Find a stud with an electric razor? Cover nail holes without spackle? YES! We have these tips and more in this week’s blog post. We want to help you with minor wall and ceiling repairs!
Find a wall stud with a razor
Don’t have a stud finder? Use an electric razor instead. Switch on the razor and place it flush against the wall. Move it slowly over the wall, and note the sound of its hum. When the razor moves over a stud, the pitch of the buzz will rise!
White-out wall and ceiling flaws
If you’ve ever used a typewriter, you know how valuable a small bottle of white correction fluid can be. What you may NOT know is that it’s even more useful around the home for covering up small stains and blemishes on white walls, moldings, and ceilings. Simply dab it on the defect, and it’s gone. When touching up glossy surfaces, coat the dried correction fluid with a little clear nail polish.
Cover nail holes without spackle
Out of spackle? Before you head over to the hardware store, look in your medicine cabinet – a bit of plain white toothpaste should do the job. You can also fill small holes in plaster and drywall with a paste of equal parts baking soda and white glue. Or you could mix 2 tablespoons salt and 2 tablespoons cornstarch with just enough water to make a stiff putty.
Secure a screw
An unanchored wall screw may work loose over time as the hole surrounding it expands. Take up the slack by cutting one or two twist ties (the kind used on bread bags) into strips, equal in length to the screw. Bunch them together in your fingers, stuff the hole, and then reset the screw. If the hole has significantly widened, use steel wool, small pieces of cardboard, or a cottom ball soaked in carpenter’s glue or white glue. Let the glue dry for at least 24 hours before placing any weight on the screw.