Fit a toothbrush and tumbler holder to a metal stud wall

Fit a bathroom toothbrush and tumbler holder securely, choosing the right fixing for whatever wall you have.

AB-01Gather your tools and materialsGet everything ready before you start: detector, drill, spirit level, pencil, dust sheet and the holder itself. Check the fixing pack that came with the holder — cheap packs often include the wrong fixing for your wall, so keep a few spares in different types.

1 each · Toothbrush and tumbler holder (with fixing pack)

Buy:ScrewfixB&QToolstationAmazon

1 each · Dust sheet

Buy:ScrewfixB&QToolstationAmazon

AB-02Find your stopcock and check it worksBefore you drill anywhere near a bathroom wall, find your stopcock — usually under the kitchen sink — and check it turns freely. This means you can shut the water off fast if you ever drill into a pipe. Do this now, not after something starts leaking.

AB-03Scan the wall for cables and pipesRun a detector over the area where you plan to drill, in both directions. Cables and pipes can run almost anywhere, not just in the usual safe zones, so treat the detector as a warning, not a guarantee. If there's any doubt at all, isolate the circuit at the consumer unit before drilling, and turn the water off at the stopcock before drilling into a wall that could carry pipework.

AB-04Work out what your wall is made ofTap the wall. A dull, solid sound means brick or block. A hollow sound means a stud wall or dot-and-dab. On a stud wall, run a magnet or detector sideways to find a line of screw heads — that's your stud centres, usually 400mm or 600mm apart. Drill a small pilot hole: timber dust means a timber stud, fine grey swarf means a metal stud. Metal studs are very common in flats, new builds and anything refitted since the 1990s. Old lath and plaster feels springy and sounds hollow, with a slight give under light pressure.

AB-05Mark the fixing pointsHold the holder in place and use a spirit level to get it straight. Mark the screw hole centres lightly in pencil. If you're on a stud wall, try to line at least one fixing up with a stud centre for extra strength, though this isn't essential for a light item like this.

AB-06Drill through tile if neededIf you're drilling through tile, start with a tile bit at low speed and light pressure to avoid cracking the glaze, then switch to the correct bit for the wall behind once you're through. Keep the drill square to the wall the whole time.

1 each · Tile drill bit (glass and tile)

Buy:ScrewfixB&QToolstationAmazon

AB-07Fit the right fixing for your wall typeSolid brick or block: drill a 6mm hole about 35-40mm deep, fit a matching 6mm wall plug, then drive in the screw. Plasterboard on timber studs: if you hit a stud centre, drill a 2-3mm pilot and drive a wood screw straight in — no plug needed. Plasterboard on metal studs: never use a plain wall plug or a wood screw, both strip straight through 0.5mm steel. Use a self-drilling metal-stud fixing or a small toggle-type hollow-wall anchor rated for light bathroom fittings. Between studs on plasterboard: use a nylon or metal spring toggle rated for at least 3-5kg. Dot-and-dab plasterboard: use a fixing long enough to pass through the plasterboard and the adhesive dabs to reach the masonry behind, typically 50-60mm, with a suitable plug. Lath and plaster: the plaster is brittle and won't hold a plug well, so use a spring toggle or long fine-thread screw that grips a timber lath, and go gently to avoid cracking the surface.

4 each · 6mm wall plugs (brick/block)

Buy:ScrewfixB&QToolstationAmazon

4 each · Wood screws 4x30mm (timber stud)

Buy:ScrewfixB&QToolstationAmazon

4 each · Self-drilling metal-stud fixings

Buy:ScrewfixB&QToolstationAmazon

4 each · Nylon spring toggles (plasterboard between studs)

Buy:ScrewfixB&QToolstationAmazon

4 each · Long fixings 60mm (dot-and-dab)

Buy:ScrewfixB&QToolstationAmazon

AB-08Screw the holder to the wallLine the holder up with your marks and drive the screws in evenly, not too tight, so you don't crack tile or crush plasterboard. Check the spirit level again once it's fixed. Wipe away any dust or debris straight away.

AB-09Fit the tumbler and seal any gapsSlot the tumbler or toothbrush cup into the holder and check it sits securely. If there's a gap between the holder and tiled surface where water could get in, run a thin line of bathroom silicone sealant around the edge and smooth it with a wet finger.

1 tube · Bathroom silicone sealant

Buy:ScrewfixB&QToolstationAmazon

AB-10Tidy upVacuum or wipe up any dust and swarf from the floor and skirting. Wipe down the wall and holder with a clean cloth. Put spare fixings somewhere you'll find them, in case the holder ever needs adjusting.

Some links may earn us a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Save this as a project

Back to all guides