I used to be able to do almost all of the repairs myself. I loved painting the house. Years ago, I was in the local Sherwin-Williams having to replace what (at the time) was a $20 paintbrush because my husband used it on his truck when he was changing the brake pads. The guys at the store were laughing at the idiocy. I had packs of cheap brushes that he could have used, but nope. He used my favorite angled brush. Never skimp on your tools. Bristles falling out while painting trim, thereby making more work means the price is worth it. Those cheap brushes were never meant for painting, despite the name. They were good for cleaning corners though...and brake dust.
As to toilets specific. Um... That is literally the easiest thing to do, so the images in my head of you were even funnier. Doing the bloody flapper is a pain. I always took the seats off to clean the toilets fully. I would throw them in the tub covered in cleaner. I am a bit of a germaphobe, so things had to be CLEAN. Again, health issues preclude me from doing most of it anymore. The toilet seat I have in my bathroom is pretty neat. The bolts stay attached to the toilet, but the seat itself has clips that lock it to the bolts. It makes cleaning so much easier. I learned a long time ago to retighten the bolts of all the toilets.
I am so glad to live in a housing cooperative with a maintenance staff 😂 I do have to buy the seat but they'd replace it for me as part of my stockholder agreement.
I'm so non-mechanical it's embarrassing. I just turn it over to my engineer husband but do feel kinda stupid doing that. I take heart in knowing that some of us have brains that just don't operate in the mechanical mode. Just hire people Lee.
I replaced the toilet seat in my Prairie Village house twice. After the first time I had a tenant who was quite overweight and when she moved out neglected to tell me it was broken again , soooo. Then I moved to France and my toilet seat just went rogue, totally loose ! Luckily my brother, Mr. fixit, was coming . He showed me what to do. Now , a year and a half later the seat in the guest room is starting to drift, no idea how to do it. He is coming in two weeks. Woo hoo !
Know you have company in saga’s like this Lee. It’s unbelievable how often an “easy” repair (“I’ll knock that out in 10 minutes”) turns into a 4 hour shit-show of tool-hunting, driving back and forth to Home Depot, and using tools for purposes they were never intended to be used as.
Stuff like this is why I love reading you. OMG
I used to be able to do almost all of the repairs myself. I loved painting the house. Years ago, I was in the local Sherwin-Williams having to replace what (at the time) was a $20 paintbrush because my husband used it on his truck when he was changing the brake pads. The guys at the store were laughing at the idiocy. I had packs of cheap brushes that he could have used, but nope. He used my favorite angled brush. Never skimp on your tools. Bristles falling out while painting trim, thereby making more work means the price is worth it. Those cheap brushes were never meant for painting, despite the name. They were good for cleaning corners though...and brake dust.
As to toilets specific. Um... That is literally the easiest thing to do, so the images in my head of you were even funnier. Doing the bloody flapper is a pain. I always took the seats off to clean the toilets fully. I would throw them in the tub covered in cleaner. I am a bit of a germaphobe, so things had to be CLEAN. Again, health issues preclude me from doing most of it anymore. The toilet seat I have in my bathroom is pretty neat. The bolts stay attached to the toilet, but the seat itself has clips that lock it to the bolts. It makes cleaning so much easier. I learned a long time ago to retighten the bolts of all the toilets.
Now you tell me. Yeah, my new toilet lid is like you described; the bolts go in and then lid just clicks in place which is way easier.
As I was having my life and death struggle with a recalcitrant bolt I was actually thinking "This will make a good story." Glad you agree.
I am so glad to live in a housing cooperative with a maintenance staff 😂 I do have to buy the seat but they'd replace it for me as part of my stockholder agreement.
You're clearly smarter than I am, but I think we both knew that already.
I'm so non-mechanical it's embarrassing. I just turn it over to my engineer husband but do feel kinda stupid doing that. I take heart in knowing that some of us have brains that just don't operate in the mechanical mode. Just hire people Lee.
That's exactly how I feel about it.
I HATE plumbing!!!😡
It's a worthy target for your hatred.
So funny. I laughed out loud.
I’m married to a creative guy (Arnie Roth) and I also laughed thinking of his ability to add on to a simple task many unnecessary additions!
Thanks for making Monday morning happy.
C
You bet, Caroline. And I'd pay good money to watch Arnie replace a U-joint.
I replaced the toilet seat in my Prairie Village house twice. After the first time I had a tenant who was quite overweight and when she moved out neglected to tell me it was broken again , soooo. Then I moved to France and my toilet seat just went rogue, totally loose ! Luckily my brother, Mr. fixit, was coming . He showed me what to do. Now , a year and a half later the seat in the guest room is starting to drift, no idea how to do it. He is coming in two weeks. Woo hoo !
I may need your brother's number.
Know you have company in saga’s like this Lee. It’s unbelievable how often an “easy” repair (“I’ll knock that out in 10 minutes”) turns into a 4 hour shit-show of tool-hunting, driving back and forth to Home Depot, and using tools for purposes they were never intended to be used as.
My experience exactly.
My favorite Oscar Wilde quote went something like this: I want to improve my life so I can be able to live up to my blue china.
Cannot stop chuckling. Thx so much for this post. I need all the yucks I can get these days.