The glue gun. Abhorred by folks with burned fingertips yet adored by many, this simple tool is often used in crafting -- but word is getting out that it's also a handy household hacking device.
For example, a wide or wiggly line of hot glue on the shoulders of a hanger will dry to a rubbery consistency and provide just enough grip to keep your clothes from slipping off! See the HouseholdHacker video below to see how it's done.
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Cutting wood from a template? Watch Linn on Instructables as she demonstrates how to stack small pieces of wood and use soft-setting hot glue to temporarily anchor them together. After she makes her cuts, she simply pulls the wood pieces apart and rubs off the hot glue -- resulting in several pieces of wood cut exactly the same!
Linn also suggests using hot glue on decorative items that don't get touched -- faux drawer handles, for example. There's no need to pay for furniture glue for something that doesn't actually need a super strong bond.
House slippers are great for cold feet, but they can be a little too slippery, especially for small children. Jaime and Jacinda at Pretty Prudent have the solution -- use your glue gun to add a no-slip strip to the bottom of the slippers! Tip: write the child's name with the glue, and you will also eliminate confusion over who owns which slippers.
Use your glue gun to make snowflake decorations: draw snowflake lines with a glue gun over parchment paper, either freehand or using a template. Decorate with glittery nail polish. Heidi Kay provides detailed instructions in her Muslin and Merlot blog and suggests that these snowflakes would be a great activity at a Frozen party.
For a Harry Potter party, try making Gretchen's wands -- all you need are long cooking chopsticks, paint and spray sealer, and, of course, hot glue. Glue handle-like patterns onto the sticks, let dry, paint, seal, then swish and flick! Visit Boxy Colonial to see how great they turn out.
Twin moms Holly and Heather have discovered that gluing the hole in bath toys, preventing water from getting inside, means that mold and other icky things also don't get inside. Their post at We Love Being Moms explains that the glue held fast even after three months of toddler baths.
Don't let anyone snicker at you the next time you grab your glue gun! Arm yourself with this "household hacking device" and make your world a better place.
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