The Movers.com Blog

Office supplies are versatile!

Earlier this month, my sister was putting on her prom dress and noticed that it was a wee bit too long.  Always the quick thinker, she hatched a plan with my parents to fix the droopy hem with some double-sided tape.  The trick worked, and she looked absolutely stunning in her flowing black dress.

The Consumerist reposted a story from Wise Bread about quick wardrobe fixes using office supplies.  I’ve taken advantage of a few tips (namely black markers on spotty shoes), but I’ve also used many of these as simple DIY home tricks.  Here are a few of my own tips that could really help you during your relocation.  And yes: MacGyver would approve.

1. Bandages - Can’t find the packing tape on moving day?  Grab an adhesive bandage for a quick fix.  It’ll keep that box sealed for a short amount of time.  Equally handy for quick labels on boxes and paper cuts.

2. Old ethernet and phone cables - When packing a van, it’s easy to make your piles too high.  If you don’t have twine or bungees to hold them back, make do with an old ethernet or phone cord.  These cables are strong enough to hold back most household goods while remaining cheap enough to replace at your destination.

3. Scratched CDs - One of the most creative uses for an unwanted CD comes from my grandparents who used the disc as a coaster.  When you’re moving furniture, use a few stacked discs to balance a wobbly sofa or loveseat until you can get a permanent solution.

4. Old finance reports -

Staples hold together more than just paper.

Instead of throwing these out or packing them in boxes, take your old (and I mean really old–5 years at least) finance reports and use them to wrap glassware and other fragile items.  If you want to keep your reports intact, consider using pages from old books instead.

5. Twist tie hangers - Tie several paper-coated metal wires together to make a really simple hanging tool.  Just be sure that they’re tightly connected before you hang anything from the tool, and don’t use it for fragile or irreplaceable items!  I used this trick for a small kitchen decoration and a light birdfeeder; it did the trick perfectly.

What tips and tricks do you have for around the house?  And how do you use office supplies in creative ways?  Share with a comment!