Grit & Home

How to Get Rid of Rats in Your House

Rats are not a “wait and see” problem. They reproduce quickly, contaminate food and surfaces, chew wiring and wood, and they are smart enough to avoid sloppy trap setups. The good news is you can beat them with a calm, methodical plan: confirm what you’re dealing with, shut the doors they’re using,...

How to Get Rid of Carpenter Bees

If you have neat, perfectly round holes in your porch trim or fascia, you are not imagining things. Carpenter bees do not chew wood to eat it. They drill it to build nursery tunnels, and they often pick the same sheltered spots year after year. The good news is you can usually stop them without...

How to Get Rid of Stink Bugs in Your House

Stink bugs are not moving in because your house is dirty. They are moving in because it is warm, dry, and full of tiny cracks that feel like perfect winter shelter. In late summer and fall, adult stink bugs (especially the brown marmorated stink bug ) look for protected places to overwinter....

Water Heater Not Producing Hot Water? 6 Fixes to Try

When a water heater quits, it always seems to happen at the worst possible time. Before you assume the tank is dead, walk through these six common fixes. I have used this exact checklist on my own 1970s ranch more than once, usually while trying to keep the kids from discovering just how cold a...

Freezer Not Freezing? 6 Fixes to Try First

When someone tells me their freezer “quit,” the first thing I do is slow down and verify the symptoms. A freezer can feel cold but still be too warm to safely hold food. Soft ice cream, sweating packages, or condensation on containers are all clues you are not at true freezer temps. Target temp:...

Washing Machine Not Spinning? 5 Fixes to Try First

If your washing machine fills with water, swishes around a bit, and then just sits there like it’s on strike, you’re not alone. A washer that won’t spin (and sometimes won’t agitate either) is one of the most common laundry room headaches. The good news: a lot of the causes are simple, and you can...

Dryer Won't Spin? 5 Fixes Before You Call a Repairman

If your dryer turns on but won’t spin, you’re usually dealing with a mechanical problem, not a heating problem. The good news is that a non-spinning drum often comes down to a handful of parts that wear out over time. The even better news is that most of those parts are cheaper than a single...

Dishwasher Not Cleaning Dishes? 6 Fixes to Try

When a dishwasher stops cleaning well, it usually is not a mystery failure. Most of the time it comes down to spray coverage (water cannot reach), chemistry (detergent is not releasing or not working), or buildup (filters and parts are coated in gunk or minerals). And yes, sometimes it is a part...

Refrigerator Making Loud Noise? 5 Causes and Fixes

Refrigerators make a normal amount of sound. Compressors run, fans move air, defrost heaters do their thing, and ice makers can be surprisingly chatty. What you are looking for is a new noise, a louder noise, or a noise that comes with a symptom like warmer temps, frost buildup, or water on the...

How to Install Peel-and-Stick Backsplash Tile

If traditional tile feels like a big leap, peel-and-stick backsplash is like training wheels that actually look good. Usually, it means no mortar and no grout, and definitely no wet saw. Most installs can be done in an afternoon, and many products can be removed later with heat, which is why they...

How to Replace a Garbage Disposal

I still remember the first time I replaced a garbage disposal. I had the new unit sitting on the counter, full of confidence, and then I opened the cabinet and realized I was staring at a spaghetti bowl of pipes, wires, and a dishwasher hose. If you are feeling that way right now, you are in the...

How to Install Under-Cabinet Kitchen Lighting

Under-cabinet lighting is one of those upgrades that feels fancy, but you can often install in a weekend. It makes chopping safer, reduces shadows from overhead cans, and gives your kitchen that clean, finished look. I have installed all three common DIY types in my own 1970s ranch remodel at...

Fix a Cracked Floor Tile Without Replacing the Floor

A cracked floor tile can feel like the start of a full remodel. Most of the time, it is not. If the surrounding tiles are solid and the crack is isolated, you can fix one tile, blend the grout, and move on with your weekend. I have replaced more single tiles than I can count in my own 1970s ranch....

How to Kill Crabgrass and Keep It From Coming Back

Crabgrass is one of those lawn problems that feels personal. Your yard is green, you are watering, you are mowing, and then this lighter, wider-bladed grass shows up and starts spreading like it pays rent. The good news is crabgrass is predictable. If you understand its life cycle and match the...

How to Replace Baseboards and Trim

Baseboards are one of those details you stop noticing until they are chipped, wavy, or just plain tired. The good news is replacing them is a very learnable DIY. The even better news is that most “trim disasters” come from two things you can control: rushing removal and sloppy corners. I learned...

Microwave Not Heating? Common Fixes

If your microwave turns on, the light comes on, the fan hums, and the turntable spins, it feels like it should be working. But when your coffee is still cold after two minutes, you are dealing with a very specific type of failure: the microwave is running, but the heating circuit is not doing its...

How to Get Rid of Moles in Your Yard

Moles are one of those yard problems that can make you feel personally attacked. You go to bed with a decent lawn and wake up to squishy ridges, random dirt piles, and a yard that looks like it got pranked overnight. The good news: moles are predictable. If you can identify where they travel and...

How to Fix a Dead Electrical Outlet

A dead outlet is one of those problems that feels bigger than it is. The good news is the fix is often simple: a tripped breaker, a tripped GFCI upstream, or a worn-out receptacle that finally gave up. I have chased this exact issue in my 1970s ranch more times than I care to admit, and the pattern...

Ice Maker Not Working? 6 Fixes to Try First

When an ice maker quits, it usually comes down to water not getting in or the ice maker not cycling . There are a few other common curveballs (reset button, door switch, low pressure), but this quick flow will catch the big stuff fast before you start taking things apart. Step 1: Is the ice maker...

Fix a Slow-Draining Bathroom Sink

A slow-draining bathroom sink is one of those little problems that can make your whole morning feel off. The good news is it is usually not a serious plumbing failure. It is almost always a clog you can reach in minutes, usually hair and soap scum caught at the pop-up stopper or sitting in the...