Author: admin

  • Deep Cleaning Kitchen Tile Flooring

    Need advice for deep cleaning ceramic/faux tile flooring? You’ve come to the right page, read on for our top tips.

    The first thing you should do is mop the floor. Using warm water with half a cup of vinegar, mop the floor thoroughly. Rinse with warm water after you have used the vinegar solution.

    If you notice a tough stain which isn’t removing, clean with a paste made up of scouring powder and warm water. Apply the paste on the stain using a cloth and let it sit for ten minutes, after which scrub with a brush. Once the stain has gone, wash with warm and clean with a cloth.

  • Hardwood Flooring in the 21st Century

    Oak flooring is a traditional flooring option that is sturdy, cute and has a timeless appearance. It boasts of an aesthetic appeal than many floors lack. It has a strong, sturdy grain pattern whose appearance can be enhanced by staining. Experts use lighter color stains because such stains allow the appearance of the grains to be more pronounced. The floor is also hygienic, non-allergenic, resistant to wear and tear, plus it’s easy to clean.

    Oak Hardwood floor construction

    When flooring using this option, you should have two options to choose from. These are solid hardwood and engineered hardwood construction.

    Just like the name suggest, the first option (solid hardwood flooring) is rock-solid from top to bottom. In most cases, they are available in 3/4” thickness. Most retailers offer them in pre-finished form, meaning they come sanded or coated a number of times from the factory. The finish layer applied above the hardwood is important because it prevents the flooring from wearing or staining once installed. However, they cannot be installed in concrete, so they are not a good option for basement flooring. (more…)

  • Recycling Your Old Oven

    All electrical appliances have a lifespan. If your oven has has had its day, purchasing a replacement isn’t your only worry. You also need to consider how to dispose of the old oven. Seeing as the majority of ovens leave their houses due to failure, we will discuss the correct way to recycle them.

    Contact your local recycling centre to see if your oven is eligible to be recycled. Your local council will have the contact details for the recycling centre, alternatively you should be able to find it with a simple search online.

    There may be a recycling fee and also a charge for the collection of the item, which you should clarify before agreeing to the disposal. Also ask if they will be able to disconnect the appliance.

  • Defrosting A Freezer

    Many people still purchase freezer’s without an automatic defrost function. Although it’s a great function to have, the implications of having a defrost function are that there’s a higher upfront cost and also more electricity is used by the unit.

    If you don’t have a defrost function and need to defrost your freezer, don’t fear! Our tips below will help you out.

    Before you start the defrosting process, unplug the freezer from the mains and then empty the contents. Leave the door open and wait for the ice build-up to melt (bear in mind this may take a few hours). If you want to speed up the process, place a pot of hot water inside and then close the door. DO NOT chisel the ice away, as this is how many people damage their freezers.

    After you have rid of all the melted ice and water, you should wipe the freezer clean and you’re done.  Nice and easy!

     

  • Clean Your Microwave With A Lemon

    The two most hated things to clean in the kitchen are the oven and microwave, and we completely understand why! But we can make this all so much easier for you. All you need is a lemon, a microwave-safe bowl and a towel.

    First pour in a half cup of water into the bowl and then cut your lemon in half and squeeze the juice into the bowl. Once squeezed, drop the lemon halves into the bowl also. Then place the bowl into your microwave for 3 minutes. Once the 3 minutes is up, do not open the door instead leave the microwave door closed for an additional 5 minutes. This is to allow the steam inside to remove the grease from the microwave.

    Then when the time is right, take out the bowl from the microwave and clean it up with a dry towel. All done!

  • Create a Country Kitchen Design

    Creating a warm and welcoming country kitchen has never been easier when you have access to the best country kitchen accessories. You will be able to transform your kitchen into the country dream kitchen that you have always imagined. When only the finest kitchen accessories will do for your kitchen you will find comfort in know that the best items are right at your fingertips at the best prices. You will love how easily you can create a country look in your kitchen that makes it the best place in the home to gather.

    Awesome Tin Items

    A great way to add a vintage country look to your kitchen is with the use of tin items. You will find that tin items in a creamy antique color will be a great contribution to your country kitchen. You might choose a tin to hold items such as breads, pet treats, flour, sugar and even pegs. Items that are made of tin will prove to last a lifetime and also help you have an efficient kitchen that looks great. (more…)

  • 2 Ways Of Descaling A Kettle

    Don’t leave your kettle filled with lime-scale alone. Make sure to fight the scale and make your kettle more efficient when boiling. Below are two different ways of descaling a kettle.

    Option 1) Fill your kettle up with water and vinegar in a ratio of 1:1. Leave the mix in the kettle for an hour and do not boil it! Once the hour is up, tip out the mix of water/vinegar after soaking. If you still see some limescale build up, wipe it down with a small amount of bicarbonate of soda on a damp cloth. Make sure the kettle is unplugged when you do. Once done, rinse out the kettle at least 5 times before you use again.

    Option 2) Mix 30g of lemon/lime with 500ml of water into the kettle and then boil. Leave the kettle to cool down before you empty it. If you still see some limescale build up, wipe it down with a small amount of bicarbonate of soda on a damp cloth.Once done, rinse out the kettle at least 5 times before you use again.

  • Shopping for the Best Cafetiere

    A cafetiere is a valuable piece of kitchenware for individuals who enjoy fresh coffee (that has a refined flavour). It is also referred to as a coffee plunger,a French press or a press pot. In simple terms, it can be described as “a container that allows users to brew fresh coffee in hot water”. It filters ground coffee from the liquid which allows the drink to be directly poured from the equipment into your cup. These can be found in different sizes and shapes made from various materials allowing you to choose the one you like best.

    Types 

    The equipment can be found in various styles from ornamental to functional and classic. Each of them comes with its own weaknesses and strengths depending on how it was constructed thus you have to be careful when shopping for one to get the one that will work out well for you. (more…)

  • Cleaning Your Oven

    Yes, we all hate dealing with the grime but it needs to be done! If you don’t deal with, the grease can turn up to carbon, leading to your food being tainted and potentially becoming a fire hazard.

    First you need to find out what type your oven is, as they require different cleaning methods. If you have a self-cleaning oven then your life will be a bit easier. Remove the oven racks and clean them in a sink with warm water and liquid. Turn the oven’s self-cleaning mode on and after it’s done cleaning itself, let the oven cool for 2 hours. Once cooled, open the oven door and sweep away the ashes with a brush and dustpan. Then use a wet rag to clean the oven. If your oven is non-self-cleaning then you need to create your own oven-cleaning solution. Use a litre spray bottle and mix 4 tablespoons of baking soda with water. Spray the oven and let the mix soak in for a couple of hours. After that use a scraper to get rid of the carbon, but make sure to use rubber gloves as this can get very messy. Spray the mix again and leave it soaking for one hour and remove the rest of the carbon. Then wipe the oven with water and vinegar.

  • Things To Consider When Purchasing A New Kettle

    Why are we writing a post on selecting the right kettle you ask? Well because there’s a load of different things to consider when spending your cash!

    First you have to decide whether you’d like an electric or non-electric kettle? We’d recommend an electric kettle as it’s less hassle and much quicker, but if you like to make your brew the traditional way, then a non-electric kettle is for you.

    Consider the speed of boiling, when you’re looking at kettles. When looking at electric versions the power ranges from 1.7kw to around 3.2kw. The higher the kw, the faster. Bear in mind, the more powerful a kettle, the louder the noise. If you want a silent kitchen, then you may have to go for a less powerful kettle.

    Make sure your kettle also has a removable filter, which you can clean out for limescale purposes. If you want to save energy, look for a quick boil/eco-friendly kettle as they can save up to 50% energy.

    Hope that’s helped!