5 Secrets Weapons for DIY Home Maintenance Projects
Do-It-Yourself
Is there a home maintenance project that’s been lingering on your to-do list for too long because you’re dreading the trip to the hardware or craft store? There are some projects you can tackle with items that are almost certainly already in your home.
- Vinegar: There’s probably a jug of vinegar in your pantry right now. You can soak items in vinegar to remove mineral deposits (like in a clogged showerhead), and you can boil vinegar in your microwave to remove odors and make it easier to clean.
- Cola: A can of Coke or Pepsi can be used to clean many surfaces, including your glass windows, porcelain toilet, or chrome fixtures. Just do some research before using it on metal surfaces, as it can be corrosive.
- Baking soda: This item may actually be more useful for applications other than baking. A baking soda-vinegar paste is great for cleaning bathrooms and kitchens. Baking soda can also be used to absorb odors.
- Butter knife: Screwdrivers are easy to misplace. If can’t find a screwdriver when you need one, a butter knife—preferably an older one that you no longer need for the table—is pretty effective for both Phillips- and flat-head screws.
- Toothpaste: Is there an unsightly scratch on your car or bike? The grit in tarter-control toothpastes makes for an effective scratch remover. Clean the scratch, apply some toothpaste, let it sit for a few minutes, and then buff it out with paper towel.
Do You Really Want to Do-It-Yourself?
We all have those home maintenance projects that we refuse to pay someone else do and because of this those projects just sit there. Other projects are just bigger than we thought and we soon realize that we have bitten off more than we can chew. In these situations it can be better just to hire a professional and get the job done by someone who is trained in their area of expertise.
Do Your Research
There is nothing worse than hiring a contractor to do a home maintenance project and getting inferior work. Do your research on your potential contractor before you hire them. Referrals from friends and previous customers can be one of the best ways to find a good contractor, but sometimes you may not know anyone that has used a contractor for the type of work you need done. In this scenario, you can do web searches and look up customer reviews or visit websites that refer and rate potential contractors. This can give you a good gauge of the quality of work you can expect from a prospective contractor. It is also recommended that you verify that any contractor you hire is licensed and insured in your state and is in good standing. And of course never pay your contractor in full up-front, and never pay the balance until you have reviewed the work that has been done.
