20 Useless Facts You Probably Didn’t Need To Know
11. Rubber Bands Last Longer If You Put Them In The Fridge
It's unlikely you'll ever find the need to prolong the lifespan of your rubber band collection, but should the need arise then a nifty solution awaits. The rubber used in those handy bands is prone to crystallisation over time; that's why the things become 'dry' or inflexible the more you use them.
This has everything to do with temperature. Storing your rubber bands in cooler conditions (like a refrigerator) slows down the conversion of rubber to crystal and means they stay in better shape for longer. Supposedly, the disintegration of the things we use to keep money in neat little bundles is a pressing concern for science.
Those smart cookies in labs have also figured out that putting bands in the oven helps too. It seems temperature extreme doesn't matter so long as it's very cold or extremely hot.
Now you know.