Cord Chaos
As a professional organizer, I am often asked what to do with a box/drawer/bag full of random cables and cords. I think we all have them, don't we? Cords we know go to something we have...or used to have...maybe?
I've got a box full of cords at my house. And, I don't want to deal with it.
It's like looking into a box of venomous snakes. I am afraid to touch the jumbled mess, so I just shut the lid and move on to other things.
Clearly, organizing cords is not my favorite thing to do. They all look pretty much the same to me. But, they need to be dealt with, don't they? Ugh.
Well, the best way to accomplish something is to just start.
Here is how to do it (I write this for myself as much as I write this for you):
Collect all the cords and cables into one place.
Untangle and separate them into categories. This could be "computer," "TV," "don't know," etc.
Figure out the purpose of each cable and cord, if at all possible. This might take asking family members if they know, or doing a little research online. If you can't figure it out, let it go.
Determine what cables and cords are needed now (current electronics). Then figure out what cables and cords might be needed in the not too distant future (for instance, that old computer you still need to remove files from and clean off). Also, determine what cables are broken, frayed, torn, etc. Are they worth fixing and keeping? If not, get rid of them.
Decide how you are going to store the cables and cords you are keeping and clearly LABEL each one. There are so many ways to store cables (see articles below). It all comes down to what makes sense to you.
Also,be as specific as you can with your labels.You can color-code them if you want (see the link to Wrap-It cable labels — I use these a lot). You can buy organizational products that are made specifically for organizing cables (just Google "cable organization" and you will get a ton of stuff). But you can also re-purpose things (like take-out food containers) to store them.
Further Reading
Recommended Products
Wrap-It Storage (I use the large ones in garages)
Cable Labels (I use these for smaller cords/cables for TVs, computers, etc.)
The main thing is to use a system that works and makes sense to you (the person/family who has all the cables). If it's for a business, having a system that is clearly labeled and documented is very important so that everyone understands how it works and where things go after being used.
Remember: Just like we all go a specific home to rest after we are at work or school, our things need to have a specific "home" to return to after each use.