Have a how-to project or home-maintenance task that you don't know how to start? Look no further. Here are 30 fixes, tips and step-by-step plans to get out of any everyday problem.
Before you can fix anything, you had better have some useful, multipurpose supplies on hand.
Simple quick-fix tool kit
The idea behind a simple quick-fix tool kit is to include tools that offer multiple functions. Any one of these may not be exactly the tool you would choose for a given task, but they will be able to serve in place of a number of different tools.
- Vise-grip pliers
- Quick-change screwdriver with interchangeable straight and Phillips-head tips
- Measuring tape
- Level
- Claw hammer
- Assortment of screws and nails in a travel box
- Needle-nose pliers
- Utility knife
- One-half-inch-wide cold chisel
- Wire cutters with built-in wire-stripper channel
- 8-inch adjustable wrench
- Cordless drill and drill-bit set
- Pencil and small notepad
- Glue syringe
- Safety glasses
- Work gloves
- You should also keep a few often-used supplies in your tool kit:
- 16-ounce tub of drywall compound
- Package of multigrit sandpaper sheets
- Can of 3-in-1 oil
- Small tube of fast-acting adhesive such as Super Glue
- Small container of white glue
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Emergency preparedness kit
Not all disasters are created equal, and while a leaking roof may present some immediate challenges, it's not on par with the aftermath of a hurricane or a regional power outage. The Boy Scouts are right: It pays to be prepared. Even if such an emergency never happens to you, history teaches us the importance of planning for the worst. A simple emergency kit can provide everything you need when big disasters hit. Equip it with the following:
- Flashlight
- Battery-operated radio
- Five gallons of drinking water, in bottles or jugs, for each member of the household
- Extra batteries
- Enough canned food or packaged nonperishable food for several days
- Candles and matches
- Warm blankets
- Change of clothes for each member of the household
- A basic first-aid kit
Keep these supplies in a clean, dry area that will be easy to reach in an emergency. For a more comprehensive list of extra supplies and equipment that may be of use, check out the Department of Homeland Security's website for emergency planning at www.ready.gov.
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How to prevent your tools from rusting
You've spent a lot of money on your tools, and you need to protect them from damaging elements, especially moisture. Keep tools in your toolbox rust-free by storing a few pieces of blackboard chalk in each compartment that contains metal tools or other hardware.
How to carry drywall
Problem: You're refinishing your attic all by yourself, which means you get to wrestle with those sheets of drywall.
The quick fix: It's not the weight but the unwieldy nature of drywall sheets that makes them such a bear to move around. Carry a sheet with ease and control by tucking it under your arm and using a pry bar to grab the bottom edge.
How to protect your fingers from a hacksaw blade
Problem: Bloody knuckles are your reward for rummaging through a toolbox and hitting the hacksaw blade.
The quick fix: Buy sliding binder bars (for binding reports) at a local office-supply store. They are perfectly sized to slip over the blade, pinching in place to hold tight.
