Tame Your Tech With A Cord Hack That Keeps Wires Tidy With A Toe Separator

If you want to set up your home office for maximum focus but trying to organize that jumbled tangle of cords behind your computer stresses you out, you're not alone. Trying to corral the various cords that call the back of our electronics home is a tall task for many homeowners, especially if you're trying to keep them neatly tucked out of sight. And if you need to unplug a cord or accidentally drop one into the writhing mass? Forget about it.

If you're ready to hide your desk's tangled cord clutter, try this easy and inexpensive cord hack using one inexpensive item that's probably already in your bathroom: a pedicure toe separator. This three- to four-inch-long beauty tool is flat on one side with four teardrop-shaped dips along the other side to fit your toes in. It's those divots that make this tool perfect for organizing your tech cords.

Simply apply adhesive to the back of the toe separator, press to the back of your desk, let dry, and then sort the cords into each divider. If you have a lot of cords to organize, use two or even three separators to keep everything tidy. To cut down on visual clutter, use a cord tie like Oligei Silicone Cable Ties to bundle them neatly behind your monitor, then tuck them into the toe separator.

The success of this hack is using the right toe separator and glue. There are two common types of toe separators: foam and gel. Foam toe separators like ZMOI Toe Separators are generally the easiest to find and the simplest to glue because they are lightweight. This makes them ideal for organizing two or three thinner cords per space — think your phone's charging cord. Gel toe separators, like SUNFATT Toe Separators for Pedicure, are another good choice, but you may need a stronger hold glue as these tend to be slightly heavier than foam.

If you choose a foam separator, pick your glue carefully. As anyone who has ever completed a science fair project with foam can tell you, gluing foam can be, well, tricky. Thanks to its unique cellular structure, foam can have a hard time bonding without the right glue. Anecdotal evidence suggests that Original Gorilla Glue is a good choice. If you'd rather stick with a trusted glue gun, use a low-temperature hot melt adhesive, like Surebonder 10W Ultra Low Temp Cool Shot Mini Glue Gun Kit, as the heat of a regular glue gun may damage or destroy the foam toe separator. 

This DIY isn't just for your home office. It's a great way to organize phone chargers so your home charging station looks stylish enough to double as decor or even organize charging cords in your car's center console or behind the TV in your living room.