Hand tools and quick fixes
- Your starter toolkitAbout ten tools handle most apartment jobs: screwdrivers, hammer, tape measure, pliers, level, hex keys and ANSI Z87.1 safety glasses.
- Hanging things on wallsStrips for light frames, screws for shelves, and tip-over kits screwed into a stud for dressers and TVs.
- Clearing a clogged drainPlunge first, snake second, chemicals last. Never mix drain cleaners, and never use them in a toilet.
- Testing and resetting a GFCI outletPress TEST, then RESET, once a month. If a bathroom outlet goes dead, look for a tripped GFCI nearby first.
- Using a fire extinguisherOnly for a small fire with a clear exit behind you, after 911 is called. Pull, Aim low, Squeeze, Sweep.