If you are the type who prefers to fix things yourself, you probably already have a few tricks up your sleeve. Maybe you know how to loosen a stripped screw or avoid hitting your thumb when hammering. But what if your luck runs out? What if you are halfway through hanging a shelf and realize you forgot your level?
We have all been there. The hammer slips. The nail bends. The bolt is stuck fast.
These five simple tricks can turn your luck around. They require little more than items you likely already have in your kitchen or junk drawer. Here is how to handle common hardware dilemmas without calling a pro.
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Fix Loose Screws Without New Holes
A screw that is loose barely grips the material. If you cannot reposition it to drill a new hole, you still have options.
Remove the screw completely. Wrap a few strands of very fine wire or fine steel wool around the threads. Screw it back into the old hole. The added material fills the gaps and restores grip.
Want the screw to go in easier? Twist it into a bar of soap first. The soap acts as a lubricant. It allows the threads to bite into the wood without stripping.
If the hole is stripped and too big for the screw threads to hold, try a wooden match. Slide the match into the hole. Screw the fastener in over it. The wood of the match fills the space and gives the screw something to bite into.
Hammer Nails Without Hitting Your Thumb
Hitting your thumb with a hammer is a rite of passage for DIYers. Avoid it with a pocket comb.
Slip the nail between the teeth of the comb. Hold the comb. Hammer the nail. The comb holds the fastener steady. Your fingers stay out of harm’s way.
A bobby pin, paper clip, or pair of tweezers works too. They all serve the same purpose: holding the nail while you strike.
For tight or hard-to-reach spots, use modeling clay. Or use a wad of chewed gum if you are out of clay. Press the nail into the gum. It holds the nail in place for the first few blows. Once it is started, you can grip it with pliers or your fingers.
Loosen Rusted Bolts and Nuts
A rusted bolt can seem stuck forever. Don’t get frustrated. You can loosen it with household liquids.
Pour cola, lemon juice, or 3 percent hydrogen peroxide over the rusted nut or bolt. Wait half an hour. The acid in these liquids eats away at the rust. After waiting, the fastener should turn freely.
This works for stubborn screws too. Try white vinegar, kerosene, or ammonia for particularly tight screws.
Pouring acid-based liquids on rust breaks down oxidation. It is a chemical reaction that frees stuck metal.
Safety matters here. Kerosene is flammable. Do not use it near an open flame. Ammonia requires good ventilation. Crack a window. Extinguish all fires. Then pour. You will be amazed at the ease with which the bolt gives way.
Level Without a Carpenter’s Level
Putting up a shelf without a level is risky. You might think you can “eye-ball it.” Just don’t plan on putting anything that rolls on the shelf. Antique marbles will not stay put if it is tilted.
Skip the hardware store trip. Use a tall, straight-sided jar. A green olive jar with a tight-fitting lid works well.
Fill the jar three-quarters full with water. Lay it on its side on the surface you want to level. Keep a hand on it so it does not roll off and shatter.
When the air bubble in the water is centered, the surface is level. The water finds its own level. If the jar is level, the surface is level.
This method saves money and keeps your marbles in place.
Final Thoughts
Home repair does not require expensive tools or perfect luck. It requires knowing where to look for solutions.
A pocket comb. A bar of soap. A jar of water.
You will not hit your thumb again. You will not leave shelves crooked. You might still strip a screw or strip a joint. That is part of the process.
But you will know how to fix it. And that is enough.
