How do I put these lights away so they don’t get all tangled?

[upfucked]

Any ideas please?

I have similar lights to that and I put a string of 2 of lights into a small plastic bag and tie the handles together at the top of the horizontal string with the dangling lights inside.
Not sure that makes any sense. But you end up with numerous plastic bags tied along the horizontal string with all the dangly bits in. It can then go back into the box and I hope for the best every Christmas!

I use a strip of strong cardboard to wrap them around. Sometimes from Wilco or TOFS I think you can buy a plastic rectangle thing that does the same thing.

I’m not sure exactly how long the drop is, but I think I would tape them gently and ‘in position’ (if that makes sense) onto a thickish piece of cardboard. The corrugated type if you have any left over. And then just fold it width ways back, so it layers on top of itself. Taping intermittently. Do you think that might work?

Yep. Food bags. We did this when we had similar lights

If you have a the cardboard tubing for wrapping paper could you wrap them around that? The plastic bag mentioned above sounds quite good too.

Do you have newspaper? I roll my lights in the same way you'd roll a hand-wash jumper in a towel to press water out. Once rolled then you can fold the newspaper and secure with a rubber band or string.

I do the plastic bag thing with mine. Each string goes into an individual bag, sealed with tape or an elastic band. Come next Christmas just have to remove each bag and gently wind the string down - easy! Obviously takes a bit longer when packing away but it's SO worth it.

Go under over all the way along with a kitchen roll or similar while they are still hung then just roll them up.

Thanks everyone. I have the materials for the bag method so I will give that a go.

You don't. It's impossible. I swear the elves must go into the loft every year to tangle up the lights I put away nicely as they are always a bugger to untangle the next year.