I was halfway through assembling a bookshelf when I stripped a screw head. It was one of those cheap screws that comes with flat-pack furniture — basically made of butter. The Phillips cross was now a smooth crater. My screwdriver spun freely. I was stuck.

This trick has saved me at least five pieces of furniture and three door handles. All you need is a rubber band.

How to do it

1. Find a wide rubber band — the thicker the better. The flat kind that comes on broccoli bundles works perfectly.
2. Lay the rubber band flat across the stripped screw head covering the entire crater.
3. Press your screwdriver firmly into the rubber band and into the screw head.
4. Slowly, with steady downward pressure, turn the screw. The rubber fills the gaps in the stripped metal and gives the screwdriver something to grip.

The rubber band acts as a gap filler. The stripped screw head has worn-down channels where the screwdriver bit should catch. The rubber band compresses into those channels and creates temporary grip. It is not permanent and it does not fix the screw — but it gives you enough traction to get it out or finish driving it in.

When the rubber band is not enough

• Deeply stripped: If the screw head is completely round with no remaining edge, try a larger screwdriver bit. Sometimes a flathead bit in a Phillips hole works if you can catch an edge.
• Rusted screws: Rust adds friction. The rubber band slips on rust. Try penetrating oil first, let it soak, then attempt the rubber band.
• The screw extractor backup: Hardware stores sell screw extractor bits for a few dollars. They drill into the stripped head in reverse and bite into the metal. This is the nuclear option but it works when nothing else does.

Prevention

The main reason screws strip is using the wrong size screwdriver. Phillips screws come in sizes (PH1, PH2, PH3) and using a smaller bit in a larger screw is the fastest way to strip it. The bit spins inside the cross instead of catching it. Use the largest bit that fits snugly. If it wobbles, go up a size.

Also: cheap screws that come with furniture are garbage. If you do any amount of DIY, keep a box of quality screws in common sizes. Replace the included screws before you start assembling. Your future self will thank you when you need to take the furniture apart to move.