Putting up Christmas lights isn’t exactly a picnic, let’s be honest. All of us have been encircling gutters and shrubs with lights—basically strangling them—for years. Under the moonlight, it does appear party-ready, no doubt about it. However, removing them in January is no easy task. Imagine trying to out-smart a Christmas expert holiday light installation in a game of tug-of-war.
Traditional stringing techniques like going up and down each side, winding it around every bush, and then returning it over the fence result in a spaghetti mess that would terrify a cat. A more expedited, organized, and surprisingly easy way exists. Instead of using the same old horizontal wraparound method, try hanging your lights vertically.
Understood, vertically. Indeed, you are correct. In this way: Begin near the roofline or gutter. Let each strand fall in a straight path until it reaches the floor or the base of your house. Separate the cords in such a way that they seem like candy cane stripes. Retract your steps. Check it out. At once, symmetry. Under control.
You won’t have to pretend to be Indiana Jones anymore by navigating over thorny shrubs. Clean, contemporary lines are the result. On top of that, the spacing can be changed instantly. Try this: Bring them closer together to create the illusion of fuller hair. Simplify for grace.
Simple cleanup is assured. The threads are free from any knots or tangles caused by branches or impediments. No need to second-guess yourself; unhooking and rolling up takes less time than you might think.
Could you use some advice from an expert? Substantiate the surface using plastic hooks or light clips beneath roofing or gutters. Do not use tape or staples unless you delight in removing sticky goo next season. A tent peg or a basic garden post would do wonders for the base to keep the lines taut.
Fearful of lights blown around by the wind? Midway through, attach a twist tie for covert attachment to an unsightly tree, bush, or nail. There will be no more eerie threads blowing in the wind.
Please consider giving color combinations an opportunity. You may make candy-cane magic by alternating lines of colorful and white lights. Alternately, you may achieve the illusion of dripping without the hassle of icicle lights by stagger lengths in a “icicle-style” fashion.
Next holiday season, skip the Griswold-style ladder marathon and the ritual of undoing yards of festive knots. Hang those lights vertically, coast through December, and pat yourself on the back for outsmarting your past self. Your January self will thank you. And so will your sanity.