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Sticky grip…I think I love you

May 19 04:39

They say that duct tape is the catchall product everyone should have in their junk drawer, but if you have a disability - hear me loud and clear when I say that sticky grip will transform your life, because it absolutely 100% will.

It was in SCI rehab when I decided there would be no sticky grip for me (I didn't want to use anything that made me look extra "disabled"), but that was 18 years ago when I was 14 years old and ridiculously self-conscious. I finally caved and bought "shelf liners" last month (aka “sticky grip“) after my PCA said to me, "Tiffiny, your wireless keyboard keeps slipping around on your laptop. Get your butt to the GD store and buy some sticky grip."

I made it to Home Depot and bought a roll of shelf liner (in black; they come in other colors and patterns too) for $4. After we cut a piece from the roll and placed it under my keyboard, I was astounded at how well it worked. So I began to think of other things I could use it for....and then I thought of the penultimate use - my wheelchair foot plate. Oh yes!

It’s been so so frustrating having to deal with my feet slipping and falling off my footrests whenever I hit a bump these past years (I never strap them down because I like moving and crossing them at my leisure). Having a solid piece of sticky grip covering each of my foot rests has completely solved this issue; it's almost weird how well it works (I really wish I would've known this years earlier, so please use my ineptitude to your advantage).

And of course there are tons of other uses for sticky grip/shelf liner. You can put it under anything on your counter, use it as a place mat, or even SMARTER, you can put it on your dashboard to keep stuff in place, like your cell phone or an external music device.... nothing too heavy (but it's gripping power will astound you).

My favorite use so far, other than my footrest use? Sticky grip under makeup compacts. Brilliant! Check out this woman's blog about life after a stroke, plus learn some other cool one-handed makeup tips while you're there.

Do you love sticky grip too? What other amazing uses do you use it for?

Links

- Buy shelf liner/sticky grip online

- Sticky grip uses for makeup application

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1. BlueZoneCJohn | May 19 05:49

I have used the gritty tape for years on my footplates (the black, sand-papery tape you see on docks, and the "step" sections of small airplane wings, from our friends in St. Paul (e.g., 3M), but the problem is, the grit eventually wears off. I'd be really interested to learn how long sticky grip maintains its stickiness in the face of dust, dirt, etc., in the context of foot plate use.

2. Tiffiny | Jun 04 11:47

Have you tried it yet? Let me know if it works!

Spin 2.0

By Tiffiny Carlson

Tiffiny Carlson Disability buzz, travel, fashion and dating — fun things to amp up everyday wheeling life.

Tiffiny Carlson is freelance writer and writes the “SCI Life” column for New Mobility. She's also a C6 quad from a diving accident that occurred when she was 14 years old. A lifelong resident of Minneapolis, Tiffiny has been a writer in the disability community for over 10 years and writes for several publications and blogs, as well as her personal blog BeautyAbility. Her work has also appeared in mainstream publications such as Nerve.com and Playgirl.