50 Home Repair Tips We Wish We Had Known Earlier

Use superglue to hold screws in place.

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Many people struggle with installing simple screws because they tend to slip, roll, or fall. Installing these screws becomes even more difficult when you have to do it at an angle. This is where this clever superglue home repair trick comes in handy.

You can use some rubber glue, apply it to the tip of the screwdriver, and you won’t have issues with the screws slipping anymore. It’s one of the simplest tricks to keep screws from slipping from the drill. Then you can proceed with your installation, saving both time and effort.

Toothpaste can be used to simply fill nail holes.

When individuals vacate a space, they take their possessions like photos, art, and frames from the walls. As a result, when you move into that space, you might notice numerous holes in the walls. There’s no need for concern, as there is a simple home repair trick for this issue.

You can easily use some toothpaste to fill those holes. Make sure the toothpaste is white to ensure it matches your white wall color; otherwise, it won’t blend with the walls. You can also use this trick before moving out of a place to prevent losing your security deposit.

Revitalize Wooden Furniture Using Coffee Grounds

Our furniture sets the mood we desire in our home, so it’s important to maintain it properly. We’ve all accidentally spilled drinks and various other substances on our furniture. While some stains might be tough to remove, coffee grounds can be used on unfinished wood furniture.

By rubbing coffee grounds on the affected spot, your furniture will quickly regain its like-new appearance. The brown color from the coffee grounds seamlessly matches the furniture, eliminating the need for painting.

An Incredibly Easy Method to Safeguard Your Fingers When Using a Hammer

Are you worried about hitting your fingers with a hammer instead of the nail? If so, we have a simple home repair trick that will make things much easier for you. This method allows you to hammer nails without risking injury.

To do this, you can use bobby pins, clothespins, or similar items. For example, if you use a clothespin, hold the nail between the pin and start hammering. This will protect your fingers and ensure you don’t get hurt while nailing and hammering.

Soak the tiles before cutting.

If you’re considering cutting tiles soon, this home repair trick will simplify the process quickly. It will save you time, effort, and money over time, as you can easily do it at home. Start by creating a rivet or a pre-cut in the tiles. Then, measure the required amount and begin cutting. Once finished, soak the tiles in warm water for at least a few hours. This will make it easier to cut the tiles with minimal effort.

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Soap Can Easily Silence Wooden Drawers

Do you have squeaky wooden drawers at home and don’t know how to fix them? If so, this simple home repair trick could be just what you need. Soap is an excellent solution to quiet your noisy wooden drawers once and for all.

You can use a bar of soap or liquid soap, as both will work effectively on the drawers. Rub the soap along the rails of the troublesome wooden drawers for a few minutes, and you’ll see results quickly. If the noise returns, you can repeat the process.

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Struggling With Removing Old Stickers? Use A Blow Dryer!

Newly bought items often come with stickers, which can be bothersome if you want your belongings to maintain a clean and polished appearance. Attempting to remove the stickers by hand isn’t ideal since you might damage the item with residual adhesive. For this reason, we have a great DIY solution for you.

To remove stickers, try using a hairdryer on them. The heat will soften the adhesive, making the sticker easy to peel off without a trace. Once finished, your appliances will appear brand new.

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Vinegar Can Revitalize Shower-Heads

Over time, showerheads can become clogged with limescale, which slows down the water flow. If you dislike a reduced water flow from your showerhead, vinegar can help. Though it might seem unusual initially, you’ll find it remarkably effective once you try this trick.

Simply get a plastic bag and a bottle of vinegar, fill the bag halfway with vinegar, secure it around your showerhead, and leave it overnight. In the morning, remove the bag and notice how much the water flow has enhanced.

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Use Baby Powder to Finally Silence Those Noisy Floorboards

Hardwood flooring can be noisy and creaky, especially if it has been installed for a long time. Luckily, a small amount of baby powder can solve this issue and quiet your floorboards quickly. If you’re dealing with this noise problem, take a bottle of baby powder.

Once you have the powder, sprinkle it between the floorboards, as this is where the wood makes contact and causes noise. Ensure that all the gaps are filled with baby powder, and you will no longer have those loud floorboards. It’s a fast and simple solution.

Apply soap to assist screws in entering holes.

Have you ever encountered a screw that refuses to go into a wall? If so, you know how frustrating and difficult it can be. However, you can easily solve this problem by using some soap to help the screws go into the holes.

Take a bar of soap from your home and rub it over the screw. Be sure to rub all sides of the screw on the soap since it works as a lubricant. Once all sides have been rubbed with soap, try inserting the screw again, and it will slide in easily.

Using tape can simplify the process of hanging pre-drilled frames significantly.

Many people avoid using predrilled frames, though there are always exceptions. If you’re looking for an easy method to frame your pictures using predrilled frames, this trick is for you. It will help you position the nails perfectly for optimal results.

Use masking tape or artist’s tape to mark the hole positions. Then, simply place the tape on the wall to see where each nail should go. This approach will save you time and effort when installing the nails.

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Use Your Microwave to Refresh Tape That Is Not-So-Sticky

If you’ve ever dealt with tape that no longer sticks, you know how annoying it can be to use. It’s normal for tape to lose its stickiness over time. However, there’s a method you can use to restore its stickiness and make the tape usable again.

You can microwave the tape for a few seconds. This will slightly heat the tape and help its stickiness return. After trying this trick, you can use the tape effectively as it will be as sticky as when it was new.

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Use Some Ice Cube to Make Your Carpet Dents Even

We all cherish our home decor, particularly our carpets, since selecting the ideal ones involves much thought and decision-making. For this reason, seeing dents on the carpet caused by furniture can be disheartening. However, there’s no need to worry too much, as this issue can be effectively resolved.

To remove the dents from your carpet, you should place some ice cubes on them and let them melt. Afterward, absorb the excess water with a cloth and use a toothbrush to smooth out the carpet.

Utilize a Microphone to Detect Concealed Wiring

When doing drilling work at home, be careful of hidden wires, as they can cause electric shocks. There is a simple method to detect these hidden wires to prevent shocks. All you need is a functioning microphone.

To locate hidden wires in a wall, connect your microphone to a tape recorder. If the microphone is placed near a certain spot and the tape recorder hums, it indicates the presence of hidden wires. This way, you will know where to avoid drilling.

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Keep Your Paint Brushes Fresh With a Plastic Bag

If you enjoy painting walls, your paintbrushes are your most crucial tools that require proper maintenance and care. Leaving paint on the brush can cause it to harden, making future painting difficult. To prevent this, use this handy home tip to keep your brushes in good condition.

After using your paintbrush, place it inside an airtight plastic bag. The next time you take the brush out, it will be nice and soft, enabling you to paint smoothly and accurately.

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A Potato Can Help You Unscrew a Broken Light bulb

If you’ve ever attempted to remove a socket from a broken light bulb, you know how difficult it can be. Doing it incorrectly may result in the bulb shattering in your hands, causing injury. That’s where our home repair trick using a potato comes into play.

Cut a potato in half and push the soft side into the broken light bulb. Gently twist the potato counter-clockwise to remove the damaged part, and it will come out quickly. Potatoes can be used for more than just cooking.

Utilize Kool-Aid as a Method to Detect a Toilet Leak

A leaking toilet can be expensive to fix if you hire a plumber, or it can take a lot of time if you try to repair it yourself. However, you can save time, effort, and money by diagnosing the issue yourself. To do this, buy a dark-colored Kool-Aid.

Pour the Kool-Aid into the toilet tank. After half an hour, check the toilet bowl. If the water in the bowl is colored, you have a leak. If the water is clear, your toilet is in good condition.

Use coins to fill the space on a bolt that’s too narrow.

Whenever we need a bolt to get a task done, we often struggle to find one of the right size at home. However, if the bolt is too large, you can adjust it to fit your needs at the moment. All you need are some coins, which you likely have around.

Simply take a few coins and place them in the gap between the bolt and the wrench, filling it as necessary. This will eliminate any extra space, allowing you to complete your task swiftly. It’s one of the best home repair tricks for bolts.

Use magnets to locate nail holes.

We enjoy altering things in our home for some diversity and transformation. For instance, you might remove some pictures or art, but you might wish to hang them up again in the same spot. However, it may be difficult to locate the nail holes again to put the frame back in the original place.

If that’s the case, you can always use magnets to find nail holes. Rather than creating new holes, you can place a magnet on the current ones. When you’re ready to hang your frames again, you won’t need to spend hours searching for the correct holes.

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Unclog Spray Cans with Gasoline

You might already be aware of this, but companies that manufacture products on a large scale use a strategy known as planned obsolescence to shorten the lifespan of products, encouraging you to purchase them repeatedly. A typical example of this approach is a spray can. You can hear a substance inside the spray can, yet nothing comes out.

To address this problem, you can soak the nozzle of the spray can in gasoline for at least fifteen minutes. This process will clear the nozzle, allowing you to use your spray can easily once more.

Use Tape to Assist with Drilling into Tiles

Drilling can be challenging due to the constant risk of injury or damage while using it. It’s even more difficult when drilling slippery tiles in places like the kitchen or bathroom. If you plan to drill tiles, here’s the best trick you can use.

To make the drilling process slip-resistant, you’ll need some tape. Start by covering the tile with masking tape, then drill through it. This will ensure that the drill remains steady and doesn’t slip out of your hands during the process.

Use Cooking Spray to Eliminate Squeaks

If you’ve lived in one place for a long time, you’ve probably encountered squeaky doors, cabinets, windows, or drawers. If this issue keeps happening, there’s a simple home repair trick to fix it. It only takes a few seconds to resolve, so there’s no reason to put it off.

You will need some cooking spray for this, which you likely already have at home. Just grab the can and spray it on the hinges of the objects that are squeaking. The noise will disappear in seconds, allowing you to use everything without the squeaking problem.

Use a pool noodle to prevent hitting your car door in the garage.

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If your home has a garage with limited space, it’s important to know a method for parking your car without causing damage. This simple trick can help you park easily without any trouble. You’ll just need a pool noodle.

Simply attach a pool noodle to the wall that poses a risk when opening your car door. This way, the door won’t hit the wall, preventing any damage.

Use nail polish to prevent rust circles.

We all have numerous metal containers in our homes, such as spray bottles and deodorant cans. Due to the moisture in kitchens and bathrooms, these cans can develop rust on their surfaces. Rust can also leave stains on the surfaces where the containers are placed, so it’s important to remove it.

Use clear nail polish to coat the bottom of these metal containers. This will prevent rust from forming on the containers, thus avoiding rust stains on other surfaces.

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Use a Plastic Bottle to Prevent a Mess after Drilling

Drilling projects usually result in a lot of mess, especially if you are working on a high area like a ceiling, and you’ll need to spend a lot of time cleaning up afterwards. If you want to avoid covering the entire room with sheets, this trick is perfect for you.

Take a plastic bottle, cut off the top, and attach it to the drill. This way, any debris that falls during drilling will be caught by the plastic bottle, saving you from spending hours cleaning later.

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Remove Stubborn Screws with a Rubber Band

When you’re deeply involved in a DIY project, securing a firm hold on a screw can be quite difficult. Although it’s common for anyone to lose their grip, it doesn’t have to be this way. You can easily solve this issue with our favorite home repair trick that you’ll appreciate.

Place a rubber band between the screw and the screwdriver, and you’ll gain the grip necessary to work smoothly. This is one of the best hacks that many people use during their DIY projects. It will save you time and effort over time and help avoid injuries.

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Remove Old Wallpaper with a Water-Vinegar Mixture

Old wallpapers are not pleasant to look at as they begin to peel and tear in various spots. If you’d like to revitalize your room, replacing the old wallpaper with a new one is an option. However, many people find it challenging to remove wallpaper without damaging the wall.

For a flawless removal of the wallpaper, you can mix equal parts of vinegar and hot water thoroughly. Dip a roller into the mixture and roll it over your old wallpaper. This will soften the wallpaper, allowing it to come off easily without any problems in no time.

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Fix Burst or Broken Pipes with a Sealant

Keep in mind that using a sealant to repair broken pipes is just a temporary fix, but it’s the best option if you need an urgent repair. Once the emergency is over, you can always contact a professional to fix it correctly, ensuring your home’s system remains intact. The technique is simple and will only take a few minutes to complete.

All you need to do is apply some silicone sealant around the hole in the pipe. This will address the issue until you can get professional assistance to resolve it permanently.

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Prevent Doors from Slamming With Cabinet Door Bumpers

Slamming doors can be extremely irritating at home, but there’s a simple solution to eliminate this issue permanently. Using cabinet door bumpers can quickly solve the problem and stop door slams for good.

Just take a set of cabinet door bumpers and attach them to the door. That’s all it takes to cushion the impact and fix the problem. It’s one of the best quick solutions for preventing doors from slamming.

You can eliminate unwanted scratches using toothpaste.

It’s common for anyone with wooden furniture to experience occasional scratches on their lovely pieces. However, many opt for costly solutions to address the issue when it’s unnecessary. You can remedy the situation with some toothpaste without spending a lot.

Simply apply a small amount of toothpaste to the scratches and rub it with a clean cloth in circular motions. This will buff out the scratches from your wooden furniture, helping you avoid excessive spending. It’s an inexpensive, quick, and effective fix.

Use an iron on dents in wood to remove them.

Begin by taking a washcloth, soaking it, and wringing out the water to achieve the right dampness. Next, lay the washcloth over the dent. The water will spread through the wood, which is completely normal, so don’t be alarmed. Ensure your iron is ready and set to the highest heat before placing the damp washcloth. Begin with small circular motions using your iron on the washcloth. Then, press down until all the water has evaporated from the washcloth. Repeat the entire process until the dent in the wood has fully expanded back to its original position.

Nail polish can repair minor screen tears.

To repair a minor tear in your screen, you only need clear nail polish. Begin by cleaning and drying the area around the tear to avoid trapping any impurities. Then, take a thin paintbrush or the nail polish brush and gently apply a thin layer of clear nail polish over the tear. Avoid double-dipping the brush to prevent transferring pollen or dirt into the nail polish. Allow the first coat to dry, using a hairdryer on the lowest setting for faster drying. Then, apply another coat and let it dry.

Utilize Rubber Bands to Keep Doors Open

To accomplish this, you’ll need a thick rubber band rather than the usual thin ones. Begin by keeping the door open and looping the rubber band around the door handle on one side. Then, stretch the rubber band to reach the handle on the opposite side, employing the same looping method. Once the rubber band is stretched from one side to the other, make sure it runs both above and below the door’s latch. This creates a bumper effect, preventing the door from closing. If you don’t have thick rubber bands, you can use several thinner ones to achieve the same outcome.

Create a Sprinkler Using a Plastic Bottle

Take a plastic bottle, the larger the better, and ensure it’s thoroughly clean. You can rinse out any liquids by holding the bottle under running tap water. Then, use a tool with a sharp tip, like a compass or a screwdriver, to make about 12 to 14 holes at the bottom of the bottle. Attach the mouth of the bottle to your hose and secure it with electrical tape. When you turn the water on, it will fill the bottle, and the pressure will cause the holes to function like a sprinkler.

The kitchen vegetable peeler can be used as a screwdriver.

There are various tools with multiple uses that you might not have considered. One example is the vegetable peeler, a common kitchen utensil. Many vegetable peelers feature screwdriver heads, making them an excellent alternative to flathead screwdrivers. However, make sure the peeler’s handle is strong to prevent injuries. If you can’t find your flathead screwdriver, check your kitchen for a vegetable peeler.

Sharpen Scissors with Aluminum Foil

Begin by taking an 8- or 10-inch piece of aluminum foil and folding it lengthwise. Then, use scissors to cut the folded aluminum foil lengthwise as well. Ensure you cut thin strips, allowing you to use the same piece of foil multiple times. If necessary, you can use more than one piece of folded aluminum foil. Make sure each inch of the scissor blades contacts the foil by using full strokes. After completing this process, take a paper towel, dampen it with warm water, and wipe the scissors to remove any debris.

Use a Standard Pencil to Unjam a Stuck Lock

A jammed lock often needs lubrication for the key to function again. However, this should not be done with any liquid but with graphite. Although, finding graphite powder can be challenging in a pinch, you can use a graphite pencil instead to lubricate the lock. We do not suggest inserting the graphite pencil into the lock, as the pencil tip could break and create a larger problem. Instead, just rub the graphite pencil on your key, insert it into the lock, and repeat this process several times before unlocking the jammed lock.

Eliminate Snags in Woven Rugs to Restore Their Original Appearance

When removing snags from your rug, ensure that any piece you attempt to cut off with scissors is at least a half-inch long to prevent damaging the rug. Once you identify the snags, keep the scissors completely parallel to the rug and cut the snag off. Afterward, tuck the ends of the cut area into the surrounding fibers. A small amount of hot glue can be used to secure the ends in place and conceal them. For much longer snags, place masking tape on each side of the snag, creating a trench, and continue snipping and gluing.

Utilize Zip Ties to Clear Clogged Drains

For this task, you’ll need a wire cutter and several zip ties. If your zip ties are short, you can extend their length by linking two together. Keep connecting the zip ties until you have one long tool that can easily reach into the drain to unclog it. Use the wire cutter to make diagonal cuts halfway through the zip ties. Ensure these cuts face downward and alternate each cut. Next, take the slit tip and bend it outward to create a barb. Insert this extended tool into the drain and rotate it in circular and vertical motions to extract the debris. Remove it and repeat the process until all the debris is cleared.

Use Cat Litter to Eliminate Oil Stains

If a new oil stain has appeared on your driveway, act quickly before it sets; grab some cat litter right away and get to work. First, completely cover the oil stain with a layer of cat litter and let it rest for at least 30 minutes. For smaller stains, 30 minutes should suffice. If the stain is large, you might want to leave the cat litter on the oil stain overnight. Then, sweep it all up and take some detergent and a bristle brush. Start scrubbing the detergent into the oil stain while applying pressure. Rinse off the detergent with water. Repeat the entire process if needed.

Use Tape to Measure the Depth of Holes

To determine the depth of holes using tape, you’ll require masking tape and a drill bit or machine. Cut a long piece of masking tape and wrap it around the drill bit. Ensure there is enough room for the drill bit to create a hole in the material. Additionally, make sure the masking tape wrapped around the drill bit is thick enough to be noticeable once it reaches the material. After drilling the hole, measure the distance from the drill tips to where the masking tape starts.

Utilize a small magnet to hold nails securely in place.

People often find it hard to hold both a hammer and nails when trying to hang something, which is why you often see nails held in people’s mouths. However, this can be dangerous. An effective solution is to attach a small magnet to the bottom of your hammer to keep the nails in place. This method works best with hammers that have wooden handles. First, drill a small cavity at the base of the hammer to fit a tiny magnet. Then, apply a small amount of super glue into the cavity and carefully insert the magnet. Once the magnet is secured, you’ll be ready to use it.

Use foil to line your trays with paint.

When working on roller painting your walls using a paint tray, a useful tip is to line the paint tray with aluminum foil. This makes cleaning up simpler since the paint will dry on the foil instead of on the tray itself. Thus, the foil serves as an excellent and effective protector for the paint tray. Begin by cutting a piece of aluminum foil that is slightly larger than your tray. Drape it over the tray and press down to mold the foil to the shape of the tray. Secure it by folding the excess foil over the edges of the tray.

Use a Few Rubber Bands to Remove Extra Paint

Ensure you have a few thick and long rubber bands ready when working on a painting project. These rubber bands will assist you in removing extra paint from your paintbrush, allowing the excess to drop directly back into the paint can. Take a rubber band and stretch it around your paint can, starting at the top and carefully wrapping it around the bottom. Make sure to perform this step cautiously to prevent any spills. Then, take the paintbrush that needs excess paint removed and wipe it against the rubber band.

Silence Noisy Pipes by Shutting Off the Water

If you’re someone who has trouble dealing with consistently noisy and loud pipes, we have a great temporary solution for you. Loud and unruly pipes shouldn’t be underestimated, as they can easily disturb the peace at home and disrupt your focus and concentration. Not to mention, it’s a big hassle dealing with noisy pipes when you’re trying to sleep. The problem comes up when trying to figure out which specific pipe is causing the issue. Therefore, a good way to address the problem is to turn off the main water supply in your home when you know the water won’t be needed.

Unclog a Toilet Using Liquid Soap and Water

First, measure a gallon of water and place it on the stove to heat. Before it reaches a boil, add your liquid soap. Once the water is very hot, remove it from the heat and carefully pour it into your clogged toilet. Make sure to remove the water from the heat before it boils. Wait for about 10 to 15 minutes to let the hot water and liquid soap break down the clog. Then flush to make sure the pipe is completely clear.

Use Newspapers to Plan Your Gallery Wall

Using a newspaper, you can effortlessly design the layout of your gallery wall and create a template to ensure you’re happy with the setup. Begin by placing a frame over the newspaper and tracing its outline with a black marker. Then, remove the frame, cut out the traced shape, and label it with the number you’ve assigned to that particular frame. Once you’ve done this with each frame, use painter’s tape to attach the newspaper cutouts to the wall. The painter’s tape allows you to remove the paper without damaging the wall’s paint.

Use plastic tubes to silence the noise made by fan chains.

It doesn’t matter if your fan is perfectly level; the air movement caused by the fan could make the pull chains touch the fan, resulting in a very irritating noise. You can fix this problem and stop the noise by using a plastic tube. First, turn off your fan and carefully remove the fan chains. Next, take a plastic tube with a quarter-inch diameter and slide your fan chains inside it. Then, reattach the fan chains to the fan and enjoy your quiet airflow.

Use a Rope to Quiet Water Drips in Gutters

Noisy gutters can quickly become bothersome. These noises are typically caused by water dripping inside them, and this problem can be easily fixed using a nylon rope. Begin by securing one end of the nylon rope at the top of the gutter’s downspout and letting it hang down. When the water encounters the nylon rope, it will follow the rope as a path through the gutter, thereby eliminating the dripping noise. Next, place a sponge in the corners of the downspout to soak up the water drips.

Use a mixture of baking soda and vinegar to unclog the sink.

A mixture of baking soda and vinegar offers an effective method for clearing a blocked sink, and these items are commonly found in most kitchens. Start by boiling some water and pouring it down the clogged sink. Next, prepare a solution using one cup each of baking soda and vinegar, resulting in a solution totaling two cups. Pour this mixture into the drain and cover the sink’s drain. Let it sit for 5 to 10 minutes, then boil more water. After the time has passed and the water is boiling, pour it into the drain. This will trigger a bubbling reaction that helps to unclog your sink.