Fill Nail Holes in a Pinch Before Painting

Moving furniture and rehanging pictures leaves a trail of nail holes. The right fix is lightweight spackle, which dries in 30 minutes and sands flush. But there's a renter-friendly trick for a true pinch.

The right way, and the quick way

• Best: press a pea of lightweight spackling paste into the hole with your finger, wipe the excess, let it dry, and paint. No sanding needed with the good stuff.
• In a pinch on white walls: plain white toothpaste (not gel) fills a pin hole invisibly once dry. It's a cosmetic trick, not a repair — spackle it properly before real painting.

Run your hand over old patches before you paint. Anything you can feel, you'll see through the new paint.