Ideas for Bubble Wrap

From Halloween costumes to protecting kids from bumps and scrapes, bubble wrap has many uses around the house.

Bubble wrap was invented in 1960 by an inventor and an engineer who were trying to design a textured wallpaper with paper backing. What they came up with instead is the beloved plastic stuff that people of all ages love to pack with and then pop. Bubble wrap is one of those common household items with a zillion uses. Creative kids came up with ideas for a shock-resistant floor and cushioned wrist wraps for easing carpal tunnel syndrome. Keep the bubble wrap handy (right next to the duct tape) and strain your brain for even more bubble wrap projects.

In the Home

Moving? You can even use bubble wrap for its original (if boring) purpose.

Use bubble wrap to keep your toilet tank from condensing in hot, humid weather by lining the inside of the tank with the wrap. Cut window-sized sections out of bubble wrap to winterize windows in your home and keep the cold air out. Place a sheet of bubble wrap between your quilt and your top sheet to keep chilly air from getting into the bed on a cold winter's night. Using duct tape and bubble wrap, make your own bath pillow; cover it with a muted-color fabric for a prettier pillow.

In the Yard

Wrap fruit trees with bubble wrap to protect the trunk.

Use the duct tape again and tape three or four layers of bubble wrap together to use as a knee pad when weeding the garden. Dog houses and greenhouses can be insulated using bubble wrap. Unroll a long sheet of bubble wrap for a volleyball net and for that matter, make a lightweight ball for a rousing game of bubble wrap volleyball. Use bubble wrap as a blanket around and over your tomatoes to protect from them frost.

For Adults

When you know a winter storm is coming to ice up your car, place a sheet of bubble wrap over your windshield. After the storm, just remove the wrap and you won't have to scrape off ice. Use bubble wrap to cover outdoor spigots before temperatures drop to freezing. Wrap all outdoor pipes with bubble wrap and fix in place with duct tape to prevent pipes from bursting or freezing. Make yourself a comfy bleacher seat with folded layers of the wrap. If you camp with a tent, lay down bubble wrap and place your tent on top before staking it; the bubble wrap provides insulation and keeps out the cold and damp.

For Kids

While bubble wrap can provide comfort for adults, it can give kids hours of fun. If your kids like finger painting, try making mitts or gloves out of the wrap for a few hours of artistic masterpieces. Help your kids create unusual bubble wrap Halloween costumes. If the kids are going rollerblading, have them wrap their elbows and knees with bubble wrap for some extra protection. Wrap a bunch of layers of bubble wrap around their hands for boxing gloves.

References

• "LA Times"; Kids Popping with Ideas for Bubble Wrap; November 2007
• "Reader's Digest"; Extraordinary Uses for Ordinary Things: Bubble Pack; 2007
• ABC News, Chicago: Fun with Bubble Wrap