One of the most inevitable parts of homeownership- home repairs. It could be something simple like scuffed floors from that time you asked your son to bring you a chair and he understood that to mean slide it across your pristine hardwood floors. It could be something more complicated like you’re turning the handle to the sink and no water is coming out. Or it could be something absolutely inexplicable like the bathroom tile suddenly has a huge crack in it and nobody seems to know how it happened. The problem with home repair (other than the obvious problems like expense, time, etc.) is that it involves violating social distancing recommendations. Should you really risk going to the hardware store for something as cosmetic as a squeaky floorboard? Luckily, there are DIY hacks to common house repairs that you can do using items you’ll most likely already have in your home.

Squeaky Door

One of the most annoying things you can experience in your day to day home life is an incessantly squeaky door. You’re already being tested by having to stay home all day, the last thing you want is for a repetitive ‘squeaaaaaaaak’ to drive the last bit of sanity you’re clinging to right out the window. The best repair for a squeaky door is some WD-40, but if you don’t have any on hand and want to save yourself a trip to the store- cooking spray is a great substitute. Simply spray the cooking spray onto the door hinge and you’ve bought yourself a few days squeak-free!

Toilet Leak

Worried you may have a leaky toilet? Not only can hiring a plumber to scope out the situation get pricey, but having a stranger in your home doesn’t sound so great right now. Luckily, there’s an easy way to tell if you have a leak without having to bring anyone into your home unnecessarily. Simply take a packet of Koolaid (yes, the kid’s drink) and dump it into the upper compartment in your toilet. You’ll notice right away that the water in the upper compartment should begin to change colors. Now, all you have to do is sit back and wait for a few hours. If in a few hours the toilet water has also changed colors then you have a leak and you’ll need to call a plumber. If not, however, then it was just a false alarm!

Squeaky Floorboard

Similarly to the squeaky door, having a squeaky floorboard can really test you when you’re stuck in the house and have to hear it multiple times every single day. There’s a DIY fix that could save you money and sanity without you having to run to the hardware store. Floorboard squeaking is typically the result of two floorboards rubbing together when they’ve been stepped on. To help this, take some baby powder and pour it in between the floorboards in the area. Use a small makeup brush to press deeper into the cracks and this should cure your house of these unpleasant groans.

Nail Holes

If you’re rearranging pictures or posters in the house (and who isn’t when you’re this bored, right?) that can leave your wall with nail holes scattered about. An easy fix for those involves simply taking a crayon or a bar of soap. Let’s say your wall is white, take a white crayon or bar of soap and rub it over the whole with moderate pressure. This should fill in the hole and allow it to blend in with the rest of your wall.

Tile Crack/Damage

Tile damage can take any bathroom from spa oasis to instant stressor. Luckily, however, there’s an easy DIY fix that you can use with just items from around the house. Start by taking broken eggshells and piling them into the tile hole. Next, pour glue all throughout the hole and wipe it with sandpaper once it dries. Then add another layer of glue and a layer of nail polish on top of that. Finally, finish the trick by wiping it down with acetone and it should blend into your tile fixings almost seamlessly.

Dented Wooden Floor

Dented wooden floorboards can be another home repair that can pile up (especially if you have pets or kids). One easy DIY trick to significantly reduce or eliminate those pesky scratches is to use your iron. Simply lay a thin towel or paper towel on top of the floor area that has taken a beating. Then run your iron over the area a few times and watch as the scratches smooth themselves out.