How To Use The 'Lighthouse' Hack That's Great For Locating Dropped Screws

There are so many basic DIY home improvement projects homeowners should know how to do, from hanging mirrors and mounting shelves to replacing cupboard door handles. These jobs often entail working with screws and other small, easy-to-drop items. If you've ever dropped a tiny screw mid-project and spent the next 15 minutes searching for it, you'll definitely want to add this hack to your arsenal of DIY know-how. 

The lighthouse trick uses a flashlight to help you find lost objects fast. First, turn off the main lights in the space. This boosts contrast by making your torch the only light source, so tiny items cast stronger shadows and reflections. Next, get down on your hands and knees and place the flashlight flat on the floor. Begin rolling it in a slow circle, as if you were mimicking a lighthouse (hence the name). Before long, your missing object will pop into view. This hack is especially useful in garages or workshops, where floor surfaces like concrete or epoxy often camouflage dropped parts. However, it works equally well indoors on carpet or tile.

Most overhead lighting floods a room and flattens shadows, making it hard to spot low-profile objects like screws or earrings. But when you drop the beam to floor level, it changes everything — long shadows and glints of light make even the smallest bits stand out. For best results, you need to be as low to the ground as possible so you can see everything that comes into the beam's spotlight. 

When choosing a flashlight for DIY tasks or finding lost screws, look for one with a narrow beam that's bright enough to cast strong shadows without draining the battery too fast. That said, even the flashlight on your phone can do the job. This hack isn't about fancy equipment. It's just a clever use of light that can save you time, frustration, and potentially your car or bicycle tires.

What would be even better is to avoid dropping your screws in the first place. This genius hack will give any screwdriver magnetic powers. Something else to keep in mind is that searching for a lost item is much harder to do in a messy or cluttered space. Make it a habit to keep your space tidy and organized. It won't stop you from dropping those pesky screws, but it will make it much easier to locate them, especially if you have a torch handy.