Whether your house is brand new or has been weathered by time, a lot of things can go malfunction or get broken inside a home. Just like Thanos, it is inevitable.
You will get clogged pipes and drains. Your toilet will experience leaks. Hinges will eventually squeak. Walls will need repainting somewhere down the road.
Of course, some things are best left to professionals, like when you see a sign of concrete floor moisture, call in people that can do the job right. But for the most part, home maintenance can be easily done if you have a few tricks up your sleeve.
12 Easy-Peasy Home Maintenance Hacks That Will Make Your Life Easier
1. Apply nail polish on screws to keep them from coming loose.
A coat of nail polish will help prevent screws from coming loose as they act like invisible glue that will keep a screw in place.
2. Fill in nail holes with crayons.
Pick out a crayon that closely matches the color of the surface you’re treating and, with greater pressure, rub the crayon over the hole.
3. Or soap.
If you’re out of crayons, you can use soap as a substitute for filling in those unsightly nail holes.
4. Fix squeaky doors and cabinets with cooking oil.
FIxing squeaky hinge can be done even without WD-40. Use regular cooking oil instead and apply them on the affected parts.
5. Use Kool-Aid to spot toilet bowl leaks.
If you suspect a leak in your toilet bowl, you can use Kool-Aid to confirm your suspicion. Pour a packet of dark-colored Kool-Aid powder into your toilet tank and wait about half an hour. Upon checking, if the inside of your bowl is the same color as the Kool-Aid, you already have your answer.
6. Remove stripped screws with the help of rubber bands.
A rubber band placed over the head of a stripped screw will give it extra friction that will allow you to easily remove it with a screwdriver.
7. Unscrew broken light bulbs using a potato.
Cut a potato in half. Stick the broken section into the soft part of the potato and turn it counterclockwise until the broken glass is embedded in it. Then unscrew the lightbulb. Just make sure to switch the light off and wear gloves before doing this trick.
8. Apply baby powder on squeaky wooden floors.
For squeaky floorboards, place some baby powder inside a small squeeze bottle. Squeeze powder in between boards and brush the powder into the cracks with a make-up brush.
9. Undo carpet dents using ice cubes.
Place ice cubes on dented areas of your carpet. As the ice melts, the water absorbed by the material will make it pop up back in place.
10. Use WD-40 to remove crayon and Sharpie scribbles on your walls.
This one’s pretty easy. Just use WD-40 to wipe off any scribbles from crayons or markers on your sheen wall. Do not use this trick on matte-finished walls to prevent staining.
11. Give your showerhead a good cleaning by soaking it in vinegar.
Remove the showerhead and soak it in vinegar overnight to get rid of grime and other mineral deposits stuck in the holes.
12. Use a squeegee to get rid of pet hair from carpets.
After your usual vacuuming, use a squeegee and rub it across the carpet one section at a time. Grab all the hair you can gather and use a lint roller to pick up the remaining hair.
Keeping a house clean, orderly, and functional isn’t rocket science. You just need a few aces up your sleeve to keep your home looking fresh and in great condition.