Repair Your Things At Home And Save Money
Money is so tight at the moment, so you need to save as much as you can. When things get broken or are damaged unexpectedly, it can be expensive to get them repaired. You can save that money and fix it yourself by using the internet and videos. I also wanted to share some ideas on how to repair your things at home.
But there is a downside to this. Because all of your friends will want you to fix their broken things too! Make sure they do not take the mickey out of you.
Some Things You Can Fix At Home
Here are some ways to repair your things at home and make sure they stay free of damage.
Fixing A Blocked Dishwasher Or Washing Machines
If your dishwasher is digital and it is showing an error on the digital panel, then look online to see what the fault is. It can be a fault that you can fix, but it can equally be a fault that needs professional help. If the fault is a blockage, then you can deal with this at home.
Firstly you are going to unplug the machine so you do not electrocute yourself. Then you will find where the filter is. In a dishwasher, it is inside the machine. In a washing machine, it is at the bottom on the outside. You need to unscrew the filter and pull out the gunk that is stuck in there.
You might need to put your fingers right in there to pull out coins and hair grips from a washing machine. Also with the dishwasher, there can be food stuck right in the filter.
If you have checked the filters and the blockage is still there, try the pipes. There could be a twist in the pipes or you could have a blockage. Run your hands along the pipe to straighten any kinks and give them a shake to see if they are blocked.
If these do not fix your washing machine, you will need to get help to fix it.
Broken Jewellery And Watches
When you repair your things at home, it doesn’t just mean the big electricals or the plumbing. It also means the little things like jewellery and watches. How many times have you had a watch and it just stops working? It might just mean that it needs a battery. But it might also mean that it needs another repair. But it is easy enough to find a YouTube video on how to fix the watch. You can learn so much online these days.
When it comes to fixing jewellery, you can use the same watch screwdrivers as you have for the watch repair. They are small minute screwdrivers that will help you to fix even the smallest pieces of jewellery. Did you know you can even fix your glasses with some watch screwdrivers as they are so small?
For less than £10, you can save so much money fixing your watch yourself.
Repair Broken Electrical Appliances
I know it only costs about £10 or £15 for a new toaster or kettle, but when it breaks you need to spend money on another new one. But in the current economic climate, you need to save as much money as you can. So it can be as simple as a new fuse that will rescue your broken appliance.
These days most plugs are moulded onto products, this is to cut down on the risk of people electrocuting themselves by wiring plugs wrong. So you will find the fuse on the outside of the plug, hidden under a little plastic casing. Get a knife or screwdriver to open the fuse casing and see what fuse it is. If it is a plug with a fuse inside, you need to get a screwdriver and open the plug. Do not touch any wires, just remove the fuse. Fuses come in different amp sizes. So you need to replace the fuse with the correct amperage. If this doesn’t fix the problem, then you will likely need a new appliance. If it is a cheap appliance, then it might not be worth paying to get it repaired and get a new one.
How To Unblock A Blocked Plughole Or Drain
Most blocked drains and plugs are caused by hair or greasy oil and food waste. Before you get a plumber in to unblock the plughole or drain, try and clear it yourself. Before anything, grab a plunger to do the job. Place the plunger over the plughole or drain and using your hands work the plunger up and down, this will draw the blockage out of the drain or pipe. Or it will dislodge the blockage enough for it to go down the drain properly.
When you think you have dislodged the blockage a little. You can add some hot water down the plug hole or try a chemical unblocker. For blockages that are tough, you might need to make 2 or 3 attempts at unblocking the blockage.
How To Fix a Smelly Washing Machine
Stop bad smells in your washing machine by running a boiling cycle. You can also get a washing machine cleansing powder or tablet to add to the machine. To stop the washing machine from being smelly in the future, you need to leave the door open a little after every wash. This will stop it from getting mouldy. Also clean the rim of the washing machine at least once a week, because this will clear out any gunk and rubbish that is caught up there. Making sure your washing machine is clean is a good way to help it last longer too.
Clean Your Sofa Or Carpets With Baking Soda
As a parent, we all know how messy and smelly our sofas and carpets can get. But instead of getting someone out to professionally fix the problem, you can do it easily yourself with a supermarket product costing only a few quid. Did you know that baking soda or bicarbonate of soda can help to remove smells from a sofa or carpet? Just sprinkle a generous amount onto the fabric, wait about 20 minutes and then vacuum it up. The baking soda helps to soak up the smell and even some stains that might be in the fabric.