Yes — I found the exact DIY project behind that headline. The “other everyday item” is wide rubber bands. The finished project is a simple flexible cabinet latch made from flattened pill-bottle plastic and rubber bands. (DIY Everywhere)
What you need
- 2 empty plastic pill bottles, washed and completely dried
- 4 wide rubber bands, about ½ inch wide and 3½–4 inches long (DIY Everywhere)
How it works
- Cut the tops and bottoms off the pill bottles.
- Cut down the side so each bottle opens into a flat plastic sheet.
- Gently heat and flatten the plastic between heat-safe surfaces.
- Cut the cooled plastic into strips roughly 3½ × ¾ inches.
- Cut a small slot near each end.
- Thread a rubber band through the slots.
- Stretch the rubber-band loop around the cabinet handles so the plastic strap holds the doors closed. (DIY Everywhere)
⚠️ Important safety point
Don’t casually melt plastic indoors. The article recommends good ventilation and controlled, low heat, and says not to use cookware or food-preparation surfaces for the project. Also, these are intended for light-duty cabinets, not cabinets containing medicines, chemicals, or other hazardous materials. For child safety, a purpose-built safety latch is preferable. (DIY Everywhere)
So the viral “two-material” trick is essentially recycled pill-bottle plastic + rubber bands = homemade flexible cabinet latch.
