If you were to pull your desk or your TV cabinet out from the wall, you’d probably find a tangle of cords, cables, wires and plugs.

That tangle isn’t so good for your electronics.

Besides creating a tripping hazard, a mess of electrical cords could lead to a fire if they’re all plugged into the same overloaded power strip.

Here’s how to untangle — for safety’s sake:

1. Unplug everything — your computer, scanner, phone charger, TV, speakers and printer.As you do that, you’ll likely find cords that aren’t attached to anything — maybe they once were. Weed out those unneeded cords.
2. Remove all extension cords. They are not designed for permanent use. And they’re unnecessary if your plug or power strip is close to your devices.
3. Dust the remaining cords, vacuum the floor and wipe down the wall around the outlet.
4. If you have more than one power strip plugged into a single outlet, move the extras to other outlets. You can overload a circuit and tax your electrical supply. If you don’t have enough outlets, call a licensed electrician to add a few more.
5. Invest in a few inexpensive, Velcro cable ties. Bunch your remaining few cords together like a bouquet of flowers and wrap the tie around them. This will keep them neatly together.
6. Drill a hole into the back of your computer table or TV cabinet big enough for all the cords to pass through. That will keep the cords together and off the floor.