christmas lights.