When you need a secure hold in a snap, you turn to the good old rubber band. It's reliable, resilient and certainly affordable. For this week's new-use spotlight, check out a few more uses for this household staple. [caption id="attachment_29933" align="aligncenter" width="460"] Photograph by Bill Ebbesen[/caption] 1. Grip replacement: To keep a wayward cutting board straight and steady, snap a rubber band on either hand for secure footing. Works great at the edges of a clothes hanger as well, to stop blouses from slipping off. 2. Paint aid: If you've decided to touch up the wall, wrap a rubber band around the paint vertically (so that it dissects the opening at the top). As you pull the brush out, wipe the excess off by running it along the band. You'll have a perfectly loaded tool without making a mess of the sides of the can, making it much easier to shut when the job is done. 3. Stemware protector: Keep wineglasses from toing and froing in the dishwasher by binding them in place with some rubber bands. There's nothing worse than finding your favourite glass in shards after the wash cycle is done. Do you use rubber bands in a creative way? Leave a comment below.