Patch small holes in walls with toothpaste

If you have small holes in a wall – say, from where the nails where a painting used to hang – there’s a simple, cheap DIY way to hide them: fill them with white toothpaste. If they’re big enough, you can squeeze the toothpaste right in, but generally you’ll need to stuff it in with a Q-tip or toothpick. Spread a little on the outside to smooth it over.

If your walls are white, the holes should be practically invisible by now. If they’re a off-white or beige, you’ll need to apply some matching foundation (yes, women’s makeup) as the toothpaste is drying. It’ll harden with the beige-ish color and match perfectly, if you used the right shade. If it glistens, try – you guessed it – face powder.

If your walls are a color other than that, you’ll need to find some leftover paint from the original job and gently brush it on with a small brush. If you don’t have leftover paint, you’ll need to buy some that matches, which can be tricky – a trained employee at Home Depot or a similar store may be able to help you here, or let you take home swatches to make sure you’re getting the right color. Or again, you might be able to match it with makeup – eyeshadow or lipstick (apply either with a brush). It’s worth a try before shelling out money for paint., since you can always paint over it later.

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Posted in Do It Yourself on April 10, 2008