How to Store Christmas Lights the Right Way?
- 1. Keep all the strands of Christmas lights connected and lay them out, untangled, on the floor
- 2. Attach one end of the light strand to the reel.
- 3. Use the handle to slowly spin the reel and carefully wind the lights around it.
How to choose the best outdoor Christmas lights?
Using Christmas Lights Safely
- If you need a ladder, it’s a good idea to use one made of fiberglass rather than metal. ...
- Don’t string too many lights together. ...
- Pay attention to the intended use of the lights. ...
- Christmas lights and extension cords come in different amperages. ...
- If you’re using extension cords outdoors, make sure they’re intended for exterior locations.
What are the best Christmas laser lights?
- BEST OVERALL: LedMAll Motion Outdoor Laser Christmas Lights
- BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK: SunBox Live Christmas Holiday Lights Projector
- BEST CHRISTMAS DESIGNS: LedMAll Motion Pattern Christmas Lights
- BEST FOR KIDS: Yocuby Santa Claus Christmas Light
- BEST FOR BIG HOMES: XVDZS Christmas Laser Lights
- BEST FOR SMALL HOMES: COOWOO Christmas Laser Lights
How to store Christmas lights or any string lights?
The Best (and Totally Free) Ways to Store Christmas Lights
- The best ways to store Christmas lights. If there’s one thing we can all agree on, it’s that you should refrain from yanking the lights down and stuffing them in ...
- Hanger method. Use the hanger method to store Christmas lights. ...
- Wrapping paper tube method. Don’t have any extra plastic hangers on hand? ...
- Cardboard method. ...
What are the best outdoor Christmas tree lights?
- Net Christmas Lights. Net lights are easy to set up. Comes in a variety of sizes. Great for trees and bushes.
- String Christmas Lights. String lights generally cost less than other types. Can be found in every bulb style. ...
- Solar Christmas Lights. Solar lights turn off and on automatically. Works in cloudy conditions. ...
How do you store Christmas lights so they don't get tangled?
3 ways to store Christmas lights so that they don't tangleClothes hanger. Emily Slawek. Anchor one end of the lights on the tiny hook (used for small straps). ... Wrapping paper tube. Emily Slawek. Instead of tossing the tube when the wrapping paper is all gone, put it to work! ... Piece of cardboard. Emily Slawek.
How do you store Christmas lights back in the box?
1. Original PackagingTape one end of the light strand to the edge of the box.Begin tightly and neatly wrapping the strand of lights around the long side of the box (or any side, if the box is a square).Secure the other end of the light strand with a second piece of packing tape when you're finished.More items...•
How do you store outdoor lights?
Wrap Glass Lamp Heads in Bubble Wrap or Packing Paper It's recommended that you wrap them in either bubble wrap or packing paper and then put them in a cardboard box. You can also use spare blankets. All of these options will prevent the glass from breaking or cracking while stored.
How do I store Christmas lights in my garage?
Find Dry and Cool Storage If your lights are wet when you take them down, spread them out in a dry place - your garage floor, perhaps - and allow them to dry thoroughly before storing them away in plastic tubs placed in a dry and mild climate.
How do you wrap Christmas lights?
0:042:00How to wrap Christmas tree lights the professional way - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo I start with the female end. And I start wrapping it around my hand. And then I just wrap it intoMoreSo I start with the female end. And I start wrapping it around my hand. And then I just wrap it into a ball. And so usually I'll hire my kids to sit there in the living room.
How do you store Christmas lights with clips?
Hanger Help (One with a bit of extra bulk is best, although skimpier plastic ones can do in a pinch.) Loop the lights around the hanger, working from one end to the other, until you reach the last few inches of the strand. Loosely tie the leftover cord around the hook of the hanger.
Are Christmas lights safe in the rain?
“Make sure where everything plugs in is dry and not exposed to the elements because the electricity still goes through the equipment and the light portion, what goes outside is what's important.” He said Christmas lights are meant to be used outside, they will be fine in rainy conditions.
How do you protect outdoor Christmas lights from rain?
Plug the Christmas lights into your Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI), or outdoor outlet. Wrap Teflon tape (electrical tape) securely and carefully around the plugs, completely coating the plug to prevent water from getting in and effectively creating a water-tight seal.
Can you leave patio lights out in the winter?
As long as you buy outdoor string lights with a suitable IP rating, they're durable and can usually be left out all year round. However, always practice safety, and if you have bad weather, make sure your bulbs haven't trapped any water.
Where is the best place to store Christmas lights?
Hanging Christmas Light Storage When you're nearing the end of the string, wrap the end around the notch on the other side or around the neck of the hangar, then loosely tie or loop it through to secure. Hang in a closet if you have space. or place them in labeled bins separated by cardboard, newspaper or bubble wrap.
How do you store large outdoor Christmas decorations?
Clear plastic storage boxes with tight-fitting lids are one of the best options. They'll keep out dust and moisture and allow you to see what's inside. Larger porch and yard decorations are often safest if they're left out and placed in a safe corner of your garage or storage shed.
Can I store Christmas lights in a shed?
Free up your in-home living space by storing seasonal decorations in a backyard shed. From your artificial tree to boxes filled with ornaments, garland, and lights, a storage building can keep everything dry, safe, and protected.
How do you store string lights?
Hanging Christmas Light Storage When you're nearing the end of the string, wrap the end around the notch on the other side or around the neck of the hangar, then loosely tie or loop it through to secure. Hang in a closet if you have space. or place them in labeled bins separated by cardboard, newspaper or bubble wrap.
How do you store c7 Christmas lights?
0:482:06How to Store Christmas Lights - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipUse one piece of cardboard. For light string. Use bubble wrap to protect and secure stacks of LightsMoreUse one piece of cardboard. For light string. Use bubble wrap to protect and secure stacks of Lights placed into storage totes.
How do you store LED Strip lights?
One of the most important things to consider when storing your LED rope lights is to keep them in a cool, dry location in your home. If they've been used outside, be sure to lay them out to dry before storing them anywhere.
How do you store outdoor Christmas icicle lights?
2:258:53Store Icicle Christmas Lights Tangle-Free! - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThat you can just store in a tote store wherever you want seal them up tape them if you like. ButMoreThat you can just store in a tote store wherever you want seal them up tape them if you like. But then you'll have you can fit i fit up to 9 in here before get them nice and smashed.
How to store Christmas lights in closet?
Grab a hanger from your closet and wrap those strands. Organizing experts swear by the hanger method for storing Christmas lights.
How to keep lights from tangling?
After you take the lights down—but before you pack them up—unplug each strand. This will prevent tangling and make them easier to separate next year.
How many hangers per strand of lights?
Stapf recommends using one hanger per strand of lights.
How to tie a light strand to a hanger?
Start at the end of the light strand and carefully wrap it around both ends of the hanger, until you reach the last few inches of the strand. Then loop or tie the end of the strand around the hook of the hanger.
Should you yank down lights?
If there’s one thing we can all agree on, it’s that you should refrain from yanking the lights down and stuffing them in a box.
How to keep lights from slipping off?
For an even simpler solution is to use the box the lights came in, if you still have it. Simply wrap the cord around the box instead of stuffing it back inside. To keep the strand from slipping off, stab a wooden meat skewer through each end of the box.
How to bunch lights together?
To bunch the lights again, grab one of the lights near one of the ends. Next, grab a light two lights away on either side and group them together. This gives you two lights on one end and one light on the other. Continue to bunch every other light until you run out of strand. Wrap the loose ends around the middle of the bunch and connect the plugs.
How to wrap a light bulb in cardboard?
Slide one of the ends of the strand lights in the slit and begin wrapping around the long edge of the cardboard until you run out of lights. You can even double-up by interlocking two or three strand lights per piece of cardboard. Once you're finished wrapping, plug the loose end into the plug to hold everything together.
How to use cardboard hangers?
Take one of the loose ends of the strand and hook it through one of the strap holders. Then, while keeping the strand taut, begin wrapping it around the clothes hanger vertically, keeping it as neat as possible.
What to use for extension cords?
Use a cord reel. Another option is to purchase a cord reel, typically used for long extension cords. They come in several different styles, but the premise is the same. There are large cord reels with a handle that can hold hundreds of feet of cord, or you can find a spindle with a handle.
Can you bunch strand lights?
Bunching. When you first took the strand lights out of the box they came in, they were likely bunched and held together with a cable tie or rubber band. This can be redone quite easily, but it's a bit more time-consuming. The benefit is that it's even less likely to get tangled.
Can you wrap icicle lights?
The above methods really work best for standard strand lights. But if you happen to have icicle lights, you may find wrapping methods don't suffice. However, there's a simple trick that works really well for icicle strands.
How to keep lights in place with cardboard?
When you’re finished, tuck the plug loosely beneath one of the strands to keep the lights in place.
How to make a light fixture with a figure 8?
Start by flipping a stool or chair upside down. Then, wrap the lights in a figure-eight pattern around two of the legs until you have about 12 inches of cord remaining. Circle the remaining cord around the center of the figure eight, and tie a loose knot to prevent the lights from unraveling.
Where to store Christmas lights?
Store the hanger. You can either place the lights in a box, or, since this is a hanger, you can hang it conveniently out of the way until next Christmas.
How to store LED lights in a container?
If you store the lights in a container, use a shallow one and avoid stacking the co ils on top of each other . That way they won't get tangled while in storage.
How to wrap a can of lights?
Wrap the lights around the can. Work your way down to the bottom of the can, then go back up to the top. Tuck the end of the lights into the same slit at the top of the can. This should leave you with the lights wrapped around the can with both ends resting in the slit on top.
What happens if you wrap cardboard around lights?
If the cardboard is too light it will buckle when you wrap the lights around them. ...
How to keep lights from slipping out of a slit?
This will prevent the ends from slipping out of the slit and unraveling your lights during storage. Wrap the can in tissue paper. To protect the lights during storage, you can wrap a few layers of tissue paper around the can. This should be done especially if you're placing the lights in a box with other items.
How to get the string on a hanger?
Wrap the lights around the outside of the hanger. Gradually work your way to the other side of the hanger, then work back to the original side. You'll probably have to do this a few times to get the whole string on the hanger.
How to widen a slit on a light fixture?
Slip one end of the lights into the slit. You can widen the slit with further cutting if the wire from the lights won't fit.
Cardboard light winder
Perhaps the simplest and most affordable way to store Christmas lights is with leftover cardboard using the holiday Amazon boxes you've recently collected. Cut a flat rectangle shape from the box and size it according to the length and bulb size of your lights.
Tube winder
If you have smaller string lights, like mini lights or battery-operated LEDs, the cardboard method may be too large. Instead, try grabbing an old Pringle's can or a sturdy paper towel tube. Instead of cutting a notch from the cardboard, make a small slit to hold the end of your light string.
Twist and tie
If you've already recycled all your boxes and tubes, Bob Vila has a technique that doesn't require added materials. Simply flip a chair or stool upside down and use two of the legs to create a winder spool. Weave your light string around the legs in a figure-eight pattern until the cord has only about 12 inches remaining.
Cord reel
If you're really serious about how to store Christmas lights, you might want to make light storage an investment. CNET suggests purchasing a number of cord reels at your local home improvement store or online to make light winding simpler. If you have a hose reel in your backyard, these light reels will work in a similar manner.
Storing Christmas Lights with Boxes
If you have spare boxes around the house, you can use them to store Christmas lights. You don’t need to purchase any new boxes. If you saved the lights that your Christmas lights came in, then you’re in luck! You don’t need to force the lights back into the box, but you can use the outside of the box to neatly wrap the Christmas lights around it.
Storing Christmas Lights With Hangers
Hangers are a great way to wrap your string lights if you have extra closet space you want to utilize for storage. Ideally, you’ll want to use the generic clothing hangers with hooks or divets on the right and left side of the top hook. You won’t need to buy any special hangers if you have extras of these lying around the house.
Storing Christmas Lights With a Cord Reel
Storing Christmas lights with a cord reel will cost you money, but it’s money well spent. You can find cord reels or power cord holders at any hardware store. Ideally, you’ll want to use one designed for electrical cords.
Get in the right mindset from the start
The key to really doing this job right is to be in the right mindset when you first start taking your lights down. As soon as you take down your lights, store them properly. If you take down your lights and have them in piles waiting to be sorted and stored later, then you are already fighting an uphill battle.
Wrap as you go
Whether you purchase something specifically for winding up your lights or you make one from wrapping paper tubes or flat pieces of cardboard, the best way to store your lights without a mess is to wrap them up as you take them down. Sure, you are probably exhausted from the holidays, and you just want to rip the lights down as quickly as possible.
