Monday, January 2, 2012

Organize/Store Holiday Decorations

Just roll with it
Cardboard tubes and plastic H-frame extension cord
reels are perfect for winding up holiday lights. 
Don't get me wrong, I LOVE the holidays but I find dealing with lights totally frustrating. It seems like no matter how carefully you roll and stack them the year before, there's still untangling to be done. Getting them on the tree or wrapping them around porch polls is a whole other affair. Now it's time to pack away the jingle bells and, ugh, put away the lights.

This year I was determined to make the whole process easier and inexpensive.

Step 1:
Start with a clear storage tote with handles (you can find these at Target, Walmat, Lowes, etc.).

Step 2: 
Collect cardboard paper towel and wrapping paper tubes over the holidays. Paper towel tubes are perfect for smaller strands of lights; cut the wrapping paper tubes to fit the storage tote. You could also use H-frame extension cord reels.

Step 3: 
Make two slits on each end of the roll. Use the first slit to hold the plug in place and begin wrapping the lights around the tube, keeping the rows even and close together. When you reach the end of the string simply put it closest slit so the strand doesn't unroll.


Step 4:
Lay the lights down in stack or put them upright in the tote. You'll be amazed how many you can fit and how easy the unwinding process will be next year!




3 comments:

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  2. This makes me want to get my lights out and have them ready for next Christmas, No More Tangles, thanks for the great idea.

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