Every home has them — those little annoyances that aren’t serious enough to call a repair person but are irritating enough to get on your nerves every single day.
Before you add another project to the weekend list, try a few of these quick household fixes. Most take only minutes and use things you probably already have.
Stop a rug from sliding
A small rug that travels across the floor every time someone walks on it can become more than an annoyance — it can be a tripping hazard.
Place a nonslip rug pad underneath it. For a temporary fix, strips of double-sided carpet tape can help hold the rug in place. Avoid adhesives that could damage hardwood or other finished flooring.
Quiet a squeaky door hinge
That squeak announcing every trip through the door may need only a little lubrication.
Apply a small amount of silicone lubricant to the hinge pin and move the door back and forth several times. Wipe away the excess so it doesn’t collect dust.
Make a stubborn drawer slide easier
Wooden drawers can become difficult to open as humidity and age cause the wood to swell or rub.
Remove the drawer and rub a little paraffin wax or an unscented candle along the areas where wood meets wood. Replace the drawer and slide it several times to distribute the wax.
Keep a cutting board from wandering
If your cutting board slides while you’re chopping, don’t fight with it.
Dampen a clean kitchen towel or paper towel, wring out the excess water and place it beneath the board. The added friction should keep the board securely in place while you work.
Fix a slow showerhead
Before replacing a showerhead with weak or uneven spray, check for mineral buildup.
If possible, remove the showerhead and soak it in white vinegar. For a fixed showerhead, fill a plastic bag with vinegar, secure it around the showerhead and let the nozzles soak. Rinse thoroughly afterward. Check the manufacturer’s instructions first if the fixture has a specialty finish.
Find the end of the tape
Few things are more aggravating than turning a roll of clear tape around and around looking for the end.
After using it, fold over a tiny portion of the end to create a tab. A paper clip placed at the end of the tape works, too.
Stop the fitted sheet from coming loose
If a fitted sheet repeatedly pops off the mattress, first check its pocket depth. Today’s thicker mattresses and mattress toppers often require deep-pocket sheets.
If the sheet fits but still slips, inexpensive sheet straps that clip underneath the mattress corners can keep it in place.
Make a zipper glide again
A sticky zipper doesn’t necessarily need replacing.
For a metal zipper, gently rub a graphite pencil along the teeth to help it move more easily. First check that fabric or thread isn’t caught in the zipper, and don’t force it — that’s often how a small annoyance becomes a broken zipper.
Everyday genius doesn’t have to be complicated
The best household tricks aren’t necessarily clever inventions. They’re the little fixes that make you wonder why you put up with the problem for so long.
Take five minutes, fix one aggravation and move on with your day. That’s Everyday Genius.
Everyday Genius will provide little tricks every week. Big wins.
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