The colder it is, the more likely you’ll hear squeaks and groans from your home. Here are some tips on stopping those annoying sounds.

Since we’re spending more time indoors this winter, those home squeaks, wobbles, and tilts that we tolerated all year suddenly are in our faces and getting on our last nerves.

So we gobbled up a recent New York Times article by Bob Tedeschi, who picked the brains of woodworking and repair experts on how to get rid of annoying sounds and unappreciated motion.

Our two favorite tips:

Tighten a hole that’s too big for a screw, by stuffing the hole with a couple of toothpicks or a wooden match. (Handy for fixing a wobbly banister).

Banish floor squeaks by sprinkling on some talcum powder, a short-term, emergency solution when guests are coming. For a more permanent fix, take a look at this video.

Credit: HouseLogic.com & Lisa Kaplan Gordon, 2012

If you’ve ever had a scuff mark on a colored countertop, you know that it sadly becomes the room’s focal point. But we found the right supplies to save you any embarrassment.

Supplies:
Crayons, 99 cents
Spatula knife, 99 cents
A microwave-safe bowl, 99 cents (If you have one you’re willing to sacrifice to melt crayons, you just saved another 99 cents.)

Total: $2.97. $3.96 if you throw in a weak lemonade-type drink.

What you do:
Pick the Crayon whose color comes closest to matching your countertop.
Peel off the paper and place it in the bowl.
Pop the crayon and bowl in the microwave.
Pour the hot, melted crayon onto the scuff mark and work it into the indentation with the spatula knife.
Scrape off the excess with the spatula knife.
The Crayon mixture will harden and dry quickly, erasing your countertop flaw.

Credit: HouseLogic.com & Harmon Leon