The Ultimate Home Repair Quiz

Estimated Completion Time
2 min
The Ultimate  Home Repair Quiz
Image: Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images

About This Quiz

There are two basic types of homeowner: the do-it-yourselfer, and the kind who immediately calls in the handyman when there's a leak. But there's hope for the home-repair averse. This quiz will show you that it's not so hard to do it yourself.
Your kitchen cabinets are pretty outdated. How can you decide whether to replace or resurface them?
Wooden cabinets should be resurfaced and metal cabinets should be replaced.
Newer cabinets should be resurfaced instead of replaced.
Older cabinets should be resurfaced instead of replaced.
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Older cabinets tend to have better craftsmanship, so if yours are pre-1980 or so, it might be a good idea to resurface them instead of buying new, possibly flimsier, cabinets.

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What's one way to stop your hardwood floors from squeaking?
Lightly tap the squeaky spot with a hammer.
Pour a bit of olive oil on the squeaky spot.
Sprinkle some talcum powder on the squeaky spot.
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Talcum powder just might do the trick

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How can you reattach adhesive on a floor tile?
by blowing a hair dryer on it
by using an iron on it
by putting a warm weight on top of it
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

You can cover a slightly loose floor tile with aluminum foil and then a cloth and heat the loose edges with an iron. That could be enough to get the adhesive to reattach.

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A party guest left a cigarette burn on your living room carpet last night. Can you repair it yourself?
yes, if the burn is minor and you have a pair of sharp nail scissors
yes, if you have some club soda and some steel wool
nope, you're going to have to buy a whole new carpet
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Yes. If it's a small burn just on the tip of the fibers, you can cut off the burn and then sponge the area with a mild detergent and water.

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What can you do to make it easier to restore a circuit?
Make a list of all the branch circuits in your home.
Switch all of your fuses to the non-blowable kind.
Keep a flashlight by your main entrance panel.
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

If you make a list of the areas of your house that are connected to each branch circuit, it will be a cinch to reset the right circuit breaker.

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How can you tell if an electrical receptacle is worn out?
You feel a shock whenever you plug something into it.
It's smoking.
The weight of a plug can separate the receptacle from the wall.
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Well, we guess the first two answers are technically correct, but a common (and not so scary) sign is when the receptacle starts pulling away from the wall if something is plugged in.

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What's an easy way to fix a squeaky door?
Tap on the problem hinge with a hammer.
Use petroleum jelly.
Open the door wide and then slam it.
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Petroleum jelly does the job just as well as oil -- and you don't have to worry about drips.

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You need to re-stain your deck. What's the first step in removing the old stain?
sanding
pressure washing the deck
applying stripper
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The first thing you should do is apply stripper. Then you can pressure wash.

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What's the first thing you should paint in a room?
the trim
the ceiling
the walls
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Go with the ceiling first.

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What's one thing you should never do when attempting a garbage disposal repair?
Hit the reset button while the disposal is plugged in.
Stick your hand down the drain.
You shouldn't attempt garbage disposal repair by yourself. Call the handyman.
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Yes, it's definitely a bad idea to put your hand down there. Just don't do it.

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You Got:
/10
Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images