Non Slip Tape

(non USA readers, “shake a stick at” is an American colloquialism meaning “a lot”). And it can prevent falls and serious injuries, maybe even deaths.

You can quickly and easily apply it to slippery stairs for safety, either permanently or temporarily while you look into other non slip options. While deciding on, and finding, and ordering, and installing rubber or vinyl stair treads or carpet stair treads might take many days or much longer, you can go on down to the local hardware store or department store like Walmart or Target etc. and make your stairs less slippery and safer within minutes or hours at the most. Of course read the directions before applying, which typically recommend you apply the non slip tape to a clean and dry surface.

Non slip tape has many other uses besides stairs. I first used it maybe 40 plus years ago as a kid when I put it on my skateboard, and I last used it this past summer when I applied it to an outdoor deck. It’s great in many places, including on boat decks, motorhome and truck running boards, wheelchair ramps, in the garage, loading ramps, and a myriad of other places.

Not surprisingly, you can use it indoors or outdoors (again, read the directions and descriptions, especially before buying to make sure it fits your intended purpose).

It is available in multiple colors, including high visibility and glow in the dark (which is great for dimly lit areas like some outdoor staircases and decks among other places),  black/yellow striped “caution” motif, and many others as well as the classic black color. It’s available in thicknesses from under a inch to 6 inches and above. You can also buy it precut, for example with yellow with black “Caution” printing and stripes in 24″ by 6″ and similar sizes.

Some non slip tape is  water and chemical resistant, ideal for indoor industrial areas, and some describes itself as “mop friendly.”

There are plenty of home, business, and industrial uses, and a few dollars and a few minutes just might prevent you, an employee or customer, or even a loved one from having a serious fall and injury. It might also help defend against lawsuits, if nothing else  by making it less likely anyone will fall and be injured!