Elite Elastic: 8 Unexpected Uses for Rubber Bands

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Patented in England on March 17, 1845, the rubber band has literally been holding us together for over a hundred years. This lovable latex and rubber creation seemed to come into its own as a kitsch object d’art when Pee Wee Herman replaced his giant aluminum foil ball with one made entirely of rubber bands. There’s even a Guinness World Record for the largest rubber band ball weighing over 9,000 pounds!  But there’s gotta’ be more to rubber bands than just keeping your mail together and storing them on yet another door knob?

COLORFUL VASES

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(Photo: SayYes.com)

Give ordinary mini milk bottles a new life.  Use rubber bands as a painting aid to perfect that ‘dipped’ look.  Simply apply a thick rubber band at an angle to an old milk bottle and coat the bottom half with craft paint.  No mess and no worry about how to get that perfect dipped look.

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KEEP CUT APPLES FRESHER LONGER

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(Photo: Creative)

Never knew that rubber band had magical powers?  Try this easy trick to keep your apples from browning.  Cut your apple into thirds, slice the center piece into thirds again, and wrap a rubber band around the whole apple to hold it together.  No more brown apples!

BREAK IN YOUR BASEBALL GLOVE

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(Photo: LiveStrong)

Rawlings even makes their own variety of jumbo extra-strength rubber bands for breaking in of a new baseball glove.  Why not take some of your own rubber bands that are kicking around the house and save $3?  Place a baseball in the pocket of the glove and wrap a few rubber bands around the glove and leave it overnight to begin the breaking in process.

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NO MESS PAINTBRUSH

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(Photo: HouseTopia.com)

Place a rubber band lengthwise around a can of paint to act as a paintbrush holder.  You can easily wipe off excess paint from your brush, it’ll keep paint from running down the side of your can, and it will keep the groove clean so it’ll be easier to close and seal once you’re finished.

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REMOVE A STUBBORN STRIPPED SCREW

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(Photo: LifeHacker.com)

That stripped screw head might not have seemed a problem until you revisited it and attempted to get it out again.  Never fear, the trusty rubber band can help here, too!  Place a wide rubber band between the screw driver and the screw, apply pressure, and slowly attempt to unscrew.

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ROCK AND ROLL

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(Photo: Diply)

Maybe the eternal debate will finally come to an end: Roll vs. Fold?  I’ve traveled all over the world and every time, I end up packing and re-packing trying to figure out if it’s more economical space-wise to roll or fold my clothes?  Myself, I think I’m becoming a roll guy; but, the debate will live on eternally…or at least until the next time I pack my suitcase.

ID POWER CORDS

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(Photo: ApartmentTherapy.com)

How many times have you misplaced your charger at work, at a social event, or even at a friend’s house?  With everyone having a nearly identical charger for their phone, sometimes it’s hard to tell yours apart.  Customize your charger with a series of colored rubber bands.  Pick your favorite pattern and you’ll never lose it again!

FROSTED CENTERPIECE

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(Photo: BlissImagesAndBeyond)

Take an oversized goblet, arrange rubber bands in the pattern of your liking, and spray with Rust Oleum’s Frosted Glass Spray Paint.  Remove the rubber bands and you’ll have a magical frosty centerpiece ready for any swanky soiree.

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