Holiday Light Storage Ideas That Prevent Tangles

Taking the lights down is the easy part. The hard part is next year, when you open the bin and find one big knot with a burned-out bulb somewhere in the middle. A few minutes of care in January saves you an hour on the ladder in November. Here is how we store holiday lights so they come out ready to hang.

1. Test every strand before it comes down

Plug each strand in while it is still on the house or the tree. Mark any strand with dead sections using a piece of tape. Fix it or toss it now. Packing a broken strand just means you find the problem again next year, at the worst time.

2. Take them down in order

Start at the end farthest from the outlet and work back toward the plug. This keeps the strand in one line instead of a pile. If you have a helper, have one person unclip and the other coil as you go.

3. Wrap each strand around something flat

The biggest cause of tangles is tossing loose strands in a bin. Give each strand its own core:

• A piece of cardboard. Cut a rectangle about 6 by 12 inches, cut a small notch on one end to hold the plug, and wrap the lights around it.
• A coffee can or empty tub. Good for long outdoor strands with bigger bulbs.
• Your hand and elbow? Skip it. That wrap puts tight bends in the wire. Loose loops are easier on the strand.

Leave the plug end on the outside of the wrap. Next year you can test the strand before you unwrap it.

4. Strap every coil

Once a strand is wrapped or coiled, put a strap around it so it cannot unwind in the bin. Tape gets sticky in a hot attic and leaves residue on the wire. Twist ties come loose. A hook-and-loop cinch strap wraps around the coil, pulls through its buckle, and opens with one pull next year.

Measure around the coil where the strap will go and pick a strap that covers that number. For most loose coils of mini lights, a 1 by 12 inch strap works. Lights wrapped on a piece of cardboard or long outdoor strands need a 1 by 15 or 1 by 20 inch strap. Our Organizing Straps Bundle has 12 straps in four sizes, which covers most light collections. If your coils are uneven, elastic cinch straps stretch to hold a coil snug.

5. Label the strand

Write where each strand goes on a strip of tape near the plug: front porch, tree, roofline, bushes. Add the length if you know it. A label means you are not guessing which strand fits which spot. You can also use colored straps or reusable cable ties in different colors by area, like red for indoor and green for outdoor.

6. Store extension cords and timers with the lights

Every light setup needs extension cords, timers, and clips. Coil each extension cord over-under and strap it, then put it in the same bin as the lights it powers. If you want a step-by-step, see our extension cord storage guide. Put timers, clips, and spare bulbs in a resealable bag and tape or tie the bag to the inside of the bin lid.

7. Pick the right bin

A clear plastic bin with a lid works best. You can see what is inside, and the lid keeps out dust and moisture. A few tips:

• One bin for indoor lights, one for outdoor. Outdoor strands are heavier and dirtier.
• Lay the strapped coils flat. Do not stack heavy decorations on top of them.
• Label the outside of the bin, not just the lid. Lids get swapped.

8. Keep the bin somewhere stable

Attics can get very hot in summer, and some garages get damp. Both are hard on wire and plastic. If you can, store lights in a closet or a dry shelf in the garage, off the floor. If you need more shelf space, get the bulky stuff up on the wall first. Our garage wall organization guide shows how. For cords and hoses that you want on a hook, hanging straps have a grommet so the whole bundle hangs from a nail or screw.

9. Do the same for garland and wreaths

Garland unravels just like lights. Coil it loosely and put a strap around it, or roll it around a pool noodle or a cardboard tube. Wreaths store best flat or hung on a hook in a bag. Strap a wreath to a piece of cardboard so it does not slide around in the bin.

A quick routine for next year

1. Test each strand while it is still up.
2. Take it down from the far end back to the plug.
3. Wrap it around a piece of cardboard or coil it loosely.
4. Strap the coil.
5. Label it with where it goes.
6. Pack it flat in a labeled, clear bin with the cords and timers.

It adds maybe ten minutes to the takedown. Next November you open the bin, plug in each strand to check it, pull the strap, and hang it.

For more ideas, see garage organization ideas or browse all reusable cinch straps.

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