Times are tight. Rising energy bills, gas prices, food. We’re sure we’re not the only ones tightening our belts this year and trying to save some money.
A great way to cut down on your household expenses is by rolling up your sleeves and tackling some of those minor problems yourselves rather than calling out a tradesperson. You’d be surprised at how easy it is to deal with some of these common household annoyances.
Blocked Drains
If the water in your sink, bath or shower is draining slowly, you hear a gurgling sound coming from the drain or you start to smell an unpleasant smell coming from the plughole, it sounds like you’ve got a blocked drainpipe.
Before you spend money calling in the professionals, there are a few hacks you can try first to see if the blockage will dislodge.
First, try pouring boiling water down the drain to see if that’ll do the trick. Next, you can try pouring a mixture of baking soda and vinegar down and leaving it for 5 minutes, before pouring boiling water down. For trickier blockages, try using the plunger or making a DIY drain snake with a wire hanger. These tips should have your blocked drains sorted in no time.
Drafty Rooms
No one wants a chilly house. And with energy bills rising, we don’t want to waste money trying to heat drafty rooms.
Use an old pair of tights to make a DIY draft excluder for stopping drafts coming in under doors. Simply cut one leg and stuff it with filling such as cushion stuffing or old rags. Then, tie up the end, and voila!
For drafty windows, apply bubble wrap to the inside of the window. This will help stop heat escaping while allowing light to come through. You could also use plastic film and double-sided tape for the same effect.
Leaky Taps
Drip…drip…drip. How frustrating. And a waste of water! Fixing a leaky tap is easy once you know how. Most leaky taps are caused by worn-out washers, which are cheap and easy to replace. You can find them at your local hardware store.
First, turn off your water supply. Turn on the tap to drain any remaining water. Remove the tap head. Using a spanner, undo the head gear nut and remove the head gear. Take out the old washer and replace it with the new one, before putting the tap back together.
Creaking Floorboards
If you’ve got a creaky floorboard, all you need to do is sprinkle a generous amount of baby powder onto the problem board and sweep it down the cracks. This should stop the creaking, which is usually caused by the boards rubbing together.
Hard Water Build Up
Have your taps and showerheads seen better days? Are they caked with limescale? Instead of having them replaced, make them good as new by using a lemon. Cut a lemon in half and press it to the tap or showerhead. You can fix it there using a small plastic bag and a rubber band. Leave it for a couple of hours and let the citric acid break down the limescale. Afterwards, you can gently scrub away the build-up with a rough sponge. No harsh chemicals. No mess. No fuss.
Cracked Tiles
If you’ve got a small crack in a tile, you can fill it easily using mixed epoxy adhesive and a small paintbrush. Just paint in the crack and, once dried, wipe off any excess. You can paint over it to conceal any marks.
Scratched Glass Furniture
Easily disguise scratched glass furniture using some toothpaste. Clean and dry the surface, then apply some toothpaste to the scratch and gently rub it in with a gloved fingertip. Once it’s dry, gently buff the surface with a clean cloth.
Squeaky Door
A squeaky door, like creaking floorboards, can really start to get on your nerves. It’s likely because your door hinges need oiling. All you need for this is a little olive oil, which you should hopefully have in your pantry. Apply a few drops of oil to your door hinge and the squeak should disappear.
Couch Fabric Stains
You can use baking soda to easily remove fabric stains from your couch and other upholstery. It’s simple. Sprinkle baking soda onto the fabric where the stain is and let it sit for 20 minutes to an hour. Then, using the brush attachment on your vacuum, clean off the baking soda. Add a little dish soap and vinegar to some warm water and, taking a clean cloth, dip it in the solution and gently rub the stain. Leave it to dry.
We hope these tips will help you deal with some of those minor household problems and – hopefully – save some money into the bargain! Let us know how you get on.
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