Household Repairs
To tighten loose knobs on furniture, unscrew the knob and coat the screw with clear fingernail polish. Screw the knob back on while the polish is still wet, allowing it to harden inside the furniture.
Refinish small spots on a mirror where the backing has disappeared, spray them on the back with a silver metallic automobile paint. Apply several light coats, and seal it with a clear finish.
Damaged floor tiles can be removed easier if you first cover them with a cloth and iron them. The heat of the iron will melt the old glue so you can take out one or more tiles instead of replacing the entire floor.
To reseal loose edges on a vinyl floor, use a hot iron with a cloth between the iron and the vinyl. The heat will melt the old glue. Finish by adding heavy books to weigh down the area until the glue resets.
A crayon can fill gouges in wood furniture or floors. Find a crayon that matches and melt it in the microwave. Pour the wax into the gouges and let it dry. For a small job, you can melt the crayon over the floor or furniture with a match. A long fireplace match gives you more working time. Simply hold the crayon above the gouge and let the melted wax drip.
White correction fluid made for the office can be used to hide a small hole in a white floor.
Stop squeaky door hinges with a spray of PAM.
Loosen a rusted bolt with carbonated soda. Thoroughly wet a cloth in club soda or cola, and let it soak for several minutes.
To remove rust from bolts (and other metals), soak them in white vinegar.
Remove rust from metal fixtures with salt and lemon. Add lemon juice to salt to make a paste. Scrub with the paste, rinse, and dry.
To loosen a tight or rusted screw, apply a few drops of hydrogen peroxide
, vinegar or lubricating oil on the screw. Let soak a few minutes.
If the slot in a screw has become enlarged, heat the tip of the screwdriver with a match or lighter to cause it to expand and fit more snugly.
A screw will go into wood easier if you first rub the screw with a bar of soap or a candle. A beeswax candle will not leave a stain.
Make a sliding glass door slide easier by rubbing the tracks with floor polish. Slide the door back and forth a few times to spread it well.
Keep a glue cap from sticking by rubbing Vaseline or oil inside the cap.
Keep nuts and screws from getting lost or out of order, lay a piece of double-sided tape on the table or workbench. Place each nut or screw on the tape in order of removal, and you can place them back in the opposite order.
