Stiff Wire Stripping Brush with Scraper
Constant exposure to temperature extremes—not to mention rain, snow, sleet, and ice—can cause your fencing's lustrous metal hinges, latches, and brackets to lose their shine over time. Fortunately, with the right tool and a little elbow grease, you can restore sheen and function to your rusted hardware fast. This stripping tool's thin-profile brush slides into tight spots, and its 1-1/4-inch bristles breeze through jobs where you need a little extra reach. Whatever stubborn rust remains will have to answer to the tool’s carbon steel scraper. Available from HYDE; $3.97
Wallpaper Scoring Tool
If your wallpaper hasn’t been replaced since Jimmy Carter was in the White House, your walls may not exactly reflect your style (or even your era). Fortunately, the laborious scraping and sanding once required in wallpaper removal are things of the past. The 96 stainless steel teeth on this scoring tool simplify the job by perforating wallpaper with shallow cuts. Once the paper has been scored, you can apply either liquid wallpaper remover or steam to easily loosen the old adhesive—all without any damage to the wall. Available from HYDE; $12.97
4-Inch Glass Scraper
Even the most meticulous painter sometimes splashes a fleck of color onto a windowpane in the course of an overzealous paint job. But HYDE's 4-inch glass scraper can save a little blunder like that from compromising the clean look of your freshly painted windows. The scraper helps you carefully remove paint (as well as sticker residue) from windowpanes, mirrors, or car windshields, leveraging its angled metal frame to clear away those really stubborn spots. Available from HYDE; $4.72
HYDE PivotPro Water Wand for Outdoor Cleaning
As temperatures warm up and sunshine beckons, the whole gang will be eager to gather on the deck or patio to bask in the glow of spring—well, at least once the “patina” of mildew accrued over the winter gets washed away. The HYDE PivotPro makes short work of outdoor dirt, grime, mold, and mildew all around your house, from the siding to your outdoor furniture. Just twist the wand onto any old garden hose, fill its liquid soap dispenser, and turn on the water to suds up your outdoor space. Its pivoting nozzle makes cleaning a breeze by directing the spray under, around, and over virtually anything in need of some spring renewal. Available from HYDE; $49.99
17-in-1 Painter's Tool
Maybe your home's exterior clapboard looks worn after winter, or perhaps your interior walls could use some TLC?Whatever painting project awaits you, if you're armed with this multitool you won’t have to lug around a heavy assortment of paraphernalia to complete the refresh. The HYDE 17-in-1 Painter's Tool has no shortage of skills—it scrapes paint, spreads joint compound, opens cracks, pulls and sets nails, cleans regular and mini rollers, screws and unscrews just about anything, and more. It even pops opens bottles for a celebratory beverage after all your hard work is done! Now that's handy. Available from HYDE; $11.99
Hammer Scraper
'Tis the season for new fashion underfoot—and we don't just mean it's time to break out the sandals. No, now's the time to say goodbye to worn-out and outdated flooring! The HYDE hammer scraper takes some of the backbreaking labor out of replacing tile, linoleum, paint, or other floor coverings or coatings. Its foam-padded handle and rubber grip offer comfort and protection for your hands. Plus, a reversible blade means you get twice the working time before it needs resharpening. Available from HYDE; $31.59
Don't Miss!
If you have the money to hire a handyman for every household woe, go ahead. But if you want to hang on to your cash and exercise some self-sufficiency, check out these clever products that solve a million and one little problems around the house. Go now!