Contractors say these genius things for your home work so well they deserve 6 stars

“One tool I think is really useful to have around the house is a basic moisture meter,” says Daniel Ilinykh, owner of Bay Way Flooring. Hold this device to a wall, floor, wood, or masonry, and a clear, bright LED screen instantly tells you the relative moisture content. It does no damage to your floors or walls and is fast and easy to use. “If a floor starts swelling, lifting, or just looks wrong, moisture is one of the first things I’d want to rule out,” says Ilinykh.

Cleaning the machine that cleans your clothes is actually very easy. Keep these washing machine cleaner tablets on hand. “Use one tablet for cleaning during a cycle with hot water once a month, [and] the appliance will serve you much longer,” says Andrei Suprunov of FixitBay LLC Appliance Repair. Meanwhile, you can rest assured that when you drop clothes into the machine, it is not making them dirtier.

“For homeowners in colder climates, I'd also recommend an insulated outdoor faucet cover as an additional layer of protection,” says Kevin J. Vander Hyde, vice president of Vander Hyde Services. Invest a few minutes and a few dollars in these simple insulation products that protect your exposed pipes and faucets and insulate the entries, and you will save money and avoid hassles.

“Fire block foam would be my six-star product,” says Lo Choe, licensed contractor and owner of Aura Fire Safety. “It's that orange can that you can purchase from 3M for about $12.” This stuff stops cold air from getting in and prevents fire from secretly spreading through those gaps. “Fire block foam [...] is designed to help restrict the spread of fire through certain gaps. It is not a substitute for a rated firestop system. Normal foam may not be suitable for fire blocking applications, which isn't always explained to you,” says Chloe.

Keeping the tracks of your windows clean helps them to open and closer more smoothly. “A narrow track cleaning brush for sliding doors makes cleaning the track easier,” says JDM Sliding Doors’ Gal Cohen. These magic window track cleaners are designed specifically for this task. The clever sponges grab dirt on both sides of the track, so all you have to do is swipe the brush through it. They come with a combination brush and dustbin that’s designed to fit in the track and sweep up larger debris.

“With winter approaching and homeowners needing to consider home insulation, I recommend purchasing a flexible sealant,” says Constantine Anest, licensed contractor and owner of Ethos Roofing & Restoration. This silicone waterproof sealant is a great option. “It works well for cracks around windows, doors, and exterior seams, and its elasticity helps it retain its properties in low winter temperatures and warmer spring and summer temperatures.”

“One product I wish more homeowners used is a thermal leak detector or infrared thermometer,” says Kevin J. Vander Hyde of Vander Hyde Services. “It lets you check surface temperatures around your home and identify unusual hot or cold spots that might point to poor insulation, air leaks, or uneven heating.” It’s fun to use, too. Point it at the surface and pull the trigger. It displays the temperature of that spot — even if it's too far away to reach — on its screen.

“For drafty windows, especially in older homes, the Duck Brand MAX Strength Window Insulation Kit is super effective,” according to Branden Wells, owner of TrueCraft Construction. “This kit includes plastic film that seals onto your window and can insulate up to 10 standard windows.” It traps air between the window and your living space. Air is an excellent insulator. “Pro tip: Use a hair dryer to shrink the film and make it nice and tight,” he says.

“[My] favorite gadget right now is a digital level,” says Scott Flores, CEO of Empire PLS. This version from Klein Tools is affordable and pocket-sized. “Set it on the surface,” says Flores. “The readout gives slope in inches per foot, no squinting at a bubble.” A level is one of the most useful around the home. Flores recommends it for minding areas of your home where water damage could wreck havoc. Use a level to see if your walkway is pitched toward your foundation, check the slope of your driveway, and keep an eye on your garage.

According to FixitBay LLC Appliance Repair's Andrei Suprunov, keeping appliances clean is an essential part of their care and maintenance. Sometimes this task is so simple and easy that you will kick yourself if you don’t do it. A great example and something Suprunov recommends: “Tablets for cleaning dishwashers and washing machines.” All you do is drop one in and run an empty load. The machine will last longer, and all the dishes you wash in it will emerge cleaner.

Mold Shield Restoration’s Ron Prevost suggests installing “an insulated attic hatch or stair cover.” This door insulation installs into the attic door opening, creating a seal that prevents dust, bugs, and other pollutants from getting into the living quarters while stopping heating and cooling from escaping into the attic. “It’s especially important,” says Prevost, “in climates that are very hot and humid.”

“A water leak detector is a ‘six-star’ product I would recommend to any homeowner,” says Kevin J. Vander Hyde of Vander Hyde Services. “This is a small, affordable device that alerts you when it detects unwanted water in an area where a leak could cause damage. Some models can also send alerts to your phone, which is especially useful if you're away from home.” Set it under the kitchen sink and next to the water heater or other appliances that use water so you know about leaks before the water has time to cause major damage.

“A gutter cleaning scoop is a simple but useful tool before the rainy season,” according to Caleb Riutta, project consultant at Country Restoration, a property restoration and reconstruction company. “It helps remove leaves and debris that can block drainage and send water over the gutters.” The gutter scoop is sized to fit into the gutters so you don’t have to stick your hands in there.

“Any tool that solves a recurring problem or prevents further damage is great,” says Matthew O’Grady, director and cofounder of Thomas Matthew Kitchens & Furniture. “Like cheap but otherwise good-quality felt pads or furniture leg protectors.” These floor protectors stop chair legs from scratching floors, and they make chairs quieter and easier to move. This sock-like style is easy to pull onto the legs, won’t fall off, and is hardly noticeable. This is a pack of 32.

“Humidity monitors are a great addition to a homeowner's toolkit,” says Vander Hyde Services’s Kevin J. Vander Hyde. “A digital hygrometer helps homeowners track their home’s indoor humidity and catch problems early, so they can run a dehumidifier, improve ventilation, or fix a leak before moisture causes lasting damage.” This Bluetooth hygrometer lets you place the unit once and then monitor everything from your phone. “Placing one in areas that tend to run damp, such as basements, crawl spaces, and bathrooms, will give homeowners the best readings,” he says.

“Leave the door of the washing machine open after every cycle,” Andrei Suprunov of FixitBay LLC Appliance Repair. “Especially in machines with front loading, because the moisture is kept in the rubber seal around the drum. In a closed, damp drum, mold forms.” If the open door will be in the way in your living space, this front-load washer door prop will keep it open just enough to let the interior dry without swinging into the room.

“Gutter guards can reduce leaves and debris in gutters, helping maintain proper drainage,” says Green Country Roofing’s Robert Moore. This aluminum gutter guard fits easily over your gutters, stopping debris from landing in them so you don’t have to clean them as often. “Regular inspections and cleaning are still necessary,” reminds Moore. But glancing at gutters is easier than scooping wet leaves out of them.

“Weatherstripping and door sweeps help reduce drafts and keep heated air inside,” says Kevin J. Vander Hyde of Vander Hyde Services. Installing this door draft stopper is so easy. Just peel and stick it to the bottom of the door. It will lower your power bill, make your interior quieter, and stop bugs from crawling in under the door.

“I prefer a quality tape measure,” says Gal Cohen, field area manager of JDM Sliding Doors. This 25-foot tape measure is precise, easy to read, and designed to fit in your hand and be easy to hold. “It is useful in getting proper measurements to ensure that there are no mistakes when measuring for the size of the opening or door,” he says. It comes in two lengths.

When it comes to fixing cracked concrete, the sealant you use matters, according to Scott Flores of Empire PLS. “Concrete moves, so the stiff hardware-aisle caulk cracks again in nine months, and everyone blames the concrete,” he says. “Polyurethane stays rubbery for 15 years and stretches with the slab.” Use this self-leveling concrete expansion joint sealant and your fix won’t fall apart. “Cut the tip, squeeze it into a clean crack, and it levels itself flat, zero tooling, zero skill,” says Flores.

Ryan Gold of Reliable Garage Doors likes this garage door lubricant to keep your garage door opening and closing smoothly. “It keeps the door quiet and stops the opener from fighting a dry door,” he says. It can extend the life of the door by preventing corrosion and helping the engine move the door with less effort.

“Something that I would consider a six-star product is steel wool,” says David Joles, COO of PURCOR Pest Solutions. “It can do so many things around the house.” It’s affordable, too. This two-pack of 10-foot pieces can be cut with scissors is under $10. “It's really helpful for a handful of different cleaning tasks, from cleaning grill grates to eliminating scuff marks to cleaning cast iron grills and a lot more,” says Joles. It can also be used as an effective barrier against pests.

Repairing damaged furniture or cabinets is easier than you think. Paintable wood filler can fix holes, scratches, and broken parts surprisingly well. The putty-like texture fills the hole and smooths easily with a scraper. “A paintable wood filler in a tube is handy to have because it’s much easier to control,” says Justin Brown, founder of Timber Shelves. “I use mine mostly along door frames and shelf edges. Paint over it once dry, and the repair disappears completely.”

“I think every homeowner should have a dryer vent brush on hand,” counsels Lo Choe of Aura Fire Safety. “For about $20, you can buy a [vent cleaner kit] that attaches to your drill and will clean your vent line. Lint buildup in your ductwork is a fire hazard. If your dryer has not been cleaned in two years, it may have a significant amount of lint buildup.” This vent cleaner kit is easy to attach to your drill and works really well. It can stretch 50 feet to get deep into your vent.

“One tool I think every homeowner should appreciate is a good inspection or borescope camera,” says Kevin J. Vander Hyde, vice president of Vander Hyde Services. “It makes it easier to inspect tight spaces behind appliances, inside certain wall cavities, or around hard-to-reach plumbing areas without immediately having to take things apart.” This one has a 5-inch screen and a built-in light on the camera so you can see everything clearly.

Steven Morgan of 24hr.Supply also recommends keeping a flexible grabber tool and a drain snake hair-clog remover on hand to save you the expense of a plumber for simple fixes. “The grabber is a four-claw pickup tool on a long cable,” he says. “I have used it to fish rings, toys, and a cell phone out of a drain without pulling the trap.”

“Buy good quality weather stripping and rollers for doors,” recommends JDM Sliding Doors’ Gal Cohen. This peel-and-stick door seal is made from high-density EVA foam and has excellent rebound, so it will insulate for sound and temperature. “If the house is drafty, it may be because the weather stripping is worn,” says Cohen.

“I recommend thermal insulation strips for exterior outlets and switches,” says Ethos Roofing & Restoration’s Constantine Anest. “They reduce drafts through small gaps around electrical boxes.” These outlet insulators are precut, so all you have to do is install them under the socket plate cover. They are cheap and will stop a sneaky energy loss.

“[My] unusual pick is the humble downspout extension, the roll-out vinyl kind,” says Scott Flores of Empire PLS. Just like this downspout extender from Frost King. Downspout extenders can help direct water away from your foundation to protect your home. It’s easy to detatch and roll up if the weather gets too cold.

There are simple things you can do to prevent trouble and save money, according to Vander Hyde Services’ Kevin J. Vander Hyde. They aren’t flashy, but they are so essential that they get six stars. “I'd recommend foam pipe insulation, quality weatherstripping, and a good exterior door sweep,” he says. “Pipe insulation is an inexpensive way to help protect exposed plumbing in vulnerable areas,” he says. Installing foam pipe covers is easy and can prevent the massive damage frozen pipes can cause or stop the slow leak of money that exposed hot water pipes cause.

Cleaning window tracks is simple when you have a good vacuum to suck up any major dirt. “A vacuum will help to remove dirt from the track, but a brush will get into all the little crevices,” says Gal Cohen of JDM Sliding Doors. Add this handheld vacuum to your window-cleaning tool kit so you can give the window a thorough, targeted sweep before you start working on the smaller parts.

“About one out of every four DIY drilling-related accidents are from accidentally drilling into an electrical line or pipe behind a wall or underneath a floor,” warns Justin Brown of Timber Shelves. “So, before making any holes, it’s mandatory in my books to scan the surface with this little nifty wall scanner that detects where pipes and wires are running under the wall or floor surface.” This one is battery-powered and easy to use.

“Replace the rubber bottom seal on the garage door,” suggests Ryan Gold, owner and lead technician of Reliable Garage Doors. “A worn seal is the gap that lets cold air, rain, and leaves in under the largest door on the house.” This garage door bottom seal is affordable and simple to deploy. It slides right into the metal tracks on the bottom of your garage door. “Most homeowners can swap it themselves,” he says.

“Tack cloths are used to remove any dust and other surface contaminants prior to painting or varnishing an item,” says Timber Shelves’ Justin Brown. “It’s basically an adhesive, lint-free wipe, and although regular rags can be used, tack cloth yields much better results.” This pack of 12 is affordable, static-free, and free of silicone and wax. “Trust me, the difference it makes is noticeable,” he says.

“It’s very important for every homeowner to have a high-quality fire extinguisher rated for household use,” according to Vander Hyde Services’ Kevin J. Vander Hyde. They come in all sizes. This basic, easy-to-grab extinguisher — it weighs less than 4 pounds — is perfect near the stove or grill and easy to stash in a corner or mount to a wall. You can buy multipacks and place them strategically all over the house.

“[I recommend] a humidity switch in bathrooms that runs the vent fan when humidity gets over 50%,” says Ron Prevost, licensed mold remediator contractor with Mold Shield Restoration. It has a built-in humidity sensor that knows when the room is too damp and automatically vents it. It’s easy to install, like changing out a light switch. “Then homeowners are not relying on themselves or kids to remember to run the vent fan during bathtimes or if a homeowner keeps a bathroom door shut all the time,” he says. ‘This can help maintain one of the wet areas of a house.”

“I would recommend a brush for cleaning the refrigerator condenser,” says Andrei Suprunov, owner and lead technician with FixitBay LLC Appliance Repair. “[The condenser] is usually located at the back or in the lower part of the refrigerator. [It] accumulates dirt, dust, and lint.” Cleaning it regularly helps it function better, and this cleaner lint brush makes the chore fast and easy. You can use it on other hard-to-dust items around the house, too.

“My favorite [product] is a cordless impact driver,” says Robert Moore, owner of Green Country Roofing. “It's reliable, saves time, and makes roofing repairs and installations more efficient.” These tools deliver more power than a drill and make it easy to change bits. This cordless brushless impact driver kit can switch quickly between delicate tasks and those that require more power. It also has a built-in LED light and comes with a set of sockets and bits.

One device you absolutely need, according to Steven Morgan, a licensed master plumber at 24hr.Supply: “A water leak alarm, plain and simple. Basically, it's this small battery-powered puck that sits on the floor near your water heater, washing machine, or sump pump. It costs between five and 20 dollars, and it makes a 90-decibel alarm when it gets wet.” Place one anywhere water might escape and cause problems. That way, you will never be surprised by a pond that secretly happened in the basement or behind a wall.

“Water sits in a crack, freezes, expands 9%, and widens it nightly until spring, when a $15 fix becomes a $900 patch,” says Empire PLS’ Scott Flores. “Latex-ite Pli-Stix is a rubber rope you lay in the crack and melt with a torch. For gaps over a half inch, stuff foam backer rod in first (an $8 roll) so you’re only sealing the top inch.” This is a two-pack, each of which will handle 60 feet of driveway repairs.

“One important preventative product all homeowners should have [...] is a wet/dry vacuum,” says Steve Jafari, managing partner of Restoration Doctors. This shop vacuum can suction up spilled liquids and large pieces that will damage your expensive floor vac. It’s also easy to cart around, so you can use it to clean out appliances, the garage, or the car.

Steven Morgan, licensed master plumber at 24hr.Supply recommends the RIDGID EZ Change Plumbing Wrench. “It is a faucet installation and removal tool,” he says. “My hands are too big to fit behind a sink to loosen a supply line or a mounting nut, and this thing gets in there without me having to disassemble the whole vanity. It has saved me more cussing and scraped knuckles than any tool I own!”

“The preventative product every homeowner should own is a simple downpipe and gutter guard system,” says Jake Morrison, owner of Riversedge Building Group. “Blocked gutters cause more structural damage than almost anything else I see, and it is one of the cheapest problems to avoid if you stay ahead of it.” This two-pack of rain gutter downspout extensions is a great place to start. It moves water away from the house and is easy to set up.

“The drain snake is a plastic wand with little barbs that pulls hair out of a shower drain in seconds,” says 24hr.Supply’s Steven Morgan. “People love pouring chemicals down the drain, which is bad for the pipes and even worse for the environment. This thing just pulls the gunk out. It's kinda disgusting, but it works!” And it’s so cheap to keep on hand. This set of nine comes with a basic grabber claw for less than $10.

“I want to recommend a drain pan for the washing machine,” says FixitBay LLC Appliance Repair’s Andrei Suprunov. “This is especially important because, from the constant vibration, the fastenings of the hoses can come off with time. Or the rubber can crack. In the end, the washing machine can leak. The pan won’t let the water seep through.” It’s a safety measure you will forget you installed until you see water in that pan and realize how much damage there would be without it.