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Showing posts with label Home Maintenance. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Home Maintenance. Show all posts

Keeping your Closet Clean



Keeping your Closet Clean 


The closet is a part of your home that is easily capable of becoming overwhelmingly cluttered and dirty without a lot of work. Keeping your closet completely organized is truly essential to making sure that it stays clean and healthy. Here are some tips that are going to help you keep your closet clean and neat all the time.

Eliminate clothing every single year.
At least once every year you should go through your entire closet and weed out any clothing that has not been worn during that year. If you have not work it in a year, now is the time to get rid of it. Most of us are unaware of the fact that we have closets that are absolutely packed with unnecessary items that simply need to be repurposed, donated or thrown away. Try taking out a piece of clothing every time you add something new if you want to avoid having to completely clean out your closet once every year. This is going to keep your closet free of clothing clutter.

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Use Ample Storage Components
There are all kinds of really unique storage units out there that you can take advantage of like hangers that handle multiple items at once and shoe bags that hang from the door or from a regular hanger. These are all relatively cheap and can really work hard to help you keep your closet in good shape.

The Closet Floor 
We all tend to love throwing things into our closet without paying a lot of attention. This is unfortunately going to result in a closet floor that we very rarely see. This is easy to overcome, however: Buy shoe racks and other unique organizational items that you can place on the floor. This way, everything will have a place and this will deter you from feeling tempted to throw things on top of the organizers. There are a lot of really fun organizers out there that take some of the monotony out of organizing your closet. With so many unique options out there, why would you allow your closet to remain a mess?

Seasonal Clothing Removal
One of the easiest ways that you can help to keep your closet clean and neat is to keep the seasonal types of items stored someplace else completely. You can purchase storage boxes that are specifically meant to go under your bed for example, and keep these items tucked away until you need them. Your closet should be reserved for the things that you need to be able to find at a moment's notice like the clothing that you wear all year long rather than just your winter overcoat, mittens and scarf. Then a few weeks before the new season begins you can rotate your seasonal items, tucking your shorts away under the bed and pulling out your winter clothes instead.

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How to Be Your Own Plumber The Easy Way


How to Be Your Own Plumber The Easy Way 

Plumbing problems can be costly, but most of the time, they are relatively easy to fix, especially if you know what you’re doing. You can save thousands of dollars every year by learning how to be your own plumber and you’ll be gaining knowledge that can help you, especially in an emergency. Here are some tips on how to tackle the most common plumbing problems that homeowners experience.

First, you will need to get some solid plumbing books or DVDs that will walk you through the most common jobs. You can refer to these if you get stuck during a project. Having these books on hand can really make a difference, especially when you are under the wire. If you already know how to do basic plumbing, you’re just one step ahead. Try to get a variety of different books that cover not only basic pipe and drain issues, but also how to fix toilets and fixtures to make sure you have a well rounded library.

Next, you will need to make sure that you have the right tools on hand for the job. Here’s what we recommend: a variety of different pipe wrenches, appropriately sized for your house’s plumbing. It sounds simple, but many people find out too late that they don’t have the right wrench on hand during an emergency. It is also a good idea to purchase what is called a plumber’s snake. These are tools that can be used to quickly unclog a drain and they are very helpful.

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It is also a good idea to have a variety of caulks, sealants and silicone on hand. These are very helpful when it comes to fixing a leak, or putting in new tile. Make sure that they are all properly closed so that you don’t end up with a bunch of dried out tubes when you really need them. Next, you should have a good supply of pipe fittings for your different pipes throughout the house. The hardware store will have a variety of elbow joints, end caps and other things that you will need. Measure your pipes and get everything that you need.

You should also keep a supply of drain cleaner, empty buckets, gloves and other small items that are usually required during a repair session. Make sure your tool box contains a propane blow torch, a variety of pliers and wrenches and anything else that your house may require. Keep all of your tools in a safe, dry place where they can be easily accessed. That way, when something does happen, you’ll be able to grab your stuff and get right to work.

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Finally, it is a good idea to practice your skills from time to time, so that they don’t get rusty. If you have an extra bathroom, you can use this to try fixing a leak, cleaning out a drain or replacing the workings of your toilet. You’ll stay fresh and you’ll be ready to handle anything that comes your way.


Fixing a Leaky Faucet

Fixing a Leaky Faucet 

At best, a leaking faucet is more than capable of being annoying. At worst, a leaking faucet is capable of being extremely wasteful. The sound of water as it continuously drips into a sink can be completely maddening over time. Luckily, the fix required for repairing a leaky faucet is relatively simple as a DIY home repair project. With a few simple tools and some basic DIY know how, there is no reason why you cannot learn what it takes to fix a leaky faucet all on your own.



First and foremost, before you attempt this fix you need to make sure that the water has been turned off. Look under the offending sink and you should find a shut off valve that will allow you to turn the water off. Older homes may not have this shut off valve beneath the sink, meaning that you would need to go into the basement to turn the water off. Once the water has been turned off, you should open up both faucets so that any water that is still in the pipes can be let out. You need to take care to make sure that a drain stopper is put down so that if you drop a loose part, you do not end up losing it down the drain while you are working on the repair process.


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If you happen to have an old lever handle faucet, then it is going to require that you use a screwdriver in order to remove the screw from the top of the faucet. Newer faucet handles are not going to have any visible hardware in the top but rather you will need to undo the set screw using a standard Allen wrench. Once the screw has been removed from the faucet handle, the handle can be removed.

If you have a knob handle, then you should remove the knob from the fixture so that you can gain access to your screw. Use an adjustable type of wrench to take apart the handle's inner workings. Make sure that the pieces are lined up as they are removed so that you can replace them in the right order. Keeping them in the right order will make reassembly easier when you are done.

Remove the washer and prepare to replace it. Bring it to the hardware store as a reference when you are buying a replacement. If you use the old washer as a guide, you will make sure to buy the proper new washer. Set the newly purchased washer in, and then replace the rest of the hardware to reassemble the faucet. If you have a double handled sink and it is still leaking, then you are going to have to repeat this same process for the other faucet in order to address the problem completely and fully.


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Keep Your Home Safe with a Maintenance Check List



Every home has certain requirements, and a seasonal maintenance checklist can help you remember when you last did something, and when it needs to be done again. We all know to replace a light bulb when it burns out and to repair grout when it cracks. But those things that need to be done regularly that don't pop up and remind us can fall by the wayside without a regular maintenance checklist.

Once a year maintenance check list:

  • Drain your hot water heater. Clean out any sediment.
  • In the fall, have your fireplace and chimney professionally cleaned to avoid buildup that can start a fire.
  • Before the cold weather hits, have your heating system professionally serviced to make sure it's safe and ready to go for winter.
  • If you have a septic tank, have it professionally inspected and pumped out if they recommend it.
  • Check the seal around doors and windows so you can make repairs before the cold weather arrives.
  • Drain your outdoor spigots before the cold weather comes to avoid a frozen and burst pipe.
  • In the spring, clean your air conditioning unit thoroughly before turning it on. If it's central air, make sure there are no tall grasses, leaves or other debris that could block the air flow around the unit.

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Twice a year maintenance check list:

  • Change the batteries in your smoke detectors/and or carbon monoxide detectors. An excellent time to do this so that you don't forget is when you change your clocks each spring and fall for daylight savings time. Be sure to use the built-in tester after replacing the battery, just to make sure they're still working properly.
  • Clean lint from your clothes dryer ducts and other nooks and crannies.
  • Wash your range hood housing and fan to remove build-up.
  • Clean the water inlet filters on your washing machine.
  • Tighten fasteners and drain connections on your garbage disposal.
  • nspect your roof to spot potential problems before they turn into leaks.
  • Clean your gutters and check for leaks or improper drainage.
  • Check the seals on your refrigerator and freezer to make sure the appliances are running at top efficiency and not leaking cold air.
  • Unscrew the aerators on your kitchen or bathroom faucets and clean them. Sediment that breaks loose from your pipes can build up and block water flow.

Monthly maintenance checklist:

  • Check any fire extinguishers to make sure they're charged properly.
  • Flush your garbage disposal
  • Refresh your sink and tub drains. Clean out any debris and then sprinkle a little baking soda into the drain. Pour a little white vinegar into the drains and wait about 5 minutes before flushing with hot water. When the baking soda and vinegar meet they'll bubble and foam, which cleans your drain and helps eliminate odors.
  • If you have a water softener, check the salt drum.
  • Clean your range hood's grease filter
  • Replace your furnace filter.

Following a regular maintenance checklist will help you remember the little things that are important but easy to forget.


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