How To Properly Store Extension Cords in a Garage (9 Tips)

Extension cords are essential tools in every household, but they sure can get messy. One of the best places to store your extension cords is the garage, where there’s enough space to keep them organized and out of sight. When you store your extension cords in the garage, you reduce cord clutter in your home, protect them from damage, and make them easier to access (source).

Here are 9 tips for storing extension cords in a garage:

1. Look for a suitable place to store your cords.
2. Install heavy-duty garage hooks to hang your cords.
3. Wrap extension cords properly before storing them.
4. Use an extension cord wrap organizer.
5. Use heavy-duty extension cord straps.
6. Use a cord management sleeve.
7. Use a retractable extension cord reel.
8. Use a plastic bucket to store your cords.
9. Use boxes to properly store extension cords.

In this article, you’ll learn excellent tips to help you properly store extension cords in your garage. The information will help you organize your home and garage and protect the cords from damage. The tips will also help prevent accidents such as tripping in the garage and make the cords easily accessible at all times.

1. Look for a Suitable Place to Store Extension Cords

If you decide to store extension cords in the garage, it’s best to look for a suitable place. One of the best places to store extension cords in the garage is near the door, as you’ll be able to access them quickly when you need them. Once you identify where you’ll be keeping your extension cords, clear the area to get ready to set up your cord storage.

2. Install Heavy-Duty Garage Hooks to Hang Your Cords

Clearing and setting up the section to store extension cords in your garage includes installing heavy-duty garage hooks. Install the heavy-duty garage hooks on any unused wall or the garage racks. The hooks come in handy because some extension cord storage methods involve hanging them on heavy-duty garage hooks (link to Amazon).

Heavy-duty garage hooks come in different sizes and can hold extension cords of various sizes. A pack of heavy-duty garage hooks comes with several, giving you enough tools to hang a few extension cords. 

The advantages of installing garage hooks to store extension cords in a garage include:

• The hooks are strong and can therefore hold extension cords of varying weights, including bulk extension cords.
• The hooks are durable because they usually have heavy-duty PVC and iron materials.
• The garage hooks are easy to install as they come with wall plugs and screws.

3. Wrap Extension Cords Properly Before Storing Them

It’s best to wrap extension cords individually before storing them in a garage to prevent them from getting tangled up. Wrapping extension cords also keeps them neat and allows for easy storage. 

Here are a few techniques to wrap extension cords before storing them in your garage.

The Elbow Wrap Technique

The elbow wrap is an easy technique that’s perfect for wrapping long cords. Here’s how to elbow wrap your cords:

1. Hold one end of the extension cord in your hand.
2. Wrap the extension cord around your hand slightly above your elbow.
3. Allow the cord to go through the crook of your index finger and thumb.
4. Leave a few inches of loose cord.
5. Wind the loose part around the wrapped cord.
6. Connect the ends of the cord to make the wrap secure.

The Bundle Technique

The bundle technique involves wrapping extension cords into simple bundles before storing them in the garage. This technique is suitable for wrapping short extension cords. Here’s how the bundle technique works.

1. Hold the extension cord with the fingers of one hand.
2. Use the other hand to wrap the cord around your fingers, making small loops.
3. Leave a few inches of the cord loose.
4. Pull off the cord loops from your fingers and keep the loops together.
5. Wrap the few inches of loose cord around the middle of the bundle to hold the bundle together.
6. Tuck the end of the extension cord inside the bundle to keep the pile neat.

The Over-Under Coil Technique

The over-under coil technique is excellent for wrapping extension cables because it doesn’t damage the cords. Here’s how to wrap extension cords using the over-under coil technique:

1. Hold the extension cord and make an overhand loop.
2. Create a second loop by flipping the extension cord and rolling it underhand.
3. Repeat the overhand and underhand process until you coil the entire cord in a circle.
4. Use a strap or band to keep the extension cord in place.

The Chain-Link Technique

The chain-link technique is also suitable for wrapping your extension cords because it keeps the cable organized and ready to use. This technique may seem difficult initially, but it gets easy with time. Here’s how to wrap extension cords using the chain-link method.

1. Bring the two ends of the extension together to fold it in half.
2. Form a loop with the cord.
3. Flip the loop upside down.
4. Pull the extension cord through the loop and make loose knots.
5. Repeat the procedure until you finish making a chain of the cord.

Once you have wrapped the extension cords using any of the above methods, it’s best to hold them in place with something firm. Keeping them firmly in place helps you hang them on the heavy-duty garage hooks you have installed. You can also store them using other methods I’ll mention later in this article.

This YouTube video demonstrates several different ways (and their disadvantages) and ends with a clean and efficient roll-up process:

4. Use an Extension Cord Wrap Organizer

One of the ways you can keep extension cords in place after wrapping them is by using an extension cord wrap organizer (link to Amazon). This organizer consists of an elastic strap with a buckle with which you wrap around and fasten the extension cord. The organizer is strong and grips the wrapped extension cord firmly to keep it in place.

Once you have wrapped the extension cord with the extension cord wrap organizer, you can hang the cord on one of the heavy-duty garage hooks. You could also store the extension cord in a box after wrapping it with the extension cord wrap organizer.

5. Use Heavy-Duty Extension Cord Straps

After wrapping extension cords using any of the above methods, you could use heavy-duty extension cord straps (link to Amazon) to store the extension cords in the garage. As the name suggests, these are heavy-duty straps with a hanger buckle. They are great for storing long and heavy extension cords in your garage.

You wrap the strap around the extension cords and use the hanger buckle to hang the extension cords on the heavy-duty garage hooks you’ve already installed. The advantages of using heavy-duty extension cord straps to store extension cords include:

• The straps are easy to use. All you have to do is wrap the strap around the extension cords and hang them neatly on hooks on the garage walls.
• The straps are heavy-duty and can hold heavy extension cords without giving in.
• You can adjust the straps to accommodate the weight and length of different cords.

6. Use a Cord Management Sleeve

Another way to properly store extension cords in a garage is by using a cord management sleeve (link to Amazon). A cord management sleeve is made from form-fitting, stretchy materials and has a zipper. Since the sleeve is flexible, you can fit in as many extension cords as possible and then zip up the sleeve to conceal the cables. These sleeves are perfect for those who want to keep the cables out of sight–even in the garage.

After putting the extension cords neatly in the cord management sleeve, you can store the sleeve on a shelf in the garage. When you need to use an extension cord, remove it from the sleeve, leaving the other extension cords intact. The sleeve is ideal for storing lightweight extension cords.

The benefits of using a cord management sleeve to store extension cords in a garage include:

• The sleeve is easy to use. Just gather the cords, wrap the sleeve around them, zip them up, and keep them on a shelf in the garage.
• The sleeve conceals unsightly cords making your garage neat.
• The sleeve provides easy access to the extension cords.

These are really meant for organizing cables behind a desk but I’ve seen people use them for extension cords and it’s a pretty neat hack!

7. Use a Retractable Extension Cord Reel

If you have long extension cords, using a retractable extension cord reel (link to Amazon) is one of the best ways to store them properly in the garage. The retractable extension cord reel has a mechanism that automatically retracts the cord. It thus allows you to adjust the extension cord to your preferred length as you work without having to pull on the cord manually.

The reel has a swivel feature that lets you quickly pull and release the cord from different directions. You can therefore use the extension cord without ever having to remove it from the reel!

You can fix the reel in a single location in the garage. You can even fix the reel on the garage ceiling or wall to save even more space and keep your extension cords out of sight. 

After using the extension cord, wind it up on the retractable extension cord reel and leave it on the garage wall or ceiling until you need to use it again in the future.

The benefits of using a retractable extension cord reel include:

• It’s a safe and neat way to store extension cords in a garage.
• It’s a convenient method of using extension cords.
• A retractable extension cord reel helps you use an extension cord without entangling or damaging the extension cord easily.
• It enables you to avoid stumbling upon the extension cord as you work.

8. Use a Plastic Bucket to Store Your Cords

Could you use an ordinary plastic bucket to store extension cords in the garage? Yes, you could! All you need is a 5-gallon plastic bucket with a handle and lid. The plastic buck is ideal for storing long, heavy-duty extension cords because it has handles that make it easy to carry them around.

The lid also protects the extension cords from water damage when not in use.

Using the plastic bucket to store extension cords in the garage is relatively easy. Here’s what you should do:

1. Drop one end of the extension cord into the bucket.
2. Slide the rest of the extension cord slowly into the bucket in a spiral shape.
3. Cover the bucket with the lid to protect the cord from water.
4. Store the bucket in a convenient place in the store.

YouTuber Miss DeWalt has an excellent short video demonstration on this:

9. Use Boxes to Properly Store Extension Cords

Using a simple wooden or plastic box to store extension cords is an excellent way of storing cords in the garage when they are not in use. The best thing about keeping extension cords in a box is that it can hold several cables inside. You can also quickly and conveniently access the cords whenever you need them.

Here’s how to properly store extension cords in a garage using a box:

1. Wrap the extension cords using any of the methods mentioned earlier.
2. Use a cord organizer to secure each cord in place.
3. Arrange the wrapped and secured cords neatly inside the box.
4. Close the box if it has a cover to protect the cords from water and other damages.
5. Keep the box strategically in the garage for easy access to the cords.

Key Takeaways

Storing extension cords in a garage is an excellent way of organizing your home. Extension cords can get really messy, so not having an organizational system in place will keep your house looking tangled. They’re also very easily misplaced, so if you don’t have a dedicated storage place, you won’t be able to find an extension cord when you need one!

Storing your cords in the garage also protects them from damage. Proper storage in the garage can prevent accidents from tripping, and will also keep the cords safe from potential water damage.

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