Reviews Say This Viral DIY Product Makes Repairing Drywall Holes A Breeze
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Picture it. You're in your new rental apartment arranging furniture, packing away clothes, putting up photos and artwork — all the usual "making it my own" things you do after moving house. You take a break to double-check how high you should hang your pictures, and that's when you notice it. One of them is too low. In your frustration at not checking that beforehand, you yank the Command strip off the wall instead of slowly stretching it down per the instructions. To your horror, a chunk of paint comes off with it. Well, you think, there goes my security deposit. Not so fast. Enter Erase-A-Hole, a repair putty designed to tackle holes exactly like the one you just made in your new landlord's wall.
The DIY product comes in a crank-up applicator (think Chapstick for DIY projects) that makes it easy to apply. According to the directions, you simply rub it over the hole in a circular motion, wipe away the excess, add a coat of paint, and you're done. Hole? What hole? At least, that's how many reviewers describe it. And there are plenty — the product holds a 4.5-star rating from more than 12,000 Amazon users. It's gone viral on Instagram and TikTok, too, with creators raving about its effectiveness. But is it as good as everyone says? We'll dig into that next, but first, make sure you avoid these seven command hook mistakes in the future, so there's no risk of losing your deposit.
Does Erase-A-Hole repair putty live up to its viral status?
Erase-A-Hole repair putty certainly sounds like a magical formula straight out of Hogwarts. Along with the hole that shall not be named, it's also designed for fixing cracks and minor damage in walls, trim, and ceilings. It works on drywall, plaster, and wood, making it suitable for holes from nails, screws, TV mounts, and photo frames that aren't at the correct height. Manufacturers also say it won't shrink or crack. Overall, this DIY product seems to appeal most to renters, busy homeowners, or anyone looking for a quick, low-mess solution for fixing nail holes and light wall damage. Reviewers praised its ease of use, comparing it to rolling on deodorant or using lip balm, and many said it saved them stress during move-outs. "Helped us get our security deposit back on our apartment when we needed to fix a couple holes," one reviewer shared.
That being said, some customers felt the product underdelivered on its promise. One reviewer put it bluntly, "Doesn't work as expected — ended up going back to regular putty." A few mentioned that it struggled with deeper holes, despite claims to the contrary. One review reads, "It filled small nail holes fine, but anything bigger cracked once it dried." Price was another sticking point for a lot of buyers. At nearly $15 for less than 5 ounces, reviewers felt the cost didn't stack up against larger tubs of joint compound. One user commented, "Convenient, yes, but you're paying extra for packaging." Bottom line: If convenience and speed are your priorities, it's likely to feel worth the splurge. But if you're tackling larger-scale repairs, you're better off sticking with a tried-and-true spackle. Speaking of, here's what you can substitute for spackle if you've run out.