Home Repair 101

Written by Tom Xavier

Things that make you go “hmm.”

We all have some little things that need to be fixed, readjusted, or freshened-up around the house. You know there is a simple solution, but you just can’t figure it out. Here are just a few tidbits that might help you fix up the ol’ homestead by using stuff you already have in your cupboards.

Wall Holes

Gotta nail hole or other small hole on a white wall? Grab a tube of white tooth paste (not the blue stuff or anything with stripes). Put a little on your finger and dab it in the hole. Violà, no hole.

Mirrors

Does your mirror say you’re not sure how to keep it shiny and clean?

Keep some baking soda in your medicine cabinet. A little sprinkled on a dry cloth will buff those water spots away without a trace.

One of the biggest problems with the bathroom mirror is that it gets all fogged up. For a quick de-fogging, aim your hair dryer at the glass. The dry heat will clear the fog in no time. To prevent the haze from coming back, take a cloth and rub a layer of shaving cream all over the surface. Keep rubbing it until the cream has disappeared. Frames

If you have some old picture frames that are in need of a little TLC, there is an easy way to get them looking great again! To touch up the finish on a scratched wooden frame, try shoe polish. Just wipe some polish in the appropriate color on the scratch. Let it sit and then buff it to a shine.

Leather Furniture

Leather furniture adds a nice touch to any home, but sometimes knowing how to care for it can be a mystery. Here are some easy ideas:

To polish leather furniture, combine two parts linseed oil and one part white vinegar. Wipe it on and then use a soft cloth to buff it off.

Water spots will come off of leather if you dab at the spot with some white vinegar. Make sure that when the spot is gone you rub the area with a clean cloth to get rid of any vinegar.

Smelly Problems

Musty carpets are often caused by excess moisture. Here’s a one two punch for those odors: sprinkle carpets with some scented baby powder, let it sit for a while, and vacuum it up. The powder will absorb some of the moisture and the scent of the baby powder will linger in the air!

If your closets are musty, spritz some cotton balls with your favorite perfume and stash the balls in the corners of your closet, it will keep them smelling great!

Wood Floor Scratches

Scratches can really detract from the beauty of your hardwood floors. Well, not anymore. Let’s get that scratch to disappear!

Clean the area with a damp cloth to remove any dust and dirt and then let it dry completely. If you tend to be impatient, grab a hair dryer to speed things along.

Next, use very fine sandpaper or superfine steel wool to, very lightly, buff the scratch and surrounding area so it’s smooth again. Make sure you remember to work in the same direction as the wood grain.

Use a wood marker to fill in the scratch and blend it with the rest of the wood. Now you want to touch up the polyurethane to keep the floor protected. Dip only the tips of the bristles into some polyurethane and then brush it onto a paper towel to remove most of the finish. Use a dry brush to cover the area. This dry brushing technique will blend the repair with the floor rather than making it stand out.

And after all your hard work, put some painters tape around the area to remind people not to step on the repair for at least 24 hours.

I’ll bet you never thought all those little things that made you scratch your head and say “hmm,” could be so simple to fix.

Article appeared in our 27-1 Issue - April 2010