Why You Should Always Store Old Paint Cans Upside-Down
...And more thrifty tricks to make everything you own last a little bit longer.
How to make paint last longer
When a paint can is stored upside down, the paint creates an absolutely airtight seal, which will make your paint last longer. The obvious caveat to this tip is to make sure the lids are sealed tightly.
How to make an outdoor faucet last longer
When you turn off a frost-proof faucet, water continues to trickle out of the long pipe even after the valve is closed. When people see that water, they often assume the valve didn’t close, so they crank down harder, which over-compresses the washer, greatly reducing its life. Patience is the key. Wait a second or two after closing the valve. The water should eventually stop (unless you’ve already destroyed the washer.)
How to re-use a vacuum cleaner bag
“In a pinch, a vacuum cleaner bag is actually reusable. The bottom end of the bag is usually folded over a few times and glued shut. To reuse a bag, unroll its end, being careful not to tear it, and then empty the contents into the trash. Refold the end and staple it back together. This hint definitely deserves a cheapskate award, but it works when you need it to.” —Travis Larson
Find out the surprising ways you’re shortening the life of your vacuum cleaner.
How to make band saw blades last longer
Band saw blades that are always under pressure can break prematurely from metal fatigue. Extend the life of your blades by releasing the blade tension whenever your saw will sit idle for three days or longer. Some saws have a quick-release mechanism, which makes this a cinch. Otherwise, make your saw blades last longer by rotating the tensioning knob two or three complete turns.
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How to make a paint roller last longer
“Washing a paint roller cover between coats of paint is a waste of time—and paint. So one of my painting necessities is a can of chips; preferably the plastic cans. Before I start painting, I eat the chips and then clean out the can. I don’t want any unintended texture on my walls! Between coats, I slip the wet roller cover in the empty chip can and pop on the lid to keep it from drying out.” —Thomas Nolan
Arm yourself with 20 painting tips the pros don’t want you to know.
How to make a garden hose last longer
UV light from the sun slowly destroys plastics, so if you can’t keep your garden hose out of the sun, wipe it down with some Armor All or similar protectant in the spring and again midsummer. Set the hose on plastic or cardboard, spray the whole thing down and then wipe it with a rag.
If it’s already too late to salvage it, try one of these great new uses for an old garden hose.
How to make a pair of spectacles last longer
Got screws that won’t stay put in your favourite spectacles? Paint a thin coat of nail polish on screws to keep them from coming loose. Remove the screw, paint it with the nail polish and screw it back in. The nail polish keeps it in place as it gets in all the cracks and spaces.
Here are more clever household uses for nail polish.
How to make your roof last longer
Leaves and moss can trap water and cause your roof to deteriorate prematurely. You can blow the leaves off a low-pitched roof with a leaf blower. On steeper roofs, you can pull them off with a broom on an extension pole. And it’s wise to trim back all branches that are close to or touching the shingles.
Chemically treat mould, then sweep it off with a soft broom. A diluted bleach solution will kill mould but could also kill the plants on the ground below, so be careful to spray just enough to soak the mould itself. Specific roof cleaners containing fungicide are also available. Installing zinc strips at the peak of the roof can help keep mould at bay.
Here are more real estate tips pro realtors want you to know.
How to breathe new life into old sneakers
All you need is an old toothbrush and a little toothpaste to get your old sneakers looking like new! Non-gel white toothpaste works great for cleaning white-soled sneakers (coloured toothpaste may stain rather than clean sneakers). Apply toothpaste to an old toothbrush and then work the paste into the dirty spots. Leave the toothpaste on the shoes for about ten minutes, and then wipe it off with a damp towel. Repeat the process if necessary.
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How to make windshield wipers last longer
“When you’re behind the wheel, nothing is more crucial than good visibility. But like most other drivers, I usually procrastinate cleaning my windshield wipers or even replacing wiper blades if necessary. Windshield wipers are notorious for drying out and cracking in a short time. To help prolong their life and clean them, soak a clean white rag with your favourite glass cleaner. Wipe the rag up and down the length of your wiper blades. You’ll see the results on the rag, and you’ll see out your windshield much better in the rain.” —Jim Nobilione
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How to make permanent markers last longer
To bring your permanent marker back to life, begin by removing the back from the marker. (This will be different for each brand of permanent marker—for Sharpies simply remove the back nib.) Next, deposit a few drops of isopropyl rubbing alcohol onto the felt material inside. Shake the marker a bit to ensure the rubbing alcohol is absorbed. It’s the solvent that the ink is mixed with that dries out first, making the pigment unable to flow. Once the felt absorbs the rubbing alcohol for a couple of minutes the marker will be practically good as new!
Discover more thrifty uses for rubbing alcohol around the house.
How to make a spreader last longer
Chemicals from fertilizers speed up corrosion of the metal parts of your spreader, so rinse it out every time you use it. After it dries, coat all the moving parts with a light lubricant spray like WD-40.
Find out more genius gardening tips that’ll save you time, money and effort.
How to make your winter boots last longer
Your shoes can take a beating during the winter months. The salt used to melt ice and snow on driveways, sidewalks, parking lots, etc., can help to keep you safe from falling, but it can also leave a nasty white residue on your footwear that doesn’t look great. You can clean off the residue quickly with a simple solution that you can make at home. Fill a spray bottle with water and add a couple of tablespoons of white vinegar. Shake it up a bit and spritz the mixture onto a clean paper towel. Gently wipe your shoes, and watch the salt residue disappear. Keep the spray bottle near your shoe collection, so you can clean off your shoes as the season goes.
Discover the best cleaning tricks for hard-to-remove stuff.
How to make a sawhorse last longer
The rough, saw-chewed top rails of most sawhorses can scratch finished wood or the painted surfaces on your projects. To provide a non-marring surface, cover the tops of your sawhorses with scraps of old carpet or rugs.
Measure the size of carpet pieces that you need to wrap around the top rails of your sawhorses. Use a straightedge and marker to draw your cut lines on the back of the carpet. Then use a sharp utility knife to cut the carpet along the lines. It may take a few passes with the knife to get through the tough woven backing. Finally, use a staple gun to secure the carpet pieces to the sides of the top rails. Now you have a padded, non-marring work surface for all of your projects!
Find out 50 more things to repurpose around the house.
How to make wood putty last longer
“Wood putty is often a one-time use product for me. Before I even think about using it a second time, it’s dried out. The trick I found was to fill an empty paint can with water and store all my putty jars submerged so no air can get in. Now I can finally say that I have seen the bottom of a putty container.” —Kim Boley
You’ll also want to add these genius aluminum foil hacks to your arsenal.
How to make a battery last longer
Batteries can deteriorate and die if they go a long time without being charged. Charge the batteries for your boat, motorcycle or riding lawn mower at least once a month in the off-season. Another option is to hook them up to a battery maintainer. A battery maintainer won’t damage your battery like a trickle charger would. A maintainer has smart monitoring circuitry that charges the battery only when it needs it. Remove the battery and store it indoors if you live in an area with severely cold winters.
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How to make clothes last longer
Wash clothes inside out. The exterior of the fabric takes much less abuse and everything looks newer longer.
Find out more brilliant laundry hacks that make garment care so much easier.
How to make carpets last longer
On carpet, dirt acts like thousands of little blades. Walking across a dirty carpet grinds sharp dirt particles against the yarn, making tiny nicks in the fibres. That dulls the sheen, which is why high-traffic areas appear duller than the rest of the carpet. Over time, grinding dirt will actually wear away the fibres themselves.
Bottom line: The less dirt in your carpet, the longer it will last. A good rule of thumb is to vacuum your carpet once a week. High-traffic areas will require more frequent vacuuming.
Next, check out 13 cleaning hacks that take the hassle out of housekeeping.
