11 Harbor Freight Finds That Can Solve Everyday Problems For Under $100

What problems do you face on a daily or weekly basis that constantly leave you feeling undergunned? Is it the constant need to ferret through a sea of tools in order to find the right driver to replace your kids' toy batteries? Do you fear perching precariously on a dining chair whenever one of the house's lightbulbs blows? Are you tired of a lawnmower whose blades are edged as keenly as the average bowling pin? If so, then a trip to Harbor Freight may be in order.

While it's known for its range of tools, those who know how to find the best deals at Harbor Freight will know that the chain is about more than hardcore home renovation. As you'll see below, there are various products available there that can help solve even the most mundane everyday problems. Some are geared towards storage, freeing up space in your garage while making finding the right tools easy in order to keep your kids' toys' downtime to a minimum. Others will help avoid trips to the emergency room when maintaining your home's highest altitudes. Some will ensure that spillages from even the most rambunctious toddler are cleared away swiftly, and some are as useful in the garage as they are in the kitchen. All are priced in the sweet spot, allowing you to upgrade your home toolkit for less than $100.

Of all the tools that every homeowner should have in their toolbox, a cordless drill is one of the most useful. These tools take the grunt work out of daily and weekly tasks, like tightening loose screws, fixing or replacing hardware, and assembling your latest IKEA furniture finds. Fitted with a wire brush attachment, a cordless drill can also seriously improve your cleaning regimen, blasting through even the most stubborn burnt-on carbon from your grill and cooking racks. Bauer's 20V Brushless Cordless ½-inch Drill/Driver is a well-rounded and well-reviewed option.

For $54.99, you can buy the drill, a 20V battery, and a charger. The unit is fitted with a ½-inch metal keyless chuck, making bit changes easy, and per Bauer, its lightweight, compact design keeps fatigue to a minimum on longer projects. Of course, whether Bauer tools are worth buying is ultimately down to the user. But if you're searching for a reliable, everyday tool to handle light-duty DIY, then it's at least reassuring to know that of the 67 users who've reviewed it to-date, 82% have awarded it the full five stars. As one user put it, "This drill is perfect for my needs. Just need a simple and not expensive drill, this fits the bill and works great."

Like a cordless drill, most households can benefit from a reliable set of screwdrivers. They can be used for tightening fasteners, opening the battery compartments on toys and remote controls, assembling more delicate furniture items, and more. However, while it is technically possible to work with different screw sizes with just a couple of drivers, doing so runs the risk of stripping the screw heads. The same can be said for drivers that are past their best, whose tips are dulled and which no longer "grip" the screws properly. What's more, without a proper storage solution to keep your hand-tools organized, they can easily become lost. And as is typical, you'll often find that it's the driver you need the most that becomes lost to the annals of disorganization. Pittsburgh's 70-piece Comfort-Grip Screwdriver Set can be used to solve these problems.

It's among the most affordable Harbor Freight screwdriver sets for everyday household tasks, costing $29.99. It includes five slotted drivers, six Phillips drivers, five star drivers, eight precision drivers, a bit holder, plus an array of bits, hex keys, and more. Perhaps more importantly, it comes with its own handy storage rack. If you're tired of using the wrong tools, or of wading through a messy collection to find what you need, this kit effectively waives your woes with one purchase. It's rated 4.8 stars overall, with 98% of users recommending the product. One user, who titled their review "What you need when you need it," explained how having the holder actually encourages them to put their tools away properly after use. "Lifetime guarantee," they added, "is just icing on the cake."

There are many reasons to add a rotary tool to your arsenal of home improvement gadgets. For example, did you know that you can use a rotary tool to sharpen the blades of your scissors, garden shears, axes, and even your mower blades? Or to strip rust from metalware? Or to cut away the spiky or damaged nails protruding from your fence? The sheer versatility of a rotary tool means it's likely to come in handy on a weekly, perhaps even daily, basis. And it's with this versatility in mind that we've included Bauer's 1.6 Amp Variable Speed Rotary Tool Kit.

Priced at $79.99, it comes supplied with various bits to tackle a number of different tasks, like grinding, cutting, sanding, carving, polishing, and sharpening. It also includes a flex shaft, which allows you to use the tool in awkward, hard-to-reach areas. It's praised by users for its versatility and power, including the electronic sensors that up the ante with more power when they sense extra resistance. "I use it for both wood and metal," said one buyer, "and haven't had any problems with it yet. The flexible shaft is great and allows for better comfort and reach in tight, hard-to-get-to places.

The need to organize an unwieldy garage tool kit is a tale [almost] as old as time. So, too, is the need to carry several items to different parts of the house when they inevitably require some TLC. The obvious solution is to buy and install a dedicated tool cabinet, which can help to de-clutter your garage floor and organize your kit in a way that's easy to access when you need it. However, cabinets rarely afford much mobility, especially if your undivided DIY attention is required upstairs. In that case, a portable box or tool bag can really come in handy. Priced at $89.99, Bauer's 18-inch Roller Tool Bag combines mobility with spacious storage to keep your garage organized and your tools ready-to-go.

The bag itself features a large, central pocket for larger items, like power tools, batteries, and boxes of hardware. It also includes five interior pockets, eight exterior pockets, and 20 daisy chain holders, meaning you can organize a surprising amount of equipment with a single bag. It can bear up to 100 pounds of weight, which may be too much to actually "carry." But since the bag is mounted on a collapsible, hand-truck-style roller, maneuverability is unlikely to become a problem. At least, it's not according to the more than 260 users who've reviewed it. "Perfect mobile tool bag for any project at home or elsewhere," said one buyer, who praised the bag's build quality and mobility. "The bag also has plenty of storage space!"

Whether it's your DIY hardware, office stationery, or the inevitable "bits" that come with your kids' toy collection, if you're not organized, smaller items have a happy habit of disappearing. They can also become a source of frustration as they clutter up your home's work and living spaces. Storehouse's 4-inch Stacking Tilt Bins offer an affordable Harbor Freight solution to help declutter any space. They're modular, and can be stacked in various configurations — be that on a worksurface or mounted to a wall. Importantly, they can be used to organize smaller items, like office stationery, screws, nails, and tiny tools, instead of having them littering your floors and counters.

What we really love about these bins is that they're priced at just $2.99 per unit. This budget-friendly price point means you can buy several to fully optimize your storage, without breaking the bank. "These things are addictive!" said one buyer. "For the consummate organizer like me, these things are gold. You can add to the sides, to the bottom, the top. Bins tilt out and are easy to remove and put back. Easy to label too. I always find I need six or eight more."

In households where spillages are common — perhaps from pets or kitchen experiments — a wet vacuum cleaner is sure to be handy. However, in homes where storage space is at a premium, it's not always practical to have a separate appliance for clearing up both wet and dry spills. In such cases, a reliable wet/dry vacuum cleaner is likely to seem like a no-brainer. If you're in the market for such a contraption, then Bauer's 6-Gallon, 4 Peak HP Wet/Dry Vacuum is currently priced at less than $55.

It can be used around the household to keep fatigued parents from crying over spilt milk, and is also robust enough to handle wet spillages in the garage and workshop. It's the smaller sibling of Harbor Freight's highly-rated 16-gallon wet/dry vacuum, handling up to 6 gallons at a time instead of 16. But that smaller profile makes it even easier to store. What's more, it's no less versatile. You could employ its powerful suction to help budge the blockage in your drains. And like its bigger brother, it also has a "blower" mode, which can be used to clear your yard of leaves. As for reviews, it seems that the majority of those who've bought the unit are pleased they decided to do so. "Another great tool from Harbor Freight," said one. Another, who said that it "Works wonders," explained, "This Bauer wet/dry vac is so nice, great suction and have used it a few times with no regrets! Absolutely a must for the household."

If anything is likely to lead to a trip to the emergency room, it's balancing precariously on a chair as you attempt to maintain your home's highest elevations. It could be painting a ceiling, switching out a blown lightbulb in the hours of darkness, or simply dusting the cobwebs from the corners of your living room. Whatever the task, if your height puts you at a disadvantage, then it's almost always safer to use a step stool. And if you've yet to invest in one, you'll find Franklin's 3-Step Steel Folding Stool currently available at Harbor Freight stores for less than $50.

The steel platform can bear up to 225 pounds, and it's one of Harbor Freight's more space-savvy products, folding away to a depth of 2.83 inches for easy storage. Its slip-resistant feet are kind on hard floors, and the extra-wide platform makes it comfortable to use while enhancing stability. "Perfect for daily household chores," said one buyer. "Not bulky, folds up nice for storage, perfect height for daily needs (changing lightbulbs, hanging pictures, dusting, etc). Perfect for my needs."

There are various magnetic Harbor Freight products that can help you streamline your household's storage. U.S. General's 18-inch Magnetic Tool Holder is among the most versatile when it comes to solving everyday storage problems. You can mount it to the wall of your garage and use it to finally organize your hand tools, bits, and spare blades. Alternatively, you could mount one in your kitchen, to keep utensils handy next to your cooking station. The holder is also great for knives. It can keep them out of reach of children, while de-cluttering your countertops of obtrusive knife blocks and saving the edges from blunting (and catching your fingers) when buried deep in a drawer.

Each holder measures 18 inches in length, and can easily be mounted on walls, workbenches, or any other flat surface. The product is also very well-regarded among users; in fact, of the 12,851 buyers who've reviewed it to-date, 98% have offered their recommendation. "I use it for my kitchen knives," said one buyer, who added, "This is my third one. The first one I use for tools. Second one for a lid that I don't like to place down. The third one I secured to the inside of my upper cabinet door, and now all my knives are available when I'm at the counter."

You might be surprised at how useful an air compressor could be. You can use them to power tools like nail guns and staplers, thus making light work of otherwise laborious DIY tasks. They can also be kept on hand for inflating dodgy tires, and depending on the size, they can be stowed in the back of the car for camping trips, to help inflate air beds and modern inflatable tents. The key to achieving this level of utility is sticking to a compressor that you can reasonably carry and lift into your vehicle. McGraw's 3-Gallon Hot Dog Air Compressor is designed with light-duty work and portability in mind.

Cost-wise, it comes in at just below $70, which is considerably less than you'll pay for larger, less compact compressors. It's fitted with a fold-down handle, making it easier to both carry and store, and its oil-free motor alleviates the need for constant maintenance. "Absolutely great for filling tires," said one user, who uses it for their car, wheelbarrow, and ride-on mower. Another described it as "A necessary home maintenance item for every household," and one, who bought it for small DIY jobs, said it was also useful for inflating their grandson's basketball.

There's much to be said for having a utility cart handy around the house. You can use them around the yard and patio, hauling gardening tools to where you need them, or wheeling out drinks for your summer parties. Inside, you can use them to move DIY supplies around the room. And when it comes to grocery shopping, loading up a cart with heavy bags and wheeling them inside has got to be easier than lugging them by hand — especially in the rain. Franklin's 30 x 16-inch 2-Shelf Utility Cart is one of Harbor Freight's most highly-rated carts, and while it's typically sold as a garage caddy, its simple-yet-durable build makes it useful around the home.

It's made from industrial-strength polypropylene, which means that it's lightweight and impervious to rust and chipping. Two large trays on the top and bottom provide lots of loading space, be that for tools, groceries, or burgers for the grill. It also includes a tray by the handle for various tools and hardware pieces, as well as a holder for whichever beverage gets you through the day. Users to date have found use for it out in the garden when potting plants, maneuvering their tool boxes, and even as a caddy for home decorating. "Got this to haul groceries into my house," said one buyer. "Works great. One trip now, instead of multiple trips."

Few things inspire panic in parents than the anguish in their children's cries as their favorite toys run out of battery. And is there anything more irritating when you come to catch the latest instalment of your favorite show, only to find that the remote has died? Some will plan for such eventualities, by keeping a healthy store of batteries in reserve. But even those have a habit of running out when you're least able to run to the store to buy more. If this sounds familiar, then investing in some rechargeable batteries, and a unit with which to charge them, is a sensible idea. Thunderbolt Magnum's Slim Wall-Mount Battery Charger eliminates the need to waste money on new batteries.

The unit plugs directly into standard power outlets, with capacity to charge up to four AA batteries at one. Full charges are achieved in between eight and 15 hours, and the unit automatically adjusts its current to match the fitted battery's capacity. It also includes an LED indicator, so you know when your batteries are good to go. It's currently available for $6.99, which, even with the cost of rechargeable batteries, means you're sure to make your money back quickly versus buying disposable alternatives. And as one user said, "When you have a lot of stuff that has batteries, you will always be ready."