What you really need here is a SHIRT CARDBOARD! This innocuous everyday item is an essential household tool. But how many people know this? Like when was the last Bridal Shower you attended where someone gave the new-to-be homemaker a shirt cardboard???? I’m guessing NEVER. I’m not even sure some of the younger readers of this blog even know what I’m talking about. So for the uninitiated; a shirt cardboard is a fairly thin rectangle of card stock, usually white on one side and gray on the other side. It is approximately 8″ x 14″ and is placed in the folded shirts that come from the professional laundromat or dry cleaner. If you had a husband like mine, you would be well-acquainted with this item because my husband has LOTS and LOTS of dress and casual shirts all of which he sends to the laundry to be washed, ironed and folded, each with a shirt cardboard in the middle of the folded shirt.
It’s a well known fact that this handy dandy item is JUST NOT WELL KNOWN. I, myself only learned about its myriad uses in the last couple of years and as you all know, I’m no spring chicken and I have been a housewife, homemaker for a long long time. I bet you’re thinking this time she’s gone cheeky as in tongue in chic! But it’s true, a shirt cardboard is one of the most versatile household items I know, and everyone should have some because you can use a shirt cardboard to:
- Use as a guide to cut wrapping paper in a straight line with a razor
- Use it as a dustpan when you sweep the floor
- Put one or two pieces in the bottom of your acrylic sink to protect it when you are scrubbing pots and pans
- It can be an edger to when you are painting woodwork
- You can make a box out of one or two, to encase a soft item before you gift wrap it
- Scoop up cat vomit with a paper towel and a shirt cardboard
- Insert into an envelope to stiffen it when mailing a magazine
- It can become the backing in photo or picture frame
- Better than paper for your grandchild to draw on
- Cut into whatever shape you need to trace (ie hearts, pumpkins, stars)
- Perfect handy flexible ruler
- Tape several together and let your kids draw roads and houses where they can play with their toy cars
- Wrap Christmas garland and tree lights around a piece to prevent tangling
- And a easy to grab for cutting board – Not for food but everything else
And if you are of a certain age it makes a large handy fan for those moments.
Bill Ding and his band of clowns are the security patrol for this blog site. He is a favorite toy from the 50*s. By the way sometimes a blog is just an ego-maniacal stream of conscience.
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