My BFF Megan has a fantastic little blog where she writes about all things health and fitness related (she’s a certified personal trainer, she recently made me a customized strength training routine!). A few weeks ago she wrote about a product called Applecore, and I loved the idea so much I did something a little unorthodox. I went on the Applecore website and wrote them a post talking about my blog, my audience, and my statistics, and begged them to let me review their product in exchange for a post. I don’t do sponsored-style product review posts very often because I usually find them to be very fake and gross. I only want to write about something if I really am using it in my everyday life (and be honest about whether I like it), not leave you feeling like I sold out for a roll of toilet paper or something.
Based on what Megan said, I was 99% sure that I would like the Applecore cord organizers, but I don’t think I guessed how much we would *LOVE* them. As in, they came right before I left for Dallas a few weekends ago, and while I was gone TH called me asking for the website address because he wanted to order more. They were invented by Robin, who went on a business trip and took this picture of his messy cord-filled hotel desk, sparking a journey to invent a small and simple product that would keep his cords under control. We are an electronics loving family, and so cord issues abound for us as well.
You can learn more about the product (if you click on gallery you can see pictures of the design process which I thought was really cool!) from the Applecore site. Here are a few pictures from around my place so you can see how we’ve integrated them into different rooms around the apartment!
This is my USB docking station that sits on top of my desktop tower, and before I had the Applecores the cords were spilling out all over the place. Now they are the perfect length to plug my iPhone and Bodybugg in without the excess creating a lot of clutter.
Behind the tower we’ve started winding up all sorts of cords, but it’s going to be a long journey before I show you a more complete picture of what it looks like back there. Between my desktop monitor and tower, laptop, speakers, network cables, mouse, keyboard, printer, and other miscellaneous things there are a LOT of cords back there. It’s nice to see a little bit of progress already.
I think this is the best use of the product for us. We keep our blowdryer and brushes in a glass container from Ikea next to the sink. Now that we have a walking baby, I used to have to be constantly vigilant when he was in the bathroom with me because he loved to reach up and pull on the blowdryer cord.
Now it not only looks much neater, but little T1 is safe from harm. And we actually don’t even have to unwind it every time we use it, the cord is plenty long as is.
I had a few left and I probably should have used them in the mess behind my computer, but I couldn’t resist tackling the mess in the kitchen. I have an old speaker set up next to the oven so I can listen to podcasts like THis American Life while cooking, with an extension cord back these so I can plug in my phone if it’s about to die. It was a mess!
I need some bigger sizes to really do the job right (haha, look at that too small one in the back being devoured by that extension cord!) but this is so much better! I no longer have to do a bunch of stuffing and patting down to keep the cords behind the speaker in order.
One little note, if you have a baby, definitely be aware that the smallest size could be a choking hazard. We don’t use any of these in areas where T1 could get to so we’re safe, but I’d hate for someone to have a scary experience with their baby because I didn’t mention it.
Fun little side note: Why are they called Applecore? Because they’re shaped like an apple after you’re done eating it! Also I think a lot of Apple product users will want to pick them up to keep iPhone/iPad/iMac cords under control.
You can buy them online here, and become a fan of them on Facebook here. This graphic on their Facebook wall really made me laugh. I like that they have a sense of humor!
Use the code “thatwifeblog” to get 10% off your entire purchase. I’m using that code too!
Disclaimer: I asked Applecore to mail me some free samples in exchange for a review post. Thanks guys!
March 15th, 2011 on 9:21 am
Interesting! I’m always looking for a way to clean up the cord mess! How do the cords stay wound so tight? I feel like they would unravel…
Reply
Jenna Reply:
March 15th, 2011 at 9:28 am
There are slits in the top and bottom that you pull the cord into to hold it tight.
Reply
March 15th, 2011 on 9:41 am
I’m assuming they are pretty easy to use, but are they easy enough for stuff you use every day (like a hair dryer or curling iron) to unroll and roll up again?
Love these though, definitely going to snag some up! Thanks for the review!
Reply
March 15th, 2011 on 9:53 am
Wow…those look great! Thanks for the review! I may need to invest in some of those!
P.S - We have the same hair dryer and the cord is so long!
Reply
March 15th, 2011 on 10:06 am
That’s pretty neat and not pricey either.
Do you feel it would work for a computer’s charger or would that be too big of a cord?
I might look into this. Thanks.
Reply
March 15th, 2011 on 10:45 am
Wow this is pretty cool. I will have to see what my husband thinks. I would love to clean up the cords on the desk but that is his domain!
Reply
March 15th, 2011 on 11:19 am
you know…usually I skim over product reviews-unless I have actively sought out said product…but this was great…because who DOESN’T have too many cords in our plugged-in lives?
Also, thanks for your honesty.
Reply
March 15th, 2011 on 11:21 am
I am SO ridiculously proud of you! You need to do more reviews like this. There are A LOT of products that you love that I’ve gone on to buy (this will be an example, along with the sink-tub for T1, boppy, etc.) and you NEED to start contacting companies and getting compensated for the reviews you essentially do for free. SO SO glad to see that you are finally taking advantage of the perks of your job and I hope to see more of these in the future. And thanks for introducing the applecores - they’d be perfect for us too. (Maybe you could request some camera equipment to test out?!)
Reply
Jenna Reply:
March 15th, 2011 at 12:55 pm
This comment is a nice contrast to the one telling me I was “selling my soul” by writing this. (which I promptly marked as spam
)
Reply
Sophia Reply:
March 15th, 2011 at 2:31 pm
I truly don’t get why people think that bloggers should work for free. What weird, selfish thoughts must they have…I’m imagining it thus..
“That Wife Jenna, I expect you to come up with daily, interesting, well researched and well written blogs that feature beautifully photographed and edited images, I expect you to be present in comments, and generally entertain mememememememe. Oh, and I want you to do all that for free, while you take care of being a wife/mother/daughter/sister/full time homemaker and photographer”.
Um…
Girltown needs to realize she is not your child and you do not live to entertain her for free
You should just say “oh, I’m sorry, I don’t remember you sliding on out after T1 in my apartment… funny that I could forget such a needy, demanding adult child…” lol.
Reply
Sophia Reply:
March 15th, 2011 at 2:31 pm
Totally agree Erin!!
Reply
March 15th, 2011 on 12:19 pm
I have a few of these and I love them! I use a small one for a pair of headphones I keep in my computer bag. I love all the different uses you found for them … no kiddos in our home yet, but I’ll definitely keep these in mind for the future.
Reply
March 15th, 2011 on 2:21 pm
The other day I was searching for something to wrap my headphone cord around because it is seriously longer than I am tall. These are perfect and very timely for me.
Reply
March 15th, 2011 on 2:40 pm
I have been looking for a cord solution for a long time, but my search has suffered by not actually ever doing any sort of actual research to find a solution! Thanks for doing that work for me.
I just placed an order for three small ones to try out. I hope they will help keep track of my frustratingly easily tangled earbuds and some USB charger cords!
Thanks!
Reply
March 15th, 2011 on 3:15 pm
I just found these at a battery store over the weekend and bought some for my head phones. Love them SO much already! Thanks for the coupon code, so I can feel a little better about buying a bunch more
Reply
March 15th, 2011 on 6:34 pm
What a great idea - I had never heard of them before!
Reply
March 15th, 2011 on 7:17 pm
This product looks great! We could definitely use one in our home. Now to sell hubby on the idea that it is worth his time to reorganize all of his wires. . .
Reply
March 15th, 2011 on 7:24 pm
I was just complaining to the hband about my tangled up headphones today! Perfect!
Reply
March 15th, 2011 on 7:43 pm
This is a much better solution than my current scotch tape debacle!
Reply
March 15th, 2011 on 10:52 pm
Thanks for the shout out my darling. I like the big ones the best too. It’s as smart little invention. That is for dang sure! I’m glad you got to try them for FREE!!
Reply
March 16th, 2011 on 8:03 am
I cannot stand messy cords all over the place. They drive me crazy. This is the perfect solution!
Reply
March 17th, 2011 on 3:07 am
I love this! We have such a cord issue in our home…it make me nuts. I think these look so cool and I am going to buy some. Thanks for posting….I feel dorky that I am so excited about a “cord holder”! haha
Reply
March 17th, 2011 on 6:31 pm
wow I love those. What a great idea. I don’t have a lot of cords hanging around other then my ipod headphones but i will definitely put them on a bday list. lol
Reply
March 19th, 2011 on 4:38 am
Kind of random - but did you know that we all spend a lot of money a year on keeping things plugged in when they aren’t in use???
My family has gotten into the habit of unplugging everything when it’s not in use… (I just thought of this because I saw your hair dryer plugged in)
Reply
April 17th, 2011 on 8:06 pm
[...] DIY solution from ThatWifeBlog.com using an AppleCore ($1.99-$4.99) and an IKEA [...]