Hanging Stuff Advice...

You know how every now and then you hear an idea and you think "DUH!!! Why didn't I think of that!"  Well, prepare yourself.  Most of you are probably about to do that at least once...  (Don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to be a smart alec, I had the same reaction when I saw the first part of this tip several years ago, and again last week.  But I had to try it first...)

When hanging a picture I have often used a post it note rather than putting a mark on the wall.  This serves two purposes.  First, I can "move my mark" without leaving the first mark on the wall... Second, I can SEE the mark from across the room, so I can make sure that I really want to hang whatever I am hanging where I have placed my mark.

Laser level is the height for my mark.  The point on the Post It Note
is the center.  This photo taken from 6 feet away and the mark is easily
seen against the bright yellow post it note.  I can even see the mark
from 10 or 12 feet away!

I saw that trick years ago and haven't put a mark on my wall since.  But the other day I got an email with all sorts of little "Home Remedies" for common "Problems".  I saw in their photo a Post It hanging on a wall and I thought "I do that!"  But then I noticed that the Post It was folded and as I read the paragraph, I realized they weren't using the Post It to mark a spot on a wall.  They were showing to use a Post it to catch the drywall dust when you drill the hole in the wall!

Their advice was to place a Post It note UNDER the spot
where you are about to drill and FOLD it to catch the
falling dust...  My Folded Post It note with my "mark"...

The contents of my folded Post It note after drilling, etc.

My Floor, AFTER drilling a hole in the drywall to hang a piece of art...
Notice there is NO dust on the air return grate, the baseboard or the floor!!

SO, for the past 10 to 12 years I have been using a Post It note to mark my spot and then watching all of the dust fall right over the Post It to the floor, then dragging out the vacuum cleaner to clean up the mess when ALL I HAD TO DO WAS FOLD MY POST IT NOTE!!!  Why didn't I THINK of that!!

Boy did I feel silly, but now I know!  And so do you!

Until Next Time,
Paul