If you have ever had to untangle Christmas lights before, you know what a pain it can be.
A few years ago I learned a neat little trick. Once you have taken all the ornaments off the tree, grab a piece of cardboard or a flattened gift box. Secure the end of a Christmas light stand to one end of the cardboard with tape.
Then proceed to wrap the stand of lights around the cardboard until you reach the end of the strand. We use one piece piece of cardboard per 100 foot strand of lights.
Now all you have to do is tuck the lights away into your holiday storage box until next year.
Yay!
Do YOU do this? Or is this an OCD thing?
~Mavis
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You are a genius!!! Thank you for that tip! We usually wait until after the new year to take down the tree. I’m not feeling it this year… I want it down now!
I do something similar but with a roll of newspaper or cardboard tube from paper towels. You just wind the lights up around it and no tangles! It also makes it really easy to put them back on the tree the next year.
If it’s OCD I guess I have it too….
I wrap mine around the cardboard tubes from paper towels.
I go a step further – I cut a few small grooves across the top and bottom of the cardboard. This way cords are not sliding across but stay in place.
I got some of the rectangular plastic ‘spools’ that the ribbon, trim, bric-a-brac comes on from the sewing store. They keep the lights in order and don’t bend or get crushed.
I have a friend who has a rather large storage room, when they are done with the tree he just carries the whole thing down stairs and puts it in the storage room. Lights, ornaments and all!!!
I’m completely jealous of your friend!
It’s definitely OCD… and I LOVE it! Thanks for sharing. I now have a much neater way of storing my lights
I do the same thing. I wrap the garland the same way.
I normally just wad up each strand and shove it in a plastic grocery bag! lol But now I think I’m going to try your idea. Just in time too because I’m taking down the tree today or tomorrow.
Dude, that is brilliant!
I wish I had seen this before hubby recycled all the boxes from Christmas (he did it hours after present opening, he’s OCD about having empty boxes lying around).
Ahem… Some of us break down the boxes for the recycle bin as we open gifts.
Just sayin’. HA!
Any tips for icicle lights, or just do it the same way? Those little “icicles” seems to tangle everything up.
paper towel cardboard tubes…. but then the kids use them as light sabers after the lights come off…. and I don’t buy paper towels anymore!