Once the holidays are over, it’s time to pack up your decorations. While taking down Christmas lights may not be as exciting as putting them up, properly storing them can save you time, effort, and frustration next year. Tangled, broken, or damaged lights are no fun to deal with—so follow these steps to ensure your string and net lights are neatly stored and ready for future festivities.

Why Proper Storage Matters

Improperly stored lights can lead to:

• Tangles: Untangling lights can waste hours of decorating time.

• Damage: Broken bulbs and frayed wires can render your lights useless or unsafe. 

• Shortened Lifespan: Poor storage can expose lights to moisture, dirt, and physical stress.

With a little effort now, you can protect your investment and avoid stress next holiday season.

What You’ll Need

Before you start, gather the following items:

• Plastic storage bins or sturdy boxes

• Zip ties or twist ties

• Cardboard or plastic light organizers

• Resealable plastic bags

• Tissue paper or bubble wrap

• Labels and a marker

Steps for Storing Christmas String Lights

1. Test Before Storing

Plug in each strand of lights to check for burned-out bulbs or broken wires. Replace any faulty bulbs and make repairs before storage.

2. Remove Lights Carefully

When taking lights down, avoid yanking or pulling. Instead, gently unwrap or detach them to prevent damage.

3. Untangle and Clean

Lay the lights flat and untangle any knots. Wipe the strands with a dry cloth to remove dirt, dust, or moisture.

4. Use a Wrapping Method

Prevent tangling by wrapping the lights around:

• A Cardboard Piece: Cut notches into a piece of cardboard and wind the lights around it.

• A Light Organizer: Purchase a plastic light reel for easy winding and storage.

• Your Hand: Loop the lights into a coil, securing them with zip ties or twist ties. 

5. Protect the Bulbs

If your lights have delicate or oversized bulbs, wrap them in tissue paper or bubble wrap for extra protection.

6. Label Your Lights

Use labels or masking tape to note where the lights were used (e.g., “Front Porch” or “Tree Lights”). This will save time when decorating next year.

How to Store Net Lights

1. Inspect and Clean

Just like string lights, check net lights for damage and wipe them clean.

2. Fold Neatly

Lay the net flat and fold it into a manageable square or rectangle. Avoid crumpling or stuffing the net into a box, as this can damage the wiring.

3. Use Storage Bags

Place folded net lights into resealable plastic bags to protect them from dust and moisture.

4. Stack Carefully

Store the bags in a flat position in a plastic bin to prevent the nets from becoming misshapen.

General Storage Tips for All Lights

• Avoid Extreme Temperatures: Store lights in a cool, dry place to prevent damage to wires and bulbs.

• Use Airtight Bins: Plastic bins with lids keep out moisture, pests, and dust. Avoid cardboard boxes in damp environments.

• Group by Category: Store string lights, net lights, and other types of lights separately for easy access.

• Label Bins: Clearly label storage containers with their contents, so you can find what you need quickly.

What to do with broken lights

If you find lights that are beyond repair:

• Recycle: Many hardware stores and recycling centers accept old or broken holiday lights.

• Repurpose: Use damaged lights in craft projects or DIY decorations.

Save Time Next Year

By investing a little extra time in properly storing your Christmas string lights and net lights, you’ll save yourself a headache next year. No more frustrating tangles or hunting for replacements—just easy, stress-free decorating.

Happy organizing, and here’s to a bright holiday season next year!

Examples of the storage bins I use are below. They have to be red so that I know all Christmas items are in red. I also tend to buy the lime green containers for anything Grinch-related because I play the Grinch every year for fun.

And here’s the one for the Grinch. I use the smaller one without wheels for the costume but if you have a Grinch Tree with Ornaments and bows, you can opt for the green version of the larger red one above or you can get multiple containers for lights, ornaments, and tree bows as well as fillers. Just don’t forget to label them ever so you know what is in each container!

Bonus!

You can do the same with your tree baubles/ornaments. While there are storage boxes for breakable pieces, if yours aren’t breakable or are considered shatter-proof, invest in ziplock storage bags, packing paper, and choose the corresponding container color for the holiday or theme. I do this with every holiday I have decor for: Halloween? Black. Easter? Baby blue, and so on… I think you get the point. Every year, when I open my containers of ornaments, each is dust-free as are the bows and other items used for the holidays. It really can’t get easier and more stress-free than that!