The Eazy-Fix

Screwdriver/ Utility Knife?

2009-12-31T00:58:00Z

This is the one of the coolest little tools of the season, I think at least!

Kobalt Quick-Change Folding Lock-Back Knife with Bits

Here is the link to see the product at Lowes! http://bit.ly/8UlG4R

I will explain myself

So typically you just have your standard utility knife, the blade rotates open and closed(bla, bla). Replace the blade when it goes bad and move on. Well, what if you are cutting something one minute and the next minute you need a screwdriver? This may not be a common situation for everyone, but is for me. Anyway, so this new knife made by Kobalt is a utility knife with a spot for a bit at the bottom of it! The other side of the knife flips out and is storing four different drill bits. Just choose your bit, insert it into the hole at the bottom and you have your screwdriver!

I thought this was a wild and great idea. This tool really makes projects eazier, faster and more convenient!

So check it out online or pick one up in the store! They are actually on sale at Lowes right now for $4.95!

That is a really really good deal!

Let me know if you also like this tool, or if you don't for that matter. Have any other great tool finds this year or lately? Post a thought or story about it and let everyone know!!

No Idea, No Problem! Take A Photo!

2009-12-31T00:25:00Z

You know when you are working on a little project and it is most likely something you are trying out for the first time. Well this is usually

when you run into little problems. These 'little' problems can turn into really big and frustrating problems if you can't figure out how to fix

them! So what do you do to get the answers you need to help finish your project?

Idea #1: Take a photo! This is a quick and eazy way to show someone at the hardware store what you are working on without

having to take everything apart or taking the parts with you. For example: When I was replacing my sink in my bathroom, I had

a mysterious leak that I just couldn't figure out. So I took a picture on my phone from a coupe different angles and went to the

store. I showed the worker the photos and had my parts within minutes! See eazy!!

Idea #2: Take the part with you! If you have an old part that you need to replace, but are not sure exactly what it is. Than

take it with you to your hardware store and show them exactly what you need! For example: When I was still working on this

sink, I has a plastic washer that I thought looked old and worn out. So I took it with me to the store and I found new

replacements!!

So try to make things eazy on yourself when working on your projects and always use your resources!

What about YOU? Have your tried this method before and if so, how did it work for you? I would love to hear if there are some

other ideas for getting help with projects! Tell everyone your ideas!

Install New House Numbers!

2009-12-16T02:27:00Z

Want to add some curb appeal to the front of your house and make it stand out more?

A quick and eazy way to do this is by installing new or adding house numbers!

House numbers can be shown off in many different ways, here is small list of a few.....

-Install new numbers right next to your front door, vertical or horizontal

-Install them on the post or side of your mailbox, can't miss that!

-Try installing them on one of your main porch posts as you walk up to the door

-Get a plaque made with the numbers etched in it, very classy and original!

Now here is a problem I ran into when I installed new numbers on my mailbox.

My mailbox post was made of pressure treated wood, and I tried installing nice

brass numbers. Well needless to say, you could only see the numbers in the right light.

I eventually removed the numbers and made them a nice, bright white!! Always keep in

mind that these numbers need to be noticeable from a distance or as you quickly pass by.

Make sure they are a good contrasting color to your existing siding, structure or post!

How to Install?

Installing new numbers is very easy. Grab your drill or a screwdriver (a drill is much eazier)

and simply place the numbers where you want them to go. TIP: Buy a small roll of double

stick tape and attach it to the back of the numbers, this will allow you to temporarily install

the numbers until you find the perfect spot. Once you have chosen your location, screw

the screws that were provided with each number onto the wall or surface and your done!

A nice, eazy fix for your home that can add some great curb appeal!!

Let me know how your new number installation went, and where you found the best place

to install them! O and have fun!!

Trim the Blue Painters Tape!

2009-12-15T02:37:00Z

What is 'Blue Painters Tape' first. This tape is a specially made tape for paint and painting.

If you want to make lines, designs or block off trim on your walls, blue tape is your answer.

Now there are a few tricks to using blue painters tape. The first is to apply or install the tape

where you want it, apply your paint and slowly take the tape off while still wet. Now the better

way to remove the blue tape is to let the paint dry first. Once the paint has dried, use a sharp

utility knife ( be very careful as these blades are very sharp!) where the edge of the blue tape

meets the paint. Make sure that the two surfaces are completely separated before you pull

the blue tape off. Just to make sure you don't pull the new paint off the wall.

Blue tape can be purchased in different widths. This comes in handy when making different

width designs and working with different width trims.

So go crazy with your blue tape and use these ideas to make it look pro! Let me know

if the tape works for you or if other types of tape work well too!

Paint Roller Thickness

2009-12-15T02:06:00Z

So why does the thickness of your paint roller really matter? Well it actually matters a whole lot!

If you take a close look at your walls, you will see a texture. It kind of looks like an orange peel.

You can adjust the thickness or heaviness of the texture that you apply to the wall. This is done

by the thickness of the roller you use. The general rule of thumb is the thicker the roller the heavier

the texture, the thinner the roller the lighter the texture. Why does this matter and how can it help you?

Well, if you have very smooth walls (no dings, lines, scratches, or mud blotches) you will want to use

a 3/8" or 1/2". This thickness of roller goes on the wall very smooth and applies a light texture, it is also

much cheaper to purchase. Now lets say you have rough walls, or walls that have scratch marks, scrapes,

etc. You want to use a 3/4" or 1" roller, this will lay a heavier texture and help hide imperfections on your

walls. Keep in mind a thicker roller means more paint. Estimate a little extra.

So review your walls and make your decisions. Let everyone know if the thicker roller worked for you

or if you have any other paint roller ideas!!

Christmas Lights on a Timer

2009-11-30T01:04:00Z

So I was installing my Christmas Lights on my house today and was trying to think of an eazy

way to turn my lights off and on. Typically I have to plug in my lights to the closest outlet and every

night I would have to plug in and unplug to turn them on and off.

THE SOLUTION: Put your lights on a TIMER!

I found a cheap and eazy timer for 10 bucks at Target made by Westinghouse. It has a digital screen

on the front and is really eazy to set the start and stop time. I set mine for 5:30 and have it set to turn

off at 10:30. No more hassling with an on and off switch or dealing with a plug on a cord!

Just set and forget! Korny saying, I know, but very true!

Let me know of this idea worked great for you, or if you have any other energy saving

Christmas light ideas!

EazyFix on Twitter

2009-11-29T18:22:00Z

Follow EazyFix on Twitter!

Eazyfix first started out on Twitter with daily ideas on household repairs, tip and eazyfixes!

When you decide to follow Eazyfix, scroll through all the recent entries to learn about

eazyfix ideas and blog posts related to tweets! Most tweets are links back the the eazy-fix

blog, but many of them are short paragraphs about household repairs and tips!

Leave me a comment on the eazy-fix blog or send a Direct Message on Twitter if you like

the Eazyfix idea, or if you have a question about a household project you are working on!

Thanks for checking out the Eazy-Fix blog and please follow me on Twitter using the provided

link twitter.com/eazyfix.

Keep checking back for new blog posts and site updates!

My Countertop 'Restore' Find

2009-11-28T22:39:00Z

So you should know about the 'Habitat for Humanity Restore' from my blog post named

'Whats the Restore'. If you don't know what the 'Restore' is than check out that post!!

Anyway, I went to the Restore a few weeks ago to look around for anything new, I do this

about 2 or 3 times a week And low and behold there was a brand new, in the box,

light brown cultured marble vanity top. It was all one piece with a smooth transition to the

actual bowl. It Was Brand New!

Oh and did I mention I bought it for $90.00. CRAZY! It had the faucet holes predrilled in it

and it was super smooth!

So I insist again on finding out to see if you have 'Restore' in your area. Look online or call

around and check it out, weekly if you are crazy like me I suppose. Hey I am just looking for the

best deal possible. We are all entitled to that, right?

Let me know about your 'Restore' finds, or if you know of another place that has great deals

on household materials!

Insulation For Outlets

2009-11-21T10:44:00Z

Ever wonder where or how the cold outside air is getting into your house? Try putting your hand over top of a few wall

outlets and hold it there, feel anything? If you do feel air coming in than you need to install some foam receptacle

insulators or gaskets! These are really eazy to install and do a great job. You can purchase them at any hardware store

for just a few bucks. They basically look just like your outlet or receptacle plastic front cover, but are made of foam.

TOOLS NEEDED TO INSTALL: Screwdriver; scissors or utility knife

CAUTION: You may want to turn the power off before you remove any covers just to be on the safe side!

1) With the screwdriver, remove the existing plastic cover from the outlet or receptacle

2) Pop out any pieces you need from the foam insulating piece

3) Place the foam insulating over the receptacle or outlet

4) Re-attach the cover plate over the insulating piece. At this point up can either remove excess foam

with a utility knife around the edges. Or trim the foam piece as needed before the cover is reinstalled.

This is a great and eazy project to do all around your house. It only takes a few minutes and could actually save you

a few bucks in the long run! Always be safe working around electricity, never take it for granted!!!!!

Tell everyone about your insulating ideas for the house. If you used the foam covers, let me know if they worked

and how the install went! I know they work great at my house!

Household Emergency Plan

2009-11-21T10:43:00Z

A household emergency plan is a great way to prepare you and your family for unexpected events that may occur

at your household! You never know what could happen and you need to be ready or prepared for anything!

Here are a few ideas to get you started:

-Know what numbers to call in an emergency

-Know what exits are the best for each room

-Know where the fire extinguishers are located (read entry about fire extinguishers)

-Know where the first aid kit is located and how to use it

-Contact your local fire department to find out about Fire Escape Lessons and Plans!

-Know where your local hospitals are located

-Know the best place to go in your house or local area for a hazardous weather event

If you have kids, make sure they are aware of these items or ideas and know how to use them.

A household emergency can never planned, but you can plan ahead to be more prepared for them!

Get your family together at least once a year and review your plan. If you move to a new area than establish a new

plan. A new place sometimes means new hazards!

Let me know if you have some more ideas on emergency plan ideas! Or if you know of other ways to learn more!

Pink Ceiling Paint ?

2009-11-21T10:10:00Z

Anytime you have to deal with a ceiling, it is going to be a lot harder than working on a wall.

Whether you are cleaning, painting, scraping or mudding it is always harder because it is over your head.

An Eazyfix to make your ceiling painting adventure eazier is to use EZ Track ceiling paint from Glidden.

This paint is not your typical white ceiling paint, but actually is PINK when you first apply it to your ceiling.

PINK? I know it doesn't sound right, but this paint eliminates the need to stand back and constantly review

your area. No more trying to see if you missed a spot or if you left nasty paint lines from stroke to stroke.

The paint is formulated to go on pink and actually dry white! Flat white actually, which is exactly the color you

want for a bedroom, living room, kitchen ceiling. Flat paint will hide most imperfections that are on your ceiling.

The more shine you have in your paint (ex: semi-gloss, gloss), the more imperfections you will be able to see.

Save the semi-gloss for the bathroom walls, and stick to the flat for your general purpose area ceilings.

So paint your ceiling as you normally would, but enjoy the pink color and the ease of coverage you will have in

the meantime. This paint is also formulated to have to spatter less, which is great for overhead work! Give it

24 hours to fully dry, and one coat should do it.

TIP:If you have a large area of ceiling, be sure to mix your cans before you start. Try not to do half the ceiling with one

gallon and the other half with a different gallon. Chances are you will see a difference. I know I still do in my

Kitchen where I made that mistake.... Always mix!

Have you tried EZ Track paint? Let me know how it worked for you and if you liked the

product. Or tell everyone about your ceiling painting adventures!

Install A Door Sweep!

2009-11-14T13:56:00Z

A great and eazy idea for saving energy and money is to install a door sweep at the bottom of your exterior doors.

This will protect you from drafting air and any rain/ weather from creeping its way under your doors and inside your house.

A door sweep can either be installed on the underside of your door or on the backside (or inside the house).

These can be purchased at any major or local hardware store.

TOOLS NEEDED: Scissors or knife, screwdriver or drill, block of wood, hammer, metal snips or hacksaw possibly??

How to install a door sweep

1)Sweeps come in a standard 36" length, so first you will want to measure your door to know what length to make the sweep, than cut accordingly.

2)Next, start from the outside edge of the door and slide the sweep across the bottom. This process can sometimes be difficult, so have a small board and hammer available to tap it across the bottom.

OPTION: If you have a sweep that just installs on the backside of the door, just measure and cut.

Lay it against the door and the ground and start to install the screws, keep the bottom tight!

3)Once it is installed across the bottom, adjust its height when the door is closed to make sure you have all holes or open areas sealed to the threshold/ floor.

4)Once sealed, grab your screwdriver or drill (recommended). Drive in each screw at the designated holes laid out on the sweep. And......your done!

I hope this explained how to install a door sweep in an eazy way, as this is an eazy-fix to saving energy in your household

Let me know if you have any more questions about sweeps or the installation. If you installed your own sweep, let everyone

know how it went!

UNPLUG IT!

2009-11-13T22:34:00Z

It's simple! If you are not using appliances or electronics, turn off or unplug!

Now I am not saying to turn off your alarm clock, or your main kitchen appliances. No, no, no, I am talking about the

toaster, the guest room items, the paper shredder, the hair dryer. All devices will pull a little bit of power if they are left

plugged in. That little bit of power pull starts to really add up when many items are left plugged in! This same idea pertains

to the main lights in rooms. If you are not using a room than flip the lights off, turn off those outside lights at night and don't

forget about those garage or shed lights!

This is a pretty eazy idea, but it seems to be a difficult one to manage. Taking that extra second to flip the switch or

unplug that device can start to really save you money on your bills, and you will be helping the enviroment by saving energy!

Let everyone know how you save energy in your house. Do you find it hard to keep devices unplugged or lights turned off?

Tip: Practice being green more often and soon it will become a habit!

A Fire Extinguisher? In my House?

2009-11-12T22:30:00Z

YES! You should have a fire extinguisher in your house! Why, because you never know when an emergency could happen.

-You bump over a candle

-You have a mishap over the stove/ flame

-An electrical fire breaks out

-The plain out unexpected could occur!

Where can you buy a fire extinguisher?

A fire extinguisher can be purchased at your local and major hardware stores, and sometimes can be found at retail stores.

Where do you keep a fire extinguisher in your House?

I recommend having a fire extinguisher on every level of your household, especially in the kitchen. Keep them in a central location, and make sure everyone (even guests) know where they are kept.

What size and type should I purchase?

A normal size household extinguisher is about 2-4 pounds and has a Type A rating ( cloth, wood, paper, trash etc.)

There is also a smaller hand size one that is available, maybe a good one to keep in rooms.

How do I operate a extinguisher?

Read instructions on whatever type of unit you buy first. But the typical process is : Pull Pin and hold unit upright, Stand back 6 feet and aim at the base of the fire, Squeeze lever and sweep side to side.

I hope you learned from this eazyfix and are more prepared for an emergency. Get your family involved in household safety and make sure everyone knows where extinguishers are located and how to use them!

Let me know if this post helped you or if you have tips or ideas to add. Where do you keep your extinguishers stored at?

More Smoke Detectors!

2009-11-11T22:34:00Z

Smoke detectors are installed in your house to protect you and your family! It is recommended that one be installed in every room of the house. Check to see how many you have, you may be surprised at that number! Well no worries, they are inexpensive and eazy to install. Let's run through a typical installation.

Tools needed: Screwdriver or drill, pencil, threaded drywall anchors (recommended)

1) Read over the directions thoroughly for installation and operation!

2) Locate the rooms or areas that you want to install the detector in.

3) The best place to install a detector is on the ceiling about 8" away from the corner of the wall and ceiling. The wall will work also if you stay about 10" down from the ceiling.

4) Once you have your spot picked, remove the back cover from the face of the detector.

5) Place the back cover on the wall or ceiling and mark the two screw locations with your pencil.

6) Screw your threaded anchors into the two locations until flush with the wall/ ceiling.

7) Put your back cover back in place and screw the screws into the anchors, securing the cover to the wall/ceiling.

8) Now attach the face to the cover ( usually a twist lock ).

9) Insert a new 9 volt battery, and push the test button and wait for the sound.

Another eazy-fix that will keep you safe and secure in the event of an emergency!

Let me know if you have any tips on smoke detectors, or have a particular brand that you like!

'Stinky' Toilet Seat

2009-11-10T22:38:00Z

Ok so maybe the seat itself is not stinky, but maybe it is old and needs replacing. If so, lets go over the eazy basics on replacing a toilet seat..

Remove the old 'Stinky" seat!

1) Remove the two caps covering the screws near the tank.

2) Grab a screwdriver and plyers.

3) Put the plyers around the plastic nut on the underside of the screws. Insert the screwdriver on the top.

4) Turn the screwdriver as the plyers keep the plastic nut in place. Do this for both screws until both are removed!

5) Clean the area. You don't need to be putting on a new seat on a dirty, scummy area.....

-note: if there is no screw head on the top, just remove the plastic caps on the bottom and pull off..

Attaching the New Seat!

Your new seat may have an entire screw or just have a threaded rod (this look is much cleaner).

1) Insert the screws or just the threaded rod into the two new seat holes.

2) Place the bolts into the two holes on the toilet.

3) While pushing down on top or holding the screwdriver, screw the new plastic nut on the bottom until hand tight.

4) Now sit down and enjoy, you have a new toilet seat!!

Click on the photo tab at the top of the page for some post related photos!

That was a pretty eazy-fix! Let me know if replacing your seat was eazy, or tell me about a funny toilet seat story!

What's the 'Restore'.

2009-11-10T03:42:00Z

What's the 'Restore'. The Restore is the name of the facility that the Habitat for Humanity operates.

Here's how it works. If you are renovating any part of your house, you can donate all of the materials (ex: cabinets, appliances, materials, etc.) to the Restore. From there the Restore will put a small price tag on the items and resell them to the general public. And the best part is, all of the proceeds go to building new houses for people in need all over this great country! So next time you want to take those old doors, or old appliances to the trash, take them to the Restore instead and lend a helping hand.

So why is this good for you and me. We'll lets say you are looking for a nice, possibly new or slightly used sink countertop you stop by the Restore and take a look. Someone happened to donate brand new countertops, and you can purchase them for a quarter of the price!

So help out the cause or support it, either way everyone WINS!!

Check your local area to see if you have a Restore nearby. If you have been to the Restore and have had a great experience or found a great deal. Tell everyone about it!

Welcome to Eazy-Fix.com

2009-11-08T02:11:00Z

Hi, and welcome to 'Eazy-Fix.com' , Your place for eazy household repairs, fixes and tips! You may recognize eazy-fix from Twitter, where fresh fixes and new ideas are posted daily in short form. Just type 'eazyfix' into the search bar and click FOLLOW!

The goal of Eazy-fix.com will be to provide people with simpler ways to complete household projects. From hanging a picture, safety in the household, tips for saving energy and eazyier ways to repair things. Please feel free to contact me with new ideas, other ways to do the same thing or success stories from your repair experience.

Also coming soon will be youtube video links. The videos will show eazy-fixes in action from the beginning of the project to the end. Showing you just how eazy household repairs can be!

So check me out on Twitter, http://twitter.com/EazyFix. And check back for new Eazy-Fix ideas!!

Follow me on Twitter already? Let everyone know what you think!

Welcome

2009-11-07T02:11:08Z

Welcome to my blog. Please check back soon for new entries.