Tuesday, May 22, 2012

65 Quick Tip: Keeper of the Cords

Today's post is dedicated to my awesome neighbor.  Here is why {and another reason why I love my job!}:

A few weeks ago I was getting ready to take the kids to baseball, and my neighbor popped over holding a toilet paper roll.  Hmmm.... She was really excited and said, "I have an idea for your blog!"  Love.  She showed me the toilet paper roll and said, this is awesome for storing your cords!  I mentioned I had seen something about using toilet paper rolls as cord holders on Pinterest:


And then I had to toss in a little personal plug, and share how I stash cords as well:


She waited patiently to tell me that she loved those ideas, but she used the toilet paper roll for her small appliances, like her styling products.  Oh boy, now why didn't I think of that?!


I couldn't wait to get those pesky cords under control!

Some simple cord folding:


Then I just slid the toilet paper roll over the cord!



Pretty stinkin' smart eh?  I thought so!  Then, some lovely scrapbook paper really made it special!



I have been loving this since she stopped by and couldn't wait to share how well it has been working {and after scouring Pinterest, I realize that we aren't the first to think of this, but I still had to share for those who haven't seen it yet}!  Now, I am going to become a toilet paper roll hoarder and do this for every small appliance I can find; hand mixer beware.


65 comments:

  1. AWESOME! We have so many toilet paper/paper towel rolls. We also have an infinite number of cords (do they breed? I swear they're multiplying). Putting these two together will be a huge help! Thank you for sharing!!!

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  2. Oh no! I just threw two TP rolls and a paper towel roll into the recyle yesterday!...guess it's time to go dumpster diving :)

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  3. Thank you for sharing!! This is such a practial idea and I cannot wait to try it!!

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  4. Love this! I just walked straight into the bathroom and corralled the cords for the straightener, the curling iron, hair dryer and electric razor. I save rolls in a fire starter basket by the woodstove, so I had a few on hand. But I intend to pretty them up with some vinyl contact paper- then they'll be water resistant in the bathroom.

    I love it when I'm inspired by something so simple and useful and that I pop up from the computer and complete it.

    Thanks Jen & your neighbour!

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    1. Oooh, contact paper is simply genius! I have some of that floating around here so I will be sure to do that in the future! Thanks for the tip! <3

      xoxo,
      Jen

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  5. cute idea and LOVE that your neighbor wanted to participate and share with your blog!!!

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  6. I've been doing that appliance cord trick forever! I put some contact paper on mine for extra durability. My husband thought I was nuts the first time he saw it, but even he's started to see the value in having cords corralled.

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  7. I remember covering toilet paper rolls with contact paper in elementary school as a Mother's Day gift... and yes, the idea was to store cords. Take another TP roll to slip over the top of your straightener as well. It drives me batty to store those opened like that.

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  8. I need to do this asap! Also, I have the same flat iron!

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  9. My mom has been swearing by this for years!! She's never used pretty paper though so I'll have to pass this along:)

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  10. Oh my goodness!!! Between me, and my three daughters, we have cords everywhere!! I will be doing this when I get home! (Since with four girls, we also go through rolls of toilet paper super fast!)

    Thank you so much!

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  11. Great idea...I've been obsessed with covering diaper boxes with fabric and duct tape per ideas from pinterest. If my husband thought my diaper box obsession, was bad just wait till he hears my excitement about TP rolls :). Ha ha, thanks!

    Bobi
    http://westernwarmth.blogspot.com

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  12. Hair appliance cords are the bane of any woman's (or man's) existence. What an awesome idea. Your blog is so inspiring and you always include such unique ideas for getting organization into gear.

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  13. That is an amazing idea! I've been looking for something to use with my toilet paper rolls, I knew they were good for something special :).

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  14. I Heart this idea!!! I hadn't seen the idea for the appliances though. Super smart idea. Love your scrapbook paper that you put around it to make it pretty too!!! :)

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  15. Nice! I should keep my rolls from now

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  16. so awesome!! i am going to do this too :) i am so inspired right now :) i just posted in my blog that i am fascinated with transforming a bland to fab boxes - i can use some of those to organize our cords!!! i cannot wait to do it!! i am itching right now!!

    iheartorganizing is such a gift from organizers' heaven!!!

    love,love it!!

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  17. I've never seen this done, so thanks for sharing Jen! What I think is so practical about this (aside from keeping irritating cord clutter at bay) is that it really is a time-saver at the front end of hair appliance use. I always wind the cord around the appliance when I am finished with it, but unwinding the cord before use takes time and also results in the cord becoming perpetually twisty. The TP idea solves that problem and I can't wait to implement it in my own home!

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  18. That might be the single most brilliant use for a discarded toilet paper roll that I have ever seen! I am so doing this!

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  19. As the daughter of a plumber- I just gotta suggest pvc cut to fit for in the bathroom, I have so much water on my counters when I'm getting ready and am pretty sure I'd ruin tp rolls :)

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    1. Oooh, great idea as well. I keep my hair supplies at my vanity in our dressing room, but I will keep that in mind if I were to do this with anything else in the loo.

      xoxo!
      Jen

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  20. Another awesome reason to save toilet paper rolls.

    Mrs. Delightful
    www.ourdelightfulhome.blogspot.com

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  21. I have been trying to come up with a cord storage system for a week now. I should have looked to pinterest. Thanks for sharing that first pinterest photo. No more tp rolls will be going in the recycling bin in this house :)

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  22. ahhhhhhhhhhhh brilliant! I use a little velcro band that came with my straightener but this is MUCH prettier!!!

    xoXOxo
    Jenn @ Peas and Crayons

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  23. If you can do this with TP rolls, what is the potential for paper towel rolls? I need to go search my recyling...

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  24. The idea is great and the beautification even more exciting!

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  25. The only problem with wrapping the cord for the hair straightener is that it can damage the connector inside, and cause the heating element to not heat. I've gone through many straighteners by wrapping the cord. Even my hair stylist says you should let that cord go free. I used to only get a year out of my Chi, and now without wrapping I'm on year 3. So be mindful of that!

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  26. This makes me so happy. WE have SO many chords and I HATE chords almost as much as I HATE clutter. This will help a lot. I just need to remember not to toss the rolls

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  27. hi jen!

    love this idea, but i knew as soon as i saw the toilet paper roll before i scrolled down that you were gonna cover yours with pretty paper! haha ugly brown with paper remnants is not your style! lol

    love your blog!
    jessica wilson

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  28. Wah! Our toilet paper rolls have been "downsized" like most other packaging these days. Although I'm sure they'll claim an environmental/"green" motive, I'm sure it's so they can save money while charging me the same price for less "roll." Our cardboard rolls are considerably thinner and flimsier than they used to be and do not really hold up to sliding a cord in/out on a regular basis (though they'd probably be OK for cords used less frequently).

    I've had my eye out for sturdier rolls ever since I saw this on Pinterest and now that I've seen it improved with the addition of some cute scrapbook paper... must have!

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  29. I've been doing this for a few months (every appliance in my kitchen has one!). I put a coat or two of modge podge over the paper and it makes the toilet paper roll a little sturdier and also protects the pretty paper from getting messy (especially in the kitchen).

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  30. Mind. Blown. Love it - going to start collecting my tp rolls right this second!

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  31. Wow what a fantasitc idea and one so simple Im sure many people are thinking 'How did I not see that?'
    The messy cords and endless wondering of how to tie them up without damaging the cords is a problems that has done my head in over the years. Will be saving a few toilet rolls now

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  32. cool going to search for empty toilet rolls when I get home

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  33. Oh what a great idea! The scrapbook paper is so cute!

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  34. So simple and thanks so much for sharing! I hadn't heard of it yet and definitely will be using this idea.
    Tracy

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  35. I found out that you got most of your fabrics either from fabric.com or etsy. Now i need to know, where did you get your wall paper/crafts paper/contact paper from? Thank you :)

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  36. Pretty darn easy. . . and effective. I will be collecting TP rolls! :)

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  37. Brilliant! I always have trouble shoving my cords into the cupboard. Off to fish the roll from my baking paper out of the recycling!

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  38. Ewww! I love everything you do, but I just can't. Maybe a paper towel roll cut down, but a used toilet paper roll? I'm not about to reuse THAT. Sorry.

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    1. Why not? It's not like you've done anything gross with it (if you have, you're doing it wrong).

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    2. Oh sweet anonymous, I'll ignore your passive aggressive last comment. Some of us don't like germs. I simply won't reuse anything that's been in a bathroom that I can't wash in hot water first. It was nothing personal to Jen. And I started out by telling her that I love her ideas and then gave an alternative option. I'm sure she would understand, having 3 boys, what can go on in the bathroom. Have a wonderful day. :)

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    3. Crafty Texan, I soooo agree with you. I couldn't either, but had the same thought about the paper towel roll. Maybe people don't know what happens when you flush, even with the lid down.

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  39. I love all of these ideas! I'm on an organizing high after attacking my junk drawer, and I'm ready to 'roll' on to the next thing. Yes, pun intended. :-P

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  40. I love seeing this idea everywhere. Years ago, long before blogs and Pinterest, my best friend's mother was doing this and I started too. It probably is a good idea to cover the tube though because I've had a few thrown out by my brother, dad, husband...

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  41. Awesome idea, now I have a use for all those toilet paper rolls!

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  42. My mom starting doing this years ago and I thought it was so clever!

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  43. Super fantastic idea! I now have to save those toilet paper rolls:) TFS
    Hugs,
    Norma

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  44. Great idea Jen! I can't wait to try this one. So simple!
    Thanks,
    Sandra from www.simpleispretty.com

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  45. Love this ! But I am new to all this crafty stuff how do u make the paper adhere? Also I love that box Jen, how did u make dividers for that cute lil box? Thanks

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  46. I had hear of this idea, but never actually got to see it in use. I am so doing this with my cords. I am horrible I wrap them up, put a hair elastic around them, and throw them in one huge box. This is much more organized and I like the idea of recycling something as well!! Thanks or the share, oh and BTW love the scrap paper idea, gives it a much more personal touch to it!!!

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  47. Hmm,I just wrap the cord around the appliance. I feel so Amish now. Although that keeps the straighteners snaopped shut (you could try a paper towel roll for that end ;-)

    I do like your way of segregating the unattached cords. So much better than my husband's Drawer of Chaos. I wonder if I can convince him to go for it?

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  48. This is hilarious...my mom has been doing this for years....literally years...like maybe 15-20. I always thought it was a good idea, but since I grew up with it I never thought too much of it. It wasn't until recently when she told a friend of mine about it and she went crazy over the idea that I realized how ingenious it really is. My mom even covered them with wallpaper to make them look nicer. It is too funny seeing this idea take off...only because I thought everyone already knew about it, thanks for sharing! You made my day :)

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  49. Thank you for this fabulous idea. I just went and made my a holder for my hair dryer and will be making one for my curling irons soon. LOVE IT!!!

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  50. How had I not done this before? HOW? Thanks for sharing...totally going to go and do this on EVERYTHING!

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  51. How smart are you two?!
    I've seen the Pinterest post about storing cords in the tubes, but to keep flat iron and hair dryer cords untangled and together? amazing!

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  52. Thank you for inspiring me! Check out my post: http://trixih.blogspot.no/2012/06/toilet-roll-cord-holder.html

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  53. Hi Jen. Your blog inspires me big time. I was never a DIY person but your blog is slowly turning me into one. Here is the proof ;)
    http://myikatlove.blogspot.in/2012/07/trapped-cords.html

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  54. I Love The Cord Holder Idea But Didn't Like How It Left My Straightener Open For Little Hands To Grab (Or Big Boy Daddy Hands) So I Found A Cute Pot Holder Folded It In Half Then sewing the 2 Edges Leaving An Opening At The Top. Now I Can Slide The Hot Straightener Or Hot Curling Iron In Then Put The cord In Its Little Holder And Put Away Immediately Instead Of leaving It OnThe Counter To Cool. I'm Much Happier Because Now My Counter Is immediately clean And De-cluttered. My Husband Loves That He Can Use The Bathroom Without trying To Figure Out Which One Is Hot. Plus I Don't Have To Worry About My Girls Grabbing A Hot Iron! So THANK YOU For The Awesome/Easy Way Of Storing The Cords Without Waiting For The Iron To Cool!!!
    Sorry About All The Capitals I'm Using My Phone And Its Having Issues And I'm To Lazy To Figure Out Why Its Doing It :)

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  55. I love your blog, your ideas, the way you write. You must be a great mum and a great person. I am just starting to blog now, I travel all over the world and I want to share with the people my love for travelling. Thank you for the ideas, explanations and everything. I am writting my blog sometimes in english sometimes in Portuguese that is my language. But I am thinking about doing it on both. My passion is travelling and decoration and beuty in general, I get really inspired from everywhere I go. And here in you blog too.
    Thanks again, I hope you continue your excelent job.
    Best regards, Ana
    http://aroundtheworldin80layovers.blogspot.ae/2013/08/and-first-layover-is-e-primeira-estadia.html

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  56. Hi! I just discovered your blog, not too long ago and I think you have great ideas! This is one I will try for sure. Thanks so much!

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