This post was sponsored by P&G as part of an Influencer Activation for Influence Central. I received complimentary products to facilitate my review.
Have you ever started a D.I.Y. project only to find, after you’ve started, that you don’t have what you need? It’s a horrible feeling, and it makes you want to just give up.
Of course, every project is different, and needs different tools, but over the past couple of years I’ve learned that there are some things you need for just about every D.I.Y. project you want to do. And the good news is that many of them are things you need in your everyday life, too.
Bounty Advanced Paper Towels. I have yet to start a D.I.Y. project, particularly one that involves rehabing an old piece, that doesn’t require a good old-fashioned cleaning first. I prefer Bounty Advanced for a couple of reasons. First, they’ve got a longer select-a-size. (Personal aside: Whoever created select-a-size should get the Nobel Prize in Household Economics because it’s seriously the greatest idea since sliced bread.) Select-a-size means I don’t use more than I need. Perfect. They’re also far and away the most durable paper towels ever. That’s a must when you’re cleaning up a junky old window for a potting table.
Sand Paper. It sucks, but you need it, even on projects that are supposed to be “no sand”. I choose a more expensive paint for our kitchen cabinets because it doesn’t require sanding first, and still ended up having to sand a little. It’s part of being D.I.Y. maven. Make sure you have different grits and sizes so you’re covered for whatever project you’re working on.
Safety Glasses. Saving money is great. But it doesn’t save you anything if you end up at the doctor’s office with a scratch on your cornea. Safety glasses will protect your eyes from flying debris, sanding dust, and whatever else you might come across in your D.I.Y. journey. And while you’re at it, everyone who’s around you should be wearing them, too.
Swiffer Duster Refills. I don’t know how it happens, but no matter what project I’m working on, or in what room I’m working, dust migrates into every room in the house. If you’ve ever D.I.Y.’d you know what I’m talking about. Swiffer Dusters make it so you can live in your house without grossing yourself out, and without spending more time cleaning up than you did on the actual project. Every nook and cranny of your house will be dust and allergen free throughout your project.
Cordless Drill. With multiple bits. I confess; I use my cordless drill even to put together things that say “do not use drills” on them. I use it all the time. So much so that I got a super fast battery charger so I wouldn’t have to wait to use it. Mine has assembled furniture, drilled holes in my strawberry tower, pre-drilled countless screw holes… And let’s face it. It makes me look like a bad-ass.
Mr. Clean Magic Eraser. Have you ever done a D.I.Y. project and NOT ended up with a huge mess you weren’t anticipating? For me, the big culprit is paint on the floor. I’m a pretty neat painter, so I only lay down a minimal amount of covering before I paint. And I like to watch tv while I paint – it tends to get boring – so I often set up shop in my living room. Do you see where this is going? Yep, paint on the living room floor. Magic Eraser to the rescue! I couldn’t believe how easily the paint came up. Now I never start a project, especially a painting project, without them.
What are your must-haves for starting a D.I.Y. project? Share in the comments.
The P&G products mentioned in this post can be purchased at Costco.
