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RSS6 Simple Household Fixes You Can Do Yourself
GreenWerks | 
Dec 14th, 2011 | 
Let’s face it, we’re used to paying other people to solve our problems for us. This has advantages, since it gives us more time to spend writing or scrambling after the kids, but it also means that we could eventually forget how to change a light bulb. Heck, this writer can’t remember the last time she did it by herself!
To try to fight this sad fate, we’re going to let you in on 6 household fixes you need to stop paying others for and start doing yourself. They’re not hard, they just take some work—and some duct tape.
1. Pest control services.
This tip comes from blogger Chris Birk. You can buy some pesticide for under $15 at the store and spray it around the house yourself. Just clear the sections you want to spray ahead of time and make sure the pets don’t start licking around there.
If you have termites, Birk recommends hiring help. We would also advise seeking help when dealing with bees if there’s a chance someone in your home is allergic—or if you are just as terrified of bees as this writer.
2. Repairing screen doors and windows.
Here’s one of those tasks people hire help for because it’s just kind of annoying to deal with. However, repairing a screen isn’t much harder than patching up a pair of jeans, like your grandma used to insist on.
The City of Wichita Housing and Community Services Department recommends buying some screen mesh that looks similar to what you already have to use for repairs. Trim out the hole in your old screen with regular scissors, cut out a patch two inches wider and longer than the hole, and unravel the wires on the edges of the new patch by half an inch.
Put the patch over the hole from the outside, then push the prongs through. With a piece of duct tape to hold the patch from the outside, bend the wires inside, toward the center. Then, finish the ends off with clear nail polish—your daughter has too much of that stuff sitting around anyway.
3. Yard work and landscaping.
OK, so the neighbors might be impressed when they see you’ve brought in a fancy landscaper to mow, rake, trim, fertilize, water, and mulch your yard into submission, but wouldn’t you be more impressed with yourself if you learned how to do it?
You’ll get a workout, creative freedom, and some free exercise by doing your own yard work and landscaping. You might even get the kids off the computer long enough to help—just tell them it’s a real-life FarmVille role-playing game.
4. Minor mold removal—unless it’s black mold.
It’s gross and smelly, but you can remove small areas of normal mold yourself with a stiff brush. The CDC advises using either a commercial cleaner, bleach solution, or soap and water.
Do not mix bleach with commercial cleaners or anything that has ammonia. You need to dilute each cup of bleach with a gallon of water. Keep the windows open, put on protective eye wear, and wear gloves.
An exception to a DIY plan here is black mold. According to Dr. M. Hong Nguyen and Dr. Frederick Southwick of the University of Florida’ College of Medicine, black molds can cause deadly infections in people with impaired immune systems.
If you find black mold, stay on the safe side and call your insurance company for advice. Then, call a certified mold tester.
Next, take pictures to gross out your Facebook friends. Just kidding!
5. Leaks and clogs.
The drip, drip, drip of a leaky sink is enough to drive you insane, while a clogged bathtub can make you feel like you’d stay cleaner by not showering.
But, rather than bringing in a plumber, Birk advises investing in some O-rings, Draino, and tape to see what you can do on your own. You can always ask a plumber for help if it turns out you can’t fix the issue.
6. Fixing drywall nail pops.
When drywall nails pop, they make fairly small but ugly bulges in your wall that can catch your clothes as you walk past.
However, Birk assures us they are not hard to handle. With a nail set, hammer the unruly nails back into place. Then, two inches above or below the loosened nail, tap in another nail. This second nail should be flush with the wall.
Use spackle on the dents, allow it to dry, and sand it down. You may want to paint the area.
If you learn to handle these 6 household fixes you need to stop paying others for, not only will you save money, you’ll get the confidence boost that comes from gaining new skills. So, put down the phone and go earn some homeowner bragging rights!
Daniela Baker of CreditDonkey, says some rewards credit cards offer cash back bonuses or extra rewards points on purchases made at home improvement stores. Look up your rewards credit card to see which kinds of perks you could get when you stock up on tools.
Keep Reading and Check out these Articles:
- $25 Fixes to Help Sell Your Home
- Trivia That All Homeowners Should Know
- Roofing 101 for Homeowners
- 8 Green Ways to Clean Indoor Air
- 5 Simple Tips For Preventing Tree Diseases
This is definitely something all of us can relate to. I mean, we don’t always have to call home repair for every little thing that needs to get fixed in the household. A little fix and do-it-yourself every now and then never hurt anyone. Who knows, it might turn out to be an enjoyable experience for you and your whole family!