5 Quick Fixes in the House

So there's a little, tiny, trivial, silly problem in the house – say, a squeaky hinge, or those wonderful bet-er (cane) chairs have sagged to no end and have become unusable. Our first and foremost thought is to 'call a guy' to fix it. When in reality, most of these little problems can be fixed by our good old selves. Here are some common problems in the house that anyone in the family can take care of right away:  

Squeaky door hinges: This problem is very common in almost every household. The easiest solution is to try rubbing the hinges with petroleum jelly (something we know every Bangladesh home has!). If this trick doesn't do you any justice, lift the hinge pins about halfway and lubricate them with three-in-one oil, which you can find in hardware stores.

Squeaky Floor: Remember how I said 'quick fixes'? So this is a temporary fix for squeaky floors- but rest assured it works like a charm. Sprinkle talcum powder over the noisy, squeaky area and sweep it into the cracks of the floor/tiles. 

Peeling paint: This is also a problem we face often. Paint jobs usually start wearing off within a year or two due to the constant mood swings of the weather. To make sure your walls look smooth and clear, use a wire brush or paint scraper to scrape off all the loose paint. When the peeled paint is removed, you might notice cracks or holes on your wall. These should be fixed before you repaint, and you can do that by applying a patching compound with a putty knife. Let it smooth and dry according to the manufacturer's directions. And, voila!

Worn Caning: This is one problem I have seen in many a home. Cane chairs are very popular in Bangladesh, especially in homes that still have the elderly living there. It's the one piece of furniture that reminds me of my childhood in my paternal grandmother's house. These little treasured furniture seem to go through a little sagging over time, which is natural but reversible. To tighten the caning back up, use a sponge to wet the bottom with warm water. Let it dry slowly overnight and repeat is necessary. Your old chair will be as good as new!

Stuck Sliding Windows: This is something that used to bother me a lot. Until of course, I fixed it (my mom did, actually). A little silicone spray lubricant (also can be found at hardware stores) will grease the skids and prevent the door from getting stuck at least 10 times during one slide. Spray it onto a piece of cloth and wipe along the tracks – whether they're metal, wood, or plastic.

With just a trip or two to the hardware store, you can really get rid of all these little inconveniences around the house without having to fret or stress too much. Just grab your supplies and get them out of your way! 

Most of these solutions are inspired by realsimple.com