12 Genius Ways to Use a Label Maker Around the House
This site contains affiliate links to products. We may receive commission for purchases made through these links. Price at time of publish date may change.
There’s no shortage of clever organization hacks out there. Underbed bins, baskets, storage furniture—it’s all important! But if you’re wondering what the real secret weapon to keeping your house streamlined is, we’ll let you in on the secret: it’s a label maker. Because ultimately, it doesn’t matter how many genius ideas you have. If you don’t know where something goes (or what something even is), you’re going to wind up tossing items in the first bin you see.
But a label maker can help make sense of the mess. And the best part is, a label maker can do so much more than the obvious applications. When you have a multifunctional option like the Brother P-touch Label Maker, the sky is the limit with how you can utilize it around the house. From helping your kitchen operate smoothly to keeping tabs on your kids’ gear, and even incorporating fun with the family, a label maker is the small-yet-mighty tool your home has been missing. Keep reading to discover all the cool and creative ways you can put it to work.
1. Organize Baskets and Bins
This is the simplest and most effective organization hack you’ll find. Labeling your bins and baskets makes it effortless to put everything back where it belongs, which results in everyone always finding what they need. Another trick? With the Brother P-touch Label Maker, you can also print symbols onto your labels, ensuring even the littlest helpers can figure out where to return their stuffies and toy cars after play time.
2. Add Important Dates to Food Items
There are tons of ingredients floating around the kitchen and it’s easy to forget how old certain products are. (That ketchup in the fridge could be two weeks or two years old—who’s to say?!) Avoid food fiascos by labeling spices, oils, and condiments with the dates you opened them. You can also apply this same kitchen organization mindset to your leftovers in the fridge or freezer, so you never have to second-guess if that soup is still good.
3. Give Remotes a Clear Purpose
If your house loves tech, then chances are you have multiple remotes for the TV, speaker systems, streaming sticks, gaming consoles, fans or AC units, and more—which can get confusing fast. When you label each remote, though, you eliminate that head-scratcher in no time. (And you’ll prevent someone from accidentally blasting the speaker late at night, too.)
4. Corral Kids’ Supplies
It’s a no-brainer to use your label maker to mark backpacks, lunch boxes, water bottles, and any essential that can easily get mixed up or lost. But you can also think outside the standard supplies and label your kids’ books, sports equipment, toys, craft kits, and more.
5. Clear Up Cord Confusion
Phone chargers, e-reader chargers, laptop chargers… The list goes on! And that’s before you even consider all the other types of cords running amok in the house. Get the chaos under control by labeling each cord so you know exactly what you need at a moment’s notice. You can also take it a step further and label power strips with info on what they control. No more flipping light switches or accidentally unplugging the TV to find the cord you need.
6. Put Your Spin on Presents
Yes, a Brother P-touch Label Maker can help with this, too! Whether it’s a birthday gift or a slew of holiday presents, you can use the variety of fonts, styles, and symbols to design pretty and personalized gift tags. It’ll make all your packages feel more custom and special.
7. Streamline the Pantry, Cabinets, and Drawers
A simple way to streamline these spaces is to put your pastas, grains, baking ingredients, and other high-use items into similar-style containers and label them appropriately. However, you can also go the extra mile and label your cabinets and drawer dividers, so everyone knows where the plates, forks, sheet pans, linens, and other odds and ends go. The Brother P-touch Label Maker makes it easy to maintain this process, as it can save up to 30 frequently used labels. That means every time you purchase a new container or switch things around, you can quickly find the same style label and reprint it with ease.
8. Avoid Travel-Day Disorganization
Labels are a great way to keep travel drama under control. Label your suitcases, packing cubes, medicine containers, toiletries, chargers, and anything else you’re bringing along. It’ll make packing easier on both sides and will let you see what you do and don’t have at a glance. Plus, the Brother P-touch Label Maker allows you to preview your labels, so you never have to worry about printing the wrong address on your checked bag.
9. Never Lose a Loose Item
Junk drawers exist to house all your spare odds and ends like extra furniture parts, batteries, manuals, vacuum attachments, and everything in between. The best thing you can do to eliminate the messiness is to place items in baggies or drawer organizers and label them, so you know exactly what you’re looking at. That way, when you actually do need that very specific screw for your table, you can locate it right away.
10. Save Worn-Down Products
You want pieces that’ll last a lifetime (or more than a year, at least). But labels and stickers on things like measuring cups and spoons, reusable spice containers, old boxes, and similar items can wear down over time. Use a label maker to mark everything clearly so you don’t have to ditch a perfectly good product that’s in otherwise great, functioning condition.
11. Perfect the Garage
We all know the garage is a magnet for mess, but it’s nothing a good label maker can’t fix. Label storage containers with seasonal decor and clothes, mark cabinets with the items you have inside, and slap important info on tools or electronics so everyone’s in the know. You don’t have to worry about the elements, either, as Brother P-touch Label Maker’s durable TZe label tape is water-resistant, fade-resistant, and chemical-resistant.
12. Have Fun!
A label maker is excellent for functionality, of course. But you can use it to celebrate the light moments, too. Hide little notes for your kids or spouse around the house or use the Brother P-touch Label Maker to label jars for group goals, like vacation or rainy day funds. There are also multiple types of label colors, like black print on red, black print on green, and many more, so you can assign each family member a different color and all leave each other reminders or messages on a shared calendar. Did your little one bring home a proud piece of artwork? Frame it and label the back with their age so you always remember. Does your partner surprise you with cards? Organize them all into a labeled folder so you never lose one. It’s a simple way to stay connected with your loved ones.
Megan Stein
Megan is the Senior Director of Editorial and Content Marketing for DrewandJonathan.com. She has over a decade of experience in the home and lifestyle industry, with previous roles at The Pioneer Woman, Country Living, and People magazine. She loves to inspire readers with beautiful, approachable design ideas, as well tips on how to bring their visions to life. She’s also shopping obsessed, and is dedicated to discovering the best products to make life easier, whether it’s testing a top-rated vacuum or the finding the perfect rug to complete your room.
⚖️ How We Choose What to Recommend
