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Whether you are married or live alone, a girl shouldn’t need to count on a man to help repair things around the house. Thankfully we now live in a time that women can proudly and skillfully wield power tools for fixing, decorating and mastering both the maintenance and the DIY creative world.

There are several classes of tools you can have, ranging from hand tools to power tools and saws. In this article, we’ll focus on the essential hand tools we recommend having on hand. Here are 7 tools to keep around the house at all times:

1.Hammer

A hammer is a must-have in every woman’s toolbox. Whether you need it for hanging pictures and décor, or a quick repair for something that broke, a hammer (or several) is essential.

While it is amazing at what it’s main functions are, you can also use it for more than just pounding in and removing nails. The back of your hammer can be used for small leveraging or like a crowbar to pry open something or to make quick holes outside in the ground. Even putting together Ikea furniture benefits from having a hammer. The tools they provide are rudimentary at best, and having a hammer will make the setup process a lot simpler.

2. Hot Glue Gun

A hot glue gun is a best-kept secret from the men’s tool chest world. Very affordable and a cinch to use, just plug it in, let it heat up and take on your next project one glue stick at a time. There are so many versatile things you can do with this tool, from fun crafts to evolving your everyday things like plugging the hole on kid’s bath toys to adding anti-slip protection to shoes.

3.Drill

Not to be confused with a power screwdriver, a power drill possesses more power, force, and speed to allow you to make holes, not just screw things into them. You can use a power drill to drive the standard Phillips and flat head screws as well as other compatible and easy to switch out drill bits.

A drill is only as limited as it’s attachments. Along with any type of drill bit that you may need, you can also purchase attachments that let you sand, remove rust, grind metal, and make various sized holes.

There are a few different types of power drills on the market, so you should learn more about the different types before you purchase to make sure your new drill is compatible with what you will be using it for.

4. Screwdriver

While you may want the power of a drill, don’t underestimate the simple and effective tool that is the screwdriver. Yes, you could get a powered version to save your wrist from being overused, but it is always good to have a wireless one handy for those times you forgot to charge or can’t reach a plugin.

Screwdrivers are essential – especially if you have kids… you will feel like you end up spending a high percentage of your life unscrewing kid’s toys and replacing the batteries.

5. Measuring Tape

Measure the height of your doorways, the area for that new piece of furniture that you have been eyeing or measure how long you need to make that next cut for a project you are making. No household can swiftly run without a measuring tape because we need to know distances and sizes for various day to day things.

We personally recommend keeping three measuring tapes around the house:

A cheap one to keep in a handy junk drawer in your house for quick use
A middle range tape measure for inside your car as your travel
A nice tape measure, with slow retraction and locking, for use on projects

6. Pliers

Shopping for a pair of pliers for your toolbox can make you feel a little crazy when you realize there isn’t just one type of plier. Here are a few of the basic types and what you would use them for.

Needle Nose Pliers: these are a jewelry maker’s best friends and most used tool. The small yet powerful pliers have a petite enough mouth to grab tiny bits and are strong enough to bend metal. These pliers are also popular for sailors and fishermen. Needle nose pliers are also great for those hard to hold tiny parts or difficult to reach places. You can also use these small pliers to hold a nail steady before hammering or help thread a needle.
Slip Joint Pliers: this type of plier is the poster boy for what most people see when they think of pliers. The knob between the two arms keeps the pliers together and allows this tool to shift and pivot to give it a better grip for what you need. The teeth of these pliers are serrated for better grips when you are using them to tighten a bolt, hold a nail in place while driving or even bend metal. There is also a built-in wire cutter in most of the slip joint pliers, just past the teeth.
Cutting Pliers: these pliers were not made to help build, instead, they were made for destroying which can come in handy as you are crafting or working around the house. The sharp edges are perfect for cutting through nails, screws, sheet metal, and other thick or heavy gauged metals.

7. Utility Knife

A utility knife is a safer way to use a straight razor blade. This knife is made up of an easy-to-grip/heavy duty handle, while also housing a breakaway or single razor blade.

While super sharp and not safe for little ones, this knife can come in super handy in daily life.

Remove the muscle-intense work of ripping into your Amazon boxes by using the utility knife to cut through the packing tape like butter. You can also use it for easy straight cutting jobs like wrapping paper or more advanced construction jobs.

These are just five of the must-have tools that will make your home life much easier, while also allowing you the freedom to craft, decorate and repair minor issues.