Cooling Rack Lid Holder: The Stud Anchor That Holds
The screw has to bite into a stud, because a rack full of lids will pull plain drywall anchors right out of the wall.
![[#~image_alt_1~#]](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fd3klpa3rfwubzz.cloudfront.net%2Fmedia%2FAPI%20Uploads%2FDIY%2F3716e04ad5e72202c2cd0a7c11b61cc9_536e1c555c.jpg&w=1920&q=75)
I once hung a lid rack with the little plastic anchors that came in the box, and it lasted about two days before it tore a hole in the wall and sent six lids crashing across the kitchen floor. Pot lids are heavier than they look, and the load pulls outward, not straight down, which is exactly the direction drywall anchors are weakest. The one step that decides whether this $8 Thrifty Tuesday hack lasts is anchoring through the rack into a stud, or using a rated toggle bolt if no stud lines up. Do that, and a $1 cooling rack holds your whole lid collection and frees up a whole cabinet.
What You'll Need
- Dollar-store cooling rack, sturdy metal grid, about $1.25
- Wood screws, 2.5 inch, pack of 4, about $2
- Fender washers, 4 count, about $1.50
- S-hooks or small utility hooks, 4 pack, about $1.25
- Stud finder, borrowed or about $0 to $10 if you need one
- Drill and pencil, whatever you already own
How to Build It
- Choose a wall spot near the stove, then sweep a stud finder across it and mark the center of each stud with a pencil.
- Check the cooling rack by pressing on the grid. If it flexes easily, pick a sturdier one, because a flimsy frame will bend under lid weight.
- Hold the rack against the wall with a level on top, and mark through the grid openings wherever they land on your stud marks.
- Drill a pilot hole at each mark, using a bit slightly narrower than the screw shaft so the threads still grip the wood.
- Slide a fender washer onto each screw so the head can't slip through the grid, then drive the screws into the studs until snug.
- Tug firmly on the rack in every direction. If anything shifts, back out the screw and re-seat it before loading anything.
- Hang the S-hooks along the bottom bars for pan handles or lids, then slot lids vertically between the grid wires, heaviest ones nearest the studs.
If no stud lines up where you want the rack, skip the plastic anchors and use rated toggle bolts, which spread the load across the back of the drywall. For a cleaner look, spray the rack matte black or brushed brass before hanging, and let it cure a full day so the finish doesn't chip when you slide lids in.
