Do your extension cords look like this when you’re unraveling them, no matter how nicely they were wrapped up?
Today I’m going to show you a tip that will banish tangled and knotted extension cords from your life. It’s called the Contractor’s Wrap, and I learned it from a Boy Scout leader who worked as an HVAC man back when my mustache was merely peach fuzz.
Here’s how it works.
Step 1: Connect the Male and Female Ends Together
Step 2: Make an Overhand Knot at the End
Step 3: Make a Chain of Successive Slip Knots
Put your hand through the loop of the overhand knot that you just made and grab the two strands of cord beneath it.
Pull the two strands through the loop and form another loop.
Put your hand through the loop that you just made. Grab the two strands of cord beneath it, and pull it through the loop to form another loop. Repeat until you get to the end of the cord.
Step 4: Tie Off the End
When you reach the doubled-over end of the cord (top image), you’ll want to pull it through your last loop to form an overhand knot.
Finished Product
Your finished product should look something like this. Just hang it up to store.
Unraveling
To unravel your extension cord, pull out the end to undo the overhand knot you finished with and then just keep pulling. Because you have a chain of successive slip knots, it will all just magically unravel without any tangling.
Doubling Up for Longer Cords
If you have an extension cord that’s 50 feet or longer, I recommend doubling up your cord. Instead of pulling two strands through your loops, you’ll have four. It’s important that you grab and pull through all four strands when making your loops
Finished doubled-up Contractor’s Wrap.
