Rattle Trap
Rattle Trap
Easy Fixes for Common House Problems
Here are some practical tips inspired by the gang at ThisOldHouse.com to fix up some of the most common house ailments.
Squeaky floors and stairs are more of a nuisance than anything else. We put up with the annoying squeaking, and then suddenly one day, it's just time to fix it. The easiest fix is to purchase Squeeeeek-No-More screws, commonly available in home centers and hardware stores. Use them to tighten flooring to joists, or stair treads to stringers, and once tightened, their heads fall off leaving a 1/2 inch wide hole on the surface. These just disappear in carpeting, but for wood floors, the holes can be filled with wax filler.
When unclogging a bathroom sink, sometimes a plunger just doesn't do the trick. For those tough jobs, you'll need to remove the P-trap, get rid of the clog and reinstall the trap.
Important - Turn off the main water source. Then begin by unscrewing the ball-and-socket connection that holds the assembly together in the back of the sink (you may need a wrench); slide out the rod and remove the pop-up stopper. Usually whatever is clogging the trap will come out on the end of the stopper. Just clean it off and replace and tighten the ball-and-socket nut.
Shine up those Stainless Steel appliances and keep them that way. But, whatever you do, don't use stainless steel cleaners. Most of those specialty cleaners leave a thin oily film on the appliances that smear and attract dust and dirt. Instead, try using a glass cleaner that doesn't contain ammonia or alcohol. Try dissolving 2 tbsp. of baking soda in 1 quart of water for an effective, natural stainless steel or chrome cleaner. Make a paste of baking soda and water for those tough spots. A combination of 1 part vinegar to 1 part water works well also.
Scratches in woodwork can be hidden with little effort. For small jobs, get wax filler crayons in a slightly darker stain than the wood you are repairing. Rub the crayon over the scratch and lightly smooth over it with a spatula to leave a flat surface. For bigger jobs you can purchase a pigmented wax product such as Briwax, apply a thin coat and buff.
Odor control for the whole house can be accomplished without the use of dozens of scented air fresheners. This works if you have forced-air heating. Place a couple drops (the operative word here is a couple, too much and you will be overwhelmed) of vanilla extract on the filter. The blower will send the scent of vanilla throughout the entire house.
Make that noisy bathroom fan a thing of the past. Vent fans aren't supposed to be loud, so when they are, chances are some of the parts have loosened. The most common problem is the constant rattling of a loose cover. Simply remove the cover, bend the spring-loaded attachment brackets slightly so they grip a little tighter against the ceiling. While you're there, turn off the breaker (for Your Own safety) and vacuum the inside of the unit to remove any dust that may be inhibiting the fan blades and causing the motor to work harder than it needs to.
About the Author
This article was written on behalf of Gary Ashton and his team at NashvilleBuyers.com. NashvilleBuyers.com makes searching for Nashville real estate a breeze, with user-friendly maps, community information, and access to Nashville MLS listings.
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 7 VINTAGE FRESH WATER FISHING LURES RAPALA REBEL EXCALIBUR  US $9.99
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 TAKE A VINTAGE COLLECTIBLE UNKNOWN MULTICOLOR RATTLE TRAP FISHING LURE BAIT US $3.99
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 OLD VINTAGE FISHING LURES REBEL NORMAN MISC LOT OF 4 OLD LURES US $8.99
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 3 Rattle Traps One Is The Justin Morneau Collectible US $12.51
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 Lot of 14 Original Rat L Trap Lure Bodies Bill Lewis 1985 1994 Custom Painted US $10.25
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 VINTAGE RAPALA RATLIN RAP CORDELL BILL LEWIS RATTLE TRAPS LOT OF 15 LURES US $31.00
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 2 VINTAGE RARE BILL LEWIS 25 RATTLE TRAPS WITH TAIL BLADES CRANKBAIT LURES US $4.99
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 Vintage Assorted Fishing Lures Crankbaits 38 pieces Rebel Rapala Johnson more US $9.99
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 45pc Lot Original Rat L Trap Lure Bodies 1985 1994 Rattle Trap Crankbaits US $43.75
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 BILL LEWIS LURE RATTLE TRAP 3 1 2 RAT L TRAP LURE GOLDEN SHAD LOOK MINT LURE US $3.95
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 Lot of 4 RattleTrap Lures US $3.00
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 Vintage Fish Lure 3 8 Ounce Mint Unused Cond Bill Lewis Rattle Trap W Box Nice US $4.99
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 Vintage Fish Lure 3 4 Ounce Mint Unused Cond Bill Lewis Rattle Trap W Box Nice US $4.99
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 LOT OF 20 BILL LEWIS RAT L TRAP RATTLE TRAP LURES 95 PLAIN BODYS NO PAINT US $22.50
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 7 Old Stock Tiny Rat L Trap Vintage Fly Rod 1 8oz Lure Discontinued Rare Rattle US $22.00
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 2 Vintage BILL LEWIS RATTLE TRAP 3 FISHING LURES BAITS US $4.99
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 Vintage rebel lures in original box 2 lures in this lot US $4.99
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 Lot of 2 Vintage Original Bill Lewis Floating Rattle Trap Lipless Craw Lures US $.99
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 BILL LEWIS LURE RATTLE TRAP 3 1 2 RAT L TRAP LURE YELLOW LOOK OLD STOCK LURE US $3.95
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 5 Old Stock Tiny Rat L Trap Vintage Fly Rod Sz Lure Rattle Trout Crappie Ice Jig US $3.75
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 Lot of 10 Original Rat L Trap Lure Bodies Bill Lewis 1985 1994 Custom Painted US $.99
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 3 Bill Lewis Lectric Shad Rat L Trap Lures Color L1 Rattle Crankbait US $8.00
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 Vintage Bill Lewis Lures Rat L Trap Rattletrap Fishing Lure USA FL 6 US $11.99
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 6 Rare Old Stock Tiny Rat L Trap Vintage Fly Rod 1 8oz Lure Discontinued Rattle US $.01
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 Vintage Fish Lure 1 8 Ounce Great Used Cond Bill Lewis Tiny Rattle Trap W Box US $4.99
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 Vintage Lure Collection Some Wooden Hooks and Floating Knife 14 pcs US $49.99
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 Vintage Fishing lure Minnow US $6.95
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Rat-L-Trap Mini-Trap Lectric Shad 1/4oz Sale Price: $1.99  |
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Turn on the Light Tackle action and switch up to a 1/8oz. Tiny-Trap or 1/4oz. Mini-Trap. When lakes get too much fishing pressure downsizing to a Tiny-Trap or Mini-Trap can make the difference in catching fish... |
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Bill Lewis Lures Rattle Trap 1/4 oz. - Lectric Gold Sale Price: $1.99 |
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Rattle Trap 1/2 oz. Gold Sale Price: $2.99 |
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If it swims, it will hit a Rat-L-Trap. America's #1 selling lure has earned its place in history as the most productive artificial bait ever to come along. The original Rat-L-Trap, this lure has a fish-calling sound and tight vibration when pulled through the water... |
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Koppers PUMPKINSEED Lipless Rattle Trap Natural Matte - 3/16oz Sale Price: $16.49 |
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The LIVETARGET? Pumpkinseed performs like no other hardbait when Bass, Walleye and Northern Pike are targeting schooling Sunfish. This flat-sided rattlebait has an authentic profile and precise swimming action that is so accurate; it is in a league of its own. |
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Bill Lewis Lures Rattle Trap 1/8 oz. - Orange Bleeding Shad Sale Price: $3.65 |
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Bill Lewis Lures Rattle Trap 1/8 oz. - Orange Bleeding Shad |
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RAT-L-TRAP 1/4 OZ MT65 BILL LEWIS LURE MINNOW COLOR Sale Price: $3.95 |
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RAT-L-TRAP 1/4 OZ FROM BILL LEWIS: FOR BEST RESULTS, RETRIEVE LURE FAST. RATTLERS SET UP VIBRATION AND CHATTER THAT CAN BE HEARD IN 20 FEET OF WATER. EXCELLENT SCHOOL BASS LURE, ALSO VERY EFFECTIVE WITH YO-YO TYPE RETRIEVE... |
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Rat-l-trap® List Price: $699.00 Sale Price: $5.81 |
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Has earned its place in history as one of the most versatile lures to ever come along. It will catch bass, walleye, trout, salmon, stripers, and many... |
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Koppers, Live Target Golden Shiner Lipless Crankbait, 3 1/8", 3/4 Ounce, Ghost/Bronze Sale Price: $10.69 |
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Koppers, Golden Shiner Lipless Crankbait, 3/4 Ounce, Ghost/Bronze |
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Original Rat-L-Trap Sale Price: $5.09 |
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If it swims, it will hit a Rat-L-Trap. America's #1 selling lure has earned its place in history as the most productive artificial bait ever to come along. The original Rat-L-Trap, this lure has a fish-calling sound and tight vibration when pulled through the water... |
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Rat-l-trap® List Price: $5.19 Sale Price: $5.25 |
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Has earned its place in history as one of the most versatile lures to ever come along. It will catch bass, walleye, trout, salmon, stripers, and many... |