Replace washing machine hoses

Rubber hoses burst with age. Braided ones take twenty minutes and save a flooded laundry room.

This fits in a car

About 3 lb of materials. Comfortably inside what a car carries (200 lb), so any shopper can take it.

Shut it off first

Shut off the water at both valves behind the washer and unplug it before you start. Call a licensed plumber if either valve will not close all the way, the valves or pipes are corroded, or a hose still leaks after tightening.

What to buy — untick anything you have

Plumbing

1 pack of braided stainless washing machine hoses, 2-packHot and cold, 4 ft or 5 ft long. Rubber washers should come in the box.

Tools — already ticked off, since most people have them

Tools

1 Tongue-and-groove pliers· most people have this
1 Bucket and old towels· most people have this
1 Flashlight or headlamp· most people have this

It lands in the shopping form, where you can edit anything and say what you think each thing costs. Nothing is ordered until you send it.

How it goes · about an hour · some experience

Unplug the washer, shut off both the hot and cold valves behind it, and pull it out far enough to reach the back.
Put towels down, unscrew the old hoses from the valves and the machine, and let them drain into the bucket.
Check the new washers are seated in each end, then screw the hoses on by hand and snug them with the pliers.
Turn the valves back on slowly and check every end for drips before you push the washer back.
Leave a few inches of slack so the hoses are not kinked against the wall.

Something else

Build a raised garden bed Mulch a flower bed Paint a room Put up garage shelving Fix a patchy lawn Build a fire pit Mount a TV on the wall Cookout for a crowd

Feeding people instead? The recipe book works the same way — pick a meal, say how many, every ingredient lands on the list.