How can I prevent charger cables or earbud wires from fraying?

Loose, gentle coiling prevents the internal wire fatigue that causes fraying. Use the over-under (roadie wrap) method or a simple figure-eight loop instead of wrapping cables tightly around your hand or device. Secure the coil with a Velcro strap or soft twist tie — never cinch it tight.

Strengthen the cable-connector junction — the point that flexes and frays first — with a DIY strain relief. A pen spring wrapped around the base, a short piece of heat-shrink tubing melted snug with a heat gun, or a small mound of Sugru moldable glue shaped into a supportive cone all work well.

Snap-on or spiral cable protectors clip around the cable-connector junction to act as strain relief. Search for "cable protectors" or "cable savers" online or at electronics stores — they come in silicone, plastic, or flexible rubber and fit most Lightning, USB-C, and micro-USB cables.