With winter knocking on our door and COVID-19 cases on the rise, most of us will be spending a lot more time at home this holiday season. Yes, watching old Christmas movies is great, but you can only do that for so long before you eventually feel the urge to get up and be productive. So, why not take advantage of that extra down time and do some easy DIY upgrades, improvement, and maintenance around your home?
It doesn’t have to cost you a fortune, but these projects are sure to give you a sense of satisfaction when you’re done with them!
Replace Knobs/Handles On Drawers, Doors, And Cabinets
Trends come and go, and that may mean it’s time to upgrade those 20-year-old knobs on your kitchen cabinets. Well lucky for you, this is a fairly easy project that can really make a difference. If you’re looking to completely replace the knobs, consider popping one off and taking it with you when you go shopping for new knobs. This will help ensure that the screw size for the new knows is correct. Besides a constantly thinking “lefty-loosie and righty-tighty,” this project should be fairly simple.
On the other hand, maybe you like your current knobs, but the color doesn’t suit your style anymore. If practical, you may want to consider painting your knobs/handles. It may behoove you to take a knob with you to your local home improvement store and ask for advice on how to properly give it a new coat.
Replace Outdated Light Fixtures
Hey! 1990 called and it wants its light fixtures back! Okay, maybe that was a bit harsh. But maybe it’s reality. This is another fairly simple project that you can knock out on your own and it can make a HUGE difference not only when walking in a room but lighting the room as well. Of course, you’ll want to take certain safety precautions as you are dealing with electricity, but as long as the wires are in place, swapping fixtures should be an easy process as long as you follow the instructions.
Lather On A Fresh Coat Of Paint
It goes without saying that a fresh coat of paint can do wonders for doors, walls, cabinets, and just about anything that can be painted. This is also a good time to touch-up peeling or chipping paint around the house. And while you’re at it, you may want to patch any drywall that may have cracks or holes in it (we won’t ask how it happened). Easy-to-use patching kits are available at most home improvement stores.
Freshen Up Tile And Grout
Let’s be blunt – tile and grout get nasty over time – it’s inevitable. But there’s an easy remedy to making your tile and grout look brand new again without having to completely replace it. Stop by your local home improvement store and pick up a tile and grout restoration kit. You’re going to have to put some effort into it and do some scrubbing, but once it’s done, you’re going to appreciate those sparkly tiles and shiny white grout!
Shampoo Your Carpet/Rugs
Whether you’re the only occupant in your home or you have kids and pets, carpet and rugs collect dirt and grime over time. This can lead to unsightly stains and unpleasant odors. Luckily, you don’t need to hire a professional to clean your rugs and carpet. For a couple hundred dollars and a couple hours of your time here and then, you can knock this project out yourself. Shop around online to see what shampooing machine best suits your needs. The great thing is that you can use this machine to clean your carpet and rugs for years to come. If you don’t want to fork over the money to buy a machine, rent one. Many local grocery and hardware stores offer rentals, such as a Rug Doctor, for a nominal fee. Walking on freshly cleaned carpets is one of the best feelings!
Do Some Organizing!
All of us could probably use some of this one way or another. Depending on how much stuff you have, this may be a daunting task, but take our word for it, you will feel SO much better after doing some organizing.
For example, if you’ve got a mountain of clothes piling up in your closet, take the time to go through it. Make a pile of stuff you want to keep and a pile that you’d like to donate or sell. For the stuff you’d like to keep, consider hanging it up in your closet or neatly folding it and stowing it away. Think about it this way, now you’ll have more room for new clothes!
Install Weatherstripping
Who enjoys wasting money? We would venture to say not a whole lot of people. But when your home isn’t properly weatherproofed, you may unknowingly be throwing money out the window (no pun intended) when it comes to your energy bill. If cold air is able to seep into your home through windows, doors, or other openings, your furnace is going to have to work harder to keep your home warm, which in return uses more energy.
Consider paying a visit to your local home improvement store and purchasing some temporary weatherstripping to install around your windows and doors. This will help keeps drafts at bay and will help prevent a strain on your budget. The beauty of it is that when the weather warms up, the weatherstripping can easily be removed.
Replace Your Furnace Filter
This is about as easy and inexpensive as it gets. All of the air in your home is circulated through this filter and is bound to collect dirt. It’s suggested that you check your air filter’s quality on a monthly basis and replace it every three months. These filters are just a few dollars and can make a huge difference in the air that you and your family is breathing in.
Clean Your Dryer Ducts
Is your dryer not performing like it used to? The dryer ducts may be the culprit. Not only could this be affecting your dryer’s efficiency, but it could also pose a more serious problem – a fire hazard. You’re going to need some muscle to move your dryer away from the wall. Once you do so, unplug your dryer and disassemble the duct work and vacuum out all of the lint and dust to the best of your ability.
Replace Your Old Faucets/Shower Heads
Are your faucets and shower heads beyond the point of no return when it comes to calcium buildup? Or maybe they have a leak that you just can’t seem to stop. Consider upgrading these fixtures. Nowadays, both faucets can be pretty fancy, but do what suits you best. Before disconnecting these fixtures, be sure to turn off your water supply to avoid unnecessary messes.