I've been storing my extension cords wrong for years and a buddy in Phoenix just called me out on it.

Willow Ward · 2026-04-08T11:25:04.880492+00:00

He saw my tangled mess and said 'you're killing the cord life by coiling them tight like that.' Now I'm wondering, is loose looping really that much better or is he just being picky?

max_ross6mo ago

My garage looks the same, honestly.

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grace_allen6mo ago

Remember thinking my buddy was just too careful about his tools until I saw the cracks in my own cords. He showed me how tight coils put a hard bend in the same spot every time, and that's what really breaks down the plastic inside. It made sense once I saw it. I started using loose loops over my hand and elbow, and my old cords actually feel more flexible now. @max_ross, my garage was a rat's nest too, but this simple change cleared up a lot of that mess. Your friend in Phoenix is giving you good advice.

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miles726mo ago

Grace is right about the hard bend, but it goes deeper than just the plastic. Those tight kinks put constant stress on the copper wires inside too. Over time, the metal itself gets work-hardened and brittle from being bent in the same spot, which can lead to a break you can't even see from the outside. Loose loops spread the bend out over a longer section of the cord, so no single point takes all the abuse. Your buddy isn't being picky, he's saving you from a dead cord and a potential short.

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