When you own a home you soon realise that home repairs are inevitable. The problem is that we all tend to let things slide, and before we know it, everything is starting to fall apart.
As soon as you have a bit of free time, it's always a good idea to go around the house and address any issues as quickly as possible.
Here are some fast fixes you can cross off your 'to do' list…
1. Fix broken drawers
Drawers have a tendency to come apart at the seams. If you don't have the time to build new drawers, try this quick fix. Buy a length of quarter-round moulding at your local Builders store and cut it to the desired length (same height as drawer).
Apply a bead of wood glue to the sides of the quarter-round and stick it into the corner of the drawer. Clamp it in place overnight and then drive in a couple of screws to secure it.
Good to know
If you don't want to drive screws through the drawer front, you can always secure them at the sides.
2. Doors won't stay closed
If you've got a door or two that won't stay closed, buy some Eureka Magnetic Catches and install them on the problem doors. These are easy enough to install with a cordless screwdriver. Alternatively, you can mount some double-roller catches to the doors.
3. Fix a wobbly or loose chair leg
If a chair leg is driving you mad and you have unsuccessfully tried to glue it back in place, try this quick fix to stop the wobble. Turn the chair upside down and drill an angled pilot hole through the stretcher into the chair leg. Drive a suitable length screw through the pilot hole to hold the leg firmly in place. And because the screw is underneath the stretcher, no one will know it's there.
4. Hide dings and scratches on appliances
Pop into your local Builders store to buy Rust-Oleum Appliance Touch-Up to hide scratches and chips on appliances. Follow the instructions on the bottle for proper application. You can use this product on metal, porcelain and enamel to quickly repair scratches and chips.
5. Hide chips and scratches on bathroom fittings
Use Rust-Oleum Tub & Tile Touch-Up to cover up nicks and scratches on porcelain bathroom fittings. You can use this product on sinks, basins, baths, toilets and tiles for easy touch-ups which will leave your fittings looking good as new.
6. Stop a washing machine from shaking
When a washing machine rattles and rolls its way across the floor when in spin mode, you need to set the adjustable feet to the correct height. Take a look at the base of the washing machine to check that the legs are sitting firmly on the floor. If not, a little adjustment is necessary. Remember to tighten the locking nut to secure the legs in place.
7. Prevent blocked drains
If a sink is taking a long to drain, it could be that a blockage is starting to build up. This happens more frequently in a kitchen sink, where fat and food particles stick together to form a stubborn blockage. Prevent this from happening by regularly cleaning the drain with a mixture of white spirit vinegar and bicarbonate of soda. This helps reduce build-up in pipes and will reduce the possibility of a serious blockage.
8. Remedy wood drawers that stick
When drawers don't have drawer runners, they have a tendency to stick, especially since the wood expands and contracts with the weather.
If this happens, don't sand the drawers but rather rub the edges with a paraffin candle or block of paraffin wax. After rubbing, run the drawer in and out a couple of times and you will instantly feel a difference.
9. Loosen sticky drawer runners
If you notice that your drawer runners (roller or ball bearing) are getting stuck, spray them with WD-40. If you see a build-up of grime on the runners, spray with WD-40 to loosen the dirt. Once this is done you want to wipe away the grime and spray the runners again.
10. Fix the slow flow on taps
If your taps have sluggish water flow it could be that the filter is blocked. Most modern taps have a steel mesh filter screwed on the end. To clean it, simply unscrew it so you can remove any debris blocking the filter.
Stubborn grit can be removed with an old toothbrush. If there is hard water or mineral build-up on the filter, soak it for 30 minutes in white spirit vinegar and then rinse it clean.
Article courtesy of www.home-dzine.co.za.
Print
