24 Smart Duct Tape Tricks That Actually Solve Everyday Problems
Like the force: it has a dark side, a light side, and holds the universe together.
1. Hem your pants.
Not a permanent (or washable) solution, but it'll get you through a wear or two! Learn how to do it here.
2. Open stuck jars.
There's a specific way to lay down the tape — learn how here.
3. Repair torn toys.
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Put the doll's clothes back on and it's basically not noticeable.
4. Unscrew a stuck light bulb.
No need to break the bulb — learn how to do it here.
5. And change a recessed bulb you can't get your fingers around.
Leverage! Learn how to do it here.
6. Fold your shirts.
Learn how here.
7. Save your place.
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Am I the only one who can never find a bookmark when I actually need one?
8. Make sandpaper last longer.
Especially helpful for round surfaces. From here.
9. Remove mysterious sticky residues from glass or other smooth surfaces.
Dab the sticky side of the tape on the residue, several times, until you need new tape or the residue is gone. From here — and if you're trying this on a painted surface, test in an inconspicuous area first.
10. Save your screws when you disassemble furniture to move.
Firmly tape a plastic bag with everything from that piece of furniture *to* an inside surface on that piece of furniture (and somewhere it won't get torn).
11. Trap a bunch of swarming ants.
It won't keep them from coming back or break their scent trail, but it will get rid of a bunch swarming over your floor or cabinets. From here.
12. Temporarily hold your shoes together.
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Definitely either replace or actually repair them when you can, though.
13. Remove gum stains from fabric.
Seal a piece of tape over the stain, then remove it, and repeat, until the gum's all gone. Now to figure out how the gum stain got there in the first place... From here.
14. Easily label buckets and bins.
From here.
16. Pull out a shallow splinter.
Farmer's Almanac says it works. From here.
17. Hold your cash and change.
Learn how to make a duct tape wallet here.
18. And your pens and pencils.
Learn how to make these here.
19. Keep your tie in check.
20. Get rid of your warts.
Placebo, as some in this r/AskScience thread suggest? Something about your immune system? According to the American Academy of Dermatology (where you can also find directions for trying it out), doctors don't really know, but it works for some people.
21. Protect your books and textbooks.
They'll be somewhat water-resistant, too (on the parts covered with tape). Learn how to make this removable cover here; to make your tape roll go a little further, you could make a cover out of paper, then put the tape all over that.
22. Hold a loose car headlight in place.
Until you actually get it fixed, of course. Learn how to do it here.
23. Stop your clothes from chafing during long runs.
24. Fix a leaky hose.
From here.
What other everyday problems have you solved with duct tape??? Let us know in the comments!
