Spackle may not be the most glamorous product but it is necessary if you have small holes in your walls. What may seem easy to use getting professional result requires a proper technique and I will show you how to do it right. I am Meghan Carter and this is Ask the Decorator.

To spackle, you only need a few things a bucket, a sponge, sand paper, paper towels, a putty knife and spackle. Before you spackle you should keep in mind that spackle is only designed to be used on small holes and nicks. If you have big gashes in your walls you will need to use dry wall compound. To look for small holes and nicks on your wall shine a flash light or lamp straight up the wall. The light will eliminate any imperfections.

If there are any nails or screws on your wall remove or counter sink them. Then sand the area if it is bumpy or has rough edges. Next, clean the area with mild soap then rinse it with clean water and wipe away any dampness with a clean cloth or paper towel. Lightly mix your spackle to loosen it up then scoop out a small amount of spackle with you putty knife and press it into the hole. Scrape away any excess spackle by using a crisscross motion over the hole.

The key to spackling is scraping the spackle compound off very lightly, if you are too rough you will drag the compound right out of the hole. You also want to make sure you remove all excess spackle so that the wall is perfectly smooth. For an extra smooth finish, dip your putty knife in water before smoothing out the spackle.

If your hole is deeper than a fourth inch fill it in stages where you let the first layer dry before adding the second, third or fourth layer. Read the instruction to see how long it takes your spackle to dry, it can often take two to four hours to completely dry. When you are finished, spackling always remember to clean up your tools before the spackle dries. If you do not, you can ruin your tools and you will want to use these again.

I am Meghan Carter and this is Ask the Decorator. For more decorating tips and information on new decorating products, visit my website www.askthedecorator.com.