Your home is your sanctuary from the outside world, and yet even the most harmonious spaces can be plagued by pesky problems.

From creaking doors to scuffed floors, common issues can chip away at your peace of mind and detract from the comfort you’re after. But with a dash of creativity and a sprinkle of know-how, you may be able to easily fix them and return tranquility to your home.

Door dilemmas

Loud hinges can be a persistent annoyance, grating on your nerves every time you open and close the door. Fortunately, those squeaks can be simple to silence since they’re often just caused by excess friction between the components. First, check for signs of dirt, paint, or rust on the hinges; if you spot any, do your best to deep-clean each component to remove the buildup. Then apply a spray lubricant to the pins and pivot points, using the attached tube to get into the small crevices and better your chances of significantly reducing the noise. (WD-40 would work for this, but note that it may not be the most effective long-term option.) Once you’re satisfied with the results, carefully wipe away any excess lube so it doesn’t drip onto your door or floor, especially since it is often flammable.

Beyond squeaking, you may also find that one of your doors has begun to stick and require excessive force to close, which is not only frustrating but also concerning since this issue can eventually cause damage to the door and doorframe. To address it, try tightening the screws holding in both the strike plate and the hinges; they may have loosened over time, resulting in misalignment. If that doesn’t work, removing the door and sanding down its edges slightly may create enough clearance to keep it from sticking. Just be sure to measure carefully and conservatively, sand evenly, and test the door’s fit occasionally to avoid overdoing it.

Flooring frustrations

Your home may have a variety of flooring types you have to maintain, each of which can pose unique challenges. Real hardwood floors, for instance, are beautiful but prone to scratching. Luckily, there’s a simple yet unexpected tool that can effectively eliminate those inevitable blemishes: a walnut. All you have to do is rub the walnut over the scratch several times, rub in the oil left behind using your fingers, and buff it with a soft rag. The spot will absorb the oil from the walnut, making it seemingly disappear.

As for tiled bathrooms or kitchens, you may have noticed your pristine grout slowly turning grimy and discolored. Remarkably, a simple mixture of dish soap, baking soda, and hydrogen peroxide may be the perfect solution for remedying this. Combine 1 teaspoon of dish soap with ½ cup of baking soda and ¼ cup of hydrogen peroxide, spread the paste over the grout, and let it sit for five to ten minutes before scrubbing. If that doesn’t cut it, you could opt for a grout pen, which acts as both a paint and sealer to refresh the grout. The application process may be tedious, but the bright, clean results will be worth it.

Anyone with carpet in their home knows the struggle of trying to get rid of the dents that appear whenever you rearrange your furniture for a gathering or simply to refresh your spaces. To remedy this situation, all you need is some ice. Lay a few ice cubes on any dents, and allow them to fully melt. Once they have, blot the area with a cloth and run your fingers over the carpet, which should loosen the fibers and remove the dent.

Window woes

The ultimate household aggravation may just be a window that refuses to open smoothly, especially when you want some fresh air. But before you throw in the towel and resort to costly repairs or replacements, there are a few steps you can try to fix the issue. Start by cleaning the window tracks and frames thoroughly, removing any dirt or debris that could be hindering movement. Also check for dried paint that may be preventing the window from opening, being sure to scrape off any that’s in the way. If the window still sticks, apply a silicone-based lubricant to the inside and outside of the tracks to reduce friction, repeatedly opening and closing the window to distribute it. And if the issue still persists, cease any attempts to force the window to open; it could be a sign of a larger problem that requires professional repairs.

Cleaning your windows can be a satisfying task—that is, until you step back and notice they’re covered in streaks that obscure your views. A good solution for getting that ideal streak-free shine is E-Cloth’s eco-friendly window cleaner kit, which requires only water and a little bit of elbow grease. Wet the waffle-weave cleaning cloth, scrub all over the window, and follow up with the drying and polishing cloth. This will effectively eliminate dust, grease, and grime and leave you with a clear window. And since both cloths are reusable, you just need to put them through the wash and pack them away for your next cleaning day.

Don’t let small hindrances take away from your home’s peacefulness. Instead, roll up your sleeves and give these solutions a try—they may just help make your spaces that much more relaxing.