Home maintenance - Home Executive 101

House Maintenance

Windows:

To clean: use sponge in clean water with vinegar and dishwashing liquid – wash and then use a rubber edge to clean water and dirt off. 1) don’t wash windows on sunny days as they dry too fast and show streaks 2) Dam or bore water makes cleaning windows harder so add ammonia to warm water and then rinse or use equal parts of methylated spirits, kerosene and water, mix well and apply with a soft cloth.

Alumium window and door frames

Fly Screens:

To clean: wash with the attachment to clean the car
To mead: Darn small holes in wire flyscreens with a piece of fuse wire or art wire from Spotlight

Blinds:

To clean: wear an old pair of fabric gloves, dip fingers in warm soapy water and then draw each slat between the fingers.

Curtains:

If you have rings or hooks and they are rusty, boil in vinegar and water for a few minutes and dry well
If using curtain rods, wax them before putting curtains on – they will move easily and wax will stop rusting.
Dry clean or wash at least yearly.

Carpets & Rugs:

To Clean: vacuum frequently at least once a week and shampoo at least once a year by hiring equipment yourself or getting in professional carpet cleaners
Always empty vacuum bag at the end of the job, as a full dust bag reduces suction and increases vacuuming time
Cornflour can be a carpet tonic. Sprinkle on and vacuum an hour later
Carpet smell: use soda water or bicarbonate of soda and blot up the moisture afterward.
Raise flattened pole: use a good steam iron and hold over the surface, not allowing the iron to touch the carpet and then brush briskly
Remove furniture flattened carpet: as above
Loose threads: do not pull, just snip off at pile level

Chimney cleaned;

its a good idea to have this cleaned either at the end of winter ready for next year or in Autumn.

Drains blocked:

A cup of salt and a cup of washing soda followed by a kettle of boiling water will usually unclog drains blocked with grease.
Drains are a breeding ground for germs, so disinfect regularly
Do not treat drains as a general waste outlet. Food, fats, tea leaves and coffee grounds can all cause blockages at the sink.
If you have a sink insinkerators always run water first, put items down drain and turn it on and run a whole lot more water after it has finished. Make sure sink is clear of any items like a t spoon that could slip down the drain whilst the insinkerators, is on. They do not like onion peel.

Electrical:

If an electric cord feels hot to touch, have it checked
A fishy smell may mean a plug is overheating and melting the plastic. Switch it off, then unplug it and have the wiring checked
Do not touch electrical equipment with wet hands – you may get electrocuted. Train your children
If a pet has chewed a electric chord and has been electrocuted – do not touch it. Turn off the power first, otherwise you will be too
Do not use a vacuum cleaner on wet areas
Do not use a heater where they may be splashed with water
Be extremely careful with hairdryers and other electrical appliances in the bathroom

Gutters:

After autumn and before the wet weather and winter arrives, check your gutters for leaves and debris
Gutters full of leaves and twigs are also a fire hazard
If you have gutter mesh, check that there are no breaks in it.
Blocked gutters, can cause the water to flow back over the inside top of ceilings etc

Painting:

To banish paint smells, leave a large dish of water and a tablespoon of ammonia in the room overnight or leave a large cut onion in the pan of water instead of ammonia and it will absorb smells
Or, to assist with paint odour as you paint put 2 teaspoons of vanilla essence with each 1.5 litres of paint.
Baby oil is good for removing paint from the face and hands
Nail polish remover will take off paint spatters on windows
Soak a new paint brush in a can of linseed oil before using and it will be easier to clean and last longer
If painting in cold weather, the pain is often harder to work with, so before painting, stand tin in hot water to stir. Don’t put tin directly on gas or a hot plate.
If painting concrete floor or metal surface – paint it with vinegar first and it won’t peel so readily.
If you need to leave your paint brush for a short while, wrap in foil to keep soft
Simmer very dirty paint brushes in boiling vinegar for half an hour, then wash in strong soap suds
Oil based paint will stay fresh if you add 4 tablespoons of mineralised methylated spirits to the top layer of paint before storing. Do not stir into the paint until you use it again.
Wood outside needs staining – possibly every year to keep in good condition and especially if sun facing. Check the requirements with your supplier

Doors:

Squeaking door – try sprinkling talcum powder on hinges, or rub with dry soap or petroleum jelly or non stick vegetable oil spray

Floorboard squeaks

Talcum powder in the cracks between wooden floorboards helps – then get them fixed properly

Dripping Tap overnight fix:

Tie to the tap a piece of string long enough to reach the drain. Water will run silently down the sink
At your first opportunity it needs to be sorted, as a hot tap is costing you money on your electric bill and also on your water bill if you pay for water.

Gas Leak:

To find a gas leak, lather the pipes with soapy water. The escaping gas will make the soapy water bubble over the damaged area. Make a temporary plug from a moistened cake of soap and press over the spot. When the soap hardens it will close the leak until the gasman comes to repair it.
Do not light a match or cigaregette with a gas leak as it could ignite and blow the building up

Sticking door lock:

Rusted bolt:

A cloth soaked in any fizzy soft drink often will loosen a rusted bolt. Or try a drop or two of ammonia
Coat with petroleum jelly to avoid future rusting.