The Ultimate Hack for Removing a Stripped Screw: Just Use a Rubber Band

A stripped screw can come out with nothing more than a wide rubber band: lay it flat over the screw head, press the screwdriver firmly into it, and turn slowly counter-clockwise. The rubber fills the worn-out slots and gives the screwdriver something to grip again. No special tools, chemicals, or brute force are needed.

What does a stripped screw look like?

A stripped screw is one whose head has been ground smooth, so the screwdriver just spins. It tends to happen mid-project, maybe while putting together a new bookshelf or swapping the batteries in a stubborn TV remote: the screwdriver slips, you press harder, and it slips again.

Before long, the cross shape on the head of the screw is ground down into a useless, smooth crater, and you are left staring at a completely stripped screw.

The usual next steps are expensive screw-extractor tools or trying to drill the screw out, which can easily damage the furniture in the process. The rubber band trick is worth trying first because it costs nothing and is probably sitting in your junk drawer right now.

Why do screws get stripped?

Screws usually strip because the screwdriver tip isn't making full, secure contact with the head of the screw. When you turn the handle without enough downward pressure, or use a screwdriver that is slightly too small for the slot, the hard metal tip spins and grinds against the softer metal of the screw head. Do this a few times, and the grip is completely destroyed.

Once those sharp edges inside the screw head are gone, your screwdriver has nothing left to grab onto. It just spins endlessly.

How do you remove a stripped screw with a rubber band?

You remove it by putting a rubber band between the screwdriver and the screw head, which re-introduces grip and friction into that smooth crater. Here is exactly how to do it:

Step 1: Find the Right Rubber Band

You want a rubber band that is relatively flat and wide. A standard, skinny office rubber band might snap under the pressure. The thick, flat rubber bands you often find wrapped around produce (like broccoli or asparagus at the grocery store) are ideal for this.

Step 2: Lay it Over the Screw

Take a section of the rubber band and lay it completely flat over the head of the stripped screw. Make sure it is covering the entire stripped-out area.

Step 3: Press and Turn

Take your screwdriver and press the tip directly into the rubber band, pushing it down into the stripped hole. You need to apply firm, steady, downward pressure.

Now, very slowly and deliberately, begin to turn the screwdriver counter-clockwise.

Why does a rubber band give the screwdriver grip?

A rubber band works because it acts as a malleable, high-friction gasket. As you push down, the rubber fills in whatever tiny gaps and remaining ridges are left inside the stripped screw head. It gives the hard metal of your screwdriver something to bite into.

Instead of slipping, the screwdriver grips the rubber, the rubber grips the screw, and the screw can slowly start to turn and back out of the hole.

Unlike many internet life hacks, this one can work on the very first try, and when the screw is only lightly stripped it may come out in a matter of seconds. If it still spins, the head may be too far gone, and that is the point to reach for an extractor.

What should you do next time a screw strips?

Step away, take a deep breath, and head to your kitchen drawer before reaching for the drill. A simple rubber band might just save your entire afternoon project!