Everyone has a multitude of electronic gizmos these days and each one has a cord associated with it. Cell phones, tablets, gaming devices, and laptops each have one or more cords that you need to wrangle. Then you have entertainment centers that have cords going to your tv, stereo, gaming console, DVR, DVD….the list goes on. Well, there’s no need to ever be frustrated or confused about what cord goes to what, just use some of these helpful life hacks and your cord woes will disappear.
- Bag loose cords
Don’t just throw all of the extra cords you have into a drawer. They will get tangled and you’ll never be able to remember what gadget they belong to. Put each cord into a ziplock baggie and write what it’s to on the baggie with a permanent marker. Only then can you toss the cord into a drawer or box designated for loose cords. - Zip tie unruly cords
There’s always an unusually long or unwieldy cord in any bunch of cords. Don’t let them get in the way! Contain them by neatly coiling the extra cord and then secure it with a plastic zip tie. If you need something less permanent (you usually have to cut zip ties to open them), use some of those twist ties from the grocery store. Now you won’t have a mess behind your desk or entertainment center. - Binder clips
Often, we need cords accessible only when we need to charge something. But what happens when we’re done charging? The cord flops all around, falls behind your desk or worse, breaks because you step on it. Don’t run the risk! Use a paper binder clip (you know, the black kind with the silvery handles) to corral loose cords that aren’t in use. Simply squeeze one of the handles so that it pops out of its plastic part, thread your cord through it, then reattach it to the clip. Then, you can place the clip on the edge of your desk or table voila! Now the cord is able to slide out when you need to charge your item and when you’re done, it can slide back, but not get lost! - Label with painter’s tape
Loose or plugged in, sometimes it’s impossible to know what cord belongs to what electronic item. Avoid this conundrum by taking a bit of blue painter’s tape, wrapping it around the cord by the wall plug end, and sticking it to itself to create a flat “label”. Be sure to use the blue painter’s tape because it’s less likely to leave a gummy residue on your cords. Then use a permanent marker and write what it’s for. You’ll thank yourself for the effort the next time you have to unplug your DVD player from the power strip behind your tv. No more tracing cords back to their origins.
If you have any crafty ideas on how to keep cords in their place, share them with us here!
