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Topics: Home Improvement |
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| 33 Clever Home Improvement Tips (This Old House) |
Submitted by:
Tip Hero 07/15/2009 2:04 PM
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This Old House asked their readers to submit their best DIY home improvement trade secrets. The result is 33 Clever, Time-Saving, Money-Saving Reader Tips.
These were some of our favorites:
1. Fix a Flat Tire
"My old wheelbarrow had a flat, but the bolts were rusted on and the replacement was expensive. So I drilled a hole in the tire and sprayed expanding foam insulation inside until it was full. This fix won't last forever, but it's made it through one season so far."
—Art Papayanopulos, Huntington, N.Y.
9. Stop Water with Bread
"I'd cut some water lines under the sink, but a valve got stuck and they kept leaking a steady dribble of water, which prevented me from soldering. The plumber I called in (at emergency rates) asked for a slice of bread. He tore off the crust, rolled it up, and stuck it inside the line. It stopped the flow long enough for him to solder the pipes before it dissolved and washed away. This tip cost me $130 and a slice of bread."
—Jerry Schlegel, Indianapolis
15. Note the Paint Color
"Keep the paint names for each room handy by writing each name on a piece of tape and sticking it behind the light-switch cover plate."
—Robert Socha, Green Lake, Wis.
21. Remove Paint with Oil
I've used canola or corn oil rather than mineral spirits to clean oil-based paint off my skin. It works great, washes off with soap and water, and moisturizes my hands, too!
—Geoffrey G. Bell, Duluth, Minn.
24. Locate Studs Fast
A contractor at my workplace uses an inexpensive stud finder made by tying a string to a cow magnet, the really powerful kind that's fed to cattle to keep barbed wire and other metal out of their systems. You dangle the magnet next to the wall and it sticks to any nearby nails or screws.
—Marie Clark, Baltimore
30. Unclog Hairy Drains
After our bathtub became clogged with dog hair, I snaked the drain but without success. So my wife gave it a spray of Nair hair remover. Fifteen minutes later the drain worked better than it had in months!
—Craig Brouillette, Woonsocket, R.I.
Read more: 33 Clever, Time-Saving, Money-Saving Reader Tips
Note: Do you have any clever tricks of your own? We would love to hear about them. Please share them below.
Homepage photo credit: Robert S. Donovan |
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