Mind Popping Things to Do with Bubble Wrap® After You Move Home

Congratulations, your home move is over, everything is unpacked.

It is nearly time to relax and enjoy your new home.

Nearly, because there is one last home moving task to tackle, the mountain of packing materials to get rid of.

It is then that the immortal home-moving question pops into your head: what to do with bubble wrap® after you move home?

Did you know? Bubble wrap® was invented in 1957 by Marc Chavennes and Alfred W Fielding as a wall covering. However, the idea never caught on, and in 1960 they founded Sealed Air Corp with Bubble Wrap® being their signature brand.

Throughout this article, we will refer to Bubble Wrap® (which is the trademark of Sealed Air Corporation) and the name by which most people refer to air-filled plastic packaging.

Well, bookmark this page because you are going to keep popping back time and again for more inspiration on things you can do with bubble wrap®.

From practical to fun, useful to creative, this guide on things to do with bubble wrap© after you move home will give you plenty of ideas.

So pop on the kettle and settle down to be inspired by all the uses we have found for bubble wrap®.

You may also like to read: What to Do With Cardboard Boxes After Moving Home. In this guide, we share fun, practical, and useful ideas about what to do with cardboard boxes after your home move.

9 Frequently Asked Questions About Bubble Wrap®

#1 Is bubble wrap® recyclable?

In most counties, you can recycle bubble wrap® by putting it in the plastics recycling bin along with your plastic bottles, but check with your local council first.

However, you won’t need to even consider recycling once you find out all the amazing uses for bubble wrap®!

#2 Is bubble wrap® toxic?

The air bubbles trapped within bubble wrap® are just that, air, so they are not toxic.

In fact, the air inside bubble wrap® is so sterile that the plastic bubbles are being used as test tubes.

However, the plastic is petroleum-based and gives off toxic fumes when burnt, and takes many years to biodegrade, although biodegradable versions of bubble wrap® are available.

#3 Is bubble wrap® a good insulator?

Yes, the air pockets act as air traps regulating the temperature.

#4 Can bubble wrap® keep things cool?

Yes, wrap your bottles of drink in bubble wrap® to keep them cool on long car journeys.

You can even put bubble wrap® on your windows to keep your room cool in summer.

#5 Can I use bubble wrap® to insulate pipes?

Yes, just cover the pipe in bubble wrap® and seal with duct tape.

#6 Can you use bubble wrap® to insulate a loft?

No, bubble wrap® is not breathable nor is it fireproof.

#7 Is bubble wrap® good for soundproofing?

Yes, you can cover the walls and ceiling of an entire room to soundproof it cheaply and easily.

#8 Is bubble wrap® waterproof?

Yes, you could even make a shower curtain out of your leftover bubble wrap.

#9 Can I use bubble wrap® as insulation for windows?

On a single paned window, bubble wrap® is claimed to reduce heat loss by up to 50%.

It is easy to fix bubble wrap® to a window, just spray the window pane in water, spray one side of the bubble wrap®, and lightly press the two wet surfaces together.

When the weather warms up just peel the bubble wrap off.

Save the bubble wrap® and you can use it again next winter.

You can use this idea to insulate greenhouses and your home.

Did you know? One minute of popping bubble wrap® reduces stress as much as a 30 minute massage.

You may also like to read: How to Dog Proof Your New Home. In this guide, we share tips on how to dog proof everything from fences to doorframes in your new home.

13 Practical Ways to Reuse Bubble Wrap®

#1 Prevent creases in trousers

Annoyed by those creases that hangers leave on your trousers?

Just roll some bubble wrap® around the hanging bar, bubble side down, tape it in place and voila, no more creases.

#2 Keep shoes and handbags in shape

Stuff shoes and handbags with bubble wrap® so they keep their shape.

#3 Prevent food defrosting

Line grocery bags with bubble wrap® to stop your frozen food from defrosting before you get home.

#4 Stop fruit bruising

Cover the shelves of your fridge with bubble wrap® to stop the fruit and vegetables from getting bruised.

It will also keep your vegetable drawer clean too.

#5 Protect plants from frost

Wrap plant pots in bubble wrap® to protect them from frost.

#6 Build a greenhouse or coldframe

Build a bubble wrap® greenhouse to raise your seedlings.

Just bend stiff wire into hoops and place over your seed trays, then fix your bubble wrap® over the hoops to create mini greenhouses.

Make sure you put a small slit in the roof of your greenhouse so that the plants can breathe and you can easily water your seedlings.

#7 Insulate your greenhouse

Line your greenhouse with bubble wrap® to keep it warm in the winter and cool in the summer.

#8 Kill weeds

Kill weeds in your garden by laying bubble wrap® as a blanket over the weeds.

After about six weeks, your soil should be weed free.

#9 Insulate your compost bin

The rise in temperature that the bubble wrap® will create will help decompose the contents of your compost bin quicker.

#10 Stop bananas going black

Wrap bananas in bubble wrap® and place them in the fridge to stop them from going black.

#11 Prevent condensation

Stop condensation on your water cistern by lining the cistern with bubble wrap®.

#12 Make comfy handles

Make a comfy handle for brooms and hand tools by wrapping them in bubble wrap®.

#13 Protect your car from frost

Cover your car windscreen with bubble wrap® in the winter to stop it from frosting over.

Did you know? On the last Monday in January, parts of the USA celebrate Bubble Wrap® Appreciation Day

You may also like to read: After the Move: How to Childproof Your Home Room by Room. In this guide, we go through each room offering tips to make your home safe for your children.

7 Creative Uses for Bubble Wrap®

What can you use bubble wrap® for when you are feeling creative? Here are a couple of ideas to get you started.

#1 Create a Bubble Wrap® calendar

Using a page per month, write the number of days for that month, spacing them so that the bubble wrap® bubbles cover each date.

Then glue the bubble wrap® over the dates so that they line up. Repeat a page per month for the whole year. Then have fun popping a bubble each day of the year.

#2 Create wall art

Inject the bubbles with paint to create wall art.

#3 Create a stained glass effect

Inject coloured water into the bubbles of your excess bubble wrap® and then fix the sheet to a window pane.

Inject the colour at the top of the bubble so that it does not spill out.

#4 Create a jelly mold

Make individual jellies by injecting liquid jelly into each bubble. Once the jelly has set, just pop them out.

#5 Create a stencil roller

Wrap an empty toilet roll tube in bubble wrap® to create a stencil for creating unique wrapping paper or works of art.

#6 Make a poppable eye-spy game

When going on a long journey, create a poppable eye spy game.

At the top of a sheet of paper, have colours of cars or objects.

Affix bubble wrap® to the sheet of paper, then each time you see a red car or a green traffic light, for example, pop the bubble.

#7 Make a shower curtain

For an effective shower curtain, just hang bubble wrap® from your shower curtain pole by threading hoops through the doubled over edge of the sheet bubble wrap®.

You may also like to read: Fire safety in your new home: Top tips and advice. In this guide, we share tips for making your new home safe and sound.

5 Fun Ideas for a Bubble Wrap® Party

If you are having a homewarming party and really cannot use or get rid of your unwanted bubble wrap®, why not have some fun with it?

#1 Have a bubble-popping contest.

#2 Wrap bubble wrap® around your feet, step in a bowl of paint, and have a painting competition.

#3 How about a fancy dress party with the costumes having to be made from bubble wrap®?

#4 Play Bubble Wrap® bingo. Write the numbers on the air pockets, which are then popped when the number is called.

#5 Make stencils for a children’s painting party activity. Cut out shapes for them to print or paint, or allow them to scrunch up balls of bubble wrap® to make abstract paintings.

You may also like to read: How to Throw an Unforgettable Housewarming Party. In this guide, we share tips on how to have the best housewarming party ever.

6 Tips on How to Get Rid of Bubble Wrap®

If you are neither creative nor practical, how do you dispose of bubble wrap®?

#1 There are plenty of free ad websites where you can donate your bubble wrap® to somebody who needs it, such as www.freecycle.org and www.freeads.co.uk.

#2 Give your used bubble wrap® to friends or family. Social websites are a great place to get the word out that you have bubble wrap® going free.

#3 Perhaps your local schools would like to use it in their art classes?

#4 Would the local allotment society or gardening club be grateful of it for insulating their plants and greenhouses?

#5 Offer it to local homeless people. Bubble wrap® is great for extra warmth and to add a layer of comfort for sleeping on.

#6 Sell your unwanted bubble wrap® on a listing site such as www.ebay.co.uk

You may also like to read: How to Make Friends in Your New Neighbourhood. In this guide, we share tips on how to get to know your new neighbours.

Good luck in your new home and be sure to visit our home moving blog where you will find lots of tips about settling into your new home and new neighbourhood.