Robert has shared the DIY skills and tips he has learnt and passed on through the generations in his own family with HIPPO.
Unblocking a sink
My Dad is a plumber by trade; he’s incredibly knowledgeable when it comes to general DIY and has passed on plenty of helpful nuggets over the years.
He’s a real advocate for planning and preparation which I’ve always taken with me (that’s why you’ll rarely find me without a sharp pencil and tape measure in my back pocket!). One DIY tip that stays with me is unblocking a sink. It is as simple as:
Planning and Preparation
Remove clutter and ensure you have space to work. Wear rubber gloves for this job!
Place a towel under a bucket beneath the piping, in order to catch the water that has filled the sink
Releasing water from a fully blocked sink can be messy! Try and remove as much water from the blocked sink before you get to work and attempt to open the U-bend.
Unscrew and remove the U-bend and any attachments such as the dishwasher/washing machine pipe
Turn off these appliances at their power source before doing so. Using a suitably sized pipe cleaner and some disinfectant clean the piping, removing any visible blockages such as old food waste, hair or gunk!
Once this is complete, gently run the tap
Make sure the bucket is in place catching the clean water through the plug hole and fixed piping that is immovable.
Once all pipes are clear
Reattach them in position and ensure the visible compression joints are tight and nicely secure.
To test the flow of water put the plug back in the sink
Fill the sink halfway and then remove the plug. This pressure test will also demonstrate whether you’ve reattached and secured the compression joints tightly enough as you don’t want any leakages.
Works for the bathroom or kitchen sink
This method applies to both bathroom and kitchen sinks where the piping is easily accessible.
If the sink persists in blocking you may have a deeper drain blockage
At this point will need to call in a professional, registered plumber. Remember, as with any household or DIY task, health and safety is paramount and you must assess each scenario based on the tools you have, the skills and experience you have and if in doubt, always defer to professional advice.
The Art of Upcycling
My children are naturally influenced by their generation and peers, and thankfully are much more sustainably aware than previous generations might have been. They often direct me towards social/selling platforms where bargains can be picked up, with a view to upcycling or using unwanted furniture for scraps etc, rather than buying things new.
Take an old wooden chest of drawers for example
Important initial steps are removing all of the drawers, taking off the handles and giving everything a good clean with sugar soap where required.
Then you can sand it down
Depending on the age, material or condition, you will need different grits of sandpaper.
You then have a few choices for the aesthetics
You could either varnish all over, if the item is made of natural wood, to bring out the unique wood grain, or prime, undercoat and then paint. For other materials such as veneered pieces, carry out a light sand using 120 grit sandpaper and then undercoat using the appropriate paint ready for your topcoat.
Problem solving is a huge part of DIY
But nothing beats just getting stuck in and having a go, which is why I’m proud to pass the baton on,
Make Do and Mend
In terms of my DIY legacy, it’s hugely important to me that the skill of DIY is passed on through the generations.
If something is broken or needs attention, my children have always seen me attempt to fix it first and this ‘make do and mend’ mentality is key to a sustainable future and furthering the DIY skills of future generations. I want them to know they can do it too, with a little guidance from loved ones and with a mixture of old school advice and modern hacks and techniques, DIY legacies can of course live on!
I love the thought of breathing new life into furniture and household items and I’ve done everything from re-using parts of a wardrobe and turning them into drawers to turning doors into hidden bookcases. It’s all about thinking creatively and giving things a go before simply throwing them away or buying new.
For those times that something is absolutely no longer of use, it’s handy to have a HIPPOBAG in the garage – I’m much more comfortable throwing my home and garden waste in there, knowing that at least 95% of it will go on to be recycled and diverted from landfill.
