Most of us have been in this position: you fish an extension cord from some forgotten corner of your garage or closet, go to unwind it, and realize it has somehow become tangled into an impossible knot. Suddenly, you’re spending an hour of your afternoon trying to untangle an extension cord that hasn’t been touched in a year. Not only does improper extension cord storage create headaches, but it can damage the cord over time. Thankfully, once you know how to store extension cords safely, it’s easy! Never again shall you perform the dreaded around-the-arm wrap and toss the cord pile in a corner. Instead, check out these strategies.
The dangers of improper extension cord storage
Please note that not knowing how to store extension cords can cause real danger, especially when extension cords are present on an active work site. People can trip over extension cords; they can get sucked into other equipment or wrapped around the wheels of vehicles. If the protective outer layer of an extension cord is pierced and the inside wires are frayed, they might even create a fire hazard.
Buy or DIY an extension cord reel
For a few bucks, you can order an extension cord reel, a circular device with a handle allowing you to roll up your cords in a way that will enable them to be stored compactly and help avoid tangles. Extension cord reels are typically simple and inexpensive.
You can also fashion a DIY extension cord reel out of something as simple as scrap wood you’ve got lying around. One popular design from DIY Tyler just involves making a few simple cuts into any spare piece of wood.
Investigate retractable cable spools
An upgrade from your simple extension cord reel, retractable cable spools can be much more high-end—and high-tech! These reels allow you to spool the cable back automatically, and they can usually be mounted somewhere semi-permanently, like in a workshop or garage. Some retractable cable spools have multiple integrated plug-in heads, and they often even sync with phone apps or integrate into smart home devices. This is particularly useful for people who use them with Christmas light setups or landscaping devices, allowing you to put items on a timer or voice-activate your lighting systems.
Check out velcro extension cord wraps
A velcro extension cord wrap is another inexpensive little tool that simply allows you to wrap a small strap around a rolled extension cord to help prevent tangles, keep it out of the way, and transport it easily. The best extension cord wraps have handles for carrying them/hanging them, as well as a grommet on the tag end, allowing you to simply hang the cord on the wall. This is extra useful on job sites, where you can often find a spot to hang your extension cord nearby up out of the way until it’s needed.
Coil your extension cord properly
There are many ways to coil an extension cord, but there are a few methods the pros overwhelmingly prefer. Most people who don’t know how to store extension cords safely use the “around the arm” method naturally, which is how things end up tangled, though a small adjustment offers a great improvement. Roll the cord around your arm as normal, but when you get to the end, take the last few feet and wrap it perpendicularly around the rest of the loops to create a tight bundle. Then, plug the two ends of the cord together to secure the whole package. This is not the ideal method, but it’s much better than nothing.
We recommend that anyone who frequently works with extension cords invest a few minutes in learning this wrapping method demonstrated on YouTube by Blake’s Garage. It’s a favorite of pros everywhere. Once wrapped in this way, you can hang your cord off the ground in any manner convenient to you, and it will unwrap easily every time.
Store extension cords in a bucket
It’s not our first choice, but it’ll do in a pinch. Simply coiling and securing your cord the best way you can, then putting it in a bucket is a simple and easy way of keeping it in a secure location where it won’t be quite as exposed to the elements and won’t get caught underfoot. Some people even craft DIY bucket reels by creating a two-inch hole in the side of a bucket (near the bottom!), then running the end of the extension cord out of it. This lets you feed out as much of the cord as you need while keeping the rest secure and easily portable. However, cords can still easily get knotted or tangled when stored this way.
Always keep your equipment organized and safe!
When it comes to hardware and electronics, organization and safety go hand in hand. It’s easy to stay organized and disciplined—it just takes a little consideration. Most people don’t put too much thought into how they store things; as a result, they create safety concerns, and their gear doesn’t last as long. Now that you know how to store extension cords safely, it will only take a few minutes to implement a few of these tips. Once you’ve decided on a new storage strategy, it’ll last you for life.