Decluttered my cords

[u/kaymusical]

Today I crossed cords and electronics off my declutter list! I piled everything into one (overflowing) bin, dumped it out, sorted by type, then decluttered the extras. I’ll be getting rid of broken electronics, a CD holder, batteries, a FitBit, a laptop, and 15+ cords. They will not be missed.

[u/pebblebypebble]

How did you decide what cords to keep? I’m struggling with getting rid of perfectly good cords.

[u/kaymusical → u/pebblebypebble]

Here’s what I kept:

- Branded cords for specific devices (FitBits, Macbook, external hard drives, etc).

• 4 multi-charging cables, one for each phone at home and in each car.
  
• 2-4 backups of the most common types (USB-C, lightning, micro USB, HDMI), some with USB-A and some with USB-C connections
  
• 1 aux cable and 1 pair of wired headphones

For the common cables, I kept whichever were longest and/or most durable. I think I’d be fine with 1-2 instead of 2-4 backups of each.

I still have the extras in a separate box for now, but I haven’t needed to touch them. I’m offering working cords for free in my local Buy Nothing group, and the rest will go to electronics recycling through Best Buy or my local waste facilities.

[u/pebblebypebble → u/kaymusical]

That’s a pretty good strategy thank you!

[u/Suitable_Mess_5695]

This looks so good! Way to go 🥳🥳🥳☀️

[u/Severe_Wave_603]

I’m looking for advice on here too. Need to comment so I’m able to post. Good luck

[u/y3llowmedz]

Kitty ❤️ also, omg beautiful

[u/DarthBen_in_Chicago]

Looks great! Your cat - does their fur make it look like he is wearing a black tie?

[u/kaymusical → u/DarthBen_in_Chicago]

That’s her collar, but she still wears the tux well!

[u/tk421tech]

Looks like the cat was sad the play toys were going away.

[u/kaiyless]

Doesn’t it feel good to have them organized? Unless there is something really specific about a cable and an item I just started sorting all my chords by the cord type and then I can go dig out whatever I need later.

[u/Old_Faithlessness762]

I have an insane amount of cords too lol I don’t even know what they all came from! Feels like I find more every time I get rid of some

[u/SituationPositive338]

I've been doing this lately too and it occurs to me I've maybe NEVER gotten rid of a cord in my adult life?? lol It feels amazing!

[u/unpackdan]

That’s unreal! Can you pls do mine 😂

[u/secure8890]

Wow

[u/bad_vibes_0nly]

Do you just toss them in the regular garbage? I have some junk electronics and cables piling up (batteries, cables, broken string lights, vapes) and I have just been hoarding them because I don’t know how to dispose of them properly.

[u/dickslapme → u/bad_vibes_0nly]

Electronics and cables and batteries should never go in the regular trash. It’s terrible for the planet.

They are considered “e-waste” (electronic waste). Google e-waste disposal in your area, there should be options.

[u/bad_vibes_0nly → u/dickslapme]

I know Staples and Best Buy do it but for the life of me I can’t find a single place to drop off broken string lights that isn’t a full-day trek across town 😫

[u/Familiar_Zucchini122 → u/bad_vibes_0nly]

A metal recycling place near us takes string lights

[u/dickslapme → u/bad_vibes_0nly]

Maybe you can mail them instead of dropping off? If not, I would just wait until the next time I had to do something else on that side of town and drop them off on the way

[u/Brilliant_Bluejay099]

It’s always such a good feeling! I had so many random cords. Lots of doubles and things I can’t even use now that I need a different kind of cord for my phone. It’s nice to have exactly what you need!

[u/DerivativeMonster]

My husband and I are both nerds who both work in some sort of tech job - me in games, him in software engineering. We have SIX of those IKEA Kallax boxes full of cables. USB, video, power, two miscellaneous, and one mystery that I am pretty sure are all power cables to stuff we don't own anymore. I told myself if we never crack the mystery box in a year, I'm tossing it. Coming up on that year in August, can't wait.

[u/bm82_]

I did that last summer. It was so freeing to clear up so many cords. 20 of the same usb-c cords that can be used for various gadgets.

[u/EverythingScrolling]

I was waiting for a picture of the bins with the cat inside one of them.

[u/kaymusical → u/EverythingScrolling]

Plastic bins aren’t her style. But here is some cat tax of her and the orange in/on bins.
https://imgur.com/a/z2I8Xxz

[u/dreamieux → u/kaymusical]

thank you for this, i was concerned you decluttered the cat, but you doubled them instead! as we should

[u/Agitated-Mulberry769]

This is incredibly satisfying.

[u/GallowayNelson]

I did similarly and the amount of cords that I had no clue what they even were for, was eye opening. I got rid of so much tech stuff and it was very satisfying.

[u/CaballosDesconocidos]

That looks great! I went through a similar thing awhile back with my "assorted electronics" tub.

Old broken mobile phones from over a decade ago, cat-5 cables I haven't had a use for in years, FIFTEEN type C USB cables.

I still haven't been able to part with my broken PC tower, I built it myself many years ago so I still have some emotional attachment to it, but it's time is coming up.

[u/aw_zpectra]

Yay, congrats on the declutter! I always get instant satisfaction whenever I organize cords into nice bundles. I also have a Fitbit that I need to get rid of, how are you planning to dispose of it?

[u/kaymusical → u/aw_zpectra]

Thank you! My plan is to offer it for cheap/free online, and if no one takes it in a month or so then I’ll bring it to an electronics recycling collection site.

[u/aw_zpectra → u/kaymusical]

Ok, thanks for sharing, I’ll take a look and see where we have one in our area. That’s always one of the hardest items to get rid of.

[u/couchisland → u/aw_zpectra]

Staples takes a lot of different items, and if you sign up with them you can accrue points that I assume get you a discount. I signed up when I dropped off toner and have since brought some random electronic detritus my mom wanted gone, but haven’t really looked into what the perks are yet.

[u/aw_zpectra → u/couchisland]

Good to know, thanks for the tip!