Organize and Hide Your Hanging Computer Cables Under Your Desk
An inexpensive and great way to keep computer cables organized is to use squeeze-type paper clips, also known as binder or bulldog clips. These are the black clips with two chrome wire handles that you squeeze and open, to put over a large pile of paper. They're absolutely perfect as cord tidies!
Steps
- Choose the right size paper clip for the number of wires you have.
- Put a screw with a small washer in the middle of one of the handles of the clip, attaching it to the bottom side of the desk, wall, shelf or etc.
- Push on the other chrome handle and the clip will open.
- Add more clips as required. For non-sagging cables, put one clip apart every 12 inches (30cm) or so.
- Group the cables together. Then put them in the clip or clips to keep them tidied out of the way.
- Release the handle and all your cables are held tightly in the paper clip.
- It's easy to remove cables. Unlike the cheap plastic cord holders that break or are hard to get open, or like the tape gives way when you have it full of wires, these clips will be durable for a very long time and won't harm your cords.
Tips
- To avoid damage to expensive computer cables, choose an oversize binder clip. Then cut and roll a small piece of paper towel to place in the binder clip along with the cables. The added paper towel roll will act as a spacer to help hold the cables firmly in place.
- If you're particular about colors, binder clips can be purchased in colors other than black, making them ideal to match to table, shelf or other background objects to which you're attaching them.
- Black binder clips are the least expensive and can easily be spray painted to a different color.
- If you flip the clip so the opening is at the top, it's even more secure.
Warnings
- Do not use metal clips for AC power cables as there is a significant risk of the edge of the clip damaging the insulation, resulting possible fire, electrocution, loss of life and/or property. Nylon "releasable cable ties with screw holes" are just as cheap as metal clips and far safer for this purpose. Another safe alternative is "gardening velcro".
- These clips are very strong, so keep your fingers out of the way when releasing the handle.
Things You'll Need
- Paper clips, known as binder clips or bulldog clips
- Screws
- Washers
- Screwdriver
- Cords
