How To Store Christmas Lights

Christmas lights are a must for​​ a cosy home that sparkles with the warm spirit of the holiday season! However, taking them down is nowhere near as enjoyable as soaking in their magical glow. 

As we get started on the million and one new year's chores, it’s all too easy to bundle those fairy lights up and hide them away for another 11 months. But no doubt, when December 1st rolls around again, you’ll be pulling out a messy web of knotted wire and broken bulbs. 

By carefully taking down your Christmas lights, storing them properly, and picking a suitable location for them to hibernate in, you’ll be able to save yourself time, effort, and money next year. 

Keep reading to discover:

How to take Christmas lights down

Taking care of your Christmas lights starts with taking them down properly. Here’s a snappy step-by-step guide to help:

1 - Choose your storage solution

Firstly, pick the storage solution you’ll use. It’s good to know this before you start taking your lights down, as you may want to put them away as you go along or separate them by colour/type to create a system. 

2 - Disconnect from power

Before you take them down, turn plug-in lights off at the wall, unplug them, and switch battery-powered lights off. This prevents accidental shocks or short circuits.

3 - Carefully take down the lights

When taking down your lights, be gentle! Don’t rush. Carefully wind the lights up or feed them into your storage solution instead of bundling them where they can get tangled. Pulling too hard can lead to frayed wires or broken bulbs, so if you have little helpers, make sure to keep a close eye on them. 

4 - Check for damage and repair

Once your lights are down, inspect for any signs of wear and tear. Look for frayed wires, broken bulbs, signs of burning, or loose connections. Repairing and replacing lights now will save you from nasty surprises during the madness of the festive season. 

5 - Store your lights

Once you’ve safely removed the lights and resolved any problems, it’s time to prepare them for storage. Below are some effective methods to keep them safe and tangle-free.

5 effective Christmas light storage solutions

Gone are the days of stuffing your Christmas lights in a cupboard and hoping for the best!  We’ve shortlisted our five favourite storage solutions that keep tangles at bay. These

methods are simple, cost-effective, and won’t take up much space. 

1 - Pringles tubes

Maybe you’ve been hosting family over the festive season, or perhaps you’ve just been feeling extra indulgent. Either way, you’ve likely gone through a few tubes of Pringles! Why not have a sustainable Christmas and reuse these tubes to store your Christmas lights? Here’s how:

  1. Wash out the tube with warm water and washing-up liquid.
  2. Cut an ‘X’ shape in the lid.
  3. Insert one end of your string lights through the ‘X’.
  4. Roll the lights around the outside of the tube (you can do this as you take the lights down or afterwards).
  5. Feed the other end of the cable or the plug through the lid.
  6. These Pringles tubes are small and compact, making them easy to store in a cupboard, drawer, or box.

2 - Wrapping paper tubes

Like Pringles tubes, wrapping paper tubes are another item you’ll probably have an abundance of after Christmas. You can use them in a similar way to store a long set of fairy lights. 

  1. Use masking tape or sellotape to stick one end of the lights to one end of the wrapping paper tube.
  2. Roll the lights around the tube and secure the end of the cable down with tape.
  3. Store the wrapping paper tubes in a cupboard or corner. Depending on the space you have available, you can stack them upright or lay them horizontally. Another great option is to use an accessories storage box, ideally one with a cardboard separator to keep these decorations safe from others.

3 - Clothes hangers

Clothes hangers are a creative and space-efficient way to store shorter string lights, especially battery-powered Christmas lights. 

  1. Find a plastic clothes hanger, preferably one with hooks.
  2. Wrap one end of the light cable around a hook or tape it to the hanger if it doesn’t have hooks.
  3. Wrap the lights around the hanger until you’ve completed the length. 
  4. Secure the cable by looping it around another hoop or taping it down.
  5. Store the hanger in a box or hang it up in a cupboard for a simple and space-efficient solution. 

4 - A cardboard square

If you’ve accumulated stacks of cardboard boxes over the holiday season, this could be the perfect way to reuse them. The flap or one side of a cardboard box works great for storing Christmas lights.

  1. Cut a rectangle from a cardboard box or cut off the cardboard flap. Allow a bigger piece of cardboard for a longer string of lights.
  2. Cut a series of 2cm slits spaced about 2cm apart along one side of the cardboard.
  3. Cut the same pattern into the parallel side.
  4. Slip one end of the cable into a corner slit, then start wrapping your lights around the cardboard, slotting them through the slits. 
  5. Once finished, secure by tucking the other end of the cable into the other corner of the cardboard. 
  6. Store your cardboard squares; this solution is great for stacking.

Note: For an even easier storage solution, skip steps 2 and 3. Simply wrap the lights around the cardboard and secure each end with tape.

5 - A cable/extension cord reel

A cable reel, specially designed to keep long strings neat and tidy, is a foolproof method of storing fairy lights. It’s an excellent option for storing super-long Christmas lights when homemade solutions just won’t cut it.

  1. Find an old cable reel to reuse, or buy one from a DIY store.
  2. Attach one end of the cable to the reel. 
  3. Start by manually wrapping the lights around the reel, then start winding using the handle and guide the lights into place. 
  4. Store your cable reel in a place of your choosing. 

How to store icicle lights 

Cascading icicle lights will add a magical twinkle to your Christmas decor. However, their design makes them especially prone to tangling. The long, dangling strands can easily wrap around each other and then get wrapped in the main strand, too - tangleception!

Here are a couple of ways to store icicle lights and prevent that messy web come next Christmas:

Cardboard

Like a mini-version of our cardboard square method for string lights, small pieces of cardboard can separate strands and prevent tangles. 

  1. Count your strands and cut this number of small cardboard rectangles. 
  2. Secure the bottom of a strand to a piece of cardboard, then roll it up to the main string. 
  3. Use tape to secure the cardboard where it meets the main string. 
  4. Repeat steps 2 and 3 for every strand.
  5. Once your strands are wrapped and secured, use one of the above solutions to neatly wrap the main string. 

Ziplock bags and elastic bands

Like the cardboard method, you can keep strands of icicle lights separate with ziplock bags and elastic bands. 

  1. Count your strands and gather your supplies. For each strand, you’ll need a Ziplock bag and an elastic band.
  2. Starting from the bottom, roll up a strand until it reaches the main string. 
  3. Use an elastic band to keep the strand rolled up, then place and secure a ziplock bag over it.
  4. Repeat steps 2 and 3 for every strand. 
  5. Once your strands are wrapped and secured, use one of the above solutions to neatly wrap the main string. 

Where to store Christmas lights

Once you’ve wrapped up your Christmas lights using one of our methods, you’ll need to find a safe place to store them. 

Opt for a cool, dry area that doesn’t experience temperature fluctuations or bouts of humidity. If you have pets or young children, store your lights in a locked cupboard or on a high shelf where they’re safely out of reach. 

Top tips for Christmas light storage

1 - Label your lights and containers

Adding labels to your lights or the containers you store them is a simple step that can make your life easier come next Christmas. Clearly label each set (e.g. ‘cool white icicle lights’, ‘blue outdoor lights’) and sort them according to colour, type, or the room they usually hang in. 

This can save you a lot of time and effort amid your Christmas preparations next year!

2 - Choose an appropriate storage solution for your space

Different Christmas light storage methods will suit different spaces best. For example, if you have a lot of fairy lights and little space, using a flat storage solution, like wrapping your lights around cardboard squares, will enable you to stash more lights. It’s the same with baubles - using accessory storage boxes can make the whole process of putting your decorations aware so much easier.

If you’re planning to store your lights in a tall, thin cupboard, consider using the wrapping paper tube method. If your grounded storage is a little limited, look up and see if there’s a space where you could hang clothes hangers. 

3 - Use boxes and protective wrapping 

Wrapping your lights in bubble wrap or old newspapers can provide extra cushioning. This is particularly important for lights with fragile bulbs. Carefully place your wrapped lights in boxes before shelving or storing them so they don’t get flattened when stacked. 

A little extra care goes a long way in preserving your festive cheer!

Christmas lights and more at Christmas Tree World

Taking the time to put away your lights properly will pay off when the festive season rolls around again, and storing them is a piece of Christmas cake with these simple solutions!

Our range of Christmas lights here at Christmas Tree World is second to none! For a classic look, you’ll find traditional warm white and bright white lights, as well as red, blue, and multicolour lights for bold designs. 

Our icicle lights are perfect for creating a frosty wonderland, and our outdoor lights make sure the fun doesn’t stop at the front door.

Don’t forget to read our Complete Guide to Christmas Light Colours for inspiration. Can’t decide? With our Twinkly app-controlled smart lights, you don’t have to! These colour-changing LEDs are great for creating dancing displays with over 16 million colour combinations.

And that’s not all! Christmas Tree World is home to the UK’s largest collection of artificial Christmas trees, perfect for dressing with dazzling lights alongside sparkling decorations. 

Shop with us today and get ready to make your Christmas decor shine brighter than ever!