Neighbor News
4 Home Hacks That Make Maintenance Easier
From basic maintenance to quick repairs, these hacks and tricks make tackling prickly household issues easier.
1. Tuck Chalk in Your Toolbox to Stop Rust
You can keep the metal tools and hardware in your toolbox rust-free with blackboard chalk. How so? Chalk is a moisture sucking material that traps dampness. When you place several pieces throughout your toolbox, its porous nature will protect items prone to rusting.
Bonus tip: Got a musty closet? Fill up a small muslin or cheesecloth bag with chalk and then hang it inside. It will absorb the dampness and stinky odor.
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2. Spray Your Mower’s Blades to Keep Clippings From Sticking
If you have a lawn, mowing is one of those must-do drudgeries. Fortunately, cooking spray can make the chore problem-free. When applied to a mower’s undercarriage and blades, it can help prevent grass clippings from sticking.
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Bonus tip: You can prevent ice from building up in your freezer with cooking spray. Just spray a thick layer over spots prone to icing, and let it sit for five minutes. Afterwards, use a towel to wipe up the oil.
3. Toss in a Tennis Ball to Clean Your Pool Water
Suntan lotions, moisturizers, and body oils will leave a greasy slick on pool water. To clean, toss in a fresh tennis ball. Its fuzzy surface will soak up the oils your guests left behind.
Bonus tip: A tennis ball will buff scuff marks off floors. To avoid stooping while cleaning, cut an X into the ball and place on the end of a mop or broom handle.
4. Use Painter’s Tape for a Perfect Caulk Job
To many DIYers (myself included), applying caulk in clean, straight lines seems like an impossible task. But it’s actually very easy if you use painter’s tape. You’ll need to thoroughly clean the area you’re caulking first. When it’s dry, apply medium adhesion painter’s tape, such as Frog Tape, above and below the area you’ll be caulking and then caulk. Be sure to peel off the tape while the caulk is still wet.
By: Deirdre Sullivan, NYC-based writer
Provided courtesy of Jay Burnham & Linda Morey
Premier Associate Team
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage
Website: [click here]
