Do-It-Yourself Home Fixes

CEBU, Philippines - Every now and then certain things just malfunction or get broken down around the house. Many of these need quick attention – or a quick fix. One may worry about the cost of even a minor repair – or he may get down on his knees and do it himself. 

 Eric Ravenscraft, in an article at www.lifehacker.com, writes, “While you'll probably be tempted to call a professional when something breaks down [at home], you can take care of a lot of problems yourself.” He adds that most of these home repairs can be done with little to no experience. And he gives examples:

Replacing a Light Switch

Most electrical work in the home should probably be done by a professional if, for no other reason, the risk of serious injury or death is high, like when dealing with electricity. But light switches are among the easiest to replace. If a switch is not working properly, it can be fixed pretty simply. It only has to be ascertained that the circuit breaker is turned off before beginning on the task. Electricity can be dangerous, so all the necessary precautions shall be taken.

Patching a Hole in Drywall

Holes in walls are a common problem. Good thing, most of these holes can be fixed pretty cheaply. The simplest holes to fix are screw or nail holes from hanging everything – from pictures to TV sets. For holes like these, the area shall first be cleaned of any debris and wiped down. A putty knife shall be used to press some spackle into the wall, and then allowed to dry. Once it's done, some fine grain sandpaper is used to sand down the surface until it's nice and flat. Depending on how seamless it has to be and of what color the walls are, a coat of paint may be applied.

Larger holes can be a bit trickier. If a doorknob or fist went through the wall, cutting out a rectangular section of the drywall surrounding the hole may be necessary. Then, a piece of drywall may be cut from some scraps (or whole pieces can be bought at a hardware store). A small piece of wood may be used to brace the scrap drywall in the hole by placing it inside the wall and drilling screws into it above and below the hole, then a third screw may be added into the drywall patch, and some drywall tape added around the seams. Then, it can be finished off by slathering on some joint compound and using a large putty knife to scrape it down until it's mostly flat. Just like with the small holes, it can be finished off by sanding it down once the compound has dried, and painting it if necessary.

Loosening Up a Stuck Window

A window that has not been opened for so long can get so mucked up with dirt and crap that it can be difficult to open. This isn't a terribly complex problem to solve, but it can require some elbow grease (or a more proper lubricating agent. If preserving the paint is a concern, a somewhat less sharp putty knife may be used to wiggle the edges open. Once the window is moving again, it should be cleaned thoroughly.

Rag

Over at www.realsimple.com, Adam Bluestein also shares a list of other quick fixes that can be done at home the do-it-yourself way.

Squeaky Door Hinges

Rubbing the hinges with petroleum jelly does it. Or spraying it with a little WD-40 can work, too. If these don’t work, lifting the hinge pins about halfway and lubricating them with three-in-one oil may be resorted to, using a rag to catch the drips.

Squeaky Floor

A temporary fix would be sprinkling talcum powder over the noisy area and sweeping the powder into the cracks. But any traces of powder shall be cleansed if the floor is going to be re-finished.

Peeling Wallpaper

With a knife, smear wallpaper paste onto a piece of writing paper. Rub the paper against the underside of the peeling section. Press the wallpaper against the wall. Slide the writing paper out and smooth away bubbles with a clean cloth.

Cleaning Stained Tub

Equal amounts of cream of tartar and baking soda may be combined with enough lemon juice to make a paste. The mixture may then be rubbed into the stain using fingers or a soft cloth. It has to be allowed to sit for a half hour, then rinsed well with water.

Hard-to-Remove Decals

Spraying the decals and the surrounding areas with WD-40 is the solution, lifting the edges to get the spray underneath, if possible. It has to be allowed to sit, and then the decal gently scraped away with the edge of a credit card. The tub may then be degreased with liquid dishwashing soap.

Smoothing Out Tangled Extension Cords

Cowgirls and sailors alike know the benefits of storing ropes neatly coiled. It helps to follow their lead and keep extension cords tangle-free and contained inside a large plastic bucket when these are not in use.

Things around the house break down every now and then. Many of these things the house residents themselves can take care of. But some things will just have to be referred  to a professional, particularly where safety is concerned. (FREEMAN)