The Drill Down the Road: Borrowing Your Way to Less Clutter

Most of us own a drill that has seen two shelves and a lot of shelf-adjacent optimism. Maybe a tent that smells faintly of a festival you'd rather forget. Maybe a chocolate fountain bought for one birthday and never spoken of again. The Library of Things movement is built for exactly that gap: the stuff you need for an afternoon, not a decade.

Across the UK, community groups, councils and charities are lending out everything from pressure washers to projectors. You pay a small membership or a per-item fee, borrow what you need, and give it back. No loft archaeology. No 'it might come in handy' guilt. And, crucially, less new stuff getting made, shipped and eventually skipped.

What can you actually borrow?

The short answer: more than you'd expect. The long answer depends on your local library. Common stock includes drills, sanders, ladders, sewing machines, pressure washers, carpet cleaners, camping tents, sleeping mats, projectors, PA systems, gazebos, cake tins, fondue sets and, yes, the occasional chocolate fountain. Some schemes specialise in DIY and gardening tools; others lean towards party kit, kitchen equipment or baby gear. A few lend bikes, trailers and accessibility equipment.

Real-world examples show how varied it gets. Crystal Palace Library of Things in south London lends camping and DIY kit alongside household essentials. Edinburgh Tool Library combines tool lending with a workshop and repair know-how. Share Bristol runs a Library of Things in Bristol, while Benthyg Cymru supports borrowing schemes across Wales. Leeds Library of Things and various local tool libraries cover the north. Not every scheme stocks a chocolate fountain, but plenty have party kit, cake tins, gazebos and fondue sets. Check the online catalogue before you set your heart on a waffle maker.

The money maths

The costs vary, but the pattern is consistent: you pay for access, not ownership. A typical membership might be £10 to £30 a year, with item fees of £2 to £20 depending on the kit. Some schemes are free to join and charge only per borrow. Others ask for a refundable deposit on higher-value items. Always check opening hours, collection rules and late fees before you reserve.

Here's how the sums often work out:

• A corded drill costs £45 to £90 new, or £20 to £40 second-hand. Borrowing one for a few days might cost £5 to £12. If you drill twice a year, borrowing wins comfortably.
• A four-person tent costs £120 to £300 new. A weekend borrow might be £20 to £40. For one trip a year, that's a no-brainer — especially if you don't have somewhere dry to store it.
• A chocolate fountain costs £35 to £70 new. Borrowing one for a party might be £10 to £20. You'll spend more on chocolate than on the hardware.
• A carpet cleaner costs £150 or more to buy. A day's borrow might be £20 to £30. For an annual deep clean, that's a clear saving.

A decent rule of thumb: if you'll use something fewer than three times a year, borrow first. If you'll use it regularly, buy second-hand or borrow until you're sure. And factor in the cost of getting there — a 40-minute round trip in the car isn't free, so combine errands where you can.

Why borrowing is a waste win

Every new drill, tent or chocolate fountain carries embodied carbon — the emissions from making, packaging and shipping it. It also carries a future date with the back of a cupboard. Sharing increases how often an item actually gets used. One well-maintained drill shared by 20 households can replace 20 drills that each get used twice a year. That's less metal, less plastic, less packaging and less e-waste.

Libraries of Things also tend to maintain and repair their stock, which keeps items in service for longer. Many run repair sessions or partner with repair cafés. The waste win isn't automatic, though. If you drive across town for a single cake tin, the journey can outweigh the benefit. Borrowing works best when it's local, combined with other trips, and genuinely replaces a purchase you would otherwise have made.

How to find one near you

Start with a simple search for 'library of things' plus your town or city, or 'tool library' plus your area. Check your council's waste and recycling pages — some councils list local borrowing schemes alongside repair cafés. Community centres, churches, Transition Town groups and Facebook groups are also good places to ask. In Wales, look for Benthyg schemes. In Scotland, tool libraries and community workshops are increasingly common.

Before you join, check what's in stock, whether you can reserve online, how long you can borrow for, and what happens if something breaks. Good schemes are clear about cleaning, late returns and liability. Ask whether they offer inductions for power tools if you're not confident. A good library wants you to use the kit safely, not just pay and pray.

Could you start one?

If there's nothing nearby, starting a small scheme is less daunting than it sounds. Begin with a survey of what people actually need — drills, ladders, carpet cleaners and camping gear usually rank high. Find secure, dry storage. Sort insurance and simple lending terms. Use a booking system or even a shared spreadsheet if you're starting small. Recruit a volunteer rota and a maintenance kit. Look for funding from council grants, National Lottery community funds or local businesses. Partnering with an existing library, church hall or community centre can solve the venue problem overnight.

Don't buy a chocolate fountain first. Start with the boring, high-demand stuff, prove the model, and expand once you have borrowers and volunteers. The best schemes are built on trust, clear rules and a very good labelling system.

The borrow-first habit

Borrowing isn't about deprivation. It's about being honest with yourself about how often you'll use a thing. Try the library first. If it doesn't have what you need, look for second-hand. Buy new as the last resort, not the default. Your cupboards will thank you, and so will the stuff that never needed to be made in the first place.