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7 Clever Hacks for Handling Common Household Concerns

 

If you have any length of history as a homeowner, you understand that making repairs comes with the territory. Keeping up with broken items can bring on a range of emotions, from fear to frustration, and once successfully completed, even little jobs can be downright satisfying. Here are some clever hacks for common household concerns so you can skip over the fear and frustration and go straight to feeling good about your accomplishments.   

 

Tackling a Toilet Handle

 

If your toilet handle has slipped off or is loose, there is a trick to tightening it into its place: the nut turns in the opposite direction of what you might expect. In other words, instead of “righty-tighty, lefty-loosey,” turn left (counterclockwise) to tighten it and right (clockwise) to loosen it. If you need to replace it, shut off the water to the toilet and flush two times before you disconnect the chain. Then, loosen the nut with pliers and remove the mechanism. You can look at a diagram to see what you’re getting into. Consider taking the part with you to the hardware store to ensure you buy the correct replacement, then reverse the process for installation.

 

Unclog a Toilet

 

Often embarrassing but not at all uncommon, all homeowners eventually must contend with a clogged toilet. Thankfully, with a couple of convenient ingredients pulled from your pantry, you can be back in business in no time. For a minor clog, scoop one cup each of vinegar and baking soda into the toilet simultaneously. For more severe clogs, parcel it out with a quarter to half cup of baking soda first, then add the vinegar. Follow with hot water, and repeat as needed.

 

Unclog the Garbage Disposal

 

Whether there is a stray peach pit or your child dropped a fork, pulling something out of your garbage disposal can be intimidating. After all, you know it chops things up into tiny pieces, so the last thing you want is to reach your fingers in there at the moment it starts spinning again. With that in mind, shut off power to the unit first by either flipping the circuit breaker or unplugging the machine under the sink. Allow the unit to cool for 15 minutes, then examine the jam with a flashlight and dislodge the object with a wooden spoon or dowel. Wait another 15 minutes, then reset the unit and power it back up.

 

Clean a Stinky Disposal

 

If your garbage disposal is working fine but has an unpleasant odor, the Spruce suggests cleaning it by pouring in a half cup of baking soda and following that with a half cup of vinegar. Flush it with hot water when it finishes fizzing.

 

Clean Baseboards

 

Baseboards are often overlooked, but being close to our feet they can accumulate a lot of crud. To clean yours, Bob Vila suggests vacuuming with a brush attachment, then wipe with either vinegar-water or a diluted mix of dish soap.  

 

Repair Damaged Molding

 

With the comings and goings of life, trim molding can get cracked any number of ways. Thankfully, repairs are a breeze. Even the surface with sandpaper, apply wood filler, and allow it to dry. Then, sand smooth and paint to match the rest of your trim.

 

Tighten Stripped Knobs

 

A wobbling or spinning drawer knob can rankle many homeowners, but there is an easy fix for stripped screw holes. Remove the annoying knob, then dip some toothpicks in wood glue and insert as many as necessary to plug the hole. Cut the toothpicks flush with the frame and wipe away excess glue. Then, put your knob back into place and drive the screw through the repair.  

 

As a homeowner, chances are you’ll be making some or all of these repairs at some point in the future. When these little jobs pop up, you can face them without fear. Keep these clever hacks in mind so you can enjoy satisfying results.  

 

Courtesy of: Danny Knight