Five Quick Fixes Every Seattle Homeowner Needs to Know

Every day it seems like you find something new in the house that needs a little attention. Whether it is something like a squeaky door, a cabinet hanging wrong or a gutter pulling away from the house, it all needs fixing before it becomes a bigger problem. You may assume you have to live with it or call a handyman to take care of the problem for you. You don’t. You can find everything you need at Greenwood Hardware to take care of some of the little things around the house all by yourself. You will not only have a serious sense of satisfaction but will save yourself a small fortunate as well.

Odd Hanging Cabinet Door

Cupboards in the kitchen and bathroom take a lot of abuse. They get opened and closed and slammed shut. All of the wear causes hinges to loosen and in some cases, the screws in the hinges pull completely out. Your best bet is to use a screwdriver to tighten the hinges at the first sign they are loose. If the screws have pulled out of the wood doors, you have a little more work to do. You will need to use a small wood dowel that is small enough to fit into the hole left behind by the stripped screw. Cover the dowel in wood glue and use a hammer to pound it in the hole. Let it dry and then use a screwdriver to put the screws back in place.

Stuck Window

If moisture and time have made a window tough to open, you can use a putty knife or a box knife to remove the gunk, paint and other buildup that is making it tough to slide. Be careful you don’t slice into the wood jam. If it is the moisture of a Pacific Northwest spring causing problems, you can run a dehumidifier to help pull the moisture out of the air.

Squeaky Doors

This is a quick fix. All you need is some WD-40. A little spray on the hinges is all you need. If you don’t care for the odor, you could always head to the kitchen and grab the olive oil. A few drops on the squeaky hinge will take care of it.

Loose Door Knobs

Door knobs are another fixture in the house that take a lot of abuse. Just like the cabinet hinges, you want to make sure you keep the knobs tight before the screws work their way completely out and essentially strip the wood. A small screwdriver is all you need to tighten up the plate that holds the door knob secure. If the screws have been stripped, you can use the same method above for the cabinet hinges to make them secure again.

Cleaning the Refrigerator Coils

If your fridge seems to be running more than usual or not keeping things as cold as it used to, clean the coils before you call the repairman. A coil brush and a few minutes are all you need to clean out the dust and grime that collects behind the fridge and under the door.

These are easy fixes that can save you a ton in repair costs. Head into Greenwood Hardware and pick up the tools you need to fix up all those little things. Come on in, or contact us today.