As in many others, there’s a list of “must have” products in our house. There’s the usual staples that include peanut butter, Kraft Dinner, and there absolutely has to be chocolate in some shape or form. We’ve collected a strange array of items that are always stocked…but we seldom use them for the advertised purpose. That list includes:
- WD-40
- Duct Tape
- Bounce Dryer Sheets
The WD-40 site lists more than 2000 uses (submitted by users) and the list ranges from “un-sticking” anything, to loosening bolts, to removing gum from hair and keeping a drawer from sticking. Because the product is made, predominantly, with fish oils there’s often a can in the boat or tackle box, as well. The great,grand list is available HERE. The site boasts it’s own fan club and WD-40 Twitter followers can keep up to date on the new uses found for a product designed, initially, to simply displace water.
The number of uses found for Duct Tape has become, simply, a punch line. Aside from sealing ductwork, the tape has been used to cover books, fix walls and floors, and act as a temporary replacement for snapped belts on an engine. The popular show “Mythbusters” dedicated an entire hour to the legendary tape and used the product to lift a car, build a working cannon and even crafted a working sailboat made entirely of duct tape (the video is below).
Granted the uses for both WD-40 and Duct Tape have become co
mmon knowledge. The uses for Bounce Dryer sheets is less known (found HERE) but still comprises a growing and useful list of applications (that may, or may not, actually work). Beyond keeping your clothes static free, Bounce is also purported to be used to:
- Keep ants away when you lay a sheet near them.
- Repel mice.
- Take the odor out of books and photo albums that don’t get opened too often.
- Repel mosquitoes.
- Eliminate static electricity from your television (or computer) screen.
- Dissolve soap scum from shower doors.
- Freshen the air in your home – Place an individual sheet of Bounce in a drawer, a closet or in the vacuum cleaner
- Prevent thread from tangling. Run a threaded needle through a sheet of Bounce before beginning to sew.
- Prevent musty suitcases. Place an individual sheet of Bounce inside empty luggage before storing.
- Freshen the air in your car.
- Clean baked-on foods from a cooking pan. Put a sheet in a pan, fill with water, let sit overnight, and sponge clean. The anti-static agent apparently weakens the bond between the food and the pan..
- Collect cat hair.
- Deodorize shoes or sneakers.
- Keep the bees and wasps away.
- Wipe bugs off the front of a vehicle
Are there other products out there that are selling because we’ve found uses beyond the core offer? Should the makers of Bounce, WD-40 and Duct Tape be promoting these products as a “required” household item? Is there a way to take the sense of community…and apply it to what you’re doing? Does WD-40 removed duct tape?
