Hey YouTube, Jim here!
Welcome to Top10Archive!
We all know how effective duct tape can be in everyday life as it can be used as a cure-all
in a multitude of unusual situations, but just how diverse is our favorite silvery adhesive?
We put together these ten hacks to answer that question for you.
Or, at the very least, provide you with some unexpected uses.
10.
Duct Cup You know those lazy days when the dishes are
all dirty but you really need a glass of water?
Just break out your roll of duct tape!
While you may see tutorials using an actual cup as a guide, it’s unnecessary.
All you need is six strips of tape and a whole lot of patience.
Lay out the six strips in two asterisk patterns, keeping sure to be as even as possible.
Then, stick the two together, leaving a small sliver of adhesive visible.
Now, the fun part!
Fold the tape over, connecting the overlapping adhesive, and trim the top.
If you see any gaps, just cover them with, you guessed it, duct tape!
Voila!
Duct tape cup!
9.
Jar Opener This is a life hack you won’t want to forget,
lest you go without pickles for a long while!
It’s quick and easy!
Take a piece of tape, say 12” or so and wrap one side of the jar lid with an end of
the tape.
The “tail” end of the tape works as a lever, giving you the leverage needed to open
that suborn jar at a later time.
8.
Lint Roller We all know that one person that shows up
to everything covered in animal hair.
Don’t be that person.
If you don’t have a lint brush but have duct tape, you’re perfectly capable of cleaning
yourself up.
You can either wrap a piece around your finger and blot your trouble areas or, if you’re
feeling fancy and have one, can tightly wrap several pieces around a paint roller.
Adhesive-side facing you, of course!
7.
Anti-Slip Socks Tired of trying to walk along your wood floors
only to find yourself sliding to your destination?
When it’s unrealistic to go barefoot and you don’t want your home to double as an
ice rink, just call upon duct tape!
It’s as simple as tearing off two strips and placing them on the underside of your
socks.
Some say you can score the tape for better traction, but it works either way!
6.
Armchair Holder What’s one to do when they see they’re
all out of duct tape?
Well, besides the obvious answer of “buy two more rolls,” you don’t want to be
wasteful and throw out the cardboard roll, so why not turn it into a practical cup holder
that fastens to your chair?
Just take the empty spool, place a piece of tape along one open end to close it, then
use a new roll to tape it around the armrest of a chair.
5.
Improvised Bug Trap Ugh, bugs.
Aren’t they the worst?
Wouldn’t it be great if there were a simple way to control any insect problem?
You know the drill… duct tape!
Have a problem with roaches, crickets, bedbugs, stink bugs, gnats or any other creepy crawlies
or flying fiends?
Just place strips of duct tape along the base of your walls or hang strips from the ceiling.
Throw down bait like cheese or peanut butter and simply wait!
4.
Makeshift Belt Do your pants keep falling down on you?
Then you need a belt, but rather than spend upwards of $30 on one, just take a strip of
tape.
All you need to do is measure your waist and the width of your belt loops, ensuring to
leave yourself some slack to fasten the duct belt.
Fold the strip in half, doing your best to keep it perfectly flat and even, then trim
the strip of tape to fit within the loops.
How you buckle your makeshift belt is up to you, with the easiest method simply being
pulling the belt until it's snug and looping the excess into your pants.
Alternatively, you can loop both ends around either end of a clasp.
3.
Rope Substitute Have you ever tried tearing duct tape?
It’s not entirely hard, sure, but you definitely get some resistance.
Now try to tear duct tape that you’ve folded over once, twice or even three times.
Not as easy, ey?
The next time you need rope but only have duct tape, don’t despair!
Cut a strip of tape as long as you need, fold it over once, and you have a rope substitute!
To make it even stronger, braid two or more pieces together.
2.
Shoe Waterproofing During those damp months or if you find yourself
having to slog through uncomfortable, wet terrain, you should be thinking about how
to keep your socks from getting soaked – because there’s nothing worse than soggy socks!
And guess what…
your answer lies in duct tape!
Simply wrap both shoes in tape, leaving no gaps for water to seep in through.
Yeah, it’s as simple as that!
1.
Temporary Patch and Sealant If something can leak water or air, there’s
a good chance that a strip of duct tape can be the only tool you need on hand for a temporary
or permanent repair.
Tents, HVAC ducts, inflatable rafts, and even car tires can benefit from the duct tape treatment.
While it’s not a permanent solution in most cases, duct tape creates an airtight seal
and is water resistant, meaning it will hold up in most conditions, at least long enough
for you to get somewhere to properly repair it.
For the best seal, use a crisscross pattern and press firmly to remove any air bubbles.