3 smart renovation tricks using products you already have at home
Renovation – even a small one – can turn everyday life upside down. Dust, paint, and constant cleaning can quickly drain your motivation. Luckily, you don’t always need specialist tools to make the job easier. Many helpful solutions are already within reach – hidden in your kitchen or bathroom cabinets. See how to cleverly use everyday household products during renovation work.
1. Multi-purpose trash bags
During a renovation, it’s worth having a variety of trash bags in different sizes on hand. Besides keeping space tidy, they have plenty of other practical uses.
First of all, they’re great for painting walls. To avoid constantly washing the paint tray when switching colors or applying multiple coats, simply line it with a trash bag beforehand. Place the garbage bag inside the tray and secure it lightly with tape so it fits snugly around the edges. Once you’re done painting, remove the bag – and the tray stays perfectly clean.
What’s more, trash bags cut open and spread on the floor offer excellent protection against dust and paint. Thanks to their thickness, they don’t wrinkle or slide around as easily as thin plastic sheets. They also work well as quick furniture covers – just pull them over chair backs or boxes to keep dust from settling. It’s also a good idea to keep one open bag standing in the work area, so waste doesn’t pile up “for later,” which significantly reduces mess throughout the project. For major renovations, heavy-duty trash bags made from thick plastic are especially useful for safely carrying rubble and other heavy garbage to the appropriate container.
2. String bags – not just for organization
Screws, wall plugs, hooks, and other small mounting elements have a habit of disappearing at the worst possible moment. That’s where zip-top bags come in handy. They make it easy to organize small items – simply sort them and label each bag with a marker so everything is ready when it’s time to reassembly.
String bags are also surprisingly useful when painting, especially large areas or projects done in stages. If you take breaks between coats, place your paint roller into a clean bag and seal it tightly. Limited air access prevents the paint from drying out, allowing you to get back to work even after a few hours – without washing tools or wasting time.
3. A sponge and rubber gloves
During renovation work, your hands are particularly exposed to chemicals, paint, and moisture. Rubber gloves protect the skin while providing a secure grip, making cleaning and general tasks much easier.
Paired with them, a simple kitchen sponge works perfectly. The soft side helps remove fresh paint splashes or dust, while the rough side tackles dried glue or tougher stains. It’s a simple combo that proves useful at every stage of renovation – from surface preparation to final cleanup.
The power of simple tricks
As you can see, you don’t need to rely solely on specialist tools to make renovation work more efficient. Sometimes all it takes is a look around your home – ordinary trash bags, string bags, or a sponge and gloves can do more than you might expect. These small tricks not only speed up painting and cleaning, but also help maintain better order and improve organization throughout each stage of the project.
