How to Store Earbuds

Updated On February 7, 2021
By Harry Singleton

In Guides

Dealing with tangled earphones is tricky, and we’ve all been there. You’re on your commute home, and you pull out your earbuds to listen to your favorite tunes – only they’re all tangled up.

However, there’s a way to put a stop to those impossible earbud tangles. It may seem simple, but learning how to correctly store your devices will help prevent them from turning into one giant knot. It’s a quick solution that can save you a lot of time in the long run!

Whether you’re tired of spending ages untangling your headphones, or simply want some handy storage ideas, our useful guide will help you keep your earbuds safe the right way. With detailed steps on how to store earbuds, managing your cords, and tips on making your own cute earbud case, you’ll have all the information you need!

5 Easy Ways to Store Earbuds and Headphones Safely

If you’re confused on the best way to store your earbuds, here’s 5 handy tips so that you can choose the best way for you!

1. Wrapping Headphones Correctly

Learning to wrap headphones is the most simple idea on our list, and doesn’t require any extra supplies, so anyone can give it a try!

Follow these steps to wrap the cord the right way:

  1. Grab the plug end of your headphones, and hold it between your thumb and forefinger.
  2. Use the plug end to guide the rest of the cord, and wrap it loosely around your other hand. Don’t wrap too tight or you could damage the wires.
  3. When there’s around 5 inches of cord left, stop wrapping. The cord that’s left should be the closest part to your headphones.
  4. Gently slide the looped cords off your hand, and make sure to keep them together.
  5. Pinch the loop of cord together in the middle with your fingers.
  6. Grab your earbuds, and wrap their cords around the middle of the loops, until there’s just 1 inch left.
  7. Separate the loops so there’s a clear hole on one side of the bundle.
  8. Push one earbud through, and wrap it around one side of the hole until you run out of cord.
  9. Repeat with the the second earbud.
  10. Forget about dealing with cord tangles!

2. Linked Binder Clips

Using linked binder clips is another super simple way to store your earbuds. You can find binder clips at most craft stores, or even hanging around the office.

Take one binder clip, and attach it to the edge of a desk or table. Link the silver arms of a second binder clip through the arms of the first, so that the black plastic part sits at an angle.

The arms will hold against each other, you can easily hang your headphones or earbud cords from the black plastic part. When you no longer need to store your earbuds, simply remove the clips from your desk!

3. Empty Sewing Spool

Another great idea is to use an empty sewing spool. They’re small enough to fit in your pocket, and the soft wood or plastic spool won’t damage your earbuds.

Simply thread the plug end through the center of the spool, and then wrap the cord around where the thread would have been.

You can also achieve the same effect with an old credit card. This is a great way to recycle an old item you won’t use anymore! Simply trim the sides of the card so that the two ends are wider than the middle, and then wrap the cord around the center!

4. DIY Container

Making a DIY container for your earbuds is a really fun project, and another great way to recycle something you won’t use anymore.

Most mint tins are small enough to fit in your pocket, and make sturdy storage containers for your earbuds. Make sure your tin is clean and dry, and then decorate the outside however you’d like. Get creative with paint, stickers, and drawings! This way, your earbuds won’t get tangles, and they’ll be protected in your bag, too.

Another fun project is to hand or machine sew a fabric pouch to store your headphones. A soft pouch will gently hold your earbuds together, and won’t cause any damage. You can select whichever fabric you like, so you could even find something waterproof!

5. Bulletin Board

Almost everyone has a bulletin board at home or at work, and it can actually provide a super convenient method for earbud storage.

All you need to do is place one or two thumb tacks in your board, and use them as handy hooks for your headphones. Now, they’ll stay there all day until you need them, and won’t have the opportunity to form any tangles.

This method is only suited to earbuds with cords however, as larger headphones or wireless earbuds may be too heavy.

The Benefits of Safe Storage

It may seem simple, but taking the time to correctly store your earbuds can bring so many benefits, and also form the solution to common earbud issues.

Tangle-free listening

Earphones have become so important to our lives, and almost everyone uses them every day. Whether you want to listen to music on your commute or at the gym, earbuds are an incredibly convenient and versatile piece of technology.

Earphone cords can get in the way sometimes, especially when we’re moving around. However, if your cords have a good amount of length and the freedom to move with you, they won’t cause much of an issue.

Instead, earbuds with lots of tangles will actually restrict you much more, and make it difficult to listen to your favorite tracks as you go through daily life. Even moving your head too sharply can cause tangled earbuds to fall out.

Overall, taking the time to keep your audio devices tangle-free will ensure you have a much more comfortable experience, and stop you worrying about adjusting your earbuds as you move.

Saves Time

De-tangling earbuds may only take a few minutes, but that time adds up. If you want to go on a quick jog before work, you don’t want to waste time tackling giant tangles when you could be enjoying the great outdoors. If you waste a few minutes on your earbuds each day, that time will really add up over the course of your life.

Taking a few seconds to properly wrap, hang, or store your earbuds each day will give you more time for what’s important, and you won’t have to grapple with giant headphone knots every time you want to listen to a podcast. Your storage solutions don’t have to be elaborate, even using an old tape container, clothespins, or Q-Tip pot can be enough to solve your problems.

Decreases Chance of Long-Term Damage

You may not realise it, but every time you allow your earbuds to get tangled, and then spend ages pulling them apart, you actually begin to weaken the delicate wires inside each cord.

Letting loops and knots form in your earbud cord can put a lot of strain on the connections inside, and increase the likelihood of the wires getting tugged and broken as you move around. Tangles can cause the wires to twist and bunch up, and increase your chance of getting a hole in the cord casing.

Taking the time to store your earbuds in the right manner will allow your earbuds the space to move around freely with you, so they won’t become strained or twisted from giant tangles. It’s also a good solution if your buds often fall out of your ears!

FAQs

How to not lose earbuds:

Everyone has lost a great pair of headphones a some point, and it can be really frustrating.

The best method for keeping your tech safe, is to get into the habit of using a case. Whether you buy a case or make your own, it’s important to get one that you enjoy having, so that you’re more likely to use it. You can even get cases that charge your devices for you, which is an excellent extra feature.

Once you’re in the habit, you’ll automatically put your headphones into your case when you’re finished using them. You won’t be tempted to place them in your bag or pocket, where they could easily fall out or get broken.

How do I wrap earbuds?

If you’re wondering how to store earbuds in the quickest manner, our handy guide above tells you how to wrap the cord step by step.

The basic method involves using the cord to make loops around one hand, until there’s just a few inches left. You then remove the cord, making sure to keep the loops together. You pinch the bundle of cord in the middle with your fingers, and wrap the extra cord around it. Make a hole in the loop, and push each earbud through one by one.

This is a great method for keeping your headphones safe without needing to use anything else. You won’t need extra supplies, as the cord itself is enough to keep everything in place!