Estimated read time: 3-4 minutes
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SALT LAKE CITY — Do you have too many pins on Pinterest and not enough time to try them all? Don't worry — the Page Two editors of ksl.com will try them out and give you the low-down. This week on Pinterest: Five simple ways to tackle problems and projects around the house without having to call for reinforcements.
Fix a leaky faucet
A leaky faucet seems to be one of those household annoyances that we just learn to live with. Why? Because it doesn't seem like a big enough problem to warrant a plumber, but most people don't know how to fix it themselves. Thanks to thisoldhouse.com, you have no more excuses (or should I say no thanks?). This quick explanation makes it seem so easy you'll wonder just why you ever put up with that endless drip, drip, dripping in the first place.
Unclog a toilet without using a plungerThis tip is more likely to come in handy when you're in someone else's house as opposed to your own. If you've ever clogged a toilet (and come on, who hasn't?) you know just how heightened the stress can be when you're not in the privacy of your own home. These easy, quick rescue tips from onegoodthingbyjillee.com are ingenious and can help you solve the problem discretely without ever having to alert your host — because the only thing worse than an overflowing toilet is having to run back into a party shouting for a plunger, stat!
Repair a squeaky floor
We know a squeaky wheel gets the grease, but a squeaky floor is usually left to fend for itself (not unlike its friend, the leaky faucet). Not anymore. If you can get to the floor framing, this quick fix from familyhandyman.com can be done in just a few minutes. That is, of course, unless you'd rather leave the floor to squeak, helping alert you that your not-so-stealthy teenagers are trying to sneak in after curfew.
Hard wire a light fixture
I really needed this tip. It's not to help me fix a problem, per se (unless you call that bland and dated light fixture in my kitchen a problem — and I do), but to motivate me to take matters into my own hands. I'm no fix-it wiz, but I can easly understand the instructions from thisoldhouse.com for hardwiring a light fixture. And thanks to the clear illustration, I'm actually empowered to replace that kitchen monstrosity once and for all. (You're welcome, husband, for taking that project off your list.)
Change your car’s oil
This project is more around the house than in it; specifically, it's in your garage or driveway. If you've ever wanted to know how to fix your oil, this video tutorial from autos.yahoo.com will take you through step by step. But what I liked the most from this article was the info on how frequently you really need to change your oil. It's like sweet, sweet vindication for waiting more than six months to change mine. (OK, it's been almost a year, but the victory is still sweet.)
