Put Together a Basic Household Tool Kit

Homeowners and apartment dwellers alike need a basic household tool kit.

You may have lots of tools for particular projects that you use infrequently, and they can be kept in a garage or workroom. But having basic tools handy in your living area makes it much more convenient to do simple home repairs.

You might keep these basic tools in a hall closet, a kitchen drawer, or in a handy tool box or plastic box on a shelf in the entry or mudroom.

It doesn't really matter where you keep them, as long as they're easy to get at for quick home repairs. You'll save lots of inconvenient trips out to the garage or down to the basement.

Your in-home basic tool kit should include these basic do-it-yourself items.

You may not think you need one, but a 25-foot measuring tape will work for most jobs. Whether you measure for a tablecloth or window treatment, or a whole room for new flooring, choose one large enough to easily measure your home's spaces. A second smaller tape of 6 to 12 feet can be put in a pocket or purse for shopping trips or for hanging pictures.

Two basic screwdrivers are a necessity. Choose both a good quality flat head screwdriver and a Phillips head screwdriver in a medium size. A set of tiny screwdrivers will come in handy when you need to tighten a pair of eyeglasses or fix audio or computer equipment.

One pliers will not do. Get a small assortment in various sizes and shapes. You'll use a needle-nose pliars most frequently, but have a heavy grooved pliers for removing nails or large staples. Wire cutting pliers are good for wiring and craft jobs.

You get what you pay for here. It's important to get an accurate level for accurate positioning. A good sturdy level will last a lifetime. (These are also called "torpedo levels" due to shapes of the tapered ends.) A level is a must for straightening up pictures, drilling holes in a level line, checking tabletop alignment, or mounting towel bars perfectly.

Whether you're hanging pictures or putting shelf supports up, a medium weight hammer will cover most household jobs. Consider other sizes if you'll be doing either delicate projects or construction.

This tool resembles a pliers, but has a locking mechanism that grips and holds things tightly. Use it to grip a screw you want to remove or use two to twist sticky things apart. They provide a slip-free hold when you need it.

You might find prepackaged sets of basic sizes at a home center or get a small divided box and put together a custom assortment that will come in handy when you hang pictures or make minor repairs.

Save your scissors with this essential tool. A wire cutter makes it easy to snip wire for crafts, electrical repairs, and other household projects.

You'll probably need to mark a drill hole or record a measurement. Have pencils handy and write on post it notes or bits of blue painter's tape if you don't want to write on the wall.

Even professional painters use this tape to mask off areas they don't want to paint. It's available in several widths and looks like plain masking tape. But this special tape is blue and can be removed from most surfaces without damage. You can use it for other household jobs besides painting. Mark stud locations with a small square when hanging a picture or installing molding. Tape off the edges of a door frame when painting a wall, or tape down runners of heavy kraft paper to protect floors from dirt and scratches when moving.

Here are more basic items to put in a household tool kit.

You may feel this is a luxury, but there are nearly endless uses for this handy tool. The obvious use is drilling pilot holes for nails and screws, but you can also insert screwdriver bits to help insert or remove screws.

There are several varities to choose from in knives. A fast easy one has breakaway blades which is especially useful when doing a wallpaper or a delicate craft project. They are also handy when opening sealed boxes.

Choose a heavy ruler, long level or angle. It can be used to measure or mark, and serves as a cutting guide for heavy materials when using a utility knife.

Keep an assortment of these sticky-backed furniture protectors on hand. Felt dots can be applied to the bottoms of vases, candleholders, boxes, or any accessory that might scratch a table surface. Plastic or rubber dots applied to the bottom back corners of a picture can help keep framed pictures level. Carpet dots are heavier and thicker and used under chair and table legs to avoid scrape marks on hardwood floors.

You'll need spackle for filling nail holes in sheetrock before painting or to repair small scratches, holes, or dents in walls. Unless you do lots of repair jobs, we'd recommend buying a small tub. Spackle dries out even if you seal the container well, and then it will not go on smoothly.

To apply spackle, you'll need a putty knife. Other uses include scraping up a bit of paint or smoothing down a corner of repaired wallpaper. Putty knives come in either metal or plastic and are very inexpensive.

This simple tool will come in handy when you need to open a can or paint, varnish, or stain.

Though it looks like wide Scotch tape, sealing tape is actually stickier and heavier weight. Use it to re-seal cardboard boxes, to tape together a number of slippery items (such as sticks of molding, etc.), or just to prepare boxed gifts for mailing. Get a large tape dispenser which will let you apply tape with one hand if you're moving and need to seal a lot of boxes.

A supply of super glue, carpenter's glue, and white glue should cover most household needs. Follow manufacturer's directions for best results.

To remove scratches or sticky substances, paint smudges or tape residue, a small tube of "Goof Off" or "Goo Gone" are good addition to a tool kit. Follow directions on the lables for proper use.

Now that you have learned the key elements of creating a tool kit, it is time to build your tool kit. The easiest way to keep your tool kit compact and organized is to purchase a box from a craft store or a hardware store to contain your tool kit.

A tool kit is useful in a variety of instances, including if you are planning to do any renovations in your home. A tool kit can also come in handy in everyday living. For example, a paint can key may come in handy for opening a can in the kitchen, and super glue may rescue your new purse’s broken clasp. Keeping a household tool kit around can assuredly become important during emergencies.

Another essential item that you should consider keeping in your tool kit is a flashlight; both for power outages or doing work on a poorly lit part of your home.

We at The Maids are as dedicated to the upkeep of your home as you are. We hope that this article has helped you ready an emergency tool kit for your home. If you need help with keeping your home in its best shape, call us for all of your cleaning needs.