8 Surprising Ways to Fix Common Home Issues

Repairs Are Easier Than You Think

At P.J. Fitzpatrick, we always love finding new ways to fix common home issues – especially when they’re fast and simple. Here are seven of our home improvement company’s favorite quick-fixes for around your home:

Walnuts for scratched wood

If you have minor scratches in your wood table, floor, entertainment center, or another piece of wood furniture, don’t worry. They can easily be fixed… with a walnut. That’s right – rub a shelled walnut over the scratch in your wood and it will disappear!

White vinegar for hard water stains

There’s an easy way to get rid of those unsightly hard water stains around your faucet and chances are, you already have the solution in your home. Soak a few paper towels in some white vinegar and wrap them around the stained areas. Let them sit overnight and in the morning, the stains will be gone.

Painter’s tape for caulk lines

Messy lines of caulk not only look sloppy, but they also don’t seal as well. If your bathtub or shower is in need of new caulk, try using painter’s tape to make sure your caulk line is straight. Simply tape off above and below the line and fill in.

Car wax for patio furniture

If you have aluminum patio furniture that’s looking worn or faded, you can use car wax to revive it. Simply use soap and water to wash the aluminum and let dry. Then, use a cloth to spread a thin layer of wax onto the surface. Let dry until hazy, then use a clean cloth to wipe away.

Bicycle repair kit for an air mattress

Nothing’s worse than a hole in your air mattress, but there’s an easy way to fix it – with a bicycle inner tube repair kit that comes with a rubber patch and contact cement. Once you locate the hole, dab some cement around the area and onto the back of the patch. Let both dry, then press onto the mattress and rub firmly. To ensure it’s sealed, run a bead of cement along the perimeter of the patch.

Crayons to fill nail holes

Want a quick way to fill in the nail holes in your wall? Grab a crayon that’s the same color as your wall and rub the crayon over the hole to fill it in. If you get any around the outside of the hole, just wipe it clean with a dry cloth.

Baking soda to clean grout

If you’ve tried scrubbing your grout and it just won’t seem to come clean, try a mixture of baking soda and bleach. Mix until they form a paste, then apply it to your grout and let it sit for 15 minutes. Use a toothbrush to scrub the paste into the grout and let it sit for 15 minutes more, then just rinse off!

Foil and Diet Coke for rust

Instead of using steel wool to get rid of rust on your chrome or steel, reach for aluminum foil and Diet Coke. Not only does it work better, but chances are you have some on hand. Just pour Diet Coke over the rusted area and use a crumple up a piece foil to scrub the rust away.