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3D printers can take a while to prove their worth around the house. You can have all sorts of fun printing toys, but it’s household repairs and objects that feel like quality-of-life improvements that’ll have you coming back for more.
Here are a few simple models that can make your life a little easier.
Cleaning the gutters
By shop vac or garden hose
Cleaning the gutters can be a dangerous and miserable task. You either have to risk life and limb by climbing up onto the roof and doing it by hand, or be a fan of late-night infomercials and part with some cash for a device that can actually help you. There is also a third option, which is to print an adapter instead.
You can either suck out the dry debris with the help of a shop vac, or you can use water to blast everything out. Both are valid options, so maybe let the weather or your gutter design dictate. The shop vac gutter cleaner does exactly what it says on the tin. If you’d rather blow the debris out, there are options like the universal leaf blower gutter cleaner instead.
Sometimes, getting the hose involved is the only way. The gutter cleaning nozzle is a self-propelled cleaning nozzle with one forward-facing jet and five rear-facing jets. It’s compatible with a standard Gardena connector; just pick the one with the largest holes for the greatest pressure.
Alternatively, combine both approaches with the reach-n-rinse gutter flusher, which includes a zip tie mount for attaching to a pole and supports both right- and left-handed mounting options.
Vacuuming the house (and car)
Print yourself a set of precision nozzles
Most home (and shop) vacuums come with a selection of nozzles, but these aren’t a one-size-fits-all affair. We’ve all got spaces that are hard to reach, in which standard nozzle attachments do not fit. This is especially true if you use your vacuum to clean your car.
Thankfully, you can generate your own set of nozzles with the ultimate vacuum nozzle generator. This parametric nozzle-design tool lets you pick a nozzle type and a fitting size, choose whether or not to round the edges, and add an angled tip for better ergonomics. You can even pick which color you want to use!
While PLA works and is cheap, picking a tougher filament like PETG or ABS will give you a more durable part.
Descaling the faucet
Make light work of hard water
Hard water can be a real nuisance. While the best solution is to install some sort of water softener, you might not be able to justify doing this for the whole water supply. That means there are some faucets that are still going to get limescale build-up and will need to be descaled on a fairly regular basis.
This tiny faucet descaler is available in a range of sizes and is designed to fit on top of your faucet’s aerator. There’s a small lip that you can use to add a dash of white vinegar, which you can let sit for a few hours. This model really comes in clutch when the limescale buildup is so severe that you cannot unscrew the aerator in order to clean it.
Though the model author recommends ABS for longevity, PLA will work fine until it eventually starts to degrade. Even so, at 3.5g filament per print, you can easily afford to print another one when the time comes.
Cleaning the drains
A snake in time, saves nine
Cleaning the drains is a task that nobody wants to do, but that will save you so much grief if you get to it early. This is especially true of the shower drain, which can be very difficult to access (unlike the U-bend under a sink, which can be easily removed and cleaned separately).
You can buy devices for this in the hardware store, or you can just print your very own aggressive drain snake instead. This model requires a drain opening of 4x12mm or greater, and the model author recommends PETG for its added flexibility (TPU or PLA+ would also be better choices than plain old PLA). 100% infill density will give you a stronger snake, and if you need more reach you can print the extendable version instead.
Cleaning rugs, carpets, and pet beds
Get rid of the fur once and for all
As someone who shares a home with two constantly-shedding cats, I’m lucky enough to live in a house with hardwood floors. That said, there are plenty of soft surfaces around that seem to cling to fur, including rugs, cat beds, clothes, blankets, and furniture. Cat hair holds on for dear life, and not even the vacuum can get it off.
That’s where the deep carpet fur lifter comes in. The design is deceptively simple, but the reviews speak for themselves. This one actually works, especially on thicker carpets. Instructions say to follow the direction of the pile and avoid downward pressure.
I love 3D prints that make everyday tasks a little easier. If this sounds like you, make sure to check out some of the best kitchen items you can 3D print to improve your space.
