“I’m not particularly handy, so I typically just have someone else handle that type of thing,” I’ve heard a lot of homemakers remark. While it’s always a good idea to call in a pro when you need one, most of the solutions I’ve found for common problems are a lot faster and easier than you may imagine!
To demonstrate what I mean, I’m going to share some of my favorite dead-simple household hacks with you today! These pointers apply to a variety of minor concerns around the house, such as stripped screws and stuck locks.
By the end of this post, you’ll see that you don’t necessarily have to be “handy” in order to be a problem solver around the house!
1. Check For Toilet Leaks
If your toilet is leaking water from the tank into the bowl, it could be costing you on your monthly water bill! To check for a leak, just grab a packet of brightly colored Kool-Aid drink mix. Sprinkle the powder into the tank and let it sit for 30 minutes (without flushing).
After 30 minutes, check the water in the bowl. If the color of the Kool-Aid has seeped into the bowl, then you know you have a leak. Fixing it could be as simple as replacing the toilet’s current flapper with a new one (but if that doesn’t stop the leak, you may need to consult a plumber.)
2. Fix A Squeaky Hinge
Have a squeaky door somewhere that’s driving you crazy? You can silence the squeak with shortening! Just rub a small amount of shortening over the hinge, then open and shut the door a few times. It’s a quick and easy fix, and you’ll wonder why you didn’t do it sooner!
3. Remove Stripped Screws
There’s nothing worse than realizing you’ve accidentally stripped a screw head while trying to remove a stubborn screw. But this problem’s easy enough to fix if you have a rubber band on hand!
Place a section of the rubber band over the screw head, then use your screwdriver or drill to remove the screw like normal. The rubber band will help grip the screw so you can get it out!
4. Secure Screws In Place
Want to make sure a screw stays in place? Once it’s screwed in, coat the head with a layer of clear nail polish. When the nail polish dries, it will seal the screw in place and make it much less likely to loosen over time.
5. Clean Grout Lines
Could your grout lines use a good cleaning? Try using carpet cleaner! Spray a foaming carpet cleaner like Resolve or a DIY carpet cleaner onto grout lines, then scrub with a stiff brush. Let it sit for 10 minutes then rinse clean.
6. Fill Nail Holes
You can fill nail holes (or at least make less visible) with a few different common household items. Use a bit of plain white toothpaste, a bar of soap, or a white crayon to fill nail holes in a pinch!
7. Tighten A Loose Screw
If a screw is feeling a little loose, you can “tighten” it using a bit of steel wool. Just remove the screw, wrap a small amount of steel wool around the outside, the screw it back into the hole. The steel wool adds extra grip that will keep the screw in place!
8. Clean Your Shower Head
If you have hard water like I do, then you probably have already experienced those stubborn mineral deposits that form on your shower head. Those deposits can eventually slow your water flow, and even stop it completely if it gets bad enough!
But there’s a secret to easily removing those mineral deposits—white vinegar! Remove your shower head and soak it in plain white vinegar overnight. In the morning, just give it a scrub with a sponge and all that gunk will slide right off!
9. Fix A Sticky Lock
Use a graphite pencil to loosen up a lock that keeps sticking. Scribble inside of the lock hole with the pencil, then sharpen the pencil and repeat until your keys opens the door with ease.