Outdoor Christmas lights have come a long way since the days of fragile glass light bulbs and thin incandescent filaments. Currently, we have solid epoxy lenses over durable, long-lasting LEDs that are very durable compared to the lights of yesteryear.
But while they are tougher and stronger, they are not completely damage-resistant. Here are some quick and effective tips on what you should not do with your outdoor Christmas lights – if you want them to last for a few seasons!
Fail to Let Them Dry Before Storing
One of the worst things you could do is store your Christmas lights immediately after taking them down, especially if you’ve had wet weather or it’s been humid out.
Water is as much of a problem for electrical circuits (and LEDs) as mechanical stressors can be. It can cause corrosion at weak points where the wire is exposed or where there is damage to the insulation, destroying the whole light strand – even for LEDs.
So, best practice is, after you take the light strand down, to unroll it or stretch it out at length so that it can dry before you store it somewhere that is also cool and dry.
Store Them in the Garage
Alright, if you’re reading this, and you have a clean, dry, climate controlled garage that never experiences severe temperature swings, you get a pass. If not, keep reading.
The thing about the garage is that in most places not only is it exposed to extreme temperature swings, but it’s also chronically humid. And that is, once more, a death knell for outdoor Christmas lights.
By the way, if the same conditions apply to your basement, don’t store them there, either. You need a cool, dry spot to store them.
Store Them in Cardboard Boxes
The problem with cardboard boxes is that they’re not waterproof. In the event that you don’t have anywhere better to store your lights than in the garage or basement and it floods, you’ll be out of luck if you also store them in cardboard boxes.
Waterproof plastic crates are the way to go, something like a Rubbermaid is a good way to go. If you have to store your lights in a less-than-ideal location, and you store them in a Rubbermaid, and it floods, you have the best chance of avoiding damage.
Drag Them
Just a little pointer, Christmas light strings can be long and hard to wrangle, but never drag them, even for a short distance. Doing so will damage the insulation and can crack the light’s lens.
Store Them on Anything but a Reel
There are all sorts of hacks for how to store outdoor Christmas lights but we are here to tell you there is one and only one good solution; storing them on a reel designed for the purpose. Any other way is going to result in a tangle and a headache for you.
Here for New Outdoor Christmas Lights? We Have Just the Place
Looking for new energy-efficient LED Christmas lights that you hope will last more than just a few seasons? Get them online at Decorator’s Warehouse (where you can get all of your other Christmas decorating essentials, too). They sell a wide range of outdoor lights, including 5mm and C9 Christmas lights, among many other light decorations. Check out their full selection of Christmas decor through their website and get in touch with them if you need more information.
