An empty flower pot with a drainage hole is the easiest way I've found to hide a charger and its cord without buying anything. Set it over the mess and your counter looks tidy again.
This Flip Takes Ten Seconds and Costs Nothing
Hello Neighbor! My porch had three empty terra cotta pots stacked in the corner all summer, and I was finally getting around to tossing one out.
On my way to the trash with it, I spotted my tangled phone charger sitting out on the kitchen counter, cord and plug just sitting there in plain sight.
I flipped the pot over the charger right then and threaded the cord out through the drainage hole in the bottom. One flip hides the ugly cord and plug for good, and it tidied up my counter in about ten seconds flat.
Be Well,
Anisa
Turn A Spare Flower Pot Into A Hidden Charging Station
How to Do It
Choose a pot large enough to cover the charger or power strip you want to hide, with a drainage hole in the bottom. Plug in the charger where you want it, flip the pot upside down over it, and thread the cord out through the drainage hole. Set your phone beside the pot to charge.
More Ways to Use It
A second pot, right side up, makes a handy catch-all for keys and mail by the door. A larger pot also works well as a wastebasket liner for a home office desk.
Ask the Genius: Will Hiding a Charger Under a Pot Make It Overheat?
"Will hiding my charger under a pot make it overheat?"
No. A ceramic or terra cotta pot has plenty of airflow through the drainage hole, so a charging brick runs fine underneath one. Just avoid pots that seal tightly with no opening.
Did You Know?
Most phone chargers still pull a small trickle of power even when nothing is plugged into them. Unplugging unused chargers, or using a power strip with a switch, can trim your electric bill.
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This edition is part of the Genius House Hacks archive: 20+ years of tips, rebuilt from the original Handy Hints newsletter. Browse more hacks →