Home / Repairs and Maintenance / 10 Small Home Annoyances You Can Fix in Under 15 Minutes Each
easy home repairs slow sink drain squeaky hinges sticky drawer

10 Small Home Annoyances You Can Fix in Under 15 Minutes Each

/6 Comments/in , /by Mary Hunt

You know the drawer. The one that’s never quite closed all the way since roughly 2019. You’ve stopped seeing it. Your family has stopped seeing it. And yet every single time you walk past, some tiny part of your brain clocks it and sighs. That’s the thing about small home annoyances. None of them are bad enough to call anyone about. But string ten of them together: the squeaky door, the wobbly chair somebody hip-checked at dinner, the window that fights you every spring… and the whole house starts to feel a little tired.

easy home repairs slow sink drain squeaky hinges sticky drawer

A little defeated. Like it’s given up before you have.

Here’s what I’ve learned after fixing more of these than I can count: the dread is always worse than the job. You’ll put something off for three months, finally deal with it on a random Tuesday, and it takes ninety seconds. Then you stand there feeling a little silly. I do this to myself constantly.

So let’s just get it over with. Ten of the most common household annoyances, the real reason each one happens, and the fix. No handyman required, nothing fancier than a basic toolbox and maybe a quick trip to the hardware store.

1. Squeaky Door Hinges

how to fix a squeaky door hinge

That squeak is just dry metal rubbing against metal. Nothing more dramatic than that.

Fix: Lift the hinge pin about halfway out. Tap it up from underneath with a screwdriver and a hammer. Rub on a little white lithium grease or 3-in-One oil, then push the pin back down and work the door a few times. Done.

No oil handy? A bar of soap or a candle stub rubbed on the pin works better than you’d expect. WD-40 will get you through the afternoon, but it doesn’t stick around the way real grease does.

Time: about 5 minutes per hinge.

2. The Toilet That Won’t Stop Running

quick fix for running toilet

Nine times out of ten, it’s the flapper (that rubber disc at the bottom of the tank) or the fill valve.

Fix for a bad flapper: Shut off the water at the valve behind the toilet, flush to empty the tank, and unhook the old flapper from the chain and the tank studs. A new one runs about five dollars at any hardware store. Hook it on, turn the water back on, and you’re finished.

Fix for a bad fill valve: Budget more like 30 minutes. New valves run $10 to $15 and come with instructions, and YouTube has a video for pretty much every toilet model ever made.

Time: 10 minutes for the flapper, 30 for the valve.

3. The Wobbly Chair or Table

how to fix a wobbly chair or table

If the wood joints have loosened, glue’s your friend. If the floor’s just uneven, that’s a different, easier fix.

Fix for loose joints: Flip the piece upside down and find where the legs meet the seat or apron. Work wood glue into any gap you can see, then clamp it with a rubber band or a length of rope. Let it sit overnight. This is the one repair on the list you can’t rush.

Fix for uneven floor: Cut a small square of thin cork or cardboard, wedge it under the short leg, and trim off what shows. Or just slap adhesive furniture pads under all four legs and call it done.

Time: 15 minutes, plus overnight for the glue to set.

4. The Drawer That Won’t Close

how to fix a drawer that won't close

Almost always dirty or misaligned tracks. Sometimes you’ve just asked the drawer to hold more than it should.

Fix: Pull the drawer out completely. Wipe the tracks with a damp cloth to clear out the dust and grime, then run a little dry silicone spray or beeswax along them. Skip oil here, it just attracts more dust. Slide the drawer back in.

Still sticking? Take a look inside and lighten the load. If a track is bent, a pair of pliers will usually straighten it, or you can swap in a new set for about $10.

Time: 10 minutes.

5. The Cabinet or Drawer Handle That’s Gone Loose

how to fix a loose handle on a cabinet or drawer

Either the screw worked its way out, or it stripped the wood around the hole.

Fix for loose screw: Tighten it and move on with your life.

Fix for stripped wood: Stripped hole takes a little trick I love. Pull the handle off, break a couple of wooden toothpicks in half, dip them in wood glue, and stuff them into the hole. Let that dry about 30 minutes, snap off what’s sticking out, then reattach the handle. The screw now has fresh wood to grip instead of a worn-out hole.

Time: 2 minutes for a simple tighten, 15 with drying time for the toothpick fix.

6. The Window That Fights You Every Time

how to fix a sticky window that doesn't open easily

Usually it’s paint, dirt, or old dried-up lubricant clogged in the tracks.

Fix: Vacuum the tracks well, then wipe them down with a damp cloth to lift the sticky residue. Run a little dry silicone spray or paraffin wax along the length of the track and try it again.

Painted shut? Score along the seams with a utility knife to break the paint seal, then ease the window open slowly. Don’t force it. You’ll just be patching a splintered frame next.

Time: 10 minutes per window.

7. The Squeaky Floorboard

closeup of a squeaky floorboard

Wood expands and contracts, and when boards rub against each other or the subfloor, you get that little groan every time someone walks by.

Fix for hardwood or laminate: Sprinkle baby powder or graphite powder right into the seams of the noisy spot, work it in with a stiff brush, then sweep up what’s left. The powder cuts the friction that’s causing the noise.

Fix for carpeted squeaks: Carpeted squeak is a little different. Find the joist underneath (usually near where two rooms meet or along a wall) and drive a small trim screw down through the carpet into it. Twist the screw off just below the carpet’s surface so nobody ever knows it’s there.

Time: 10 minutes.

8. The Sink That Drains Like It’s Thinking It Over

slow draining sink

Hair, soap scum, or a clog sitting in the trap.

Fix: Start simple: a cup of baking soda followed by a cup of white vinegar. Let it foam and work for 15 minutes, then chase it with a full kettle of boiling water.

Didn’t budge? Set a bucket under the trap, unscrew it, clear out whatever’s in there by hand, and reinstall. No plumbing license required.

If it’s specifically hair, a Drain Weasel (that little plastic strip with barbs along the edge) will pull a clog out in about 30 seconds flat. I keep one in the bathroom drawer at all times.

Time: about 15 minutes if you go the trap route.

9. The Faucet That Wiggles When You Turn It On

quick fix for a loose faucet handle

The mounting nut underneath the sink has worked itself loose.

Fix: Get down there, find the large nut at the base of the faucet, and snug it up with a basin wrench or channel-lock pliers. Snug, not white-knuckle tight. You can crack the porcelain if you overdo it.

If it keeps coming loose no matter what, a little plumber’s putty or silicone caulk under the base will help it stay put.

Time: 10 minutes.

10. The Blind or Shade with a Broken Cord

how to fix a broken cord and blinds

Either the cord’s snapped or frayed, or the mechanism inside has jammed up.

Fix: For a snapped cord, most major brands sell replacement cords and tassels online for just a few dollars. Match the color and thickness to what’s already there and you’re set.

For a jammed mechanism, take the blind down and give it a firm shake upside down. Sounds too simple to work, but it usually resets whatever got tangled inside. Rehang it and see.

Time: 15 minutes once you’ve got the right cord in hand.

Do Them All in One Saturday

Here’s my actual trick, and it works every time: don’t fix these one by one as they annoy you. Grab a notepad, walk the whole house room by room, and write down every small thing that’s been bugging you. Then knock the entire list out in one sitting.

Two hours of focused fixing wipes out a hundred tiny daily irritations. You’ll feel it the first time you open that drawer and it just closes. Quietly. Like it always should have.

 

Question: So… what’s the one thing in your house you’ve been stepping around for months? Tell me in the comments. This might just be the weekend it finally gets fixed.

If you’re only catching posts here on the site, you’re missing what shows up in the inbox every day, free, with a few things you won’t find on EverydayCheapskate.com at all. Subscribe here and stop finding out about the toothpick trick for stripped screws two years after you already bought a whole new cabinet.

EverydayCheapskateโ„ข is reader-supported. We participate in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program and other affiliate advertising programs, designed to provide a means for us to earn from qualifying purchases, at no cost to you.

Print Friendly, PDF & Email

More from Everyday Cheapskate

how to read your water bill sprinklers on a residential lawn

How to Read Your Water Bill and Lower Your Monthly Costs Now

The 7-Item Emergency Car Kit Every Driver Needs (Cheaper Than One Tow)

car dashboard diy car interior cleaning wipes

DIY Car Interior Cleaning Wipes That Actually Work Well

how to keep a cooler cold

How to Pack a Cooler That Stays Cold for 48 Hours

a lit sparkler with an american flag in the background 4th of july hacks tips and recipes

34 Fourth of July Recipes and DIY Hacks for a Stress-Free Holiday

close up photo a woman wearing a swimsuit with a mild sunburn

DIY After-Sun Spray That Cools and Soothes Skin

Homemade Laundry Stain Paste That Works for Pennies

etriever labrador on white rug in bright contemporary living room pet stains and odors

Homemade Pet Stain Remover That Stops Repeat Accidents

how to get rid of the smell in the ice cooler chest

How to Clean and Deodorize Your Cooler So It Doesn’t Stink



Please keep your comments positive, encouraging, helpful, brief,
and on-topic in keeping with EC Commenting Guidelines



Caught yourself reading all the way 'til the end? Why not share with a friend.

6 replies
  1. C C says:

    I have a sliding door, that is stuck about 2/3 of the way. I have to slide through sideways in order to get through. I live alone and haven’t a clue how to fix it.

    Reply
  2. Kathy C says:

    Our garbage disposal has a funk, and always fills up like it’s clogged. I’ve put garbage disposal cleaners down it which work for a few days, then the odor is back, and it’s slow draining when you pour a lot of liqud a once like a pitcher of water, or drain a sink that was a little full. I’ve been meaning to try one of your vinegar and baking soda, or hot water methods, but have not yet. My hubby tried to remove the p-trap but it couldn’t come apart. We have a double sink, not a big farmhouse one so 2 drains to possibly find a fix. Any ideas???

    Reply
    • Mary Hunt says:

      A few things to look at: If you’ve cleaned out the disposal (https://www.everydaycheapskate.com/how-to-deep-clean-a-garbage-disposal-and-why-you-need-to/c) and still have a funky odor, AND have a dishwasher, the most common culprit is the tube that connects your dishwasher to the disposal. Many times this tube is situated so that there is a low spot where water can sit. Bacteria builds up and you get that terrible smell. That line needs to be taken out, cleaned and disinfected. Make sure the line runs UP so that water can’t get trapped.

      The other option is the P-Trap as you mentioned. check out this article for tips https://www.everydaycheapskate.com/smelly-kitchen-sink-drain/

      Best of luck!

      Reply
  3. linda says:

    i like my squeaky bedroom door. if someone comes in my room at night, i want to know about it. usually it’s just someone who wants to use my bathroom but someone is taking a shower in the other one. still, i want to know.

    Reply
  4. Deb R. says:

    In 2010, in a middle-of-the-night-moment of “I’ve got to do something about this!” I grabbed the PAM out of the pantry and sprayed a squeaky door hinge. Just sprayed the hinge, did not tap out the hinge. Sixteen years have passed with no squeaks.

    Reply
    • Sharon Ditton says:

      Good idea.

      I was staying in a hotel that had a squeaky bathroom door hinge. I rubbed a little hair conditioner on the hinge and it quieted right down.

      Reply

Leave a Reply

Want to join the discussion?
Feel free to contribute!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Freeze Summer Produce Now to Taste It All Winter Longfrozen bags of produce strawberries raspberries peas peppersbudget homework station young boy studying at kitchen dining tableHow to Set Up a Homework Station Your Kids Will Actually Use