So, I'm big on home repair/improvement and I'm learning alot. Being a single lady tends to do that to ya. Anyway, let's talk sinks. Mine was leaking, found the leak (trial and error), replaced the connectors, resealed the drain (plumbers putty is actually fun), taped the threads, reconnected and tightened the nut and voila, no more leaky sink. But I digress. This got me thinking about a slow draining sink upstairs and I wanted to put draino in it but wasn't sure it would go down the drain with that little sliver stoppy thingy in it so I pulled to see if it would come out.

Oh it came out all right and what was all over it was DISGUSTING. Gunk, mold, etc. So, wire hanger equals snake and what I pulled out of there was even more disgusting. As Chrissy the tool chick, I recommend snaking all your drains, using draino and a good hot rinse to ensure proper drainage.

Anyone else want to share their home improvement tips?

LMAOoooooO

I'm not a lady, (aren't you glad? ) but I have overcome my disgust just to save money and save time.

This would have cost me a few hundred dollars and no I'm not looking for gold:



(yeah and my blue/white boxers are hanging out of my shorts)


tools you need:

Check those drains on a regular basis! Body oils, soap and hair is what that disgusting slime is!!!
When I was married there were three women with lots of hair, specialty soaps and shampoos and I made a specially bent piece of coat hanger for just this.

I also worked with a guy who ran a 'snake n rooter' drain service. His recommendation was very hot water about 1 gallon with a cup of vinegar poured down the drain every month.

So A, what are you doing? Can't tell if it's patio work, septic, drainage, come on man (and yes I am glad you are) teach me something.

And MOFW, what's so funny? I actually thought it was a mouse at first. YUCK!

Replace all of your incandescent bulbs with CFLs or LEDs. The lighting portion of your electric bill will be cut by more than 66%.

All ready done but thank you. They actuall light better as well except for the flood lights outside. Had to change back to Halogen, after the CFLs had warmed up, I'd already tripped over everything in the back yard.

MM, thanks for the tip. After my lovely experience today, I will stay on top of it.

Unclogging the main septic pipe.

Just a little tip; Dont use the drano and then the snake that acid could burn up your skin.

oh sorry... oops sorry... ...oh what the hell, it was funny...

Mark, thanks I didn't think of that but will remember. Another tip I learned this weekend is when scraping to prep crack repair on a driveway, keep your fingers away from the asphalt. You can call me sasauge hands.

This is my all time favorite accessory whatever I'm doing: (15 bucks in Walmart)

ONce you have it, you don't know how you could have existed without it.

Just helped my sister move into her new digs up in Fort Collins yesterday, and wouldn't you know it, all 25 or so bulbs in her apartment were incandescent, not one CFL. So we took a trip to Lowes and bought her some. There are a lot of recessed and wall lights, and 6-bulb vanities in her two bathroom apartment, that's why there are so many to replace.

If that is a flashlight for your head, that would have been helpful fixing the sink, I couldn't see for crap under there.

Hey Chrissy.

Here's something I learned...

Crest toothpaste (the original, not the gel kind!) works fabulously if you run out of spackle when filling nail holes in the wall.

Thanks Miss W, that is a helpful tip. I do love spackle though.

and it tastes better than spackle too...

Yes I use it for fixing computers, fixing my motorcycle, fixing everything, even just when I'm looking for something in the shed or the garage, even in daylight. I also use it for reading and just walking around when a storm knocks the power out in our region (quite frequently).
If you get the good one, the batteries can last for many months. The angle can be adjusted and so are the beam and it's fecking bright I'm telling you.

Duct tape is awesome.

Heck yeah it is Fear. It fixes everything. Gotta run for a bit, big storm coming. I am sealing my driveway next weekend so if you all have any tips, please share.