Use This Genius Trick To Turn Your Tape Measure Into A Handy Notepad

Imagine using a measuring tape to determine a length or distance only to come up empty-handed when you reach for a notepad or a scrap of paper to jot down the calculations. Besides being annoying, this also costs you precious time as you'll have no choice but to measure the length again later (unless you have a photographic memory or are cool jotting down the calculations on your palm). Fortunately, you can turn your tape measure into a handy notepad with a genius trick.

All you need is rubbing alcohol (or vodka) to remove the label of your measuring tape and get rid of sticker residue, along with sandpaper to create a makeshift notepad. The best part, though? Your measuring tape notepad can be used multiple times since you can use an eraser to rub off previous calculations. This is in stark contrast to the masking tape hack, wherein you stick a few pieces of tape on the tool to jot down the calculations. Although the masking tape hack can help you in a bind, it requires a bunch of removing and reapplying tape, which this new genius trick does not.

To turn your measuring tape into a notepad, peel off the brand-name sticker on the tool and grab rubbing alcohol to remove the glue residue. Now, arm yourself with a 600-grit or 250-grit sandpaper, depending on how abrasive you want the surface to be. Once you have the desired sandpaper, use it to remove the sheen from the plastic tape's surface and give it some traction. Voila: Your handy notepad is good to go. Simply use a pencil to jot down the measurements and an eraser to remove them and make space for next time.

However, there is a caveat to this hack — it works best on plastic measuring tapes. So, if you prefer metal measuring tapes, this trick might not work out for you. Moreover, if the whole hack sounds like a lot of work, you can get erasable tape measure notepads that stick onto the tool. SCRATCHMax offers a set of three erasable notepads for around $5. As for removing the measurements, just use a damp rag (or lick your finger and rub it across the writing in a jiffy). Ensure you have a flat surface along the side of your measuring tool, or the tapes won't adhere well.