George from Hamilton, Ontario suggests using round toothpicks to plug the holes left by staples after pulling up a carpet.
It does plug them easily and permanently, but if you are going to stain the floor, the end grain of the toothpick will take on a lot more stain than the rest of the floor, making the toothpicks stand out terribly. Most putty does a better job if you are going to stain. If you are putting a clear finish on though, the idea works great if the toothpick is close to the right colour to start with.