We Tested the Fan-Favorite Brother P-touch Label Maker, And Here’s Our Review
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When it comes to cleanliness, I run a pretty tight ship. I dust, clean the bathroom, and change my sheets weekly; I vacuum or sweep almost every day; I am constantly testing strategies for a fresh-smelling space; and we never go to sleep with dishes in the sink. So naturally, everything in my home has a place—but there’s one major caveat. I’m here to admit that the organization within my cabinets, closets, pantry, and drawers leaves a bit to be desired. It’s not messy, per se, but it’s certainly not streamlined. And after months of rummaging around trying to find what I was looking for, I realized it was time to make some changes.
So, you can imagine how thrilled I was when I received the Brother P-touch Label Maker to try, because it gave me the push I needed to not only be clean, but also ultra-organized. I put this little machine to the test to see how easy it was to set up and use, and explore how I could apply it in my own home. I was ready to find out if the simple act of labeling could make the difference I hoped—and here’s what I learned.
What I Received
- Brother P-touch D220 label maker (Note: You will need to provide six AA batteries separately.)
- Genuine Brother TZe label tapes in multiple colors
Assembly and Getting to Know the Machine
It’s super easy to get the Brother P-touch Label Maker going. Simply pop in the batteries and the tape cassette, and you’re pretty much ready to go. The instructions have plenty of additional info, like how to change the fonts, use the pre-set templates, print out labels, and more. But I basically just spent some time poking around the different features on the user-friendly keyboard to understand the run-of-show.
How I Used It
As I mentioned, my biggest headache is organizing the items hiding in plain sight. That means craft and hobby supplies in my cabinet, extra items under the sink, cords and spare parts in various drawers, and essentials for my dog. It was an organized sort of chaos where I could locate everything, but it certainly wasn’t a system anyone else in my home could understand.
Once I realized how easy—and honestly fun—it was to use the Brother P-touch Label Maker, I was on a roll. I reorganized my bins under the sink and labeled them based on type (cleaning supplies, additional toiletries, etc.). Then, I did the same with our primary storage cabinet that we both use, marking each drawer for medicines, spare linens, and beauty products. I finished up with my dog station, labeling the inside of each cabinet compartment so we always know where the bags, leash, coats, booties, and dog treats belong. (Yes, he’s spoiled!)
I’m pretty good about using bags to contain headaches like spare furniture parts and manuals for larger electronics. But of course I have no way of quickly knowing what these bags of Allen wrenches and loose screws belong to. I took an hour to parse through everything I’ve kept and labeled the bags to their corresponding item or need, so I can now locate them at a moment’s notice. My junk drawer has never looked better. Things started getting out of hand when I began labeling our laundry supplies and what they work best for—but I couldn’t help it! It was easy to get carried away.
In the end, not only did this process give me the opportunity to further declutter and streamline, but it also contributed to lightening my mental load. Now if other members of the household want to get their cold medicine, I don’t have to give them Google Maps instructions to the right drawer inside the cabinet. It’s created opportunities for everyone to understand where things live and where to put them back, as well.
Special Features
Obviously, I caught on to the basic usage quickly. But there are many standout features to note about the Brother P-touch Label Maker outside of the super-simple interface:
- Fonts and symbols: As a creative person, the option to change the font size, style, and formatting makes this so fun to use, and the same goes for the variety of symbols. It allows you to put your own personal spin on what you’re labeling. Instead of feeling like I have the same standard labels as you see on Pinterest, I can add a bit of custom flair that makes it more special. I almost saw it as more of a craft, rather than a chore.
- Preview function: By the same token, I also appreciated the preview function that’s available on the Brother P-touch Label Maker. It’s easy to lose track of your designs when you’re moving through the different styling options, so getting to preview how it’s going to appear altogether saves you from the trial-and-error of printing and reprinting until you get the right look.
- Label tape colors: There are so many more options than you realize! In my arsenal, I have black print on yellow, white print on black, white print on clear, black print on red, black print on green, and, of course, black print on white and clear. On its face, this feels like another customization option. But it actually contributes to overall organization: You can use different colors for different financial folders, for example. Or if someone has food allergies in your house, you can mark those items with a certain bright color. If multiple people use the same home office, you can designate each person a color so your supplies and paperwork never get mixed up. If you have children, each could have their own color for their supplies or gear. The label tape variations pack a powerful punch!
- Sleek and slim: I live in an apartment, so every inch counts. The actual machine takes up hardly any space and is super easy to stash away when I’m finished.
Final Review
The Brother P-touch Label Maker is an excellent addition to any organizing toolkit. It’s easy to use, offers plenty of customization options, and is under $50. You can find a way to put it to work in any room of the house, plus the creative applications seem endless. (Return labels? Gift tags? Scrapbooks or photo albums? So many ideas!)
If you need a device that makes your everyday life a little less hectic, this is definitely it.
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.
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