MANILA, Philippines - When it comes to something not working, you either call someone to fix it or you have the initiative to make your own repairs. Most of the time it’s the latter – we take a look at something, size it up, then decide on forging ahead confident of our abilities to finish the job with as little expense as possible.
Most of the time, however, we fail miserably. It’s either because we thought we knew what we were doing or had absolutely no clue and was too shy to ask. Well, in the age of the Internet you can chuck your pride away and do some actual research with the help of the ol’ Google. Not surprisingly, there’s a wealth of information on how to do quick fixes around the home with just a short trip to the hardware store and a little common sense. If you don’t have the Internet, you best be thankful that this little piece just showed up on your doorstep.
Before we proceed, know the basics. Whatever skill you have or don’t have, whatever segment of society you’re from, you should always have a handy toolbox stashed away somewhere for these kinds of situations. It doesn’t have to be big, it doesn’t have to be what the experts have, it only has to have the basics: screwdrivers (Philips head, flathead), pliers, a wrench or two of different sizes, hammer, saw, tape measure, drills, abrasives, rubber tape, sealants, etc. some hardware stores sell toolbox kits that have everything you need in one package.
Here are some common household breakdowns and issues that you can remedy by yourself without having to call the repairman:
Squeaking Doors
Are you constantly annoyed by a squealing door? It may be time to fix the hinges. That’s not a problem if you have a spray can of WD-40 lying around. This oil penetrates through the cracks and openings between metal parts and can easily lubricate all contact points.
When that doesn’t work you will need a little bit of help with the next step. If you are able to pull the pin from the offending hinge, lightly scrub it with some steel wool. Do the same with the barrel and hinge leaves until they’re all smooth. Coat the surfaces with some WD-40 and put them all back (including the door) together.
If you can, keep this type of maintenance regular – or until the door starts squeaking again. Be careful not to spray the oil inside the locksets. Doing so will clog them up and make it harder for you to use your keys.
Table Legs
One of the most common household problems, this is due to the table being badly made or the floor being uneven. One clear way to figure out which is which is to use a bubble level, the kind that carpenters use when making, well, tables and when they need to make sure a part of a structure is level.
The floor needs to be level and that’s what you should check first. When that’s done, look at the table legs. Measure each leg to see if they are of equal length. It may be just a matter of a loose leg or badly screwed support, so make sure to cover all of that before you start on the legs themselves.
Once you find one that is shorter, try gluing a piece of cork under it to even out the length. Pad it with more layers of cork until the desired length is achieved.
Remember, it’s always better to add rather than subtract. But in the worst case scenario of having to cut off a little chunk to balance the table, use the utmost care. For the slightest of lengths, use sandpaper (if it’s made of wood) to gently scrape off the leg bottom until everything’s right again. For longer cuts, measure twice then cut once with a short saw. For metal legs, your best bet is a rubber furniture pad that you can stick at the bottom of the leg.
Stuck on Super Glue
Ever had two of your fingers stuck together because you were playing with superglue? It’s one of the most useful household quick fix items – it’s also one of the most dangerous especially with kids around. So, make sure to store your super glue containers in a safe place away from those who might not know how to handle it.
Despite its strength, superglue has a weakness – acetone. Present in nail polish removers, acetone can dissolve the bond between glue and skin. Use a cotton swab or Q-tip directly on the bonded area. Be very gentle in peeling away your fingers from each other. Do it too quickly and you risk an injury. Always make sure that the nail polish remover has acetone before you apply it. After that, wash your hands with soap and water to get rid of the acetone on your skin.
If superglue gets on your clothes or fabrics, use some acetone and an old toothbrush to scrape away the glue layer by layer.
The same goes for countertops, floors, tables, etc. Gently brush of the glue layer by layer and take care not to scrape the surface to avoid damage.
If by chance you get superglue on your lips or eyes, a trip to the doctor is highly recommended. In the meantime, glue on the lips can be removed (slowly) by applying lots of warm water and pressure from saliva in the mouth. It may take a couple of days for the glue to loosen but keep at it and avoid swallowing the glue when it does come off.
The same goes for when glue gets on the eyelids or eyeballs. Saliva is not necessary, but a liberal amount of water to wash away the glue, is. It will take longer and it is recommended to visit a doctor at this point.
Dust Storm
Dust gets everywhere. Sometimes, vacuum cleaner may not do the job well, especially with small electronics, keyboards and computers. In this case, you can use a can of compressed air.
A can of compressed air can clean ordinary household appliances and circuit boards on computers by blowing a powerful blast of air that gets rid of dust, food particles and various debris from hard to clean places such as crevices and in between components.
Another kind of compressed air is a can of contact cleaner. This is compressed air mixed in with some amount of isopropyl alcohol or cleaning agent which dislodges oils or grease from a surface.
Clogged Sink
If you have a plunger around, you can unclog a sink without having to call a plumber. Using duct tape or any kind of adhesive tape to seal the sink overflow hole – that’s the open slit right below the faucet or beneath the edge of the sink bowl nearest you – fill the sink about a third of the way full.
Use the plunger on the drain by doing quick, sharp plunges to free the clog. The sealed overflow hole prevents air from escaping so that all the force is used towards the drain pipe.