I do what chellim does. The plastic bin is labeled “icicle lights”, timer and short extension cord is already in the bin. Gtg for next year

For those of you who wind them in a circle, do yourself a favor and snake them down in figure 8's, this keeps the strings from twisting as they are wound. Works for rope, garden hose, and other such materials as well. When all wound down, pick the cord up by where the cross is. They will be much easier to handle when time comes to unwind them.

This:

 /-\ /-\
|   x  |
 \-/ \_/

not this:

/-\
| |
\-/