Whether you just moved into a “new to you” home or have lived in your home for years, there seems to always be something that comes your way that needs to be repaired or tweaked. The problem is, we don’t always have the right tools handy to fix it, or sometimes we don’t even know what to fix it with! Below is a list of tricks to help with these small household repairs.
Have small nail or screw holes in you walls? Sometimes it’s not convenient or aesthetically pleasing to hang a picture over the holes or to leave them. Instead, arm yourself with a white bar of soap to fill the holes.
There are times we find ourselves having to tighten screws over and over because they mysteriously keep loosening. Instead, paint over the screw with clear nail polish, which will act as glue, to keep them in place.
What happens when you have a screw you need to tighten or remove but its stripped? Grab yourself a rubber band and place it over the head of the screw. The rubber band creates enough friction for you to get the job done.
If you can’t find the screwdriver, grab the vegetable peeler for a quick substitute. The tip of the peeler will act as the screwdriver when you find yourself in a hurry to get the batteries in your kids’ new toy!
Do you suspect you might have a leaky toilet? Grab yourself a pouch of Kool-Aid, remove the lid to the tank, and dump the Kool-Aid in. Let the Kool-Aid sit in the tank for at least thirty minutes, then check the bowl. If the Kool-Aid seeped into the bowl, then you have a leak. Once complete, make sure to flush one or twice to remove the Kool-Aid from the tank and bowl.
Speaking of stains, whether it be your toilet bowl or on your favorite white shirt or your countertop, try using hydrogen peroxide. Keep a spray bottle of hydrogen peroxide in your cabinet for safe and efficient cleaning. Spray it on white clothing and let it sit for 30 minutes before washing. Spray it in your dishwasher, shower and fixtures and let sit for 15-30 minutes before wiping down. Add a cup to your loads of whites when doing laundry to deodorize your clothes.
If you find you need to redo the caulk around your tub, pick up a roll of painter’s tape first and tape off the area the same way you would if you were going to paint. But unlike with your painting project, you need to remove the tape when the caulk is still wet. If you remove the tape when the caulk it dry, it will break off with the tape.
We all have squeaks that come out of nowhere. Whether it’s a door or a cabinet, there are a couple of ways to get rid of the annoying sound. Most people first think of WD-40, which you might just have on hand. However, if you don’t happen to have it handy, simply defer to a can of cooking spray. A small spray of cooking oil will work the same way as WD-40, and chances are you won’t have to run out to the store to buy it!
You moved your couch and end tables and now your carpet has dents. Grab yourself an ice cube and place it over the dented carpet. As it starts to melt and the water is absorbed into the carpet, the carpet will start to bounce back. If needed, use a stiff brush to finish.
If you’ve been unfortunate enough to break a light bulb while it’s still in the socket, you know how much of a pain it is to remove. We have an easy solution that does not involve cutting your fingers. First, be sure to shut the power down… then cut a potato in half and push the inside into the broken bulb. Turn it as if you were unscrewing the light bulb and all of the broken glass will be embedded into the potato and not your fingers.
Does the flow of water seem to have slowed from your shower head? Fill a sandwich bag or freezer bag with vinegar and fasten it to your shower head with elastics overnight. Remove it in the morning and wipe it down. You’ll find the vinegar has removed the grime and mineral deposits and you will have free flowing water once again.
Does your carpet and furniture get covered with pet hair? Use a squeegee or rubber bristled brush to remove the hair with a couple of quick swipes.
If your shoes left scuff marks on your laminate or tile floors, attach a tennis ball to the end of a broom handle for scuff removal.
While we might not always have the right tools to get a job done, these little tips and tricks just might come in handy and make your day a little easier while simply using things that you probably already have on hand.