The Golden State: Where & How to Live, Secure, Visit, Enjoy and Thrive in California
First Aid For The Ailing Houses
Hinges of various types are used throughout the average house. There are the standard door hinges at every doorway, piano-type cabinet hinges in kitchen cupboards and hidden hinges on much of the furniture throughout the house. One of the most common failures of hinges is not the fault of the hinge at all, but of the fasteners holding the hinge in place. Before buying a new hinge, remove the screws that hold it, fill the screw holes with matchsticks dipped in glue, or a small piece of steel wool, and then replace the screws after the glue has set. This is usually enough to give the screws new holding power, and the sticking, rubbing, or looseness that was attributed to the hinges will usually be gone.
Latches of various types are available in the hardware and building-supply store. A fairly new development is a permanent-magnet cabinet catch which may be installed in place of present kitchen-cabinet and furniture-door catches. A magnet mounted on a plate is fastened to the frame of the cabinet. The door receives a flat plate of steel which, when the door is closed, comes into contact with the magnet. This connection is positive and sure, but can be separated easily by a slight pressure on the handle.
An item of hardware which requires frequent replacement around the average home is the hanger for the screen and Storm window. Rather than trust old and rusted ones, it is far cheaper to replace those that have worn out with new, corrosion-resistant types available on the market today. However, a stainless-steel hook should not come into contact with an aluminum frame. When water hits the two metals, an electrochemical reaction takes place, and the aluminum will corrode so badly the entire frame may need replacement.
A GREAT NUMBER of the accidents that happen each year take place at home. One of the leading safety authorities recently! made the statement that the average home is a "potential safety menace." He was, of course, referring to the lack of care that results in creating hazards in the average home. If these hazards are watched for and eliminated before they cause trouble, the home is one of the safest places to be. But it is the little things, the careless mistakes made through forgetfulness, ignored because of familiarity, or allowed to exist because of the "importance of other things," that cause most of the accidents around the house.
The rest of this chapter will provide you with a check list of the accident-causing situations that may exist in your home. Take a look around you and eliminate those hazards that you may find. By making a thorough check, you may prevent an accident to yourself or your family.
