1) Remove Glue from Surfaces
Have you added a few stickers to your car window that you're starting to regret, but you still don't want to get rid of them because of the hideous glue residue they will leave behind? If that speaks to you, you need some duct tape and some window cleaner. After removing the sticker as best as you can, apply a piece of duct tape onto the surface with glue residue, be it wood, glass, or metal, and then pull.
Repeat a few times with a fresh piece of tape every time until little to no glue residue remains. The duct tape is so sticky that it typically removes the majority of the glue from surfaces, but to finish the job and give shine to the surface, wipe it down with a cloth dampened with some window cleaner as a finishing touch.
2) Create a Cup
Do you need an extra cup, but all you have available is some duct tape? Lucky you, as duct tape is just the thing you need to create a makeshift glass. To make the glass, simply wrap several tightly layered pieces of duct tape around a can, a glass, or a bottle, remove the vessel, cover the sticky side of the cup with another layer of tape so that the surface of the cup isn't sticky, and you're done. Best of all, you can even put this collapsible cup into your pocket and reuse it when necessary!
3) Make a Clothesline in a Pinch
One of the simplest and most useful contraptions you can make using duct tape is a clothesline. This will come in handy when you're camping, when you're traveling, or whenever you want. Simply connect the sides of the tape to any two facing walls (or any two tall objects, really) so that the tape is pulled taut, and your DIY clothesline is ready for use.
4) Catch Insects
No need to purchase special sticky pads or rolls, or to buy expensive sprays laden with chemicals to get rid of the pests invading your home. All you will need is a piece of duct tape and a smudge of peanut butter. Fold the sides of a small piece of the duct tape so that you can handle it conveniently, and put a little amount of peanut butter in the middle of the tape.
Try not to disrupt the sticky surface if the tape, as this is exactly what will be trapping the bugs. Put these pieces underneath your kitchen cabinets, near the trashcan, and any other places in your home you see the pests. After just a few days, you'll find that the bugs have stuck to the tape and you'll have to throw the tape out and replace it if necessary.
You can also use the tape to trap flies - simply hang strips of tape from the ceiling and you have DIY flypaper.
5) Fashion a DIY Lint Roller
You can get rid of lint and pet hair from your clothes, furniture, and carpet quite easily, even if you don't have a lint roller at home. Simply stick some duct tape sticky side up on a paint roller, et voila - you have a DIY lint roller ready at your service. This trick is perfect for cleaning the couch from pet hair, as the paint roller is much larger than a regular lint roller and will cover a much larger surface area more quickly.
6) Open a Jar That’s Stuck
You can use this trick to open jars and bottles that are stuck and difficult to open. Simply stick a piece of duct tape on the lid, leaving a piece loose so that you can pull the jar open. Because duct tape is so adhesive, it will grip a lot better than a kitchen towel and make opening the pesky jar much easier. Click on the play button in the video above to see a step by step guide and demonstration of this technique.
7) Hide a Spare Key or Other Valuables
With the help of duct tape, you can hide away valuables, such as keys, credit cards, etc., in the most inconspicuous places. No more hiding the spare house key under the doormat - simply stick it to a piece of duct tape like in the image above and attach the key somewhere unexpected, like under the seat of the patio bench, for example.
8) Protect Floors From Being Scratched
Hardwood floors are so fragile - any little scratch can damage the topcoat, which introduces humidity mold and endangers the integrity of your floors. Of course, you can revarnish them here and there, but too many coats of varnish and constant refurbishing aren't good for your floors either, not to mention that it's quite expensive and troublesome.
So why not learn to prevent your floor from scuffing instead? Just attach a small piece of duct tape onto the bottom of the chair's legs and you're done, simple!
9) Emergency band-aid
This scenario happens way too often: you're messing around in the shed or garden, using sharp tools, and suddenly, you get a cut on your hand or arm that starts bleeding. If you don't have a bandage or band-aid near you, simply reach for the silver roll of duct tape and seal the wound to stop the bleeding. Needless to say, this is not a permanent solution, as you do need to clean, disinfect, and dress the wound properly afterward, but in a pinch, duct tape gets the job done, too.
Have you added a few stickers to your car window that you're starting to regret, but you still don't want to get rid of them because of the hideous glue residue they will leave behind? If that speaks to you, you need some duct tape and some window cleaner. After removing the sticker as best as you can, apply a piece of duct tape onto the surface with glue residue, be it wood, glass, or metal, and then pull.
Repeat a few times with a fresh piece of tape every time until little to no glue residue remains. The duct tape is so sticky that it typically removes the majority of the glue from surfaces, but to finish the job and give shine to the surface, wipe it down with a cloth dampened with some window cleaner as a finishing touch.
2) Create a Cup
Do you need an extra cup, but all you have available is some duct tape? Lucky you, as duct tape is just the thing you need to create a makeshift glass. To make the glass, simply wrap several tightly layered pieces of duct tape around a can, a glass, or a bottle, remove the vessel, cover the sticky side of the cup with another layer of tape so that the surface of the cup isn't sticky, and you're done. Best of all, you can even put this collapsible cup into your pocket and reuse it when necessary!
3) Make a Clothesline in a Pinch
One of the simplest and most useful contraptions you can make using duct tape is a clothesline. This will come in handy when you're camping, when you're traveling, or whenever you want. Simply connect the sides of the tape to any two facing walls (or any two tall objects, really) so that the tape is pulled taut, and your DIY clothesline is ready for use.
4) Catch Insects
No need to purchase special sticky pads or rolls, or to buy expensive sprays laden with chemicals to get rid of the pests invading your home. All you will need is a piece of duct tape and a smudge of peanut butter. Fold the sides of a small piece of the duct tape so that you can handle it conveniently, and put a little amount of peanut butter in the middle of the tape.
Try not to disrupt the sticky surface if the tape, as this is exactly what will be trapping the bugs. Put these pieces underneath your kitchen cabinets, near the trashcan, and any other places in your home you see the pests. After just a few days, you'll find that the bugs have stuck to the tape and you'll have to throw the tape out and replace it if necessary.
You can also use the tape to trap flies - simply hang strips of tape from the ceiling and you have DIY flypaper.
5) Fashion a DIY Lint Roller
You can get rid of lint and pet hair from your clothes, furniture, and carpet quite easily, even if you don't have a lint roller at home. Simply stick some duct tape sticky side up on a paint roller, et voila - you have a DIY lint roller ready at your service. This trick is perfect for cleaning the couch from pet hair, as the paint roller is much larger than a regular lint roller and will cover a much larger surface area more quickly.
6) Open a Jar That’s Stuck
You can use this trick to open jars and bottles that are stuck and difficult to open. Simply stick a piece of duct tape on the lid, leaving a piece loose so that you can pull the jar open. Because duct tape is so adhesive, it will grip a lot better than a kitchen towel and make opening the pesky jar much easier. Click on the play button in the video above to see a step by step guide and demonstration of this technique.
7) Hide a Spare Key or Other Valuables
With the help of duct tape, you can hide away valuables, such as keys, credit cards, etc., in the most inconspicuous places. No more hiding the spare house key under the doormat - simply stick it to a piece of duct tape like in the image above and attach the key somewhere unexpected, like under the seat of the patio bench, for example.
8) Protect Floors From Being Scratched
Hardwood floors are so fragile - any little scratch can damage the topcoat, which introduces humidity mold and endangers the integrity of your floors. Of course, you can revarnish them here and there, but too many coats of varnish and constant refurbishing aren't good for your floors either, not to mention that it's quite expensive and troublesome.
So why not learn to prevent your floor from scuffing instead? Just attach a small piece of duct tape onto the bottom of the chair's legs and you're done, simple!
9) Emergency band-aid
This scenario happens way too often: you're messing around in the shed or garden, using sharp tools, and suddenly, you get a cut on your hand or arm that starts bleeding. If you don't have a bandage or band-aid near you, simply reach for the silver roll of duct tape and seal the wound to stop the bleeding. Needless to say, this is not a permanent solution, as you do need to clean, disinfect, and dress the wound properly afterward, but in a pinch, duct tape gets the job done, too.