DIY hacks
None of this is expert advice. It's what people worked out for themselves, usually the hard way — what actually helped, and what they'd tell someone standing where you are. Take what fits and leave the rest.
If you only read a few
Fill stripped screw holes with toothpicks and white glue for a secure repair.
It works well.
- Allow time for drying.
2 people, independently
To drill a large hole precisely, first drill a small pilot hole to guide the larger bit and prevent sliding.
A small bit won't slide as much, keeping the big bit from sliding.
- Do not use this method with flat spade style drill bits, as it prevents them from drilling properly.
one person who lived it
Use 3M hanging strips to secure rugs on hardwood floors.
It prevents sliding without staining or damaging the floor, and is easy to remove.
one person who lived it
Avoid giving cut flowers to someone you love.
It is a horrible metaphor to give something that will die.
one person who lived it
Apply shaving cream to the drill site before drilling to capture dust, then wipe it off when done.
Works like a charm.
2 people, independently
Place blue easy-release tape over the hangers on the back of an item, mark them, then transfer the tape to the wall to drill or nail through the marks.
You can check that it is level and move the tape around without issues.
one person who lived it
Use re-usable poster hangers that require only a single thumbtack.
They won't wreck your posters.
one person who lived it
Place non-slip padding underneath rugs as a low-cost alternative to adhesive strips.
It does not damage hardwoods.
- It may fail to hold if a light animal runs across the rug.
one person who lived it
Attach the depth-stop rod to your power drill to control drilling depth precisely.
It provides full control over how deep you drill.
one person who lived it
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Do not leave painter's tape on walls for more than one day.
2 people, independently
For large dry-mounted posters, use strong silicone-based glue like E6000 to adhere additional small boards and D-hooks to the back for secure hanging.
Plastic hangers are not durable enough and may rip through the foamcore board.
one person who lived it
Avoid using sticky tack on items you value.
It can stain or bleed through the objects it touches.
one person who lived it
Use an ice cream scoop to hollow out the inside of a pumpkin.
It works great for this task.
one person who lived it
Start treating carved pumpkin cuts on the day of carving.
To treat them before molds take over.
one person who lived it
Tape the nails or hooks used to hang items to the back of those items when moving.
This saves time by having the correct hardware ready for re-hanging.
one person who lived it
Mark the drill bit with a pencil or permanent indicator line to indicate depth, especially for multiple holes.
Tape can slip due to swarf, but marker lines prevent holes from getting progressively deeper until the mark wears.
- The marker will eventually wear off.
one person who lived it
Buy name-brand 3M adhesive products rather than off-brand alternatives.
Off-brand versions often fail.
one person who lived it
Use White Tac instead of Blu Tac when hanging items in student housing.
Marking the wall with other adhesives can result in significant costs.
one person who lived it
Use green painter's tape to mark drill points on the wall to avoid leaving residue.
it doesn't leave any residue behind
one person who lived it
Stick a Post-it note under the drill bit to catch debris when drilling into drywall.
- post it adhesive isn't strong enough
- painters tape keeps the bit from wandering
3 people, independently
- Place folded Post-it notes or taped paper below the drilling area to catch falling drywall dust for easier cleanup.1
Cut flower stems underwater.
This prevents air from entering the xylem and blocking water flow.
one person who lived it
Hang posters using small binder clips attached to thumb tacks.
This prevents sagging and drooping.
one person who lived it
Use Command strips to hang pictures or art.
It makes moving them easier without damaging walls.
one person who lived it
Leave a small overhang on posters when using adhesive strips so you can access the tab for proper removal.
The strip will not release properly unless pulled by the tab.
one person who lived it
Do not spray hairspray on cut flowers.
It makes the blooms sticky without providing other benefits.
one person who lived it
Consider using clay carving tools to get different shapes in your pumpkin carving.
They allow for varied carving shapes.
one person who lived it
Use battery-powered lights inside carved pumpkins instead of candles.
Candle flames dry out the pumpkin faster.
one person who lived it
Wear eye protection when drilling overhead.
Debris can fall into your eyes, causing significant pain and difficulty in removal.
one person who lived it
Draw pumpkin designs directly with a marker or whiteboard marker.
Whiteboard markers can be wiped clean with a wet napkin after carving.
one person who lived it
Buy fresh flowers from high-turnover retailers like Costco rather than local grocery stores.
Higher turnover correlates with flowers lasting longer.
- Based on one person's experience with their local Costco versus grocery store.
one person who lived it
Hold a vacuum cleaner hose without an attachment against the wall while drilling to capture dust immediately.
6 people, independently
Use a piece of cardboard as a template for mounting equipment to walls, especially when installing the same item repeatedly.
one person who lived it