Real Life of an MSW

You’re supposed to find a stud to hang something. Many locations we choose on walls, however, don’t line up with one. In these instances, you’ll need a drywall anchor. (Not the flimsy ones that come with a frame. Get ones that hold weight.) Drill a small hole in the drywall, and install the anchor. Make it a snug fit. Then, screw the screw in. Once tightened, turn it an extra five to 10 times.

“It scrunches the anchor behind the drywall and pulls it tight against the backside,” says Mickey Allison, owner of Mickey “The Maintenance Man.”

Allison also recommends using two anchors for better weight distribution. To align them evenly, he measures from the floor up because floors are more level than ceilings and walls.

For pictures with hanging wire, Ben Milano, owner of Flaming Toaster Construction & Handyman Services, always places a metal washer under the screw. “The wire slides behind something larger than the screwhead, making it more secure,” he says.