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2022Levels. J ackson suggests you add t wo s izes o f levels to y our tool k it.
One should be six to eight inches long, and the other should be four
feet long. “The shorter one is good for hanging pictures or shelves,”
she says. “The longer one should be enough for greater spans, say
side-by-side shelves, or if you have a project like outdoor pavers.”
Five-in-one painter’s tool. This inexpensive gadget may
be t he Swiss Army knife of hardware. It l ooks l ike a putty k nife, with
its wide, flat blade, and it has a point for gouging, a square end
opposite the point and a curved cutout. Use it as a can or bottle
opener, a scraper, a paint roller cleaner, a screwdriver and more.
Khiel says it can even help unstick painted windows.
Utility knife. “Please don’t use a steak knife to open boxes,”
Busch says. A utility knife with retractable and replaceable blades
can cut through thick materials, including cardboard, rope, foam
rubber, heavy tape and more.
Cordless drill with interchangeable bits. The least
intimidating of all power tools is the cordless drill. Prices start at
about $35, and manufacturers typically produce them with
long-lasting rechargeable batteries. Even if you have to pay a bit
extra, get a full s et o f bits — drill, screwdriver, hex head, star head —
to make it a s versatile as possible. A g ood c ordless drill allows you t o
do a job much more efficiently than by hand, Busch says.
Magnetic stud finder. A stud is the wood frame holding up
your wall. When you go to hang a heavy item, you want to be sure
you are nailing or drilling into wood and not just drywall, so it
doesn’t fall. Electronic stud finders tend to give false readings,
especially on textured walls, Jackson says. Instead, use a magnetic
one (about $10), which you can move over the wall. Stud finders
should stick to the screws or nails in the wood framing.
Duct tape. A u niversal a dhesive, duct tape can s eal boxes, corral
cords, patch holes in a garden hose or spray faucet, mend a shower
curtain and more. And it comes in a rainbow of colors.
WD-40. This blend of lubricants and anti-corrosion agents
silences noisy d oors and hinges, lubricates locks, loosens stuck bolts
or zippers, and even removes crayon marks and other stains from
many surfaces.
Allen wrench key set. I f you h ave ever assembled a p iece of
Ikea f urniture, then you a re well-acquainted with t his tiny tool, also
called a hex key, used for turning bolts and screws with hexagonal
sockets, Jackson says. “I like mine on a ring, so you can easily find
the one that fits,” she says. Allen wrenches are useful for tightening
assembled furniture, towel rods and more.
Something to put it all in. W hether it’s a f ive-gallon p aint
bucket, a heavy-duty duffle bag or a toolbox with multiple shelves,
store e verything i n one p lace, n ot throughout your h ouse. When you
do need to make a quick fix, you want something that’s easy to tote,
so you don’t have to run around digging through drawers or
scouring cabinets.
Denver-based writer Laura Daily specializes in consumer advocacy and
travel strategies. Find her at dailywriter.net.
Chat Thursday at 11 a.m. Asher Kohring, senior buyer for Shades of
Light, joins staff writer Jura Koncius for our weekly online Q&A on
decorating and household advice. Submit questions at
live.washingtonpost.com.
At Home newsletter Go to the Home & Garden page to subscribe to
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