If you’re like most people, you probably have tons of electronic devices. Flatscreen TVs, home theater systems, cordless phones, computers, printers and digital picture frames are all part our everyday lives. Not to mention the umpteen chargers required for a family's worth of portable devices. What that creates is a giant mess of spaghetti that most people just shove behind a console or table, where it inevitably creates a suitable warren for dust bunnies.
Besides looking awful, a tangle of wires is impossible to sort through if you ever need to replace a component in a home theater system, or grab the power cable for your laptop for a trip. Had enough? A simple solution is to sort through all those cords and label each one at the plug and near the device it's connected to. Of course it’s even better to do this when you first get a product, before you hook it up. A label maker is ideal, but if you want to go old-school, masking tape and a sharpie will do. Another tip, group wires and zip tie them together to keep things tidy.
Brother P-Touch PT1290 Label Maker
Make professional looking labels in seconds with this simple label maker by Brother. Lots of font types and sizes to choose from and text is easy to view on its 15-character display. It prints labels up to 1/2 inch wide on laminiated indoor/outdoor tapes and takes six AAA batteries.
Price: $39.99 on Amazon.com
Brother TZFX231 White Flexible ID Tape
This specialty tape is perfect for wire labeling because it’s laminated, bends easily and sticks to itself for easy labeling of cords.
Price: $22.99 on Amazon.com
Velcro Reusable Self-Gripping Cable Ties
These reusable Velcro ties from Velcro make organizing your wires a cinch. The tie easily opens and closes, and attaches to one of the cords in the bunch so you won’t lose it.
Price: $3.99 for 5 ties on Amazon.com