The DIY Renter's Guide to Fixing Up Your Place
There are always little inconveniences that always happen when you need them the least (but really, when do we need them?) Sometimes when emergency occurs, you do not have time to wait around. So instead of waiting for your landlord or the handy man to do the job, you can roll up those sleeves and learn how to handle these common repairs yourself without dangerous tools or complicated instructions. Your home is one of the most expensive things you will ever pay for, that’s why you should take good care of it. You may think some home repairs are out of your league, but most of the home repairs can be done with little to no experience. Here are just a few tips on the easy fixes you can do yourself without calling in an expert:
Clogged drains
Hair or greasy grime causes most clogged drains. Before you call a plumber to unclog a toilet, there are two things you should try. The first is a plunger, the second one a drain snake clog remover from you are nearest bargain shop, simply slip it into your drain, twist and pull out the clog. This sometimes can work better and faster than dissolving chemicals, plus it is much safer for the environment and your health. A bonus is that it is reusable!
Tools/materials you'll need:
Toilet plunger
Snake clog remover
Prevent is better than cure
Prevent you drain from getting clogged for the next time: use a screen or drain grate to cover the drains opening by this you can minimise problems with hair and soap scum or scrubs. Most filters and screens can be simply laid in place. Another way is to run one cup of vinegar let this sit for 30 minutes and pour hot water through the sink after each use, this keeps oils in food products running down, rather than building up on the interior surface of pipes.
Stuck windows
Windows stick for variety of reasons, can be cause by paint that is stuck between the frame or the channels need to be cleaned and lubricant. Unsticking a window requires the right technique and a little muscle. Silicone spray lubricant will grease the skids, spray into a rag, after wipe along the tracks, whether they are metal or wood.
Tools/materials you'll need:
Silicone spray – Lubricant
Stains & Moulds Your stainless steel is covered with watermarks or stains. Forget about pricey products specifically designed for stainless, and grab your WD-40 Multi use Lubricant from the utility closet. It will remove and repel fingerprints, watermarks, and stains. Just be sure to wipe away excess with a cloth.
Mould can be very bad especially when it grows undetected in your home, it also spread easily, not only is mould problem difficult to fix but mould can also produce irritations that may compromise your health. So the best approach is to prevent mould before it becomes a problem. It is
simple: control moisture. Dry wet areas immediately, mould cannot grow without moisture, so tackle wet areas right away. Also improve air flow in your home, with good air flow and fresh air this will reduce moisture and keep mould away.
Tools/materials you'll need:
WD-40 Multi use Lubricant for marks/ Dettol Mould & Mildew Remover
Wipe
Dealing with doors
Sticking or binding doors can sometimes cause noise because they put extra pressure on the hinges. If your door announces anyone entering of leaving the room, you might silence them with a little lubricant. By covering the area under the door with cloth than apply lubricant to the hinges. After this step try to open and close the door to work the oil into the parts of the hinge.
Tools/materials you'll need:
WD- 40 Lubricant
Cloth
Smelly washing machine
A musty smell caused by your washing machine? Here is a quick way to cure the odour ad keep things smelling fresh. First step is to run a cycle wash with a special mould-killing tablet this means spinning your washing machine without any clothes at a high temperature to get rid of the mould and bacteria, clean the rubber seal around the door hole, doing this can help prevent the build-up of bacteria. By leaving the door and the drawer open to promote drying, this allows air to circulate and helps prevent growth of mould.
Tools/materials you'll need:
Mould killing tablet
Cloth
The common sense is helpful when it comes to home repairs, but so does a little knowledge, always make sure to do research and find out the step-by-step instructions and advice for doing all of them yourself.
