Crayons To Camoflauge Bleached CarpetOh my God! I found the solution for bleached stains on carpets! Simple as this: crayons and a hair dryer. Just find the color matching your carpet and color it moving lightly over the stain, then use the dryer to "melt" the crayon (once you found the right match).
Replacing Door HardwareWe recently had to replace our doorknob, which was about 10 years old at that point. At first, we thought to change the look and style of the knob but soon realized that the original knob had marked the door over time. It looked terrible. We went back to the store and found the exact same knob pattern, which covered the damage exactly. Sometimes, change is not the best answer.
Unclogging a ToiletThe best tip that I have heard is about how to unplug your toilet. I don't know about you, but to me a plugged toilet is the worst. Who wants to deal with peoples' ... output. I'm always afraid of it flooding over on to my bathroom floor. No fun!
Garage Door LubricantAnything with moving parts will require lubrication. Over time, lubrication will wear away and the parts will begin to cause friction, make noise, and ultimately wears down the mechanisms.
Separating Drinking Glasses That Are StuckIf you have drinking glasses that are stuck within each other, this trick will release them quickly. Fill the top glass with some ice, then dip the bottom glass in some hot water, or run hot water around it. Gently twist and they will come apart. I did this several times after going through old drinking glass sets I'd put in storage to donate.
Cleaning Out Your AC Condensation Drain LineWhile our air conditioning was running - the PVC pipe had water overflowing out of the pipe and dripping onto our hardwood floors. I called my dad, and he told us to pour water and blow on the pipe.
No Spackle Hole RepairOne day while painting a room with latex paint, I noticed that larger drops of paint, when left to dry, became pliable like a putty. I hit on the idea that this half dried paint could be rolled into a a tiny ball and smashed into a hole left by a picture hanger. It worked. Even if you need to lightly sand smooth, the color is through and through.
Repairing a HingeI had to replace a hinge and I was by myself. I had no one to hold the door for me, so I used a yoga block with some towels on it to let the door rest on it. Made the job easier.
Contact Environmental Services About Broken Trash Bin PartsWith regular wear and tear, our trash bin wheels broke and it was getting harder to push out every week. For the City of San Diego, if you need a new trash bin given that it is over 10 years, it will cost you $70 + a $25 delivery fee.
Why Some Repair Bills Do Not Have to Show UpI had a problem with my washing machine. The pipe that drained the dirty water was clogged, so dirty water was flowing out of it and into the bottom of the house. I have a home warranty but I also have "a guy." He comes over for $20, while the home warranty comes over for $100.
Covering Chips on a TeapotI got a beautiful teapot on Freecycle. It had a noticeable chip on the end of the spout. If it had been anywhere else, I would have covered it with a Sharpie or some other kind of paint. However, since I am going to drink tea, I was concerned about the paint getting into the water.
Duct Tape for Hole in ScreenIf you have a hole in your screen and need a quick fix, try this. Cut two pieces of tape a bit larger than the hole. Put one piece outside and one inside. The sticky sides should be facing each other. Works well at keeping flies out. You can get all different types of duct tape. Get one that is closest to the color of your screen.
Repairs with Duct TapeI have a plastic (not fiberglass) tub in my 1973 mobile home. It is cracked and water leaks out underneath. After trying several other ways to fix the cracks that didn't work, in desperation, I tried clear duct tape. It worked! Now all the cracks are sealed and no more leaks.
Reusing a Mattress TopperI had a mattress topper, one of the ones that is held on with elastic straps. The elastic stretched out and didn't stay on very well. I took it and cut the straps off. I put a fitted sheet on my mattress upside down then put the topper on it. When I got it set in the right place, I pinned it in place, took it to my sewing machine and stitched them together. Then I sewed it from corner to corner in a big X.
Unclog Your Bath Sink DrainFind the overflow outlet for the sink. Then cover the overflow outlet using duct tape or something similar. Get some water in the sink bowl and use a plunger. The tape over the overflow vents will stop air from entering as you are using the plunger. This will work for a bathtub.
Fixing Chips in White FormicaWhite-out does a great job of fixing chips in white formica. You may need 2-3 coats. Put one coat at a time. Wait 10 minutes between coats
Restringing Levolor Window BlindsOur window treatments by Levolor are in pretty good condition, but the string to pull the blinds up and down recently broke on one of our windows.
Caution on Flushable WipesWe had a big clog in our main pipe and had to get a plumber. He found a lot of wipes, and we don't have a baby. The plumber said there are makeup remover wipes, wet wipes, and cleaning wipes, to name a few. He said even if the container says is flushable, will not disintegrate and will clog up the pipes eventually.
Support for a Leaning FenceIf your fence is leaning over, but still in decent condition, both you and your neighbor can use wood to lean the fence up on both sides. We had leftover wood, so we cut a small piece and then screwed it to the fence, then used a longer piece of wood at an angle for support. This method has been holding up for over a year!
Minimize Water Damage with FanA few months back, I posted about always being home and awake when you use appliances. A valve in my dishwasher malfunctioned, causing damage to the subfloor in the kitchen. I have removable tiles, so it will be easier to dry out the subfloor, but it can still be done if you don't.
Potato to Remove Broken Light BulbI'm sharing this because it seems like an old tip that many people have forgotten about, and especially because I just helped my neighbour with this problem! When one of your light bulbs break and you need it removed from the socket, use half a raw potato.
How to Remove a Broken Key from a LockHere's a tip to save time and money to remove a broken key from a door knob or other lock, without having to call an expensive locksmith to do the job.
Flattening a Curled RugCurled corners of rugs can be so frustrating. Sometimes weighing them down with heavy objects or reverse-curling them doesn't put them back into their original flat form for too long.
Household Items to Support a Kitchen ShelfI live in a complex that is 36 years old and just like we humans, things sag from time to time. The second shelf was bowing in the middle, and the flimsy little pegs that hold it up don't really help. So...
Remedy for Persistent Bleeping Smoke AlarmMy smoke alarm was set off when there was a lot of dust during a DIY job. It wouldn't stop bleeping when I decided to replace the battery on completing the DIY.
Happy Toilets Won't OverflowIf a toilet you used starts to overfill with water and you fear it will overflow, first take the back, top lid off and push the rubber stopper down over the open hole.
Use Tea to Mask White Stains on Laminate FlooringTake two tea bags, put in a cup, just about cover them with boiling water, leave it to cool, then put the liquid on the white marks on the laminate flooring. Just rub in gently with your fingers, leave for about half an hour, then remove some of the liquid with a tissue to check the result.
Rebalancing a Wobbling Ceiling FanAfter you have tried tightening all the screws, and checking to see if the blades are warped and they are not, most likely, the blade arm(s) are bent slightly. I tried everything, but this is how I finally solved the wobbling issue:
Unclogging Cat Litter from a ToiletI made the mistake of throwing a large clump of clumping kitty litter down the toilet. Here are some tricks I used to unclog it:
Repair Punctures with Hot GlueSo many times, a small hole or a puncture ruins a perfectly good container. Hot glue from a hot glue gun is the easiest and most perfect way to repair it.
Spray Paint Lamp ShadesI have painted a few lamp shades with spray paint with good success.
Reviving a Burned Out LightbulbIf you have an incandescent light bulb that has burned out, you can revive it by flicking it with your fingernail. This works very well for a few weeks, giving you ample time to get a new bulb.
Stopping Up a Vent HoleI am trying to clean up an old laundry room for storage and this old vent hole was going to let in creepy crawlies. I also had an old flashlight that had corroded connectors for the battery.
Clean Holes Where Water Enters ToiletWatch where the water comes out and goes into the toilet bowl. There are about 50 or so holes to allow that water to flush. If they are restricted, it will impede the flow. Take an ice pick or nail and poke each one of the holes.
Mason Jar as Blender Jar ReplacementIf you break your blender jar, you can replace it with a quart size mason jar.
Quick Fix for a Squeaky DoorWhen a door starts giving me sound effects worthy of a good horror flick, I make a grab for the can of aerosol oil spray that we all have in the kitchen. Original, canola, olive oil, it doesn't matter. Give a quick shot to the hinges on the door, and your door will be as quiet as a silent movie.
Permanent Marker to Repair Bleach SpotsMy bath vanity area carpet has a few spots on it where bleach had splattered. I used a 'close to' colored marker on the carpet spots and it looks like new!
Tools For Unclogging the BathtubI was so happy to find these handy tools at Lowe's. No more using wire to unclog the bathroom sink, and the cute little bathtub plunger, was so colorful to pass up!
Long Feathers for Clogged Kitchen DrainI live in the country, and have a septic system, and a "gray water" system, into which our kitchen sink drains. We have to be very careful about not clogging it with food or other particles. One day, I decided to try a bit of Rid-X in the sink as I was used to putting it into the septic system...
Clearing Potato Peelings From DisposalAfter deciding to send potato peelings and carrot peelings down the drain, I immediately regretted it. They had gone past the disposal, but had clogged the pipe.
Remove Stripped Screw with a Rubber BandUse this simple trick to unscrew a stripped screw or remove a screw that just doesn't want to budge. Place a rubber band between your screwdriver and the screw head and start unscrewing.
Wet Vac to Unclog ToiletI had a clogged toilet that I could not fix! I tried the dawn soap, an auger, taking off the toilet and snaking the drain, vinegar and baking soda, drain cleaner; nothing worked, until . . .
Holes in DrywallIf you have a disposable bakers bag and a plain round tip, you can put a few tablespoons of putty in the bakers bag and pipe it into the hole.
Replacing a Blender GasketIf you find that your blender is leaking, it might be time to replace the gasket. We were able to find them at a local store, but for some blenders you may have to order them online.
Removing a Stripped ScrewWe all know how frustrating it can be if a screw is stripped and you need to remove it.
Walnuts for Hardwood Floor ScratchesCrack open a walnut and rub the nut "meat" against cracks and scratches in hardwood floors to repair them. The nut meat fills in the scratch with a color resembling the wood.
Don't Give Up On a Dirty HeaterI recently bought a heater from a Goodwill "As Is" store, and brought it home only to find plugging it in set off the smoke alarm. Not good.
Pickle Juice for Clogged DrainsWe all have had clogged drains and like many I go to my faithful baking soda and vinegar. Which I did 2 times. I must tell you that usually this always works, even if you notice a drain that is slow to drain.
Baby Powder for Squeaky FloorI have had great results using this little trick my mom told me about many years ago. We used to live in an old farm house with wood floors that squeaked everywhere. She sprinkled baby powder on the floor, and swept in into the cracks.
Cooking Spray For Squeaky DoorIn a pinch, a spray from your can of Pam will work!
Baby Oil For A Squeaky DoorI have used baby oil before when I didn't have a can of WD 40 laying around. The baby oil only works for a short time, but it smells good and it works.
Use A Broom To Unstick Garbage DisposalI was told once when renting an apartment when my garbage disposal was stuck, and not working like it was suppose to. Take a broom handle and swirling it around turning the blades as you go round and round.
Repairing a Garbage DisposalIf your disposal hums but doesn't turn, try these steps.
Aluminum Foil to Sharpen ScissorsThis is a fast and easy tip for sharpening scissors. I just grab a piece of aluminum foil, fold it a few times and then cut it with the scissors. They come out as good as new, and only for the cost of a sheet of tin foil.
Circuit Breaker Trips But Power Is Still OnI have a Crouse Hinds 2 pole 30 amp breaker. It will trip, but the room it's to will still have power to it. Why?
Filling Nail Holes in WallTo fill nail holes in your walls where pictures once hung, mix up a couple of teaspoons of cornstarch and add water until it's a putty-like consistency. It dries relatively quickly and works like a charm.
Fixing a Slow Tub DrainFor slow drains in old houses, pour a bottle of bleach down the tub drain once a month in the evening. In the morning, heat up a tea kettle and pour one gallon of water down the drain.
Cleaning a Shower HeadTo clear a clogged shower head, boil it about 15 minutes in a mixture of 1/2 cup vinegar and 1 quart water.
Tips For Unclogging DrainsI have read many ways to unclog a drain. I have also tried many ways. However, the one way that has always worked for me is "Rapidly Boiling Water." I just boil several pots of water and pour them down the drain.
Dawn Detergent To Unclog DrainIf your kitchen sink is clogged with grease, the best thing I've ever found is Dawn Dishwashing Liquid. I plug the drain and put a huge squirt, maybe 1/2 cup, in the sink. Then I fill the sink with boiling water. Once it's full I pull the plug.
Patching Plaster or WallboardTo patch small holes and fine cracks in plaster or wallboard, mix 2 Tbsp. salt, 2 Tbsp. cornstarch, and about 4 to 5 tsp. water to make a thick, pliable paste.
Uncloging DrainA good, old fashioned plumber's helper will generally unplug minor drain stoppages, but every so often a really heroic jam-up proves too much for the plunger on a stick.
Two Pots Stuck TogetherSeparating 2 pans that have become stuck together can seem like a daunting problem. But it's not.
Plastic Cup to Unclog Sink To open a stopped up drain in your kitchen when you don't have a plunger available, get a 6-8 oz. plastic glass (one of those opaque ones you get free drinks in) and put it upside down over your drain hole. Push down quickly flattening it and it will open the drain.
Seal Cracks in Wood StoveYou can seal cracks in a wood stove with this simple old-time homemade cement: Put a cupful of wood ashes in an old can, add about half a cup of salt, and slowly stir in enough water to make a stiff paste. Plaster the broken places in the metal with this mixture.
Unsticking Bowls and GlassesStuck bowls or glasses? No Problem! Forget WD 40, and ice and hot water. Try this: non-stick cooking spray around the stuck rim, wait 10 seconds, tap lightly with a wooden spoon upside down. And, Voila! Unstuck with non-stick.
Repairing Wind ChimesDon't throw out that wind chime when the strings break, go to your local craft store and in the jewelry department you will find elastic cord to make bracelets. I repaired one of our wind chimes last fall and it is still making its sweet sounds.
Homemade Spackle for Small HolesBack, way back in college dorm life, at the end of the year they would charge us if there were holes in the wall or marks etc. My room mate would take out the spearmint green tooth paste and fill all the holes to clean up any holes.
Repairing A Broken Water LineWhen you get your new pieces in place, if the water is seeping through the pipe, it is hard to get the pipe to seal before the sealant is washed away from the joint.
Hair Dryer to Help Remove Stubborn Light BulbHaving to change a "stubborn" light bulb from your freezer or refrigerator, not wanting it to break in your hand? Take a hairdryer to it! Aim the air at the base of the bulb's area where it screws in and it will unleash the grasp on the bulb and you are ready to install the new bulb.
Troubleshooting Your Garbage DisposalGarbage disposal quit working? Shut off the switch, look under the disposal, usually a red reset button. If it turns on and only hums,look to see what size Allen wrench you need, and hand turn a couple of times. This will free up whatever was stuck in there!
Always Run Water When Using Garbage DisposalI read tips on clogged garbage disposals and tried the vinegar/baking soda trick. It didn't work because the pipe from the disposal was filled with chopped up Brussels sprouts! The lesson learned is always send enough water when chopping up vegetables as recommended.
Use Boiling Water With Liquid Plumbr GelI found that Liquid Plumbr Gel works the best when rinsed with boiling water (bring water to a boil on stove). You may need to repeat, but it works awesome. Then as a maintenance use you baking soda and vinegar.
Fixing an Old Wood FloorMy old wood floors had been hidden under carpet. They were to the point of slivering up through the rugs, I fixed them with cooking oil, tea bags and liquid floor wax.
Use Soda Pop Bottle for Clogged DrainsI was helping my friend clean a bathroom that had a clogged basin drain. After the two of us polished off half a two-liter bottle of diet pop, I filled it with water, matched the opening of the bottle to the drain opening and mashed the bottle firmly.
Use Bleach Once a Month to Keep Drains ClearWe recently paid a plumber $95 to clean a clogged bathtub drain. All our home remedy tips did not free the clog. In fact, we even had to have them get the "snake" that we had used out of the drain because it was lodged in and we couldn't get it to move.
Repair Burns on CarpetTo repair cigarette burns or sparks from fireplace on carpet, first take small scissors and delicately cut away any seared, hard fibers that may be sticking up above the level of the carpet.
Camouflage Scratches on Wood FloorsIf you have hard wood floors with scratches on it I have found that using left over strong coffee with a soft rag and rubbing it into the wood helps hide the scratches.
Removing Carpet Stains and BurnsWhen I have carpet issues, I first use some Dawn detergent on a microfiber cleaning cloth. When that does not work, I get out my acrylic craft paint, some Q-tips and dot the paint over the stain until it matches the carpet. Use minimal paint and work slowly.
Loose Hinges and ScrewsDoors that now hit the door jam when you close them, or flop around at the hinge, are normally caused by our dear children hanging and swinging on door knobs or by piles of clothing by the wall or behind the door.
Check Upper Flush Holes When Unclogging a ToiletIf the Closet Auger, Plunger and Dish Detergent Failed to unclog your toilet, try this!
Changing Washing Machine Hoses to Avoid Floods at HomeI clean clothes dryer vent systems and do a little bit of insulation work. One thing that most people don't even give a second thought is the black rubber hoses on the back of their clothes washer. I can safely say that maybe one out of twenty five homes have the stainless steel mesh hoses.
Mouthwash to Unclog a ToiletScoopable kitty litter was put in toilet. Wouldn't go down, your website told me to use mouthwash. I had a few ounces of mouthwash. I poured it in plunged and it flushed. I was truly amazed!. I had been plunging and flushing and nothing.
Fixing A Door That Sticks After PaintingIf you have a door that sticks to the door jam after painting just put a light coating of vaseline, hair conditioner or baby oil on the edges. Works every time.
Use Shoe Polish to Hide Scratches on Laminate FlooringMy laminate flooring had some nicks and scratches that have accumulated over the years. The other night, I took some regular brown shoe polish and rubbed it in the scratches and buffed it off. I did several layers and continued to buff, and it was like magic!
Hair Conditioner For Clogged PipesFor small drain clogs, I accidentally found that a few globs of hair conditioner will get the water flowing. It seems to coat whatever is down there (ugh). Running hot water over the conditioner is helpful.
Use Fishing Hook and Line for Clearing a Clogged VacuumMy youngest daughter sucked a sock in the vacuum hose and then tried to use a wire hanger to take it out and hopelessly jammed it in, it seemed. I came up with the idea of a treble fishing hook and fishing line.
Repairing Scratched DVDsHow do you repair scratched dvds?
Fishing Line For Frugal Toilet FixAs a very stingy gramma, I have got "tight waddery" down to a science. While living in an apartment where the repair people didn't come running when I called, I figured out a way to fix my toilet.
Instructions For Removing Sink TrapMy daughter dropped her diamond down the drain. She called a local plumber who said there would be a service call charge of $55.00 plus a charge to locate the ring. I called my brother in law who does plumbing.
Hold Nails With A ClothespinTo avoid smashing your fingers while hammering nails into the wall, hold the nail with a wooden clothes pin. So if you miss, you won't get hurt!
Repairing A Plastic Mattress CoverHow to repair a ripped, plastic mattress cover. Get some heavy duty mailing tape or duct tape to tape the rip together. No one can see the repair under the sheets and it's far more less costly than paying for a new one!
Replace Vent Covers Right AwayWell, long story short, I put the leg of our dining room chair too close to the vent and it fell in. This caused the chair to collapse (with me in it) and the back was shoved with some force into the sliding glass door.
Repairing a Burn Hole in CarpetMy son burned a hole in our carpet. I took my vacuum and an old panty hose over the wand with a rubber band and then proceeded to vacuum the carpet.
Holding a Nail in PlaceHaving a difficult time holding that small nail while trying to hammer it into the wall? Here's a great tip, poke it through an index card and keep hold on the index card.
Fixing A Dripping ShowerIf your shower drips long after someone's finished showering, unscrew the screw that holds the water control handle and the pin that holds the shower diverter (for hot or cold water), so you can pull the shower diverter off to clean.
Replacing Sink Strainer Baskets With StoppersIf your kitchen sink's drain strainer baskets breaks, instead of replacing it with a new one designed the same way, just use a rubber sink stopper or plug.
Tip For Changing Your Refrigerator FilterIf your refrigerator's filter is in the front grill, under the doors. When it's time to change it and you have trouble getting it out, place a tad bit of Vaseline (petroleum jelly) on the new filter's ears.
Repairing Chips on Rims of PlatesRepairing Chips on Rims of Plates. You can repair the chips on the rims of plates/bowls, etc by filling in the color. . .
Maintaining and Fixing Your Window Air ConditionerHere are a few things you can try that may save you a service call on your window unit air conditioner service call. Seems like the whole country is experiencing extremely hot weather.
Replacing a Wax Toilet RingReplacing a Wax Toilet Ring. If you see water forming around your toilet, you probably have a damaged wax toilet ring. This should be promptly replaced. The wax ring creates a seal between your toilet and the sewer pipe that sticks up through the floor (also known as a toilet flange)
Squeaky Wood FloorsLocate which plank is squeaking and sprinkle some talcum powder in the cracks. Let it sit for a while so the talcum powder can work itself between the cracks.
