Don't Try This At Home!

It’s time to decorate the pumpkins, as all the fun, ghouly trick or treaters will soon come-a-knocking. Wondering how you should exhibit your pumpkin patch? How about using rubber bands to create a fun and unique pumpkin display. You might be thinking: “Rubber band my pumpkin? Are you serious?”

Yes, quite.

Rubber band pumpkins make interesting table and door decorations. Give it a try and you’ll see why. An easy and mess free way to decorate...simply stretch bands around your pumpkins, creating a web. For interesting variations, paint your pumpkin and use different colored bands for different effects. Color combos like orange and white or black and white will help you make some eerie, dramatic scenes. For even more spooky fun, try putting a bunch of single color bands around the stem of one of your pumpkins. People will soon see your house is no average ghouly detour!

Before you gather up the kids and head out to that magical, little Halloween haunt, tell us how rubber bands have helped you. We’d like to thank Darla, the winner of our latest blog post. She receives a prize pack and t-shirt.

Thank you for participating in our “Stretch the Limits of Alliance Rubber Bands” contest. Remember to comment below!

“Got that Rubberband/Up on his toes/And then he wriggled it up/All around his nose,” ~Lyrics from The Rubber Band Man

I was just listening to a couple of songs that feature the word “rubber band.”  There are several with interesting behind the music tales.

Consider “The Rubber Band Man” by The Spinners.

Probably one of the most mentioned in radio, the song was written by Thom Bell and Linda Creed. It was intended to make Bell’s son, who was getting teased, feel better about his self-image. According to online sources, the song spent three weeks at number two on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100. It was also a top-20 hit in the UK Singles Chart.

Along with massive airplay, the song has a rather famous TV and film history. It was featured in the film “Stripes,” on the TV show Martin and Gina, and in an OfficeMax television commercial. Wonder Woman even sang it on the Muppet Show.

In 2004, T.I. from Trap Muzik recorded a version of the “Rubber Band Man.” In his video, he uses rubber bands to hold big wads of money together that won’t fit into a normal pocket. In an online interview, he said, “The song’s title is a reference to his habit of wearing rubber bands around his wrist….”

T.I. is not the only one to do this, either.  Jenny of Arkansas sent us this week’s highlighted picture. “I use rubber bands at the office all day long. I just can’t function without them. I keep a bunch ready for use on my right wrist,” she said. “I often go home and out with my BRACELETS. They have become my jewelry and they look great, too. They come in a wide variety of sizes and colors.”

She continued, “I am digging my new orange ones! Everyone that knows me knows I always have at least one band on.”

Whether they are on a wrist or a stack of cash, these "bands on the run" bring a lot of entertainment into our world---custom made for folks just like us.

Share your comments about rubber bands. We’d like to thank Mike P., the winner of our latest blog post. He receives a prize pack and t-shirt.

Thank you for being here and participating in our “Stretch the Limits of Alliance Rubber Bands” contest!!  Remember to comment below!

For those of you with a print subscription, this Sunday, when you step outside to grab the paper at your front door, you’ll see it.

“It” of course is a rubber band.

Regardless if the news is stinky or the award winning, hard-core journalism kind; let’s face it, nothing in the world holds a newspaper together better. That’s why the newspaper industry uses massive quantities of them each year.

In an effort to keep them either rolled up or folded together for home delivery, you’ll see an interesting array of rubber bands on newspapers across the country.

While rubber band use is as unlimited as the imagination, newspapers have most likely generated the most use, if not, the greatest use, for them.

Even so, we’d like to know, how do you use your rubber bands? Share your comments on our blog.

We’d like to thank Shirley Y, the winner of our August 22nd blog comment contest. Shirley will receive a prize pack and free Bandology T-shirt.

Thank you so much for subscribing to and participating in our “Stretch the Limits of Alliance Rubber Bands” contest!!  Remember to comment below!

Photograph: Michelle Hitt

Are you tired of the same old Christmas decorations you see in the same old stores year after year? Then it's time to pull out the needle and thread and get creative. From stockings to tree toppers and everything in between, the cool crafts you can make are endless. But before you start........maybe you should get a handle on the tangled thread in your sewing box. Just wrap a rubber band around the spools to keep the thread from unraveling.

Tell us how rubber bands make a difference in your holidays by emailing us at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Remember to comment below!

Did you know clothes account for over 5% of expenses for the average American? Don’t let that investment end up on the bottom of your closet. Many clothes just don’t want to stay on their hanger. If you have a particularly difficult shirt that just won’t stay put, try this trick with just a few rubber bands.

Simply wrap the ends with rubber bands and presto! No more slippery garments slipping off hangers. This trick even works for those zip up sweatshirts and hoodies that just fall off the hanger every once in awhile for no reason. You don’t have to battle to get them all zipped up, you can just wrap a rubber band around each end of the hanger to keep them in place. No more clothes on the floor!

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As the holidays draw near, I’m reminded of the many, often humorous, ways rubber bands make a difference in our world.  For instance, Mike, one of our blog commenters, was describing a scene at home where…the kids had grabbed a bunch of bands and left. Laughingly, he sort of whispers in his post, “It’s quiet…too quiet… I expect an ambush.”

It’s one of those precious moments parents love.

These memorable days with the kids, filled with happiness and simple things, like rubber bands, are times to cherish. From Thanksgiving preparations to tree decorating, rubber bands can help put a little more joy into your activities, no matter what you find yourself preparing or assembling with them.

Tell us how rubber bands make a difference in your holidays. We’d like to thank Melanie, the winner of our latest blog post. She receives a prize pack. Thank you for participating in our “Stretch the Limits of Alliance Rubber Bands” contest. Remember to comment below! Happy Thanksgiving, everyone. We are glad to have you here.

Special Note

Our website will be undergoing updates during the next few weeks. Your patience through delays is appreciated. We will be back on schedule soon. Thank you for being here with us.

Don’t be too nervous to wash those delicate glass pieces in the dishwasher. Instead of washing them by hand, secure wayward stemware in the dishwasher by tethering it to the machine's prongs with rubber bands. The rubber band will hold wobbly items to the rack and keep them from knocking over and breaking.

Tell us how rubber bands make a difference by emailing us at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Remember to comment below!

Distinguishing whether that is flour or sugar you are putting in your coffee can be a bad way to start your day. Stretch a thick rubber band around each of your canisters and label it with a permanent marker. You can also use them to mark the supply level, which will help you see at a glance if you need to restock your supply. Alliance rubber bands are moisture resistant, freezer safe, and microwave safe. They make a lovely durable alternative for labeling plastic containers and bags, glass and metal jars, and storage containers.

Tell us how rubber bands make a difference by emailing us at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Remember to comment below!

Thanksgiving is fast approaching and all I want to say is…bring on the baking. Whether it is green bean, macaroni and cheese, or sweet potato casserole, nothing completes the holidays like a freshly baked, home-cooked, side dish. 

As you gather ingredients at the grocery store in the days ahead, don’t forget to pick up a few rubber bands. Nothing in the world secures casserole dishes better! This year, when you’re reuniting with the family, transport the food knowing you will not be spilling the beans on your way to Grandmas.

With that said, get reacquainted with your kitchen. Turn up the tunes. Think about all those things to be thankful for and rest easy with your cream of mushroom soup. What you bake is going to be just fine…thanks to your packing and a few sturdy bands. Whether you use wrap, glass lids or plasticware, your food will get there safely.

Tell us how rubber bands make a difference in your holidays. We’d like to thank Mike, the winner of our latest blog post. He receives a prize pack. Thank you for participating in our “Stretch the Limits of Alliance Rubber Bands” contest. Remember to comment below!

Special Note

Our website will be undergoing updates through the next few weeks. Your patience through delays is appreciated. We will be back on schedule soon. Thank you for being here with us.

Rubber bands help with a lot of interesting craft projects, but did you know they are also utilized by the seafood industry? It’s true. 

Visit your local seafood establishment and you’ll see most of the lobsters have rubber bands on their claws. According to online sources, that keeps them from eating each other. They say lobsters are not by nature cannibalistic.

When trying to band a lobster, hold the lobster by the base of the claws. Always remove the bands before cooking.

Tell us about some of the interesting ways rubber bands make a difference in your world. We’d like to thank Kathy, the winner of our latest blog post. She receives a prize pack and t-shirt.

Thank you for participating in our “Stretch the Limits of Alliance Rubber Bands” contest. Remember to comment below!

SPECIAL NOTE

Our website will be undergoing updates through the next few weeks. Your patience through delays is appreciated. We will be back on schedule soon. Thank you for being here with us.

Exercise should be regarded as tribute to the heart.  ~Gene Tunney

In today’s blog, we’d like to highlight a couple of GREAT rubber band uses submitted by Cornelia from Arkansas.

“Recycle and repurpose” is her motto.

She says, “My trainer wants me to hydrate and have natural snacks. The band holds sticks and slices in baggies great--it even washes along with the band-aid brand adhesive strip! The asparagus come with their own band, but I find they stay fresher in the fridge if they are wrapped in paper towels with a rubber band to hold it all in place.”

So multi-purposeful.  Don’t forget to grab some rubber bands today.

We’d like to thank Tamar, the winner of our August 20th blog comment contest. Tamar will receive a prize pack and free Bandology T-shirt.

Thank you so much for subscribing to and participating in our “Stretch the Limits of Alliance Rubber Bands” contest!!

Remember to comment below!

April is here. It's time to start working in the garden. After a day of pruning, weeding and digging, you can put an end to misplaced tools by creatively organizing your tools.  Wrap two rubber bands around the cluster.

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Tell us how rubber bands make a difference by emailing us at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Remember to comment below!

Home improvement and craft projects go hand and hand with rubber bands. Not only are they durable, uses are unlimited. From school projects to fixing up the house, they help build "big projects" with ease.

Here's a great example. Mendy of Arkansas, who sent us this week’s picture, says next time you have a stripped screw, try using a rubber band.

That, my friends, is perhaps one of the best tips for home improvement projects you’ll ever receive!

Tell us how rubber bands have helped you with a project. We’d like to thank Bob, the winner of our latest blog post. He receives a prize pack and t-shirt.

Thank you for being here and participating in our “Stretch the Limits of Alliance Rubber Bands” contest!!  Remember to comment below!

When I think about my last paint project, I kind of smile. Simple as it was, I had to be extra cautious not to make a big mess. Working with paint is fun, but it can jump off the brush and onto just about anything in a matter of seconds—unless you utilize a few handy tricks to help keep the mess to a minimum.

Heather from Pennsylvania, the second contestant in the “Stretch the Limits of Alliance Rubber Bands” contest  submitted the picture below to show how helpful rubber bands can be in the paint process.

As demonstrated, stretch a rubber band around a paint can so that part of the rubber band runs across the center of the opening. Then, skim your brush across the rubber band back and forth to remove any excess paint.

This helps prevent paint build up and keeps the rim clean. It is also makes it easier to put the lid back on when it is time to wrap up the project.

Wondering what kind of rubber band is best suited for the “Ol’ Rubber Band Over the Paint Can Solution?”

Thick rubber bands are excellent for this, but several regular bands combined can be just as effective and cost efficient.

Just wrap rubber bands in different directions around the eggs before dunking them in egg dye. Cool patterns will appear.

Tell us how rubber bands make a difference by emailing us at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Remember to comment below!

Many baseball players search for ways to improve their swings. Rubber bands can help with that. Simply place the rubber bands onto the barrel of the bat about 3 inches apart centered on the sweet spot. The rubber bands will serve as a visual cue to help the hitter keep the sweet spot in the hitting zone. Be sure your hands are ahead of the barrel of the bat and that the sweet spot (as marked by the rubber bands) is on the ball. Swing Away!

Tell us how rubber bands make a difference by emailing us at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Remember to comment below!

Untied shoe laces can drive some parents crazy….especially during sporting events like soccer games. Kids often take themselves out of play due to unnecessary shoelace issues. Even a double knot won’t guarantee that the shoes stay tied. 

Next time use a wide rubber band to help keep laces tied and out of their way. The band can even improve soccer skills by providing a cleaner ball contact area on your foot for more accurate ball control. It also serves as a visual aid for passing and shooting.

"In our play, we reveal what kind of people we are." Ovid, Roman poet 43 BC–17 or 18 AD

Kids are wonderful.  With their funny little ways, they light up the world—especially kids at play. Think rubber bands don’t make a difference in the lives of children? Think again. Rubber bands are in almost everything they do. Oh, the games that they make possible, not to mention the crafts and hairstyles. From braces to improving fine motor skills, they are with our kids, every step of the way. Special thanks to Janet, who sent in this week’s blog post photo.  She says using a rubber band is great to help steady crayons and pencils.

Tell us how rubber bands make a difference in your world. We’d like to thank Jodi, the winner of our latest blog post prize pack. Thank you for participating in our “Stretch the Limits of Alliance Rubber Bands” contest. Remember to comment below! Happy Holidays!

Special Note

Our website will be undergoing updates during the next few weeks. Your patience through delays is appreciated. We will be back on schedule soon. Thank you for being here with us.

I love to read all the comments from medical professionals on the interesting ways rubber bands make a difference at the hospital. Consider blood work. Rubber bands can be found throughout that procedure.

For instance, the constricting bands or tourniquets are made of latex rubber and the blood specimen tubes used to collect blood are frequently organized with the use of rubber bands.

Vacutainers, tubes that hold sterile, disposable double-ended needles, also have a rubber stopper. While giving blood is not always a pain-free experience, “rubber” band products help the process significantly.

Tell us how rubber bands have helped you. We’d like to thank Chrywstal, the winner of our latest blog post. She receives a prize pack and t-shirt.

Thank you for participating in our “Stretch the Limits of Alliance Rubber Bands” contest. Remember to comment below!

This weekend, I am running the Race For The Cure with my fellow co-workers. Members of our team, “Hog Wild For A Cure,” seem pretty excited.

This is my second major race. From what I have seen of these kinds of events, first aid stations are a good idea. Hopefully, everyone will enjoy a safe and accident free Race for the Cure. In the event that something does come up, it is nice to know that there will be plenty of medical staff around.

When it comes to bandaging up the unexpected, there are a number of ways that rubber bands come to the rescue. One of the best ways is the emergency splint. If the first aid kit is not fully stocked, use a couple of rubber bands to anchor a Popsicle stick to your injured hand.

It’s just one more way rubber bands make your world better. We’d like to thank Claudette, the winner of our latest blog post. She receives a prize pack and t-shirt.

Thank you for participating in our “Stretch the Limits of Alliance Rubber Bands” contest. Remember to comment below!

Erasers. Swim Caps. Balloons. Rubber Bands. They all have something in common. It’s called Latex and in some cases it can cause allergic reactions. Latex Allergy Awareness Week is observed nationally each October.  Believe it or not, 8-17% of healthcare workers, up to 68% of children with spina bifida, those who have had or will have multiple surgeries are all at risk. Overall, about three million people could potentially develop allergies from exposure to latex products.

While most people might not know it, you can now purchase Latex Free Rubber Bands. That way, you can utilize rubber bands for all the neat projects you want without fear of itching, breaking out, or going into shock. The American Latex Allergy Association (A.L.E.R.T., Inc.) is a national, nonprofit, 501(c)3 organization whose mission is to create awareness of latex allergy through education and to provide support to individuals who have been diagnosed with latex allergy. For more information on latex allergies, please visit www.latexallergyresources.org as Latex Allergy Awareness Week approaches to learn about the other latex allergy educational materials and programs available during that week.

Tell us how you use your rubber bands. We’d like to thank Tari, the winner of our latest blog post. She receives a prize pack and t-shirt.

Thank you for participating in our “Stretch the Limits of Alliance Rubber Bands” contest. Remember to comment below!

From typing to crafts to pulling that little piece of hair back from your face, we utilize our fingers for an unlimited number of tasks. While it’s fun to immerse our hands in daily projects, all that pecking, grabbing, and bending creates little stresses that sometimes lead to bigger challenges…like carpal tunnel.

This is why we need a few rubber bands in easy to locate places. A few on the spot exercises can sure help stretch your fingers, build resistance, and strengthen your muscles. They also provide good therapy for those who already suffer with various aches and pains.

If your fingers need some rehab, simply wrap a rubber band around the top of your fingers. Bring your fingertips together. Then open your fingers to get them as far away from each other as possible. The rubber band will help to provide resistance. Bring your fingertips slowly back toward each other, stopping while the band is still taut. Doing this exercise again and again can lead to many things, such as less pain and more strength.

Keep a rubber band with you and practice these exercises in your free time. You’ll enjoy adjusting the tension to your preferences, knowing that you can add and take away bands at your leisure.

Bandology would like to congratulate Tracy P., our latest blog comment winner. Be sure to comment on this blog.

Do you find yourself at the office with a stack of papers to sort? Don’t risk a paper cut. A homemade rubber band thimble is easy to create, will protect from nicks, and will help you sort sheets with ease. Simply wrap a rubber band around your index finger. You’ll have an instant “thimble.” With that extra grip, you'll fly through stacks of paper, magazines, and books.

Tell us how rubber bands hold things together in your world. We’d like to thank Kim, the winner of our latest blog post. She receives a prize pack and t-shirt.

Thank you for participating in our “Stretch the Limits of Alliance Rubber Bands” contest. Remember to comment below!

SPECIAL NOTE

Our website will be undergoing updates through the next few weeks. Your patience through delays is appreciated. We will be back on schedule soon. Thank you for being here with us.

This Friday, in honor of Manufacturing Day, Alliance Rubber Company is sponsoring a movie premiere. The film we are bringing to the big screen is based on a book written by Peter Navarro. His award-winning documentary is all about manufacturing.

As part of our upcoming festivities, the film’s producer sent me several movie posters, neatly rolled up in a mailing container.  A look at all of them served as a reminder at how rubber bands keep your posters and blue prints in tact. Need to store some prints neatly? Rubber bands are a great way to do it.

Tell us how you use your rubber bands. We’d like to thank Karen, the winner of our latest blog post. She receives a prize pack and t-shirt.

Thank you for participating in our “Stretch the Limits of Alliance Rubber Bands” contest. Remember to comment below!

Florists know the feeling. While working with all the beautiful flowers, your hands get wet. Someone calls. You grab a pen to take a message. It goes flying and lands in your coffee. You reach for your cup. Suddenly, it spills. Yikes!! You look around and think…all of this because you couldn’t get a grip on your pen! 

Sounds crazy, but it happens. That’s why you need rubber bands. They keep your writing utensils safe and dry. They also help you avoid the messes.

Charlene, of Alabama, who sent us this week’s picture, says, “I have discovered that stretching a rubber band over a pen or pencil makes a great gripper…”

She’s right, too. Wrapping a rubber band around the base of your pencil or pen, where you like to hold it, will make it much more comfortable and a lot less slippy! Tell us how rubber bands have helped you with a project.

We’d like to thank Steve, the winner of our latest blog post. He receives a prize pack and t-shirt.

Thank you for being here and participating in our “Stretch the Limits of Alliance Rubber Bands” contest!!  Remember to comment below!

There’s a famous scene in a movie that’s been on my mind. It’s about a man, sitting on a tour bus, counting money. There is a performer. A concert. Stacks and stacks of money. I’m certain there must be a bunch of rubber bands, too.

Money is nice. Sometimes we’re even fortunate to have a wad of it, like in the movies. When and if that happens, rubber bands are wonderful to have handy. Banks and financial institutions need them. So much so that they sometimes order what’s called “money bands.” These special “rubber bands” are made exclusively for stacks of cash.

One of my co-workers, Dennis, brought a money band to me this afternoon. It was a special order. As shown in the picture he submitted, it reads, “Jack Arnold” and is even autographed.

Your own personalized money bands...who would have thought. Just one more way rubber bands help hold your world together.

We’d like to thank Tim, the winner of our latest blog post. He receives a prize pack and t-shirt.

Thank you for being here and participating in our “Stretch the Limits of Alliance Rubber Bands” contest!!  Remember to comment below!

Although Smartphones are made to look solid and well-built, unless you’re extremely careful or you just don’t care about your phone, it’s a good idea to keep it protected. However, a quick stroll through your local electronics store will be nothing short of overwhelming. There are hundreds of cases to choose from, varying in color, size and price. Most users are forced to sacrifice weight and looks for protection. They end up with phone so well protected……they can’t even remove it from their pocket.

There's an easier less expensive way to add some protection to your phone. Wrap it in a rubber "bumper." Take a simple rubber band that you probably have sitting in a junk drawer. It's a pretty clear-cut project: stretch a wristband around the edge of your phone and presto, you're done. If you're handy with an X-Acto knife, you can cut holes for the headphone jack, mute switch, dock connector, and so on. Neon colors look the best.

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Americans spend just over 2.5 hours in their car every day. With everyone spending so much time in their car, it’s not hard to see how easily seats and floor boards get cluttered with receipts, directions, business cards, etc. You can defeat that muddled mess by snapping a couple of rubber bands around the sun visors of your car. Now you will have a handy spot to slip toll receipts, directions, pens, even a pair of sunglasses.

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How many times have you dropped a slippery shampoo or conditioner bottle while you're in the shower? I have. If it hits your foot, it can hurt so badly that you think you've broken a toe. Make those bottles easier to grasp by stretching a few rubber bands around the body of the container. Then you can grip the rubber bands, even if your hands are wet or sudsy. This trick works to make any bottle -- glass or plastic -- easier to grip and hold.

Tell us how rubber bands make a difference in your holidays by emailing us at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Remember to comment below!

Tis’ the season for entertaining and decorating! Amid Christmas gatherings, your friends, old and new, will feel at ease with some fun light displays. Homemade candle votives are affordable and create a romantic atmosphere without depleting the budget.

To begin, simply gather up some bands. Select a few unique glass or votive holders. Position your bands in fun patterns. Spray paint with a gloss. Allow to dry and remove. Easy as pie and makes a pretty glow for holiday arrangements. Place around your home or deliver them personally as gifts to your favorite friends. A little holiday light from one home to another... at a fraction of the cost.

Tell us how rubber bands make a difference in your world this holiday. We’d like to thank Corey, the winner of our latest blog post prize pack.

Thank you for participating in our “Stretch the Limits of Alliance Rubber Bands” contest.

Happy Holidays!

Special Note: Our website will be undergoing updates during the next few weeks. Your patience through delays is appreciated. We will be back on schedule soon. Thank you for being here with us.

"In times of great stress or adversity, it's always best to keep busy, to plow … your energy into something positive." Lee Iacocca

Need an outlet to take your mind off your troubles? Why not grab a bag of rubber bands… They can help.

Charles Mayo, a doctor who established the Mayo Clinic, a not-for-profit medical practice and research organization that specializes in treating difficult medical cases, once said of stress, that, “…. it affects the circulation, the heart, the glands, the whole nervous system, and profoundly affects heart action."

To avoid the build up, let rubber bands help you redirect your energy. As one online source suggest, simply get a bag of bands. Sit down. Get some scissors and cut. Once you have released your frustration through cutting, try tying the strands together. Create your own personal art while letting the stress roll off your shoulders.

“The trick is to let go of what is bothering you by making use of something you always have on hand.”

Rubber bands: What will you create with yours? Hopefully, you won't have to create anything at all. Either way, it's good to know they are there if you need them.

Tell us how rubber bands make a difference in your world. We’d like to thank Mike, the winner of our latest blog post. He receives a prize pack. Thank you for participating in our “Stretch the Limits of Alliance Rubber Bands” contest. Remember to comment below!

Special Note

Our website will be undergoing updates through the next few weeks. Your patience through delays is appreciated. We will be back on schedule soon. Thank you for being here with us.