Owning and maintaining a home often takes more than you bargained for. Aside from having to tackle large structural repairs from time to time, you also have to figure out how to deal with daily problems. On top of it, if you have children and pets, the number of potential, unexpected issues gets even bigger. Here are some of the most common home problems and simple ways of dealing with them.
Ant infestation
A few ants on the kitchen counter, cabinets or the stove doesn’t look like a code red, but once you realize they are everywhere, it might be too late. There are several kinds of ants, but black ants are the most common home invaders. While the damage they cause is insignificant, they multiply quickly and can destroy your food. Homeowners use standard ant traps, granules and sprays to deal with black ants, with relative success. The key to solving any ant problem is acting before it gets out of control and you need to call the pest service.
Door issues
While the living room or kitchen door is not so important, having difficulties closing a bathroom or bedroom door can be a nuisance because that’s where you need the most privacy. In case your door is hard to open or close, you’ll probably have to replace the door frame. To break it into steps, the door will have to come off, and then the trim, so the handyman can access the jamb. Once the jamb is replaced, everything will have to be shimmed so that the door can fit correctly. Although this seems like a troublesome operation that probably takes several hours, it is the only way to solve the door issues permanently.
Stained countertop
Perhaps you have changed the kitchen lighting and only then came to realise that your beautiful granite countertop is completely covered in water stains. Although it seems there is no simple solution for these stains, you probably only need some poultice. Natural stone is a porous material that is prone to staining. In chemical terms, a stain appears when a liquid penetrates the surface and then evaporates leaving the solid residue. Poultices for stain removal are made from a malleable mass of porous material like paper, whiting, diatomaceous earth, flour, etc. which is combined with a solvent like ammonia, acetone, alcohol, peroxide, etc. and then applied to the surface of the stone. The solvent penetrates the porous surface and binds the poultice to the stain molecules, which are then easily removed.
Clogged drains
Everyone has experienced this scenario – you want to wash the dishes quickly, but your clogged drain decides to give them a good soak instead. Annoying as it may be, a clogged drain is an issue that can be fixed easily, unless you are facing a more serious clog. In most cases, you need to disconnect the drain line beneath the sink and use a hooked piece of wire or a similar tool to pull the obstacle out. In case your clog is more complicated than that, you may want to enlist your trusted Melbourne plumber. Apart from their standard working hours, these professionals have a 24-hour emergency service on standby, in case a clogged drain is just the tip of the iceberg.
Mould in the shower
It begins as brown and, unless treated, turns black in a matter of weeks. Then it starts to spread all over. Improperly ventilated bathrooms are prone to mould growth. Mould that has settled into a surface is much more difficult to remove than mould that has only appeared. Among effective products that many homeowners use to remove mould from the shower or other bathroom fixtures, Mold Armor is especially effective in removing mould from tile grout. Concrobium Mold Control is another good product that not only kills the mould spores but also keeps them from returning. Use it in your shower once or twice and chances are you won’t have to clean it again. However, if the problem is persistent, you may want to hire professional house cleaners, as they have both the tools and the expertise to do the job quickly.
Whether it’s an ant infestation, clogged plumbing or mould contamination, addressing the problem early on will probably save you from calling the cavalry. However, if the issue is discovered too late, or it has slipped out of control, professionals can save you both money and time.
