Which DIY skill did YouTube teach you?

[Ranger]

A generation ago, learning DIY meant watching a parent, buying a thick manual from a hardware shop or simply getting it wrong until you got it right. Now there is a video for almost everything. Want to replace a toilet fill valve, fit a light fitting, tile a splashback or fix a dripping tap? Someone on YouTube has filmed it, often in great detail

These videos have saved people enormous amounts of money. A job that might cost a hundred pounds for a tradesperson's visit can often be done in half an hour with a cheap part and a good tutorial. Some channels have become hugely popular, with presenters who explain things clearly, show the mistakes and list the tools needed. Others are less helpful, skipping the tricky bits or using tools nobody owns

The skill YouTube taught me was plastering, or at least patching. I had a few holes in the wall after removing old shelves, and I was quoted a silly amount to fix them. Three videos and a bag of filler later, the wall looked almost perfect. It was not as smooth as a professional job, but nobody could tell once it was painted

Of course, some jobs should never be learned from a video. Gas work must be done by registered engineers, and plenty of electrical work has rules for good reason. It is worth knowing where the line is, and being honest with yourself about your limits

Which DIY skill did YouTube teach you? And which channels would you recommend?