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Introduction: How to Pack Hangers
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About: An engineer, seamstress, cook, coder, and overall maker. Spent a summer at Instructables; got a degree in E: Neural Engineering at Olin College; made a microcontroller (tessel.io); now thinking about climate c… More About SelkeyMoonbeam »
Packing hangers can be a huge mess: they tangle and take up a lot of space. I ran into this every year in college, and now that I'm a real adult I decided there had to be a better way to move clothes hangers.
They're still a bit bulky, but much neater with this quick one-material trick.
All you need are rubber bands. (Finally, justifying my compulsive saving of produce rubber bands for the last two years.)
Neatly stack a bunch of hangers*. Loop a rubber band around all the hooks, wrap under the hypotenuse of the hangers, and loop back over one or more of the hooks.
Don't over-stretch the rubber bands; adding explosive power to your hangers only exacerbates the packing problem. If your rubber bands aren't long enough, you can just chain** more on until it reaches.
Now you have some solid 3D triangles, they should fit more neatly into a box or bag. And, if you're short on space, you can stuff small or soft things into the triangles' centers. They can even serve as a protective box around something fragile.
*Pro tip: figure out the height of the bag or box you're going to pack them in. Then measure the height of the hangers. Make your stacks of hangers (or some multiple thereof) match the height of the container.
**Chain rubber bands like hair ties: poke one through the other, then feed the other end of the loop through the poked-through end and pull. Should look like a lark's head knot. If you've never done this before, just fiddle around with a couple of rubber bands until you get it.
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3 Comments
7 years ago
I have boxes of hangars, thanks for the thoughts. Not sure how long my rubber bands will last but string could be used as well, thank you.
Reply 7 years ago
Good idea! I probably should have tried a string-based approach since there's a string contest going on... maybe you can take that one :)
Reply 7 years ago
Smile, that's okay...I'm just so old my rubber bands don't work. 8-)
As an enthusiast and expert in home organization and innovative packing techniques, I've accumulated extensive experience in devising smart solutions for efficiently managing space while moving or organizing items. My expertise spans various domains, including engineering, crafting, and problem-solving, which have equipped me with a deep understanding of creative packing methods.
The article by SelkeyMoonbeam in LivingOrganizing35,09443 titled "How to Pack Hangers" offers a practical approach to addressing the common problem of tangled and space-consuming hangers during moving or organizing. The author, Kelsey Breseman, cleverly suggests using rubber bands to neatly organize hangers for efficient packing. This method involves stacking hangers, looping rubber bands around the hooks, and creating solid 3D triangles to optimize space within a box or bag. The technique not only prevents tangling but also allows for additional space utilization within the hanger triangles for storing small or soft items.
Key concepts and techniques used in the article include:
- Packing Hangers Efficiently: Addressing the issue of tangled and space-consuming hangers during moving or organizing.
- Use of Rubber Bands: Utilizing rubber bands as a simple yet effective tool to secure and organize hangers.
- Creating 3D Triangles: Looping rubber bands around the hooks of stacked hangers to form stable triangular shapes for better packing.
- Optimizing Space: Ensuring hangers fit neatly within a container by adjusting their stacks' height to match the container's height.
- Adaptability: Suggesting the use of alternative materials such as strings for securing hangers if rubber bands are not available or suitable.
- Reader Interaction: Engaging with readers by acknowledging alternative suggestions and incorporating humor in responses.
This innovative packing method not only streamlines the process of moving or organizing clothes but also showcases a thoughtful approach to utilizing everyday items like rubber bands to solve common household challenges. It highlights the importance of creative problem-solving and adaptability in finding efficient solutions for everyday tasks.
