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Those Annoying Squeaky Floors:
A squeaky floor is one of those problems we might endure for years, cringing each time the tell tale "sqeeek" echoes through the house. Ironically, this is one of the easiest things to fix. If the squeak exists only in the flooring, try applying some powdered graphite into the seams. In most cases, once it works its way in, the annoying sound will stop. If, however the floor has too much give or movement, drive flooring nails or screws into the floor and fill the hole with wax wood filler. Use screws designed especially for this purpose. Once in place, the heads break off so as not to be exposed.
If you have access to the underside of the floor, check for spaces between the subfloor and floor joists. It helps if someone is walking on the squeaky part of the floor while you watch from below. Once you identify the spot, apply glue to both sides of a shim and tap into the gap.
Unclog a Bathroom Sink:
Unscrew the ball and socket that connects the assembly at the back of the sink, pull out the long rod and remove the stopper. Whatever is clogging the drain will likely come out with the stopper. Clean all the parts and reassemble.
Scratches in Woodwork:
Short of sanding down your furniture and restaining, hide small scratches by applying a coat of Briwax or another polishing substance used to make fine scratches disappear.
Make Set Screws Stay Tight:
Set screws are found everywhere from toilet paper holders to door knobs and for some reason those little screws like to loosen up every chance they get. Applying some locktight adhesive to the screw will prevent it from loosening with repeated use, but will unscrew if need be. If the threads on the screw are stripped, wind cotton thread clockwise around the screw before reinserting.
Mask Unpleasant Odors:
Once you have identified the source of a musty or other foul smelling odor, it may still linger in the carpets and furniture. Place a few drops (use sparingly) of vanilla extract on the furnace filter and wait for the blower to send the fresh scent all through the house. This is a great tip if you're house is for sale and constantly being shown off to prospective buyers.
Loose Chair Legs:
Nothing is more embarrassing, or potentially painful, than if you or one of your guests falls off a chair because of a loose leg. When gluing the chair back together, make certain to scrape off the old glue from the stretcher (the long piece that runs between the front and back legs). Apply a slow-setting carpenters glue, clamp the legs, clean up any excess glue and let dry overnight.
Noisy Bathroom Fan:
Although the constant vibrating of a noisy bathroom fan sounds serious, it's usually caused by the rattling of a loose cover. After switching off the circuit breaker, try taking off the fan cover and bending the spring loaded hinges so they grip tighter to the ceiling. Vacuum the inside of the fan to remove any excess dust from the fan blades and motor.
Loose Counter top:
It's time to finally repair that annoying flap of laminate counter top that you're forever rubbing against every time you walk by. In fact, it's such an easy fix, you'll wonder why you waited so long. Get an iron or a blow dryer to heat the laminate and soften the glue. Press it down and give it a few whacks with a rubber mallet. If all you have is a hammer handy, cushion the blow with a block of wood. Weigh down the laminate overnight with some books or other heavy object, or for side fixes, use a C-clamp.
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