How can I goof-proof my home?
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the blades back and forth. Check again for obstructions.
• Check for the reset button on the bottom of the disposal. When you find it, push the button to reset the garbage disposal.
If these steps don’t help, call an appliance repair pro for assistance.
Noisy cabinets and doors
This is less of a goof than a hassle, but you’ll undoubtedly appreciate getting rid of it. Newer soft-close hinges and drawers have been offered in recent kitchen cabinets, but homes before the 2000s won’t have them. But if you’re tired of the constant noise when kids are ransacking the cabinets looking for snacks, you can address the problem without breaking the bank and overhauling your whole kitchen.
Cabinet noises happen because there’s nothing but a wood door or drawer hitting the face frame of the cabinet. Many cabinets have rubber bumpers on their edges, but these wear off over time.
The easiest solution is to purchase self-adhesive bumpers and apply them to each corner, minimizing clanking.
You can also add soft-close dampers to the hinges and frames. This requires a little more cost and effort with a screwdriver.
The most complex approach is to install soft-close hinges and drawer glides, which make them perfectly smooth and silent. This approach requires the most money and effort, but it’s well worth it.
Childproofing
You can hire a childproofing pro to entirely go over your home at an average of $400. But you can also take steps to make your home as safe as possible. You already know to set up baby gates and place childproof plugs in electrical outlets and latches on drawers and cabinets to keep out little fingers. But don’t overlook choking hazards, either. Keep children away from drawstrings on window shades — or upgrade to string-free shades. Use toilet locks, pool fencing, and other water-hazard protections to protect against drowning.
Heavy appliances and furnishings are among the most dangerous factors for small children. Use metal brackets, anchors, or specialty straps to secure furniture to the wall. This particularly applies to bookcases — a significant tipping hazard for kids prone to climbing.
Get scratches out of hardwood floors
Here’s a fix for a goof that’s already happened. Scratches can seriously tarnish the beauty of your hardwood floors and furniture, but there is a way to disguise them — with a walnut! Simply crack the meat of a walnut in half and run it over the scratch from several angles. Rub it with your finger, then wipe away the excess. The walnut oil will work into the damage and restore the color. It’s not a flawless fix, but it’s a budget-friendly, easy and effective way to restore wood floors.
Tweet your home care questions with #Askingangi and we’ll try to answer them in a future column.