Floors, walls and fireplaces made of brick are lovely to look at, until they're stained by grease or grunge. Here's a simple way to remove dirt and dust as well as grease buildup from your hearth.Mix 2 tablespoons dishwashing liquid, a dash of table salt ad enough water to make a smooth cleaning solution.Rub the solution into the grungy, greasy surface using a cloth or rag. Let stand for 10 minutes. Scrub the areas with a...more
If your marble home surfaces are still shiny in some spots, yet lackluster in others, the solution is the same: polish them. I'd bet those are the areas that get the most foot or counter traffic and have either been neglected - or overzealously cleaned.How to Restore ItThe important thing is this: Follow the polishing product's directions to the letter, using neither too little nor too much of the cleaner.Or, if you'd like to just get back to...more
And what about those dusty lamp shades - of linen, parchment or silk?Simply use a vacuum cleaner to draw the dust out. It needs to be done often, as often as you dust and clean everything in your home.To keep them from wearing out before their time, make sure you're using the correct wattage for the fixture. Don't use more wattage than the fixture can take. Often, manufacturers put some sort of limit as to the wattage. Too much wattage can burn the cloth fabric.If you're unsure as to the wattage, opt for a lower wattage bulb to save energy. Since energy for lighting can account for up to 10 percent of your electric bill, you can save your lamp and your pocketbook by lightening up on your wattage.If you're using 100-watt bulbs where 60-watt bulbs will do, consider replacing them. Or, switch to fluorescent bulbs. They give off a warmer light that's close to the light of incandescent bulbs. About the authorTara has appeared in numerous magazine, newspaper and online articles featuring her lifestyle, organizing and cleaning expertise in addition to writing her twice-monthly column, Coming Clean in the San Francisco Chronicle. Tara is also regularly a guest...more
Mini blinds: It's no secret that most of us love the fabulous colors and simple designs of the wildly popular window coverings.It's the cleaning of them that we have yet to warm up to.Whether they are mini, macro, wood, vertical or horizontal, all have one thing in common: They're magnets for dust, animal dander, kitchen grease and soot....more
Save money by cleaning? With the economy teetering on the brink of full-blown recession, it's time to rethink - when - or if - to use your home's big appliances and systems.Now the good news: While we can't do much about a volatile economy, we can control the amount of energy our homes are using. And there's power and cold cash to be...more
If you have many belongings that are more than your house and garage can store, an alternative to store the extra items will be renting a self storage for them. Self Storage stands for Self Service Storage or Mini Storage, that are becoming more popular everyday for people and families to place their extra items that are too many or bulky for their houses and garages. You should shop online or around your area for the right storage companies to rent the units for your items.It depends on whether you are living in the urban, rural, or suburban area, the types of buildings for storing your items may be different. For rural and suburban areas, the facilities are usually multiple single story buildings. You can drive to the storing unit, and they will usually have ventilation naturally without climate controlled feature. However, for the urban areas, the facilities will have multi story buildings with elevator access and cargo lifts for moving your items to various floors of storages. There are many tips about shopping at http://www.fidetips.com/shopping for you to read.You can store various small to large items like your cloths, television, hi-fi, computer, refrigerator, washer,...more
With the emphasis on reducing, reusing and recycling, we tend to concentrate on just the reycling of our garbage. There are so many other opportunities for implementing the 3'r's simply by reusing everyday items. Give some of these ideas a try, and...more
Few things are as relaxing as dining by candlelight. And few things are as aptly called a rude awakening as finding the drippings on your carpet the next morning. But don't stress on this one. You can fix this annoying problem easily...more
Finding the best deck stain will depend on what wood your deck is made of, and what you want it to look like. First of all, we should distinguish between stains and sealers.SEALERS. A sealer is applied to keep water from penetrating the wood. If you...more
Ever wish you could steal away to a country cottage? Why not decorate your home with elements that will remind you of such a getaway? This style has grown in popularity recently, so there is no shortage of ideas out there. Many who love a cottage...more
Fall marks the change from summer to winter. It brings a fresh change and introduces the plentiful harvest as leaves change from yellow to brown. The drop in temperature brings us indoors for cozy nights in front of the fireplace and the pleasure of...more
Whether you are buying a new barcalounger or a large metal wall art, buying new furniture can be a fun and exciting adventure. But cleaning and caring for them can be a different story altogether, as many furniture owners think of this activity as a...more