Chances are, you have a collection of computer and charging cables in one of your drawers or boxes. Many of them are forgotten, if not completely lost. We keep them “just in case,” but trust me, I’ve been there.
We buy new devices, and most of them come with a new cable. However, we rarely throw out the old ones. Over time, we end up with a collection.
Here are a few tips to help you sort through your cables:
1. Go through your home and find all the cables. Clean out every drawer and box.
2. Make two piles: one with cables that you know what they’re for and where you still have and use the device, and another pile of the others you can let go.
3. From the first pile, sort the cables that are alike. Group them by connectors and length.
4. If you have multiple cables for the same device, like a charging cable in the kitchen and one at the desk or in the car, keep the ones you use most and let go of the rest.
5. Many of the cables that come with new devices are cheap, too short, or you already have a better version. Let go of those as well.
Finally, if you’re going to replace a device, consider the type of connector, especially for charging, when making your decision. Knowing that most or all of your gadgets use the same type of connector will make it easier to find the right cable in the future.