20 ingenious DIY tricks for everyday life
Magnetic hammer: Stick a small, strong magnet to the side of your hammer. This way, you’ll always have nails or screws handy and can easily “fish” them off the hammer head without dropping them.
Rubber band for worn-out screws: If a screw is worn out and the screwdriver can no longer find a grip, place a wide rubber band between the screw head and the screwdriver. The extra grip often helps to loosen the screw.


Toilet paper roll as a cable tamer: Store empty toilet paper rolls. They’re perfect for winding up cables and storing them neatly. Label the rolls to keep track of them.
Tape as a drilling guide: If you’re drilling a hole and need to know exactly how deep, mark the desired depth on the drill bit with a piece of tape. This way, you won’t drill too deep.
Freezer bag for dust while drilling: Unfold a small freezer bag and stick it directly under the area where you plan to drill. It will catch most of the dust and dirt before it falls off.
Use dental floss for hanging: For lighter pictures or decorative items that will be attached with a nail, dental floss is surprisingly strong. It doesn’t tear easily and is almost invisible.

Walnut for scratches in wooden furniture: Small scratches in wooden furniture can often be “rubbed away” with a walnut. The oils in the nut fill the scratch and make it appear less visible. Simply rub a shelled walnut over the scratch and then polish it.
Ice cubes for dents in carpets: If furniture has left unsightly dents in your carpet, place an ice cube in the dent and let it melt. Once the water has dried, you can loosen the fibers with a fork or your fingers.
Bottleneck as a funnel substitute: If you need a funnel and don’t have one handy, cut off the top of a plastic bottle and use the bottleneck as a makeshift funnel.
Chalk for stuck screws: If a screw is stiff, rub the threads with a little chalk. The calcium carbonate it contains acts as a lubricant.


Frozen pipes in case of leaks: If you have a small leak in a pipe before you can repair it, you can temporarily place a freezer bag filled with ice cubes around the leak. The water in the pipe will freeze and temporarily stop the leak. (Only as a temporary solution!)
Smooth silicone joints with ice cubes: When applying silicone joints, you can smooth the joint with an ice cube before the silicone hardens. The result will be super smooth and clean.
Toothpaste for small holes in the wall: You can quickly and easily fill small nail holes in the wall with a little toothpaste. Let it dry and paint over it if necessary.

Foil roll as paint bucket liner: If you don’t want to dirty paint buckets directly, line them with aluminum foil or plastic wrap. After use, simply remove the foil and the bucket is clean.
Old toothbrush for hard-to-reach places: An old toothbrush is great for removing dust and dirt from hard-to-reach nooks and crannies, such as crevices or vents.
Hairspray for staining grout: If your shower grout still looks unsightly after cleaning or is easily stained, spray some hairspray over it. It forms a protective layer.


Cat litter for oil stains: If you have oil stains on garage floors or driveways, sprinkle a generous amount of cat litter on them. Let it sit overnight, then sweep it up. The cat litter will absorb the oil.
Bucket as trash bag holder: If you need a large trash bag for gardening or around the house, place a large bucket inside the trash bag. This will keep the bag open and stable.
Foil roll as paint bucket liner: If you don’t want to dirty paint buckets directly, line them with aluminum foil or plastic wrap. After use, simply remove the foil and the bucket is clean.
Old toothbrush for hard-to-reach places: An old toothbrush is great for removing dust and dirt from hard-to-reach nooks and crannies, such as crevices or vents.
Hairspray for staining grout: If your shower grout still looks unsightly after cleaning or is easily stained, spray some hairspray over it. It forms a protective layer.
Cat litter for oil stains: If you have oil stains on garage floors or driveways, sprinkle a generous amount of cat litter on them. Let it sit overnight, then sweep it up. The cat litter will absorb the oil.
Bucket as trash bag holder: If you need a large trash bag for gardening or around the house, place a large bucket inside the trash bag. This will keep the bag open and stable.

Masking tape for clean paint edges: If you’re painting and want a perfectly straight paint edge, first apply a thin layer of the base color over the masking tape and the wall. Let it dry before applying the actual paint. This will seal the tape and prevent the new paint from bleeding underneath.
Cola for rusted nuts/bolts: If a bolt or nut is badly rusted, soak a rag in cola and wrap it around the affected area. Let it sit for a few hours. The phosphoric acid in the cola will help loosen the rust.
Try these tricks – you’ll be surprised how much easier DIY can become! Is there a trick you already knew or one you’re dying to try?