Tips On How To Hang Wall Art In Your Home.

We all love our homes colorful and sometimes we want to show off to our friends just how lovely they are. A home without a wall hanging would probably look so plain and that is why every home needs a few pieces on the wall just to showcase our artistic taste or even explain our life’s background. Sometimes though, as you are planning to put up a wall hanging, you may not be sure of where to start, how to put them and where to put them up. Well, don’t worry, we are here to help. Find some ideas below that you can put in practice to achieve that nice outcome on your wall.

1. Consider the color of your wall.

Before buying a painting, it is best to consider the color of your wall before putting it up. Make sure the colors both of the wall and painting blend with each other. This is because you may put up a hanging that will be consumed by the wall color due to the color clashing. Make sure the colors work well together as they can complement or drown your hanging.

2. Create a story to tell.

You don’t have to get a specific way of arranging your art or follow any kind of arrangement order. You can as well try and mix everything together. For instance, you can mix drawings and wall clocks together. Your photos can be part of it or even your art project if you are in art school. Just be sure to place the biggest piece in the middle of others and leave a bit of space in between each other like two inches or so. You could also try placing your art on the floor just for you to imagine how they will appear after hanging them up.

3. Check your level of hanging.

We believe that when hanging something on the wall, you want someone else to see it as well. It is advisable that you hang them at an eye level. You don’t want to strain every time you want to look at them. In the case that you want to hang your family photos up the stair wall, make sure that they are placed in a way that you won’t have to tilt your head way up just to see them. Place them a bit higher as you go up the staircase so that with each step you take, you see a painting on your eye level. Hanging them in a straight line may not be a good idea for this scenario.

4. Know what fits where.

Some wall arts will not really fit in any room. Take the kitchen, for instance, a portrait of you in there will not really be that of a good idea. You need something that will inspire you as you are making your meal. A photo or painting of a basket of fruits will be the best in that room. Be cautious though, not to hang it near a flame as it may turn out to be the cause of a fire outbreak.

5. Think of shelving your art.

You don’t always have to hang everything on your walls. You can have those floating shelves and place your art there. You may want to try arranging your shelves in a descending interlocking manner or you can even choose to do some corner shelves just to create some kind of gallery in one corner of your home. This idea will save you the agony of having to drill so many holes on the wall just for the sake of art.

 

Don’t ignore the framing of your hanging as you put them up. Whether you decide to have a mixture of vintage and modern frames or even go with one type, your framing contributes to the outlook of your art. Do not hold back from trying different kinds of frames on the different artwork. Explore as much as you can and have fun in the process. It’s not that of a serious ordeal anyway. Do not, however, get a very wide frame for a relatively smaller photo. Balance the two.

7. Check the space on your wall.

It would seem a bit off when you hang a wider photo that extends the boundaries of your wall. Get a smaller or thinner painting for the less wide wall in your home. Your art should be within the same shape and space of the wall. Don’t also shy off from putting up a very big painting on a big enough wall. It will have that nice, dominating look that everyone will always love to see. Just make sure you use your wall space wisely.

8. Let your kids have their gallery too.

If your kids love drawing or just hanging something on the wall, seclude a space for them to hang their memories on the wall. This will inspire them and make them feel part of the home. Most kids love lighting as an art. You could get something like a galaxy kind of lighting and put it up their bedroom ceiling. Glowing in the dark butterflies or apple shaped lights, or whatever shapes they may like will also be a good idea for your girl’s room. Your kids will always want to go and have a look every time they are in their room.

9. Choose to place your art in a straight line.

You may not really like the idea of hanging your art everywhere. If you are that kind of a person, go on OCD mode and align them in a straight line. Before hanging them, you can first of all draw a faint straight line just to act as a guide to ensure that they are perfectly aligned. In this case, getting different sizes or shapes of painting will not fully achieve the look that you wish to have. The vertical or horizontal arrangement will be perfect too.

After reading the above, giving more thought to how and where you will hang your wall art is advisable. For your wall art to have the expected impact, carefully think about where to hang it and after you get the location right, everything else will fall into place.

 

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Tips for creating a lovely entrance for your home

You can never get a second chance to make a first impression. Which is a pity that more often than not, the entrance is overlooked as a key design area. When in fact, that space is one of the most important rooms—in style perspective–in your home because it influences how your home is perceived by passers-by, as well as approaching guests. If you want to spice up your home by making the exterior a better representation of your interior, then read on, you are in the right place. Starting off on the right foot sets the perfect vibe and pace. Why would you own a house and not show it off? The entryway is your chance to make one hell of a home design  statement and make your house stand out.

When we are talking about the entrance, there are some self-evident objectives that should be met—things like security, protection from weather, warm and inviting reception point. Yeah, it seems all complicated and daunting but if you get it right, it will be so worth it. You will wow anyone who looks at your house, which is every proud homeowner’s dream. Your entrance should be intriguing and set the tone of one’s feelings for what to come next as you walk to the house. Here are some tips that will get your guests’ faces light up in glee because of the charm and charisma your entrance sends.

Gorgeous lights

Illumination largely influences the atmosphere of your home. You can make your entryway more open and inviting by using lights. Therefore, according to your taste, you can pick a light fixture that makes a bold statement or something more subtle and subdued. For instance, if you only have one ceiling light at the center of your entryway, consider adding surface-mount lanterns. If you are upgrading your entryway, consider adding a transom window to your front door. A transom window is found directly over the top of the door making the exterior look taller and grander. Plus it’s a beautiful way of letting in natural light. If you want something calmer and relaxing for your guests, you can use dimmers for your lights.

Color scheme

Paint is the best way to tie your entrance area into your home. It perfectly evokes emotions and adds personality. Depending on you, you can define your entryway by painting it a color that coordinates with the rest of your space, but make it stand out a bit. Add some visual interest by going for Scandinavian flair. In fact, the design is gaining favor because it is clean, crisp and effortlessly comfortable for anyone. Painting the door will also do the trick but if you are not keen on a colored door, consider an accent wall for your entryway. Perhaps have one of the walls made of wood, and the rest painted white, it will bring so much warm and dimension.

Get an exquisite console table

Whether your space is large or tiny, you can get a beautifully detailed simple or contemporary table for your entrance that will create a warm and welcoming space. The best part about it is that the console table is not only beautiful but also functional. That is where you can place a vase of flowers or house keys. Where these tables are concerned though, less is more. Don’t overpower your space with busy and loud, instead, let it be peaceful and simple. If your walls are neutral, consider adding some life to it by painting an interesting color to your console table.

Add some natural aspect

Natural will always command attention in the best way. Maybe it’s because we are all human and depend on what the environment offers to survive. I don’t know, it just has its charm. You can go the old school way and get a plant. They clear your air as well as they give life and warmth to your space. Or you can go for rocks and gems then find a beautiful vase or tray and add a tone of character to your hallway. You can also think outside the box, and get a painting or photo of inspiring natural locations. Bare bricks for your wall is a good idea for your hallway.

Flooring

By now you know how much impact your entryway can do, so how about you go bold or go home? A bold pattern for your entryway floor will make your house beautiful and space ready to take on what your family throws at it. If you go for a dramatic floor, it is best for the walls to remain neutral. It is even better for a small space because of the visual impact the floor causes. Be sure to choose something that reflects on your family, whether a beautiful carpet or porcelain dazzling floor.

Use different texture

Using texture is one of the most effective ways you can create a cozy and inviting space. You don’t even have to break the bank, just bring the old and new, polished and rustic, and masculine and feminine, together to create a collected look. Using texture adds dimension and allows elements to play off of one another. Of course, your entryway is the last place you want chaos, therefore, make it simple. For instance, you can go for textured wallpaper but if you don’t want an expensive commitment, consider wall décor. Whether you go for art, photos or a wall décor, it is a great way to introduce texture to your hallway. Ensure to keep things slim and simple though.The texture is also added by using the various shade of the colors of your choice.

Personal touch

People like it when they walk into your home and feel insightful about your personality. They feel connected, which goes along to make them feel warm and welcomed. Adding elements such as a gallery to your console wall is a great idea. You can put up photos of your family, your achievements, and memorabilia from travels. It will immensely relax your guest by the story it tells, and it can act as a beginner subject on starting a conversation because chances are, they are going to have plenty to ask. If it’s your crush, it is wrapped.

Your entrance shouldn’t look boring, but it should grip and make the guest coming for the first time  feel curious to know the rest of the house. If you are selling then, you will definitely fetch a good price with a lovely entrance area.

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Tips For Cleaning The Leaves Of Your Houseplants.

We all love having some fresh air around the house. Apart from opening windows to get it, it may be difficult to leave the windows open especially during winter. That is why most of us settle on  growing houseplants for that purpose aside from having them for deco. However, the air may not be that fresh if we do not thoroughly clean them or just don’t know how to go about the cleaning routine. Have a look at some guidelines below on how to ensure that your houseplants are always looking clean and healthy.

1. Have time for your plants.

Pick a day that you are not that busy or easily distracted by events as a cleaning day just fully for your plants. As you dust your house, some of the dust fall on the leaves of your beautiful plant leaving them looking dusty. You can’t wipe away the whole plant at once as you go. It is best that you concentrated on each individual leaf to make sure that you have rid the entire plant of dust.

2. Use a spritz bottle.

When cleaning the leaves of your houseplants, it is advisable that you get one of those spritz bottles and fill it with plain warm water as it is a natural liquid. Have a clean dry towel and spray some of the water on the towel as you clean each and every leaf gently. This mostly applies to any size of leaves. Do not use force as the leaves are fragile. Make sure that you also clean at the bottom of the leaf and the stalk. After you are through with that, get another towel and wipe the flower pot as well. As you do this, check for any mold, plant pests and trim the plant as well.

3. Get a paint brush.

You can also use a small paint brush as its bristles are a bit softer. Simply submerge the brush in warm water and run it through the leaves gently. This is the best and fastest way to use for smaller leaves compared to very large leaves as it can fit in between the very thin areas of the leaves that tend to store a lot of dust. An old toothbrush with soft bristles can work as well. This is effective for plants with bristly leaves.

 

4. Use a damp cloth for large plants.

The most effective means of removing dust from those very large leaves is the use of a damp cloth. Dampen the cloth with warm water and wipe the leaf as you are supporting the lower part of the leaf with your other hand. The use of warm water is crucial because cold water might start making the leaves look spotty as it shocks the roots of the plants and damages it. Stuff like the paper towel is not suitable as they can leave some patches on the leaves. As you clean your leaves, remove any dry leaf or one that has fallen on the soil as you check for any webs.

5. Wash your plants with running water.

It is advised that you run water on your plants from time to time. Get a handheld shower and spray the leaves of the plant. Do not use a lot of force while doing so. Make sure to check and adjust the water temperature frequently to avoid cold or extremely hot water. After you are through with this step, let the plants air dry in the sun for a while to maintain its natural color and for healthy growth as well. This technique rids them of dust and insects.Avoid using water on cacti plants.

6. Swish your plant in water.

For plants with many leaves, this idea will come in handy. Fill a bucket with warm water. You can put a little liquid soap if the leaves are very dusty. Take your plant and turn it upside down as you support the soil with your hand and gently swish it around the water. You can rinse it with plain water then air dry the plant in the sun. Dust doesn’t stand a chance in this method since you are sure that it will all come off and prevent the clogging of pores. Do this procedure more often on the plants in the kitchen area to get rid of grease that might fall on them during cooking.

7. Blow dust away.

Another method is to take your dusty plant outside, get a blower, adjust the force to the minimum then hold it a few inches away from the leaves and blow away the dust. This is way much better for cacti plants or thorny plants that may be difficult to handle with bare hands. Those that do not necessarily need water to clean as they survive better without water. This can be done frequently as these kinds of plants tend to attract dust faster than normal. Using a blower on flowery plants is not a good idea at all as it can blow them off the stalk.

8. Do not use harmful chemicals on your leaves.

Who wouldn’t want their house plants looking all shiny and sleek? But the use of various plant harmful chemicals to make them look outstanding with their shine may cause harm to your flowers. Use of things like mayonnaise to shine leaves will also attract pests that will attack your plant. Place them where direct sunlight can reach around the house. The sun rays will leave your plants healthy and attain that natural glow.

As you go try some of these steps, make sure to survey your plant for any leftover fertilizer or anything foreign as suggested here just to make sure your plant is fully free of anything that may cause harm towards it and make it dry out and die. Frequent cleaning of the plant will also keep your home looking pleasant and alive.

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How To Get Your Whole Family Cleaning

Being part of a family or having one of your own is a beautiful thing. However, with family comes a lot of work in nurturing, caring and making the home as family friendly as possible. As a parent when your family is happy because they are living in a clean and conducive environment, you will this great sense of pride. However, doing it alone can be frustrating and not appealing at all. In fact, some parents have developed this sense of resentment towards their own family because they make great effort to clean and tidy up the home only to have everything undone. For that reason, it is important to get the whole family cleaning and tidying up.

A few ways on how you can get your whole family cleaning and tidying up your home are as follows:-

Discuss Why You Need To Clean Together

Have a family discussion and have everyone understand why it is important to live in a clean environment. Tell them how it requires great effort to run a home and how their help would simply things. Let everyone understand that they should work together to clean up their own messes for their home to be habitable and presentable to guests.

Focus On Important Areas Of Your Home

When establishing duties, consider the important areas of your home first. Give them the priority. You could decide to clean most of these areas yourself because they could be very crucial. Areas like the kitchen and bathroom require special cleaning for them to remain spotless and germ-free. Giving them to one of the children might not be wise. There is also the issue of safety. Areas that require deep cleaning on a regular basis will also need safety precautions in place when it comes to matters of using detergents and cleaning out the dirt.

Discuss What Everyone Likes

Have a talk with your family and let everyone speak out and say what they like cleaning the home. One family member will love cleaning the dishes, another will love doing the laundry and folding while another just loves cleaning the floors and tidying up. After everyone has spoken and you all know, the next thing will be allocating duties.  This way everyone will be happy because they will get a duty that they love doing.

Discuss The Difficult  Routines

This is also the time to have that talk with your family and let them know of the difficult chores. Discuss how you are all going to do the difficult tasks. If you are a large family, it could be wise if two or three people were assigned to handle the difficult tasks in turns. For example, if it is a family of eighteen members, groups of 6 could be created to help out with the difficult chores in turns. At the end of the day, you want to be fair and don’t want anyone feeling like they are doing too much compared to the others.

Change The Routines

Change is always like rest. You don’t have to stick to the same routine for months. Make changes here and there lest people in your family get bored with the same routine. If laundry is usually done every Friday and kitchen deep cleaning is done every second-week of the month, you could have the kitchen cleaning done on the last week and the laundry is done every Saturday or Mondays. Tweaking will also give members of the family an opportunity to interchange their duties. Everyone will get the opportunity to try out something new and they will all stay motivated and continue doing their share of cleaning the home.

Consider The Timing

When assigning duties, consider that every member has a life outside the home. It could be work, school, sports practice, concerts, shows, parties, sleepover and so on. Discuss with all the members of your family about how and when they are going to carry out their duties with their other activities outside the home waiting for them.  Let everyone tell you the times they will be free to help out. If it is evenings, weekend or any day of the week. Everyone has to help even if it is something as simple as tidying up or stocking the groceries in the kitchen.

For successful family cleaning, they all have to agree and set realistic cleaning goals. No one should be given workload that they can’t manage considering their schedules.

Hire Professionals Once In A While

You could decide to give your family a break and hire professional cleaners to come and do the job once in a while. This will give everyone a cleaning break that they will need. When they resume their cleaning schedules, they will all be rejuvenated and ready to continue cleaning.

Just make sure that you don’t hire professionals for too long and make everyone too relaxed and too reluctant to resume their usual cleaning duties.

Do reviews Together

Again sit everyone down and discuss their various departments.  Ask everyone how they feel and how they have been fairing on in their cleaning. Encourage everyone to raise complaints and propose ideas. When everyone is speaking out, issues will be solved. If there are people within your family using the bathroom badly for example or leaving their stuff lying around because they know someone else will tidy up, they could stop when such issues are raised. With regular reviews done and everyone speaking their minds, problems will hardly arise and the home will remain clean with everyone’s help.

The House Won’t Clean Itself

You can either decide to get your family cleaning or do all the work yourself. The fact remains that the home will not clean itself. It is up to you the parent to makes sure everyone feels accountable and responsible for the cleaning of the home.  After everything is discussed, booked and planned then everyone will know what to do. Remember to reward that childrn that faithfully do their duties to enourage more commitment.  Who knows, you might even get more time to pursue other passions and take care of yourself more.

 

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Stream Cleaning Versus Traditional Mopping – Which is The Best?

The debate on which is better between steam cleaning and traditional mopping still carries on homeowners are yet to decide on the best floor cleaning methods. They are both used to achieve the same results and that is cleaning. They are both so different but still the same in some aspect and they both have their pros and cons. Basically; steam cleaning uses electric energy while traditional mopping just requires physical energy. The debate about which is better off the two will continue since people have different preferences at the end of the day. Here is an unbiased review of both methods and from this review, you will able to determine which is better.

Traditional Mopping.

Mopping essentially requires a mop which is a simple tool that can be found in any household. A mop has a very high-water absorbance capacity and that’s why it’s still popular when it comes to washing floor. A bucket, mop, detergent, and water are what is required when washing a floor. Mopping can be tiring and time-consuming largely depending on the floor area. A mop is dipped into a bucket filled with water and detergent, then the mop is wrung out in sieve section in the bucket and then used to wet the floor. Wringing out the mop every time is rather a time consuming and monotonous. To add on that, you have to wait for the floor to completely dry before walking over it thus, making mopping more time-consuming.

Mops are very cheap compared to steam cleaners. Modern mops have different sizes and shapes, different types of mops include cut-end mops and looped yarn mops. Cut-end mops get deteriorated fast because they cut ends start fraying and get left on the floor. Looped yarn mops have a longer lifespan since they don’t get frayed.

Some key benefits of using traditional mop include and not limited to; traditional mopping is affordable. Cleaning using a traditional mop is a nice workout plan. Serious session of floor mopping can help you burn some calories. Some people really do enjoy the fresh scent left behind after cleaning. The fresh scent, however, depends on the detergents used. Nevertheless, mops are able to absorb liquid which is ideal especially when paper towels can’t do the trick.

Traditional mopping is such a satisfactory way of cleaning a floor however its inability to reach high temperatures makes it less effective and efficient. High temperatures are ideal to kill germs and bacteria that linger around on the floor.

Process of using a traditional mop

1. Mix water and detergent in a bucket.
2. Swirling the mop in water.
3. Scrubbing the floor.
4. Rinsing the mop.
5. Wring the mop out.
6. Empty the bucket.
7. Rinsing the mop and put it away together with the detergents.

Process 2 to 3 are repeated severally for a large floor area.

Steam cleaning.

Since they were invented, steam cleaners have continued proving how reliable they are. They were designed to reduce the hassle of cleaning brought about by traditional mopping hence making cleaning less time-consuming. Steam cleaner uses only electric energy and there’s no monotonous wringing out.

Steam obtains very high temperature thus being able to kill almost 100% of germs and bacteria that exist on the floor surface making floor safer for children. Steam cleaners save you added expenses of having to purchase detergent or even a bucket making steam cleaners relatively economically friendly. Nevertheless, steam cleaners are way quicker than traditional mops and they barely leave any water behind hence the floor dries up really quickly. Steam cleaners are also able to remove hard stains on the floor thus saving you the effort of having to thoroughly scrub the floor to get stains from the floor.

The biggest disadvantage has to be the cost. Steam cleaners are expensive than traditional mops however a steam cleaner can be used to clean all types of floors. Steam cleaners are undoubtedly effective and efficient as compared to traditional mops.

Steam cleaners, however, don’t leave the cleaner with that satisfactory feeling and experience as compared to traditional mopping.

The process of using a steam cleaner.

1. Fill the water reservoir.
2. Attach the mop pad.
3. Plug into a socket.
4. Gently push the mop on the floor.
5. Unplug the mop.
6. Put the mop away.

Despite modern innovations of mops, the original rope mop still remains favorite for most people. For most people, they feel there is a deep sense of satisfaction when you dip a mop in water and push it around until the floor sparkles. For them, they feel they have done a very pleasing work regardless of the physical energy they have to put.

If you are super excited by the scent of a freshly mopped floor then the traditional mop would be your best bet.

Steam mop has made washing the floor much easier and less time-consuming. A steam cleaner is an all-inclusive tool that just needs to be filled with water and plugged and then you are ready to make your floor clean. If you are used to traditional mopping, a steam cleaner will make you feel like you haven’t really done a good job since you are likely not to experience any physical exertion.

When it comes to traditional mopping, you have to put some factors into consideration. There is an added cost of detergent, bucket, maybe a brush and more time. More time is consumed depending on the area to be covered. With steam cleaners, the only cost incurred is the initial fee for purchasing the tool. From there on, it’s only a matter of filing the tool with water and monitoring the cost of electricity used.

The debate about which is the best between steam cleaners and traditional mopping boils down to the benefits offered by those two. In this review, the advantages and disadvantages of both have been laid out and steam it’s really up to you to choose the one which works best for you. Some people do employ both techniques. So, which is best? That is for you the homeowner to figure out depending on the needs of your home.

 

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Top worse food stains and how to remove them

Where two or three are gathered, like some unwritten rule, food seems to get all over the place and food stains seem to rule. There are measures you can take to keep your linen from getting food stains. For instance, you can wear an overall, use a napkin or eat naked (is even an option?). Though the road of cautiousness is a tricky one to take considering the other responsibilities in your hand. Besides, you should live it up always because truth is, it is the youngest you’ll ever be. But as much as you only live ones, guess who is going to do the washing?

You don’t want to spend an impressive three hours just working on  food stains. Or throwing the fabric away because of a stubborn stain, unless you are a Bill Gates or a Kardashian of course. Therefore, if you are a messy eater, don’t worry we are going to get along just fine. There are ways you can get smarter than those stains trying to sabotage your life every time you are having a moment. Some stains are tougher than others to get off. Here are some of them and how to deal with the stains.

Coffee and tea stain

It is all too easy to get a tea or coffee stain on your cloth. I can think of hundreds of ways your fabric can get stained. The best way to deal with it is to act on it immediately. But unfortunately, most of the time the setting doesn’t allow us to remove the cloth. Once they set, that’s when you start searching online for ways to quit coffee or tea. Well, the struggle is real but you can still have your cloth spotless again in no time. If the stain is old and set, soak it in warm water with detergent. This will loosen the stain as you prepare to launder. But if the stain is stubborn, mix a teaspoon of vinegar or baking soda in a few cups of water, then pour the liquid over the stain. Then, gently blot the garment and you will see the stain lift. If the stain is fresh, just pour warm water directly through the stained part of the fabric. Then launder with a detergent or dishwashing soap.

Chewing gum stain

Chewing gum is not everyone’s thing, but who minds when you do it? (for 21^st century’s sake, don’t chew it barbarically). Gum can be relaxing and reduces boredom, until oh boy, you somehow see it on your fabric. When this happens, don’t try pulling it away, this will only lead to a greater mess or your fabric getting torn. Instead, use the easiest and most commonly suggested method of removing the chewing gum stain—freezing. Keep the cloth in a freezing bag, then place it in the deep freezer for a minimum of two hours.

Then remove the bag and remove the gum immediately before it warms up and reattaches itself. We, of course, can’t assume everyone has a deep freezer. You can also soak the cloth in lemon juice and scrape off the gum with a blunt edge. It is advised, however, you wash the garment immediately. You can also spray the garment with hairspray, this will harden the gum then scrape it off. Soaking in hot vinegar is also an option.

Red wine

We have all been there, where you are having a special dinner or moment, then the red wine stain happens! Immediately it occurs, consider containing it from spreading any further. Gently dab on the cloth, to get the excess liquid off but do not rub. Immediately apply salt or baking soda to soak up the excess liquid and prevent it from soaking up. After the salt application, rinse the stain in equal amounts of white vinegar and dishwashing soap. You can also pour white wine, only to neutralize the effect if you are in a public place. Then launder and treat as usual.

Olive oil

You think oil poses only a risk to your health until it finds its way into your fabric. Olive oil stain is not as obvious and bright as tomato paste, but no less irritating when you see the darkened spot. Start by removing any excess oil with a spoon or dull knife. Next, apply liquid dishwashing soap until it soaks to the other side. Then allow the liquid to sip throw the fabric, this will break down the oil. The wash in as warm water as the fabric allows. Check whether the stain is gone before drying.

Tomato sauce

 

Here is the drill when it comes to tomato sauce stains: do not use hot water. This is because heat sets the stain permanently. Whether tomato ketchup or fresh tomato juice, they bring such life to food but also brightly stain your fabric. Remove the excess tomato sauce stain from the fabric. Then run cold water on the stain through the back of the fabric. Next run dishwashing soap on the stained part of the fabric. If the fabric is white, you can bleach it. Add some detergent and launder as usual. However, ensure the stain is totally gone before drying it. If you get a cooked tomato stain though, consider it is oil tomato stain you are dealing with. Start treating the oil by using the dishwashing soap.

Berries

Blackberries, blueberries, raspberries, cherries, cranberries, and strawberries are undeniably nutritious and delicious, yet cause stubborn stain if spilled on your fabric. Simply treat the stain by using equal amounts of dishwashing soap and white vinegar. Rub the mixture on the stain and leave it to soak for about 15 minutes. Next, launder as usual. Just like with tomato sauce stain, bleaching the fabric is a good choice.

Baby food

If you have a baby, baby food stains are a guarantee. There is a variety of baby food but basically, scrape off the excess food. Then pretreat it with a stain remover that best suits the fabric. If the stain has set, you can use alcohol-based cleaner, after soaking for a few hours.

There are many food stains and majority have been featured on the above list.  Now you know how to handle them.

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Uses Of Salt At Home That You Don’t Know

We mostly know salt as an awesome and vital flavor enhancer and a preservative from the dark days till now. But do you know you can use salt in a myriad of ways to solve common cleaning issues at home? To date, no other seasoning has satisfactorily replaced salt. It is amazing how much wonder salt can do yet it is crazily affordable. Salt solves many common challenges at home and also proves to be economical and environment-friendly, compared to products manufactured to solve the same issues. In fact, by the time you finish reading this, just like me, it will be your favorite ingredient. Here are various ways you can use salt at home:

1. Dental hygiene

Whether you have run out of toothpaste or just trying out on something new, the salt will work just fine. It is of course, not a replacement for toothpaste, but when used with or without it, solves major issues. A saltwater mouth rinse is a great option for anyone who has gum sores, sore throat or recently had dental procedures. What salt does, it temporarily increases the pH balance in your mouth, creating an environment where bacteria struggle to survive. If you are struggling with bad breath, gargling the salt rinse will help keep your mouth odor-free. It can also brighten up your teeth when you mix it with baking soda.

2. Fruit prevention from browning

When apples are cut and left, they turn brown. This not only makes them look less appetizing but also their flavor and other attributes get altered. There are other methods too, like using lemon juice and honey for preserving them but using salt water is a better way. Only use half teaspoon of salt in one cup of cold water and let the fruit soak for 10 minutes. When you want to eat the apple, you can quickly rinse under cold water to remove traces of the salt on the surface.

3. Cleaning the sink drains and kitchen

Salt can be used as a nontoxic, natural sink cleaner. You probably have manufactured supplies for your cleaning, but consider how eco-friendly salt is. The combination of salt and vinegar in boiled water will cut through tough clogs, especially through grease. Although the acidity of vinegar helps to eat through the clog, salt alone can be effective. Measure a half cup of salt, then pour it directly into the drainage. Slowly pour hot water down the drain. Since you are using salt alone, you may consider repeating the process severally.

4. Stain removal

In removing stains, you need all the help you can get. Salt is there to help. If you have a fresh grease stain, remove it by covering it with salt. Allow it to absorb the grease then brush it away. Repeat until the stain is gone. You can also remove fresh blood stain by covering it with salt, then blot with cold water. You can also remove wine stains by sprinkling stained area with enough salt to soak up liquid. Soak the fabric for about an hour then launder as usual. Additionally, in the process, it brightens the color of your faded cloth.

5. Exfoliating the skin

Salt is not only a skin exfoliator but also a natural detoxifier since the salt absorbs the toxins from the skin. To be specific, sea salt is best used. The important difference between sea salt and table salt is that sea salt has higher levels of naturally occurring minerals. Dead skin results in an old and tired looking skin. Exfoliating using salt is an excellent and skin-friendly way to shed the old skin. Make a paste of sea salt and water then apply it on your face. Leave for a minute before you get into the shower and massage the salt off gently as you bath. Amazingly also, sea salt’s high magnesium content makes it a powerful anti-aging weapon.

6. Burn and itching remedy

Although an itching skin is not a death sentence, it can be crazily irritating, depending on the severity. The causes can be allergies, insect bites, burns or a brush with poison ivy. There are definitely, a variety of products manufactured to treat the condition, but you might consider doing it naturally since you have everything to gain and nothing to lose. To relieve a bee sting, immediately wet the spot and cover with salt. In treating poison ivy, soak the exposed part in warm salty water to help hasten the end of the poison ivy irritation.

7. Extinguishing grease fire

There are a number of ways to put out a grease fire, and using salt is one of them. Have you ever experienced a small grease fire, whereby, little oil spills on the skillet and the pan goes in flames? The most important thing to remember, when it occurs, don’t use water at any cost. Simply look for ways to cut away oxygen. Damp a lot of salt on it. Also never, ever use just any kind of pressurized fire extinguisher on grease fires because you might make it worse. Salt is very effective in this case.

8. Keeping cheese fresh

I seriously doubt if anyone uses their whole block of feta cheese at once unless they have guests. You will need to store the piece that remains for future use. But this is what you should not do, wrapping it up and tossing it into the fridge. This is because when the cheese is exposed to air, it starts to dry out and the flavor becomes sharply soar. Instead, you should store it in a paste called brine. Which you can easily make at home. Simply mix two cups of water with two tablespoons of salt. Ensure the leftover is covered fully in the mixture. This not only preserves the cheese but also gives it the salty flavor punch.

9. Hand deodorant

Salt can greatly act as a deodorant. Seriously, who would want to walk around with hands smelling of garlic or some other foul smell? You are right, no one. If you don’t have other products, you can simply take a salt and vinegar then rub the mixture in your hands to remove the odors.

10. Preservation Of Food

You can use salt to preserve fish or meat if you don’t have a fridge or in case the power lines are down and your fridge will not work for you.  Salt keeps the bacteria that causes beef or fish to go bad from thriving.

The above are the uses of salt, consider using them in your own home and you will be grateful you read this article.

 

 

 

 

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Tips on how to clean glass furniture and mirrors in your home

It is almost unfathomable to have a house without any glass surface and a mirror. They make your home look trendy in a sparkly and beautiful way. Glass furniture and mirrors are the oldest accessories in the book but can never lose their charm because they effortlessly have the power to transform your house into something heavenly. But this only happens if they are gleaming and well taken care of.

Glass and mirrors easily attract dirt, dust, and scratches. Well, that may not be the salient issue since almost every surface behaves similarly, cleaning it is the tricky part. Most people think they know how to clean these surfaces until they spend hours with spray bottles cleaning only to end up with lint and streaks. Thatby the way, catch the light perfectly which is unsightly and off-putting. You are in luck, for it doesn’t have to be that way anymore. There are ways that will ensure you get the surface that gleams as good as new. Here is how:

Check for stains

Just like in laundry, you will get better results if you deal with existing stains before you generally clean the glass or mirror. From top to bottom, scan for stains as you clean them out. The best way to do it is by using rubbing alcohol on a cotton pad then rubbing them off. Running alcohol works like charm on any stain on your surface, from coffee to salad stains. And try working fast to avoid more staining when the rubbing alcohol dries. If there is a waxy stain on the glass, simply mix two cups of water, a half cup of dish soap and a quarter cup of vinegar. Moreover, if you have a cloudy surface -especially on glass- use half a cup of rubbing alcohol, a quarter teaspoon of liquid dishwashing soap and two tablespoons of ammonia. Apart from stains, consider wiping the dust off to prevent moving it around the window as you clean.

Clean in a zigzag manner

Starting from top to bottom from the corner of your choice, work in a zigzag style. People refer to it in different names, but the bottom line for using this pattern is to ensure that no part of the surface is left unattended to. As you spray your mirror or glass furniture, if you are using soap, minimize on the suds. Going excess on the cleaner will not only give you a hard time cleaning it away but also leave streaky residue on the surface. This is not the only pattern you can use, you can also decide to go circular then horizontal and vertical. Though of all, the zigzag pattern has a better accuracy.

Use Vinegar

White or distilled vinegar is one of the  staple cleaning products in your home that can work wonders on your glass and mirrors as well as it does in your salad. Vinegar has the benefit of being our natural which goes a long way in preventing streak while cleaning. When you mix it up with other solutions such as water and dishwashing soap, it makes a magical solution. If you have run out of your normal glass cleaner or just want to confirm if the word is true, you will soon be among those who testify of the wonders the concoction does. You can also add rubbing alcohol to the mixture do help in drying and luster after cleaning. A tip: If your windows are extra dirty, directly spray with white vinegar and let it sit for a while.

Get A Microfiber Cloth

Using paper towels is the most common and accepted way to get the job done, but considering the number of paper towels you are going to roll out, there must be an alternative. Yes, there’s another way and that is using a microfiber cloth. It is the easiest and cheapest effective way to clean your glass and mirrors. Considering they are reusable for a long time. When you go back to the past when there wasn’t any chemical cleaning glass, microfiber cloths came in handy. All they did wash damp the cloth and get a streak and lint free shine on any mirror or glass. You might as well pick it up. It makes cleaning your surface so simple. The fascinating aspect of the cloths is their ability to remove and hold dirt. As you are at it, avoid too much force or abrasive things that may scratch the surface. Additionally, tiny scratches on your glass can be polished by using little white toothpaste.

Clean Edges With A Cotton Swabs

Most people leave out or don’t concentrate much on the edges. It might be probably because it’s pretty hard to get the dirt from the corner, or simply because who will notice it anyway? For whatever reason, there’s a simple way you can get the job done: by using cotton swabs or even a smooth toothbrush. It helps clean quick and with less effort on your part.

Buff the surface

Like some unwritten rule, no matter how thorough you were, there’ll be a streak or two. That is what buffing your surface takes care off. A microfiber cloth can do it, as well as a newspaper. Ensure they are dry and just buff over the glass. When cleaning, try to work fast in order to prevent too many streaks. If possible, wipe as you dry the cleaner. It also advisable to dry the outside of the window in one direction and then inside in another. This makes it easier to find and rid the streak.

When using water for cleaning your glass furniture, ensure it is distilled. Otherwise, tap water has dissolved minerals that cause the undesirable streak. As you have already figured out, residue and streak can be frustrating, so you do everything to avoid such. Well, the sun may prematurely dry the surface cause the effect you don’t want. Therefore, if you can, try cleaning the glass and mirror surfaces in the morning or during cloudy days. To save you the trouble. A tip: to give your mirror a nice luster, wipe with rubbing alcohol after cleaning.

 

 

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How To Hand Wash Clothes Without A Washer Or Dryer

Modern technology is the mother of a lot of marvels today such as the machine washer and dry-cleaning machines. These have been used for more than a century now and are basic parts of our lives – helping to wash our laundry, keeping us clean and tidy.

But what if our machines just disappeared? It is imperative to know how to hand wash clothes since you might need the skills when you are in an area with no power or machines. Jungles, forests, camping grounds are just some examples of places you might need hand washing skills.

1. First Fundamentals

Before you embark on hand washing, you will need to gather all your dirty clothes for cleaning. Then you will have to inspect the cloth tags on the back of the neck (for upper body clothing) or the small of the back (for abdominal clothing). These tags will have information on whether it is okay to hand wash the specific cloth or not.

After you have affirmed that the clothes are hand washable, you will have to separate the white clothes from the dull colored ones. This is because some dull colored clothes bleed dyes which can permanently stain your white clothes. You can still whiten your white fabrics but that is a topic for another day.

2. Gather your Tools of Trade

To hand wash effectively, you will have to find a large spacious tub, preferably plastic ware to soak and wash in. Also, you will need a bar of soap and a powder or liquid detergent to help soften the dirt. You will then need water. Water from natural sources is too full of minerals, it will be hard water which is really hard to lather, and may stain clothes with the scum formed.

You can boil such water to reduce the mineral content in the water or use tap water which is already treated. You will even need more plastic tubs to rinse your clothes in. Also make sure you have a ready hanging line in place, for your clothes to dry on.

3. 3. Soaking

Soaking helps dissolve fats, greases, and dirt from the fabric. It also softens clothes so that washing will be much easier and you will not have to use too much force such that you damage the fabric. Remember to straighten the clothes to allow water to permeate the fabric and soften out dirt.
Also during soaking, separate heavy and light clothes.

Do not keep your laundry soaked for too long in soapy water since this might damage your fabrics.

4. Cleaning

For the lightest clothes, handkerchiefs, and wiping clothes; they can be disinfected by boiling them. For other clothes, use detergent to clean them. Smother them with soap then hold a random part of the cloth with both of your hands. Move your hands in opposite directions to each other as if to tear them but with much lesser force. Do so quickly.

The dirt will come off and the brightness of the fabric will increase as the fabric gets cleaner. If the soaked garments start producing bad odors, you can use vinegar to purge the smells. For the heavy garments, place them on a surface and scrub the dirt off with a brush.

Otherwise, you can use a toilet plunger to agitate the heavy clothes and make the water remove the dirt. The plunger works like an agitator in a washing machine making your work easier.
Avoid washing silk garments that are brightly colored or patterned since they may bleed off dyes permanently marking other clothes. Rinse the washed clothes then repeat again for maximum effect. As a bonus, you could reuse the water to wash the second batch of clothes, with no additional detergents.

5. 5. Drying

After washing your clothes, you will need them dried. You can dry them without using a drier. For a quick drying method, use a thick fluffy towel. Place your damp cloth on the towel then wrap your towel all over it. Then wring the towel with the cloth in it. The water will be held by the towel and the cloth will have lost most of its water. For tough clothes, you can just force squeeze them until most of the water is gone.

You could also let the clothes air-dry out in the sun, hanging on a drying line. The sun is even better as the light rays from the sun will kill any bacteria left in the fabrics. It also restores fabric strength when the clothes are exposed to sunlight for a considerable amount of time. However, when left out for too long in the hot sun, fabrics will degrade, so beware.

6. Tips

Don’t leave colored clothes out for long, they will fade very quickly. Also, using soft water, such as drinking water might save you time when hand washing clothes than using hard water (water from natural sources). Soft water lathers too easily making it the best for washing.

Use mild detergents when hand washing, since stronger detergents will damage your hands. Lingerie, handkerchiefs and light clothes should be washed first as they require least effort. Heavy fabrics such as denim can damage hands when washing. If they are too dirty, then using a plunger to agitate them is the best way to wash them.

Vinegar can be added to aid in cleaning clothes.

Using pegs will help keep clothes anchored on the drying line and prevent hostile winds from carrying them away. For maximum sunlight effect, you can place your wet clothes on a clean surface outdoors and they will dry twice as faster than on a drying line.Clothes that have been dried using the towel wringing method will require ironing since they most likely have a lot of creases on them.

Dispose your used washing water away from healthy plants as this water might poison them. For shoes, hang them upside down to dry quickly. Also, make sure all clothes are in their inside-out format while hanging them. This is because some of them might fall later while picking and it is better to get the inside surface dirty than the outer one.
If properly done, hand washing is more of a thrill than work. Have fun.

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How to Get rid of Cigarette Smoke Smell in Your House

It could be you love smoking cigarettes while seated at your favorite couch as you watch your favorite show, or maybe it could be you just moved into a new house and the previous owner was a heavy smoker, either way, the smell of cigarette in a house is something to reckon with. Cigarette smoke is something that you can’t get rid off that easily.

Unless all your guests are smokers, it can feel quite embarrassing having guests coming over when smoke smell thoroughly engulfs your home. There is an endless array of solutions of solving this kind of a menace. These solutions range from avoiding smoking inside your house to smoking near a window. Still, the smoke smell can persist. Here are some great methods to completely get rid of that annoying smoke smell.

 

Start with the fabric.

As cigarette smoke rises up it diffuses with air and finds its way to any fabric in your house. It settles on curtains and even on your clothes and books. Even when you are not smoking, you can be sure that your house will have that nauseating cigarette smoke smell. It gets worse when you open your window and the wind blows your curtains. The smoke smell then becomes increasingly notable. The best way to deal with this is by washing your curtains and clothes with detergents. Hand wash or machine wash, either can do the trick just perfectly. But just to be sure, check on the fabric for the washing guidelines given.

Mirrors and glasses do attract smoke.

Virtually everything in your house attracts smoke and that’s why your house will ooze smell of smoke every time. A thin residue of smoke is left behind on the glasses and mirrors. The residue is too thin to be seen. On a typical sunny day, the thin film of residues gets heated up making your room smell smoke. If you often smoke while your windows are closed then you can be sure your glasses have attracted a lot of smoke residue. To rectify this, spray the glasses and mirrors with white vinegar. Using a paper towel, gently wipe the glasses and mirrors.

 

Work on your carpet too.

Getting rid of smoke smell in a house isn’t a one process kind of thing. It takes several processes and activities to make your house have an inviting fragrance. Carpets do absorb smoke smell as well and if you have a carpet then you should clean it regularly. If by mistake cigarette ash falls on the carpet, it will absorb the odor thus changing the smell in your house. You need to have your carpet cleaned and you can opt to have it taken to professional carpet cleaners or clean it yourself. During carpet cleaning, remember to use the right detergents.

Don’t forget the walls and ceilings.

Smoke is not visible but it will find its way and settle on just anything. It settles as a thin residue film and this film is actually responsible for the smoke smell in your house. Deal with smoke residue that has settled on walls and ceilings using paint. If you are willing to spend a few cash here and there, you may consider the option of repainting the walls and ceilings. A new paint mixed with sealing primer will cover the old paint thus keeping the smoke smell covered. Alternatively, you can use cleaning detergents that contain ammonia. However, it’s advisable to try these cleaning products on small areas to test the impact they will have on your wall.

 

Time to install an air purifier.

Air purifiers work exceedingly wonderful when it comes to getting rid of the smoke smell or even dust smell in your house. These devices get rid of any contaminant that may be lingering in the air. When you install such a device in your house you can rest assured that even after a smoking session in your house, you won’t have to feel bothered by the smoke smell. This technique when integrated with the other methods discussed herein will work exemplary very good. With this device, you can very happily kiss constant smoke smell goodbye. However, remember to check the manual guidelines when you purchase this device.

 

Empty the ashtray immediately after smoking.

Ashtrays and cigarette leftover pieces should never be left to stay in the house for lengthy periods. Ashtrays and cigarette pieces are heavy contributors as to why your house maybe smelling cigarette smoke. It is very advisable to empty and clean your ashtray immediately after a smoking session. It’s also recommended to wash clean the ashtray after emptying its content. This is because the smoke smell will still remain in the ashtray hence your house will still have that smoke smell.

 

White vinegar.

White vinegar produces excellent results when you want to eliminate bad odor in your house. White vinegar doesn’t really have a great scent but it eliminates the bad odor that lingers in your house.  Put white vinegar in a bowl and leave it in the room for a few hours. You will be able to notice a great deal of difference afterward. One advantage of using white vinegar is that its scent doesn’t linger behind even after taking the bowl out.

 

Wipe all surfaces.

Smoke residues will settle even on hard surfaces such as the floor or even on the tables. Surfaces of table end up smelling cigarette even when there is no cigarette or ashtray on the table surface. Use ammonia or white vinegar to thoroughly clean surfaces of tables or even drawers.

These tips work great when they are integrated together. Prevention will always be better than cure, smoking outside will save you some troubles; however, everyone has their preferences. Nevertheless, always ensure your house is properly ventilated. This will not only get rid of smoke smell in your house but also eliminate other bad odors that may fill your room. These tips are easy to implement and if you put dedication and determination you can be sure that you will reap very good results.

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