You are not alone. The battle of the string lights is real, and it happens to me every year. What should be a fun and exciting task, can quickly turn into a frustrating and annoying exercise, which makes you feel more bah humbug than full of festive cheer.
I look forward to the moment when I come to decorate my home, and I’ve often got a festive tipple to hand, but before I can say ‘Cheers!’ I've already got myself into an unfathomable tangle. And despite years of practice, it’s one festive tradition I’ve never managed to master.
However, I have good vibes this year, all thanks to Jon Saeed, Co-Founder and Managing Director at Lighting Legends, who shares his top tips on how to untangle your string lights for a safe and stress-free holiday. So, whether you’re are putting up outdoor solar string lights, decorating your tree with smart Christmas lights, or sticking with traditional fairy lights, we can guarantee decorating season will get off to a peaceful start.
Bring on the joy
Once the festivities are over many of us pack away our decorations without much thought, only to find a tangled mess the following year. Not only are they a nuisance to fix, but dealing with tangled lights can hold up the entire decorating process.
“Christmas decorating is meant to be fun and enjoyable but let’s be honest, no one likes spending ages untangling their Christmas lights,” he says.
“If you just threw them back into their box at the end of the last festive period, then the chances are you’ll be dealing with a bunched up mess when you retrieve them from the attic this year,” he adds.
I have to confess, I’m guilty as charged.
However, Saeed reveals that all you need is a pen and some baby powder to help untangle the knots without causing damage to the lights. Now I’m intrigued! He also warns against yanking wires as this can damage the bulbs and make the knots worse.
Although there’s no magical Tinkerbell to untangle your lights, there are a few techniques that can ease the frustration.
How to untangle fairy lights like a pro
I’ve come to the conclusion that it’s best to stick to the jobs you’re good at, and share out other tasks to those that perform better. However, if you don’t have the luxury of passing on untangling your fairy lights to another party, here are the steps Saeed recommends you should follow. And my advice? Start the project when you are feeling calm and patient.
1. Use a large flat surface
Start by spreading your lights out on a large and flat surface so you can clearly see where the knots are, advises Saeed. “Using a dining table, countertop or even the floor can help you trace the wires path,” he adds.
2. Start with the plug end
When I’m faced with a bundle of lights I never know where to start. “Loosening a random knot in the middle of the lights can get messy and you can easily tangle areas that were fine before,” advices Saeed.
So, instead of not having a plan, he recommends starting from the plug, and says, “This gives you a clear starting and anchor point, allowing you to work your way through the lights.”
3. Loosen, don’t yank
A good way to untangle a section of lights is to gently shake or jiggle them to help them naturally unravel. “Avoid yanking the lights as this will only make the knots tighter and harder to fix,” he says.
4. Use a pen or pencil
If you’re struggling to untangle the lights with your hands, perhaps the knots are too tight, or your fingers are on the larger size, Saeed suggests grabbing a pen or pencil and gently inserting it into the knots. He advises, ”Carefully wiggle and twist the pen to help loosen the wires and create more space for you to untangle them with your fingers.”
5. Add a sprinkle of baby powder
Sometimes you might find the wires feel sticky or tacky, and if this is the case Saeed recommends sprinkling them with a small amount of baby powder. He says it can help to dry out particularly stubborn areas and make it easier to grip and untangle the cable.
6. Keep it organised as you go
To save you getting the wire you’ve untangled into a new mess, while you continue to work your way through the entirety of the jumble, Saeed suggests, “Wrap the untangled section around a piece of cardboard to prevent the wires from getting caught again.”
7. Think ahead
When the celebrations are over and it’s time to store away your lights for next year, don’t be too hasty. Instead of placing your lights into a messy muddle, wrap them around a spool or a piece of cardboard, as advised above, and save yourself the arduous task next year.
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