After snapping that bit on a 50 year old sash, I realized I should have just squirted some WD-40 in the track first instead of forcing it... anyone else have a go-to trick for old wooden windows that won't budge?
Honestly, I had this one spot in my hallway near the bedroom door that drove me nuts every night. I saw a tip online about sprinkling baby powder between the floorboards to stop the squeaking. So I grabbed the bottle, dumped a good amount in the crack, and stomped around to work it in. Next day, the squeak was louder and now there's a white mess all over the dark wood. Turns out the powder just dried out the wood even more and made the nails shift. I ended up having to screw it down from the top and cover with wood filler. Has anyone else tried some hack like this that backfired big time?
My front door lock kept sticking for about 2 weeks last winter. I tried WD-40 and it worked for maybe 3 days then got worse. A buddy who does locksmithing on the side told me to rub a pencil lead on the key and work it in and out a few times. The graphite from the pencil is a dry lubricant and it's been smooth for 6 months now. Has anyone else had WD-40 make things worse on locks?
I keep seeing people grab any old tube of caulk for sealing a bathtub and then wonder why it peels off after 3 months. I used 100% silicone on my tub in the basement last spring, and it's still holding tight after 14 months with no mold spots. The cheap acrylic stuff just doesn't flex when the tub shifts, plain and simple. Why do folks insist on buying the 2 dollar tube when the silicone at 6 bucks lasts 3 times as long? Has anyone else had their bathroom floor water damage from using the wrong sealant?
I grew up in a house with these solid oak cabinets that my dad installed in the 70s. The hinges were these old brass ones with a little pin you could pull out. Last month one of them snapped clean through after 50 years of use. I found some modern replacements at the hardware store for $8 a pair, but they sit different and the doors don't close the same way. Anyone else run into this with old cabinets where new parts just don't fit right?
After patching three nail holes in my living room last weekend, the cheap stuff dried smooth with one pass while the $8 tube crumbled on me has anyone else found the basic powder mix works better than the premixed stuff?
My dryer vent hose split at the connection in the basement last month. I was torn between duct tape and zip ties to hold it tight, but I read online that tape can fail from the heat. I grabbed a pack of 12-inch zip ties from Ace Hardware for $4 and it sealed up solid. Has anyone else had duct tape actually hold up on a dryer vent?
I thought replacing the motor in my old Nutone fan would be a quick Saturday morning job, but the mounting bracket was rusted in place and I had to cut it out with a hacksaw. After three trips to the hardware store and watching four different YouTube videos, I finally got it running by 4 PM instead of noon. Has anyone else had a simple fix turn into an all day project because of one stubborn part?
My toilet was running constantly for months and I finally got around to swapping the $5 flapper. After that, my next water bill dropped by $40 compared to the same time last year. Anyone else put off simple fixes and then wonder why you waited so long?