We've written about controlling cable clutter on the desktop—but what about controlling the earbud cords that end-users carry around?

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One of the simplest ways to keep the cords from becoming a tangled mess is a simple wrap for the cord, like the Cord Taco from This Is Ground. The end users can create neat bundles by wrapping the cords around their fingers and then using the Cord Taco to keep everything in place.

When Mike Macadaan created the Cord Taco, he feared it might be too simple: a simple leather disk with a metallic snap closure. But many end-users don't have the skill, tools or time to create a product like this for themselves.

The *cordctrl, made from high-grade liquid injection silicone, is another simple answer to the earbud cord control challenge. End-users just wrap the cord around the *cordctrl, locking the cord in place by running it through the notches at either end. This is the same approach used by the Sumajin SmartWrap, which we wrote about previously.

Both of the items listed above are fine for end users who just want an organized way to carry the cords in their pockets, computer bags, etc. But adding a clip to the products, as Dotz did with its Earbud Wrap, gives the end user the option of attaching it to a bag strap, a shirt, etc. Since not all end-users have clothes with pockets, this could be handy. But the clip does add a bit more bulk to the product—there are always trade-offs!

Budwrap, designed by Mark Williams, provides end users with a different way to carry their earbud cords: wrapped around a silicone bracelet. That's going to be too bulky and heavy for some end users, but enough people liked the idea to fund a Kickstarter.

The Wrapster, designed by Matthew Fleming, is yet another way to wrap some earbud cords to keep them untangled—but this one also has a difference. The cords run through two side tubes, and then get wrapped around a central bar. The Wrapster is intended to stay with the buds when they're in use, and seems better suited to that than some other designs I've seen. However, a number of end users complained that the Wrapster, which came out four years ago, didn't fit their newer earbuds. That's a good reminder that compatibility should always be re-tested as products evolve and clearly communicated to end users.

The Recoil Winder, created by David Alden, comes in three sizes; the smallest was designed specifically for Apple headphones and other headphones with a very small microphone (or none at all).

The Kickstarter video for the Recoil Winder shows how easily it works. Most end users won't find it all that hard to wind a cord manually, but this might be easier on the hands for some end users—and it has the fun factor going for it, too.

For end users who are focused on protecting their earbuds from damage, there's the Dotz earbud case. This is a bulkier item than many other earbud cord control tools; Dotz shows it being carried in a laptop case, not a pocket.

For end users carrying other small cords along with their earbud cords, there's the Cordito from This Is Ground—an alternative to carrying each cord in its own Cord Taco or other cord-control tool. The Cordito holds three cords and two plugs.

If the end user is carrying earbuds for an iPod, iPhone or other such player, another alternative is to keep the earbuds with that player. The Philips Jam Jacket with Earphone Management (previously the DLO Jam Jacket, before DLO became a unit of Philips) for the iPhone (3rd generation) and the iPod Touch allowed for just that type of storage. Any cord management case is going to add bulk, but one detailed user review indicates this one adds less bulk than others do. One drawback for some end users: If they chose to use non-Apple earbuds, the case might not fit those third-party buds.

Another such case is the iHeadCase Hardshell from Phwallet, which provides more protection for the earbuds. This one is compatible with most standard in-ear headphones; an extensive compatibility guide is provided.

One more way of keeping the cords untangled is simply to encase them in a sleeve, such as the TuneTube from Relaine. This is one way of making the cords less accessible to cats who enjoy chewing on cords.