How to Roll Up Extension Cords

It may seem like a "no brainer," but many people don't know how to properly roll up, or coil, an extension cord. To allow for easy access and unwinding, proper coiling is a must. Otherwise, you may end up wasting time getting the knots and kinks out of an improperly-wound cord.

Instructions

1. Lay the cord so it falls along its natural lines without kinking. Hold the end in your palm and let the cord fall naturally toward the ground. Make a loop in the cord, allowing it to dangle above the ground. Run the cord through your palm and repeat the process until the cord is wound. The cord will turn in your free hand as you make the loops.

2. Create a figure 8 with the cord on the floor. Hold one end of the cord to the floor with your foot and make several figure 8s with the cord until it is wound. You will feel the free end of the cord turning in your hand as you wind it. The figure 8 is ideal for quick uncoiling, and is often used by fire departments.

3. Coil the extension cord. This process is similar to the figure 8, but instead of laying the cord in the shape of an "8," wind the cord in a circular shape. As long as the loose end turns in your hand as you wind the cord, it will be free from kinks and knots when you unravel it. Unlike the figure 8, you can bind a coiled cord or simply hang it up.

4. Store your rolled-up extension cord in a safe, dry place where it will not unwind. A properly-wound extension cord will give you years of worry-free use.

Tips & Warnings

• These coiling techniques work equally well for garden hoses and rope.