Elastic, fantastic, and fun to play with—there's a whole lot to love about rubber bands. If you've got a bunch of these things lying around your home, you may never give them a second thought. However, the truth of the matter is that there are so many smart rubber band life hacks. For example, using a rubber band on a doorknob could be a real time-saver (but we will get to that soon!). Ready to learn more and simplify your life?
Within this short and snappy guide, we will look at everything you need to know about using rubber bands in your everyday life. Believe it or not, the humble elastic band may look unassuming, but it can solve many of life's annoying and nagging problems. So let's dive right in and learn some easy tricks that you'll want to tell everybody about.
The Rubber Band on a Door Knob Hack
First things first, we're going to uncover the mysteries of the rubber band on a doorknob hack. Picture the scene: You've just been to the supermarket and have bags of fruit, vegetables, bread, milk, cheese… you name it, you've got it. You pull up your car, and you're about ready to take all of the stuff inside. There's just one problem. Carrying all of these heavy bags will take more than a few trips. It's a nightmare.
So, why put a rubber band on the doorknob? The answer is that this hack can help you get in and out of your home quickly and easily. You can use the elastic band as a door stopper so you can quickly unload your car. (Note: This is particularly helpful if you have a door that tends to slam behind you.) Here's how to do the hack:
Step one: Loop the elastic band on the doorknob
First of all, unlock your door and loop the elastic band around the doorknob. You should pull it as tight as possible here.
Step two: Twist the elastic band
Next, twist the rubber band so that it makes a criss-cross. This will press against the inside of the lock, keeping it open and creating a makeshift door stopper.
Step three: Hook the rubber band on the doorknob
The final step is to hook the other side of the elastic band around the doorknob on the other side of the door. Again, this should be easy if you're dealing with a front door lock.
Step four: Remember to take the band off
When you're unloading your car, you can use the rubber band to stop the door from locking. Simple. However, you should take the rubber band off when you're finished.
What does a rubber band left on a doorknob mean?
While you can use a rubber band as a door stopper (as we have already mentioned), there's something else you should know. According to Reddit, rumour has it that burglars use an elastic band to hold open your latch and break in when you're not at home. So with that in mind, if you notice a mysterious elastic band on your door, you should remove it.
More Uses For Rubber Bands
There are so many more fantastic uses for rubber bands, we've created a whole article on the topic. Be sure to read that next. If you just want a few quick hacks, we've listed our favourites below.
1. The Paint Brush Hack
Redecorating your home? If you're giving your house or flat a new lick of paint, it can be a real hassle. While you may not be a pro-decorator, there's a simple way to keep your paintbrush clean as you work. Using a simple elastic band could make all the difference. Sure, that may sound odd, but hear us out. It's one of our favourite home improvement hacks. Here's how the small band can be a game-changer:
Step one: Wrap the band around the paint tin
Open up the paint tin and carefully wrap the elastic band around it. Make sure that you don't spill the paint. The elastic band should be pulled tight across the top of the tin.
Step two: Paint, paint, paint!
Next up, it's time to get painting. Dip the brush around the elastic band to get the paint you need and go to town.
Step three: Clean your brush
When you need to get rid of the excess paint from your brush, the elastic band comes into play. Use it to wipe the brush, and the paint will drip back into the tin. Easy!
2. Open a tight lid
Fancy a pickle or two? If you're opening a jar and finding it hard, it can be an absolute nightmare. Presuming you're not a muscle-man, you may struggle from time to time. While there are many different ways to ease this task, one that you may want to try involves an elastic band. The next time that you're trying to open a tight lid, follow these steps:
Step one: Wrap the band around the lid
The first step is wrapping the elastic band around the lid. Chances are, you will need to wrap the band around a few times. Make sure that it's tight.
Step two: Grab and twist the lid
Next, grab the lid and twist. The elastic band should give you extra leverage when you are opening it. This hack works for jars, nail varnish bottles, and more!
Finished with your pickles? Find out how to transform empty jars!
3. Keep your chopping board stable
Are you something of a whiz in the kitchen? If your culinary expertise knows no bounds, your chopping board will see some real action. However, the last thing you need is your board sliding around on the work surface. In the best-case scenario, this problem makes chopping super hard. Worst case scenario, you could end up hurting yourself. Luckily, all you need for this cooking hack is an elastic band. Here's what you need to know:
Step one: Secure an elastic band around the board
Grab your chopping board and wrap an elastic band around one side of it. You may also want to wrap an elastic band around the other side too—for balance.
Step two: Use the chopping board
The rubber bands will create friction below the chopping board, stopping it from slipping and sliding around. That means you can chop away without any stress. Phew.
Small but mighty, there are plenty of ways you can use elastic bands in your everyday life. You may already have a ball of them somewhere in your home. So why not get them out of that dusty old drawer and start using them to make life easier? You certainly won't regret it.
Q&A
Have you still got a burning question on your mind? Now that you know all there is to know about elastic band hacks let's answer some frequently asked questions. Here's everything you need to know about the wonders of rubber bands and why you should use them.
How strong is a rubber band?
Good question. Unless you want to pull the band as hard as possible (we don't recommend this!), you may be stumped by this one. According to Public Lab, most rubber bands can withstand a weight of 15lbs. You should remember that elastic bands tend to vary in quality, thickness, and material. For that reason, you may find that cheaper bands are less durable than you imagine. Avoid testing their strength as you could hurt yourself.
What is another name for a rubber band?
Did you know that there's a whole host of names for rubber bands? You might find these items called elastic bands, lacquer bands, elastic loops, rubber loops, binders, and gum bands. Of course, the name will vary depending on where in the world you are.
Who invented the rubber band?
Now for a quick history lesson. The Guardian reports that the first rubber band was made in 1845 by Stephen Perry of Messrs Perry & Co. in London, United Kingdom. However, the invention of the rubber band dates back to 1820, when Thomas Hancock made the first one. This incarnation of the rubber band was not vulcanised. Fast forward to 1840, and Charles Goodyear invented vulcanised rubber, which Thomas Hancock used.
Can you style your hair with rubber bands?
The short answer is yes. However, if you use standard elastic bands from the hardware shop, you should be aware that they can pull on your hair and cause split ends. For that reason, you might want to invest in rubber bands made specifically for hair. You can generally find these in chemists, department shops, and even online.
Have any more questions about rubber bands? Let us know in the comments below!
Another use for a rubber band - if a screw is worn down at the head and hard to remove, as the screwdriver can’t grip, place a strip cut from a thin rubber band between the screw and the screwdriver and you should get enough traction to undo the screw.
That's a great idea!
Elastic bands wrapped around the ends of a clothes hanger stop your clothes falling off. For opening jars, rubber gloves work, too, and if the jar is really stubborn break the seal with a bottle opener/can punch thingy. I have a small rubber mat (from Poundland) that usually works - saves hunting for rubber bands. I also buy their cards of hair ties and use them instead of rubber bands - they’re much stronger, don’t perish and you get lots for a pound!
Great ideas!
Putting a rubber band around the door knob when alone will help you to easily and quickly open the door without having to turn the door knob. This is helpful especially when you have groceries to carry and cannot properly open the door. The rubber band on door knob will easily let you in and out of the house, especially when there is no one to help or assist you with the things you want to get inside.
Exactly right, Cyrus!