Use the over-under method.

Yes, the over-under method (also called the electrician’s wrap or basket weave) is the standard for a reason.

When you wrap a cord the usual way—looping it over your elbow like rope—you’re twisting the conductors inside every time. That creates kinks and stress points that eventually snap the wires. The over-under technique alternates the twist direction so the cord lies naturally, with no torque.

It’s not hard: make a loop, twist your wrist one way, make another loop, twist the other way. Watch a quick video if you need to. Once you get it, you’ll never go back to the tangle-and-kink approach. And please don’t just shove it in a bucket—that’s where internal damage hides until the cord fails at the worst possible moment.

It takes ten seconds and saves you from buying a new cord.