We’ve all been there—trying to remove a screw, only to find the head is stripped and the screwdriver just spins in place. Before you give up (or grab a hammer 😅), here’s a simple trick anyone can use.
A wide rubber band
Your screwdriver or drill
A little patience
Lay the rubber band flat over the stripped screw head. Make sure it covers the grooves.
Insert your screwdriver into the screw head on top of the rubber band. Press down firmly while turning slowly. The rubber fills the gaps in the stripped head, giving your tool extra grip.
Most of the time, this trick gives you just enough traction to back the screw out. If you’re trying to tighten it, the same hack works.
If the rubber band breaks or slips, try cutting a small square from a latex glove or even using steel wool for extra grip.
👉 Pro Hack from Darin at 22 Fix It: Once you’ve removed that stripped screw, replace it with a fresh one. It’ll save you headaches later when you (or someone else) needs to work on it again.
This one’s quick, cheap, and a total lifesaver—you’ll thank yourself the next time you run into a stubborn screw.
