Heard a guy at the hardware store say he uses a dab of dish soap to find studs

I was in line at the hardware store yesterday, waiting to buy some drywall screws. The guy in front of me was talking to the cashier about hanging a heavy mirror. He said, 'I just put a tiny bit of dish soap on my finger and run it along the wall. It catches on the drywall screws and shows you exactly where the stud is.' I tried it when I got home on a spot I already knew had a stud. You just wipe it on and wipe it off with a damp cloth after. It worked way better than my old stud finder that beeps for no reason. I hung a shelf in my bedroom using that trick and it was solid. Has anyone else tried something like this, or got another simple trick for finding studs without a tool?

3 comments

3 Comments

kelly_craig1mo ago

Wouldn't that soap leave a greasy stain on your paint over time?

benclark28d ago

@kelly_craig makes a good point about the soap stain. I'd say it depends on the paint finish. Flat paint might not show a mark but glossy paint might need a quick wipe after. If you're worried, use a tiny drop and test an inconspicuous spot first like @gibson.sarah mentioned. Also, you can use a bar of dry soap like a hotel soap bar instead of liquid dish soap since it leaves no residue at all. I keep a small piece in my toolbox for this exact trick.

gibson.sarah1mo ago

That's actually a pretty clever hack. Might try it in a closet first just to be safe.