8 Super-Smart Ways to Use Duct Tape

You've probably got a roll of the stuff in your garage, but duct tape is helpful well beyond the workbench (and not just for prom-dress making). Try it for getting out of (into?) sticky situations all over the house.

1. Remove sticker residue.
It's a little ironic, but duct tape's super-stickiness actually removes other stubborn, adhesive leftovers, and is especially helpful on glass, like a car window. Place a piece of duct tape over the offending spot, rub it a few times, and peel the mess away (it might take few tries to get everything). Then, finish off with a window cleaner.

2. Get rid of warts.
Warts are actually a symptom of a contagious virus (eep!). To stop the spread and speed the healing process, apply duct tape over the wart and change it out every few days.

3. Open a super-stuck lid.
If you're grappling with a pickle jar seal that's particularly powerful, a strip of duct tape could offer the extra oomph you need to start enjoying lunch. Watch the full tutorial here.

4. Banish bugs.
Duct tape can help seal holes in your wall around water pipes; pests that love dark, humid spots are likely to seek these spots out. Got a fly problem on your patio? Try hanging loops of tape from the ceiling or soffits, so bugs stick when they land.

5. Lift away pet hair.
Make a loop of duct tape (sticky side out) around your hand to create a nimble cleaning device that lifts hair and dust off curtains and upholstery in a jiffy. Or, wrap the tape around a paint roller to fashion a heavy-duty DIY lint roller.

6. Wrap cords.
This clever tutorial corrals cords with just one piece of duct tape but doesn't allow any of the tacky adhesive to touch the cord itself, so you won't wrestle with the tape to unravel it.

7. Patch a hole in a pinch.
Got a worn sneaker, torn snow pants, a damaged vacuum hose, a rip in your patio furniture, or some other bothersome hole? Cover that sucker with duct tape. Though the tape's adhesive won't last indefinitely (and it certainly won't block water forever), it will tide you over until you can fix the item or swap it for something new.

8. Seal cracked plastic.
Similarly, a strip of duct tape can hold together a cracked trash can or storage bin, extending its life a bit longer.