Wikipedia defines duct tape as a: “cloth- or scrim-backed pressure-sensitive tape – typically coated with polyethylene.”
Any means you outline it, duct tape is a reasonably superb invention. In truth, duct tape is so superb that its used on almost each NASA mission. Nevertheless, you don’t should be a NASA rocket scientist to know that having one thing helpful like duct tape round the home may help you lower your expenses. Listed below are twenty cash saving duct tape makes use of.
1. Conceal Secret Automotive Keys
Simply tape a replica of your automobile key to the underside of your automobile with duct tape. So long as you get a great seal with the tape, you’ll by no means get locked out of your automobile once more. No want for a key magnet field. Whole financial savings $4-6.
2. Make Flypaper
No must spring for flypaper, simply go forward and fix just a few foot lengthy strips of duct tape to the rafters or ceiling of the place you might be staying. The stickyness on the tape will act like flypaper and also you’ll be rid of the bugs very quickly flat. It’s also possible to simply roll up the tape and toss it in trash when you’re carried out. No must for messy clear up. Whole financial savings: $5 – $8.
3. Change Bathe Curtain Grommets
Low-cost bathe curtains are inclined to tearing, particularly on the eyelet the place bathe curtain hooks connect to the curtain. As a substitute of getting a brand new curtain or coping with costly restore youngsters, simply make repairs together with your duct tape. As soon as the curtain is dry, lower an oblong piece of duct tape and fold it entrance to again over the torn gap. Lower a gap within the tape with a razor blade or scissors and push the ring again in place. Your curtain ought to work simply wonderful. Don’t purchase bathe curtain saver – whole financial savings: $6 – $7.
4. Restore A Vacuum Hose
Hoses on vacuum cleaners will be susceptible to fatigue and cracking. If the hose has developed a leak the suction within the cleaner will be much less efficient. Wrap a little bit of tape across the rip or crack. Your hose ought to final till the remainder of the vacuum {hardware} provides out. Don’t get a brand new hose. Whole financial savings: $25.
5. Take away Clothes Lint & Pet Hair
When you’re getting prepped to go to a gathering or out for the night and also you see pet hairs or lint in your clothes, simply lower a little bit of tape and wrap it round your hand sticky facet out. Roll the faucet towards your clothes with the rocking movement till you’ve obtained all of the hair or lint. Don’t wipe your clothes, that would influence the material. No want for a lint curler. Whole financial savings: $5.
6. Make Youngsters’s Toys
There are a selection of kids’s toys which you could make utilizing duct tape. One favourite is a toy sword for these junior pirates you’ve obtained round the home. Simply sketch a child sized sword on a chunk of cardboard. Use two items in case you don’t have one which’s thick sufficient. Ensure the sword dimension is sufficiently small in order that your little one’s hand can match comfy round it as soon as it jhas been elevated in thickness by a number of layers of tape. Then lower out the sword and wrap up the blade space a layer or two of silver duct tape. Wrap the deal with in black tape.
It’s also possible to make armor, helmets or different enjoyable costumes this fashion. Alongside these strains a favourite is a tin man costume made out of cardboard & duct tape for Halloween.
Don’t purchase costly youngsters play swords or costumes. Whole financial savings: $5 – $50.
7. Restore Plastic Trash Cans
Plastic trash cans typically cut up or crack alongside joints. As a substitute of tossing out the can with the remainder of the trash, restore the crack with duct tape. Sometimes duct tape is robust sufficient to face up to the abuse that plastic trash cans can take. When you apply it rigorously, the tape also needs to don’t have any issues adhering to curved or ridged surfaces. Put tape over each the within and the surface of the can. Don’t purchase a brand new trash can, as a substitute restore the previous one! Whole financial savings: $5 – $200.
8. Shield Flooring From Scuffing
To maintain the legs of your furnishings from scratching the flooring, put some tape on the underside of every legs. This may assist your flooring from getting marred. That is particularly necessary you probably have comfortable hardwood flooring and heavy metallic furnishings, resembling a restaurant desk. Don’t purchase particular scratch pads. Whole financial savings: $2 – $14.
9. Shield Gasoline Hoses
Of all of the duct tape makes use of on the market, avid grillers know that typically mice and different animals can chew on rubber. One goal of these pesky creatures is the rubber hose which connects the fuel grill to the propane tank. You may shield this hose by wrapping it in duct tape. Stop your self from needing to purchase a brand new connecting hose. Whole financial savings: $13 – $56.
10. Repair Unfastened Battery Compartment Covers
Doesn’t it simply drive you up a wall when you’ve a distant management the place the again panel masking the battery compartment appears to maintain coming off? Simply put a bit strip of duct tape on there to maintain it from coming off and also you’re set. No want to purchase a brand new distant. Whole financial savings: $3 – $50.
11. Create Present Tags
As a substitute of heading out to the shop to buy tags on your presents, simply seize a little bit of duct tape and make the tags your self. Duct tape is nice at holding ink, so simply use a sharpie to mark who the reward is for and who it’s from. Whole financial savings: $3 – $20.
12. Make A Bookmark
This concept is for you readers/collectors on the market. If you’re studying a favourite e book and don’t wish to trouble with getting a flowery bookmark, simply seize a chunk of duct tape, and fold it in half sticky facet in. Viola, you’ve obtained a helpful e book mark. Don’t trouble with fancy monogrammed paper or jazzy plastic clips. Whole financial savings: $3 – $34.
13. Restore Seams of Ski Gloves
It is a fairly generally mentioned use for duct tape. When your ski gloves put on out, and so they usually do at seams, put some tape over the tear in order that it doesn’t worsen. This could delay the lifetime of the gloves. It’s also possible to use coloured tape to match the colour of the glove so the restore doesn’t look low hire. Don’t purchase new gloves. Whole financial savings: $13 – $110.
14. Use Tape To Seal Cracks In Duct Work
When you personal a house, examine your ducts and tape off any open seams. A whole lot of warmth finally ends up wasted in basements or crawl areas the place it’s not wanted. Don’t pay for the waste. As a substitute, make certain your ducts are sealed tightly. Whole financial savings: 2-5% off your month-to-month vitality payments.
15. Restore Tail or Headlights
Automotive components retail at an especially excessive mark up over producer’s value. If have a state of affairs the place the glass in a headlight or tail gentle turns into separate from the sunshine meeting, merely run some tape across the prime fringe of the meeting with most of it beneath the hood edge, it ought to repair the issue simply wonderful. Don’t get a brand new gentle. Whole financial savings: $128.
16. Restore Bicycle Tires
Some riders, resembling aggressive mountain bikers will be extraordinarily laborious on their bike tires. Internal tubes are probably to provide out or tires can get ripped or torn. Don’t get a tire restore package. As a substitute, restore the injury utilizing some duct tape. Whole financial savings: $6 – $7.
17. Briefly Hem Your Pants
You’ve discovered a terrific pair of denims, however the size isn’t proper. You anticipate a bit shrinkage anyway, so why drop 20 {dollars} to have a tailor hem your pants? Apart from, thick denim denims are troublesome to stitch by way of. Take into account taking on the hem with duct tape. The brand new hem will work in a pinch and will maintain by way of a few washings. Whole financial savings: $20.
18. Briefly Insulate Cracks In Home windows
In older homes, home windows don’t all the time shut nicely, particularly on the backside of the body. When you don’t have any climate stripping helpful, think about using duct tape to create filler to dam up any cracks. This may preserve bugs or different vermin from getting in your house and can block out any drafty wind. Whole financial savings $3-18 plus utility invoice financial savings.
19. Safe Diapers to Child
Some kids or toddlers choose to take off their diapers when they need to not. This usually results in extra time spent cleansing up child messes and better prices for diapers, wipes and cleansing provides. A method round that is to wrap a strip of duct tape across the little one’s diaper to carry it firmly in place. The tape is hard sufficient in order that your little one can’t tear the diaper off once you aren’t round. Whole financial savings: a lot of complications.
20. Make a Roach Lure
Need to catch roaches, however don’t wish to spray your property with noxious chemical substances? Simply get a 4 inch strip of duct tape, fold the perimeters over by a few half inch on each rip ends. Pinch the ends so the tape is barely creased. Get some peanut butter and put it in heart. Don’t use an excessive amount of. Then flip it over in order that the sticky half is dealing with down. Smaller German cockroaches will go for the peanut butter and their backs will get caught to the tape. If you wish to catch the larger ones, simply lay out a lure with the sticky facet up. Don’t purchase roach traps or rent an exterminator. Whole financial savings: $12 – $150.
Bonus: three questions on duct tape.
- Can duct tape be used for eradicating warts? In keeping with the producer, 3M company, as of 2005 duct tape has not been scientifically examined for eradicating warts.
- Can duct tape be used to safe the duct from an family dryer to open air? No, dryer temperatures might exceed 200F, which is past the utmost temperature the duct tape can face up to.
- Is duct tape waterproof? The backing of the tape is waterproof, nevertheless the adhesive isn’t. Duct tape will maintain up in water for some time, nevertheless the adhesive will finally give out so it’s not a great repair when long run water immersion is concerned (supply: Readers’ Digest).
Lastly, if you’re going to purchase duct tape, think about shopping for in bulk. Rolls of 3M utility duct tape get progressively cheaper as you purchase extra. For instance on amazon.com the 2 pack retails for $20.29 or $10.15 a roll. The three pack retails for $28.49 or $9.50 a roll. If you’re going to store from Amazon, attempt getting used. Used rolls are typically a few bucks cheaper as a result of the packaging has been broken.
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