Plastic or Fabric Sheet Method

Roll icicle lights in plastic sheeting (like the kind used in home construction projects) or fabric to keep your lights organized and tangle-free.

Roll out a sheet of plastic or fabric on a clean floor and cut a bit past the length of one icicle lights strand. Lay the strand across the sheet’s length, doubling back remaining line if needed. You can lay additional lines a few inches from each other to store more than one line in a roll, but avoid overlap to prevent tangling. Tuck one end of the plastic over the light strand(s) and roll up the plastic and lights with the plastic covering the entire line(s). Set the roll with tape or a rubber band.

Plastic Roll Method

This method is similar to the above, but the strands stay connected. You’ll need sheeting that matches the length of your icicle lights run, and the sheet may need to be weighed down on the edge with heavier objects, such as patio block or planting pots, to keep wind from moving the sheet. This method is a great option that makes decorating the following season faster because your lights come out of storage connected, and only one sheet needs to be unrolled.

Roll out plastic sheeting several inches longer than the length of your icicle lights run. Take down your entire run of icicle lights, removing all light clips, and place on top of the sheeting. Straighten out the light run as necessary, ensuring that the entire line and every drop are within the edges of the plastic sheeting. Tuck one end of the plastic sheeting over the corresponding end of the icicle lights run, and carefully roll up the entire length.

Alternative Storage Methods

Probably the simplest, yet still effective, way to store icicle lights is to bundle them up and zip tie them. Wrap the lights around your wrist 5 times, slip the wrapped lights from your wrist, wrap around those lights with your remaining line 5 times, and repeat until the line is bundled. Feed a zip tie through the middle of the bundle to the other side, and then fasten the zip tie with enough room between the tie and bundle so that you can easily cut the tie when you decorate next time.

Additional Storage Tips

  • Take down lights carefully to prevent damage
  • Make sure your lights are completely dry before storing them
  • Avoid storing your lights in an attic, as the high heat typical in attics reduces the lifespan of Christmas lights.

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