Get Creative: Use Your Hot Glue Gun To Secure Decor On Your Shelves

Experienced DIYers know just how helpful and versatile hot glue guns are for crafts. However, hot glue is also useful for solving small issues around your house. The thin line of glue that comes out can quickly cool and re-solidify, which makes it a strong, durable holding option and allows you to create shapes out of a material that is solid and grippy but not sticky to the touch once cooled. These qualities make it great for some unexpected purposes, as shown by TikToker lelaburris. One such purpose is to prevent picture frames that lean against the wall from sliding off of shelves or mantels.

For this hack, all you need is your hot glue gun and hot glue sticks. Determine where you want your picture frame to sit on the shelf and use your hot glue gun to carefully draw a line in that spot. Once it solidifies again, it will serve as a perfect barrier to keep you frame from slipping. Just be careful not to replace your frame too quickly before the glue has a chance to cool off or you might accidentally glue your frame in place. This is a creative solution, but you should find out what surfaces make good candidates, whether hot glue is removable, and more before giving it a try. 

Hot glue gun lasts between a few months and a few years, and the lifespan depends largely on the quality of the glue and the material you're using with the glue. Generally, the strip of glue you deposit to hold a frame in place should stay for quite some time, and the physical barrier it creates should be able to effectively hold the weight of the frame. However, there are some smooth surfaces that hot glue will not bond well with, such as metal, silicone, glass, and vinyl. Hot glue also does not stick well to wet or greasy surfaces, so it's important to thoroughly clean and dry your surface before trying this hack.

If you test out this hot glue hack and encounter any issues like an accidental drip, you should know how to remove hot glue. For a spill on clothing, a laundry hack makes it easy to remove hot glue stains from clothing. To remove hot glue from other surfaces, start by allowing it to fully cool and harden. Then, gently wipe a cotton ball saturated with rubbing alcohol around the edges of the glue to loosen the bond between the glue and the surface. Carefully scrape the glue off of the surface with any thin, flat tool.

While the TikTok video demonstration shows a long line of glue being drawn, a line of dots or even just a short line where the middle of the frame will be should be sufficient. Also, hot glue can range in color from clear to amber, and it can dry as translucent or opaque, so be careful with your glue choice. This hack is perfect for any mantel decor ideas involve leaning photos or frames, but you can also implement it in other areas of your home. If you have books on a bookshelf that slide around too much, a small line or dot of hot glue can make a huge difference. Even a decorative book or magazine on a coffee table or hallway table can be reinforced to prevent you from knocking it out of place. 

Now that you know how the hack works and how to remove any spills, your whole home is open for hot glue experimentation. With such an easy application process and simple removal process, this hack is not nearly as permanent as it sounds. It's especially great for renters or anyone who likes to frequently switch up their home decor placement. When all of your decor is nicely secured in place, make sure you take the steps to keep your glue gun clean with this handy kitchen staple.