An electrical socket comprising: a receptacle having an opening for receiving an electrical plug of an electrical or electronic device, the receptacle having electrical connectors therein for making electrical contact with the plug; a cover for the receptacle ; a hinge coupling the cover to the receptacle so that the cover can pivot toward and away from the opening in the receptacle to allow insertion of the electrical plug into the receptacle ; further comprising a region on the receptacle that is adjacent to the cover when the cover is closed; and further comprising a paired combination comprising a magnet and a magnet attractive element on ones of the cover and the region on the receptacle causing the cover to be attracted to the receptacle by magnetic force when the cover gets to a predetermined distance from the receptacle , thereby causing the cover to be closed on the receptacle opening by magnetic attraction when the plug is not inserted in the receptacle ; wherein the opening in the receptacle is surrounded by said region on the receptacle , said cover having a periphery that seats on the region when the cover is closed on the receptacle , and that the one of the magnet and magnet attractive element on the cover is located inwardly of said periphery to align with the other of said magnet and magnet attractive element disposed in said region on the receptacle when the cover is closed on the receptacle ; characterized in that the receptacle comprises a) a ferromagnetic ring as said region for attracting the magnet that is disposed on the cover, and/or b) a plastic ring as said region surrounding the opening , and wherein the plastic ring includes a recess for receiving a magnet or ferromagnetic insert . a receptacle having an opening for receiving an electrical plug of an electrical or electronic device, the receptacle having electrical connectors therein for making electrical contact with the plug; a cover for the receptacle ; a hinge coupling the cover to the receptacle so that the cover can pivot toward and away from the opening in the receptacle to allow insertion of the electrical plug into the receptacle ; further comprising a region on the receptacle that is adjacent to the cover when the cover is closed; and further comprising a paired combination comprising a magnet and a magnet attractive element on ones of the cover and the region on the receptacle causing the cover to be attracted to the receptacle by magnetic force when the cover gets to a predetermined distance from the receptacle , thereby causing the cover to be closed on the receptacle opening by magnetic attraction when the plug is not inserted in the receptacle ; wherein the opening in the receptacle is surrounded by said region on the receptacle , said cover having a periphery that seats on the region when the cover is closed on the receptacle , and that the one of the magnet and magnet attractive element on the cover is located inwardly of said periphery to align with the other of said magnet and magnet attractive element disposed in said region on the receptacle when the cover is closed on the receptacle ; a) a ferromagnetic ring as said region for attracting the magnet that is disposed on the cover, and/or b) a plastic ring as said region surrounding the opening , and wherein the plastic ring includes a recess for receiving a magnet or ferromagnetic insert . <EOS>