IN GENERAL Blue painters tape will securely adhere to most surfaces. Under ordinary conditions it will NOT spontaneously loosen or peel up. It will NOT get brittle or gummy. But it can be peeled-off when you want without leaving tape or glue on the surface or staining the surface. Although blue tape is stable for years under ordinary conditions, all uses should be considered temporary, and other solutions should be sought for long-term applications. Since blue tape is for temporary solutions, I suggest some corresponding more long-term alternatives. A FEW UNUSUAL USES 1) Blue painters tape actually makes more comfortable "BANDAIDS" than the commercial products, especially for fingers. Use a 2"-3" length of blue tape. Any tissue or napkin can be folded and cut into a square of the appropriate size to use as the pad. "Light-days" feminine pads are even better, one can be cut into dozens of small pads. Stick the pad to the tape, apply antibacterial cream, and apply to the injury. For the tip of a finger, apply the tape bandaid "the long way", and then another length of tape around your finger. 2) Blue painters tape (applied with the ends folded over to make tabs) can be used to make GIFTS "easy-open" for the handicapped, e.g., folks with poor eyesight, use of only one hand, or severe arthritis. Older folks particular miss the joy of unwrapping gifts. 3) Blue painters tape is great for labeling FOOD STORAGE containers, even to be frozen. When you have used the contents, the label easily peels of. "Freezer tape" is essentially the same product, except white, smoother, and more water-proof.Scotch Freezer Tape, 3/4 x 1000 Inch (178) 4) Blue painters tape is ideal for marking your LUGGAGE so that it is distinct from identical luggage on the same flight. Since you have to take your laptop out of the bag for TSA, it is a good idea to make it distinct with blue masking tape, so that it doesn't get mixed up with someone else's laptop---This actually happened to me, only the blue tape stopped someone from walking off with my LAPTOP while I was being detained and "patted down". 5) The bottoms of doors on many modern luxury cars (for example Acuras) are not sealed--if you get into a puddle 10" or so deep, the water can FLOOD inside the car. Just a wet carpet, right? Nope, your car's computer is probably under your driver's seat, will cost over $2000 to replace, and such water damage is not covered by warantee. An obvious solution if you have such a car and often have to ford deep puddles, is to keep a roll of 2" or 3" wide blue tape handy, and tape up the bottom of the doors. Of course, unless you are a gymnast, you will probably have to get a friend to apply the tape to the driver's door. TO TEMPORARILY HOLD THINGS TOGETHER 1) Blue painters tape is very handy for example to hold a the handle of a cup in place to re-glue it, and/or to make a temporary "stand" to hold the cup at the ideal angle to glue the handle in place. For a stand, make a circle of the appropriate diameter. 2) Blue painters tape can be used to hold FABRIC together while sewing. 3) Blue painters tape is great for temporarily BUNDLING things together. For example to bundle computer cords behind a computer, or to bundle sets of plastic forks, spoons, and knives for a picnic. Fold over the end to make a tab, to make the tape easier to remove. For long term organization of electrical cords, "velco" cable ties are better.Velcro One Wrap Cable Ties - 50 Pieces - Color: Black For long term storage, zip-lock freezer bags work better for organizing your collection of unused cords and adapters.Ziploc Double Zipper Freezer Gallon Bags - Total: 152 Bags (4 X 38 ct.) 4) Blue painters tape is useful for taping folding furniture folded for SHIPPING. TO LABEL THINGS 1) Blue painters tape is great for labeling things (using a black permanent markerSharpie Chisel Tip Permanent Markers: 2 Black Markers. Sanford Model 38262 ), such as the transformer bricks used for small electrical devices. Even if your device turns out to be defective and needs to be returned, the blue tape will easily peel off, leaving no glue nor marks. 2) Blue painters tape is great for labeling glass storage containers---and also improves the grip. 3) Blue painters tape is great for marking the orientation of POWER CORDS, including USB cords---just place a patch of tape on the "up" side. The tape will not fall off or accidentally peel off, but can be easily removed if you need to remove it. 4) Blue painters tape is perfect for making IDENTIFICATION TABS for electrical cords. Cut off a ca 3" length of tape, and fold it in half over the end of a cord. Label with a permanent marker. This also applies to USB cords. My Nikon camera has a standard mini-USB socket, but requires a dedicated cord. Unfortunately the cord is in no way distinguishable from other USB cords with the same connectors---until I labeled the cord ("Nikon") with a blue tape tab. 5) Blue painters tape is great for temporarily taping up SIGNS. I frequently tape instructions to deliver persons to my front door. Caution: Multi-colored masking tape is available, and would seem terrific for color labeling things. It is, in some cases. However, most is "ordinary" masking tape which is hard to remove from most surfaces, more likely to harden and flake off, or become gummy. TO TEMPORARILY HOLD THINGS IN PLACE 1) Blue painters tape is great to temporarily hold wall LIGHT SWITCHES on or off. For example, sometimes I tape up the wall switch OFF when working on the corresponding circuit instead of switching off the breaker (which is generally recommended). When I go on vacation, I tape a wall switch ON, to keep the power on to a timer and floor lamp, so that it won't be turned off by my neighbor checking up on the house. 2) Blue painters tape is great to prevent the tuner wheel from moving on a small pocket RADIO. 3) Blue painters tape is great to hold the battery compartment cover closed on my MP3 player. When I need to replace the batteries, I pull off the tape, replace the batteries, and then replace the tape. 4) Blue painters tape is great for making re-closable STORAGE boxes. The "peelable"/"re-stickable" area needs to be non-porous. On a cardboard box, a piece of clear shipping tape can make a "re-stickable' area for this purpose. Fold over the end of the blue tape to make a tab. 5) Blue painters tape can be used to hold lengths of EXTENSION CORDS together. This is particularly useful when working out-of-doors with power tools. When you are done, it is easy to take the tape off. 6) Blue painters tape can be used to tape up wire FM radio antennas behind furniture. TO PROTECT THINGS 1) Blue painters tape is useful for covering holes in firm FRUIT. In my case, squirrels often take a single bite of a green mango. If taken inside to ripen, the mango will rot and/or generate a colony of fruit flies before ripening---but, if the hole is cleaned and then covered over with blue painters tape, the mango will usually ripen properly. I suspect that painter's tape would work well with melons, even if still on-the-vine. I find that I usually need to use 2" wide painters tape for this purpose. 2) A "tangle" of blue painters tape around a choice orange is effective in discouraging Baltimore Orioles. 3) Blue painters tape can be used to temporarily splice or INSULATE cat-chewed electrical cords. (But use Goop glue for permanent repairs).Amazing Goop All-Purpose Household Goop, 3.7-Ounce Tube #130012 4) Blue painters tape can be placed on the bottom of ceramics or other decorations to protect tabletops. A few strips of blue tape can turn an ordinary floor tile into a coaster. Felt bumpers are better for long-term use.Waxman 7295 Self-Stick Round Felt Pads, Brown, 3/8-Inch 5) Blue painters tape can quickly, temporarily, "BABY-PROOF" a house--particularly when visiting a relative for several days. You can use it to tape kitchen cabinets shut, and to cover electrical outlets.Mommy's Helper Outle
