Balloons

Take a look at all the amazing things you can accomplish with balloons.

From Extraordinary Uses for Ordinary Things

Change Text Size

Change Text Size
|
Bookmark

Bookmark

Del.icio.us
Digg
Reddit
Facebook
StumbleUpon
|
Print
|
E-Mail

Related Topics:

Protect a bandaged finger

Bandaging an injury on your finger is easy; keeping the bandage dry as you go about your day can be a different story. But here's the secret to skipping those wet-bandage changes: Just slip a small balloon over your finger when doing dishes, bathing, or even simply washing your hands.

Keep track of your child

Those inexpensive floating helium-filled balloons sold in most shopping malls can be more than just a treat for a youngster; they could be invaluable in locating a child who wanders off into a crowd. Even if you keep close tabs on your kids, you can buy a little peace of mind by simply tying (though not too tightly) a balloon to your child's wrist on those weekend shopping trips.

Make a party invitation

How's this for an imaginative invitation? Inflate a balloon (for sanitary purposes, use an electric pump, if possible). Pinch off the end, but don't tie a knot in it. Write your invitation details on the balloon with a bright permanent marker; make sure the ink is dry before you deflate it. Place the balloon in an envelope, and mail one out to each guest. When your guests receive it, they'll have to blow it up to see what it says.

Transport cut flowers

Don't bother with awkward, water-filled plastic bags and such when traveling with freshly cut flowers. Simply fill up a balloon with about 1/2 cup water and slip it over the cut ends of your flowers. Wrap a rubber band several times around the mouth of the balloon to keep it from slipping off.

Use as a hat mold

To keep the shape in your freshly washed knit cap or cloth hat, fit it over an inflated balloon while it dries. Use a piece of masking tape to keep the balloon from tilting over or falling onto the ground.

Mark your campsite

Bring along several helium-filled balloons on your next camping trip to attach to your tent or a post. They'll make it easier for the members of your party to locate your campsite when hiking or foraging in the woods.

Make an ice pack

Looking for a flexible ice pack you can use for everything from icing a sore back to keeping food cold in your cooler? Fill a large, durable balloon with as much water as you need and put it in your freezer. You can even mold it to a certain extent into specific shapes -- for example, put it under something flat like a box of pizza if you want a flat ice pack for your back. Use smaller latex balloons for making smaller ice packs for lunch boxes, etc.

Freeze for cooler punch

To keep your party punch bowl cold and well filled, pour juice in several balloons (use a funnel) and place them in your freezer. When it's party time, peel the latex off the ice, and periodically drop a couple into the punch bowl.

Repel unwanted garden visitors

Put those old deflated shiny metallic balloons -- the ones lying around your house from past birthday parties -- to work in your garden. Cut them into vertical strips and hang them from poles around your vegetables and on fruit trees to scare off invading birds, rabbits, and squirrels.

Protect your rifle

A dirty rifle can jam up and just be downright dangerous to use. But you can keep dust and debris from accumulating in your rifle barrel by putting a sturdy latex balloon over the barrel's front end.