Give each known cable a specific job
Start with the devices currently in use. Pair a cable with its actual device or purpose and label it in words the household recognizes. “Desk monitor cable” will survive a drawer reorganization better than “long black one.” Keep cables needed for borrowed or rarely used equipment with a note explaining that purpose.
Check the reason an unknown cable is being kept
If a cable's purpose is unknown, keep it separate while you identify it. Do not assume a familiar connector makes a charger suitable for a device. Check the manufacturer's requirements before using or replacing equipment, and use the appropriate local route for electronic waste.
Set aside unidentified items until the household can match them to a real device or documented requirement. Similar-looking connectors do not prove that a charger meets a device's power or compatibility requirements. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for the specific device and charger instead of experimenting based on appearance alone.
Make spares searchable without a large inventory
Store confirmed spares in labeled groups and keep any important adapter or paired component together. Before buying another, check the group against the actual requirement. If a cable belongs with equipment you no longer own, find the appropriate local disposal or reuse route rather than putting it back into the unknown pile.