Clever uses for rubber bands
Rubber bands are often the sort of household item you find at the bottom of drawers or stashed away in your utility room.
These clever little wonders have plenty of uses you may never have thought of. Here are a few of our favourites.
Keep an apple from browning
Instead of using a plastic bag to carry apple slices, try this instead. Slice the apple then secure it back into its original shape using an elastic band. It will keep the wedges from browning and drying out until you’re ready to eat them – perfect for packed lunches and school snacks.
Erase pencil
Rubber bands can serve the dual purpose of an eraser and work just as well at the ones you find on the end of a pencil. It works best when you collect several together into a rubber band ball as it’s most sturdy. Rub over the pencil and you’re set.
Provide grip
If you need to add extra grit to a jar or pole, a few rubber bands will help give your hands the traction they need to stay in place. This is particularly useful for items like walking sticks or opening difficult jars where your hands tend to slide.
Limit your pump dispenser
Hand soap and other household items that have a pump dispenser sometimes press out more than is needed. You can help restrict how much comes through the pump by wrapping a rubber band around the neck of the pump. It will restrict the motion, in turn dispensing less product.
Arrange flowers
Securing a rubber band to the bottom of a bouquet will help keep your blooms together and assembled nicely even after you’ve trimmed the stems and put them into a vase.
Give your waistline some breathing room
If you have a pair of jeans or trousers that are fitting a little snugly, loop an elastic band through the button hole and then loop the other end over the button instead. The elastic band will hold your trousers shut but provide a little extra stretch so you can breathe and sit down more comfortably.
Mark the liquid in a can or bottle
If you have paint cans and other containers of cleaning fluids gathering dust in your garage or garden shed, try this simple trick. Wrap an elastic band around the outside of the can and adjust it to be level with the amount of liquid left inside the can. You’ll be able to see at a glance which supplies you have plenty of and which will need to be replenished soon without ever having to open them.
Do you know any clever uses for rubber bands? Share your wisdom in the comments below!
Rachel - Silversurfers Assistant Editor
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