cable organizers

Cables, cables everywhere. With every new gadget we purchase comes a bag of cables we already have but toss onto the growing tangle of cords anyways. Master the labyrinth with one of the most basic of household objects, the toilet paper roll.

We got our crafting on with empty toilet paper and paper towel rolls. Cover the basic cardboard rolls with art-store kraft paper and Japanese washi tape for a nearly effortless Spring cleaning session with adorable results.

All you need is 25 minutes to organize pesky cords; see our photo tutorial after the break.

No time like the present to get your gadgets and techie life in gear. We've got all the right tech tools to gear you up, and the tips you need to get your techie cleaning done. So, make organization easy and keep your life neat and clean when you get going with our helpful tips to step up your routine.

• Clean Up Your Computer — De-clutter your digital life when you purge your computer of any old files, folders, and media taking up needed space. But, don't let the cleaning stop there — be sure to give your computer a thorough cleanup on the outside, too!
• Charge It Up — I'm done being stressed out by losing the charge on my iPhone and being unable to find the power cord — what help is any gadget if we can't turn it on? Forget losing and misplacing your gadgets' chargers when you get your charging done all in one convenient charging station.
• FollowUpThen Email Reminders Keep You on Task — Stay on top of personal to-dos or work assignments by sending yourself an easy, automatic reminder with a deadline to get it done.

Get the rest of my tips after the jump

USB hubs are a dime a dozen, but this well-designed hub from Quirky may be just the hub you're looking for. The Contort Hub ($35) is a flexible accessory designed to plug into your computer's USB drive at any angle necessary, bending to accommodate up to four USB connections. Plus, it features its own cord management system built right in that expands to accommodate more cords if necessary.

Since the device is produced by Quirky's crowd-sourced design program, it's currently only in production and not available immediately. But, buyers can check back often for updates on its manufacture, distribution, and when you can expect to receive it.

Although Spring is the perfect time to declutter and organize your life, there's no reason you can't maintain a level of cleanliness all year round, especially when it comes to managing your cables. New gadgets come in and out of our lives all the time, which is why we need to constantly keep our cords in check. Perfectly prepped for the task is the Bluelounge Cableclip ($10), which keeps your cords and cables neat and tidy in your bag or on your desk.

Just wrap your chargers, Ethernet cables, USB peripherals, or whatever in the multisized CableClip (coming in small, medium, and large, in packs of six, four, and two, respectively) and you're ready to go. Pack them along on your next trip, or just keep from pulling your own hair out while on the job. They're cheap enough to keep in stock at home too, so you'll never have to look at that rat's nest behind your entertainment center ever again.

Clutter doesn't make anyone feel productive, which is probably why there's such a market for all kinds of cord management devices. They're versatile — perfect for any room of your house that has an excess of power cords, charger cords, computer cables, audio cables, and any other unruly cord that needs a little controlling.

Each of the Cordies ($13), which come in four different colors, is made from weighted rubber, which means it'll stay put on your desk. Constructed similar to a coiled telephone cord, each Cordie is under 4 inches long and will store several cords within its coils. And if you use it on your desktop, it's also a great place to stash business cards, pens, Post-it pads, and other office odds and ends, too.

For me, Spring cleaning means ripping out that rat's nest of cords behind my desk and getting a fresh start with minimal cable interference. Thankfully, there's a new wireless charger on the block that will help me keep things neat and tidy. Like the Powermat before it, the Case-Mate Hug ($100) charges your iPhone without all those nasty wires and cords. Sure, it won't charge your BlackBerry or your PSP, but it will do the job for your iPhone 3G or 3GS. The sleek aluminum Case-Mate Hug comes with two elements — the slim, form-fitting, and shock-absorbing iPhone case, and the pad, which transfers power to the case via magnetic fields to juice up your smartphone. The coolest part about this pair? The pad uses "smart charge" technology to only charge your phone till it's 100 percent full, then stops pulling power to save you some cash.