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The correct way to fill nail or tack holes.

Get a 4 or 6 inch puddy knife use the hammer head end and tap the surface on the tack hole, putting a small indent on the surface. Then apply a standard joint compound with a puddy knife. Put mud on surface then wipe off tight.Let it dry, when its dry it will be a solid white in color.Once it is dry take a damp sponge and wipe off the surronding area around the hole, so only the hole area has the compond on it and not the surrounding surface, This eliminates haveing to retexture the repaired areas.

Michael Cowell Ace Custom Drywall,Inc

Michael's method is the proper way to repair small holes but it does require repainting. I recommend that homeowners save the leftover paints for small touch ups like these. To repaint small areas like these, I usually brush on a light coat of paint using a pretty dry brush, then I'll brush on a heavier coat of paint and I'll use sort of a stabbing motion with the paint brush that sort of simulates the stipple of the surrounding wall that was painted with a roller. I use a drier and drier brush and lighter and lighter stabs as I get farther away from the repair to help the new paint blend in with the old.

If you really really don't want to paint, then fill the holes with caulk if they're white!

I agree - white toothpaste! Does the trick every time. If walls are off-white, you can add a bit of coffee to it to give it a little color. My dad's favorite trick :)

Use white toothpaste.

Agree. Toothpaste is the quickest way or caulk.

I once just smoothed flour into the holes (left by a dartboard) with my thumb & dusted off the excess, so I could get my rental deposit back! LOL!

(It was a cruddy little college-area apartment when I was in my 20's.)

**Note**Method NOT recomended!!!

CAULK: Using just your finger and a wet rag, dab a little white caulk filling the hole. Wipe all excess caulk off the surface surrounding the hole with your wet rag.

LIGHTWEIGHT SPACKLE: Using just your finger and a damp rag, dab a little lightweight spackle and fill the hole. Wipe off all excess spackle surrounding the hole with a damp rag.

Toothpaste

use spackle,sand paper till smoth,and just paint.

I have used white tooth paste with success, especially if the wall paint is flat.

You should simply use your FINGER for small nail or tack holes, and go get yourself a small tub of indoor spackling. If you use a putty knife, you will end up with a square patch that has ridges from the knife riding on the exsisting texture on each hole you fill. They will stand out terribly!! If you fill just the small hole, and wipe it with a wet rag, you will not need to repaint and they will be barely visible! Happy filling!

Richard Willis
Old World Remodeling
Fort Worth, TX

try a small plastic container of (Bondex) Light weight Spackling Paste. It is ready mixed. Non-shrinking. No Sanding Needed. Once dried use a small moisten sponge and wipe the area and you are done!

If it is a 'pinhole', use toothpaste...it dries...smooth gently & lightly with with finger. Try it, you'd be syrprised.

Spackle has been used for years to repair small holes in drywall/plaster - dries white but unless a very small hole repair, should be painted as will take dirt from hands. Comes as a powder in a small box you mix with water - basically plaster of paris. Joint compound works the same, but you can't buy in quantities of less than about a gallon pail, and due to shrinkage may require 2 coats on all but smallest holes.

For small holes you can also use colored LATEX caulk (NOT silicone or oil-based - they will stain surrounding paint). Apply with caulk gun or by fingertip off caulk gun, IMMEDIATELY clean up around (but not directly over) the repair by wiping with a damp (not wet) cloth or paper towel (may take 2-3 passes to eliminate the haze). Caulk tubes (requires caulk gun for about $5, of course, if you don't have one) are generally available in clear, white, beige, dark brown, grey, and better stocked building supply stores in silver and black.

Tub and tile caulk also comes in clear, gray and white - basically a more gooey and waterproof caulk - comes in both large and small tubes, but use only for holes not more than about 1/8 inch as caulks do not harden like joint compound or spackle.