Great article from the San Francisco Chronicle.
No homeowner or renter should be without the following items because they make everyday tasks simple.
Don’t get your dander up: Every household should have at least one lint brush. We think the double-sided Evercare Magik brush available at most drugstores (suggested retail price $4.21) is just fine.
Lend me a hand: Tight jar lids can be problematic for even the strongest hands. Gripper Pads, a set of four no-slip rubber disks for $3.25 at amazon.com, work great and are easy to store.
No plug needed: Every household needs at least one power tool. Your best bet is a cordless drill with multiple attachments. This can be used for everything from installing switch plate covers to stirring cans of paint. Last year Popular Mechanics tested 10 cordless drills; overall, the magazine liked the Makita 18V BHP454 ($329) best.
Getting it straight: From hanging pictures to shimming up furniture, a level can be your best friend. We suggest a 2-foot traditional bubble level for most common home-improvement jobs. Home Depot sells a 24-inch professional box level for $34.96. There are also laser levels, which illuminate a plumb line on the working surface with even more accuracy than bubble levels. These can typically be used for bigger jobs such as laying tile, installing countertops or hanging wallpaper; they tend to be a bit pricier than their bubble counterparts.
Size it up: Every home should have a couple of tape measures. They’re more compact than a ruler or yardstick. Use one for everything from sewing projects to shopping for the perfect flea market find to fit in a tight corner. We suggest getting one 25 feet or longer and 1 inch wide for ease of use.
Stacy Finz,
San Francisco Chronicle
What do you think? Do you agree? Let us know your top 5 household tools.
