Fit wall storage for a vacuum and mop to a metal stud wall

Fit a rail with hooks for your vacuum and mop, working out your wall type first and using the right fixing safely.

WS-01Plan the job and gather your toolsDecide where the rail or hooks will go - check the vacuum and mop will hang clear of a door swing or the skirting. Lay a dust sheet under the work area and get your tools together: detector, drill, spirit level, pencil and the fixings for your wall type. Unpack the storage rail and check you have all the screws and plugs that came with it.

1 each · Dust sheet

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1 each · Storage rail and hook set

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1 each · Tape measure

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1 each · Pencil

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1 each · Spirit level

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WS-02Work out what your wall is made ofRun a stud detector or a strong magnet across the wall in a horizontal line about 400-600mm up - regular clicks or magnetic pulls every 400mm or 600mm mean a stud wall, and a magnet will also catch metal tracks and screw heads. Tap the wall: a dull, solid sound is brick, block or dot-and-dab plasterboard, a hollow sound between clear points is stud. Drill a 2-3mm pilot hole in an inconspicuous spot - pale dust means a timber stud, grey metal swarf means a metal stud, and no swarf with a hollow feel means plasterboard between studs. An old wall that feels slightly bouncy, with faint horizontal ridges under the paint, is likely lath and plaster.

1 each · Stud detector

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1 each · Strong magnet

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WS-03Check for cables and pipes, and make it safeCables and pipes can run almost anywhere, not just in the usual 'safe zones' - and a metal stud frame will confuse a cheap detector even further. Use your detector, but still treat the wall as if something is there until you've drilled a little way and checked. Before you start, find your stopcock (usually under the kitchen sink) and check it turns freely, so you can shut the water off fast if you hit a pipe. If you have any doubt at all, isolate the relevant circuit at the consumer unit before drilling, and avoid drilling near sockets, switches or anywhere a cable run is likely.

1 each · Cable and pipe detector

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WS-04Mark and level your fixing pointsHold the rail or bracket against the wall at the height you want and mark the screw holes with a pencil. Use a spirit level to keep the line dead straight - even a few millimetres out will be obvious once the vacuum's hanging on it. If you're fixing into studs, line the marks up with the stud centres you found in step 2, not their edges.

1 each · Pencil

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1 each · Spirit level

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1 each · Masking tape

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WS-05Drill and fix into a stud wall - timber or metalFor a timber stud, drill a 2-3mm pilot hole and drive in a 4mm x 50mm wood screw into the centre of the stud. For a metal stud, never use a plain wall plug or an ordinary wood screw - they will strip straight through 0.5mm steel. Use a self-drilling metal-stud screw for light loads, or a self-drilling hollow-wall toggle if it needs more grip. A metal stud will not hold a full-motion TV arm, a pull-up bar or anything else that pulls away from the wall in use - for that you need a timber noggin fitted between the studs, or a fixing through to the masonry behind.

1 pack · Wood screws 4mm x 50mm (pack)

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1 pack · Self-drilling metal-stud fixings (pack)

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1 set · Drill bit set

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WS-06Or fix into plasterboard, dot-and-dab, masonry or lath and plasterBetween studs, use a nylon or spring toggle rated for at least the loaded weight of the rail plus the vacuum and mop. Behind dot-and-dab plasterboard, use a fixing long enough to pass through the board and the dab and bite into the masonry behind - typically 60-75mm. On solid brick or block, drill a 6mm hole 45-50mm deep, insert a plug, and drive in a 6mm x 50mm screw. On lath and plaster, use a spring toggle set well clear of the laths and tighten it gently - overtightening cracks old plaster.

1 pack · Nylon toggle fixings (pack)

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1 pack · Masonry plugs and screws 6mm x 50mm (pack)

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1 each · Masonry drill bit 6mm

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WS-07Fit the rail and hang your vacuum and mopScrew the rail or bracket to your fixings, checking it's still level once fully tightened. Fit any hooks or clips supplied, spacing them so the vacuum and mop hang clear of the floor and of each other. Hang the items and check nothing overhangs a door swing or walkway.

1 each · Storage rail and hook set

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1 each · Screwdriver

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WS-08Test the fixing and tidy upGive the rail a firm downward and outward tug to check it holds before trusting it with daily use. Vacuum up any dust or debris from drilling and wipe the wall down. Keep any spare screws or plugs in case you need to adjust the fitting later.

1 each · Cloth

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