sorts of flooring with ease. Hardwood, thick laminate, vinyl, lino-
leum, and corkboard flooring can all be handled by a floor cutter
to reach odd angles and cut precise measurements. By using a
simple utility knife for your flooring projects, you may mess up
and make an uneven cut, so investing in a floor cutter that is
designed to minimize those annoyances would be beneficial to
any DIYer. In a way it works like a giant paper cutter, giving you
an even line every time.
you can put around your outlets, switch covers or hinges to elim-
inate the need of removing all your hardware before painting.
Painters' tape can get sticky and messy when placed over hard-
ware, especially if you're trying to bend it around tough angles.
Stick to the tape for straight edges and patterns, and if you're
really looking for perfection, try an edge-painter. They exist, spe-
cifically for painting edges along framing and around windows
or molding. You simply dip them in your can of paint and go!
answer should be yes. Do
you hate cleaning them? As-
suming that's a "yes" as well,
consider track cleaners to
make the job much easier
than fighting with a vacuum
and a broom. These cleaners
come in various forms, such
as air sprays that remove dirt
(like the ones for cleaning
computer keyboards), lubri-
cants WD-40 and garage
door spray and kits that
come with scrubbers and
small brushes for reaching
into corners. Track cleaners,
no matter the kind, are essen-
tial when installing new slid-
ing glass or French doors be-
cause they provide you with a
clean surface. For windows,
track cleaners help with lubri-
cating the tracks themselves
to make sure opening and
closing is safe and easy, as
well as regular cleaning.
especially large exterior pan-
els, it is hard to remove all the
dirt and streaks. We are often
just spreading the dirt around
and the harsh rubbing caus-
es static, which will attract dirt
and dust even more. To make
windows shine like new, sim-
ply use a window cleaner or a
teaspoon of dish detergent in
water and a squeegee to get
the job done like a profession-
al. Most window squeegees
come with an extension han-
dle to reach high spots and
several scrubbers and blades
to choose from. The interior
panels can simply be wiped
down, but for exterior pan-
els, squeegees are a must.
If you're putting your house
on the market, squeegee the
windows before a showing to
boost curb appeal and give
your house a "brand new" feel.