5 Ways to Cure Cable Clutter

The problem with being connected in the consumer electronics world is that it can create quite a mess, from the precarious pile of gadgets on your desk to the snarl of cables hiding behind your desk. While cutting down on devices is heresy, scaling back on cable clutter is a very realistic goal. All you need is a little patience and a few clever accessories to help you keep those unruly cords in check.

1. Tying Up Loose Ends

Some electronics, such as certain notebooks, come with cords that are too short. Other gadgets provide enough cabling to climb the Tower of London. If you've got miles of excess wires dangling behind your desk or media cabinet, you can try to neaten things up by shortening the cord.

One way to eliminate surplus wires is by investing in a couple of cable-winding doohickeys. With the $15 XL Cable Organizer, all you have to do is spool any extra cabling around the center of the wheel--the device's rubber shell is thick enough to accommodate multiple cords.

If you are dealing with thinner wires, like those from an MP3 player or a cell phone, the $5 Cableyoyo lets you wind up any slack from unduly long cords. Clasps keep the wound cord in place, and when you're ready to unwind it, simply press in the center and pull. The device also comes with a spindle that adheres to your wall or the back of your desk or computer, so you can snap the yoyo to it, and unsnap it, at any time.

Another option is to bundle up loose cables using fasteners like Case Logic's self-attaching cable ties ($5 for a pack of six). Made of nylon, these Velcro ties are nearly 7 inches long and come in several different colors. OXO's cord and cable clips ($7 for a pack of four) are a handy alternative because they include a notch inside the clip that keeps it tethered to the cord itself along with a hole that allows you to hang it on a nail or hook.

2. Out of Sight

Your new flat-screen television might look cool in your living room, but you know what doesn't look so hot? That mass of cables and electrical bricks shoved under your media cabinet. KangaRoom Storage's aptly named Black Box Cord Organizer tames the cords for your TiVo, DVD player, game console, and other devices by storing them away in an understated black box. 

This $60 container, which measures 13-by-13-by-3 inches and is made of flame-resistant acrylic, features two shelves for storing wireless adapters and other unsightly devices, along with nine prongs for winding excess cabling (a sliding door gives you access to the innards). Openings on either side let you feed cords through while a cutout at the bottom accommodates your surge protector. Five ventilation holes ensure that things don't get too hot on the inside.

3. Getting Cables in Line

Even though most of your PC and home-theater cables are headed roughly to and from the same place (running, for instance, between your desk and a power strip), they all seem to have a will of their own, bending and curling and shooting off in all directions. But with the right accessories, you can corral your cables into one neat line.

Belkin's $10 Cable Domes attach to desks, walls, and other furniture via either screws or double-sided tape. Once mounted, you can string your cables through either the big or small holes on the side of the Dome (if necessary, you can adhere several Domes).

  The $15 Cable Zipper actually encloses all of your cords in one fat tube. Using the included Zip Clip, you can gather up all of your wires, then "zip" them into the snake-like enclosure. The eight-foot Zipper also comes with four adhesive wall mounts and 12 pairs of labels so you can identify individual cords at each end.

4. One-Stop Charging

Is your home office overrun with chargers for your gadgets? If your answer is No, then clearly you don't have enough gadgets. If your answer is Yes, then it's time to clean up the clutter. Gadget charging stations sit on your desk or shelf (or you can find ones that hang on the wall), providing individual slots for docking your cell phone, MP3 player, digicam, and other pocket-sized devices while keeping unsightly cables out of view.

KangaRoom Storage's $30 Cell Phone Charging Station fits four devices in front with a removable key/coin tray on top that covers the cord-storage area and, if you can stuff one in there, a small power strip. Some models, such as JCPenney's $39 Charging Station, even come with a power strip.

For a techier look, check out Hammacher Schlemmer's $50 Five Device Recharging Station, which sports four AC connectors, two USB ports, and a built-in surge protector. The unit even folds flat in case you want to take it along on a trip or just put it away.

Of course, there's nothing stopping you from saving some cash and making your own charging station. Check out this gadget basket that one MacGyver-type individual posted on the Unclutterer Web site.

5. Proliferating Peripherals

Perhaps you've pulled the trigger on a USB-challenged MacBook Air, or maybe you've got so many accessories plugged into your notebook that it's starting to look like a Borg. Either way, the $80 Bluelounge SpaceStation should help. This long, flat bar serves as a desktop organizer and USB hub in one (check out our hands-on review). Plug your various cables (iPod, phone, camera, mouse, etc) into the four USB 2.0 ports on the SpaceStation's underside, wind the slack around the various pins, and connect the device's USB cable to your laptop.

You can place some of your smaller gadgets right on top of the SpaceStation, as well as prop up your notebook to create a slightly more ergo-friendly angle. At the back of the bar is a rail for sliding in some of your oft-used business cards, along with a page holder to keep papers upright.

Cathy Lu, PC World