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  4. Handy Household Helpers

Handy Household Helpers

By Taryn Mohrman July 14, 2015
Each product we feature has been independently selected and reviewed by our editorial team. If you make a purchase using the links included, we may earn commission.
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Home Organization: Kid's Clothing Storage
The right tools make all the difference when working on home improvements. Check out our picks.
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Trendy Toolbox

Toolbox
Credit: Peter Ardito

Make room in the junk drawer by stashing tools in Alice Supply Co.'s striped metal caddy. The removable plastic tray is the perfect place to store small screws and nails. $82; alicesupplyco.com

  • Buy the striped toolbox at alicesupplyco.com

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Lightweight Lift

Step stool
Credit: Peter Ardito

The Kikkerland EZ Fold step stool stores flat so you can keep it in the closet or cabinet until you need a lift to change the lightbulb or dust the ceiling. $15.50; amazon.com

  • Buy the Kikkerland EZ Fold Step stool at amazon.com

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Home Organization: Kid's Clothing Storage

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Flexible Light

Flashlight
Credit: Peter Ardito

Attach the GorillaTorch Flare to any work surface with its magnetic, malleable tripod legs to shine white or red LEDs on the project at hand. $35; joby.com

  • Buy the GorillaTorch Flare at joby.com

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Multi Mallet

Multi hammer
Credit: Peter Ardito

The stainless steel Sheffield 14-in-1 Hammer can handle banging in nails -- and then some. It has a built-in pair of pliers, metal file, can opener, and more. $15; amazon.com

  • Buy the Sheffield 14-in-1 Hammer at amazon.com

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Savvy Scissors

Scissors
Credit: Peter Ardito

A built-in bottle opener, awl tip, tape cutter, and blade sharpener, make Fiskars' Cuts+More scissors the pair to keep in the kitchen. $20; fiskars.com

  • Buy the Cuts+More scissors at fiskars.com

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Safe Fire Starter

Lighter
Credit: Peter Ardito

Zippo's refillable Candle Lighter has an ergonomic design and a child-safety button so you keep it within reach -- without the worry. $20; zippo.com

  • Buy the Candle Lighter at zippo.com

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Garden Guru

Garden tool
Credit: Peter Ardito

The rust-resistant Planter's Pal digs; weeds; cuts sod, twine, and soil bags; tamps down stakes; and has measurements on the side so you don't have to switch tools. $10; homedepot.com

  • Buy the Planter's Pal at homedepot.com

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Pretty Plug

Extension cord
Credit: Peter Ardito

Save time searching the garage for an extension cord by choosing a standout style, like this Coleman 25-foot, weather-resistant punchy purple one. $24; cableorganizer.com

  • Buy the Coleman extension cord at cableorganizer.com

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Battery Buddy

screwdriver
Credit: Peter Ardito

Juice up your kids' toys using Oxo Tot's 4-inch Battery Screwdriver. A nonslip handle and four different heads will get the job done fast. $5; onestepahead.com

  • Buy Oxo's Battery Screwdriver at onestepahead.com

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Measuring Mate

Tape measure
Credit: Peter Ardito

This Molecule soft tape measure can determine the width of a bookshelf or the size of your child's waist. $8.50; pylones-usa.com

  • Buy the Molecule soft tape measure at pylons-usa.com

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Hands-Off Hammer

Hammer
Credit: Peter Ardito

No room to swing a hammer? Pull the trigger of the Craftsman NEXTEC 12-Volt Lithium-Ion Hammerhead Auto Hammer to drive a nail into the wall or surface instead. $90; ACE Hardware

  • To buy the Craftsman NEXTEC 12-Volt Lithium-Ion Hammerhead Auto Hammer visit acehardware.com for stores

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Good Wrench

Wrench
Credit: Peter Ardito

Tighten loose nuts and bolts on the swing set or raise the seat on your child's two-wheeler using Kobalt's socket-style Mulit Drive Wrench. $25; lowes.com

  • Buy the Kobalt Multi Drive Wrench at lowes.com

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Clever Cutters

Open it
Credit: Peter Ardito

It's easy to cut through even the toughest plastic toy packaging and superstrong zip ties with the Open It. $20; buyopenit.com

Originally published in the April 2011 issue of Parents magazine.

  • Buy the Open It tool at buyopenit.com

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    1 of 14 Trendy Toolbox
    2 of 14 Lightweight Lift
    3 of 14 Home Organization: Kid's Clothing Storage
    4 of 14 Flexible Light
    5 of 14 Multi Mallet
    6 of 14 Savvy Scissors
    7 of 14 Safe Fire Starter
    8 of 14 Garden Guru
    9 of 14 Pretty Plug
    10 of 14 Battery Buddy
    11 of 14 Measuring Mate
    12 of 14 Hands-Off Hammer
    13 of 14 Good Wrench
    14 of 14 Clever Cutters

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