Rubber bands are infinitely useful. If you’re like a lot of people, you probably have a nest of them somewhere in your house, perhaps in a jar or bound together in a ball. Today, we’re celebrating the wonderful band of rubber with all the ways these simple inventions can be used.
1. A page turner.
The rubber band’s grip makes it easier for you to turn pages, and it’s much less gross than licking your fingers. Eww.
2. A lock stopper.
If a door keeps locking on you, prevent it from doing so with a rubber band. And if you need the door locked, you can just lift it off.
3. A cutting board brake.
If your cutting board slips while you’re chopping, it can get messy — and dangerous. Two rubber bands stretched around it will keep it in place.
4. A clothes catcher.
You’d think they’d stop making hangers so slippery, but in the meantime, a rubber band will help keep clothes off the floor.
5. A paint skimmer.
The picture says it all, but this is also a great way to save paint and keep from slopping it everywhere.
6. A drink identifier.
Differently colored rubber bands are a quick and cheap way to keep everyone’s drink with the right person. You can also write names on plain ones if you don’t have colored ones.
7. A jar opener.
If you have a jar with a stuck lid and shameful upper body strength (like me), a rubber band will give you the added traction to pop it off.
8. A packing helper.
If you have to bring a lot of clothes in a small bag, rubber bands will help keep things in place. They can also keep smaller items together.
9. A GPS mount.
Strap your phone or GPS device to the rearview mirror so you can tell where you’re going without having to look at your lap. Easy and safe.
10. A stripped screw remover.
If a screwdriver can’t catch the grooves of a screw, try using a rubber band as a medium. The rubber will fill up the empty places the screwdriver can’t reach, and the grip will allow the screw to be turned. Just go slow with this.
11. A slip stopper.
Anything attached to a wire can slip around easily, but a rubber band or two wrapped around it will keep it in place.
12. The phone tripod.
Official phone tripods are expensive, so why get one when you can just rig this up with three rubber bands and a solid anchor? It’s perfect if you have shaky hands or want to get a better selfie without a stick.
13. A lid container
If you don’t want things boiling over and causing a mess, strap the lid onto a pot with rubber bands. This is also perfect if you’re transporting food.
14. A book saver.
Jamming a book repeatedly into a bag can damage the pages and make them fold and curl. Keep things in order with a handy-dandy rubber bandy.
Rubber bands are great for organizing, well, just about anything. And, of course, shooting at each other. Just don’t use them in your hair. Ouch.
