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How to Make Homemade Spackling for Walls

While doing prep work for a paint job, you notice nail and tack holes. You can ignore them and proceed to paint the wall, or you can take the time to patch the holes for a more professional-looking job. Spackling products are available at home improvement and paint stores; but if you just need to fill a few small holes, making your own spackle is more economical. With a few basic items that you have in your home, you can mix up a batch of homemade spackle and apply it to the wall in less time than it would take to get to the paint store.

Things You'll Need

  • Salt
  • Cornstarch
  • Stirring stick
  • Plastic container
  • Putty knife
  • Sanding sponge
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Instructions

    • 1

      Combine 2 tablespoons salt and 2 tablespoons cornstarch in a small plastic container.

    • 2

      Add 4 to 5 teaspoons of water, stirring until a thick paste forms. Begin with a small amount of water and add liquid gradually until the mixture is a sticky consistency.

    • 3

      Spread the paste into small holes in the wall with a putty knife. Scrape the surface with the edge of the putty knife to create a smooth surface.

    • 4

      Sand the surface with a sanding sponge after the homemade spackle has dried.

    • 5

      Add an additional coat of spackling paste if the surface is not completely smooth.