Having access to the latest technology is an absolute privilege, but as a gadget critic, my home often resembles a warehouse. There are days when just sitting at your desk is a struggle, with cardboard boxes piling up and cables being dragged everywhere. Chargers, security cameras, routers, and phones are scattered everywhere. I needed to stay organized to manage the flow of my devices and maintain my sanity.
I won’t lie. It’s no fun organizing your random cable collection, sorting things into labeled boxes, and letting go of old gadgets you no longer use. But I promise you can benefit from my experience and it will make your life easier. It’s hard to get started, but once you have a system in place, you’ll never go back to chaos.
Let’s start with a box of random cables
Photo: Simon Hill
We all have boxes of haphazard cables. I take it with me every time I move and rarely investigate it. This box is at the center of a thorny technology problem. It’s the ultimate symbol of gadget chaos. Please face the facts. You’ll never use your long-defunct Nokia 8110 charger again. I don’t need that weird printer cable from the printer I broke in a righteous anger 10 years ago. You’ll never need more than 10 Micro USB cables.
Start your new life here. Once you break the back of this box, you’re well on your way to the blissful world of organized technology. Untangle the cables and sort them into corresponding piles. Use cable ties or rubber bands to neatly roll it up. Place the code in the boxes labeled by type. I repurposed an old round plastic takeout container because it’s the right shape for a coiled cable. There are easily accessible containers with legends such as HDMI, USB-C to USB-C, and USB-A to Micro USB. You can also use ziplock bags or toilet paper tubes.
My wife has a simple rule for the odd leftover cable. “If you don’t know what it is, don’t keep it.” Delete those random old cables and you should get a one-off, unassuming box that you can get without any frustrating searching. To level up your organization, write what each cord is on a white adhesive label and wrap it around the cable.
Before we move on to discussing cables, consider using our cable management guide to organize and hide your cables.
Sorting boxes, manuals, and accessories
Photo: Simon Hill
Many gadgets come with a box containing accessories, manuals, and setup codes that you’ll probably always need later but can never find. If you have the space, we highly recommend keeping the original box with everything in it. This not only makes it easier to find accessories and his QR codes, but also makes it easier to give away, donate or sell gadgets you no longer need. Devices with original boxes and accessories will always cost more, but having the original manuals and accessories will make things much easier for the next owner.