Twenty tricks most homeowners eventually learn — usually after a $200 service call for something a $2 fix would have solved.

1. WD-40 on squeaky hinges. Two drops, silent for months.
2. Toothpaste fills small drywall nail holes. Dries white.
3. Vinegar + baking soda unclogs drains without chemicals.
4. A rubber band around a stripped screw gives the screwdriver grip.
5. Baking soda in a carpet stain — vacuum after 30 minutes.
6. Coke works on a rust stain. Surprising but effective.
7. A tennis ball in the dryer speeds drying and fluffs bedding.
8. Aluminium foil behind radiators reflects heat into the room.
9. Bread clips mark which cord belongs to which device.
10. Velcro strips hold a remote to the couch arm.
11. Soap on a sticky drawer's runners fixes it.
12. Steam from a pot loosens stuck-on microwave splatter.
13. A hair dryer removes stickers without residue.
14. Ice cube in a fabric dent fluffs the carpet back.
15. Denture tablets clean toilet rings overnight.
16. Olive oil + salt scrubs cast iron without soap damage.
17. A dryer sheet removes soap scum from glass shower doors.
18. Magnets on the fridge: use them to hold instruction manuals for nearby appliances.
19. Label breakers before you need them.
20. Take photos of every utility box, meter, and filter location when you move in. Your future self will thank you.

Twenty tricks. None of them require tools you don't already have. All of them will save you money in the first year you practise them.