【2015 Archives】

Anyone who makes tech a big part of their life knows one painful truth: Dealing with cables015 Archivesstill a massive pain.

Even in 2019, with all the advancements we've made to make tech feel genuinely futuristic, most things still require some kind of cable to operate or charge. Plus, power outlets aren't always super accommodating because plenty of homes weren't designed with these things in mind.

If you're reading this, it's probably safe to assume you've got a real cable mess that makes your home life a headache from time to time. So while you wait for that all-wireless utopian dream to come, there are some easy steps you can take to reduce cable clutter in your living space.

Go wireless wherever you can

This is probably going to sound mildly hypocritical of me, the guy who recently told folks to use ethernet cables even in situations where they wouldn't normally do that. But the easiest way to cut down on that messy cord situation you're dealing with is to ... reduce the number of cords you use in the first place.

The first and most obvious step in the process is to use WiFi and Bluetooth wherever it makes sense. Your wireless internet is probably good enough for everyday tasks like web browsing and streaming, so use that. You should definitelyuse Ethernet for things like online video games, but otherwise, you'll be fine.

A slightly less obvious, but perhaps even more useful solution is to embrace wireless charging. If you're anything like me, half the wires turning your living space into an eyesore are probably used simply to charge phones, laptops, and any other portable devices. Luckily, there are plenty of affordable charging mats out there that can keep your devices juiced up using just one cable.

IBIS, for example, sells one for less than $30 that can charge three devices at once from pretty much any major brand. In other words, that's potentially one cable you'd have to use instead of three. I'm no math expert, but the numbers look good on that one.

Box 'em up

Even after cutting out every wire you possible can, you'll probably still have some left over. And those need to be dealt with. There are actually companies making products that specialize in hiding cables because of course there are.

For $30 or less, brands like Tokye and ORICO sell little boxes that can hide and organize a standard-sized power strip to lessen the number of wires you have tangled up on the floor. Cables can enter and exit from either side of these boxes, but otherwise, you won't see nearly as much of the wired mess you've made for yourself.

These also make sense for safety purposes because the boxes will protect power strips from things like accidental water spills, and curious pets, or children. But really, they just look nice.

The ties that bind

One other thing you should consider doing, with or without a box to hide your power strip, is using zip ties to keep things tidy. Yes, I mean those cheap little things you can get dozens of at Home Depot for $10. Sometimes, old-fashioned solutions work best for modern problems.

If you have a ton of wires from one power strip to one central area, like an entertainment center, zip ties can make that situation so much easier to manage. Just bundle the wires up as best as you can and cinch them together in a spot that still gives you some freedom to maneuver the cables as needed.

That should take care of any troublesome tangling issues you've been having in just a few minutes and for very little money.

Some cable management boxes, like the Tokye one linked above, actually come packaged with cable ties for added value. That one, in particular, ships with cable sleeves, which allow you to slip your cables into a sleeve instead of tying them up. It also comes with cable clips, which can be used to group a few cables together in a little clip that you place on a flat surface.

Of course, zip ties, cable sleeves, and cable clips can all be bought separately, too. Figure out which method works best for you before making a decision.

Out of sight, out of mind

Finally, if you really want to act like some cables straight up don't exist, PC Mag had a quality suggestion earlier this year: Cover them up with tape.

Seriously, it's old-school, but it works. If you've got a filthy cable problem underneath a desk, identify the ones that you don't plan on moving anytime soon and tape them to the underside of the desk, or some other stable surface. It'll keep them off the floor, even if it's not the most elegant fix for the problem.

If you really want to go with a dirtbag approach, just cover them up with a rug or something. Your problems don't exist if you don't have to look at them!