As the festive season approaches, a mountain of gifts waiting to be wrapped can lead to a common domestic crisis: running out of sticky tape at the worst possible moment. Fortunately, the UK's consumer champion, Which?, has revealed a brilliant solution that eliminates the need for cellotape entirely.
The Step-by-Step Guide to Tape-Free Wrapping
Last year, Which? shared a clever tutorial on Instagram that demonstrates how to achieve perfectly wrapped presents using just paper and a simple folding technique. The process begins by carefully measuring the gift. You should measure all four sides of the present with your wrapping paper, cutting the paper to size while leaving a little extra material.
The magic happens with strategic folding. First, pull one corner of the paper over the edge of the gift. Then, score the excess paper on both sides to create crisp fold lines. The next step involves bringing the corners up to form the box shape. Finally, at the top of the gift, you push the paper up, fold it over, and tuck the excess into the pocket that remains, creating a secure, neat finish without a single piece of tape.
Public Reaction and Additional Festive Tips
The revelation sparked significant buzz on social media, with many users expressing a mixture of admiration and frustration for the years they had spent relying on tape. One person commented, "*Sees this after spending the ENTIRE day wrapping presents*", highlighting the perfect timing of this discovery. Another user joked about their lack of patience, while a different individual praised the idea as a "good idea to save tape."
This nifty wrapping trick is not the only expert advice available for a smoother Christmas. Other specialists have weighed in with seasonal tips. For instance, GardeningExpress.co.uk founder Chris Bonnett provided guidance in 2024 on extending the life of a Christmas tree. He advised choosing a healthy tree from a trustworthy retailer, giving the trunk a fresh cut before placing it in water, and keeping it away from heat sources like fireplaces and radiators.
In a separate money-saving tip, Martin Lewis' MoneySavingExpert (MSE) previously encouraged Brits to switch to LED Christmas lights. Their specialists calculated that running a 100-bulb string of LED lights for six hours a day over a month would cost roughly 15p, compared to the significantly higher cost of traditional incandescent bulbs.
A Sustainable and Stress-Free Approach to Christmas
With Christmas now just over a month away, this tape-free wrapping method from Which? offers more than just a solution to a logistical problem. It promotes a less wasteful, more economical, and potentially less stressful approach to the festive preparations. By forgoing single-use plastic tape, households can also take a small step towards a more sustainable holiday, making this clever trick a gift in itself.
