5 Home Repairs You Can Easily Do Yourself

Key Insights

It’s only a matter of time before something in your house needs attention and repair; it’s one of the inevitable parts of owning a home. However, for many of these items, you don’t have to spend a fortune on replacements. Instead, embrace the DIY approach, tap into your inner handyman, and fix these five issues yourself.

Tackling small repairs at home can save you loads of time and money, as long as you have everything you need on hand. While everyone has their trusty tool kit, for these simple fixes, all you’ll need is some aluminum foil, a clothing iron, and a bit of glue. Skip the hardware store and check out these quick and easy home repair tips to see how simple it is to restore your home to perfect condition.

5. Fix a Loose Tile

Remember that loose floor tile you meant to fix? The next time you step on it, grab a sheet of aluminum foil and your iron to get started. The reason it's loose is likely that the adhesive underneath has lost its stickiness. Simply apply some heat to make the adhesive tacky again, and you’ll have that tile fixed in no time, ticking another task off your list.

Place the aluminum foil over the tile to shield it from direct heat. Set your iron to high and press it down on the foil above the tile. Keep it there long enough for the adhesive to melt and bond the tile back in place. Smaller tiles should take around five minutes, while larger tiles may need up to ten minutes. Once done, place a heavy object, like a bathroom scale, on the tile to let the adhesive set properly.

4. Bring a Dead Battery Terminal Back to Life

Don’t let a bent spring or damaged contact in your battery terminal ruin an expensive electronic device. A little knowledge of basic mechanics can help you avoid spending money on a new one.

Without a working positive or negative terminal, a battery can't complete the circuit and your electronics won’t operate. If your terminal is broken, simply find a replacement conductor. Fortunately, you likely have a flexible conductor right in your kitchen: aluminum foil. Tear off a small piece, fold it into a square, and fit it into the gap where the terminal is missing. It will complete the circuit and restore your battery-powered device to working order.

3. Stop a Squeaky Floor

If you live in an older home, chances are squeaky floorboards are just part of the ambiance. Most floor squeaks happen when the floorboards shift and rub against each other. Take the time to walk around and pinpoint exactly where the squeak is coming from, so you can identify which floorboards are the culprits.

Once you've identified the squeaky floorboards, apply a small amount of craft glue between them. Wipe away any excess glue with a damp cloth and allow it to dry overnight for a quiet floor.

2. Repair a Broken Key

If your front door key snaps in two while trying to unlock the deadbolt, don’t worry. You can save yourself an expensive locksmith visit with just a bit of super glue.

Simply apply a drop of glue to the tip of the broken key, then insert it into the lock and hold for about 10 seconds. Once the bond feels secure, remove the key. It's always a good idea to keep a spare key with a neighbor, close relative, or in your car to avoid being locked out unexpectedly.

1. Repair a Torn Screen

Are pesky bugs and no-see-ums sneaking through tiny tears in your window screens? Rather than spending a fortune on replacements, you can easily repair small holes by simply applying a drop of super glue to seal them up.

To avoid excess glue from spilling over, quickly wipe the area beneath the hole with a damp cloth. This will also make your repair blend in seamlessly. If you don’t like the clear glue spot, use a fine permanent marker to lightly trace the cross-stitch pattern over it.

Adapted from Amazing Uses for Household Products: Bleach, © 2009 Publications International, Ltd.