A How-To Guide for Some Annoying Household Problems

There are problems that occur on a regular basis in every household. The frequency of some of these problems can be reduced with regular preventive steps while others have to be addressed as they present themselves. The goal here is to make life a little easier by spending less time on these problems.

Mold:

If you are living in a humid area then the growth of molds in your house is a really common problem that you face. Since there is nothing you can do about the weather you can hire services like mold inspection NJ, which will remove any mold that is growing in your house really efficiently. 

Refrigerator odors:

Keep an open container of baking soda on a shelf in the refrigerator to absorb unwanted odors.

Refrigerator or freezer not getting cold enough:

Check the coils located either behind or underneath the unit. If there is a lot of dust on the coils, it will affect the efficiency. Unplug the unit and gently brush the coils. Use a vacuum to thoroughly clean them.

Clogged Drains:

To help prevent this problem, pour some baking soda and white vinegar into each of your sink, shower, and tub drains once a month. Let it sit for about a half-hour. Flush by running hot water down the drain. Use the baking soda from the container in your refrigerator first so that you put fresh baking soda into that container. Note: If you have a septic system, seek expert advice before using this method as it may affect the necessary bacteria in the system.

Foggy mirrors:

To prevent mirrors from fogging up, rub a small amount of a paste car wax on the mirror and then buff it off with a soft cloth.

Mildew on tub and shower tiles:

Use white vinegar on a rag to wipe between the tiles. Not only will it remove the mildew but it will retard the forming of future growth.

Ant invasion:

Put dry bay leaves on the inside of window sills where ants are most likely to cross. They hate the bay leaves for some reason and avoid them like the plague. Also, spray a band of insect spray around the entire outside foundation of the house when the weather starts to warm up and the ants become active. Make sure to spray all bottom saddles of entrance doorways and a section of any drainpipes that they might climb.

Squeaky hinges:

Spray WD-40 on hinges. Do this every couple of months to prevent them from becoming squeaky.

Loose screws in door hinges:

If the screw holes have become too loose over time, remove the screws and place toothpicks, dipped in wood glue, into the holes. Jam in as many of the toothpicks as you can and break off flush with the surface. Wait about an hour and then thread the screws back into the holes.

Smoke detectors beeping in the middle of the night from weak batteries:

Change the batteries every six months when the clocks are moved ahead or moved back. Lives are more important than the extra cost of using more batteries. Never allow these batteries to get to the point of being weak.

Removing stuck-on chewing gum:

Rub an ice cube on the gum to harden it and then try pulling it off the surface.

Squeaky wood floors:

Squirt some talcum powder onto the floor near the area of the squeak. Slowly brush the powder into the cracks between the wood slats.

Melted candle wax on material:

If the particle is small enough, place it in the freezer to harden the wax. Flick off the hardened wax. Place a piece of brown paper over the stained area and use a medium heat setting on iron to go over it. This will remove most of the oil base. Put a small amount of detergent on the area and wash it as usual.

Grease or oil on material:

Immediately sprinkle some corn starch over the stain to absorb as much of it as possible. When dry, brush the corn starch off and put detergent on the area. Wash as usual.

Tilted picture frames:

Place a piece of double-sided tape on the back of the frame, centered on the bottom, and press against the wall.

These are only a few of the household problems that we encounter in our daily lives but any solution that can lessen the work involved is helpful.