Whether it's ripping out an old kitchen or adding some frames to the walls, us Aussies are obsessed with renovating and home DIY projects. While some projects are best left to the experts, there are plenty of jobs around the house than you can work on yourself.
What to consider before making home improvements
Before you dust off your power tools, be mindful of your limitations and experience as a renovator. The last thing you want to do is bite off more than you can chew or worse still, lower your home's value. So, before you begin any home DIY project, always be sure to make sure you have the right tools and materials, in addition to a basic understanding of how to do it yourself the correct way.
Complex home extensions, plumbing and electrical work should be left to the experts, however there are plenty of home jobs you can still do yourself. Keep reading for our top six DIY suggestions.
Window cleaning
If you're looking to revamp your home, what better place to start than the eyes to your home's soul: the windows! Simply mix one-part distilled vinegar with one-part hot water, then wipe it on your windows with a sponge. Once the surface grime has been removed, use a clean squeegee to wipe the window and give the glass a final rinse with an all-purpose cleaner and warm water. Then, just dry with a clean cloth.
If you're willing to spend a little more, it can be worth upgrading from vinegar and hot water and investing in a special window cleaner. Either way, your windows will be sparkling clean in no time at all.
Fix a creaky door
A creaky door can be a real source of annoyance in the home. Luckily, it's an easy fix with some WD-40 and paper towel.
Simply spray a little WD-40 on the door's hinges while moving the door so it covers all of the hinge. Use the paper towel to keep it from dripping on the floor. Be sure to only use this technique on internal doors, as the finish of some external doors can be susceptible to damage from the spray.
Change a door handle
Fixtures can make a huge difference to the look and feel of your home. To change over your door handles, simply use a screwdriver to remove the screws on the cover plate of the old handle and remove the knobs and cover plates. Then, slide out the latch mechanism and install the new handle parts in the reverse order.
Hang a picture
Got a bare wall that needs some attention? Hang up some lightweight frames with art or family pictures for decoration. To hang a frame without damaging your wall, use adhesive hooks which can be safely be removed from the wall without ruining the paint.
Helpful hack: The general rule for hanging pictures is that they should be at eye level. Avoid hanging pictures in direct sunlight or near heat sources to prevent damage.
Install DIY blinds
Even though it seems like a daunting task, installing blinds is actually pretty easy to do yourself. Once you've read through our DIY guides and watched our how-to install videos, it should only take 30 minutes to an hour (max) to install your new blinds, shutters, curtains or awnings. Plus, when you choose to buy blinds online and do it yourself, you'll also save money.
Cleaning blinds
Rather than always taking your curtains and blinds along with the rest of your dry cleaning, there are a few easy ways to clean them yourself. Most of the time when it comes to cleaning blinds, all you need to do is give them a vacuum or a dust, then wipe them down with a damp cloth. Curtains can even be placed in your washing machine - just be sure to read the cleaning instructions on the product label first.
You can find more tips on how to clean blinds, shutters and curtains here.
Like to learn more about installing DIY blinds in your own home? You can also get in touch via Facebook or by calling my Australian customer support team on 1300 699 041, and they'll beat any competing in-store or online blinds quote you may have by a huge 10 percent!
You can find all of our shutters, awnings, curtains and blinds online for the lowest prices, guaranteed. Plus, we deliver Australia-wide from Perth to the east coast and offer free shipping on metro orders over $449. For all other orders, shipping is $27.
Toodles!
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