DIY Life

Who isn't hard-pressed for time? Seems like myself and everyone I know are over-scheduled. Chronically. Hopelessly. Therefore, anything that needs fixing or cleaning around the house needs to be done pronto! That's why we here at DIY Life pounce on quick-fix-tips like these ones from BOOMj (that were originally gleaned from Real Simple magazine).

Here are my top 3 picks:
1. Restore sagging caning with water. Yes, plain old water. Wet the underside of whatever part is sagging (like the seat of an old chair) and leave to dry. The wood will naturally shrink back a little as it dries. Repeat if necessary.

2. Repair peeling wallpaper. Slap wallpaper paste on a piece of writing paper and gently slide it between the wall and the area that is peeling. Rub to transfer the paste, then press the wallpaper back into place. Finally, slide the writing paper back out. This fixes the problem without accidentally tearing the old wallpaper.

3. Clean a chandelier or other light fixture. For fumble-free cleaning, don an old pair of cotton gloves. Wet one glove with glass cleaner (or diluted rubbing alcohol for crystal) and wipe away the dirt and dust. Use your clean gloved hand to dry as you go.

What grabs me about lists like this? Well, they help identify those pesky little tasks that are eternally on our to-do lists. Yet, as the above tips demonstrate, none of them are particularly hard to fix if you tackle them the right way.