Italian Chopped Salad and Skills Every Homeowner Should Have
Owning a home can be expensive. From lawn maintenance to simple repairs, it seems like there's always something that needs to be done. However, if you take the time to learn some basic skills, you can save yourself a ton of money. Even better, when you're able to handle issues on your own, you can take care of them on your time. This means no more waiting around for someone else to come fix small problems around your home. Let’s talk about the skills every homeowner should have while we make a delicious Italian Chopped Salad!
Ingredients:
1/2 head iceberg lettuce, chopped
1/2 head romaine lettuce, chopped
1 can (15oz) chickpeas, drained and rinsed
1 cup (4oz) of chopped salami
1 cup fresh chopped mozzarella
1/3 cup thinly sliced pepperoncini
1 pint cherry tomatoes, cut in quarters
8-10 fresh basil leaves, thinly sliced
Here’s How to Do It:
Mix all of the ingredients in a large bowl. Drizzle with ½ cup of good olive oil and about 3 tablespoons of red wine vinegar, and toss!
Prefer video? Watch how this salad comes together!
Skills Every Homeowner Should Have
The longer you're in your home, the more things you'll learn to do on your own. To help you get started, take a look at these simple repairs and maintenance issues you can easily handle without the help of a pro.
Cleaning Out Your Gutters
It's important to clean out your gutters at least twice a year, as this will prevent issues with your roof, such as the forming of ice dams. While many homeowners simply get up on a ladder and clean them out by hand, you can also do it from the ground by using a special attachment for your wet-dry vac or leaf blowerFixing Leaking Faucets
It's easier than you might think to fix a leaky faucet. If you have a compression faucet, it likely needs a new rubber washer, which will create a tight seal on the valve. A dripping washerless faucet can be fixed with a new O-ring. Before you get started, make sure you turn off the water to the sink and place a rag in the drain so you don't lose any small parts you may drop while taking the faucet apart.
Hanging Shelves
When hanging shelves, you'll want to make sure you start by using a stud finder to locate wall studs. This will provide a strong and supportive base. If you can't find studs in the right location, make sure you use wall anchors. It's also important to use a level before anchoring your shelves to the wall.
Replacing a Shower Head
Want to upgrade your shower experience? It's easy to replace your shower head. Just remove the old one, then place thread seal tape at the base of your shower arm before you screw the new piece on. Be careful not to fasten it too tightly.
Unclogging Your Sink
When your sink is clogged, it's best to skip the chemical drain cleaners. They can be dangerous to use, often don't work, and can sometimes cause more damage. Instead, place a bucket under the U-shaped pipe under your sink (called a P-trap), then unscrew it. In most cases, something stuck in this pipe is the culprit. Simply clean it out and reattach it.
Fixing a Patchy Lawn
There's no reason to shell out a bunch of cash to a lawn service. You can get a lush, green lawn by learning a bit about lawn care, then applying your new skills. This may include putting down grass seed, fertilizing, applying a soil activator, and learning the right way to water and mow. Once you learn the basics, you'll be surprised by how easy it is.
Dealing with a Smelly Dishwasher
Your dishwasher is supposed to get your dishes clean, so when the machine itself stinks, this is a real problem. Luckily, it's easy to fix. Just clean out the inside thoroughly, making sure to get any old food out of the filter. Then add a dishwasher cleaning solution and run your empty dishwasher through a cycle.
Once you take on one or two of these projects, you'll start to feel even more confident in your skills. Best of all, you're going to love saving so much money!
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