Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Tool Time Tuesday...A Plug Rug

Ok, this may be a crazy Tool Time, but it really helps me out...so there must be some one else out there who feels the same way.

Here's my gripe...when you try to plug something in, every single time, the plug is upside down. I know, crazy, trivial, not the most important thing in the world, but it's the little things in life, right?

So hear me out. Lol !!
  • My phone charger is on the side of my bed. The last thing I do is check my email. It's dark and the only light is the shine from my phone. To charge it, I grab the plug and of course it doesn't fit in the phone...it's upside down.
  • vacuuming and the plug for that room is behind the table. Reaching, reaching and finally hit the plug, but oh you guessed it...upside down. Seriously?
  • reaching on the side or back of the computer to put in the usb plug...yep upside down
  • many many more in this trivial pet peeve, but here is my solution!!

A Velcro Plug Rug (good name huh?)...sounds like one of those "As Seen on TV" ads.

It's a "tactile" way of feeling that the plug should be in the up position. A little "rug" for your "plug" !!



I use it for my computer and iphone chargers, because they don't generate heat. Not sure how this would work on things with electrical plugs.

Although, the vacuum one is good for me because it's not plugged in permanently...only for short periods of time.


I know most plugs have the logo on it for the "up" position, but not helpful in the dim light.


I use Velcro with the sticky backing.


I cut the squares with the furry part into four pieces.


and just stick it on both ends.


Looks like a duck with a toupee...






Please tell me I'm not the only crazy out there that this will help.

Have a great Tuesday,
~Karen~

52 comments:

  1. I think this is a terrific idea, Karen!

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  2. I feel the same way! I have marked almost everything that has a right way up with a dot of red nail polish! Even on my sewing machine! Saves alot of time and frustration!

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  3. What an excellent idea. I am always peering at the plug and the hole for my phone and the camera and even the sewing machine because I unplug it when I leave the room. A tactile thing is great. Thanks.

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  5. As I lie here in bed reading blogs, ready to charge my phone in the dark....i need a plug rug too. Thanks you're brillant.

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  6. Oh my goodness, I was just thinking the same thing not 15 mins ago! Everytime I plug my toaster in, the plug is inevitably always upside down. I was wondering why couldn't all the sockets be the same! This an ingenious idea, once again.. Thanks

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  7. Yup, upside down EVERY SINGLE TIME!!! I am going to dig out my velcro first thing tomorrow. Now I'm heading to bed and you can be sure that dang phone charger plug will be upside down.

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  8. Not crazy! LOL. This is a fabulous idea, I am off to look for myvelcro pieces!

    glen

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  9. This is a great idea, I'm always having trouble getting my thumb drive or camera cord to go in the plug and it is always because I have it the wrong way around!

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  10. Have a good chuckle reading this.....and here I was thinking I was the only mad one out there!! Good thinking.

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  11. Oh my gosh !!! I love you .. I get so tired of dealing with that! Thank you.

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  12. Simple yet brilliant! Plugging in my phone every night causes me total frustration and then i yell out loud! Thanks Karen : )

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  13. love it, but I'll be really impressed when you find a tool that helps keep the charging cable from disappearing. LOL
    Cheryl

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  14. This is a great idea! I have similar complaints with my make-up mirror, blow dryer, curling iron and straightener. For those plugs, that are easy to see, I put a LARGE drop of nail polish on the top side of the plug. Works like a charm!

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  15. What a FUN idea....I might have to use this for my phone charger as I usually get it wrong and have to turn the plug around. :)

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  16. Wonderful idea! I'm going to take it a step further and attach the hooky side of the velcro to the back of my night stand because I am constantly drop my charger down behind the bed when reaching for it!!

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  17. LOVE the idea of the Velcro strip! For my phone charger in the car, I put a stripe of white correction tape, as the cord is black. This shows up better in the dark than the red nail polish I use sometimes for house plugs. You can also use the Liquid White Out...just be patient for it to dry.
    ~ Michelle in Mass.

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  18. Absolutely love it! I have to use a dark corner as that's the only socket that is easy to get to & I always have to give it a couple of tries!

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  19. I think it is a crazy idea, but genius crazy not stark raving mad crazy! Not getting the plug in right is so frustrating. I might try it but with a dab of hot glue or other texture.

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  20. This is a cool idea, I'm pinning you! ;)

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  21. I think it is an ingenious idea, whose time was WAY over due!! thank you -- I will use it. I too have that same problem.

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  22. Atthe start of the blog I was thinking this was going to be sooooo lame....
    I was wrong!!!
    Great Idea!!!

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  23. Love it! This annoyance may be minor but it sure is ANNOYING. As you get older, it's increasing difficult to see which side is meant to be up even in daylight.

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  24. Great idea, Karen! I need to do this.

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  25. I love the description - a duck with a tongue!!!

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  26. Brilliant! So simple, yet lifechangning. I'm so glad I found your blog and started reading. Usually doesn't comment, but with this great idea I just couldn't resist. ;-)

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  27. Definitely not alone! I was lamenting yesterday about stupid plugs and how I ALWAYS seem to plug them in upside down.
    This is a great idea. I have marked some things before, but I love your tactile version. Brilliant!

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  28. If it prevents that strain on your neck and shoulder when you are trying to STRETCH to reach that plug and it won't go in (because you have it upside down) .... this is a great idea. They have printed markings, but you can't see them in the dark.

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  29. You're not the only one and I love this tactile solution because I'm in the same boat with low-light situations. Sometimes I honestly think the things are engineered to always come up backwards when you grab them - kind of like the toast always-lands-face-down-when-you- drop-it sort of phenomena. Thanks for a simple solution to an annoyance. :)

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  30. You are not crazy, this happens to me every time! Love your idea! And I didn't even know about the plugs that are marked!

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  31. Now I know I am not the only one who has lamented this situation. Your little fix is rather ingenious!

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  32. Brilliant!! I completely agree! EVERY time I plug in my iphone or ipad, it's upside! I finally managed to clip the cord to the printer to the table in a way that I can insert it to my laptop the correct way. But before that...it was always upside! You are not alone my friend! I guess I need to get some velcro "rugs"!
    Thanks for sharing!
    ~Lacey
    www.stampandcreate.com
    www.handstampedbylacey.typepad.com

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  33. Well if you asked me, I feel its a great idea. Looks like we are all in the same 'boat'. THANKS

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  34. i have the same problem, so no i dont think this is a weird idea!i will be getting some velcro tabs next time im out
    thanks

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  35. You're so creative! And yes, i've same trouble always. it's like a murphy's law, isn't it? :P

    I'm surprised that I visit your blog now as soon as I recover from the surgery. I'm a big fan of you!

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  36. Wow this is awesome, we need more people like you!

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  37. Great idea! We've used paint markers, but as you say - not so good in dim light.

    As far as using on electrical cords, I'd say that if the plug gets hot enough for the adhesive, you may have bigger things to worry about. Like overheating wiring causing a fire.

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  38. Karen...seriously, a great great idea!!!

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  39. Now here I thought you were going to tell me that I could run a strip of velcro to hold all these USB peripherals so they can hang neatly instead of cluttered all over my desk when I need the one for the camera or what-have-you. Personally I like both ideas.

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  40. Great idea! I'm thinking you could use a bedazzle type sticker too.

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  41. What a wonderful idea for a very annoying problem. I will be cutting velcro tomorow.

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  42. You are definitely not crazy! This happens to me all the time and it drives me crazy too. This is a great solution I am going to have to try it out!

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  43. Awesome idea!! I can't wait to use it.

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  44. I feel your pain. An easy solution for me was to just scratch the top plastic of all my plugs. I do not have to even look at it. I just feel the scratch and know that side goes up.

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  45. That is freaking amazing !!! I also label my plugs. Helps lots to identify them and not to unplug the radio when my toasts are burning !

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    I found some interesting things and I will apply to the development of my blog.

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