On endings and beginnings
Once all the holiday fun has come to an end, it’s time to take down Christmas lights, pack up your tree, and say goodbye to Santa. The dismantling of Christmas light displays symbolizes the end of one year and the beginning of the next. It represents transformation and forward motion.
When taking down your Christmas lights this year, follow the 3 “S”s – safety, strategy, and storage. After you implement these, you’ll never go back to your old ways. Keep reading to learn these helpful tips for taking down your Christmas lights.
Safety
Safety is the first “S” because it is the most important. No one wants to start their new year with an injury. Putting up and taking down Christmas lights is risky. Make sure you practice these safety measures to prevent any accidents.
Practice ladder safety
If you need to use a ladder to reach high places, do so with caution. It’s best to have someone standing at the bottom of the ladder holding it steady. Don’t try to move the ladder while you or someone else is on it. Make sure your ladder is on an even surface to avoid tipping and falling.
Protect your eyes
When taking down decorations from trees or roofs, it’s common to have projectiles come down with it. Leaves, branches, and broken decorations are among the most common projectiles to have hurled at your face. Protect your eyes from being a target when taking down Christmas lights. It’s best to wear protective glasses just to be safe.
Use gloves
After being up all season, your lights have likely collected dirt, bugs, debris, and maybe even broken glass. Protect your hands by wearing gloves. At the very least, you’ll keep dirt out from under your nails.
Don’t reach or tug
Reaching too far can lead to falling, slipping, and tripping. Even though it may seem easier, it’s riskier to reach when taking down Christmas décor. The same goes for tugging. It’s tempting to yank a cord from the socket instead of walking over to the outlet. However, doing so can lead to injury and damage to your lights. Take the extra steps to position yourself safely. You will be happy you did.
Strategy
Don’t approach the end of Christmas time haphazardly. Make a strategic game plan for taking down your holiday lights. It will save you time and energy now and later.
Run a test
Sure, you’ve had your lights on all season long. Your lights may appear to be functioning well, but that can change. It’s best to test your lights at the end of the season after you take them down. Just give them a quick plug-in and examine the entire string. Replace any necessary bulbs to save yourself the trouble next Christmas.
Make a map
Do yourself a favor and draw a little Christmas map of your house. Mark where certain lights and decorations go. Make a setup and take-down plan that you can stick to year after year. Use it to strategize the most efficient plan for taking down your Christmas lights. It will get rid of the hard parts of Christmas decorating and replace them with pure holiday joy.
Go section by section
Move in a methodical pattern around your home. Start at one side of the house, for example, the bottom right. Work your way up and left as you take down the Christmas lights. This will help you easily organize how the lights will go back up next year. That’s where storage comes in.
Ask for help
The saying goes, “many hands make for light work.” This is true when it comes to taking down Christmas lights. Ask family members or neighbors to lend a hand in taking down your Christmas lights. It will make the whole experience safer and easier.
Better yet, hire help and avoid the hassle altogether. Blitzen Lighting specializes in Christmas light installation. We offer take-down services as well so you can avoid the worst part of Christmas – realizing that it’s over. Keep in mind that Blitzen Lighting only uses our supply of commercial Christmas lights, so we won’t be able to put up or take down your personal decorations.
Storage
Do your future self a favor by storing your Christmas lights in a neat and organized fashion. If you take a bit of extra time to pack up your lights properly now, you’ll save yourself time next year. You won’t have to deal with a chaotic hodgepodge of tangled lights.
Bag it and tag it
When taking down your Christmas lights, it’s best to pick a tangle-free method of storage. Consider using a wire spool, cardboard, or figure-8 method to roll up your lights. Once you’ve done so, label the light string with its location and purpose. We recommend storing your lights in a plastic bag to preserve them and make sure they don’t intertangle.
Watertight is right
Store your lights in either airtight bags or airtight bins. This will protect your Christmas lights from any water damage over the next year and ensure you have fully functioning lights for the next Christmas season.
Make an inventory
To top it all off, create a master inventory list of all your Christmas lights. Indicate which lights go where and in which box they’re stored. This will keep you organized for next year. You won’t have to spend time pondering over which lights when where, searching boxes, and re-strategizing. So now, you’ve got a map, an inventory, and corresponding labeled light strings. You’re ready to go for next year!
The bottom line
One of the most enjoyable parts of Christmas for many people is the Christmas lights. This makes taking them down a sad event. Use some of the tips we’ve discussed to make it a quick, painless, and productive experience. Stay safe and set yourself up for a successful start to next season by following the 3 “S”s. If you want to spend your time and energy elsewhere this year, reach out to the professionals at Blitzen Lighting for all-inclusive light installation and tear down.