Tool Boxes

With so many electronic gadgets available today it is no wonder we are all tangled up! Most households are plugging in and charging at least one cell phone at the end of the day. And when you add PDAs, MP3 players, and digital cameras into the mix, that's a whole lotta cords!

Despite the fact that more and more things are going wireless, it seems that we're connecting more objects to more cords than ever before. Seeing a jumble of cords snake its way across a floor or surface is one of my organizing pet peeves! The visual clutter never fails to draw attention to itself, on top of the fact that all those wires can be a tripping hazard.

We rely on all these devices to function at a moment's notice, so they need to be accessible and reliable. Carrying on a cell phone conversation is difficult when the battery hasn't been fully charged. And how can you capture life's important moments when you can't even find your digital camera? Looking after your electronic belongings just makes sense – especially when you've invested a fair amount of money in them.

One of the best systems for managing your collection of electronic gadgets is a charging station. Relatively new to the organizing world, the charging station was born out of a need to store and charge several devices while controlling and minimizing the cord jungle that comes with the territory.

Establishing a designated space for a household charging station can eliminate last minute searches and lost gadgets. When you put things in the same place at the end of each day, you won't have to go on a mission to find them the next morning. Even if your devices aren't in need of a charge, storing them in the station (without plugging them in) is a great way to stick to this routine.

When it comes to finding the ideal charging station for your household, first determine how many items you'll need to charge. It may make sense for each family member to have their own station, depending on how many gadgets each person owns. Aside from this, the style of your charging station is really a matter of personal taste and available space.

One last tip to keep in mind – you don't have to charge your gadgets every single day. Doing so is actually bad for the battery since overcharging shortens its life. The heat generated by charging is what does the damage; so once your devices are fully charged, unplug them.