While there are many benefits to owning your own home, it also comes with additional responsibilities. When you rent property, all repairs and maintenance are typically handled by the landlord. As a homeowner, you can always hire a professional to make repairs around your house, but it is an expensive process.
Even small repairs that take less than an hour typically cost several hundred dollars. Scheduling is also a common issue, as it may take several days before the repair person can make an appointment, unless you are willing to pay even more. Many repairs that initially seem daunting are actually pretty easy to do, even without any previous experience.
Paint Preparation
Painting is a common DIY project. It is much less expensive to do your own painting, while professional painters charge hundreds of dollars or more. While painting is a straightforward process, there are some additional steps you can take to guarantee an easier, more thorough job.
First, before you apply any paint, make sure you clean your walls. Grease, dust, and other pollutants makes it harder for the paint to bond to your walls, resulting in streaks or the paint appearing faint. All you need is a damp sponge and a dry cloth to wipe your walls down.
You can also loosen up any fixtures or remove any curtain rods or door hinges in the area you are painting. This is a quick process, only involving a screwdriver. Removing these obstacles ensure you can paint without having to awkwardly work around obstacles, leading to a more professional looking finish.
Cleaning Water Stains
Water stains are a common issue for ceilings. Many experts recommend painting over the stain, but there is an even simpler solution. If the stain is relatively new, you may be able to get rid of it by spraying the stain with a mixture of bleach and warm water. After you apply the bleach, wait a day or two.
If the stain remains or it is a much older stain, you can add mold or mildew remover to the mix. Make sure to place protective plastic underneath the stain, so the solution does not drip onto the floor.
Sticky Locks
Sticky locks are a particularly annoying problem because the keyhole is difficult to access. With sticky hinges, you can apply lubricant to solve the issue. WD-40 is a popular choice. However, for keyholes, this can make the issue worse, and attract dirt and dust along the door.
Instead, you can fix the problem with powdered graphite, which comes in a small tube. All you do is aim the nozzle into the keyhole and spray the graphite inside. This is also a good option for fixing squeaky door joints.
Clogged Toilets and Sinks
Your first instinct may be to hire a plumber to resolve a clogged toilet, but there are several solutions you can try to perform on your own. The easiest solution is to use a plunger to clear any blockages. Flanged plungers are ideal because they have a firmer seal, leading to more pressure going through the tube.
If a plunger doesn’t work, you can try to use a plumbing snake. This is a flexible length of coiled metal you can thread through the bowl and into your pipes, breaking up whatever is causing the clog.
There are similar products for other clogged drains. With sinks, you can use a barbed plastic snake to break up messes in your sink. The barbs will catch any remaining gunk, which is pulled out when you remove the snake. This is a popular solution because it doesn’t involve pouring any chemicals down the drain.
