I Used a Hose Holder for Cord Storage, and It Was So Smart

My garage used to have one glaring problem that seemed impossible to solve: a growing jumble of extension cords. No matter how carefully I coiled them, they somehow ended up in a tangled heap on a shelf, draped over tools or buried behind storage bins. 

Every time I needed one, I had to spend several minutes untangling knots before I could even start my project. Ironically, the solution was hiding in my garage the entire time. Enter: a hose holder.

I recently switched from a regular garden hose with a sprinkler head to a smart irrigation system to reduce my water usage this summer, and it’s been worth every penny. Since I no longer needed my old garden hose setup, I had an empty freestanding hose reel cart (similar to this one) that seemed too useful to throw away. One afternoon, while wrestling with a stubborn knot in a heavy-duty outdoor extension cord, I looked at the empty hose reel and had a realization: A garden hose and an extension cord are both long, flexible, and frustrating when they become tangled. If a reel could keep a 50-foot hose organized, why couldn’t it do the same thing for cords? That simple thought completely transformed the way I store cords in my garage. 

The first cord I wound onto the reel was a 10-foot extension cord I use for outdoor projects — and the difference was immediate. Instead of creating a loose coil and hoping it stayed together, I turned the reel handle and watched the cord wrap neatly around the drum. When I needed the cord, I unwound only the amount I needed. There was no knotting, no twisting, and no pile of cord collapsing on the floor. Soon, every extension cord I owned had a place. 

What surprised me most wasn’t just how tidy everything looked — it was how much easier the cords were to use. Before, I spent time coiling, tying, stacking, untangling, and hiding the extension cord monster, but now, I wind them up and move on to the next task in seconds with ease.

Over the years, I’ve tried nearly every cord storage method available. I’ve used zip ties, wall hooks, and even cord organizers designed specifically for workshops and garages. While each option offered some improvement, none solved the underlying problem. Zip ties keep cords bundled, but you still have to manually coil them every time you put them away (and then redo them completely). Wall hooks are convenient, but cords can easily slide off or become tangled. Dedicated cord organizers can work well, but can be costly and surprisingly bulky. The reel mechanism solves all of these issues. 

In no time, my garage has so much less visual clutter, all by reusing my old hose holder. All of my cords have a place and are easy to find, and, more importantly, use. I’m already thinking about all of the other spots and items around the home that this storage trick would work for (hello, holiday lights!).