gistfile1.rb

# Include me in your ActiveRecord model and get string attributes
# trimmed/stripped before validation.
module TrimStringAttributes
  def self.included(base)
    base.class_eval <<-EOF
      before_validation :trim_string_attributes
    EOF
  end

  protected
    def trim_string_attributes
      attributes.each do |k,v|
        self[k] = v.mb_chars.strip if v.respond_to?(:mb_chars)
      end
    end
end