Practical Duct Tape Uses

First---The History of Duct Tape.

This tape was created during World War II when military personnel needed a flexible, durable and waterproof tape for repairs in the field.  Johnson and Johnson Permacel Division was commissioned to create this tape.  The GI's called it "duck tape" because it was waterproof--like a duck's back.  They used duck tape to repair their jeeps, add knives to their guns and strap equipment to their clothes.  It was green to blend in.  After the housing industry discovered this tape being great for duct connecting, the color went from green to silver and thus was born "duct tape".  Now duct tape comes in many colors and sizes.  The crew of the Apollo 13 used duct tape as the media to temporarily make a CO2 scrubber functional for them.  NASA sure was smart to include a roll on that mission!

Now for some uses:

Fake a hem on your denim jeans when you want to wear flat shoes.  The duct tape will last a few washings, if you want.

Wrap a foot length around your hand for serious lint removal.  Masking tape can be used for just clothes or furniture.

Can temporarily hold a bandage to a wound.  Put a folded tissue over the wound and make sure the duct tape covers only the tissue, will hold till you can get to a hospital.

Seal a bag of potato chips.  Roll the bag down to the product and run a piece of duct tape over the end--vertically.  Horizontally will rip the bag when opening !

Hide an extra car key, or house key on the under carriage of your car.  Cover the key completely with tape.

Hang a strip of duct tape in the corner of your tent or porch to catch flies and insects.

Repair a vacuum hose with duct tape.  Wrap 2-3 times and completely cover the leak.  Secure the end of the tape with your finger to seal.

To repair a book binding, use a clear duct tape.  Run the tape down the length of the spine.  Cut smaller pieces perpendicular to the spine for extra support.

Cover a book by using newspaper for the pattern.  Then, cover the newspaper with duct tape and insert over your book.

A picture frame that the fold out leg pulls away from the frame--use duct tape to re-attach the broken leg of the frame.

Hang Christmas light strings outside by attaching length of tape around your lights and then attach the tape to your gutter or where ever you want the lights.  Will last the entire Christmas season and will just pull off.

Unusual shaped presents can be wrapped by applying duct tape to the package.  Then cut shapes or letters to decorate the package further.

Halloween costumes?  The Tin Man or a Robot can be easy with Duct Tape.  Use the classic silver color and make a basic costume with brown paper.  Then cover the brown paper with duct tape.  Remember to put an opening in the back for easy taking off. Use a pair of their own pants, can use a pair a little worn or slightly too short, for this.  Cover the pants with duct tape.  Easy Tin Man or Robot !

To make a toy sword. cut the shape in cardboard.  Make a handle to fit your child's hand.  Wrap the blade with silver duct tape, make the handle with black tape. 

Bicycle streamers can be made with duct tape.  Make half inch strips about 10 inches long.  Fold in half and attach to handle with another strip of duct tape.  Make sure there is a good grip left for your child to hold on to when riding.  So cool.

You can repair a tent with duct take.  Cover the hole inside and outside.

Make a rope by twisting duct tape.  You can make a clothesline while camping.  Or use it to secure items on your car roof.

Repair a hole in your sleeping bag with duct tape.  Apply a piece inside and outside.

Damaged tent zipper?  Use duct tape to close your tent.  Use it on the inside when you retire for the day.

Use duct tape to repair a split tent pole.  Wrap duct tape around the splint a few times and you are good.

You can repair a water bottle with duct tape.  Wrap tape around the leak and you are good.

Sprained ankle can be helped with duct tape on a camping trip or hike.  Use duct tape over the shoe. Tape it completely to secure the ankle.

Blister on a hike?  Wrap the blister with a piece of cotton over the blister and duct tape to hold the cotton on to your skin.

Shingle damage?  Cover a piece of wood with duct tape and wedge it between the next shingle and the place where the broken one is.  This will last till you can get the roof repaired.

Hole in your siding?  Choose a color close to the color of your siding.  Apply on a clean dry surface and smooth with your hand or a rolling pin.  Patch will last a few seasons.

Before you remove a broken window for repair, cover the glass with duct tape.  This will hold all of the pieces of glass together while you remove it.  No glass shards on your floor and safer for your hands.

Mend a hole in you screen by choosing a color close to the color of your screen.  Cut a piece a little bigger than the hole and patch inside and outside.

Repair a cracked plastic garbage can by applying duct tape inside and outside of the crack.  Will last for a long while.

Repair kids swimming pools by applying duct tape to the inside of a dry pool.  Will last the summer.

Remove cactus hairs and small splinters with duct tape.  Apply a small piece to the area and press on.  When you remove the cactus hair or small splinter will come out.  There is also the use of Elmer's glue.  Cover the area with Elmer's glue and let dry.  Pull the glue off and splinter or cactus hair should be gone.

Patch a canoe with duct tape.  Can make waterproof.  Use inside and outside of the crack or hole.

Replace eyelets of shoe laces with duct tape.  Roll a piece of duct tape on the end of the lace.  I usually use tape on both ends, and I use colors.

A hole in your vacuum bag can be fixed with a piece of duct tape.  Bags are too expensive to throw away when you get a hole.  This can fix the hole and let you use the entire bag.

Repair ripped holes in shower curtains with duct tape.  Choose a color to match your shower curtain color.  Cut a small square and cover the rip.  Use a knife or a hole punch to put the hole back.

Copywriter: Karen B. Cardwell 2012.   Email me at: cradwell.kc@Gmail.Com 

 Tweet me at: Karen Cardwell@blairie12.

 Original Artwork Images by Tom Wilson.