11 3D Prints for your Household
There is a public misconception that 3D prints are for toys and trinkets, not for household use. While I’ll admit it is tempting to 3D print trinkets like Baby Groot and fidget spinners , I actually have utilized my 3D printers for household use.
In the 2 years I have use 3D printers, I have produced the following 3D prints to be used in the house.
1. Sink Strainer 3D Prints

Sink strainers may not sound like glamorous 3D prints, but the ones I printed are used daily to keep crud away from the garbage disposal. I used a parametric program in Thingiverse to generate one that fit my sink perfectly. If you want to print one, use a high temperature filament like Collorfabb nGEn or nylon so it can withstand boiling hot water going through it.
2. Light Switch Plate
Imagine it is late at night, and you need to find that one switch to the bathroom. Instead of blindly searching, imagine if that light switch plate was visible.

Now it is possible to 3D print a light switch plate with glow in the dark material. I have several glow in the dark plates installed in my home, and I can attest that they do glow throughout the night.
3. Chair glider / pads
Those plastic pads on the bottom of chairs and furniture love to break at odd times, and the ones you get from the hardware store never match.
Using a parametric program you can customize ones for your unique furniture. I’ve made a couple different designs in the past to replace ones from old furniture.
4. Knife Block

When cooking I found having a few knives ready saves a lot of frustration. You could use the standard chunk of wood knife blocks, or you can customize your kitchen with something like a Spartan Knife block .
5. Kitchen Utensils
If you have a special event, you can impress your guest and 3D print custom items. From custom wine charms to special tools, you can find an print what you need instead of shopping for them
6. Door Stops
With the return of Game of Thrones, you can 3D print this Hodor door stop to prop your doors open or closed.
7. Toilet Paper Holders
You spend a lot of time on the porcelain throne, so you might as well spruce up the commode with a TP holder that matches your personality.

8. TV Remote Holder
Modern TV’s require a remote to operate them. So unlike the past where you could switch channels with a stick (true story) you now have to use a remote that loves to hide. Having a designated holder for it can insure you don’t waste time trying to find that lousy remote when your favorite show starts.
9. IKEA Hacks
IKEA is a brand that everyone loves to hate on. Despite this the diy community loves to hack into IKEA’s particle board to modify their furniture into something functional and useful. Some tables have been hacked into printer enclosures.

10. That Broken Plastic Piece on Appliance
The greatest use of 3D printing can be when you break that one plastic piece you need for an appliance to work. Rather than throw out a whole appliance, you can use a free CAD program to model and 3D print a replacement
11. Restroom Signs
Help your guest out at your next party and label which door is the restroom. You can also show your 3D printing hobby obsession by printing this extruding sign.
Please return to this blog next week for a filament review of Proto Pasts HTPLA v3.
I have a “plethora”😉 of empty CD cases to use for the “IKEA hack” build. Just make the clamps for the cases to “snap” into and it’s an instant shelf or shelves! Or build a doll house for the kids. I love that “IKEA hack”!
I love the idea for the IKEA hacks! I need to get that going haha
IKEA is easy to hack, so go at it!
Funny looking toilet paper holder! But I think the absolute very first thing I will make is the sink strainer! I think that would be a fun first build…
Its fun playing with the paremetric settings and making your own unique one for your sink. Make sure to make the knob big enough for you to grab it with wet hands.
That door stop looks like it could stop a truck! Haha…I like all these ideas..this article has got my mind going 100mph thinking of all the possibilities! Yes we could probably buy these cheap at the dollar store but that wouldn’t be any fun. And having pride in a doorstop I made myself is kind of cool..haha.
I agree! making anything for your home does give you a certain pride, and saves you the gas and hassle of going to the store.
Another list of ways to try and convince the wife my printer is not just a toy!
Put plastic under furniture I guess could work, but not PLA it would scratch wood floors
True, but you can explore TPU or corkwood composites for these pads.