Whether you are trying to keep your pipes from freezing this winter or have an stain on your wall you can't seem to get rid of, TODAY contributor and host of "House Smarts" Lou Manfredini is here to help. The home improvement expert stopped by Studio 1A to help with this and more viewer-submitted home problems.
What material do you use to keep metal or plastic pipes from freezing?
There are a number of different options for pipe insulation, one of which is a fiber-glass insulation. Just make sure to use gloves if you touch it as it has small glass beads that can be itchy. You can also buy a foam insulation, which comes in different sizes, and wrap it around the pipe.
If you have specific problem areas, there's a plug-in system you can purchase called Easy Heat. Tape it around the pipe and plug it in to focus on particular areas that seem to freeze often.
How can I fix an electric outlet so that I’m able to secure it to the wall again?
First, secure the outlet. Then get a metal trim plate and place it over the outlet. To make it firmly secure, get what’s called a “good plate” and screw it in over the trim plate to keep everything in place.
My husband has very oily skin and hair. He placed his pillow against the wall with eggshell paint when changing sheets and it has left a mark on the wall. What can I do?
One cleaner that would work well for this is Krud Kutter. Put a little bit on a sponge and gently wash the wall. Make sure to use a light pressure so that you don’t remove the paint. Another option to remove the grease is to use a product called CleanWall and wash the wall using that cleaning solution.
This article was originally published Feb. 13, 2015 at 11:25 a.m. ET.