simple stuff: razor blade scraper.

Every once in a while, I write a round-up of very solid options for very necessary household staples and I put them under the umbrella of simple stuff. Today, I don’t have options to share. Just the one, solid, inexpensive, built-to-last toolbox darling that I firmly believe every household needs, but especially ones with people who like to craft or who generally like to rid their spaces of errant stickers, or splashes of paint, or other small eyesores that may be impeding the ability of their ho-hum rental to reach its full potential. Mine, in other words.

This is not the first time that I’ve waxed poetic about the humble razor blade scraper. But when my old plastic razor blade holder finally succumbed to age earlier this summer and cracked, I bought a simple, inexpensive improvement that I fully expect to last my lifetime. In case you are in need, or in case you’re the kind of person who likes to offer small, practical, sure-to-be-loved gifts, finding one of these beauties in your local hardware store would be a thing to try.

This style of stainless steel razor blade holder is sturdy and practical. It’s easy to swap out the razor when you need a new one. The razor retracts to prevent unintended slicing of fingers or otherwise. It’s neat and simple and you can slide it into your back pocket as you putter around on a weekend morning looking for things to fix. (Only me?)

What, precisely, do you do with a razor blade scraper?

A short list:

+ Remove the eyesore of a sticker off your tape measure. (It’s there, I promise.)

+ Gently scrape the paint the landlord splattered on your window panes.

+ Remove the bits of plaster a handyperson (ahem) left covering your bathroom light switch.

+ Scrape the unknown substance off the top of the table you rescued from the curb.

+ Free the painted-over cable from snaking around your apartment door.

+ Remove the clear caulk you responsibly used to seal up your summertime air conditioner.

+ Scrape the sticker off the back of your Ikea Sniglar crib.

+ Open the box of long-awaited something or other that landed on your doorstep.

The list, of course, goes on. So does the simple pleasure.