The Ultimate Top 5 DIY Home Repairs Quiz

You should never dispose of old paint in the garbage, through normal metal recycling or by spilling it down a drain. Many hardware stores and municipalities have paint recycling programs or you can check earth911.com for ideas to recycle your old paint.

You can clean out an old food jar and store a little of the leftover paint in it for touchups such as scratches, nail holes and scuffs. Put some plastic wrap over the top before screwing on the cap tightly, mark the color and room in marker and store the jar upside down to avoid the top skimming over.

A vignette is a nice touch and wallpaper can be an expensive option however, paint is the most popular and inexpensive way to improve the appearance of any room.

When a paint job is not done well it can look worse than the original paint did before you started. If you have never painted a room before, you may want to watch an instructional painting video online or from your local library first.

Mixing paint, covering floors and furniture are important but the first thing you need to do is prepare the walls. Preparing walls involves removing rods, electrical plates, nails and picture hooks, as well as sanding rough spots and filling holes.

It is important to apply a primer over repair spots and any area that you sanded being sure to let it dry before painting. When sanding spots be careful not to over-sand as very smooth areas on your wall may stand out after painting especially in strong light.

Novice painters are best advised to tape all trim and along the ceiling wall joint with painter's tape (masking tape) first. You can still use available special pads and trim brushes to achieve a professional touch and to hone your skills for later jobs.

Five basic home repairs that require only basic tools to complete are: painting, door problems, repairs to leaky faucets, caulking and unclogging a toilet. According to experts, most people should be able to master these basic home maintenance jobs.

The most common problem encountered with wooden interior doors is sticking or jamming caused by swelling during humid weather or in older homes by settling. Squeaking hinges come a close second to sticking or jamming.

Always start with the hinges by checking for excessive wear or loose screws that simply need to be tightened. If you need to tighten screws, wedge the latch end of the door first to balance out the weight.

Gently close the door and mark the problem spots lightly with a pencil. You can plane a bit off the door in those areas without removing it if the problem is on the top or the latch end of the door.

You should always try to lubricate hinges first with a few drops of penetrating oil applied to the top of the pins. Gently move the door back and forth a few times and if the squeak does not disappear, repeat the process.

According to financial expert Eric Tyson, homeowners would be wise to set aside 1 percent of their home's value to cover maintenance and repairs. Necessary maintenance includes such things as HVAC annual tune-ups, weather damage, replacing worn out items and painting.

Caulking is a rubbery material used to seal cracks around tubs, toilets and exterior frames such as windows and doors. There are several different types of caulking specially designed for various sealing purposes and some are not paintable.

You will need to remove all of the old caulking before you apply any new caulking material. It is easier to remove old caulking if you use a caulking softener following the manufacturer's instructions.

EPA statistics indicate that an average American home sends about 11,000 gallons of unused water down the drain due to leaks and drips. That is equivalent to the amount of water required to fill a large swimming pool and a significant amount of wasted cash out of your pocket.

You will need to shut off the water to the faucet by closing a valve under the sink or the main water valve to your home. Remember also to open the faucet to drain off pressure before you unscrew the faucet.

The most common faucet valve is a compression-type that relies on a rubber washer to seal water flow. These washers deteriorate due to repeated compressions when the water is turned off, which eventually results in a poor seal.

You can purchase a universal faucet repair kit at your hardware or plumbing supply store. These inexpensive kits contain a broad selection of washers, screws and parts common to most faucets.

Most clogged toilet problems can be resolved with a little patience and a good plunger. If a plunger does not work, some toiled clogs are due to a child flushing a toy or other object that can be retrieved while wearing a good pair of rubber gloves.