DIY - Do It Yourself

[QuarterMillionMan]

Hold on, wait a minute. I'm talking about an apple (just $6 wash), you're talking about a whole fruit basket (the works with everything done). BTW, how much is a whole fruit basket with the whole works and everything you mentioned? It sounds like my neighbors $150 complete detail inside and out. I use one of these handled mop thingy dipped into a 5 gallon bucket. Then with a chamois I dry the surface spotless. All of which takes 10 minutes.

[QuarterMillionMan]

Once every 2 or 3 months I will vacuum using a small shop vac and extension cord from my apartment ground level to my car about 50 feet away, takes a good 20 - 30 minutes. Also, once every 2 or 3 months I will clean the interior glass using microfiber cloth. First I use alcohol (ie, 50%, 70%, 100%) to break down the heavy oils. Then with a soap and water solution get the glass very clear. You do have to use elbow grease and not be wimpy about it. I hate a dirty glass which has glares or hard to see. I like my glass clean and clear.

[QuarterMillionMan]

Twice a year I will $8 polish (removes hardened road grime), then wax $15 which fills in some light scratches to produce a luster shine and protective coating from the elements. This takes about 1 hour because washing the car first is necessary. RainX $9.99 on the windshield makes rain water blow right off the windshield without needing to use wiper blades when it rains but you want to talk about bad for the environment RainX must be so bad with all the chemicals but it works like a charm.

[LivingAlmostLarge]

i hire out a bit. But like kork i also cook more to save money which is a big deal with a family. My DH cand does do a lot of home repair but the time is more the issue than the ability.

[disneysteve]

Hold on, wait a minute. I'm talking about an apple (just $6 wash), you're talking about a whole fruit basket (the works with everything done). BTW, how much is a whole fruit basket with the whole works and everything you mentioned? It sounds like my neighbors $150 complete detail inside and out.

I’m not talking about a detail. Just a car wash. $15-20 depending on the exact service. And every 10th time is free. Done in 10 minutes. Well worth every penny to me.

[rennigade]

Twice a year I will $8 polish (removes hardened road grime), then wax $15 which fills in some light scratches to produce a luster shine and protective coating from the elements. This takes about 1 hour because washing the car first is necessary. RainX $9.99 on the windshield makes rain water blow right off the windshield without needing to use wiper blades when it rains but you want to talk about bad for the environment RainX must be so bad with all the chemicals but it works like a charm.

Rainx is really impressive. I need to start using it more. And you're right, if it's a steady to heavy rain and you're traveling at a decent speed it does blow right off without windshield wipers. Actually easier to see that way.

[ua_guy]

If you clean your own home, I've used Rain-X off label and applied it to glass shower doors and surfaces. We have slightly hard water and Rain X does help scum and minerals from sticking to the walls and glass. Makes it a little easier to clean when it's due. I believe California considers some ingredients in Rain-X to be known carcinogens, so I don't know that I can *recommend* using it in a shower...lol

[QuarterMillionMan]

I like that idea and I will try it next time I clean my shower door. Heck everything in CA has a known cancer risk sign posted everywhere.

[ua_guy]

I'm on the DIY hybrid approach to yard maintenance. This morning we're having a crew come through and clean up the yard. I've already done our huge driveway and am on deck for weed (spraying) control, blowing and general upkeep this year. And I'll be looking for a lawn tractor to provide some needed assistance. But I've rolled and now let a crew do all the work that requires a lot of back and knees.

My next home will not have elaborate landscaping. Unless you're really into it and it brings enjoyment, I can't understand why anyone would choose to have such a maintenance overhead. It's ridiculous.

[disneysteve]

I'm on the DIY hybrid approach to yard maintenance.

same here. We pay to mow and handle leaves in the fall. I trim the hedges and the dogwood tree myself and take care of most of the weeds.

[Fishindude77]

[QUOTE=ua_guy;n738544
My next home will not have elaborate landscaping. Unless you're really into it and it brings enjoyment, I can't understand why anyone would choose to have such a maintenance overhead. It's ridiculous.[/QUOTE]

Good point. We had our place landscaped real fancy several years ago. Looks real nice, but it's a pain to keep up and maintain. A lot of that stuff was removed when we remodeled last summer, so this spring I'm going to re-work it with large stone rather than mulch and just a few perennial shrubs. The large stone will allow be to simply blow the weeds out of the landscaping with a leaf blower. Mulch needs to be redone every spring to look nice and that's a chore.

If I'm going to babysit plants, it's going to be in my garden, or some flowers in the front planter or pots.

[rennigade]

Good point. We had our place landscaped real fancy several years ago. Looks real nice, but it's a pain to keep up and maintain. A lot of that stuff was removed when we remodeled last summer, so this spring I'm going to re-work it with large stone rather than mulch and just a few perennial shrubs. The large stone will allow be to simply blow the weeds out of the landscaping with a leaf blower. Mulch needs to be redone every spring to look nice and that's a chore.

If I'm going to babysit plants, it's going to be in my garden, or some flowers in the front planter or pots.

We put down a bunch of 2b river stone in place of what once was mulch and flowers. Looks much cleaner and less maintenance. We have to pull weeds from time to time or spray a few here and there. That and blowing leaves off the stones a couple times a year. No complaints.

[JoeP]

Perfect timing! I'm a big DIY guy, and have many projects under my belt: Refinished half my basement, built a rugged and functional workbench, installed copper air lines in my garage, installed hardwood flooring, installed laminate flooring, rebuilt small outdoor stairway, painted front porch, rotate tires, change oil/filter, overhaul small engines, install garage door opener, undercoat vehicles, computer build/repair, kitchen cabinet re-stain, electrical, painting...

But a couple weekends ago I wrecked a shower valve. So now I have a plumber here as I write, doing a host of related plumbing jobs because of the risk if I screwed up more. I guess I'm busy enough and we're making good money for me to be more selective about what I DIY going forward. Water leaks can be very expensive in a 2 story house, and the extra cost of having someone do it right is equivalent to insurance for me, and we're ok with that!

[QuarterMillionMan]

Just finished DIY my 2024 tax return using Free Tax USA. Total cost is $22. I will decide later to add the $19.99 Audit Defender in the event of an audit. I won't need the $49.99 live tax expert. These are my exact amounts that I owe.

[Fishindude77]

Just fabricated and welded up a mounting bracket for our Polaris Ranger UTV, so I can quickly mount / remove a broadcast seeder on the front.
Fun little fab job.