Organizing & storing cords for media (cameras, ipod, portable hard drive, etc.)

Re: Organizing & storing cords for media (cameras, ipod, portable hard drive, etc.)

• JRBSEH

  

  August 2010

  I did pretty much what you are doing. We bought a bunch of the sterlite/rubbermaid clear shoe box size boxes and put labels on the front of them with a p-touch. We group things based on how often we use them. For example our camera cords and ipod accesories are all in one box, but another box has a bunch of random but useful at times computer cords. Another box has all the GPS accesories and our ezpass since we don't use that daily. We have everything in our office closet so we didn't go the pretty fabric box route like I think you are talking about.

  
  

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• ring_pop member

  August 2010

  I always keep the twist ties that the products originally come in, so i can keep them neatly wrapped. Then I can throw more than one into the same box.

  You could also try some other way of dividing the space inside the boxes. I happen to keep some of the smaller items in an old cosmetic bag I no longer needed. Or drawer dividers, or utensil organizers.
  

  
  
  Baby #2: Surprise BFP 9.19.12, EDD 5.24.13, natural m/c 10.19.13 at 9w
  

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• jengii member

  

  August 2010

  I store things similarly, but instead of every individual electronic getting its own box, I divide them up into categories. Cords which hook various things up to the computer (like the camera, iPod, phones, etc.) are in a decorative basket on the computer desk, since that's where they're used. I also keep an iPod cord in my purse, since I hook it up and transfer info so often. GPS and its cord and mount and other car chargers stay in a box by the door, or in the cars (GPS itself stays inside, but I don't mind to keep the charger in the car). Wall chargers pretty much stay plugged into the wall.

  I stick with a method of keeping things where they're used. It makes it easiest to stick to being organized.

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• michellebelle

  August 2010

  JRBSEH:

  I did pretty much what you are doing. We bought a bunch of the sterlite/rubbermaid clear shoe box size boxes and put labels on the front of them with a p-touch. We group things based on how often we use them. For example our camera cords and ipod accesories are all in one box, but another box has a bunch of random but useful at times computer cords. Another box has all the GPS accesories and our ezpass since we don't use that daily. We have everything in our office closet so we didn't go the pretty fabric box route like I think you are talking about.

  Thanks - I think i like this approach best.  I am definitely putting them in the closet, but I wasn't thinking fancy decorative boxes - more like the decorated ones you can get at Michaels because clear boxes still make things feel cluttered to me.

  I like the idea of a basket on the desk because that is where everything is used, but in this case the closet is 5 feet from the desk so it's not hard to take it out of a box and put the box back.  And we have a 3 year old so I like to keep all things that could be plugged in the wall or anywhere else put away so she doesn't get curious!

  "If you can't say something nice, shut the hell up!"
  - Paula Deen to 104.1 KRBE's Producer Eric 9/17/2011
  

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• JD 2 B

  August 2010

  I do it in a box similar to PP, but put them in ziplocs with a label of what it's for inside. (makes it easier then the inevitable trial and error). For ones that are frequently used/we would travel with I use this http://www.all4cellular.com/builtny-charger-bag.html 

  It has six areas inside made for cord/chargers and is easy to have the chargers/syncing cords together for the items we use most. 

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• michellebelle

  August 2010

  JD 2 B:

  I do it in a box similar to PP, but put them in ziplocs with a label of what it's for inside. (makes it easier then the inevitable trial and error). For ones that are frequently used/we would travel with I use this http://www.all4cellular.com/builtny-charger-bag.html 

  It has six areas inside made for cord/chargers and is easy to have the chargers/syncing cords together for the items we use most. 

  that bag looks awesome.  Tell me... can each charger plug into one strip and then the whole thing can plug into a wall using the big plug sticking out of the top?  Huh huh?  Say it's so!!!

  "If you can't say something nice, shut the hell up!"
  - Paula Deen to 104.1 KRBE's Producer Eric 9/17/2011
  

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• JD 2 B

  August 2010

  michellebelle:

  JD 2 B:

  I do it in a box similar to PP, but put them in ziplocs with a label of what it's for inside. (makes it easier then the inevitable trial and error). For ones that are frequently used/we would travel with I use this http://www.all4cellular.com/builtny-charger-bag.html 

  It has six areas inside made for cord/chargers and is easy to have the chargers/syncing cords together for the items we use most. 

  that bag looks awesome.  Tell me... can each charger plug into one strip and then the whole thing can plug into a wall using the big plug sticking out of the top?  Huh huh?  Say it's so!!!

  No. it can't. The bag is meant for when the chargers are not in use. 

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• blue_elle member

  

  August 2010

  We keep ours in a storage box as well - in our case on a shelf above the desk. Like pp, I tie them with twist ties to keep them untangled. I just wanted to add that post-it flags make great labels for cords - write a short description on the flag then put around the cord with the two ends stuck together (not wrapped, like a flag...if that makes sense). They've held up for years and easily slide out of the way. Color options in flags are great too since you can do camera cords one color, phone another, etc. to make them easier to spot.
  

  
  
  BFP 11.8.12 * EDD 7.17.13 * MC 12.20.12
  Whiskey Tango Foxtrot, over!

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