Anyone who’s ever owned a house realizes how much time and money is required to keep it in order. It’s a labor of love that can be very rewarding. With that in mind, we’ve put together five hacks that can help you save time and money around the house.
1. Insulate with Bubble Wrap
Now there’s more you can do with bubble wrap besides spending mindless hours popping it. That’s right, next time you need to quickly insulate some windows use bubble wrap. It’s not going to look as good as storm windows but it’s a lot less expensive and can do the trick.
2. Squeaky Boards
There’s nothing more annoying than trying to walk through the house late at night and waking everyone up with a squeaky floorboard. If your hardwood floors do that then try this. Pour baby powder over the noisy area. Then, wrap a block of wood in a dish rag and tap the boards down with a hammer to drive the powder between the tongue and groove of the flooring and tighten the nails holding it in place. It’s not full proof, but a lot of people have had success with it.
3. Unclog Drains
Clogged drains can be a real pain. Industrial cleaners can be really expensive, so next time you are faced with a stopped up drain, try this inexpensive solution. Put three Alka-Seltzer tablets in the drain followed by a cup of white vinegar. Let it sit for 15 minutes then follow it up by pouring boiling water on it. The combination of the Alka-Seltzer and vinegar dissolve grease and other clogging agents. If you’ve just used a commercial cleaner like Draino, don’t try this combination of products.
4. Freshen Up Diswashers and Washing Machines
Limescale can reek havoc on dishwashers and washing machines. The good news is limescale is easily dissolvable when using the correct products. Run a large cup of lemon juice through your machines without clothes or dishes in them. Doing this every few months will keep them running clean.
5. Fix Cracked Walls
Those little cracks in walls can drive anyone crazy. Sure you could go get some spakling at the home improvement store, but if you have some Crazy Glue and baking soda you are in business. Just put some baking soda with the glue and put it in the crack. Let it sit and it becomes hard plastic. Now you can file or sand it down. Job finished!