What DIY shortcut or hack you swear by that most people don't know about

[Patrick_82]

Using a rubber band wrapped around a stripped screw head to get real extra grip has saved me from buying replacement hardware more times than I can count

Curious what people's own genuine go to hack is, the little trick that isn't in most beginner guides but that you've come to rely on constantly

[GateWalker31]

Freezing a squeaky hinge briefly before oiling it helps the oil actually penetrate deeper into the mechanism, learned this by accident and it works every time

[Louise]

Using a magnet taped to a stud finder to locate the actual nails inside a wall when the electronic version keeps giving inconsistent readings

[Hollow]

Wrapping tape around a saw blade before cutting tile reduces chipping more than any specialized blade I've tried purchasing

[QubitZero]

Using a bit of toothpaste to fill small nail holes in walls before repainting, works better than actual spackle for tiny holes specifically

[alwaysRock40]

Freezing plastic pipe fittings briefly before installation makes them shrink just enough to fit together more easily without any special tools

[Rory99]

Using a hair dryer to loosen old adhesive residue before scraping, faster and less messy than most commercial adhesive removers I've tried