Jake Romano, general manager at John The Plumber, recommends keeping a few clog-removing tools at home for emergencies. “I keep one of these in both bathrooms in my home,” he says. “These barbed plastic strips are amazing at grabbing onto hair blockages in the sink. Considering plumbers will charge hundreds of dollars to remove a clog, these cheap things are a no-brainer.”

These drain clog remover tools come in a pack of five, with a stainless steel snake included, so you’ll be prepared for the next several bathroom incidents. The flexible plastic can shimmy through various drains while multi-tooth edges latch on to hair, dirt, and other grime to effectively remove the clog.

Romano suggests having a basin wrench at home for various plumbing tasks. He says replacing a faucet, for example, isn’t too hard if you have the right tools. “For under $20, you can purchase a wrench that can reach into tight, awkward places — helping considerably with your faucet replacement,” says Romano. “This little tool can turn an expensive plumbing service call into an easy DIY project.”

This basin wrench automatically adjusts to fit nuts of various sizes, making it great for faucet fittings, valves, supply lines, and drains. It has a pivoting head that can be angled up to 180 degrees and an 11-inch long shaft to help you access tight spots.

While professional help is sometimes necessary, Romano says most toilet blockages can be fixed with a budget-friendly toilet auger. “Considering plumbers usually have a minimum charge of at least a few hundred bucks, this should definitely be in your tool closet.” He adds, “Just be careful with it because you can easily scratch the porcelain.”

This toilet auger is a popular pick on Amazon, stretching 3 feet long and made with solid steel to tackle whatever clog comes your way. The curved plastic end helps you avoid scratching your toilet bowl, and the textured handle provides a comfortable grip. Work gloves and a storage bag are also included.

There are many reasons to apply frosted window film, says Thomas Borcherding, owner of Homestar Design Remodel. “You can achieve your aesthetic and privacy goals by using an inexpensive window frosting film,” he suggests. “Doing so can even improve energy efficiency without having to undergo expensive window replacement.”

This window film is easy to apply and offers privacy without completely blocking light from entering your home. Because it doesn’t use an adhesive, it’s easy to remove and can be reused on another window if you wish.

Before you replace a table or chair that got dinged up, Borcherding advises trying a wood filler first. “Dings, dents, and grooves may seem like the end of the world when it comes to wood,” he says. “However, wood filler makes repairing wood possible. When paired with a color-matching stain, it's as if your wooden mishap never even happened.”

This wood filler can be spread on gouges or small holes in wooden surfaces to fill and repair them. After applying it for a natural finish, the final piece can be sanded and painted over so it looks as good as new.

When scratches aren’t deep enough to require wood filler, Borcherding recommends turning to something even simpler. “Thanks to wax sticks and stain markers, you don't have to live with imperfections on your furniture,” he says. “A furniture repair kit can even be used on flooring.”

This furniture repair kit comes with six repair markers and six wax sticks in various shades to give you versatility when fixing various wood tones. These can be used to cover up minor scratches, dings, and scuffs on furniture and floors.

Dry air can cause all sorts of uncomfortable symptoms, says Borcherding. “As a furnace heats up cold winter air, it sucks out the humidity in doing so. By utilizing a humidifier, you can ease winter symptoms such as dry eyes and skin, chapped lips, and sore throat,” he shares.

This popular humidifier is easy to use and provides up to 25 hours of steady moisture to the air, automatically turning off when the water tank is empty. While it’s particularly useful during dry winter months, it can be used year-round to improve your indoor air.

Mineral buildup on your shower head or faucet can sometimes look worse than it is, and there’s a simple way to fix it. “Hard water spots can coat your beautiful fixtures in unsightly mineral deposits,” explains Borcherding. “Using a hard water spot remover can rejuvenate these fixtures and allow them to shine.”

This calcium, lime, and rust remover can be sprayed on various hard water deposits to effectively remove buildup. It works on multiple surfaces, including stainless steel, porcelain, and ceramic tile, making it great for bathrooms, kitchens, and more.

Too much moisture in the air can cause mold growth, explains Bethany Uribe, water damage and mold mitigation supervisor at ASAP Restoration. She recommends using this moisture absorber to help prevent damage and odors.

“DampRid is a great product for homes with a bathroom that lacks ventilation,” she says. “This product absorbs water out of the very air itself and keeps it from causing a mold growth issue after a heavy shower. It also works great in kitchens, garages, utility rooms, or any other place that lacks proper ventilation.” One container lasts up to 60 days.

Andre Kazimierski, CEO of Improovy Painters of North Shore, recommends a budget-friendly window blind duster such as this one to make it easier to keep the house clean. “They really cut down on the time I spend scrubbing accumulated gunk and dust off of blinds,” Kazimierski says. “Plus, they make it easier to clean things like natural wood blinds and more.”

The helpful tool makes the process of cleaning horizontal blinds much quicker by providing a way to dust the top and bottom of two blinds at once. The included microfiber sleeves can also be washed and reused.

Before calling a professional to get rid of bugs in your kitchen, Jeremy Yamaguchi, CEO of Lawn Love, recommends using this fruit fly trap. “It’s worked surprisingly well,” he says. “It traps fruit flies really effectively and is easy to clean out. It even has a smart sensor which can tell if it’s day or night, changing its light mode accordingly to attract the flies.”

Available in black, gray, and white, the trap comes with 10 glue boards which are easy to replace as needed.

For quick fixes around the house, Michael Branover, a home contractor, home services expert, and the founder of Branover Contractors Inc., recommends a multi-tool pen. This set comes with two pens, each with 11 features, including a ruler, stylus, bubble level, and LED light. Keep one at home and one in your car just in case.

Whether you’re buying a rug or arranging furniture, Branover recommends getting a laser distance measure. “It’s an accurate and compact device for quick measurements, making it handy for various home improvement projects,” he says. “The compact size and ease of use make it convenient for measuring rooms, spaces, or objects quickly and with minimal effort.”

This tool can measure distances up to 65 feet and gives you an accurate reading in meters, feet inches, or inches. It only takes one button to operate and it can fit in your pocket for easy access.

Pests like bugs and moths in your HVAC system might be a reason to call in a professional, but Max Veggeberg, CEO of the home services company Tetra, suggests trying mothballs first. He says placing mothballs in or around the AC compressor “is a great, low-cost way to keep pests away,” adding it can help homeowners “keep their heating and cooling system running smoothly all year long.”

These mothballs are an affordable solution to some pests, designed to eliminate moths and carpet beetles, as well as their eggs and larvae. They also won’t stain or leave an odor.

Veggeberg stresses the importance of hosing down external AC and heating units when they get covered in dust and pollen. “It's important to make sure to clean it off or else you run the risk of poor airflow resulting in higher heating and cooling costs,” he says.

He recommends avoiding power washers and sticking to a standard garden hose such as this one, which will be gentler on the HVAC unit. Made from durable material that won’t kink easily, the hose stands up to all kinds of weather without getting damaged.

To keep your HVAC system working efficiently, Veggeberg suggests using this dryer vent cleaner kit to remove dirt and debris. The four-piece set includes a crevice tool that can be attached to your vacuum cleaner for a simple way to pull out dust from vents. Additionally, the flexible brush tool makes it easy to reach various areas, so you can use it in dryer vents, heating ducts, and underneath furniture.

Adam Donnelly, owner of Handyman Connection of Coraopolis, recommends using silicone caulk to fill in gaps in areas where water can penetrate under the floor or behind a wall — such as around the sink, tub, and toilet. Water damage in these areas “can be a recipe for an expensive clean-up and correction,” he says.

This easy-to-apply silicone sealant creates a barrier to keep out water, air, and moisture. Resistant to mold and discoloration, it’s great for filling in cracks in the bathroom, kitchen, or any other part of the house.

Niki O'Brien, operations manager at Custom Exteriors, says, “Our favorite exterior, problem-solving product is these no-damage hooks from Amazon. They create a damage-free, sturdy way to hang holiday and other decor year-round.”

O'Brien is a fan of these aluminum hooks because they don’t need to be drilled or screwed into siding. “By not penetrating your siding, you can prevent costly future repairs, all for under $20,” she says. Sold in a pack of eight, each hook can hold up to 30 pounds.

If you have a chimney, Jordan Woolf, owner of Huntsville Roofing Solutions, suggests keeping it clean with a chimney sweep kit such as this one, noting that these types of kits have “everything you need — brushes, rods, and even a drop cloth — to safely clean your chimney yourself.” Available in various lengths to fit your chimney, this kit also includes grippy work gloves.

To stabilize a ladder on stairs or uneven ground, Woolf recommends a ladder leveler. This popular pick is highly rated on Amazon and meets Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standards for ladder use. Compatible with single and extension ladders, the stabilizer features a skid-free surface and provides support for up to 1,500 pounds.

When it comes to projects around the house, Woolf says a magnetic pickup tool is a “lifesaver.” This one has a strong grip to easily pick up dropped items like nuts and bolts that have fallen to areas that are hard to reach. With a flexible, extendable neck and a built-in LED light, it’s great for navigating tight spots in garages or attics.

Removing snow from your roof is less of a hassle with a roof rake. “A sturdy, lightweight snow rake makes clearing your roof a breeze, preventing ice dams and protecting your gutters,” Woolf says.

Made from lightweight aluminum, this snow roof rake has a wide 24-inch blade that can pull down large amounts of snow at a time, shortening your task. The handle extends up to 21 feet, and built-in rollers help protect your shingles from damage.

Cleaning up leaves in your yard can be a big task, but it’s much easier with the right tools. Woolf recommends a leaf blower/vacuum combo to make autumn cleanup a breeze.

This three-in-one corded leaf blower works as an electric blower, a vacuum, and a mulcher. Use it to blow unwanted leaves into a pile, suck them up, and grind them down to mulch in the attached bag.

If you live somewhere that dips below freezing any time during the year, Docia Boylen, owner at Handyman Connection of Golden, recommends getting a heating cable. She says this product is “a great option for every homeowner to keep pipes close to the outside of your home warm, especially if you have a crawlspace or basement.”

This heating cable is a CSA and ETL-certified solution that stops water-filled pipes from freezing in cold weather. It's easy to install, energy-efficient, and includes a built-in thermostat to make sure it turns on when your pipes need it.

Boylen recommends a water detector to help prevent expensive water damage from happening in the first place, saying it’s “great to put into your bathroom cabinets, especially in those you don’t use often. It will detect leaks, saving you money on repairs.”

These wireless water detectors come in a pack of two and alert you when water is dripping. With front and back probes for detecting pipe issues, these waterproof devices will notify you with both sound and light when their batteries are low.

Utility pumps have many uses — draining pools, removing standing water, and more. And if you have a window well that holds water, Boylen says they’re essential for cases when the water overflows into the house.

This utility pump is a small and efficient device for removing water in different situations. It can lift water vertically up to 17 feet and has a maximum flow rate of 1,400 gallons per hour, making it up to the task of draining flooded areas.

Boylen advises an escape ladder is “essential for many houses that don’t have easy access to get out in case of fire,” adding, “You should have one in each bedroom.”

Made from durable polyester, this escape ladder fits most windows, comes with strong carabiners, and can hold up to 2,000 pounds. It's compact, easy to store, and unravels quickly without tools.

Every home should have smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, and Boylen recommends these combination detectors that are super easy to maintain. “No more changing batteries,” she says. “These alarms expire in 10 years and you just replace them!” These are also simple to install with no rewiring required — you can mount them on any wall or ceiling using the included brackets, screws, and anchor plugs.

Boylen suggests keeping these air filters on hand for DIY projects and other home renovation work. “These are a must-have when doing projects in your home,” she says. “They catch all the dust. We recommend them for any drywall repair to keep that fine dust from circulating in your home.”

These filters capture particles and let cleaner air circulate, trapping dust, pollen, smoke, and pet dander. Each filter holds as much dust as 50 dusting wipes, with much less effort on your part than dusting your entire home.

Boylen says a solar panel exhaust fan is “awesome if you have an outdoor shed or space where you store your garden equipment,” adding, “And with the solar, they are free to operate.”

Featuring a sturdy metal shell, this weatherproof fan is built to withstand the elements. It’s also designed to run quietly, so you’ll barely hear it as you work in your shed or workshop.