How Every Guy Can Be a Handyman
No man is lord of his house if he has to call in the cavalry for every leaky pipe. These 16 DIY tricks will save you money—and earn you bragging rights
BY DENNY WATKINS
Unclog a sink
Most blockages form in a sink’s trap (that curvy bit of pipe under the drain), says contractor John Palanca, cohost of DIY Network’s Under Construction. Put a bucket under the trap to catch the backed-up water. Unscrew the nuts holding the trap and pull the pipe downward to remove it. Clean out the insides with a bottle brush. Finally, wrap silicone tape (also called “plumber’s tape”) around the pipe threads and screw the trap back on tightly. Run hot water to flush out any remaining debris.
Fix a hole in drywall
1 Cut a square or rectangle at an easy-to-measure size—like 5 by 5 inches—around the hole with a utility knife, says former Sex Pistols front man John Lydon, who knows a few things about punching (and fixing) walls. Be sure to expose half the width of the closest stud.
2 Cut a new square of drywall to fit. Screw the patch onto the stud, and cover the cracks with a piece of joint tape. Coat the entire work area with a thin sheet of joint compound.
3 When dry, sand the area with a fine-grit sandpaper and apply paint primer over the patch. If you still see seams, coat with more compound and sand again.
Pull a stripped screw
Use a chisel to cut a deep horizontal groove across the head. Now use a flat-head screwdriver to gently back the screw out.
Repair hammer marks in wood
Lay a damp rag over the ding. Press a hot iron over the rag for a few seconds, and then check out the mark. The heat will cause the wood to absorb moisture like a sponge, forcing it back into shape. Repeat until there’s no evidence of your sorry skills.
Destink your fridge
Place an open bowl of ground coffee on the bottom shelf. Within a week, the coffee will absorb all of the foul odors—and leave behind the pleasing aroma of extrabold Sumatra.
Destink your bathroom
Switch on the fan and hold a single square of toilet paper to the grate, says Palanca. If the suction holds the paper up, the fan works fine—try a plug-in air freshener. If the paper won’t stay, you can either replace the fan (measure the hole and buy a new fan from the hardware store) or use an unbent coat hanger to reach up and clear out any clogs.
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