Do-it-yourself carpet removal can save big bucks before replacement

A new floor could bring a lot of added value to your home. And you can save money by doing some of the work yourself.

For example, you can remove the old carpet and padding rather than pay the installer of a new carpet to do it. Here are some things to keep in mind:

You will need a sharp carpet knife, safety glasses, leather gloves and a face mask. You can get the carpet started in one corner by using a pry bar to loosen it. Another handy tool might be some pliers.

Use the carpet knife to cut the old carpet into 3-foot-wide sections. This will make it much easier to remove. Be careful not to damage the flooring underneath if you plan to use it.

Roll up and remove the old carpet sections as you loosen them and carry them to the trash. You will need to do the same thing with the old carpet padding to get rid of it.

If you need to remove the tack strips, you can do that with the same pry bar, being very careful not to scar the flooring too much more. Use pliers to remove any nails left behind.

Clean the floor with a vacuum cleaner fitted with a HEPA filter to remove all of the fine dust that can cause health issues for many people.

Now you are ready for refinishing or the carpet installers. You know you saved quite a bit of money doing this work, and we'll bet it wasn't very hard to do, either. Great job!

Soldering trick

There are many plumbing projects that require you to solder joints in order to seal them properly. It's a skill that is easily learned, but we have a tip to share with you. It's important to make sure your pipe and fittings are clean and dry. If you are making a repair, this might be hard to do if you still have a little water inside the pipe. One old plumber's trick is to wad up a piece of white bread and stuff it into the pipe to block the water from the area where you are working. It sounds crazy, but it does work. It eventually will dissolve, but it usually will buy you enough time to get the soldering finished. After that, it will be flushed out the pipes.

Dusting coils

Cleaning dust from the coils of your refrigerator is an important chore. On some models, the coils are located on the back, and others are located underneath the appliance. The reason why most people don't do the cleaning is because it is hard to get to the dust in these areas. Most crevice tools are not long enough to reach all of the areas you need to clean, but you can make an extension from an empty paper towel core. Tape the cardboard core to the end of your vacuum hose and then flatten it. You can stick it under the front of the fridge or behind it, and get most of the dust this way. Just toss the cardboard core when you are finished. Do this once a month or so, and your fridge will run more efficiently.

Super hints

• Regular household vinegar can remove rust from lots of surfaces, and in quick order. You can dilute it with water or just use it straight. Protect your hands, as it is very acidic. It works great!

• I've used a lot of tools around the house and gotten many of them greasy and messy. But since I also do the dishes, I decided to try washing some of the tools in the dishwasher. It actually works pretty well, especially on grease. Just make sure the tools you wash are water- and heat-resistant, and don't mix tools and dishes.

• If you are looking for a tool to rake leaves and other debris out of your gutters, you might consider using a kitchen spatula. You can scoop out the stuff and flip it over the sides. Just sterilize the spatula before using it in the kitchen again.

Q. Our dining room furniture isn't very old, bought secondhand, but the chairs need to be refinished. Before I start working on them, my wife suggested we find out if they are antiques. I can see a name on the bottom of the seat back but really don't know anything else about them. What can I do to find out more?

A. We suggest taking one to an antiques dealer or appraiser. He or she will have the knowledge to tell you how old the chairs are and what their value might be. This is a smart thing to do, even if they need refinishing. In some cases, you can take away a lot of value by refinishing them. There are ways to work on any repairs without detracting from the value, though.

Q. We have teak patio furniture, and it needs to be refreshed before the summertime. What do we need to do?

A. You can clean them with a pre-mixed wood cleaner, available at your home center or hardware store. Then apply a protective finish to keep them looking good. There are a variety of sealers you can use; some will keep a "new" color on the wood, and others will allow it to age gracefully. It's your call.

Q. I would like to know if I can patch up a chip in my bathroom sink. It's a plain white sink, but I want it to look a little better. What should I use?

A. You can purchase touch-up kits for porcelain sinks that will both seal and protect them from further damage. Try to find out what brand sink you have, and then you can match the exact color of your sink. You might be surprised by how many shades of white there actually are to choose from. The directions usually involve cleaning and drying, and then coating the chipped area, maybe with several coats, giving each time to set up. Most patches will last quite a while.

Q. My wife and I are ready to paint the kitchen, including the cabinets. The problem is that even after cleaning the woodwork, it still feels tacky. Did we miss something, or will the primer and paint take care of this?

A. You probably are feeling airborne grease, which is common in a kitchen. If you go over the woodwork with mineral spirits paint thinner, you probably can get this grease off the surface. It's an important step. Then you can prime and paint. Use a semigloss to make cleaning easier later on.

Reader tips

• You'll love this. I created a headboard from a piece of foam insulation board. I cut it to the width of my bed. Then I covered it with some quilted padding and put a sheet over it that matches my bed covers. I used glue to attach the fabric to the foam board and some tacks to hold it up on the wall. I'm not sure Martha Stewart would approve, but I knew you would!

• I made my own version of a rain barrel from my old trash can. It was a large plastic can with wheels, and it had a tightfitting lid. I used a utility knife to cut a hole in the lid so my gutter would run down into the top of the can. Then I drilled a small hole in the side near the bottom and used some rubber gaskets and fittings to attach a faucet to the barrel. I then hooked up my garden hose, and can water my plants right from the can. I even can remove the gutter and roll it closer to the roses to water them if I need to, because it's on wheels.

• I finally got all of the old caulk out of my shower. It had started to get really moldy and was pulling away from the sides, and I knew it was time to replace it. I cleaned the tiles really well and made sure they were dry. But when I started caulking, it wasn't pretty. I stopped and decided to tape off the tiles with masking tape, like painters do. Then I caulked. Before the caulk got hard, I pulled the tape away and had the most perfect lines. The shower looks great, and it's clean and looks like it will last a very long time.

• I let my car leak oil on the garage floor for longer than I should have. When I tried to clean it up, I had some problems. I knew to use solvent, but the only thing I had was some WD-40, so I tried it. I sprayed it on the stain - a lot of it - and scrubbed the oil away. I used paper towels to blot it up. It worked pretty well.

• With three kids, I think I spend more time in the car than at home. I have created a super car organizer. I bought a compartmentalized holder to fit over the back of the car seats. I keep it stocked with snacks, a book, inexpensive camera, CDs, a light jacket, an extra pair of sneakers and the all-important baby wipes.

Shoptalk

• The 500 Amp Jump Starter from Black & Decker is a super way to get you back on the road when your car battery fails. There are some really great built-in safety features, including a reverse polarity alarm and a keyless on/off safety switch. The low-profile design makes it easy to store in your trunk or garage, and the built-in AC charger recharges the unit with most standard household extension cords. It has a solid one-year warranty and is available at many hardware stores and auto-supply stores. For information, visit blackanddecker.com.

• We always recommend wearing safety glasses to protect your eyes when doing a lot of projects, and the Light Vision glasses are a super choice. They have dual LED lights attached right to the sides of the glasses so you easily can see what you are working on, even in dark areas. The impact-resistant, anti-fog lenses are great, and the adjustable LEDs have a long battery life. Check them out at aosafetyglasses.com.

• Write to Al and Kelly Carrell in care of the Daily Herald, P.O. Box 280, Arlington Heights, IL 60006, or visit the Carrells' Web site at thesuperhandyman.com.

© 2010, Cowles Syndicate Inc.