Pretty Quick Home Improvement Fixes

As the old saying goes, "Everything old is new again." And that's never been truer for today's home enthusiasts. Homeowners are not only looking for ways to provide functional quick fixes to items in and around their houses, but they also want their repairs to look good. Here are some quick and easy suggestions for home repairs that will not only do the job, but also make these items look like new:

• To mend a cracked porcelain sink, use an epoxy adhesive (available at a local hardware store). First, follow the package directions for preparing the epoxy mix (do not use fast-drying epoxy). Make sure the sink surface is completely dry, and use a toothpick to fill the crack with the epoxy adhesive mixture.



• Rips, tears or cracks on items such as lawn chairs, suitcases, automobile seats and window screens can easily be fixed with transparent duct tape. The "clear" benefit is that this duct tape is transparent when applied, so repairs are less noticeable.



• Not happy with the look of your drapery hardware? Get a pegged coat rack that is the same width as your window and paint it to match the décor. Screw the board into place across the top of the window and hang tab-top curtain panels over the pegs for a fun new look.



• To take out carpet indentations from heavy furniture, grab a screwdriver and a steam iron. Use the screwdriver (a spoon or butter knife will do the trick, too) to loosen the matted carpet. Then, hold a steam iron one-quarter of an inch above the indented area so that the steam saturates the carpet. This will "fluff-up" the matted area and even out the carpet.



• Bumper stickers on your car seem like a good idea - until the novelty wears off. Have no fear - bumper stickers can be easily removed by applying nail polish remover with a soft cloth. Peel down a corner of the bumper sticker and run the cloth up and down the underside of the sticker while the adhesive loosens. Continue to peel back the bumper sticker and apply the remover.



• Patio furniture can take a beating from the elements. To make your outdoor furniture look like new, apply some automotive paste wax. Clean up a plexiglass tabletop with full-strength vinegar - simply spray it on and let it sit for a few minutes before wiping it off.

Courtesy of NAPSnet.