Life hack: The simple trick to unscrewing a stripped screw

 

Whether you’re a handy person with the tool box or not, stripped screws are unfortunately a frustrating problem everyone deals with at some point. 

The fact is, so many things require screws these days, so this is no longer just a problem a builder has to deal with. Due to safety regulations, most things that contain batteries require a screw closure, so there is no doubt you will run into this issue at some point or another. Even many TV remote controls have screwed on battery covers now!

If you find yourself in a situation where you’re having trouble unscrewing a screw because the head is stripped (this is often when it has been over-tightened, and the screwdriver has scraped off the surrounding metal of the indent so you can no longer get a grip to turn it), give this simple trick a try.

1. Find a rubber band. It needs to be one of the wide ones, like the type used on newspapers.

2. Place it on top of the stripped screw.

3. Now use the screwdriver to bear down on the rubber band and twist like usual. The rubber helps the screwdriver grip where it previously couldn’t to twist the stubborn screw out.

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By A. Moiz