The Common Mistake To Avoid When Trying To Hide Your Extension Cord

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In so many cases, extension cords are absolutely crucial to have on hand, especially in homes where wall outlets are few and far between and your appliances can't quite reach. However, as helpful as they are, you also have to be careful — all it takes is one simple extension cord mistake to cause a fire in your home. While there are a handful of cord-related blunders you could make, hiding your extension cord under a rug is one of the most common.

In many ways, stuffing your extension cord under a rug makes sense; it's a simple way to conceal the wire and it prevents you from getting tripped up. Unfortunately, it is also a major fire hazard due to the friction and insulation the rug above can create. In addition to these risks, extension cords will also suffer more wear and tear under the rug as people and pets walk on top of them day in and day out. Any heavy furniture that consistently puts weight on and digs into the cord could make it wear out even quicker. There's also a chance that you might suffer an electric shock if you accidentally make contact with a damaged cord. So, as much as you'd like to get rid of those annoying wires by hiding them under the carpet, it's just not safe.

When you hide extension cords under rugs, the main issue is that the rug traps tons of heat, which, over time, can wear down and melt the cord's insulation. General wear and tear from walking over the cord or placing furniture on top of it may also damage it. This affects the cord's ability to stop itself from overloading and overheating, potentially leading to short circuits or a fire in your home. And if a fire does ignite here, your rug might only help fuel it faster, especially if it is made of more flammable natural fibers like cotton or wool.

So, if hiding them under the rug is out, what do you do when you want to make appliance cords less of an eyesore? Well, there are a few options. If your cord is long enough, running it along your baseboards with cable clips is a great way to keep it out of your way. These TidyHelper Adhesive Cable Clips are self-adhesive and come in a range of sizes to accommodate different types of power cables and cords. If you don't have enough slack in your extension cord to run it around the perimeter of a room, you could use rubber or PVC cable protectors instead. This D-Line Floor Cord Cover, for instance, can be cut to size and helps keep your cord flat on the ground to avoid tripping over it.