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.
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.
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.
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:
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.
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.
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.
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.
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?
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!
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.
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.
