Extending the Life Of Your RazorI'm a big fan of Kickstarter and I'm really jazzed about getting a denim razor strop designed especially for modern, multi-blade razors! The problem is, it won't come for another month or so.
Flip Collar for Long Lasting ShirtMy husband wears button-down collar shirts to work, and, while the rest of the shirt will still be fine, the collars tend to wear at the fold. I've found I can flip the collar by taking out the stitches and then turning it over, and sewing it back.
Temporarily Cover Car Windows with Shrink...I have driven briefly on highway at 55 mph and on local city streets at 35 mph all over about 2 weeks. The film stayed on perfectly, kept the heat in the car and the cold out .
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.
Repairing Dark Wood StainsI have successfully used three chemical bleaching methods. Go to your local real hardware store for the supplies.
Spray Paint Lamp ShadesI have painted a few lamp shades with spray paint with good success.
Bobbin as Lost Jeans ButtonWhen you lose the metal button for your jeans, use a metal sewing bobbin. It is the same size and the shank is perfect for the thicker denim.
Dry Ice for Removing Dents from Your CarRemoving small dents in your car is easy to do using a piece of dry ice. This saves you money having them taken out by a professional. Wearing a pair of gloves, just hold the ice over the dent until it pops right out.
Bracelet to Fix Broken Camera HingeAfter someone accidentally broke my camera's hinged opening, I couldn't keep it closed to use it anymore. Rather than get another one, I tried fitting one of those rubber bracelets around the camera to hold it shut.
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.
LED Bulbs Interfere with Garage Door Remote SignalAll of my family members began noticing that their remotes could open the door from down the block, but wouldn't close it unless they were nearly in the garage. I replaced the flickering LED bulbs in my garage door opener.
Gorilla Glue for Repairing an Air...Get Gorilla Glue, you can find it anywhere. Get a piece of fabric like a T-shirt. Cut it into small squares. Deflate the air mattress in this process and know where your pinhole is!
Sweater Comb for Removing PillsI use a sweater comb to remove pills from lots of different fabrics and it works great. One drawback is that it has only a small surface for removing the pills, so I think next I will try a suede shoe brush.
Removing Heat Marks on TableI doubled a blanket on my dining table, and was ironing a large table cloth on it. Now I have several iron marks all over my table. I don't think the iron will work, since this is how I put them on there.
Fixing A Wrinkled Prom DressI have what is undoubtedly someone's old 100% acetate prom dress. I found it in a thrift store and bought it to sing in at a concert. Not able to afford dry cleaning, I made the decision to launder it with Woolite on the delicate cycle. I would only be out my $10 investment if this went badly.
Sharpen Kitchen Knives with a BeltI learned this in my woodcarving club and it is valuable for our kitchen knives as well.
Stretching BootsI wrapped my calf with two long ace bandages. Then I warmed my boots with a hair dryer. Get the leather of the boot very warm but not hot. Put the boot on and force it to zip. Wear for about an hour and heat again with hair dryer.
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.
Magic Cloth for Wood Heat StainI have just used a Magic Cloth to remove heat stains and it worked a treat. They are available at Lakeland in the UK and well worth the price.
Permanent Marker for Paint NicksUse a permanent marker to cover nicks, dings, etc. on painted woodwork.
Mason Jar as Blender Jar ReplacementIf you break your blender jar, you can replace it with a quart size mason jar.
Removing Adhesive on EyeglassesI have an antiglare coated eyeglass. Stains of Elfy adhesive got accidentally on the corner of it. I tried to google for solutions but ended up having no solution to it. Finally, I tried to remove it by scrathing it with a scissor. I was able to remove the Elfy without harming the eyeglass.
Use Foil to Sharpen Can OpenerI read somewhere that you can use foils to sharpen your can opener blade. Just fold it twice then run your can opener through them. I've done it several times before and it works.
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!
Repairing a Ring that Has Been CutCutting a ring off your finger will not destroy the ring. Any ring can be repaired by a competent jeweler. The ring will probably have to be cut anyway in order to make it larger.
Removing Super Glue on Plastic LensesGet 91% alcohol and Q-tips and rub the smudge like crazy. This will take some time and a little elbow grease but it works. I just did it on my plastic lenses. And they are crystal clear. this really does work!
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...
Toothpick as Temporary Eyeglass ScrewDid you lose the screw from your eyeglasses? Here is a temporary solution to give you time to get to the optical store. Use a toothpick to hold the arm of your glasses on, so you can still wear them. Just poke the pick in the hole and break of ends of pick showing.
Check the Hoses on Your Washing MachineOur newer washing machine has been giving an error code and not getting the clothes clean at all. We searched the Internet and found that the code indicated low water level. We tried cleaning the detergent tray, and that seemed to help, but a week later, we were getting the same error code.
Check Valves Before Calling For Washer RepairMy Bendix washer recently made all the right noises, and lit up beautifully - but didn't fill with water. It suddenly occurred to me that there might be an airlock or sticking valve, so I picked up the inlet pipe, lifted it above the level of the inlet valve, and gave it a very gentle shake. Whatever the explanation was - my washing machine has been working perfectly ever since.
Tanning Lotion as Leather Shoe PolishI have a tan leather bag that got scuffed at the bottom and have been looking around for tan shoe polish, not finding anything. Everything I found was too dark - then I noticed that a self-tanning lotion I had left over from the summer was the right tan color.
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.
Reviving Dried Pencil ErasersI wasn't able to get good photos so I'll go ahead and tell you what I did. First of all, I really can afford new pencils or a pack of erasers. I have this lifelong fascination with words and crosswords are part of that.
Repairing A Guitar's Strap Lock Screw HoleTwo of my electric guitars had loose strap-lock screw holes. For a quick and easy fix, I simply squeezed a little wood filler into the screw holes, screwed the strap-locks back into place, and allowed the wood filler to set.
Using an Iron to Remove White Marks from WoodUsing an iron with old shirt idea worked 100% for a bad one that I had. Thanks for the tip. The key is not to use too much heat as I tried that once before and made the problem worse.
Clear Nail Polish For Pantyhose RunsWhile still wearing them, simply take clear nail polish and paint over the run and let it dry. This will keep the run from growing bigger.
Shoe Polish To Repair Damaged LeatherFWIW we've just had the dreaded nail polish remover on leather scenario, and the shoe polish tip has worked a treat.
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 . . .
Aluminum Polish for Removing Scratches On Plastic LensesI think the use of Armour Etch to remove the antiglare and scratch resistant coatings has been said enough about. Plus it's on YouTube. It worked for me on my PLASTIC prescription glasses with metal frames.
Fixing a Stuck ZipperIf your zipper is stuck, use a graphite pencil along the teeth back and front and, presto, it works again!
Fixing iPhone 4 Broken Back GlassReplacing a back on an iPhone 4 is super simple and a whole lot cheaper than getting a new phone. All you need are a few tools and a replacement back that can be purchase for fairly inexpensive.
Buffing Scratches out of Polycarbonate Eyeglass LensesI've read most of the suggestions, but here is what worked for me. I got my polycarbonate lenses with the AR coating at Walmart. As most of the tips suggest, the most likely cause of your scratches are due to scratches in the AR coating.
Try Combinations To Open Antique BankHave you tried the combination? 000, 001 till 999? I opened a suitcase lock that way.
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.
Aluminum Foil for Sharpening ScissorsTo sharpen scissors quickly, use aluminum foil. Simply cut a medium size sheet of foil. Using the scissors, cut up the foil and across. The scissors are good to go.
Paper Clips to Fix a HemIf you have no straight pins, use paper clips to keep folded-over fabric in place when sewing a simple hem. Just slide the paper clip along the material as you work.
Replacing Worn Off Keyboard LettersBlack keyboard: Silver Sharpies. It's not as neat as the stickers, but cheap. Silver Sharpies are great for writing on black surfaces
Fixing a Lawn Mower That Won't StartWe have a Craftsman mower (with a Briggs and Stratton engine) that we have not taken very good care of. Not only did we not remove the gasoline before wintering it over, but we also did not maintain the air filter or spark plug.
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.
Clear Washing Machine Filter To Help DrainageMy washing mashine didn't spin the water out. In the morning, I opened the small door on the front of the machine, in the right down corner.
Clearing a Jammed Paper ShredderIf your paper shredder has slowed down from when new, try lubricating the teeth. First clear out as much chewed up paper as possible, then use olive oil. Run the shredder without paper a couple of times, and hey presto! It now works like new again. Well, mine did! Good luck!
Fixing a Dirt Devil Steam CleanerThis is a page about fixing a Dirt Devil steam cleaner. Sometimes you can repair small household appliances yourself.
Potholder for Patching Gardening PantsMy husband had a pair of gardening pants which he had worn out at the knees. He asked me if I could mend them. So I decided to visit the dollar store to see if I could find any knee patches.
Liquid Paper to Fix Chips in PaintI bought a used white formica bedroom set with chips. The moving man told me to use white Liquid Paper correction fluid to cover it up. This was for a matte finish. It worked great.
Removing a Stripped ScrewWe all know how frustrating it can be if a screw is stripped and you need to remove it.
Walnut For Furniture ScratchesRub a walnut on damaged wooden furniture to cover up scratches.
Razor For Removing Fabric PillsIt seems like it's always your old favorites that get those awful little fabric pills. Take a new disposable razor and lightly go across the garment. Use short strokes while pulling the fabric tight.
Bread Tag for Broken Flip FlopI could have used this tip so many times, I have broken so many flip flops. Next time you do just attach a bread tag onto the bottom of your shoe, it will hold it in place.
Fixing Chair Caster WheelsThe casters on my office chair were really starting to bug me. They were seeming to get stuck or have a hard time rotating, etc. We had just replaced the old ones which were worn out.
Covering Clorox Splashes on ClothingWe all know how Clorox spots ruin clothes, recently I splashed Clorox on my black top. I was going to throw it out, then I thought I would try something. I took a black Sharpie pen and carefully dabbed it over the Clorox splash.
Repairing Motor Coupling in Kenmore Washing...If you have an older washing machine that stops spinning, the problem may be a cracked motor coupling. The replacement part runs about $15.00, but you can easily spend $150.00.
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.
Repairing Versus Replacing AppliancesI recently dropped a flower arrangement marble down my garbage disposal. I turned it off as soon as I heard the grinding noise, but it was too late. We thought we would have to replace it. We Googled our problem and a number of sites came up.
Repairing Scratched EyeglassesIf your eye glasses get scratched, take them back to the place where you got them and have them buff the scratch out. Why spend money on something that you really don't know will work. Worse you might ruin an expensive pair of glasses.
Save Cell Phone CordsCell phone recharging cords get a lot of use and abuse. To save both ends of recharging cord, wrap some electrical tape around the base of both plugs ends. That way, it will protect the wires from getting weak when being pulled out of phone and plug ends.
Making Shirt Collars Last LongerBecause of the economy and my husband's tendency to have favorite shirts, some are worse for the wear. Meaning the collars are completely worn out. Many years ago I learned from my grandmother how to "turn" collars.
Sharpening Scissors With SandpaperSharpen scissors by cutting superfine sandpaper.
Save Spray Tops From Empty Bottles of PerfumeI buy many of the same type of perfume from the Dollar Tree, particularly Eternity and Ralph for Women. I find that if I lose a top off one of the ones I like, there is always an extra one I keep.
Check Amazon For Replacement Charging CordsWhen you need a charger cord for your Nintendo DS or DSI, always check at amazon.com first before buying another one. I bought one for four dollars and that included shipping. Of course, as soon as I ordered it on the internet, then we found the old charger. LOL.
Armour Etch For Scratched EyeglassesMy glasses (polycarbonate lenses with anti-glare coating, no other coatings) were ruined when I got brake cleaner on them. They looked like they had tiny scratches and dots all over the lenses, to the point that I couldn't drive at night with them.
Use Fingernail Polish to Repair Ceramic PaintI had this Micky Mouse centerpiece (made in China) that was packed in with our Christmas decorations. The paint was peeling off. The under glaze was white and it took some work to remove the cracking and peeling paint.
Use Your Phone Camera to Check Your Remote BatteryIf your remote (for your TV or other similar device) stops working, but you're not sure if it's the battery or the connection, you can check this by using your cell phone camera.
Clear Nail Polish For Stopping RunsTo stop a run in her stockings, my mother used to use clear nail polish on the run.
Nail Polish For Repairing StockingsPaint around the rip or tear with fingernail polish. Clear or fleshy pink tones of polish blend in best.
Repairing Costume JewelryYou can re-surface/spiff up costume jewelry using colored nail polish. I just touched up the worn gilding on a vintage pendant using gold-colored polish.
Beeswax For ZippersTo fix a stuck zipper, rub up and down the zipper with bee's wax. I don't know where I got this idea, but it works like a charm!
Rub Zippers with Candle WaxYou can fix a stuck zipper by running a candle up and down on the teeth of the zipper. You should then be able to slide it the back and forth easier.
Wax For Stuck ZippersTo unstick zippers, I have always used a bar of soap or crayon. If that does not work, use a wax like a candle.
Sharpen Knife with Aluminum FoilI have found that to keep a knife or scissors sharp, cutting kitchen foil is a simple answer.
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.
Fixing a Too Tight VisorA couple of my favorite visors pinched behind my ears and, after a while, gave me a headache. Rather than throw them away, I decided to try a last effort. I heated my oven to 300 degrees F and put the visors one at a time on a pan.
Cut Through Plastic BagsI trimmed the edges of a plastic garbage bag and later noticed the scissors glided through the papers I was cutting more easily. Evidently, the petroleum in the making of the bag caused this. You can also cut a thin sheet of sandpaper with the scissors to sharpen them.
Treating Bleach Spots and StainsAs the queen of mending, here's another sneaky tip. If there are discolorations, such as bleach spots on your clothing, you can "mend" them by trying to fill in the bleached spot with various coloring methods.
Using Iron On PatchesI have found that iron-on patches can be very useful for mending and they come in all sorts of colors. Always round the corners of the iron-on patch, so they won't peel off.
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!
Fixing a Squeaky Office ChairEverybody in your office will be annoyed at a squeaky office chair, if it's yours at home you will be annoyed. Either way let's fix it. It's easier than you would think.
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 "Japanese Paper" To Repair BindingFirst of all NEVER use tape to repair a book. Tape does not age well. It becomes brittle, yellow, leaves a deep stain on the paper, and often the paper gets torn at the edge of the tape.
Furniture Polish For DVDsSpray the disc with furniture polish then wipe with a soft cloth. This will clean and cover up scratches.
Rubbing Alcohol For Cleaning A DiscPut a little rubbing alcohol on a cotton ball and wipe the disc clean. Air dry.
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.
Zipper FixAs a fix, I have rubbed a #2 pencil on the zipper. It sometimes does the trick. Also you can try rubbing the zipper with bar soap. Anything is worth a try so you won't have to replace the zipper.
Removing Paint From Wood FurnitureI found a couple of ladder back chairs in our storage facility that my daughter wants to take with her to college. One of chair legs had some dried paint spatters on it.
Troubleshooting a Sewing Machine That is Breaking NeedlesIf your sewing machine has begun to bend or break needles there are several possible causes. The following list will help provide some ideas for troubleshooting the problem with your machine.
Repairing a Garbage DisposalIf your disposal hums but doesn't turn, try these steps.
Repair Your Dryer Instead Of ReplacingYou don't need to buy a new dryer, repair it. I got a very high estimate on repair of the drum of our 30+ year old Kenmore dryer. The part was $33, a belt. The new dryers we looked at were too wide to get through our doors.
Aluminum Foil Sharpens ScissorsA few snips thru a folded in 4ths piece of foil sharpens up dull scissor blades in a "snap".
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.
Repainting Old FurniturePainting smaller pieces of furniture is a wonderful way to utilize left-over paint. Not only that, but paint actually protects the wood.
Maintaining Your Refrigerator GasketDid you know that one of the first thing to wear out of a refrigerator is the rubber door gasket? So, with this simple tip, you can protect the gasket from cracking, drying, and mildew. Just apply a very thin coat of Vaseline petroleum jelly.
Sharpen Scissors with Steel WoolI know I have about 3 dozen scissors running around here. To keep them sharp, I buy a box of 00 steel wool from my local hardware store and cut through it with the scissors.
WD-40 For Lawn MowerIf your lawn mower refuses to start up, spray WD-40 in the carburetor/air cleaner and pull the draw cord.
