8 Uses for a Rubber Band

If you are passing through thanks to the Festival of Frugality #241: A Midsummer's Night Dream Edition over at Yes, I Am Cheap, I want to talk a moment to welcome you. If you like this post, you'll find a series here that runs on Mondays called my Monday 8s where you can find other similar topics. Feel free to stick around and get comfortable!

Sure there is the standard use for a rubber band--to hold items together. But these simple yet sometimes annoying little tools can truly make our lives easier if we're a little creative.

Here are some of the most practical and creative uses I have seen.

1. Add Friction – Wrap rubber bands around an object, like a remote control, to keep it from sliding off a smooth or slick surface.
2. Bookmark – Wrap the band around one of the outside covers (front or back...whatever works best for where you are in the book) and wrap it around to the page you left off reading. Perfect bookmark that won't fall out!
3. Grip for a Stubborn Lid – Place a rubber band (either a thick one or several thin ones) around the rim of a jar lid and twist off that stubborn lid.
4. Eraser – If you fold one several times, you can actually use it as a make-shift eraser in a pinch.
5. Childproof Cabinet Doors – Simply wrap several rubber bands tightly between the left and right cabinet door knobs to keep little people out of cabinets that they should not get in. This is a great temporary fix if you have children visiting.
6. Thumb Through Papers – Wrap a rubber band around your index finger a few times the next time you need to flip through papers. Funny that there is a specific product for this when a rubber band works great!
7. Hold onto Your Bottles – Wrap rubber bands around shampoo, conditioner and body wash containers to make it easier to grip them in the shower.
8. Mark Your Containers – When you are done painting (or something simliar), wrap a rubber band around the outside of the container at the level of the paint so you will know at a glance how much is left.

These are some of the more useful ones I found. Do you have any to add to the list?

Photo credit: johnnyberg