TP Roll Organizer Box Instructable

by berserk

89K23538

Intro: TP Roll Organizer Box Instructable

I have used toilet paper (TP) rolls for a while to keep cables wrapped up and organized. During my last organizing spree I realized that they can actually be used to organize boxes of cables and wires quite effectively, too.

STEP 1: Parts

- a cardboard box a little higher than the width of a TP roll (shoe boxes work great, I spray one end with primer so you can read writing what's in them)
- a bunch of TP rolls
- optional tape or glue if you want to secure the rolls together as an assembly

How many TP Rolls do you need? Well, not quite as many as we had collected for crafts for a friend's day care. :-)
The number would depend on
- how many cables/wires/etc do you want to store
- how many rolls would fit nicely into a row or column in your box
- whether you want to tape the rolls into a set assembly, or have them loose in the box so you can take out a cable in its roll.

STEP 2: A Box With Loose Rolls

The box had a sturdy piece of card board just the right length, so I filled half the box with rolls and left the other for some bigger stuff.

STEP 3: A Box With an Assembly of Rolls

Another option is to secure the rolls together with tape or glue. They will stay in place better but you loose the flexibility of removing one roll.
Also an option is the arrangement of the rolls, here it's more like a honeycomb whereas the other was square (I am sure there are more appropriate names for this...).

37 Comments

oragamiunicorn 3 years ago

a heavier duty option would be to use pringle tubes

sassyoldmama 6 years ago

LOVE this idea! I had all my cables jumbled in a box with cable ties around them. It was hard to quickly find the cable I needed. With this simple (and FREE!) solution I was able to have my cables organized so quickly. I just added a plastic tab --the kind that comes on bread-- with name of cable onto each cable, so I could see at a glance which one I needed. For those worried about stability: they should last a good while, so instead of going to all the trouble of covering with contact paper, if one starts to become flimsy--just replace with another roll!! Not like there isn't an endless supply. Although I see they are now making TP without rolls, so maybe we should stock up while we can ;-) Paper towel tubes cut to size also work great. Thanks for great instructable!!

radagenais 11 years ago

No, no no no no. Do NOT wrap cables this way. This is how you destroy cables. Use an over-under wrap and velcro.

berserk 8 years ago

Pls explain over-under wrap, or add link.

jacksonhpeters 11 years ago

Now take a can opener to an empty pop can, and use the lidless cans instead of tp rolls...

berserk 8 years ago

That is an interesting idea. Does the average can opener leave any sharp edges on pop cans? I'd be worried about that...

Pop cans are bigger, which wouldn't work as well for me. If you are concerned the rolls breaking down, I have not had a problem. I access these every few weeks (or months), and at that rate I still use the same rolls 5 years later.

Bobby T 8 years ago

Using this already, ace tip for cables.

davidbarcomb 9 years ago

Simple but very helpful idea. Thanks

RobertGoldring 9 years ago

great idea, my wife's always moaning about all the toilet rolls i leave around, now i have the solution.

Tuna_Hacker_101 10 years ago

This is a useful idea, I'm so making this for all those cords that I have laying around my house. Thank for the post

Kelly02 10 years ago

I always get tangled. Nicely organised.

kiwiinoz 11 years ago

I've been hoarding TP rolls since I saw the photo on Pinterest. I hope you don't mind - I've linked to your instructions in a blog post located here: http://myroundtuitblog.wordpress.com/2012/07/14/toilet-paper-roll-cord-organization/

judihodgkin 12 years ago

You could always cover the tubes with a layer of decorative paper of some description. Using slightly thick paper would also contribute to the sturdiness of the tube. Great idea as I'm sick of hunting through a tangle of spare cables to get the one I want. Thank you.

hotsaucedaily 12 years ago

I love this! As a Hoarder of Boxes, this will help me convince the Wife as to why I should keep those boxes around.

This system could certainly be adopted to all those 5 oz. bottle of hot sauce we have.

justinotheruser 12 years ago

Takes a little bit ot time, but if you put contact paper on the tubes they will last forever.

gatanasov 12 years ago

Hi. Do you close the backs of the TP rolls so that the cables don't drop when you lift them or just leave them with both holes open?

l00p1n 12 years ago

how long will the cardboard last?

berserk 12 years ago

The cardboard is holding up well. I am only accessing this stuff maybe once a month, though.
I have come to prefer the box where the rolls are not taped together because it allows me to take out a cable and keep it wrapped till it arrives where it is going. That means rolls get lost occasionally, but the supply of replacements is pretty unlimited, so that's OK.
If you wanted something sturdier you could consider plastic pipe.
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