Cord Storage and the Cords and Cables to Throw Away

And it’s a good idea to keep a few of these around, according to Wagenseil: USB-A to USB-Micro cables. “This was the standard Android power/data plug for several years, and tons of older peripheral devices like headphones, Bluetooth speakers, and other USB-powered devices still use them.” Hold onto a few Ethernet cables as well; Wagenseil says, “You’ll need this to connect a router to a modem, or a router to a desktop computer that doesn’t have Wi-Fi. Many laptops still have Ethernet connectors in case they’re someplace with no Wi-Fi. Technically called an RJ-45 cable.”

Only keep these Cords if you really need them

Only keep the following if you really need them: USB-A to USB-B (like for an old printer); USB-A to USB-Mini (if you’re still using cameras from the early 2000s); and component and composite video cables (the old “RCA” plugs for VCRs, old DVD players, and 1990s gaming consoles).

Is it okay to keep a mystery cord box?

The rest you can probably safely toss, Wagenseil says, though North Carolina interior designer Heather LaBoda adds the caveat that you shouldn’t beat yourself up about that secret box of mystery cord storage you have in the garage—as long as you keep it from getting wet, of course.

“You never know what you might need down the road,” she says. “If you know what it is and no longer use it, go ahead and throw it away. If you’re not sure, it’s best to have a box for miscellaneous cords tucked away in your closet just in case.”

How to Reduce Cord Clutter

As for cord clutter, Wagenseil says it can make a big difference to use simple plastic zip ties to bundle them together out of sight (or you can pay a little more for Velcro ties, which you won’t have to cut off to rearrange cords).

For commercial clients, LaBoda sometimes uses wire-management baskets mounted to the underside of desks that route cords through a grommet in the work surface. For residential settings that don’t have to work around desktop computers, she usually finds that a combination of clear wire-management clips, Velcro or twisty ties, and cable covers is enough, though “using a weighted cord holder on your desktop helps keep cords like phone charges neat and accessible.” She’s also a fan of the slim, elegantly designed Samsung Frame TV if minimizing cord clutter is a priority.