Help a MN'er out - random niggling life problems we need to sort out but aren't' worth their own thread.

[RobinEllacotStrike]

A supportive thread for women who have lots of shit to do. Below are some issues that pop into my head at random inconvenient times that I really need to sort out.

Things I need to sort out but I'm not quite sure about.

1. I really want to cancel my TV licence, but I'm unsure about the rules around this now. It used to be virtually impossible to do but now many are. What do I need to know?
2. My dentist has been hassling me for years to get an electric toothbrush - I had one but it rattled my brain so I got rid. A few weeks ago I gave in and bought another one - Superdrug own brand. About £40 on offer. IT CUTS MY LIP!! This cant be right? there seems to be a gap between the vibrating head and if it touches my lip it cuts me. Even if I am really careful it does this. Its this faulty? Is this a normal hazzard when using electric toothbrushes? Its probably too late for a refund but is it worth buying another one?
3. Kitchen sink is starting to be slow draining - what do I do that doesn't involve a plumber.
4. Newish tyre - dramatically lost air pressure. I topped it up thinking I had a slow leak & it seems to be fine 2 weeks later. Is it?

Let me know if you have any random issues we can support with.

I have a new car (Ford puma) and need to pump the tyres up but the display only shows number like 1.9 bar and I don't understand what this is in PSI and can't see anything in the handbook or online.

If you pump them up at a petrol station, you'll have a choice of psi or bar. It's just another way of measuring pressure. (My car has a sticker inside the door opening with both measurements on.)

1.9 bar is 27.557 psi. (I just Googled it.)

I know there have been some suggestions, and I haven't read further than one or two posts past yours yet, but I use a longish cable tie to clear the fridge drain. Easy to get and you may have some at home already. Sturdy but flexible.

Oh thanks so much that's really helpful!

I didn't know it was so easy. One of mine has been stuck for years. I can unstick it by wiggling a pointed knife around and it's fine as long as I never fully shut it.

Neither of us is much use at DIY. DH won't even attempt and I'll have a go but I have weak wrists and poor grip. We need new handles on the downstairs doors, how hard is this? Or do I have to find a tradesman for such a minor job?

Use an upturned plate to cover food.
Foil trays for the freezer. A little more expensive but they have the benefit of being able to put them in the oven.

@IlovePostitnotes Having done some research on youtube, I think it may be something to do with the cartridge.
I'm no DIYer so I am going to need a plumber.

Thank you to pp who explained about water hammer. Going to get DH to isolate water and try and sort out the air traps over the weekend 🔧

I have used this on my bath , it's been there for about a year and is still fine.
That said , I don't have a shower and don't splash all over the place.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/BLAZOR-Bath-Sealant-Waterproof-Self-Adhesive/dp/B0D25XT4BT

Re the bath sealant: Thanks, yes that's what I used, but I could see a dark line along the top after a while. I'm a bit of a clean freak so kept working at it and ended up pulling it off.
It was awful underneath it, damp, black mould.
I have re done the sealant now. It's okay but not perfect.

Espares.co.uk is your friend for anything you need to replace in the home. Over the years I’ve replaced a microwave glass plate, cooker knobs, vacuum accessories, dishwasher cutlery basket, fridge veg drawer and numerous other stuff I can’t even remember.

I have one too - the carpet gripper from my tiled bathroom floor onto the landing carpet has buckled and moved exposing the edge of the tiles. Do I need a carpet fitter to replace it or is it something I can do myself without wrecking the tiles? I’m not very DIY but better than DH who is a bit slap dash. Thanks

For slow draining sink: pour a quantity of soda crystals into the plug hole and then pour boiling water over. Once crystals have dissolved run the hot tap to flush through.

A victory! For the last couple of weeks, the pantry door has made a horrible, grating squeak every time it’s opened, a noise that could be heard throughout the house. We’ve run a knife under it, sprayed it with WD40 - while I was trying applying soap to the floor strip just now I spotted a tiny fragment of broken glass stuck under the trim. I removed it and aaaah! Relief

There's a company called "Hinges and handles" or something like that, you send them a picture of the handle/lock and they can tell you if they have keys that open them. I've used them when we had no idea what keys opened the windows in houses we'd bought (repossession) and it worked every time. I'll have a look and see if I can find them.

There you go

It's sometimes hard to get the key in and out of the lock on my front door. It's a reasonably new door/lock (2021 installed). Will a spray with some WD40 help?

Try a bit on the key, not sprayed into the keyhole and see if it works.

@zingally no, I believe that's one of the few situations where a squirt of WD-40 is not a good idea! Apparently the nature of the oil means that it could actually attract more gunk and dirt into the lock.

We got a new front door 2 years ago and we sprinkle graphite powder onto the key and turn it in the lock a few times from inside and then outside. We just do that twice a year. Our lock is an Ultion one so that's the brand of powder we use (£12.95, free delivery, and I think the one tube will outlast me!)

Well, thank you!!

I've done a bit of googling based on what you've said, and it seems you are right! I shall invest in some! Many thanks!

thank you, unless they answer pretty much immediately and send me things right away it won't work as i don't live in the country and my mum won't be able to carry on the enquiry. Unfortunately i can't rely on anyone else to help.

But thank you.

Yes I do this on occasion and find a kettle of hot water down the drain once a month keeps things clog free. One of the best ways to avoid blocked drains (apart from not pouring oil down them 🤦‍♀️) is to use sink strainers-little metal sieves that sit in the plug hole. In this house known as “crap traps”. Stop food blocking the kitchen drain and catch hairs in the bath plug hole. Bit yuk cleaning them but cheaper than a plumber.

This is EXACTLY correct! My graphite powder was whatever the cheapest I could find and it made such a difference.

Sourisblanche we bought, what I can only describe as a syringe, off amazon. Fill it with water and it should unblock part of the fridge you are talking about. When the drawers start gathering water, the fridge is squirted. Hope you manage to find what I have tried to describe!

Sourisblanche we bought, what I can only describe as a syringe, off amazon. Fill it with water and it should unblock part of the fridge you are talking about. When the drawers start gathering water, the fridge is squirted. Hope you manage to find what I have tried to describe!