Make Your Own Luggage Tags
Keep track of your luggage by crafting your own luggage tags. Yes, you could buy tags, but why spend money when it's easy to make your own that are usually more durable and look just as good? Just take some duct tape — preferably in a color or pattern you like — and start folding and wrapping. These custom luggage tags should hold up much better than anything you can buy in the store.
3M and some other brands sell duct tape in different colors and patterns, and they can be found at most hardware stores next to the more traditional silver rolls of duct tape.
Save Home Repair Seals
Most home repair seals and caulks are opened by cutting away the tip. We're not sure why, but it's probably a strategy to get you to buy a new tube every time you need to make some simple repairs. However, you can actually use duct tape to seal the tubes up and save them for the next time you need them. Simply wrap the area you cut away and store them wherever you store your tools.
If you want to be extra fancy, you can cut a small hole in the duct tape and hang your tubes as shown in this photo, but that's totally optional.
Turn Tape Into Wrapping Paper
We've all been there. You only have a couple of more presents to wrap when you suddenly find yourself all out of wrapping paper. Luckily, if you have some duct tape on hand, you can just use that to wrap up the remainder of the presents. Not only is it a really cool look, but you can still use any bows or different colored duct tape to decorate the wrapping.
Christmas colors aren't necessary here but do feel free to mix and match patterns. Plain silver duct tape also looks surprisingly good when used as wrapping paper.
DIY Outdoor Furniture
Since duct tape is so durable and it's also waterproof, you can use it in any outdoor furniture projects you have going on. It works particularly well when used as webbing in chairs. So, the next time you're out thrifting and you see some outdoor furniture that's missing fabric, just keep in mind that you can easily use duct tape instead of fabric. It's cheaper than taking items to get upholstered and it's often just as comfortable.
Just pick up some duct tape on your way home and weave the tape together to create a comfortable and durable seat. You can also mix and match colors if you don't want the silver look shown here.
Make Your Own Duct Tape Cup
Being on a job site with nothing to drink out of can be bad, especially if it's a particularly hot day. In fact, being anywhere and not having a cup can be a problem in a lot of situations. Luckily, that roll of 3M tape in your pack can actually be used to make a cup. Duct tape is waterproof, so anything you pour into it is sure to stay there and not spill.
Use it to fill from the cooler or when you're at a big game and want to pour yourself a bit harder than water. Making your own cup out of duct tape is also handy for when you're camping.
Quickly Repair A Tire
Did we mention how useful it is to store duct tape in your vehicle? This is why. If you're driving and accidentally hit something that punctures one of your tires, you can use duct tape to temporarily seal up any leaks and get you to a tire shop. Just identify where the leak is and carefully cover it up with duct tape, making sure the tape is as flush with the tire as possible.
The tape should hold long enough for you to make it to a gas station or tire repair shop and get either a proper repair or a brand new tire.
Open Jars With Duct Tape
When trying to use pure strength or a shirt to open stubborn jars fails, try breaking out the duct tape. The leverage it gives you is often enough to get the lids off most jars. First, wrap the lid you're trying to get off with duct tape and fold the top half back in on the top of the jar. Next, pull the tape counterclockwise while holding the jar firmly in place.
This should allow you to get some more leverage on the jar and get that lid off without too much of a fuss. If at this point the duct tape doesn't work, then you just might have to break the jar.
