\n\n\n\nCatch Drywall Drilling Dust\n\n\n\n
Hanging a picture on the wall is simple, but drilling a hole for the fastener creates powdery white drywall dust that scatters to the floor\u2014and everywhere else. Next time you drill a hole in the wall, try folding a Post-in note in half horizontally and sticking it right under the spot where you\u2019ll be drilling, or cut a notch in the Post-it and fold it into a cupped position, as shown here. The drywall dust will fall on the creased note, which you can simply fold up and toss away when you’ve finished your project.\n\n\n\n
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\n\n\n\nFoil the Mess\n\n\n\n
Regular household aluminum foil makes a great liner for paint trays. Just smooth the foil evenly into the bottom the tray and tuck it tightly around the top edges. When you\u2019re done painting, just wad up the foil and toss it out\u2014no tray to wash.\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nTape for Clean Caulk Lines\n\n\n\n
Caulking a seam, such as the gap where the bathtub and tile surround meet, can be a messy prospect, creating caulk smears that require wiping or scraping to remove. To make cleanup easy, line both sides of the gap (1\/4\u201d away from the center of the seam) with painter\u2019s tape before caulking. Then, apply a bead of caulk, smooth it with a wet finger, and pull away the tape to reveal a perfect caulk line and no mess.\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nBeat Scuffs with Plywood\n\n\n\n
Sliding out a heavy refrigerator or stove to work behind it can leave scuff marks or gouges on your floor. Keep your floor clean and protected during the project by placing a sheet of 1\/4\u201d plywood on the floor in front of the appliance and then sliding the heavy fixture on the plywood instead of across the floor.\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nPie Tins Make Great Paint Catchers\n\n\n\n
Paint can slosh out of a full paint can but it won\u2019t make a mess if you glue a disposable pie tin to the bottom of the can before you start painting. The pie tin should be a couple of inches larger than the paint can. You\u2019ll be able to pick up the can and move it from spot to spot without worrying about making a mess.\n\n\n\n
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\n\n\n\nDouble the Plastic Sheeting\n\n\n\n
Drywall sanding dust is insidious, filtering through even the tiniest cracks. You already know you should hang lightweight plastic sheeting over doorways when sanding drywall, but you might not know you can keep a greater amount dust from filtering out of the room if you hang another layer of sheeting on the other side of the door as well.+\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nUse a Hairdryer to Remove Stuck-on Tape\n\n\n\n
If you don\u2019t get around to removing painter\u2019s tape within a day or two after painting, it tends to become brittle and the adhesive hardens, making it difficult to get the tape off without scraping. If worst comes to worst and you don’t remove the tape in a timely manner, a hairdryer works wonders. Set the dryer to \u201cHot\u201d and direct the air to the stuck-on tape. The heat will soften the adhesive, making it easy to remove it.\n\n\n\n
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\n\n\n\nUse Lotion to Make Personal Cleanup Easier\n\n\n\n
If you\u2019re like most DIYers, house painting can result in nearly as many paint drips on your skin as the ones on the old clothing you wear to cover yourself. You won\u2019t have to scrub smears from you skin, however, if you apply lotion to your face, hands and any other exposed skin before painting. The drips will rinse off easily when you\u2019re done.\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nA Box Fan and Filter Remove Workshop Dust\n\n\n\n
Sanding woodworking projects creates lots of wood dust that settles on everything in your workshop, leaving you with a mess to clean. The solution is to position a box fan on the counter next to where you\u2019re working with the back of the facing you. Duct tape a standard HVAC filter to the back, and turn on the fan. The fan will suck the air\u2014and the dust\u2014right through its holes, trapping the dust in the filter.\n\n\n\n
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\n\n\n\nCut Carpet in Strips to Protect Walls\n\n\n\n
Tearing out carpet is a real chore, and if you\u2019ve ever tried pulling it up and rolling it away from the edge of the floor, the rough backing of the carpet probably scuffed and scratched your walls. To remove carpet, use a hooked carpet knife to slice the carpet in rows, and then pull up one section at a time (away from the wall) and you\u2019ll be able to keep the carpet from causing damage or scuffing.\n\n\n\n
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