Many women seem to rely on their husbands when it comes to any DIY tasks that need to be done.

From changing light bulbs to fixing a fuse it is amazing how we seem to shy away from anything that incorporates DIY. When it comes to changing the washer in a tap, it is an ideal task to try as it is not very difficult or technical and will undoubtedly boost your confidence when it comes to trying out other DIY-related tasks.

Over time the washer inside the tap can get worn down as the tap is turned off. Turning the tap too tightly into the ‘off’ position can severely wear it down which will cause the tap to drip and gradually get worse as the washer wears down more.

To change the washer in a tap simply prise off the top part of the tap (this is usually where the hot and cold symbols are) ensuring you have turned the water supply off to the tap in question and turn on the tap to release any trapped water before you start (if an upstairs tap then release the water from the downstairs tap).

Once the above has been removed then a screw should then be visible. Using a screwdriver, carefully take this out and this should enable you to then dismantle the tap. Next using a spanner release the valve of the tap and the washer will be on the underside of this but it is necessary to remove the nut before you can replace the washer. After doing so simply re-assemble the tap to its original state.

When it is necessary to have a plumber or electrician out or any type of professional such as this it is a good idea to watch what they do so that you can get a greater idea of how things work and how to fix things yourself. A bonus is also that the professional you hire cannot mess about if you are watching them to get that extra hour. Of course most businesses such as these are honest but sadly there are companies out there that have told their employees to make a job last as long as possible simply to get more earnings from it.

DIY is something that a lot of us shy away from both men and women alike as we feel that if a mess is made of something then our partner will be disappointed with us and perhaps yell but when trying something new for the first time there is always a possibility that mistakes will be made and things might not look as meticulous as you hoped when first starting the project.

The rule that has to be taken into account when partaking in DIY is to learn from your mistakes. If you put the wallpaper on upside-down first time or incorrectly change a fuse in a plug then it is all part of the learning process and unless you learn you will never know how to do things for yourself.