Welcome to the second day of our 12 Days of Christmas giving from HouseLogic. Today, we’re offering up ideas for low-cost gifts: Simple home fix-ups that you can do for a family member or friend in a couple of hours or less. Your generosity will have a high impact even if you’re not the handiest hammer in the tool box.  

Repair countertop scratches

Among the most annoying of little home mishaps, stains and scratches in countertops usually go unnoticed — until the light strikes them just right. They seem to blossom during the holiday season, when guests come by and just when we want our kitchens looking their best.

Help someone you know restore a little pride of ownership by offering to buff up their countertops. The good news: kitchen countertops are easy to fix. You can hide most scratches in laminate countertops with laminate repair paste, available for about $7 at hardware stores and home improvement centers.

• Remove stains with a paste made of baking soda and warm water. Let the paste sit on the stain for a couple of hours, then gently wipe off with a clean rag. If that doesn’t work, try paint thinner or nail polish remover — dab an inconspicuous area first to make sure you won’t damage the surface of the laminate.

• To fix deep scratches, find a crayon that matches your countertop color. Peel off the paper, put the crayon in a microwave-safe bowl, and zap it until it melts. Pour the hot wax over the gouge, let it harden, and scrape off the excess with a putty knife.

You can also remove stains and small scratches from granite, solid surface, and other countertops.