10 Creative Ways to Use a Label Maker

A label maker isn't just for office files. This magical little device is like the Swiss army knife of organization and can help with everything from meal prep to learning a new language.

Keep in mind: Price and stock could change after publish date, and we may make money from these affiliate links.

April 01, 2020

By: Laura James

Related To:

Shop This Look

Photo By: Cassidy Garcia

©Cassidy Garcia

Photo By: Cassidy Garcia

Essential Oil Rollers

As more and more people incorporate essential oils into DIY cleaners, bath products and aromatherapy, labels come in handy for homemade oil blends or favorite oils you want to bring on the go. We ordered these amber-colored glass rollers from Amazon and then used a template on the mobile app that works with the top-rated Brother P-Touch Cube Smartphone Label Maker to print these minimalistic, sans-serif labels that read "calm," "energy" and "immunity."

Shop the Label Maker: Amazon, $59.99

Meal Prep Labels

Step up your meal prep game this year. Whether you're making meals for the week or prepping more long-term freezer storage or canned preservatives in bulk, labels can help you remember when things were prepared, how long they're good for and what ingredients they contain. You can also use them for noting important food preferences or allergies, too. For meal prep, we tested and can recommend the Brother Genuine TZE2312PK half-inch (0.47-inch) standard laminated P-Touch Tape because they're water- and temperature-resistant. You can use them in the freezer, microwave and even the dishwasher. They also won't leave a sticky residue when removed.

Shop the Label Maker: Amazon, $59.99

Foreign Language Prompts

Are you or your kids trying to learn a new language? Leave reminders to practice by labeling everyday items around the house like a pen, a TV remote, scissors or notebook in the foreign language you're trying to learn. No, you're not going to go from zero to fluent just with labels, but the visual reminders will help you learn at least a few words really well. This is also a great exercise to give kids extra practice at home when they start taking foreign language classes in school or online.

Shop the Label Maker: Amazon, $59.99

Makeup Expiration Dates

Makeup can harbor bacteria and lose its effectiveness over time, but since makeup doesn't come packaged with expiration dates, it's a good practice to label items like mascara to remind you when you should use them up by or throw them out. It might even motivate you to use up the products you do have before buying more.

Shop the Label Maker: Amazon, $59.99

Plant Markers

While a classic Dymo Organizer Xpress label maker doesn't offer customization and is more manual to use than the P-Touch Cube, we love the look of the embossed, vintage-style labels. Embossed labels on wooden craft sticks make great herb markers. For outdoor garden markers, we recommend going with the P-Touch label maker and tape, as they're more weather-resistant.

Shop the Label Maker: The Container Store, $9.59

Open-Shelving Organization

Limited on pantry storage? Freeing up precious cabinet space often means leaving items out on counters or open shelves. The biggest struggle with open-shelving is keeping them organized and decluttered. Using glass jars and minimalist labels like we did here is a great, budget-friendly solution. Want more pantry organization inspiration? Check out our guide to the essential steps to take and the products we recommend.

Shop the Label Maker: The Container Store, $9.59

Corralling Cords

With constant updates and new technology, the number of cords we acquire can get out of hand. For areas of the home where you use a lot of plugs like your TV entertainment center or home office, adding simple labels will help you avoid accidentally unplugging your internet when you meant to unplug a lamp. Labeling is also a great idea for storing cords you may not need to be plugged in all the time. Never question if that random cord is for wireless speakers or a portable phone charger pack.

Shop the Label Maker: Amazon, $59.99

Seasonal Storage

Packing away seasonal items such as scarves and hats in places you don't look at every day like attics, basements or even under beds will help keep your closet decluttered. Labeling storage boxes will help you remember where you put what when you go to look for them next year.

Shop the Label Maker: Amazon, $59.99

Passive Aggressive Reminders

Do you have a roommate who, ahem, doesn't always remember to do their fair share of dishes? Leave them a polite, albeit passive-aggressive, reminder label that reads, "No dishes above this line!" in the sink for when it's definitely time to do the dishes. If you live with someone who always leaves the toilet seat up, may we suggest a label that says, "Put the seat down, please!"

Shop the Label Maker: Amazon, $59.99

Personalized Gift Tags

Want to make a personalized gift tag but have horrible handwriting? Use a label maker!

Shop the Label Maker: The Container Store, $9.59

10 Creative Ways to Use a Label Maker

Related To:

Shop This Look

Essential Oil Rollers

Meal Prep Labels

Foreign Language Prompts

Makeup Expiration Dates

Plant Markers

Open-Shelving Organization

Corralling Cords

Seasonal Storage

Passive Aggressive Reminders

Personalized Gift Tags

40 Clever Ways to Clean Up and Organize Your Laundry Room 40 Photos

15 Ways to Organize a Small Closet for Less Than $50

30 Creative Ways to Organize Spices 30 Photos

10 Purse Organization Ideas That Will Change Your Life

9 Creative Ways to Use Decals Around Your Home 9 Photos

30 Creative Wine Racks and Wine Storage Ideas 30 Photos

Related Pages