13 Quick Fixes to Make Around Your House

Fifteen-minute projects that won’t put a dent in your weekend.

1/ Squeaky Door Hinges

Spray a little WD-40 onto the hinges, moving the door

back and forth to work in the lubricant. Or try rubbing

the hinges with petroleum jelly.If these tricks don’t work,

lift the hinge pins about halfway and lubricate them with

three-in-one oil, using a rag to catch drips.

2/ Squeaky Floors

For a temporary fix, sprinkle talcum powder over the noisy

area and sweep it into the cracks. Be sure to remove any traces

of powder if you’re ever going to refinish the floor.

4/ Worn Canning

A little sagging over time is natural but reversible. To tighten caning

back up, use a sponge to wet the underside with warm water. Let dry

slowly overnight. Repeat if necessary.

5/ Dusty Chandelier

Allow the fixture to cool. Wear a pair of white cotton gloves―one dry,

one dampened with glass cleaner. (For crystal, use one part rubbing

alcohol to three parts distilled water.) Wipe each prism with the damp

glove, then the dry one.

6/ Stained Tub

Combine equal amounts of cream of tartar and baking soda with

enough lemon juice to make a paste. Rub the mixture into the stain

with your fingers or a soft cloth. Let sit for a half hour, then rinse well

with water.

7/ Stuck Sliding Window

A little silicone spray lubricant (sold at hardware stores) will grease the skids.

Spray it onto a rag, then wipe along the tracks, whether they’re metal, wood,

or plastic.

8/ Hard to Removal Decals

9/ Slamming Door

Soften the slam of a door by affixing a few pieces of peel-and-stick foam weather

stripping around the doorstop. Or get a wide rubber band and wrap it around the

doorknobs on both sides, stretching it across the edge of the door. Don’t cover the

latch.

10/ Hard-to-Remove Lightbulbs

Press the center of a foot-long strip of duct tape onto the middle of the bulb. Fold

each loose end in half so it sticks onto itself. Gripping each end between your thumb

and index finger, give a counterclockwise twist to loosen the bulb.

11/ Dry Cutting Board

Revive your board by gently warming a bottle of pure mineral oil (available at drugstores)

in a bowl of hot water, then wiping the oil onto the surface with a soft cloth. Wipe off the

excess four to six hours later.

12/ Flatten Down Cushions/Pillows

Put them outside in the sun for a few hours, flipping them halfway through. (Be careful―

leaving them out too long may fade the fabric.) The sun will help evaporate the moisture

that gets into the filling over time, and the cushions should plump up nicely.

13/ Dirty Decanter

Fill the decanter halfway with hot water, a few drops of liquid dishwashing soap, two tablespoons of

white vinegar, and a cup of uncooked rice. Swirl the rice around for a few minutes to remove the residue,

rinse with hot water, and air-dry.

Courtesy of REAL SIMPLE, Adam Bluestein