The TikTok Hack That'll Make Stripped Screws A Thing Of The Past

Over time, kitchens can become subject to wear and tear. However, if you discover some stripped screw holes, then you may feel stumped about how to fix them. Thankfully, there's one incredibly easy TikTok hack by @livingwithley that could help you solve your stripped screw woes in no time. Rather than struggle with kitchen cabinets that don't feel secure, you can use some toothpicks to help secure your screws in place and restore your screw holes. As a result, your kitchen should feel brand new again.

While this hack is handy, it's also on the cheaper side. In fact, it will be completely free if you already have some toothpicks hidden away in your drawers or cupboards. All it takes is a few simple steps, and you should be well on your way to achieving outstanding results. So, how exactly should you use toothpicks to fix kitchen cabinets? Let's break this hack down below. For this TikTok hack, all you'll need is some wood glue and a few toothpicks, depending on the size of the screw holes in your cabinet. Just a few should suffice. 

Find a box of toothpicks

To begin this hack, simply bunch your toothpicks together and test if they fit inside the stripped screw hole. It will all depend on the size of the hole. If they do fit, you can add some wood glue to the pointy ends. You shouldn't need too much, but make sure you cover them all the way around. Insert them where your screws would typically go, aka, into the screw holes. However, getting them in there may take a bit of extra force, and you'll have to be careful. If done correctly, they shouldn't move much. You can always add extra toothpicks if you feel as though more are necessary. All you have to do is slot them in.  

Now, simply remove the part of the toothpicks that are pointing out and secure your cabinets back in place. This hack works so well because the wood makes it more difficult for the screw to move around. By removing the extra space around it, you're left with a much more solid structure than before. Another alternative is to use filler in its place, but you should ensure that you know what you're doing. While it may be convenient, toothpicks are a much cheaper and more beginner-friendly solution. Now, fixing stripped screw holes yourself should be a complete breeze.