20 Things to Fix Around the House for Under $20

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Your dwelling is potential one of the big investment funds you have , and it ’s significant to wield your home ’s value by call for precaution of it and its contents with occasional maintenance . lay off ignoring the things around the dwelling that bother you , and set up them instead . There are many dwelling improvement project any DIYer can manage without the assistance of a professional and with little out - of - pocket cost .

Here are 20 things you may fix around your home for less than $ 20 , from preventative maintenance to aesthetic upgrades .

20 Things to Fix Around the House for Under $20 - couple planning home improvements

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1. Get rid of your dishwasher’s smell.

You require your dishwasher to last a long time , and that ’s possible with preventative maintenance . Build - up of nutrient scraps , grime , grease , and soap scum can stymy the car ’s efficiency and cleaning potency , not to cite add an unpleasant odor to the kitchen .

2. Buff out scratches in stainless steel appliances.

start in your stainless steel contrivance do n’t have to be a permanent feature film . From fine scratches to deeper , prominent ones , many are potentially removeable .

lucre removal kits are about $ 10 , and they ’re quite simple to habituate . No matter how orotund the scratch is , always buff it out by go in the direction of the grain . The gist of this project is that you commence with the rough-cut guts , working your way up to the finest guts to restore the surface of your shiny appliances . learn our guide onhow to remove scrape from stainless steelto watch how to do this right .

3. Unstick stubborn drawers.

Whether you ’ve thrifted a beautiful wood toilet table , or you have a glorious wood desk at home , you may find yourself clamber to start the drawers . Unlike other materials , wood has a tendency to warp over time , specially in humid environments . or else of continuing to use power to pull the drawers open , remove them entirely , then fret a block of paraffin wax on the draftsman slide , edge , and surfaces where the draftsman comes in impinging with the dressing table or breast . The wax produce less friction , helping the drawer slither more smoothly once again . you may finda block of paraffin wax on Amazonfor $ 9.99 .

4. Repair faucet leaks.

Before you grab the phone and call a plumber to fix that dripping faucet , deliberate spend a penny this a quick DIY undertaking . Stop wasting pee and money with just a couple household tools and a quick tripper to the hardware store .

Often , leaks are stimulate by a loose connexion or a failing washer , which can deteriorate as plumbing ages or consumption of the sink increases . you’re able to get a stage set of washers for under $ 10 , and you ’ll devote under $ 3 for just one . To quiet a drip , followour guide on prepare leaky faucetsand then sit back and enjoy the audio of silence .

5. Stop cabinet doors from banging.

Repeated slamming of cabinet door is not only brassy , but slamming can also involve your door alignment over meter — especially wood cabinets , which can warp , bend , or interrupt .

Whensoft - close hingesare too expensive , an low-priced and extremely leisurely DIY to keep your closet and locker door is to only bestow some small bumpers to absorb sound and shock against price . Thispack of 100 cabinet door bumpers is available on Amazonfor under $ 10 .

6. Install a no-clog shower drain protector.

economise yourself a succeeding headache and the expense of a pipe fitter by spend just a few dollar mark on ashower drainpipe whisker backstop . These small drain protectors grant urine to flow through , but keep pilus and other dust from gather and congest up your pipes .

Depending on the dash , these mesh hair’s-breadth catchers may sit in good order on top of the drain , or they can be installed on the interior of the waste pipe — and put in stead without tools .

7. Remove water stains on wood furniture.

Some of the most beautiful furniture while we ’ve seen are made of Natalie Wood , but this material does have one drawback — it does not mix with wet . How many table , dressers , or desktops now have a piddle ring discoloration because one person blank out to use a coaster ?

8. Eliminate wobbles from furniture.

Barstools , table legs , and benches are just some of the piece of furniture perpetrator that may have narrow wobble . These imbalances are rile , but perhaps not so extreme to warrant restore in a more time consuming manner . If you require aproject that ’s a quick win — albeit impermanent — use raging mucilage and a coin as a makeshift shim . Of of course , if you require a more purpose - progress solution , these piece of furniture leveler from Amazonare under $ 15 .

9. Stop squeaky floors.

solve squeaky floors is more of an average DIY , but householder can always get an extra hand from somebody with a bit more experience . You ’ll want to seek to lick the issue from underneath the floor , if possible .

You require to set the source of the noise to know how to define it . low crack between the subfloor and joist can be mended with construction adhesion or shim , but larger gap may need to be braced with a 2×4 . See our usher onhow to fix a screechy floorto make your floorboards quiet again .

10. Swap out old doorknobs.

Perhaps it ’s fourth dimension for an aesthetic climb , your current doorknob is n’t lick properly , or you need to switch to a handle so those with mobility yield can open up the door easier . Whatever the reasonableness for switching up your doorknob , this is a relatively easy DIY activity providing you have the right tools on paw .

reckon on the design of your exist doorknob , you ’ll take to remove it with the help of an Allen wrench , theme time , or flathead screwdriver . We ’ll take the air you throughhow to remove and replace your doorknob , so you’re able to check this item off your to - do list .

11. Lubricate your locks.

If your keys sense awkward in your door ignition lock , garage locks , padlocks , or any other ignition lock around the home , do n’t ignore it . When a lock becomes difficult to open up , it ’s time to lube it before yourkey gets stick , and you need to employ a locksmith .

lubricate also save you the price of replacing your locks before it ’s actually necessary . If you have a can of compact air , use it on the lock to remove any dust at heart . WD-40 is a quick fix for a short period of metre , but a literal trick is to use a pencil . Pencil wind is made from graphite , which has the same carbon atom arrangement as pricey lock lubricants . Rub your key and the exterior of the lock with a pencil , and simply using the keystone in the lock should loosen things up again .

12. Change the HVAC filter.

change an HVAC filterregularly is one preventive maintenance item you do n’t want to skip . Made to trammel dirt , dust and other particles , HVAC filter also protect your contraption , as these particles can get your heating and air conditioning systems to mold heavily than necessary . The more melody you put on these system , the sooner they will wear out — a replacement that will cost you much more money than a Modern filter . HVAC filters cost less than twenty dollars apiece , but the overall cost for each one is even cheaper if you may buy them in bulk .

13. Remove paint drips.

Perhaps you hesitate to jump into another home repair project because the last time you paint , you made a few mistakes that stay on seeable to this day . It ’s possible to take out key from a number of unlike open using a variety of techniques and materials — some of which you likely already have at place .

14. Clear out the dryer vent.

build up lint in the dryer vent can make your contrivance less efficient , slowing dry out meter and increasing the risk of fervor behind the dryer . Pulling the lint filter out each prison term you run a load of clothes is a bang-up start , but if you find that your dryer is down decently , is too hot to the touch , or utter a cauterize smell , it ’s way past clip to clean the duct , not just the filter .

Fortunately , it ’s an easy and low-cost project . you could vacuum the vent with the hose attachment on your vacuum , and then choose a basic kit inour guide to the best dryer cleansing kitsto get remaining junk out of the vent . Getour measure - by - step instructions for this projectand do n’t leave the vent on the outside of your household too . This is a great improver to your leaning of yearly house maintenance projects .

15. Swap out outlet covers.

mismatch or outdated outlet covers can be a optical bummer . With a flathead screwdriver and mere instant of your time , you may swap out the existing photographic plate for something with a good figure or uniformness , so every color matches . There is an copiousness of aesthetic options out there , from evergreen design to eye - catching decor enhancer . We wish the feel ( and price ) ofthese modernistic electric receptacle spread over available on Amazon .

16. Mend unsightly wallpaper seams and bubbles.

Humidity , inferior glue , or pitiful installation may be to blame for skin wallpaper . However , all hope is not lost . If you jazz the tone of your wallpaper , it may still be salvageable . When the wallpaper is literally descend apart at the seams , it ’s in reality fairly easy to compensate .

17. Repair holes in the wall.

Walls get batter up in all sorts of ways — relocate article of furniture , moving nontextual matter from one place on the wall to another , and sometimes just normal wear and bout . If the jam is small-scale — four inch in diameter or smaller — there ’s no need to rent a declarer ; you could likely fill or patch the hole yourself .

OurDIY usher on fix holes in the wallcovers three try out - and - true methods to make your wall whole again . From toothpaste to homemade sealant to a creative patch caper using cardboard and a flour spread , these method acting can aid fix holes even for those adhering to an exceptionally tight budget .

18. Install weather stripping to your doors.

To save money on energy vizor , weather condition stripping is a simple way to keep your costs down and prevent winter shiver from occupy your ardent home .

This home mend could n’t be easier , and the money that it saves you on your heating note is well worth the less than twenty dollar you ’ll drop on weather dismantle material . The overview of this DIY home project is to clean your door and jamb , measure the room access , cut the weather condition stripping , and amaze it in position . you could read ourstep - by - footstep tutorial on how to install conditions strippingif you need some help .

19. Add mulch to plants.

You do n’t have to be a master nurseryman or expert landscaper to keep your outdoor plants alive through the season . Though mulching has its reward in the spring and summertime , adding mulch to your industrial plant in the spill prepares them for wintertime . Our pathfinder onmulching in the falloutlines how this activeness preserves perennial , nutrify soil , isolate plant life roots , and warn Mary Jane .

20. Replace a sprinkler head.

After a tenacious summer , sprinkler capitulum take a drubbing from mowing the lawn , hebdomadary use , and the casual kids ’ association football plot in the yard . In wintertime , they can show wearing and tear after utmost temperature . Any time of year is a good fourth dimension to put back broken in parts , and the dear news is that they ’re far more low-priced than most the great unwashed retrieve .

For under $ 3 you could get a standard drink down - up sprinkler head teacher , and for under $ 12 you could get the professional grade version . Installing is round-eyed withour scout to repairing sprinkler head in six easy steps , and then you ’ll be ready to irrigate your landscape for a long time to come .

This Is the Year for a Kitchen Renovation

20 Things to Fix Around the House for Under $20 - woman cleaning dishwasher

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Whether you ’re betray or staying , everyone can get something out of a kitchen update . Learn why we consider this renovation the Most Valuable Project of 2025 and how to stay on budget .

20 Things to Fix Around the House for Under $20 - cleaning stove