By Noreen Doll. For months I had an impossible to remove hard build-up on my glass stovetop. I tried everything I could think of to remove it, and nothing worked. I even used the stuff made specifically for that purpose. Nothing! I had read that you could gently scrape burned on stains off using a razor blade, so I tried that. I was able to get a little off, … [Read more...] about How to Clean Build-Up on a Glass Stovetop
Fix It
Sharpie Touch Up Trick
Here’s an easy way to make a project look more professional. We put some hooks in a closet, and the silver colored screws were really obvious and didn’t look very nice. We used a black Sharpie to color the screws and make them match the black hook. It worked very well and looks much nicer. Here are some other ways you can use this touch up … [Read more...] about Sharpie Touch Up Trick
Neglected Fence Fix
By Noreen Doll. A friend bought a fixer upper house that had a neighbor on one side who wasn't interested in keeping his property in good repair. As a result, the fence between the two houses looked like this, with the wooden fence belonging to the neighbor. It was a real eyesore. The solution we came up with to lessen how awful the fence looked, was to … [Read more...] about Neglected Fence Fix
Easy Headlight Fix
By Noreen Doll. My headlights had become so clouded, the light could barely shine through. I had read about using toothpaste to clear the headlights and thought I would give it a try. I went to the Dollar Store and bought a tube of Pepsodent, and checked to make sure it was a white paste. I didn’t want gel or some odd speckled … [Read more...] about Easy Headlight Fix
Remove Rust from the Shower
By Noreen Doll. This morning I noticed rust stains on a shelf in the shower, left by a metal can of shaving gel that had been sitting in water. I decided to try my usual cleaner, and it worked quickly and easily. I sprinkled some baking soda on the rust stain and then added a little white vinegar to make a paste. With just a bit of scrubbing using a paper … [Read more...] about Remove Rust from the Shower
How to Remove Furniture Dents from Carpet
By Noreen Doll. Recently I decided to move a heavy bookcase from where it had been sitting for several years. Once the bookcase was gone, there remained a deep imprint in the flattened carpet fibers where the bottom edges of the bookcase had been sitting. I had read about using ice cubes to rejuvenate dents in carpeting, so I decided to try it. I laid ice … [Read more...] about How to Remove Furniture Dents from Carpet
How to Fix a Rusted Paper Punch
By Noreen Doll. I came across an old paper punch that had belonged to my folks. It had been around for quite a while, and because it was old, it was a very well made tool. But, unfortunately, it had rusted some on the inside, and when I squeezed it shut it stayed that way. I had to pry it open again to release it. I was going to dispose of it, but because it … [Read more...] about How to Fix a Rusted Paper Punch
How to Prevent Cord Ends from Fraying While You Work
By Noreen Doll. Do you ever try to thread ribbon or twine through a punched hole only to have the end fray and spread in all directions? One clever remedy I've discovered is to put a drop or two of white glue on my finger tip and then stick the end of the twine in the glue and rub the glue all over the end. Twist the end of the twine in the direction that … [Read more...] about How to Prevent Cord Ends from Fraying While You Work
Easy Way to Hide Paint Drips
By Noreen Doll. Here's an easy way to hide paint drips when you're painting. Our kitchen / dining room has a lot of brown trim in it, including a chair rail that goes around the dining room walls. Recently we painted the ceiling and walls, and while doing the ceiling, several drops of paint dripped onto the wood trim. By the time we noticed the paint drips, they … [Read more...] about Easy Way to Hide Paint Drips
Remove Dried Paint Splotches Easily and Cheaply
By Noreen Doll. While painting recently, we managed to have dried paint splotches on the vinyl floor. Because the vinyl is textured, removing the paint splotches presented a problem. It couldn't just be scraped off because the vinyl wasn't a flat surface - it had tiny ridges. We tried various things, and then discovered that alcohol would soften the paint so it … [Read more...] about Remove Dried Paint Splotches Easily and Cheaply
Cheap Laminating
By Noreen Doll. You can use packaging tape for cheap laminating if you don't have - and don't want to buy - a laminating machine. I make sure the tape I laminate with is completely clear. One thing it is really nice for is preserving recipe cards. I have a few old recipe cards written by hand by relatives who are long gone. And I think it's pretty special to be … [Read more...] about Cheap Laminating
Make Sandpaper Last Longer
By Noreen Doll. Use packing tape to make sandpaper last longer. Whenever I would sand a project, it seemed like the paper always tore and became useless long before the grit had been used up. It was very frustrating. One day, after cutting a sheet of sandpaper to the size I needed, I grabbed a roll of packaging tape and taped strips all across the back. It … [Read more...] about Make Sandpaper Last Longer
