Stretch wrap is one of those surprisingly useful items you didn’t know you needed until you have it. If you’re not familiar with stretch wrap, you’re not alone. I only discovered it a few years ago. Keep reading to find out why you want it.
What Is Stretch Wrap?
It’s like the plastic wrap you use in the kitchen when storing food, what we old-timers call Saran wrap. Stretch wrap is stretchier, comes in different sizes and usually has a handle. But it is not food safe, like the one in your pantry, so don’t use it to wrap a sandwich.
What It’s Used For
Stretch wrap is used to hold things together or keep them protected. It’s ideal for safeguarding items when shipping, storing or moving (more on moving below). It’s also great for items you don’t want to damage with tape or a rubber band, such as a poster or rug.
People have come up with some surprisingly clever uses for stretch wrap. For instance, I saw more than one person wrap their artificial Christmas tree for storage in the Amazon reviews (see more clever uses below). It’s perfect for protecting household items for transport, as I recently did when moving a television, and for securing items I put in storage, such as an old coffee maker.
How To Use It
To use stretch wrap, simply wrap it around an object a few times, tear it from the roll and stick it to itself. It’s that easy. No scissors, knife or tape are needed for the 5-inch wrap. Wider rolls, 15 to 30 inches, may be easier to cut with scissors, or get it started with a box cutter and then tear.
Features to Look For
Width — Depending on your intended purpose, choose the width that covers the most. I’m partial to a 5-inch roll for household items. But, based on your task, you might want a roll that’s 20 or 30 inches wide, to cover a couch for instance (see wrap sizes below).
Handles — Some wraps come with a spinning handle (or two), like a lint roller (or rolling pin), while others have cardboard handles that spin in your hands. For rolls without handles, plastic end caps called hand savers can be purchased separately. Hand savers will, quite literally, save your hands from getting cut or going raw from holding the cardboard center while the stretch wrap unrolls, spinning on your fingers.
Color — Clear is the most common but there are some colors to be had, whether for fun or for a purpose. The only color that will provide a degree of privacy is black stretch wrap. It’s better for hiding logos and personal information when shipping and private contents, such as items in a dresser drawer, when moving.
Gauge — This is the thickness of the plastic used to make the wrap. The higher the gauge, the thicker and stronger the wrap. Most personal use stretch wrap is 60 to 80 gauge.
Surprisingly Clever Uses
Here are a few of the surprisingly clever ways Amazon reviewers have used stretch wrap:
Use Stretch Wrap When Moving
As I mentioned above, stretch wrap is great when you’re moving. Here are some suggestions:
- Instead of packing all your silverware, take the entire silverware tray and wrap it along with the silverware. When you move into your new digs, unwrap the tray and put it in the drawer. Done, silverware unpacked.
- Another thing you don’t have to waste time packing and unpacking are the clothes in your dresser. Simply take the drawers out with your clothes in them and wrap each one so your clothing stays clean and safely inside the drawers. This may be an occasion to use black stretch wrap for some privacy, especially for your underwear drawer. Once the movers have your dresser in place, unwrap the drawers and slide them back into the dresser. Done, clothes unpacked.
- Wrap any furniture with doors or drawers to keep them from opening during the move and getting damaged.
- Stretch wrap is great for keeping loose items together, like hangers or pots with lids.
- Use stretch wrap to protect furniture from getting dirty or damaged during a move.
What Size Stretch Wrap Do You Need?
- 5″ — Duck with Plastic Spinning Handle — Clear
- 5″ — Sam with Cardboard Handle — Clear
- 15″ — Jarlink with 2 Spinning Handles — Black & Clear
- 15″ — Modern Innovations with 2 Spinning Handles — Black & Clear
- 18″ — International Plastics — Clear
- 20″ — uBoxes with Cardboard Handles — Clear
- 20″ — Pratt with Hand Savers — Orange
- 30″ — Pratt with Hand Savers — Green
- Hand Savers for Stretch Wrap Rolls — Various Colors
Are you thinking of all the things you can wrap? Let me know what you come up with.
All items are in stock (unless noted otherwise) at time of publication.
