c/diy-fixes

My neighbor swore by using toothpaste to fill nail holes in drywall, and I tried it on a rental inspection.

The time I tried to fix my sink with a plunger and a prayer

Last week, my kitchen sink in my apartment just stopped draining, and I panicked because my landlord is slow. I grabbed my toilet plunger, thinking 'how different can it be?' After about 15 minutes of frantic plunging, I somehow created a perfect seal and a geyser of gross water shot straight up and hit the ceiling. My roommate walked in and just said, 'Did you win?' I had to clean the ceiling and finally just used a coat hander to pull out a huge hairball. Has anyone else had a simple fix go totally wrong in a messy way?

Just spent $40 on a 'universal' sink drain wrench that stripped my kitchen drain nut. Is it better to buy the right tool or try to make a cheap one work?

Why does every rainstorm turn my driveway into a mini lake?

I've tried fixing the slope twice, but water still pools in the same spot every time.

Pro tip: Double-check the model number before buying faucet parts, I had to return mine twice

Friends jumping in on my window repair with their own methods. Good or bad idea?

Some folks think shared know-how fixes things faster. Others say stick to your own plan to avoid mix-ups. My cousin used a sealant that peeled off after rain. When do you take advice or go solo on home fixes?

DAE recall when tile grout took a full day to set?

I redid my bathroom floor ages ago with the old school cement grout. You had to mix it just right and keep it damp for hours to cure properly. Now, with the quick-set stuff, it's done in under an hour, but I feel like the old way made you respect the process more. That long wait made the finished job feel earned.

My suitcase wheel is loose and rattling, any DIY tips?

What's a good way to tighten it without buying new parts?

My bedroom window finally slides smooth after a simple fix

I mean, it was sticking for weeks and driving me nuts. Just rubbed some candle wax on the tracks and now it's like butter.