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wireless society-are you having a laugh?

(54 Posts)
petunia Mon 07-Oct-19 07:34:22

So, is my house unique or does everyone have a wire drawer (or two). By wires I mean phone chargers, earphones, computer leads, camera leads, random wires whose purpose is long forgotten. And don't start me on remote controls. New ones, old ones, spare ones.....

As I sit typing this I realise that we have three drawers and two boxes of these wretched things. Periodically we have a blitz and sort through. The plan is to work out which belongs to what , discard the rubbish and label the others. It works for a while then a new one appears.

I despair. Each new device that comes into the house seems to come with a clutch of attachments and charging wires.

This week has been particularly painful as we changed our TV/broadband provider and had to buy a new printer. We now have 10 different remote controls. When did life get so complicated

BradfordLass72 Tue 08-Oct-19 08:47:08

I'm sorry to buck the trend but I don't have any cables, let alone a drawer or box for same. I feel quite deprived!

I do have a small, portable DVD player but its cable stay with it on the desk and apart from the cellphone, constantly plugged in the kitchen, there's nothing else.

However, I do have a drawer with pens, erasers, hole punch, staplers, paper clips and assorted paraphernalia**.

**That word has always fascinated me, it's so nice to say.
It means the goods and chattels a woman takes with her into marriage.

And in ancient times, the only things she had a right to take away if she left the union.

BlueSapphire Mon 07-Oct-19 20:47:42

On my goodness, my late DH had boxes and untold bags of cables, plugs, chargers, aerial cable, clips etc, that when I was tidying after he died, I didn't have a clue about. He had worked in the electrical, telecoms, radio field all his life and just saved everything in case. I am afraid a lot of stuff just went in the skip and so far have not needed a replacement anything. He would not throw anything out, everything was kept just in case.... And yes Tricia5, I would much rather have him back and have all the clutter....

TrendyNannie6 Mon 07-Oct-19 20:45:00

We have got chargers plugs phones you name it a drawer full

Conni7 Mon 07-Oct-19 17:40:11

I'm impressed that you all have them in boxes. Most of mine are behind the television and I dare not touch one in case I disconnect something. Spiders' webs there too! Come to think of it there's a pile in the garage as well.

hereshoping Mon 07-Oct-19 17:11:59

I love cordless machines because I don't have to bend to plug in or pull a wire behind me. I've got a vacuum cleaner, lawn mower, lawn edger and now a leaf blower/vac.
BUT every one has a different battery and it's own charger. Then you have to remember , in what safe place (fatal) you left the charger.

Baloothefitz Mon 07-Oct-19 16:45:36

When I moved home recently I said right that's it ,this box is not coming in the van! Left it outside my front door with a note saying please help yourself, had an interesting evening watching people walk past then return a little later to have a rummage.Usually men or boys ,but I'm pleased to say the box was empty except for lots of dust.

Magpie1959 Mon 07-Oct-19 16:12:58

We threw out a huge box of cables earlier this year when we cleared our loft. I haven't managed to part with the old computer yet though, it is stuffed in a wardrobe in the spare bedroom! I have a fear that someone will access the information still on it to raid my bank accounts!!

My biggest problem is old Christmas decorations. I have absolutely no doubt that they do actually breed when we are not looking and why oh why is it so hard to part with them?

My daughter has been having a clear out and I have been 'gifted' all the 'no longer needed baby equipment, toys and clothes' to clean, photograph and post on e-bay. Oh Joy, just what I needed!

icanhandthemback Mon 07-Oct-19 15:06:45

I have a large toy box absolutely full of them. I've started labelling all wires as they come into the house so I know whence they came. I am hoping it will make throwing them out easier when the hardware dies!

Caro57 Mon 07-Oct-19 14:29:40

Yes and I’m not allowed to throw any out (despite being in a box in the barn for years) in case they come in useful - aaaaaargh!

Anniechip Mon 07-Oct-19 14:26:45

Only one not needed remote control for a tv in our spare bedroom but has anyone got a bag of fittings, screws, nuts and bolts and a hundred different sized Allen keys (or Hex keys to give them their correct title) from that well know Swedish flat pack furniture maker?
We have and my husband refuses to get rid of them “just in case” we ever need one!
Maybe I should throw just one away each day until they’ve all gone!

4allweknow Mon 07-Oct-19 14:10:51

A conglomeration of cables at the back of the tv and the array of handsets on the coffee table, drives me mad. I keep chucking the handsets in a drawer and in an instant they are back out on display. I dread any new device coming into the house, more cable another handset!

Calendargirl Mon 07-Oct-19 14:10:25

I confess I am really thick about what wires and cables go with what, so leave it all to DH, but we too have a box in the loft with redundant “stuff”. Things get added periodically when they’ve been hanging around for a while, perhaps someday they will come into their own.

Greyduster Mon 07-Oct-19 14:05:29

We recently replaced our tv with a supposedly ‘smart’ tv which my DH assured me would solve the problem of the mind boggling tangle of cables at the back if the old one. It didn’t - we actually now have three more cables than we started with!! There is a bag of old cables in the garage that have been carted around for years, “just in case....” and cables for cameras that have long since been given the heave ho. One of these days I am going to make a sculpture out of them, along with redundant kitchen equipment and a boxful of unloved pocket radios. Watch this space!

SueDonim Mon 07-Oct-19 13:46:48

The Drawer of Doom, within which lives the Bunch of B*stards, as my ex-navy dh called the tangled wires. grin We also have endless plug/socket converters from when we have been abroad. I was away to buy some converters for our recent trip to Australia but my dd noticed that the ones we use when we visit our son in the US can be converted for use in Australia.

We also have at least five redundant laptops. hmm My dh says he'll remove all the photos from them but I'm not holding my breath.

CedarC Mon 07-Oct-19 13:41:10

How lovely this post is,I thought I was the only one,and who knows,one day on of these cables "might" come in useful.

Dogsjj Mon 07-Oct-19 13:36:35

BT will take old phones and mend them for third world countries.

rosecarmel Mon 07-Oct-19 13:00:08

Our "cord box" was huge- Nothing lasts as long as it used to, it either breaks or gets updated before it does-

sarahellenwhitney Mon 07-Oct-19 12:57:52

What a relief knowing I am not alone in having a drawer full of cables ,remotes, old mobile phones, various chargers etc You name it, I guarantee.will be in that drawer.

Anthea1948 Mon 07-Oct-19 12:56:12

We have three bagfuls of these things - one of charges for USB, one for chargers for carpet sweepers, etc. and one that is anything to do with broadband, TVs, 'phones, etc. I, also, blitz them occasionally, and now am several missing that have obviously been thrown away at some point!

missdeke Mon 07-Oct-19 12:51:14

I had a blitz on my old cables/wires recently and ended up cutting the cables off whatever was attached to the end of it and used all the wires as ties in the garden. Then I disposed of all the ends responsibly.

Chestnut Mon 07-Oct-19 11:46:13

The problem is often compounded because the old cables no longer work with new equipment, then you really do have to buy a new cable. I keep all my leads and chargers labelled or else I would be lost.

Madmaggie Mon 07-Oct-19 11:42:32

When we moved house we re assessed our collection of cables, remotes etc and threw loads away. I put hubby in charge and it kept him occupied for ages! I suggested he label them so he bought large brown luggage labels that tie on with string - although ugly it means I can read them without hunting for glasses. We have a modern storage basket for most of them downstairs in the cupboard under the TV & a drawer in a small unit by our desktop computer for linking phones etc to pc. Great in theory rubbish in reality to be honest as they all tend to migrate! Especially if we go away and take kindle, phone, tablet, camera cables ?

Parsley3 Mon 07-Oct-19 11:29:13

Yes, I recognise this annoyance. I have boxes of cables for long gone gizmos and am keeping them just in case. There are numerous remote controls as well. In addition to this I have assorted keys, from who knows what doors and windows, rattling about in drawers all over the house.
This thread is prompting me to get going and sort this mess out.

Maremia Mon 07-Oct-19 11:26:33

Please recycle if you can! Our dump takes electrical items.

Willow500 Mon 07-Oct-19 11:20:30

As I was responsible for all things IT when I worked (sending out phones, laptops and peripherals etc) I had/still have boxes full of cables for phones, computers as well as all the stuff we've accumulated ourselves over the years - husband never throws wires out! I was in one of the boxes the other day and found 3 brand new laptop chargers with EU plugs - totally useless. The company didn't want any of it back when I finished. I keep promising myself I'll sort it all out one day and get rid of it hmm