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Overview
This collection of ingenious, helpful, budget-conscious hints, tips and how to's prove that you don't need a workshop full of tools or 30 years of experience to be a successful DIYer. Save time, money and frustration, plus, up your DIY game with these hacks shared by our editors and readers.
Chapters include:
-Cleaning Hacks
-Painting Hacks
Workshop Tips
-Storage & Organizing Hacks
-Safety & Security Hacks
-Holiday Hacks
-Best for Your Pets
Product Details
| ISBN-13: | 9781621455370 |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | Trusted Media Brands |
| Publication date: | 05/04/2021 |
| Series: | Family Handyman |
| Pages: | 288 |
| Sales rank: | 1,087,127 |
| Product dimensions: | 8.12(w) x 10.88(h) x 0.50(d) |
About the Author
Table of Contents
Chapter 1 Cleaning Hacks 11
Kitchen
Scuff mark eraser 12
Clean grime with a toothpaste 12
Remove stains from plastic laminate countertops 13
Replace disposer splash guard 14
Clean a clogged aerator 15
How to clean oven door glass 16
Microwave cleaner 17
Marker cleanup 17
Freshen with citrus and ice cubes 17
Bathroom
Toilet brush freshener 18
Restore a shower head 18
Vacuum first, then scrub 18
Synthetic soap simplifies bathroom cleaning 19
Polish with a microfiber cloth 19
Remove tough water stains 19
A scrub and a wax 20
Make your own greener cleaning solution 20
Buff off heavy grime 20
Install a detachable toilet seat 21
Clean grout with a bleach pen 21
Remove tough grime with less scrubbing 21
Wash your shower curtain 22
Scum-proof your shower doors 22
Clean your pop-up stopper 23
Catch hair before it reaches the drain 23
Remove tough water stains on your toilet 24
Remove tough water stains on your faucet 25
Remove tough water stains on your tile 26
Water-saving toilet upgrade 27
Grille duster 27
Carpet
Clean uppet messes 28
Cleaning solutions 28
Clean up stains right away 29
Spot removal and more 29
Clean up food and drink spills 30
Auto
Tired of your bumper stickers? 32
Wash the entire car one section at a time 33
Use a spray-on solution to clean doorjambs and weather-stripping 33
Scrub the wheels and tires with a brush 34
Wash the tires with soap and water, then rinse and dry 34
Revive a dull paint finish 34
Wax your car at least twice a year 35
Give your weatherstripping renewed life 35
Slide the seat all the way forward and clean out all the junk underneath 36
Deep-clean carpeting and upholstery 36
Clean and condition the leather or vinyl 37
Remember to get into the nooks and crannies 37
Brush out the air vents 38
Wash the windows, including the top edges 38
Scrape off those annoying stickers 39
Kill bad odors 39
Odds & Ends
Mini blind cleaning tongs 40
Power scrubber 40
Coat hanger drain snake 41
Handy broom cleaner 41
Grout haze cleaner 42
Poster-putty port cleaner 42
Lawn equipment cleaner 42
12 ways to clean with vinegar 43
Easier bottle cleaning 43
Outdoor
How to clean and restore your deck 44
Pressure washer safety 47
Chapter 2 Gardening & Lawn Care Hacks 51
Munch-proof your flower bulbs 53
No-stick shovel 53
Rein in an invasive plant 53
10 tips for a no-fuss garden 54
Space-saving hose storage 55
Laundry jug watering can 55
Sprinkler socket system 55
Leaf hamper 56
Weedy tip 56
Help for root-bound plants 56
10 tips for planting flowers in the sun 57
Seedlings on the half shell 57
Drive-by weeding 58
Potted plant transport 58
Easy-read rain gauge 58
10 tips for planting flowers in the shade 59
Bulb storage solution 59
Homemade soaker hose 60
Portable potting 60
No-trim wall border 60
Ice cube trick 60
Easy apple cleanup 61
5 tips for pet-friendly gardens 61
Flag your lawn problems 61
Garden straightedge 62
Watering jug 62
Hold your hostas! 62
5 downspout upgrades 63
Bamboo teepee 64
Seed library 64
Easier vegetable planting 65
Weatherproof plant labels 65
Save your lawn products 66
Better lawn mower traction 66
Twig pickup on the go 66
Mowing in comfort 67
Pinecone scooper 67
Better tree watering 67
Citrus-rind seed starters 68
Fertilizing dense plants 68
Salad bar greenhouse 69
Seed starter tubes 69
Flower-pot filler 69
No more rusty garden tools 70
Tree protector 70
Trash-can helpers 71
Need a hole in hard soil? Use a drill! 71
Berry box seed spreader 72
Double potting 72
Cut trimming time 73
Ladder-barrow 74
Vine support 74
Tune up a lawn mower 75
Sharpen your lawn mower blade 76
Digging holes 78
Color Code for Buried Utilities 78
Spike's wonder cart 84
Chapter 3 Painting Hacks 91
Handy paint-can opener 92
Roller spinner 92
Tidy paint-can closing 92
C-clamp handles 93
Make exterior paint last 94
More exterior paint hacks 99
Kitchen-whisk paint stirrer 100
Golf tee paint helpers 100
Prepainting nail heads 100
Make mini roller covers 101
Cardboard sawhorses 101
Disassemble if you can 102
ALWAYS clean out the nozzle 102
Apply coats in different directions 102
Dust: Public enemy no. 1 103
Swap plugged nozzles 103
Start with a tack coat 103
Spray anything 104
Read the directions! 104
Need a custom-color spray paint? 104
Authentic-look hardware…forless! 105
Many tight coats 105
Hang 'em high 105
Self-cleaning paintbrushes 106
Patch, prime, patch, prime… 106
Make your own stir sticks 107
Paint walls or trim first? 107
Baby wipes for small messes 107
Touch-up paint bottle 108
Shelter baseboards from splatter 108
Take photos of paint can lids 109
Splurge on self-sealing tape 109
Angled or straight bristles? 109
Waste-free painting 110
Wet your brush for easy cleanup 110
Egg carton supports 111
Don't fill the rim 111
Painting tool drying cage 112
Quick paint touch-ups 112
Free and easy paint tray 112
Solutions for old paint 113
Self-stick paint shield 113
Nozzle cleaner 113
Faster, better painting 114
Prep varnished wood carefully 115
Paint twice as fast with this extra-wide roller 115
Caulk every crack 116
Replace your roller tray with a pail 116
Patch with glazing putty 117
A quicker way to mask windows 117
Look for a shed-resistant, woven roller 117
Keep a mini roller and screen handy 118
Speedy, accurate masking 118
Drop-cloth substitute 119
Don't start in corners its Fast caulking 119
Paint a panel door 120
Water-based alkyd is best 123
The ultimate smooth finish 124
My favorite painting tricks 125
Chapter 4 Workshop Tips 127
Rust prevention pouch 128
Small-parts sander 129
Space-saving workbench 129
Plywood cutting station 129
Pallet dolly 130
Sanding disc cleaner 130
No-wait glue 131
Around-the-shop curve guides 131
Convenient bench clamps 131
Finishing stands 132
Faster filing with less sanding 133
No-roll pencils 133
Grip odd shapes 133
Long-reach magnet 134
Clamp with a tie-down strap 134
Blade-height gauge block 134
Use a level to extend your table saw fence 135
Less-mess tile cutting 135
Make your own pocket hole plugs 136
Dedicated nail puller 136
Renew craft knife blades 136
No-scratch toolbox 137
Magnet in a bag 137
Fiddlesticks 138
Plywood handle 138
Dividing odd widths 138
Soft-top sawhorses 139
Pencil trick for sanding 139
No more rolling 139
Double-duty sandpaper 140
Sandpaper tearing blade 140
Screw organizer 140
Bobby pin nail holder 141
Hole-saw depth marker 141
Instant hardware patina 141
8 ways to cut metal 142
Tips for cutting metal safely 143
Match the blade to the metal 145
Best workbench upgrades 146
Easiest add-on drawers 147
Our favorite convenience feature 148
Best benchtop space-saver 149
Our favorite 15-minute workbench accessory 149
Most versatile hold-down system 150
Our favorite double-duty bench stop 150
Simplest support for long boards 151
Upgrade a garage workshop 152
The always-clean workbench 153
Jack and jack-stand holder 154
Grease gun holster 155
PVC drawer organizers 155
Special Section: Holiday Hacks 156
Testing and Storing Holiday Lights
Test the bulbs 156
Test the whole string 157
Installing Holiday Lights
Hang lights from gutters 158
Better holiday light clips 159
Hook for tall trees 159
Clothespin clips 159
Storing Holiday Lights
In a bucket 160
On a hose reel 160
In a bag 160
On a spool 161
On a stand 161
Trees
Buy a bag 162
Tighten stand with a drill 162
The basics 163
Easy watering technique 163
Cat-proof Christmas tree 164
Tip-proof tree 164
Stand saucer 165
Magic carpet 165
Tree safety 166
Tree in a tube 167
Labeled tree layers 167
No tip, no drip 167
Chapter 5 Storage & Organizing Hacks 169
Kitchen
Plastic bag holder 170
Wine glass molding 170
Thyme saver 171
Spice storage 171
Cookware organizer 171
Two-tier spice drawer 172
Measuring cup hang-up 174
Racks for canned goods 174
Easy-to-make wine rack 175
Corral those container lids 175
Pot & pan pullout 176
One-hour drawer organizer 180
Trash-bag dispenser 181
Gutter shelves 181
Cabinet Dividers 182
Bathroom
Wine rack towel holder 186
His-and-hers shower shelves 186
Under-sink archives 186
Easy storage for hair appliances 187
Medicine cabinet magnets 187
Toilet paper shelf 188
Kitchen tray in the bathroom 188
Under-sink organizer 188
Expand bathroom storage with shelves 189
Plugged-in bathroom storage 190
Choose the right power strip 193
Adding an outlet under the sink 194
Don't fear fancy drawer slides 195
Beautiful built-in cabinet 196
Ordering cabinet doors 204
Editor's note 205
Garage, Basement & Workshop
Customized garage wall 206
Start with struts 207
Yard tool rack 208
Strong, low-cost hooks 208
Shelf brackets 209
Vinyl gutter storage bins 209
Long-handled tool storage 210
Wheelbarrow storage hub 210
Hose and sprinkler bucket 211
Sports gear rack 211
Kid-friendly ball corral 211
Storage pockets for skinny things 212
Double-duty shelf brackets 212
Between-the-studs shelving 212
Overhead garage storage 213
Under-joist shelf 213
Long-term storage 214
Cannery row hardware storage 214
Electrical box toolholders 214
Shoe pocket storage 215
Instant paper towel holder 215
Magnetic toolbox labels 215
Mate hose ends for storage 216
Eyeglass-case hardware storage 216
File by grit 216
Flexible paper towel storage 217
Picture hanger tape holder 217
Garden hose roundup 217
Easy chair storage 218
Easy flag storage 218
Rake rack 218
Blade storage tubes 219
Fishing rod saver 219
Garden tool hideaway 220
Yard tool organizer 220
Yard tool holders 220
Wheelbarrow rack 221
PVC tool holder 221
Bucket-lid blade holder 222
Wire dispenser 222
A safe chuck key holder 222
In-line workshop 223
Keep track of screw bits 223
Build shallow drawers 223
Tool bucket 224
Storage hooks 224
Garage storage 224
Extension cord smarts 225
Sheet metal drawer liners 225
Simple spiral hose storage 226
Hang-it-high helper 226
Garden gear caddy 227
Save your lawn products 227
Hang-it-all hooks 227
Closets
Twin closet shelves 228
Sliding tie and belt rack 229
S-hook hang-up 229
Add a closet rod and shelf 230
Tool-apron storage 231
Wire shelving "corral" 231
Turn a shelf into a clothes rack 231
Closet nook shelves 232
Closet glove rack 232
Back-of-door organizer 232
Shoe-storage booster stool 233
Gift wrap organizer 233
Chapter 6 Safety & Security Hacks 235
Security Hacks
Secret hiding places 236
A shelf with a secret 236
Sneaker subterfuge 237
You can't take it with you 237
Make a treasure map 237
Secret in the ceiling 238
Key magnet 238
Who'd suspect an ironing board? 238
Tissue coverup 239
A safe safe 239
Password protection 239
Kitchen cabinet cache 240
Stow a key in your yard 240
Hide a key in the keypad 240
Family album 241
Good venting is key 241
"Litterally" buried 241
Spare tire 242
Sitting pretty 242
It's magic, all right 242
A roll in the roll 243
Secret cash stash 243
Don't kick this ball! 243
Slip a box inside a box 244
Time well spent 244
Key house 245
Not IN the drawer 245
Slit open a tennis ball 245
Safety Hacks
Tips for everyday life 246
Turn off the water supply before going on vacation 246
Use metal tubing rather than plastic for ice maker supply lines 246
Monitor foundation or wall cracks 247
Test your sump pump before the beginning of the rainy season 247
Trim trees around the house so dead branches won't crash down on the roof 247
Buy no-burst hoses for your clothes washer 248
Put splash pans under washers and water heaters to catch leaks 248
Once a year, inspect your foundation for termite tunnels 248
Install surge protectors to protect your electronics and prevent data loss 249
Add 6-ft.-long downspout extensions 249
Scrap your water heater if you live In an earthquake-prone region 249
Earplug tether 250
Stuck on safety 250
Nonslip ladder 251
Slide-proof ramps 251
Tips for safely working alone 252
Bring everything with you so you don't waste time climbing up and down ladders 253
Levers will give you more lifting power than a burly neighbor 253
Handle long, awkward pieces with clamps, blocks, screws and nails 254
Listen to the music! 254
Use pivot points and balance to wrestle long ladders 255
Snap chalk lines when you lack a third hand 255
Use balance and grip to haul heavy plywood 256
Wear a well-stocked tool apron to double your work speed 256
Using sturdy sawhorses and 2×12s is safer and more productive than reaching from ladders 257
Extend your saw table with 2x4s and plywood 257
Chapter 7 Pets 259
Automatic accident cleanup 260
Cat-proof potted plants 260
Skunk vs. dog 260
Keep pets off the furniture 261
Clean up stinky messes 261
Pet-proof screen 261
Entryway towel 262
Avoid floor damage 262
Keep your cat off the countertop 262
Out of sight, out of mind 263
Stop the digging 263
Train your cat to scratch a post 263
Build an outdoor dog kennel 264
Slow feeder for puppies 265
The big-dog diner 265
Fur filter for dog bathing 266
Dog food scoop 266
Souped up Utter box 266
Pet hair remover 267
Bird retrieval 268
Cat repellent 268
Don't brush the dog-use a vacuum instead! 268
See-through door protector 269
Tinfoil couch-saver 269
Private dining 269
Pet-food dispenser 270
Dog 5pots on Grass 274
An ounce of prevention 274
Rainy-day doghouse 275
Low-fat dog treats 275
Paws off countertops 275
Bird retrieval 275
Childproof = pet-proof 275
No-barking zone 275
High-tech pet doors 276
Paws off countertops 276
Portable water dish 276
Paint tray birdbath 277
Ant-proof pet food dishes 277
Wind-proof dog dishes 277
Special Section: Ikea Hacks 278
Modern Console 278
Craft Center 280
Built-in Bench 282
Keep Those Hacks Coming! 284
Easy mulch spreading 284
Drawer organizer 284
Make your own lazy susan 285
No-smell gym bag 285
Protection for big blades 286
Handy camping kit 286
Get the gunk off drill bits 286
Cord control 287
Draw a circle with a chain 287
A stop block for long cuts 287