Best Household Tool NOT Found in a Toolbox

Most houses have a go-to essentials tool kit. It contains all those little nails and screws you need for everyday jobs, hammers, wrenches, a screw driver (or 2) and usually a tape measure. It's full of the right tool for the job, but when it comes to receiving the "Best Overall Tool Award," something different takes the cake around this neck of the woods. Find out what it is after the jump...

There seems to be one tool that just keeps being the most useful around our home. It's something that can get almost any job done and takes up very little space (if only it would do laundry for us). The "tool" that's stolen our hearts is... (drum roll please)... a metal skewer. (cymbal crash)

No really! It does everything. It serves as a screwdriver, opens lids, can be heated to poke holes in things, tests cakes, mixes paint, opens mail, stirs drinks, ... you name it, we've probably done it with our handy dandy skewer.

We have had friends and family who have had their own little vices. From mothers who used a brass duck more often than not instead of a hammer, to friends who used a butter knife with a busted tip instead of a screwdriver (which is probably how the tip was broken in the first place)...so we know we aren't the only ones.

Do you have the one "go-to" item laying around in a drawer somewhere? Or in your space do you strictly use things for what they are intended?

Comments (14)

I've used a metal nail file for small sanding jobs, screw driving, and other sundry tasks that require something thin and metal.

posted by kimdog on July 17th 2008 at 10:22am
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Ka-Bar, Does Everything

posted by dtland on July 17th 2008 at 10:31am
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A little more on the heavy-duty side, but a Japanese-style pull saw is the greatest demo and remodeling tool around. I never would have thought to buy one but for a tip from another customer at Home Depot who swore by them.

Guess it doesn't count since you wouldn't keep it in a drawer...

posted by dollarvines on July 17th 2008 at 10:42am
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Leatherman, an actual multi-tool

posted by tallguylehigh on July 17th 2008 at 10:42am
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The Butter Knife which is Not Used for Eating but to Pry Things Open and Scrape Things Off.

My mom used to have this big serving spoon we used for a mini-trowel. I guess we're big on multipurpose silverware.

posted by whytephoenix on July 17th 2008 at 10:54am
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dtland, that might be AT's first-ever mention of a Ka-Bar.

posted by Shawn on July 17th 2008 at 11:23am
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I'm in love with my pry bar, but then I tend to do a lot of demolition. :)

posted by rockypondgirl on July 17th 2008 at 11:33am
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Seam ripper-we have one in every room, opens packages like a champ. I often include a seam ripper with gifts that have packaging that might be hard to open.
After all, who wants to give frustration to someone?

posted by witchdoc on July 17th 2008 at 11:34am
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I couldn't live without my utility knife. Opening packages, helping to cut away loose caulk, scoring things, stand-in when I can't find a pair of scissors or my exacto knife or garden shears, etc...

posted by LilyC on July 17th 2008 at 1:25pm
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scissors. I keep a pair in every room of the house. Another candidate is rubber bands, I use a lot of rubber bands in the kitchen.

posted by yolio on July 17th 2008 at 1:57pm
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hi and sorry for being anal, but you do mean "cymbal crash", not "symbol crash", yeah?

posted by ratita on July 17th 2008 at 2:00pm
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Thanks ratita... I did!

posted by sarahrae on July 17th 2008 at 4:51pm
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A full (or nearly full) plastic peanut butter jar is a decent substitute for a rubber mallet. (Not my MOST go-to tool, but it's come in handy a few times.)

posted by hillde on July 18th 2008 at 1:28am
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we have a ceiling fan that would constantly keep the metal part of lightbulbs stuck in the screw and my Dad would use a piece of wood (kinda like a shim) and would wedge it in there and voila the metal piece would come out when we would unscrew it! genius!

also scissors are a vital player in my house! :)

posted by witchbaby on July 18th 2008 at 5:13am
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