Ladies... Do It Yourself! The 4 DIY skills every woman should learn
It’s easy to kick back and rely on your man or trusty old dad to help you out when things go wrong around the house. But let’s face it, it’s not doing much for our independence, is it?
And what do we do if they’re not there – hang around in the cold and the dark without even a cup of tea to ease our pain? As if.
Now everyone relax, it’s not rocket science, it’s just a little bit of DIY and if THEY can do it, we certainly can.
Here, DIY expert Jo Behari shows us how it’s done...
De-stink your sinks
Unblocking a sink is one of the easiest and cheapest DIY jobs.
Pour two to three tablespoons of bicarbonate of soda down the plug hole, followed by some glugs of vinegar – supermarket brands are fine – then simply flush through with hot water. Voila.
Tackle a really stubborn sink
If your sink still isn’t playing ball, you’ll need more drastic action.
Place a bucket under the sink and start dismantling the U-bend. You won’t need tools as all the connections will be hand-tightened.
Wash the U-bend in another sink and reassemble. Then everything – including your worries – will be washed down the drain.
Top tip: Keep some old clothes and a nose peg handy in case of smells and spillages.
Cleaning taps of lime scale
Use the trusty bicarbonate of soda and vinegar combo again – a couple of tablespoons of bicarb to one tablespoon of vinegar mixed in a plastic bag.
Tie the bag over the taps, ensuring the ends are dipped in the solution.
Leave for two to four hours and scrub off with an old toothbrush.
Change a fuse
Fuses stop items overheating. If your electrical appliance suddenly stops working, the fuse is often the culprit.
To replace it, unplug and use a screwdriver to unscrew the plug.
The casing will open and reveal lots of wires and the fuse itself. The plug will also have a stamp stating the type of fuse that should be put back in – 5 amp or 13 amp, for example.
Use a small screwdriver to lever the fuse out, replace with a new one and screw the plug back together.
Sure to impress the husband!