Stop a Loose Cord From Being a Tripping Hazard With Double-Sided Mounting Tape

The Problem

A cord running loose across the floor — to power something under a couch, along a baseboard, wherever it can't be routed out of the way — is a tripping hazard, and it shifts underfoot every time someone walks near it.

The Technique

1. Get double-sided heavy-duty mounting tape (the foam-backed kind sold for picture hanging and mounting, not thin office tape).
2. Unroll enough to run the length of the cord you're securing, and cut it to length with scissors.
3. Peel the backing and press the tape along the floor where the cord will sit.
4. Lay the cord onto the exposed adhesive and press it down. The tape bonds immediately to both the floor and the cord, holding it flat and in place.

Work on smooth, clean, dry surfaces — painted floors, tile, and similar hard flooring all take the bond well. Full adhesive strength builds over about 24 hours, but the cord is secure well before that.