Few household annoyances are as frustrating as trying to find the end of a roll of tape. Whether it’s masking tape, packing tape, or cellophane tape, the end always seems to disappear just when you need it most. You peel, pick, and squint, only to waste time and damage your fingernails. But there’s a simple…
That little plastic tab, usually tossed aside after finishing a loaf of bread, makes a perfect tape end marker. All you need to do is stick it at the end of the tape roll after your last use. This gives you a small, rigid handle that keeps the tape from folding back onto itself and makes the end instantly visible and easy to grab the next time around. No more scraping with your nails or losing inches of tape in the struggle.
Put an End to Your Tape Troubles
This hack couldn’t be easier. All you need is a roll of tape and a plastic bread tab. Here’s how it’s done:
1. Cut your tape as usual, making sure the end doesn’t re-adhere to the roll.
2. Place the plastic bread tab directly onto the sticky end of the tape. Position it so only about half of the tab makes contact with the tape’s end.
3. Press down gently on the bread tab so it sticks to the tape.
4. Every time you cut a piece of tape, remove the tab and re-adhere it to the new end of the tape roll.
The next time you reach for the tape, the bread tab will act as a convenient pull-tab. It’s easy, clean, and actually pretty satisfying.
More from our network
House Outlook is part of Optimism, which publishes content that uplifts, informs, and inspires.
Bonus Hack: Tame Tangled Cords With Bread Tabs
If you’re swimming in a sea of mystery cords, bread tabs come to the rescue again. Use them as DIY cord labels. Just write the name of the device (e.g., “phone charger” or “lamp”) on the tab with a marker, and clip it onto the cord near the plug. No more guessing which black wire goes where.
Bread tabs are a perfect example of how a tiny, overlooked item can become a multitasking hero around the house. So, before you toss that next bread tab, consider keeping it in a junk drawer or container for small household fixes.
