Okay real talk, finding decent hooks that actually hold stuff without ripping out chunks of my walls has been annoying. I saw those numbered hooks kits online and got curious. Figured why not try them myself and document the whole messy process? Spoiler: actually worked out pretty good! Here’s exactly what went down.
The “Before” Disaster
First off, my garage wall looked like a bad DIY project gone wrong. I had about four different kinds of random hooks nailed or glued or just kinda… stuck there. Some were holding old coats, others garden tools, but half were dangling or pulling the paint off. Total eyesore. Needed a clean, uniform system. Enter the numbered hooks kit idea.
Gathering the Gear
Went to the hardware store, kinda clueless. Found three different styles:
- The Screw-In Kind: Plain metal hooks with numbers stamped on them. Look solid.
- Adhesive Plastic Kits: Those flat packs with sticky backs and numbers.
- The Hybrid Kind: Screw hooks WITH a sticky base plate? Weird, but intriguing.
Decided, screw it, bought one pack of each. Let the experiment begin!
Wall Prep is Everything
Grabbed a rag and some mild soapy water. Seriously scrubbed the spots where those old hooks were – paint dust, old glue residue, grease spots from tools. Let it dry completely. Didn’t skip this step for any test spot, promise.
Hanging Time: 3 Ways
Chose three bare sections of garage wall. Marked them A, B, C for each hook type.
- Spot A: Screw-In Hooks (Simple & Strong)
Grabbed my tiny drill bit to make pilot holes. Pushed the screw hooks in by hand until snug, then gave them a final gentle tighten with a screwdriver. Felt sturdy immediately. Labelled positions 1, 2, 3 quickly.
- Spot B: Adhesive Plastic Hooks (Quick & Easy)
Peeled off the paper backing – felt really sticky. Pushed them HARD against the clean wall, holding pressure like they said for a good 30 seconds each. Definitely didn’t put anything heavy on them right away. Numbers were pre-stamped on the plastic plate.
- Spot C: Hybrid Hooks (Weird Combo)
First stuck the plastic base plate onto the wall (pushed hard, held again). Then screwed the metal hook into that base plate. It clicked when seated. Felt solid, more solid than Spot B alone.
Testing Load (Patience Required)
Didn’t get impatient! Left Spots B and C overnight. Next morning? Time to test. For Spot A (screw-ins), I hung a medium-weight tool bag immediately. No issue.
For Spot B (Adhesive): Started light. Hung a single, lightweight windbreaker. Held fine. A week later, added a slightly heavier fleece. Still good!
For Spot C (Hybrid): Went straight for a set of garden shears (kinda heavy). Held perfectly.
Overall Verdict?
After a month:
- Screw-In Hooks: Solid. Won’t budge. Perfect for heavier tools & bags.
- Adhesive Hooks: Surprisingly decent! Held lighter coats/jackets well. Do NOT overload. Cheap and quick.
- Hybrid Hooks: Best of both? Easy install and holds more weight securely thanks to the screw. Weird concept, kinda genius.
Totally cleaned up that garage wall chaos. Just matching numbers to my little list keeps everything organized. No more random holes or paint chunks falling. Feels satisfyingly sorted.