SHANGRALA'S
DUCT
TAPE
TO
THE
RESCUE!
As the old saying goes, if you can't fix something with duct tape, you're
simply not using enough of it. We often joked about our grandparents using
duct tape on about everything. However, they were right more often than not.
Here Are Some Of Those Practical 'Right' Uses. Enjoy! :)
Fashion a DIY Lint Roller - You can get rid of lint and pet hair from your
clothes, furniture, and carpet quite easily, even if you don't have a
lint roller at home. Simply stick some duct tape sticky side up on a paint
roller (roll around your hand), et voila - you have a DIY lint roller ready
at your service.
This trick is perfect for cleaning the couch from pet hair, as the paint
roller is much larger than a regular lint roller and will cover a much
larger surface area more quickly.
Image Source,
Make Your Shoes Warmer - Here is a handy trick for those cold months. You
can use duct tape to make your boots warmer. In order to do so, all you
have to do is just wrap a solid layer of duct tape around the insoles of
the shoes (cheap insoles available in supermarkets can be likewise used
to spare the original insoles of your shoes). The plastic surface of the
duct tape will help seal the heat and reflect it to the soles of your feet,
and you will feel much warmer wearing these DIY insoles.
Image Source,
Open a Jar That's Stuck - You can use this trick to open jars and bottles
that are stuck and difficult to open. Simply stick a piece of duct tape on
the lid, leaving a piece loose so that you can pull the jar open. Because
duct tape is so adhesive, it will grip a lot better than a kitchen towel
and make opening the pesky jar much easier. Click on the play button in the
video above to see a step by step guide and demonstration of this technique.
Hide a Spare Key or Other Valuables - With the help of duct tape, you can
hide away valuables, such as keys, credit cards, etc., in the most
inconspicuous places. No more hiding the spare house key under the doormat
- simply stick it to a piece of duct tape like in the image above and
attach the key somewhere unexpected, like under the seat of the patio bench,
for example.
Image Source,
Conceal Unsightly Cables - It's terribly annoying when cables are dangling
freely behind electronic devices, not to mention - dangerous, especially
for pets and small children. To secure the cables and make sure they don't
get pulled on accidentally, you can attach the wires with the help of a
small piece of duct tape to the wall, floor, or even furniture, making them
less visible and dangerous.
Protect Floors From Being Scratched - Hardwood floors are so fragile - any
little scratch can damage the topcoat, which introduces humidity mold and
endangers the integrity of your floors. Of course, you can revarnish them
here and there, but too many coats of varnish and constant refurbishing
aren't good for your floors either, not to mention that it's quite expensive
and troublesome.
So why not learn to prevent your floor from scuffing
instead? Just attach a small piece of duct tape onto the bottom of the
chair's legs and you're done, simple!
Patch Up a Wound Temporarily - This scenario happens way too often: you're
messing around in the shed or garden, using sharp tools, and suddenly, you
get a cut on your hand or arm that starts bleeding. If you don't have a
bandage or band-aid near you, simply reach for the silver roll of duct tape
and seal the wound to stop the bleeding.
Needless to say, this is not a permanent solution, as you do need to clean,
disinfect, and dress the wound properly afterward, but in a pinch, duct tape
to the rescue - gets the job done, too.
Image Source,
Catch Insects - No need to purchase special sticky pads or rolls, or to buy
expensive sprays laden with chemicals to get rid of the pests invading your
home. All you will need is a piece of duct tape and a smidge of peanut butter.
Fold the sides of a small piece of the duct tape so that you can handle it
conveniently, and put a little amount of peanut butter in the middle of the
tape.
Try not to disrupt the sticky surface of the tape, as this is exactly
what will be trapping the bugs. Put these pieces underneath your kitchen
cabinets, near the trashcan, and any other places in your home you see the
pests. After just a few days, you'll find that the bugs have stuck to the
tape and you'll have to throw the tape out and replace it if necessary.
You can also use the tape to trap flies - simply hang strips of tape from the
ceiling and you have DIY flypaper.
Create A Cup - Do you need an extra cup, but all you have available is some
duct tape? Lucky you, as duct tape is just the thing you need to create a
makeshift glass. To make the glass, simply wrap several tightly layered
pieces of duct tape around a can, a glass, or a bottle, remove the vessel,
cover the sticky side of the cup with another layer of tape so that the
surface of the cup isn't sticky, and you're done. Best of all, you can even
put this collapsible cup into your pocket and reuse it when necessary!
Image Source,
Make A Clothesline In A Pinch - One of the simplest and most useful
contraptions you can make using duct tape is a clothesline. This will
come in handy when you're camping, when you're traveling, or whenever
you want. Simply connect the sides of the tape to any two facing walls
(or any two tall objects, really) so that the tape is pulled taut, and
your DIY clothesline is ready for use.
Image Source,
Patch Up A Tent - Duct tape is a happy camper's best friend, as its
multifunctionality comes very handy in a situation where you have to
fit all your gear in a backpack. We already listed a few ways you can
use duct tape while camping, but another way you can make use of the
silver tape is by patching up a leaky tent. You can typically even cover
the areas with small openings with duct tape after setting up the
tent to keep all the insects outside.
Image Source,
Make a Temporary Hem For Pants - Wearing pants that are too long is not
very neat, that's certainly true, but it's also very uncomfortable, as
you can step and even trip on the excessively long pants. Still, actually
getting the pants tailored can be quite costly and can take a while.
Luckily, there's also a quick solution, and it, of course, includes duct
tape. Simply follow these steps:
Turn the pants inside out, put them on to see what you're doing, and roll
them up evenly to the required length. Then, stick a few little pieces of
duct tape on the hem, and you're done. You can machine wash these pants
without worry, and they typically stay taped and hemmed for several months.
Banish Warts - Another neat trick you can do with duct tape is to get rid
of warts. Simply stick a little piece of tape over the area and keep some
on for at least a few weeks, regularly replacing with a fresh piece of
tape. The tape will cut off any oxygen to the wart, and it will simply die
off, and one day, you'll just find that the wart will peel off on its own
as you remove the tape. Many people are convinced this is the best and least
invasive way of getting rid of a wart, as pointed out by the American Academy
of Dermatology.
Source,
Make An Arm Sling In An Emergency - Emergencies happen, and when they do and you
have the knowledge to help someone, it's always a very pleasant feeling. If
someone is suspected to have injured their arm, for example, you can use duct
tape to stabilize the joint in the place of injury by wrapping the tape around
the arm and then creating a makeshift sling. This should be more than enough to
transport the person safely to the emergency unit.
Image Source,
Make Shoes Slip Free - If you find that a pair of shoes you love is way too
slippery, be it due to poor design or wear and tear, this tip is for you.
Simply attach a piece of tape to the sole of the shoe, and this will
instantly give it some extra grip. This will not only make the shoes more
comfortable but also safer, as slippery shoes can be the cause of falls
and leg injuries.
Image Source,
Remove Glue From Surfaces - Have you added a few stickers to your car window
that you're starting to regret, but you still don't want to get rid of them
because of the hideous glue residue they will leave behind? If that speaks
to you, you need some duct tape and some window cleaner. After removing the
sticker as best as you can, apply a piece of duct tape onto the surface with
glue residue, be it wood, glass, or metal, and then pull.
Repeat a few times with a fresh piece of tape every time until little to no
glue residue remains. The duct tape is so sticky that it typically removes
the majority of the glue from surfaces, but to finish the job and give shine
to the surface, wipe it down with a cloth dampened with some window cleaner
as a finishing touch.
Remove A Splinter - The sticky surface of duct tape is so strong it is
actually capable of pulling out even a very deep splinter from your skin
in a matter of minutes. The procedure is as follows: first, clean and
disinfect the area, then apply a piece of duct tape and wait for half an
hour. After 30 minutes, pull on the tape, and as you do, the splinter
will probably be pulled out in an instant. You will be able to see the
splinter on the duct tape when you're done.
Image Source,
Protect Feet From Blisters - Who knew duct tape has so many medical uses?
One more way you can use it is to prevent and treat a blister. Simply cover
the area of concern with a few layers of duct tape before putting on your
socks and shoes, and you'll be good to go, as the tape will stop your skin
from rubbing against the shoe and will prevent any blisters.
If you already have a fresh blister, however, you can use the tape instead
of a band-aid as well, but keep in mind that this is a short term solution,
as your skin is unable to breathe under the duct tape, and it may slow down
the healing process if you're not careful and keep the tape on for too long.
Image Source,
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SEE ALSO: Airplane Repair 101!
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