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Handy tips
 To remove old
wallpaper, first pull off as much as you can, then soak the
remaining with Fleecy. It will peel off easily.
After
wallpapering or painting, write the amount under a light-switch
plate and you’ll always know how much wallpaper or paint you
need for that room.
If you have a
small hole in your wall (after moving pictures etc.) take a wax
crayon as near the colour of your wall as possible. Rub the hole
with the crayon, polish with a dry cloth and the hole is
invisible.
Clean out old
nail polish bottles and fill with “touch up” paint for scuffs
and scratches that may occur on your walls.
When hanging
pictures on plaster walls, put a small piece of adhesive tape
where the nail is to go in. Drive the nail through the tape.
This helps prevent the plaster from cracking.
Before
wallpapering a wall, apply a coat of clear varnish to any grease
spots. This will prevent the grease from soaking through the new
paper.
Instead of
applying wallpaper with a sponge, dip a paint roller in the
solution, squeeze slightly to prevent dripping and roll it over
20-30 sq. feet at a time.
Buy stair
carpeting a little longer than needed. When it shows signs of
wear it can be shifted downward to delay replacement.
To avoid wearing
out spots on heavy traffic areas, use extra pieces of material
cut out of the same material as the rug or linoleum.
If your kitchen
cupboards have worn out or if there are scuff marks around the
handles, remove handles and glue on tiles to cover the scuffs.
Replace handles over the tiles. This adds an interesting colour
accent and saves replacing or refinishing the doors.
When a drain is
clogged with grease, pour a cup of salt and a cup of baking soda
into the drain, followed by a kettle of boiling water.
If your water
taps have a tendency to freeze during a cold spell, leave your
taps on slightly. Running water will not freeze.
Frozen water
pipes can safely and easily be thawed out by using an ordinary
hair dryer nozzle directed at the frozen pipe.
To tighten
cane-bottomed chairs, turn them upside down and liberally apply
hot water to the underside. Dry the chairs in the sun.
When sanding or
refinishing, cover your hand with an old nylon stocking. Glide
your hand over the surface to be redone. Any rough areas will
snag the stocking where more sanding needs to be done.
To restore odour
to an old cedar chest or closet, sandpaper lightly. This reopens
pores in the wood to restore breathing.
Spring-type
clothespin are useful as clamps to hold lightweight glued
materials together.
To find a wall
stud, hold a pocket compass level with the floor and at a right
angle to the wall. Slowly move it along the surface of the wall.
Movement of the compass will indicate the presence of nails and
reveal stud location.
You always have a
measuring tape in your pocket -- a dollar bill is exactly six
inches long and just short of three inches wide.
Stop drawers from
sticking by running a candle along the tops.
Use nonstick
vegetable spray to lubricate squeaky hinges and sticky locks.
Loosen rusted
nuts or bolts with a few drops of ammonia or peroxide.
To help remove
stubborn nuts and bolts, pour on some cola soft drink.
You can retrieve
a broken key by putting some strong metal adhesive on the handle
and holding it to the part stock in the lock. Hold it there
until the glue has set. When it holds, pull out the key. Do not
use the key again.
Four or five
mothballs in your toolbox will keep the tools from rusting. |
