Keeping toothpicks in your carpentry kit is a small trick that can be surprisingly useful when a screw strips out in wood. Once a screw hole becomes too loose, the screw may spin without tightening or fail to hold the material securely in place. Instead of abandoning the hole or moving the screw to a different spot, a toothpick can provide a quick and effective way to restore some grip and keep the project moving.
The fix is simple. Insert one or more toothpicks into the stripped hole to help fill the empty space, then drive the screw back in. As the screw tightens, the toothpick wood will compress, break, or shift as needed, helping the threads bite into the surrounding material more securely. In many cases, this is enough to create a firmer hold and solve the problem without needing special tools or hardware.
This trick works especially well for small household repairs, trim work, cabinets, hinges, and other light carpentry situations where the damage is minor and you need a fast solution. If one toothpick does not create a tight enough fit, you can add more until the hole is filled enough for the screw to grab properly. The goal is to give the screw new material to bite into so it can hold more securely than it would in the worn-out opening alone.
For a stronger and more durable repair, dipping the toothpicks in a little wood glue before inserting them can make the fix more permanent. The glue helps bond the added wood fibers inside the hole, creating a more solid base once everything dries. This can be especially helpful in spots that get repeated use, such as door hinges, cabinet hardware, or other fasteners that need to stay tight over time.
While it is not always a substitute for a full repair in heavily damaged wood, this is one of those simple, inexpensive techniques that every handy person should know. Toothpicks take up almost no space, cost very little, and can save time when a stripped screw threatens to slow down a project. Sometimes the easiest solution is also one of the most effective, and this is a perfect example of a small tip that can make a big difference.