Want to learn how to store Christmas lights, other than just put them in a box? We heard you.
While it’s perfectly okay to put your lights away in a box with Christmas decorations, you’ll likely find a tangled mess that will take a long time to unravel next year. Furthermore, tangled lights may break more frequently at the end, especially if you have an exacto-type wire.
Therefore, consider folding the lights and storing them properly is one of the best Christmas decoration storage ideas that will save you time, and save your lights from excessive wear and tear.
How to store Christmas lights, according to experts
(Image credit: Wayfair)
We asked Nadia McCowan Hill, resident Wayfair style consultant, for expert advice on stocking fairy Christmas lights. Nadia emphatically recommends getting “useful accessories to keep your bulbs neatly stored,” rather than just trying to return your bulbs to their original box.
Nadia advises that “a heavy-duty storage bag like this one from Wayfair will protect the lights when stored in a loft, garage or basement — keeping them well covered from dust or accidental spills. This practical design features a clear window, so you can see the lights inside, making it easy to You have to start decorating when the time is right.
Alternatively, a reel for storing string lights like this one, also from Wayfair, is a super simple way to keep string lights tangle-free. In the future you will thank yourself in the past for this great little investment! “
What is the best way to store Christmas lights?
You don’t have to buy anything special if you don’t want to. Gina Daniel, interior design and home decor blogger, recommends simply getting a “plastic tub or box.” Storage Bins “Keep the lights out of moisture if you store your decorations away in the basement/loft.”
Jeanne Moore, interior designer, deere and marketing director at Mellowpine, has another useful hack for storing your lights—’Get a hanger out of your closet and wrap those strands. It will keep you from spending hours of your vacation time solving tangled mess. It turns out that hangers are not only one of the best clothes storage ideas, but they are also great for Christmas parties.
The type of hangers you use is important. Jian recommends using heavy-duty plastic hangers because they are thicker, more durable, and will prevent threads from sticking. Start with the end of the lighter thread and carefully wrap it around the ends of the hanger until you reach the last few inches of the strand. Then wrap or tie the end of the string around the hanger hook. The coat hanger method should help your Christmas lights stay untangled.
(Image credit: Randy Faris/Getty)
How do you keep Christmas lights from tangled?
Jenna says one way you can keep Christmas lights untangled is to wrap them around a piece of cardboard. Kitchen towel rolls are perfect for this, as you can simply wrap them around the shape quickly. In fact, wrapping your lights around any solid object will help them not get tangled up — you can even try wrapping your lights around one of your other Christmas decoration boxes. Whatever you do, avoid just throwing it in with baubles.
Kirstie Batty, Head of Trade at DIY GTSE Experts, recommends using cable ties to keep them from getting tangled. Simply wrap a length of lights around your hand to create a loop, then secure them together with a cable tie or two and pack them away for next year! For an extra level of organization, you can even try using labeled cable ties to remember which lights usually go where in your home. Cable ties are widely available from Amazon and other retailers and are an easy way to organize all your cables, not just Christmas lights.
(Photo credit: kyletperry/Getty)
Is it safe to keep Christmas lights in the garage?
According to Gina, it depends a lot on the type of lights you have: “If your lights are outdoor lights, they are specifically designed to withstand cold and wet weather, making your garage a great home for them all year round. However, if your lights are indoor lights only, you may want to make sure moisture doesn’t get into them before storing them in your garage.
Overall, Jian is not convinced: “Keep your Christmas decorations store as far away from your car as possible. Starting the engine will cause it to overheat quickly, exposing the decor to heat. Also, never store an artificial Christmas tree, wreath, or wreath. Flowers in the garage This exposes them directly to dust, dirt, moisture and small animals.