To be honest, I was never all that “handy” before I had kids. My dad was an electrician, making him a professional fixer in my eyes, and then once I got married I left the handyman stuff to Dave.
But once we started our family and I took on the role of stay-at-home mom, the job of “Mr. Fix-It” started falling to me more often than not! After a while, I realized that when it comes to fixing things around the house, identifying the right tool or material for the job is often half the battle!
Today’s blog post should help make that battle a whole lot easier, because today I’m sharing a list of the products I’ve found most useful for making household repairs. No matter what you’re attempting to fix around the house, these products are sure to come in handy at some point!
9 Of The Best Products For Quick Household Repairs
1. Sugru Moldable Glue
Price: $9.99 for pack of 3
I’m sure I’m not the only one who has tried to use superglue to repair something and ended up spilling it everywhere. That’s the problem with liquid glues and epoxies—they work well, but they can also make a huge mess!
But Sugru is like superglue meets play-doh, and you can use it to repair all sorts of things from shoes to charging cables. Just mold the material onto the surface you want to repair, and after 24 hours, it will have hardened into a strong silicone rubber. (Check out this video to see it in action!)
2. Mr. Grip Screw Hole Repair Kit
Price: $4.99
When doors or cabinet doors become loose or wobbly, be sure to check for loose screws. Loose screws can wear down the screw hole to the point where it’s too big to hold the screw in place!
But these Mr. Grip screw hole repair strips can fix the problem in a flash. Just insert one or two of the strips into the hole, then the teeth along the strips will grip the screw and hold it in place as you screw it back in.
3. Kampel Seam-Fil
Price: $11.00
Ever wondered how to fix a crack or chip in laminate material like flooring or countertops? Look no further than Seam-Fil, which is a simple cream-like repair material that bonds permanently with laminate.
It is a bit sticky, but it blends so well that you might forget there was ever damage in the first place! It comes in several colors too, making it easy to find a match for any laminate surface in need of repair.
4. 3M Small Hole Repair Kit
Price: $10.79
I haven’t had to repair any walls lately (knock on wood!), but I was no stranger to the process when my kids were little. Whether due to doorknobs, baseball bats, or BB guns, our poor walls used to take a beating!
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I probably wouldn’t have worried about it so much if this repair kit from 3M had been around back then! It has everything you need to repair a small hole in your wall: a self-adhesive patch, spackle, a putty knife, and a sanding pad.
The spackle in this kit is even “primer enhanced,” meaning that once it’s dry and sanded, you can paint right over the top of it.
5. Ginmic Magnetic Wristband
Price: $9.99
Keeping track of washers, screws, nuts, and other small pieces of hardware can be a real pain. It’s enough to turn household repairs as simple as replacing a lightbulb into a frustrating juggling act!
This magnetic wristband solves that problem for good, and for just $10 too! Just secure the wristband to your wrist and all those little metal pieces will stay put while you work.
6. J-B Weld KwikWood
Price: $5.77
This epoxy putty is the ultimate tool for any household repairs involving wood. You can use it to repair broken furniture or damaged decor, and it’s even suitable for repairing damage from dry rot, insect activity, and more.
The putty dries to the same density as wood and forms a strong, permanent bond. From old picture frames to chairs, this putty can help you fix it all!
7. Shepherd Hardware Wedge-It Plastic Shims
Price: $5.72 for pack of 6
If you have a piece of furniture or an appliance that won’t stop wobbling, try one of these simple plastic shims. Just jam one into the gap beneath the item and the textured surface will help hold it in place. So long, wobble!
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8. URPOWER Motion Sensor Closet Light
Price: $15.99 for pack of 3
These motion sensor lights don’t necessarily “repair” anything, but they did fix the problem of me not being able to see anything in my deep, dark hallway closets! And installing them couldn’t have been easier—I just peeled the paper backing off of the back sides and stuck them to the walls.
Now when I open my hall closets, the lights come on automatically and I can find what I need easily. (I did have to buy AAAs separately because they weren’t included with these lights, but I was pleased that they lasted for several months before I had to replace them!)
9. DampRid Moisture Absorber
Price: $14.99 for pack of 3
Musty smells and dampness are extremely common problems for many homeowners, especially in closets and storage areas. If you’re struggling with controlling moisture and odor in certain areas, these hanging moisture absorbers are a simple fix!
Just hang one in the smelly or damp area, and the upper pouch will absorb moisture and odors for up to 60 days. And the moisture collects in the lower pouch over time so you can actually see how well it’s working.
What’s one of your go-to products for small household repairs?
Does Damp Rid help with musty odors in closets. We live in a very humid area and certain areas of our house – mostly the basement get that funky mold smell in warm weather.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Yes it will, Christy!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Thank you for sharing for these helpful tips! They may lead to some resolution on a few issues around my home. Much appreciated!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.These are great! My home is over 100 years old and has plaster walls. I have holes in the walls from screws placed there by the previous owner, and didn’t know how to fix them…until now! Thanks so much Jillie!!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.My best friend turned me onto gorilla glue. I have used it in repairs and crafts. It repaired a ripped cord to my camp chair, two kitchen cabinets, my fishing pole and one of my shoes.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.The best way to stop the holes in the wall from door knobs, is to put a door stop into the wall just above the baseboard, they screw in, very easy to apply. Can be bought at any hardware store or less expensive at WalMart.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Thank you for these tips. I love some of them. I have a fix it. When a screw hole becomes too loose, I fill it with wood glue and toothpicks, let it dry and screw the screw back in. I have had to fix a couple of my kitchen cabinet doors this way. works like a charm.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Great ideas. I was telling my folks about this and they hadn’t heard about some of these products. I agree the magnetic bracelet would be great for my Dad. He’s our Mr fix it.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.This is a very good post. I have a drawer with only glues and epoxies. I use JB Weld as a general go t0 epoxy for several reasons: it is very strong and has one of the highest temperate resistance of any epoxy. The downside is that it will run a little bit and takes 24 hours to totally set. That said, I still use it a lot. I always keep a plastic knife and thin wooden rod for applying it along with paper towels handy. I recently used JB Weld Clear Weld, which worked well for repairing a broken clear plastic tray in our refrigerator. It sets in an hour and is clear, so it worked well for the plastic drawer. I lightly sanded the plastic so the epoxy was able to bite into the surface. I used the plastic knife for applying and paper towels for cleanup and removing any overage. I used duct tape to temporarily hold the pieces in place until set. The epoxies that are in two round film can tubes or a round tube and you mix them with your hands work well and do not run. Extra points for easy cleanups. None of them are clear, but work well.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I have been using the Sugru since it came out, and it is SO incredibly useful. We mostly use it to bolster and fix tech cords, but off the top of my head, it has been used to fix a hole in our garage siding (thank you charming neighbors with a BB gun!), I’ve made new feet for a tile trivet, bumpers for the back of picture frames, and I fixed the heel on a pair of shoes.
We also use the shims you mentioned- in fact, so much that they’ve become a running joke in our house.
The KwikWood and the Seam-Fil are new to me and both sound like they need a permanent place in our home! The magnetic wristband is also a good idea; but I already use something similar to hold my pins for sewing, so when I’m doing fixit stuff I just use that. One item, two uses. But the one you show looks larger, so maybe I need two after all…lol.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Omg…I’m going to order the magnetic wristband as a stocking-stuffer for my husband. (Yes, I know these are supposed to be for us, but…) This would have come in handy in all the little (and big) projects he’s done at our temporary place and will make a great addition to his toolbox. We’re gearing up for a home build and he plans to make my cabinets and do a lot of the interior work himself.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I used the moisture absorbing products (similar to what is shown) in my high humidity area of the U.S. until I found the container (non-hanging) product at the Dollar Tree. These works just as well and, the best part …………so much less expensive!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.be very, very, careful of these hanging bags. you must check on them regularly. if these get too full, they explode and puddle the contents causing damage to wood floors. this happened to us…sigh..and we had to remove the floor board because the wood would never dry out after it was soaked with the product. switched over to the Dollar Tree small containers. once the unit fills with moisture, toss and replace. use these units in closets, drawers, and storage tubs. if you forget to check the unit, no worries the water is contained. (be certain to ck the plastic, though, for any cracks before you use.)
Please log in or create a free account to comment.@ Lars and Satindoll- This happened to us as well (with the hanging bag)! Luckily our floor wasn’t damaged, but we were sufficiently freaked out enough to never use the hanging bag again. Then we found a refillable Damp Rid contraption for use on the floor at Home Depot and haven’t looked back. Works like a charm. But knowing that the Dollar Store has a version- that’s where I’m going next! Thank you!
Thank you for all the great tips, I have never heard of Sugru before and definitely need to get some for my phone cords.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Thank you for these great tips, Jillee. Especially the Sugru!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Amazing Goop is my go-to adhesive. It’s perfect to reattach shoe soles and just about anything else.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Thanks for telling us about these useful products! Many of them are new to me and I’m going to be looking for them. The moldable putty type glue looks great!
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