Managing a home is a challenge by itself. But when you have kids, it always seems to ratchet issues up a notch. You seem to spend all your free time just fixing things up. 

That’s why we’ve written this post. It’s here to help you find quick solutions to the most Annoying House Problems. This way, you can spend more time doing the things that you actually want to do at the weekend. Check out our ideas below. 

Use Caulk Remover For Old Caulking

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Spending hours scrubbing old caulking doesn’t usually do much good. That’s because organics actually make their way into the interior volume of the material. Those black streaks aren’t just surface aberrations.

Fortunately, there’s a simple solution: just use caulk remover. This substance essentially melts away the old caulk, allowing you to replace it easily. You’re not having to spend hours with a hammer and chisel, trying to remove it. 

Once the old caulk is gone, just rub down the area to remove any residual remover and then pipe the new caulk into place. It’s white, beautiful, and oh-so-satisfying, 

Use A Plumber’s Tool For Clogged Drains

Plumbers carry special tools that allow them to unclog drains quickly, without having to rush out to the store by unblocking fluid. You’ll need to invest a little time working out how to use these tools. But once you do, you’ll be able to deal with clogs quickly whenever they arise. What’s more, you won’t have to call up emergency plumbers and pay high fees. 

Use WD-40 On Squeaky Doors

WD-40 - or any similar product - is an easy way to deal with squeaky doors. In most cases, you don’t have to refit them to the frame or do any complicated realignment (unless the problem is really bad). Just concentrate the spray on the hinges - the parts that make the noise - and then swing the door back and forth a couple of times to spread the oil throughout the interior. 

If the squeaking returns after a couple of weeks, use a silicone-based product instead. These tend to have a longer half-life. 

Use Wall Panels Instead Of Tiling

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Tiling is complicated and takes ages to do. You often have to give up a month of weekends to do the bathroom, if not more. 

Wet wall panel kits offer a quick solution. With these, you don’t need to know anything about tiling. You just put them into position and then screw them to the wall. 

Dripping Faucets

The primary cause of dripping faucets is a failed washer. The washer prevents water under pressure from exiting the tap unless you open the valve. However, this component can crack as it ages. 

Replacements are simple. Just look up your part number online and then order the appropriate washer. Unscrew the tap, remove the old washer and replace it with the new one. In most cases, there is no reason to replace the faucet unit. 

Unstick Windows With A Scouring Knife

It’s easy to paint windows shut. Almost everyone who is new to DIY does it at some point. 

Instead of trying to force the window open with brute force, use a knife to scour the paint around the edges. You should find that the window opens far more easily (even if you only score part of the area that’s causing it to stick. 

Lubricate Locks To Reduce Stickiness

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Sometimes locks accumulate gunk on their interiors, making them sticky, and challenging to turn. To resolve this quickly, spray them with a light oil, such as WD-40. This will help to improve lubrication inside the locking mechanism and may remove some of the gunk causing the issue. 

If WD-40 doesn’t work, then you can also try using powdered graphite. 

Fill Picture Holes With Premixed Specking

All you need to apply premixed specking is your finger and small putty knife. Once the specking is in the hole, rub it down with sanding sponge and then quickly paint over the affected area. 

Replace The Rubber Flapper On Your Toilet To Stop It Running

Usually, the rubber flapper is the culprit in a toilet that won’t stop running. To find out whether this is the case, drop some food colouring into the cistern part of the toilet. If the water that comes out in the bowl is the colour of the food colouring, then the issue is almost certainly the flapper. You can pick up new flappers at local DIY stores. 

In summary, fixing annoying House Problems is much easier than you might think. It just requires a little ingenuity (and that all-important drive to be lazy).