6 Ways to Reuse Old Cables Around Your House You Never Thought of

Whether you’ve recently rewired an outlet, upgraded a phone or laptop and switched to a new charger, or rendered your current charging cable unusable after bending it one too many times during a late-night scrolling session in bed, ending up with an excess of wires around the house is a pretty common issue.

If you’re staring down a tangled mess of wires in your desk or junk drawer and wondering what to do with those old cables, consider trying one of these creative ideas to give them new life.

Trellises in the Garden

Electronics and gardening may not seem like the most compatible combination, but you’d be surprised: once trimmed down to shorter lengths, old cables can provide useful support for vertical gardens.

Consider using them in the place of traditional plant ties to help encourage flowering vines on trellises, or to gently secure the stems of produce like tomatoes to stakes, or cucumber vines to the supporting structure of your choice.

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Plant Ties

Old cables cut down into plant ties can be used to help indoor plants thrive, too. Plenty of popular houseplants, such as Swiss cheese plants and vine varieties like philodendron, have a tendency to climb and will flourish when they’re able to grow upwards like they would in their natural habitats.

Start by inserting a stake or moss pole into your plant pot’s soil. Then either twist the wires to tie the stem gently in place at various points along a stake, or stick each end into a moss pole for a similar function to a U-shaped plant pin.

In Floral Arrangements

“Most cables have copper or steel wire inside them, and this can come in handy for floral arrangements, whether faux or fresh,” wreath kit company founder Tom Yates says. “By stripping the casing off the cable, you’re left with thin, flexible wires that can be used to tie stems to seasonal wreath frames, secure bouquets or add structure to centerpieces and garlands.”

To access your floral wire, use a pair of wire strippers. Insert your cable into the right-sized notch, then clamp down and pull to cleanly remove the cable’s casing. Most wire strippers also have a cutting function, so you can use the same tool to trim the exposed copper or silver wire down to the length you need.

For Jewelry Making

Once your old cables have been stripped, the wires inside can also be used for more intricate DIY projects outside of your home and garden.

“I’ve even seen people take the wires out of cables and use them for making art or jewelry,” professional organizer Michelle Parravani says. “The possibilities are really endless if you’re imaginative.”

Donate to Local Schools

If you’ve accumulated more electronic clutter than you can realistically repurpose on your own, DIY expert Seymen Usta recommends connecting with your local middle and high schools to see if they’re in need of extra supplies.

“Old cables are reused by some creative workshops and schools to create and work on STEM projects,” Usta says. “The electrical cables can be used in wire work classes, and the thicker cords can go into art classes for sculpture or fabric projects.”

Dispose of Them Appropriately

In addition to containing valuable resources like copper and silver—which you’ll find when using a wire stripper—many cables also contain harmful materials like lead and mercury. They’re considered a form of electrical waste, and much like batteries, it’s important to ensure they’re disposed of properly.

You can get rid of old cables by bringing them to electronic recycling points. Plus, most major tech retailers also have trade-in programs, allowing you to potentially replace your chargers and cables for less.

“Depending on the type of cable, your donation could make you eligible for a discount when you purchase new cables you might need,” Parravani shares.