Home Maintenance Tips
Stripped Screws? No Problem
A stripped screw can turn a 10-minute fix into a two-hour nightmare. One of the best investments a DIY’er can make is a screw extraction kit. It comes with three different size bits and costs about $20. One side of the extractor bit reams a...
Reinforce a Drawer Front
Cut a couple of lengths of quarter-round the same height as the drawer sides. Hold them in place while you drill a couple of holes through the sides and front of the drawer box. Dab some polyurethane glue (wood glue doesn't stick well to...
Problems With Your Doors?
Functional problems with doors include damage to the door material (rotted wood, buckled metal, et cetera). Door hinges which are damaged or poorly secured make doors difficult to open and close and, if not corrected, will lead to damage of the...
Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters
Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters or GFCIs are inexpensive electrical safety devices that are designed to reduce the risk of serious electrical shock and/or injury. They are typically installed in outlets on exterior walls and in damp...
Cover Up a Ceiling Stain
Hide tough ceiling water stains with a spray-on product called Upshot by KILZ. It's blended to match an aged ceiling and even has a vertical spray tip, which makes installation a breeze. Lay a drop cloth on the floor and tape plastic on the...
A Trick to Keep Cabinet Doors Closed
Here's a 10-minute fix for a cabinet door that won't stay closed. Just install a magnetic door catch. Roller-style ones also work, but it's easier to line up a magnetic catch with the strike.
Lube a Sticking Vinyl Window or Door
When vinyl windows and doors don't operate smoothly, it's usually because gunk has built up in the channels. But sometimes even clean windows and doors can bind. Try spraying dry PTFE spray lubricant on the contact points and wiping it off with...
Flush Without Hang-Ups
Here's a quick way to avoid a running toilet caused by a kinked toilet chain. Remove the chain from the arm attachment, and slide a plastic straw over the flapper chain, covering about two-thirds of the chain. Then reattach the chain to the...
Silence a Squeaky Floor
To fix a squeaky floor under carpet, locate the floor joists with a stud finder, then drive in a trim head screw through the carpet, pad and subfloor, and right into the floor joist. Be sure the top inch of the screw doesn't have threads or the...
Restore Free Flow to a Faucet
When a kitchen or bathroom faucet loses pressure or starts spraying to the side, it's usually due to a dirty aerator screen. Luckily, cleaning a screen is an easy job. Start by closing the drain plug (so you don't drop parts down the drain)....
Straighten a Bent Blind
Unmangle mangled mini-blinds with a mini-blind slat straightener. Just slide it over the damaged slat and squeeze. The product, called the MiniBlindRx, works on 1-in. metal slats and is available for about $10.
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