25 Home Maintenance Problems That Only Take a Minute to Fix

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continue your rest home in top - nick condition does n’t mean pass all your free time on sustentation chores ; some sustenance and repair projects can be done quickly and without the help ( and expense ) of a pro . If you have just a few minutes here and there , you could perform the following fast locating without taking much prison term away from your daily activity . Stop procrastinating and start pay back your home shipshape !

1. Sticking Vinyl Windows

Vinyl window are affordable , long - lasting , and groovy at keeping out cold muster . One downside of vinyl radical windows , however , is that grease and stain can accumulate in the window tracks , which can make it unmanageable to open and end the window . ostracise the gunk and lubricate the windowpane rails with a little dry - type silicone spray , such as3 M Silicone Spray . Point and spray the crevice between the window and the jamb , then start the window and wipe the interior of the track with a clean cloth .

2. Wobbly Shower Head

A cascade header can begin to careen when the organ pipe in the wall loosens over clock time — but stabilizing the pipe and brace the exhibitioner head is a snap ! Slide the shower head trim closed chain away from the rampart ( you may need a screwdriver ) to disclose the groundwork of the pipe and the hole at a lower place . Spray a act oflow - expand foaminto the hole underneath the pipage , using the straw that comes with the can or aspray froth gunthat may require to be purchased severally . Create a lilliputian “ provenience ” beneath the pipe to hold and stabilise it .

3. Squeaky Wood Floors

When wood hang-up against woodwind instrument , it squeaks , sometimes quite loud . If you have hardwood floor , you plausibly have one or two orbit that always squeak when you walk on them . you could quieten a noisy wood floor with a little chip ofcornstarch . Just sprinkle it over an area that creaks , and then use a broom to drag it into the gap between the boards . The cornstarch will act as a dry lubricant between the wood open to quiet the creak .

4. Ugly Ceiling Stains

A talebearing roof or a dripping pipe can run down andstain the ceilingbelow . Even after the cap or pipe is compensate , there ’s a dirty yellow-bellied mark on the ceiling that makes the whole room look dilapidated . If you ’re not up for repainting your entire roof , there ’s a way you may take away ( or at least fade ) the discolouration . Repair the making water first , and then fill a spray bottleful with household blanching agent and water , using one - part bleach to five parts water . Spray the stigma thoroughly with the root . Within hr , the grunge will fade perceptibly — or even completely .

5. Reduced Faucet Flow

Hard water deposit and minuscule chip of junk can clog faucets andaffect water flow . You do n’t have to put back the spigot , but a little cleaning is in order . On the end of the faucet is a tiny aerator screen where debris can become trapped . When the screen is full of dust , the water menstruum is wearisome or forced to spray out to one side . The aerator screen can be removed by twisting it to the left . inebriate the concealment in white acetum to dissolve hard weewee deposits overnight and then reattach it .

6. Loose Wallpaper Seams

Wallpaper that was n’t paste properly during installation has a leaning to add up loose at the seams , have the entire wall face shabby , but it takes only a minute to pay off . Soften loose paper by spraying the area with blistering water , and then contract a little seam adhesive , such asRed Devil Wallpaper Repair Adhesive , beneath the loose section . Press the newspaper firmly back into place , and then wipe out any overabundance with a damp cloth .

7. Squeaky Doors

room access that creak and groan when they ’re opened and close up do n’t hurt anything , but they sure can be annoying . Silence the squeak with lubricating atomiser , such asWD-40 . Use the chaff that comes with the can to aim the spray to the top bend in the hinge . habituate the lubricator slenderly — a tiny bit goes a long way . It ’s a good idea to hold a shred or paper towel behind the flexible joint as you spray to protect the door or jamb from overspray .

8. Banging Cabinet Doors

If your cabinet door bang obstreperously every sentence you shut them , the job can be solved instantly by installing bumpers , such asGorillaGrit Cabinet Door Bumpers . Clean the locker room access to remove gunk or residue , and then place two bumper on its inside sharpness , one at about ½-inch from the bottom and another at the same distance from the top . Make indisputable you attach the peel - and - stick bumper where the door make contact with the cabinet base to muffle the auditory sensation of the cabinets fill up .

9. Unsightly Stains

difficult water can bring mayhem on tubs , showers , and sinks , leaving dour and sorry orange - brown grease that do n’t come off with regular household cleansing agent . If you do n’t savour using caustic cleansing products or do n’t want to expend hours scrubbing the stains away , here ’s a quicker fix . Mix lemon juice and pick of tartar(available in your grocer ’s spice or baking aisle ) to forge a library paste , and then apply the paste directly to the stains . Leave the mixture on the grime for an time of day and then rinse off to reveal a sparkling light fixture .

10. Drafty Doors

An exterior room access that does n’t seal tightly when close LET in cold drafts , which can lead in increased heat bills . Stopping draft is a simple hole that need take out the old weather strip ( just take out and scrape it off ) and then installing new peel - and - flummox weatherstripping . Opt for a weatherstrip kit , such as theWIGTDA Door Insulating Kit , which comes with a bottom door stamp in gain to regular weatherstripping for an airtight seal .

11. Sticking Door Lock

Do you have to jiggle , coax , or sprain the key forcefully to unlock your door ? corroding and dirt buildup can make it hard to employ a key in a doorway lock — but if you ’re experiencing problems , wait before you run out to replace a slick lock . Try itch the cuts on the key fruit with the lead of a graphite pencil , or squirt a small powdered black lead , such asAGS Powdered Graphiteinto the opening in the lock . The black lead works to lubricate the tumblers in the lock so your key will turn with ease .

12. Sticky Wooden Drawers

Over time , wooden drawers can begin to stick , make it difficult to spread and close them , but you do n’t have to live with gluey draftsman syndrome . To aid the drawer slide smoothly again , remove it from the cabinet and sour it over so you have access to the bottom . scratch a saloon ofparaffin(or located in your grocer ’s canning aisle ) along the both bottom border of the draftsman . The paraffin will lubricate the drawer and help it slide swimmingly .

13. Mold in the Washing Machine

If your clothes come out of the automatic washer smell musty or else of fresh , you in all probability have a bit of mould in your washer . Fortunately , banishing the mildew is a quick and simple project . Put 1 cup of baking soda in the washer , and run one empty encumbrance on the raging water setting . Thebaking pop will cleanand remove all mould growth so you could have newly - smelling laundry again .

14. Dirty HVAC Filters

An HVAC filter foreclose dirt , debris , and allergens from blowing around your house . When it ’s not clean or changed , the furnace or air conditioner has to act harder to do its line , thus shortening the lifespan of the twist and increasing vitality costs . bad of all , it imply you and your kin are take a breather in cheating melodic phrase . vary the filter every 2 to 3 months ( or more often if you have pets or are remodel ) for healthy air quality and energy efficiency .

15. Outdated Bulbs

Chances are the only clock time you guess about the lights in your house is when one goes out and it need to be replaced . However , you might want to reconsider this if you ’re still using out-of-date incandescent lamp . Swap out incandescent , fluorescent fixture , or halogen bulbs for LED lightbulb . Thesenewer versions are more energy effective and longer lasting . On top of that benefit , some edition include ready to hand features that can connect to your phone or home twist , like theGE LED+ bluetooth speaker light bulb , which is a lightbulb with a built - in speaker unit .

16. Tile Gaps

Over the age , your house is going to show sign of ripening and get back , such as space popping up between the tile in your bathroom . In accession to being esthetically unlikeable , it also provides a spot for mold and mould to grow . Luckily , there ’s no need to rip out all the roofing tile to pay off it . blank and dry out the tornado , and then catch the caulk gun and fill the spaces in with waterproof siliconized acrylic caulk .

17. Worn Fridge Seals

If the magnetic seals on your refrigerator door are n’t sealing tightly , strain can leak out into the fridge , which forces the appliance to work extra time and shortens its useful life . Fortunately , supervene upon the Navy SEAL is a tiptop - quick DIY labor . You ’ll need a screwdriver to remove the metal strip that holds the old seal in topographic point ( count under the lip of the seal ) . Replacement seal can then be attached in the reverse manner . Contact your widget manufacturer for particular on how to repair faulty icebox seals .

18. Uncertain Detector Status

Checking the battery in thesmoke detectorsand carbon paper monoxide detector is one of the easiest and most crucial tasks you’re able to check off your maintenance listing . Go around the business firm and check each one to ensure they ’re all in working order . If any of the warning signal do require fresh batteries , exchange them immediately — you never get it on when you ’re go to need your alarms to mould for you .

19. Overflowing Gutters

Do n’t appropriate water system streaming from thegutteror roof to pool around your home plate ’s foundation . water system that is left around the alkali of your home can seep into the cellar cause leaks or well the ground that can build air pressure and create wisecrack in the initiation . Prevent these kinds of cataclysm by impart downspout propagation to allow rainwater to run off away from the house . They ’re low-cost and simple to put in .

20. Scratches in Wood Flooring

If you ’ve noticedscratches in your hardwood floor , you might not need to hire a contractor to put back the boards . cancel that are small can be filled with a matching stain that ’s cautiously apply with an art brush or cotton wool swab . verify to try the stain first to see if it will be a good match . When in doubt , choose a light colouration . It ’s well-heeled to darken a color than to relieve one .

21. Dents in Carpeting

go piece of furniture around a room can make a distance seem smart and new , except for the rug . The ramification of furniture makedents in carpetingand rugs over time , and those little divots are reminders of the old conformation of the room . An gentle fix is to melt down an ice cube in the dents . After the meth is melted , chafe the area to loosen up the pile and restore the pile to its original top .

22. Marks on Appliances

Whether you bought a scratch - and - dent appliance for an awing mickle or your family help make the marks on appliances around the house , they can be fixed with special paint . Do n’t attempt to use the same can of paint that you used on your baseboards ; the paint made for appliances is a piddling unlike . A intersection worth researching for this job isRust - Oleum gismo touch - up paint .

23. Clean Humidifiers

Allergy and asthma attack sufferers rely on humidifiers to keep the aura moist . However , humidifierscan be hotbed of mold and goo if they are n’t cleaned and emptied regularly . ensure to empty the humidifier weekly , and soak the non - electrical parts in a white acetum - water result monthly .

24. Dim Lighting

Light and vividness can have a major impact on how a elbow room feels . It ’s helpful to match them with the activities that happen in the elbow room . For deterrent example , acooler light temperatureis more fitting in a number - crunching home spot than in a primary bedroom . Change the light bulbsto a colour temperature that matches the ideal humour of each infinite .

25. Smelly Garbage Disposals

Garbage disposals can start to stinkafter a lot of utilisation or after just one stinky messiness . Battle the odour with wise collection : Drop a few Orange River or Citrus limon Sir Robert Peel down the drainage and then start the disposal . It may take a few round to get disembarrass of the unpleasant scent .

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Man using screwdriver on door lock.