Quick Fixes and Home Improvement Skills Every Adult Should Know

  

To be part of a well-functioning place to call home, you have to be able to fix damages/ breakage or should know how to make them alright by hiring a professional home maintenance service.

Today we want to discuss some simple house maintenance activities every adult should master so they can manage their homes in good condition without spending much.

Unclog a smelly and blocked drain

Blocked drains can be cleared with the following easy technical method. First, remove the stopper by loosening the horizontal rod that goes into the drain pipe. Now bend a piece of stiff wire to make a hook, and use it to locate and fish out the clog. A wad of hair and soap scum near the top of the drain can be easily removed this way without applying any chemicals.

If the drain is still clogged, you can unclog it naturally using household items. Pour quarter to half a cup of alkaline baking soda onto the drain. Add one cup of white vinegar after 20 minutes. The acidic vinegar and the alkaline soda generate a chemical reaction resulting in the release of oxygen which will be forced into the mix and scour the drain pipe. Finally when the chemical reaction is over, pour enough boiling water into the drain to flush it clean.

The baking soda-vinegar method is environment-friendly and the cheapest cleaning idea you can ever try. This way you can also avoid using harsh chemicals that may leave odours and residue in your sinks.

Precautions while hanging wall art and mirrors

The wall art or a mirror can enhance your home decor by highlighting a focal point or an architectural detail.

You can easily learn how to hang up artwork or mirrors properly in their right place. Here are some safety measures to be observed to display them properly without damaging the walls.

First of all check and find out if it’s a masonry wall or a cavity wall. You should be more careful with cavity walls, which can conceal all manner of pipes and electric cables.

Also, never drill directly above or below light switches or plug sockets because you’re sure to find electric cables there. Take precaution using an electronic tester, which can detect electric current and the metal of a pipe behind the wall.

How to manage patching holes in the wall

Normally people have a tendency to ignore holes in a wall. Patching holes is not a difficult task if you read the hints given below.

Lightweight spackle dabbed on with a fingertip and a damp rag is all you need to plug pinholes in your home’s walls.  When it dries, touch up with an artist brush and a little leftover paint. Wipe off all excess spackle surrounding the hole.  For textured walls, you can apply the spackle with a toothpick so it won’t spread beyond the hole and spoil the texture.

To patch a big hole in drywall, you need some expertise in handling tools. Attempt the DIY procedures only if you are ok with that.

Set a screw that won’t stop turning

We know it’s frustrating to see a stripped screw that spins and spins endlessly without getting tightened. Of course, there are a few ways to deal with the screw that just spins in place.

Remove the stripped screw and try using a wider screw if it fits with the hinge so you can fix a wobbly cabinet door. If the hinge allows the small screw only, then stuff the screw hole with wooden toothpicks coated in wood glue. Once the glue is dried, cut the protruding extra portion of the toothpick with a knife. Now you can easily tighten the screw which won’t spin again.

These DIY home improvement skills that everyone should know how to do are brought to you by the training department of Select Cleaning, New Zealand's most reliable home cleaning service.

Use Natural Cleaning Products When You Do DIY Home Cleaning

Important Household Items You Should Not Clean with Vinegar

When it comes to home cleaning our precious goods and belongings, we do not like harsh chemical cleaning products. They do more harm than good. Opting for natural ingredients are not only a smart choice but economical as well. 

When it comes to home cleaning, we have vinegar stored in our kitty. It is cheap and good at cleaning stubborn stains. However, most of us are not aware of the fact that vinegar is intensely acidic in nature. Using it at home everywhere is not a wise idea. 

Given below are some of the places where you should NOT use vinegar for your home cleaning needs:

• Marble and Granite Tops- The acid in vinegar etches natural stone. If you need to get rid of a stain or mark, use a gentle liquid dish detergent with lukewarm water.
• Floor tiles made of stone- Like marble and granite countertops, using vinegar on stone tiles is not a good idea. Its acidic content will mar the appearance of your stone tiles. When you are looking for home cleaners for floors made of stone tiles, avoid vinegar, lemon and ammonia at all costs. Check the cleaning agents you buy and ensure you invest in special soaps or dish detergents formulated for cleaning stone tiles on the floor all the time.
• Egg stains or spills- When you drop or spill egg on the floor, never clean the area with vinegar. The acidic content in vinegar will coagulate the egg making it hard to remove.
• Irons- Never use vinegar to clean your iron. It will damage its internal parts. Do not pour vinegar to clean or make your iron fresh. In order to keep your irons from clogging, you should completely empty them and follow all the cleaning instructions specified by its manufacturer.
• Floors made of hardwood- There is a huge debate on whether to use vinegar on hardwood floors or not. Some users claim that it works wonders on removing stains while some say it damages the finish. We advise you to only opt for hardwood floor cleaners available in the market. They are safe. If you still wish to take a risk with vinegar, try diluting it with water and test a spot before covering the whole room.
• Stubborn marks and stains- There are some stubborn marks and stains caused by ice-cream, grass, blood etc that never can be removed with vinegar. They do not respond well to the acid in the liquid. It is prudent for you to opt for special stain or mark removers intended for ice-cream, blood, grass etc when you need to tackle with them.

Some Other Handy Cleaning Tips

Red wine stains: Wonder how to remove red wine stains on your costly carpets? You can use salt effectively to clean all traces of red wine from the carpet. Sprinkle some salt over the wine spill and wait for a few minutes. The salt will absorb the wine easily; then dust off the salt with a brush or cotton cloth.

Pet hair: While you can't prevent the hair from sticking to surfaces, you can minimise the amount. Brush your pets regularly with a good grooming tool and catch shedding hair. You can also use rubber gloves to remove pet hair. Wear wet gloves and run your hands over the surface of the furniture and also on the floors to easily pick up the fallen pet hairs.

Call Professional Home Cleaners for Better Result

For very stubborn marks, stains and dirt, we are here to help you get great results. We are a professional cleaning company having services at Hamilton, Wellington Tauranga, Auckland and Christchurch. 

Bank on us for getting a clean and fresh home at affordable rates. Our cleaners are trained experts and have the experience to tackle any small or big home cleaning task with dedication. So, if you are looking for daily, weekly or monthly home cleaners, feel free to email us or call us now on 0800 000 907.