No More Tangled Lights - Post Christmas Decoration Storage Ideas

When do you take down your Christmas decorations?  Some people like to start the New Year with a fresh clean start (I know, I was one of them!) others prefer to leave the decorations up until 6th January (Epiphany). I was always told that decorations should be taken down by the 6th January or else they'd have to stay up all year!  Nowadays, I leave mine up into the New Year and gradually remove them over the days leading up to the 6th, compromise being the key thing with my kids and their desire to keep the decorations up for as long as possible!!

I am writing this between Christmas and the New Year and I'm offering this tip to you to minimise the stresses of untangling the tree lights for the next festive season! It is also a great way to do your bit for the planet, in that it involves recycling the inner tubes of wrapping paper rolls.

Step One

Cut two notches, about 1cm wide on opposite sides of each end of the cardboard tube.

Step Two

Thread the end of the lights (the end without the plug) through the middle of the cardboard tube and hook it through either notch at the far end, you can either hold it in place with your finger or use sticky tape to stop it moving.

Step Three

Start winding the lights, carefully and without stretching them, from one end of the tube to the other, finishing with the plug.  The plug can be secured to the rest of the lights using those infernal wire ties that you get with plastic bags and that are rarely used, or failing that a bulldog clip or elastic band will suffice.

Step Four

Storage.  I use a bungee cord to keep all of my lights together and they are stored on top of all my decorations so nothing can squash them.  Other ideas could be to store them in the tree box (if you have an artificial one) or in a wrapping paper storage box.  I used to keep my tangled lights in an old suitcase but it's too small to accommodate the tubes so I will keep my eyes open for a bigger one at a charity shop or jumble sale.  

Alternatives

If you don't have any old wrapping paper cardboard tubes readily available, but want to do something similar, try old plastic drainage pipe.  I say old because I prefer to recyle 

For more storage ideas click here to read a post by RoomToBreatheDecluttering.com on the most efficient and cost effective way to keep your decorations in good condition year after year....

How do you store your Christmas decorations?  Will you be using this method this year?