[jhallenworld]

The value of your hoard is zero if you can't find the item you need, so organization is key.

My recent scheme (I organized during Covid): everything goes in covered Sterilite transparent containers with labels from a brother printer. The containers are cheap, stackable, somewhat waterproof and I find it helps that you can see a bit inside them. There are many sizes to choose from, I tend to use the 6 qt. and 16 qt. sizes the most.

They do crack if you drop them, but this is mitigated by the price.

[massysett]

Oh yes, I have shelves of Sterilite boxes. I keep several empty boxes at all times so I can reorganize and categorize new items. I label all of them with the Brother label maker.

The key is that occasionally I go through and toss obsolete items. Recent casualties: all Micro USB, when the last Micro USB device died. RCA audio patch cables: all the speakers are smart now and don’t hook up to old-school receivers. Nearly all telephone wires. USB chargers less than 5 watts. Miscellaneous video cables, like VGA, DVI, composite video, component video.

[sowbug]

Similar here. A couple big bins for bulky things that are still useful, like my previous router that I sometimes need to unbork the current router during bad firmware updates. Small Sterilite boxes that are well-labeled so that anyone in my house can find things and put them back in the right place if they find a stray geegaw on the coffee table. We also have a lost-and-found bowl on a countertop for things we don't have the time to file immediately.

For me, identifying obsolescence is secondary to deduplication. It seems like USB cables breed if not monitored. Thinning the herd keeps things fitting in the small boxes.

It was all easier once I abandoned my lifelong dream of saving the day with a null-modem cable.

[woobar]

I use two labels. One is code to identify the box (GLS-1 for garage left shelf #1), another label lists some details of the content of the box. And a google sheet with the box Ids and a corresponding list of items. Easy to search, and I don't have to go from room to room checking each box.