What's a good substitute for spackle?

Author: Ms. Alysson Wisozk  |  Last update: Friday, May 9, 2025

Hunker's recipe calls for 4 tablespoons of flour and 1/3 tablespoon of salt mixed with your choice of paint or varnish. Paint can help the patch blend seamlessly into the wall, and won't require any touch up.

What can I use instead of spackle?

  • Spackle or Joint Compound : If you have spackle or joint compound, these are ideal for filling small holes.
  • Toothpaste : For very tiny holes, white toothpaste can work as a temporary filler.
  • Baking Soda and White Glue : Mix equal parts of baking soda and white glue to create a paste.
  • Paint

What can be used as spackle?

Using Toothpaste

Another common household item that can work as a homemade spackle is toothpaste. While toothpaste isn't cost-effective nor suggested for large holes, it's perfect for small ones. As an added bonus, you don't have to worry about getting any on yourself because you can easily wash it off.

What is similar to spackle?

Homeowners really need to start using joint compound instead of spackle. Spackle is great for small pin holes. An all purpose joint compound is so much less work to sand and finish, it also takes paint much better than spackle.

How do you make homemade spackle?

Mix together four tablespoons of white flour and one-third teaspoon of salt, then add in enough paint or primer until the concoction has a doughy or putty-like texture. Smooth it over small cracks and dents with a putty knife. Let dry until the surface is completely hard before painting or sanding.

SPACKLE Vs. DRYWALL MUD/JOINT COMPOUND (What's the Difference? When Should You Use Them?!)

What is the best homemade wall filler?

Toothpaste works best for small holes in the wall, particularly because it tends to crack. To avoid cracking, crush up some aspirin into powder, and mix it with a bit of toothpaste to create a paste. Then, apply the toothpaste-aspirin mix to the wall and let dry.

What can I use instead of wall filler?

Wall repair patches

If your hole is too large to fix with filler, you can use a wall repair patch. These are designed to quickly and easily cover holes in plasterboard walls. Before you apply the patch, remove any loose plaster and dust from the hole and the area around it.

What is the best thing to fill holes in drywall?

Fill dents and tiny holes with lightweight spackle using your finger or a putty knife. Make sure the spackle completely fills the dent or hole and is level with the rest of the wall. Allow the spackle to dry for 15 to 30 minutes or the time recommended by the manufacturer.

What can be used in place of drywall mud?

Joint compound is the same as drywall mud or just mud.

What is the difference between spackle and caulk?

The primary difference between caulk and spackle lies in their composition and intended use. Caulk is a flexible, waterproof material primarily used for sealing gaps and joints, and spackle is a putty-like substance designed for filling holes and cracks in drywall, wood, brick, and stone.

What can I use for spackling?

Consider using two putty knives — one with a wide blade and one with a narrow blade. Dip the wide knife into the can of spackling compound and use it as a palette. The narrow knife can be used to apply the compound to the damaged area on the wall.

What is a good substitute for wall putty?

If you do not want to deal with the primer, you can use white cement. Through its structure, it provides you coarse finish compared with the wall putty. If you want to present quality work by spending much more time, white cement might be a better choice for you.

What is a substitute for wall spackle?

Hunker's recipe calls for 4 tablespoons of flour and 1/3 tablespoon of salt mixed with your choice of paint or varnish. Paint can help the patch blend seamlessly into the wall, and won't require any touch up. Varnish will result in a fortified putty more akin to traditional joint compound putty.

What is better than spackle?

Spackle comes in small tubes, whereas joint compound comes in large containers of 1 gallon or more. This makes joint compound the clear winner when conducting larger-than-average repair jobs. Spackle is great for fixing small nail holes but not for repairing large gaps in drywall.

Why is Dollar Tree stuff so cheap?

Purchase Cost

Dollar stores buy a lot of inventory at a time so they can sell things cheaply. Much of the inventory dollar stores purchase cost less than a $1 because they're damaged. But it's buyer beware with items like toys, which can break easily at times.

What is the best thing to fill gaps in walls with?

What are the best gap fillers that professionals use?
  • Spackle. Spackle is a quick-drying material ideal for small gaps in walls and ceilings and can be sanded down depending on the gap size. ...
  • Joint Compound. Joint compound is a popular choice for larger gaps. ...
  • Putty. ...
  • Caulking Compounds. ...
  • Foam Backer Rod.

What can I use as a joint filler?

The most common joint filler material is still wood.

What can I use instead of putty filler?

10 Ways to Repair Wood without Putty
  • Wood Filler. Wood filler is a great alternative to putty when it comes to repairing small holes or cracks in wood. ...
  • Epoxy Resin. ...
  • Wood Glue. ...
  • Wooden Dowels. ...
  • Wood Veneer. ...
  • Toothpicks. ...
  • Sawdust and Glue Mixture. ...
  • Wood Stain Markers.

What to fill holes in a wall with?

Spackle, wall putty, or another hole filler for a wall.

What can I use instead of joint compound?

All-Purpose Spackle All-purpose spackle is used for all standard repairs in drywall, such as cracks, holes, dents and dings. It contains gypsum powder, which allows it to harden to a similar consistency to drywall.

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