Do It Yourself Simple Repairs

You can save money with these simple fixes!

Treatment for a scratched wood floor.  For minor scratches, crayons will do the trick. Pick a color that matches the flooring, and color in the scratched area. Be sure to stay in the lines; then buff to a shine. A matching permanent marker can camouflage deeper, ugly scratches. Another method: Grind the meat of a walnut or pecan into the scratch. The nut oil will provide a shine that blends with a polyurethane or water-based surface finish.

Pennywise way to unclog a drain.  For a balky drain, try dropping three Alka-Seltzer tablets down the sink followed by a cup of white vinegar. After about 15 minutes, you can clear the drain with boiling water. Do not attempt this trick immediately after using a commercial drain opener like Drano or Liquid-Plumr.

You’ve stripped a screw. Now what do you do? Using a hacksaw, cut into the top of the screw to create a new groove for the screwdriver.

Clean up your walls . . . with toothpaste. Patch small holes using a putty knife or butter knife to smooth non-gel toothpaste into the hole. Sand the spot to smooth the surface. To erase crayon marks from walls, grab toothpaste (again, non-gel) and a scrub brush; then, just wipe until the marks are gone.

Curious to know how much your home is worth? Call me for a FREE Comparative Market Analysis!  Laura Key 310.866.8422