The Way You Wrap Your Vacuum Cord Matters. Here's Why — Plus The Right Way To Do It

The vacuum cleaner is a household staple. Depending on the size and overall foot traffic of your home, you might even have two or three different vacuums, each for a specific purpose. While you might have gotten the most popular vacuum brand at the time, if it is a corded vacuum, proper cord management will significantly affect its lifespan and ease of use.

One of the common mistakes you're making that is slowly killing your vacuum cleaner is not wrapping your vacuum cord the right way. While it's easy to gather it up and plop it around the hooks or tie it in a bundle, this creates internal twists that can cause the cord to permanently kink and eventually fail. The hooks on the side of the vacuum aren't just for decoration — they are there to provide a consistent, loose storage method that helps maintain the cord's original shape. So, since the way you wrap the vacuum cord matters, what is the best way?

While some people tend to use the over-over method to wrap the vacuum cord, it's actually the over-under or the figure-eight methods that work the best. These methods cancel out the natural twisting that occurs with each loop, putting less stress and tension on the cord overall. In turn, this prevents the internal wires from breaking and extends the life of your vacuum cord. In addition, they allow for a frustration-free uncoiling, since with both methods, the cords uncoil cleanly. Regardless of the method, always wrap from the vacuum to the plug, and not the other way, to avoid twisting the cord at its base, which can lead to stress and damage where it connects to the machine.

To avoid a mistake when storing your vacuum cleaner, don't immediately go for the "over-over" method that comes naturally. You'll instead want to use the over-under method, where you alternate the direction of each coil. To do this, you'll start by wrapping the cord over your hand in a clockwise fashion. For the second loop, flip your wrist and twist the cord under your hand, allowing it to coil in the opposite direction with a counter-clockwise twist. You'll want to repeat this alternating over/under motion — this allows the twisting motion of the "over" loop to be canceled out by the "under" loop, resulting in a relaxed coil that will unspool easily without tangles. This YouTube video by Audio University provides a clear visual demonstration.

You're probably used to wrapping the cord around both cord hooks in a tight, simple oval. This introduces a twist into the cord with every loop, and ultimately makes your cord stiff and tangled. Instead, try the figure-eight method by starting with the cord lying straight on the floor. You'll take the part of the cord attached to the vacuum and wrap it around the left side of the top hook, moving clockwise. Next, pull it down and loop it around the left side of the bottom hook, moving counter-clockwise. Repeat this pattern, always hooking around the same side of each hook. The result will be a smooth, untwisted figure-eight pattern that will unspool easily. Just like the over-under method, this helps to neutralize any twists in the cord, which tend to happen with the oval wrap.