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A Sticky Tool

Duct tape is a special kind of tape with an interesting history. During World War II, soldiers needed a way to keep things in boxes from getting wet. An American factory worker named Vesta Stoudt figured out what to do. She made a waterproof tape that kept the boxes closed and the contents dry. The tape was made of three parts. It had a waterproof plastic top, cloth in the middle and sticky glue on the bottom.

The soldiers thought the tape was great, and they started using it for many things. They called it ‘duck’ tape for two reasons. First, water rolled off it just like water rolls off a duck’s feathers. Also, it was made out of a cloth called cotton duck. Soon soldiers started using ‘duck’ tape to fix boots, trucks and even planes!

After the war was over, the soldiers brought the tape home. Repair workers started using it to tape air ducts. Air ducts carry heated and cooled air through a building. This is how the name changed from duck tape to duct tape. Homeowners discovered it was the perfect tool to fix just about anything that broke. Clever people everywhere used it to fix air conditioners, heaters and leaking pipes. By the 1970s, duct tape had become a common and important tool. Astronauts even brought duct tape along with them to outer space!

People still use duct tape for home repairs, but it is used for even more things now. Duct tape comes in many different colours, and some people use it to make bookmarks, flowers and bags. Some people have even used it to make clothing!