Don’t Let Your Guests See That: 20 Home Fixes to Tackle Before the Holidays

Have a door that sticks, rubs, or just refuses to close properly? You’re definitely not alone. From loose hinges to seasonal changes, there are several reasons a door can suddenly become a problem. The good news? Many common door issues are easier to fix than you might think.

Do you have a door that rubs against the frame or seems to stick at certain times of the year? Our bathroom door used to do exactly that in the summer, but never in the winter. The extra humidity caused the wood to swell just enough for the top of the door to rub against the frame. Luckily, the fix took less than five minutes. Come check out the simple fix!

Here are 11 plumbing fixes you can tackle yourself! From a leaky faucet and slow drain to a toilet that isn’t working quite right, these simple fixes can help you handle common plumbing issues without immediately calling a plumber. Let’s get started!

Is that leaky faucet keeping you up at night? I have a simple 10 minute fix that can stop the drip, save water, and help you get back to sweet dreams.

If you can screw in a light bulb, you can probably tackle a leaky faucet! I’ve used this simple fix on several tubs and showers, and it’s saved me from calling a plumber more than once. So, the next time you have a leaky shower or tub, save the money you would have paid a plumber and do it yourself with these tips.

We all know how important working smoke detectors are, so let’s make this quick maintenance task a priority. Grab a few simple supplies, and I’ll walk you through the steps to make sure your smoke detector is ready to do its job. Click through for the easy step-by-step and give yourself one less home safety task to worry about!

You’ve probably heard the advice to replace your smoke detector batteries every time you change your clocks, in the spring and fall, or at least every six months. It’s an easy task to put off, but it’s one you don’t want to forget.

If changing them twice a year isn’t realistic, pick one date each year and make it your smoke detector battery day. Click through for the simple step-by-step maintenance tips and make sure your detectors are ready when you need them most.

Nobody wants their heat to quit in the middle of winter or their air conditioning to stop keeping the house cool on a hot summer day. A little routine maintenance can go a long way toward keeping your HVAC system running smoothly, so I’m sharing a few simple tips to help you stay comfortable year-round.

Today I have another update on Millie’s remodel, and this one could actually save you money and help you avoid replacing your HVAC system sooner than you’d like. Keep reading to find out why I’m such a fan of TRANE and, more importantly, the simple things you can do to help extend the life of your HVAC system!

Winter air can get incredibly dry, especially during those really cold stretches when the heat seems to run nonstop. A whole house humidifier can help add much-needed moisture to the air, but all that winter use can take a toll on the system.

The good news is that keeping your humidifier clean and running properly is easier than you might think. With a few simple maintenance steps, you can help it work efficiently all winter long.

I'll admit, I was skeptical that a little bottle of Krud Kutter could really do the job of a pressure washer. But I was about to find out just how wrong I was!

Here’s the down-and-dirty story of how I cleaned our home from top to bottom without a pressure washer or even a ladder. Click through to see what worked, what surprised me, and how you can tackle your own outdoor cleaning without the heavy equipment.

No truer words have ever been spoken: I LOVE PAINT! I will happily profess my undying love for this amazing mood changer. Since moving into our house, we’ve repainted almost every room, and I’ve learned a thing or two along the way.

Now I’m sharing my best tips for choosing the perfect paint colors, including a few mistakes I’ve made so you can hopefully avoid making the same ones. Click through for my tried-and-true tips before you commit to a color you might regret!

Creating an inviting entrance can make such a difference in how you feel about your home. Your entryway sets the tone for the rest of the house, so why not give it a little love? Keep reading for simple ideas to spruce up your entryway and create a welcoming first impression without spending a fortune.

I’ve replaced almost all of the light fixtures in our home, and you might think that would cost a small fortune. But here’s the best part: I’ve averaged just $30 per fixture! I’ve found lights for as little as $5, and the most I’ve spent was $125 for the drum shade pendant in my office. That’s a pretty big impact for a relatively small investment, and it’s proof that you don’t need an expensive renovation to give your home a whole new look.

I can’t wait to show you how to hang a barn light! Exterior lighting can make a huge difference in your home’s curb appeal, and the right fixture can instantly give your exterior a more polished look. Since there are fewer lighting options for the outside of your home compared to indoors, choosing the right fixture matters. Keep reading to see how I installed a barn light and gave our home’s exterior an easy upgrade.

I had been searching for affordable exterior lights that would actually fit the style of our home for about a year. I didn’t want anything too trendy or contemporary since our Dutch Colonial has more of an old-world feel.

Then I spotted these beauties on clearance for just $24 each! Needless to say, I grabbed them immediately and love how they look. Come see the results!

The holidays are just around the corner, which means your kitchen is about to get a serious workout! Now is definitely not the time for your dishwasher to break.

Recently, we found ourselves with a dishwasher that decided to quit on us. The control panel buttons stopped working, and no amount of pushing, unplugging, or pleading could get it going again.

Thankfully, I’ve tackled appliance repairs before, so I knew this was something I could probably fix myself. After finding the replacement parts I needed, I was ready to tackle the repair and get our dishwasher back in working order.

Keep reading to see how I replaced the dishwasher control panel and got it working again without calling a repair technician.

Have a mysterious drip or splatter that somehow made its way inside your oven door, right between the glass? How does that even happen?!

That impossible-to-reach spot can make a clean oven look dirty, but don’t worry, you can get in there. I’m going to show you how to access the inside of your oven door and clean those sneaky drips and splatters. Keep reading for the simple trick that makes this much easier than you might think!

Two common sources of kitchen water damage are dishwasher leaks and ice maker water line leaks. The tricky part is that these leaks can start as slow, almost unnoticeable drips that quietly cause expensive damage over time and may even lead to hazardous mold. When we rebuilt our kitchen, we decided to take a few simple precautions to help prevent costly refrigerator leaks before they could happen. Keep reading to see what we did and how you can protect your own kitchen.

The guest bathroom is one room where those little things suddenly become very obvious. You may not care that the toilet runs for a few seconds after every flush or that the door sticks slightly. Your guests might.

Here is a quick update that doesn't require any tools!

Replace Worn Towels and Bathmats

Those old towels that have seen better days? The bathmat that never quite seems to smell fresh anymore?Your guests notice. You don't need to spend a fortune. A couple of fresh towels and a clean bathmat can make the entire bathroom feel more welcoming. Sometimes the simplest changes have the biggest impact.