Have you ever been stuck in a bathroom? We have — repeatedly. Every spring and summer, the increased humidity would make our bathroom door swell just enough in the top left corner that it wouldn’t open on the first pull. Or the second. Or the third. Often it took a lot of vigorous “door flapping” — grabbing the knob and rocking back and forth until it finally sprang free on the fifth or sixth tug — to get out. Guests who ducked in would sometimes panic a minute later, thinking they were locked in for good; those moments usually involved loud knocks, shouting, or at least some colorful muttering.
Strangely, we tolerated this minor annoyance for a long time, even though the solution was simple. One day John happened to have our roughly $50 Black & Decker hand sander out while working on a project for our new office. I suggested he hop on a chair and sand the top left edge of the bathroom door so it wouldn’t stick anymore.
It worked immediately. In less than a minute of running the hand sander along the top edge, he slimmed the door just enough that it no longer caught on the frame during humid days. If you don’t own a hand sander, five minutes with a sanding block or even a sheet of sandpaper and some elbow grease will achieve the same result. After sanding, paint the sanded edge — and prime it first if you can — to protect the wood and reduce future swelling from moisture. That simple finishing step helps keep the door from expanding again, so your fix lasts.
If you have a sticky bathroom door or one that sticks in any other room, grab some sandpaper and take care of it. Or live with the nuisance and enjoy hearing your friends momentarily panic when they think they’re trapped inside. Both options work — but one takes five minutes and some simple tools.
We’d also love to hear about the small projects you’ve been putting off for weeks, months, or even years. The little tasks often linger the longest, even though they’re usually the easiest to fix.