Home and kitchen
How to untangle a necklace chain without breaking it
Untangle a necklace chain with a pin, a drop of oil and patience. Lay it flat, loosen the knot, and pull gently. Steps for fine chains and when to stop.
Malik Zerrouki2 min read
Category
Home and kitchen
Small household problems, solved.
15 articles
Home and kitchen
The toaster that is not worth repairing
A column on when a cheap toaster that burns one side is better replaced than repaired, and how to tell the difference between a small fix and a dead appliance.
Malik Zerrouki4 min read
Home and kitchen
The pan you should stop scrubbing
Some fixes are not worth the effort. A scratched, sticky nonstick pan is one of them, and here is how to tell a fixable pan from one to replace.
Malik Zerrouki3 min read
Home and kitchen
The wobbly flat-pack shelf you should stop tightening
When a wobbly flat-pack shelf is worth fixing and when to let it go. A plain rule for loose screws, swollen board and how to decide in a minute.
Malik Zerrouki4 min read
Home and kitchen
Stop a door squeaking in two minutes
Stop a door squeaking in two minutes: find the noisy hinge, wipe it, add a tiny amount of lubricant and tighten a loose screw. It is nearly always the pin.
Malik Zerrouki2 min read
Home and kitchen
How to fix a sticking drawer that will not slide
A sticking drawer usually needs the runners cleaned and a dry lubricant, or a swollen edge rubbed with wax. How to find the cause and when to replace it.
Malik Zerrouki2 min read
Home and kitchen
Plunger vs drain snake: which clears a blocked sink
Plunger vs drain snake: a plunger clears soft, close blocks and a snake pulls out hair and grease deeper in the pipe. A table and a simple order to try them.
Chloé Petit4 min read
Home and kitchen
How to open a stuck jar lid without hurting your hand
How to open a stuck jar lid: grip with a rubber glove, tap the edge, run the lid under hot water and break the seal with a spoon. Four free ways to try.
Malik Zerrouki3 min read
Home and kitchen
How to get rid of a smell in the fridge for good
How to get rid of a smell in the fridge: find the source, wash the shelves with mild soap, then use baking soda. A fix ladder from free to replace.
Malik Zerrouki5 min read