Did you know the majority of Americans wished they learned more practical skills in school? If you want to learn about home repair skills, we can help.
In this guide, we’ll go over home repair tasks you can complete on your own without hiring help.
Want to learn more? Keep reading.
1. Turn off the Water Supply
The main water valve in your home will control the water supply. You don’t have to adjust it for an overflowing toilet. Turn the valve off behind the toilet.
In an emergency like a burst pipe or leak, you’ll need to turn off all the water in your home.
To find your main water supply, search for the water meter. You might find the valve on the side of your house, in the garage, or the basement.
2. Clear a Clogged Drain
Sometimes, a kitchen sink can get clogged from food or other debris. Pick up a secondary plunger that you keep on hand for clearing out clogged sinks.
If this doesn’t work, consider using vinegar and baking soda to clear any debris from the drain.
3. Clean Your Dryers and Front-Load Washers
You might not think about cleaning the appliances that wash your clothes. Yet, for your washer to do a proper job, you’ll want to clean it out. Otherwise, your clothes could come out smelling moldy.
Front-load washers can become a breeding ground for mildew and mold because they don’t dry after a load. Clean your front-load washer at least once a month.
It’s a straightforward process. Set your washer to a hot and long cleaning cycle. Mix two cups of vinegar with a quarter cup of baking soda.
After the cycle is complete, grab a sponge and some water. Wipe the rubber seal and the inside of the drum.
Dryer maintenance is simple as well. You will need to clear out the dryer vent after each load. You should also clean out the dryer duct.
Unplug your dryer and look for lint inside the duct. You can vacuum it up or replace the duct.
4. Re-Caulk Your Bathroom
Showers will hold a lot of moisture. Mildew and mold tend to grow there from time to time. Sometimes, the caulking will need to get replaced.
Remove old caulk with a sharp tool. Use vinegar or mineral oil. Tape the area that you want to caulk, so the caulk goes to the right spot.
Use your caulking gun and apply it to the area that you need to replace. Use an ice cube or gloved finger to smooth it over.
5. Clean Out the Garbage Disposal Clean Out the Garbage Disposal
Do you notice a nasty smell coming from your sink? Kitchen sinks don’t get the attention they need.
Remove the odor by pouring half a cup of baking soda down the sink. Follow that with a half cup of vinegar on either side of the sink.
Let it sit and finish a few other chores. Make sure you put the stopper on so foam doesn’t spread beyond the disposal. After a few minutes, you’ll want to flush the area with hot water.
Are you noticing that the smell persists? Try a few different methods like ice and vinegar or citrus peels.
6. Clean Your Dishwasher
It’s typical for grease and food to leave a residue throughout your dishwasher. Yet the residue can leave your dishes smelly and dirty.
Give yourself time each month to clean it. All you need is to run your dishwasher once with a cup of vinegar.
Pour the cup of vinegar in a dishwasher safe container. Leave the container on the top rack and run your dishwasher. On a regular basis, make sure to clear food out from the drain as well.
7. Clean the Gutters
Gutters collect and direct the flow of water from your house’s foundations and roof.
Gutters will get clogged with debris or leaves and won’t function well. Over time, clogged gutters can rot, cause foundational damage, or become a home for animals.
You should clear out the gutters with a wet-dry vac, your hands, or a leaf blower throughout the year.
If you don’t feel comfortable using a ladder, get an attachment for your leaf blower. This way, you can complete the task but not have to get up on a ladder.
Did you notice some of your shingles are missing and causing a leak? Learn what to do about a roof leak.
8. Fix a Hole in Your Wall
Holes, dings, and scrapes can occur from time to time. Moving furniture or rehanging pictures can cause these little holes.
You can use a quick-drying spackle on a little hole or ding to fill in the hole. Sand the area over and cover it with touch-up paint. If you have a bigger hole, you can pick up a patch kit at your local hardware store.
9. Try Replacing Light Fixtures
Shiny silver, brushed nickel, and brass can go in and out of style. If you want to update the fixture or if it’s broken and needs to get replaced, complete this task on your own.
First, you’ll need to shut the power off to the fixture. You won’t need to complete any rewiring. You’ll need to match connections and secure it to the ceiling.
Now You Know More About Home Repair
We hope this guide on home repair tasks was helpful. Pick up a couple of tools so you can fix some problems at home without calling in a professional.
Don’t forget to keep browsing our other helpful resources on health, fitness, and more.
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