Whether it is coming from your office, entertainment center, or all those gadgets, you probably have a mess of cords somewhere that needs taming. This mess can be unsightly, frustrating and unsafe. There are many solutions to the cord clutter issue, so read on and pick your favorites.

• Before unplugging anything, label all cords.
  
  
• Group cords by area to avoid running them across your desk or on the floor where people could trip.
  
  
• Determine how many plugs are needed at a specific power outlet. If you have more than two, then invest in a power strip (with surge protector). So often I hear the complaint that a traditional power strip doesn't work given the size of so many of the power cords today. There are several examples listed below in the Helpful Tools section that solve this problem.
  
  
• Use cable hooks (upside down letter "T" with curved ends), clips and plastic or Velcro cable ties to hold cords together and out of the way. These can be found at your local hardware of home improvement store.
  
  
• If you have more USB components that you have ports on your computer, consider investing in a USB hub. There are so many gadgets now that have USB connections to the computer (cameras, video cameras, mp3 players, etc.). With this solution, you will only have one wire running to the back of your computer, and you can place the hub in a convenient location. Another advantage of this solution is that all of these cables can stay plugged into the hub and you don't have to go looking for them when you need them.
  
  
• Lastly, consider a charging station for all of your handheld devices. It is a great way to keep track of the cords and keep them out of sight