My Crazy Home

Unexpected Uses of Milk

monikajones215 — Tue, 13 Sep 2016 14:36:21 GMT

Milk may come in handy not only in cooking and baking. It is great for beauty and home care as well. Milk is an inexpensive alternative to some aggressive cleaning agents and you can apply it whenever you need to. Check out these clever and unexpected uses of milk:

Polish your silver jewelry – mix a glass of milk with a little lemon juice and use the mixture to clean your silver. If your silver items are too dark then you can soak them in the solution for a few hours. Then wipe and wash them with plain water.

Fix your porcelain items – that may seem strange to you, but milk can help you repair small cracks in the white porcelain. Put the porcelain item in a large saucepan and cover it with milk. Heat the milk until boiling, reduce the heat and allow the liquid to boil gently for 45 minutes. The proteins in milk can help to restore the links in the porcelain surface and to close the rift.

Clean your shoes – dampen a cotton ball or a rag with some raw milk and use it to clean your shoes. For more glitter, leave the milk to dry on the shoes and then polish them with a soft cloth to remove any small scratches.

Wash your hands – if your hands are too dirty, disinfect them with a mixture of oatmeal and milk. Rub the paste on your hands to remove the dirt. If you often have to wash your hands with water, use milk instead. In addition to cleansing the skin, milk moisturises it and does not allow it to dry. Who says only Cleopatra could enjoy the great effect of milk on the skin?

Clean your house plants – next time you run domestic cleaning, remember that your house plants need sanitising as well. Use skim milk to clean their leaves from dust and dirt. Apply some milk with a spray bottle, leave it to work a bit and then wipe it with a soft cloth.

Cleaning the furniture – mix some milk with a little lemon juice to clean your wooden furniture. The soft cream-like base of milk perfectly combines with the acidity of the citrus juice. As a result, you will have an effective eco-friendly cleaner. Milk removes dirt and smoothes small cracks, and lemon juice will help you remove stains and disinfect the surfaces. If you want to add a nice flavor to the mixture, then put a few drops of aromatic essential oil.

Treat insect bites – milk is a natural moisturising ingredient, so you can use it to soothe the skin after insect bites. The enzymes in it reduce the swelling of the skin and therefore reduce the uncomfortable itching. Treat your skin with a mixture of milk, water and salt and leave it to work for a while.

Remove ink stains – if you have to deal with ink stains on your clothing, curtains or upholstery, then soak them in a little milk for a few hours. Rinse them well and wash them in lukewarm, not hot water. When it comes to upholstery cleaning, obviously you can’t wash the fabric. So, get a rag soaked in milk. Apply it on the surface and leave it to work for a few hours. Then wipe thoroughly several times with a cloth dipped in lukewarm water. Milk dissolves and removes ink with ease.

Thaw the fish out and improve the taste of food – milk has various applications in the kitchen as well. For instance, frozen fish sometimes has an unpleasant taste after thawing out, but if you dip it in some milk, then it will return the hydration of the fish. Its taste will get better. Milk is often used to improve the taste of coffee, dough food, corn, etc. Almost any kind of food can become much more delicious if it is boiled in a mixture of water and milk.

Relieve sunburn spots – the long exposure to sunlight can cause very painful sunburn. Get some powdered milk and mix it with water and a few pinches of salt. You can quickly soothe the burnt skin with this milk-based sunburn mixture.

Make a homemade soap – milk can be the main ingredient in it. Such soap will be both hard on microbes and soft on your skin. Use your blender to mix milk, oatmeal, glycerin, scent oils and lard. Boil the solution for several hours, and then distribute it in soap molds. Wait for it to dry and then you will have a quality natural product you can use for your everyday personal hygiene.

Remove makeup – foundations, blushes and other facial cosmetic products are sometimes difficult to remove. So, instead of water, try using a mixture of warm water and powdered milk. Apply the mixture on your face and after a few minutes, you will be able to easily clean the makeup.

Milk is not only a nice drink and an essential ingredient in pastries. Even if you don’t like its taste, you should have at least one carton of milk in your fridge - after all, it can be very useful when it comes to various household duties!

How to Tell Your Roommate When Something Bothers You Without Upsetting Them?

monikajones215 — Tue, 26 Jul 2016 13:49:39 GMT

Living with other people is an important part of student life. However, the attempts to get used to the habits of others can be quite frustrating. How to tell your roommate if anything bothers you without upsetting him or her? Here are the most common problems that may arise and some ideas how to solve them:

He/ She is mean – if you don’t live with a friend but someone you just met, then there is a big chance to have problems in communication. After all, people are different. Your roommate might not be very friendly in general. She may make disrespectful comments or totally ignore you. No matter how hard you try to reach out to her it seems like she hates you for no reason. Try to have a decent conversation about her behaviour and the reason behind it. If that does not help, then you can use advice from a mediator or a counsellor. If nothing changes over time, just consider finding a new roommate.

He/ She is always absent – it is not pleasant to come home from school and to see that there is nobody in the flat. That could happen from time to time, but it is not normal to be always like that. When you see her next time, ask your roommate what he has been lately up to. If he does not tell you much, then do not pry but let him share whenever she is ready. Ask him to hang out together sometimes – there is no harm in that. When you live with another person you expect to spend some time together and get acquainted with each other – it is always easier to live with a friend rather than a stranger.

He/ She is always in the room – that is another extreme situation. Your roommate goes only to classes and nowhere else. Maybe he/ she is just shy and does not have many friends. If his only physical activity is going to the supermarket or some domestic cleaning from time to time, your roommate might be slightly asocial. He probably likes lying on the bed, watching movies or reading a book. For you, that seems boring but for him it is relaxing. Try to be friendly with him, ask him to go for a walk with you or to join you in a meeting with your friends. Part of the benefits of the university is making social contacts with many people, who have various interests and temper. Make everything possible to get your roommate out of the room. You both have to create some memories – college time is the best time for that!

He/ She is messy – everyone has his own standards of cleanliness. Some people just do not pay attention to the mess and even feel better in the chaos. But everything has its own limits and there is a light cross line between the so-called ‘creative chaos’ and dirtiness. If you are the only one in the room who cleans, then that probably bothers you. Your household chores should be equally divided. For that purpose, you’d better make a schedule. Set a day for cleaning. The best option is Sunday. Write down all the details. For example, you will disinfect the bathroom and the hall, and your roommate will take care of the kitchen and the bedroom. The next week, it will be the opposite, etc. When you move out some day, then calling the end of tenancy cleaners would be the best variant for both of you.

He/ She always takes your personal things – while some people could be shy and do not talk much, some could be disturbingly friendly. For them, having a roommate is like having a sister back in their childhood. They do not feel any shame in browsing your stuff and using your deodorant or trying your clothes on without even asking. If you do not want to share or borrow your personal belongings, then talk about privacy and let her know you do not like the current situation.

There is always someone else in the room – it almost feels like you have the third roommate. Whether it is her boyfriend or a friend, the popular saying ‘the more, the merrier’ does not apply every time. That is especially true if your room is not very big. Make your roommate realise that he shares the place with someone else, i.e. you. Talk to them that there should be a schedule – maybe not a strict one, but some hours when it is acceptable to have guests. Be tactful – it should not seem like you want to kick her friends out. There must be compromises from both sides. Otherwise, the rental will be messier, have more clutter, probably the sink will be filled with plates – when there is a third person in the house, it seems like even if he is not living there, the need of domesitc cleaning more often drastically rises.

When you live with someone else, you can’t expect that everything to go smoothly. That is why you have to be patient and sincere with the other person. Whether you are in the dormitory of the university or you share a rental for private accommodation, that is a great experience not to be missed. You will have a lot of fun and build friendships that may last a lifetime!

How to Keep Your Pet Busy while You Are Away for the Day

monikajones215 — Mon, 20 Jun 2016 08:12:48 GMT

Every pet owner regards his or her cat or dog as a family member. We get worried when our furry friend is sick and when we are out of town for a couple of days, we keep calling the person we asked to take care of our pet just to make sure everything is alright. Admit is that when you are at work, you think of your pet and wonder what is he doing right now. He is probably up to yet another mischief or maybe he is soundly sleeping at his favourite spot on the sofa. If you want to make the home alone hours of your pet a bit more entertaining, here are a few tricks on how to keep it busy while you are at work.

As the saying goes, a tired pet is a well-behaving pet. In other words, if you spend some time playing with your pet before you leave the house, he will spend most part of the day relaxing. Take the dog for a long walk, play his favourite game. If you live in a rented house, do your best to keep the damages to the minimum. Of course, every pet owner knows that accidents happen, but don’t rely on the end of tenancy cleaning to fix the torn upholstery or remove the pet smell lingering around the house with a magic wand. If the house is yours, you have probably invested a huge amount of time and money to make it look presentable. Making your pet tired does not completely eliminate the risk of getting back home and seeing the living room turned upside down, but at least it is something.
Introduce a new toy. Every time you promise yourself that you will go to the pet store just to buy some food and every time you leave with a bag full of different treats and new toys. It goes without saying that you buy so much stuff because of your affection for your furry friend, but if you spend so much on toys, make sure they are “entertaining” ones. Ask the sales associate about those cubes that can be stuffed with treats and those treats can be taken out only if your cat/ dog finds the right hole. Interactive dog feeders are also an excellent alternative. Rest assured the dog will be kept entertained for hours. You can also get a new toy your dog can chew. It will not only promote oral health, but will keep him busy, so the chance of chewing your pair of brand new expensive shoes is decreased.
Take your pet to a daycare or school for dogs. His absence from home will not only make your carpet cleaning easier, but it will also help him socialise. Nobody likes aggressive dogs that do not allow anyone, even their owner to pet them, right? The daycare centres employ professionals who know how to teach your dog different tricks through performing various activities. Don’t get surprised if your dog is not too playful when you get back home. The playtime at the daycare will probably make him tired. Check out the available daycare options in your area and make sure you leave your fur baby in safe hands.
Teach your pet to watch TV. That method works better with dogs as they have an excellent vision and are attentive to moving images. That idea would sound crazy to those who have never had a dog at home, but dog owners know that puppies are intelligent creatures. There is a good reason why people say that dog’s character traits pretty much resemble his owner’s.
If you have a cat, the TV trick might not help, but if you never let your cat outside, you can make a birdhouse right in front of the window. Despite being cute and innocent looking, cats are actually predators, so their hunting instincts are encouraged whenever they see a prey. They will be entertained all day long – that is guaranteed.
Even if you are low on free space, make sure you establish a fun zone area where your pet can relax and play with favourite toys. Hang toys on the door and window handles. Play “hide and seek” with your cat by placing treats on his favourite spots to sleep. A cat tree for climbing and scratching might spare your sofa from the cat’s paws.

Before you got a pet, you must have been aware of the fact that it is not just a fluffy toy to play with. It is pretty much a huge responsibility. If you cannot devote enough time to your pet, you can at least make sure he does not feel isolated and lonely by following some of the aforementioned tips.

How to Deal with Cigarette Smell at Home?

monikajones215 — Tue, 14 Jun 2016 06:46:20 GMT

Smoking is definitely a terrible habit and you can hardly find any advantage it brings. Quite the opposite, it has been scientifically proven that cigarettes contain tons of harmful substances that pose a huge threat to smoker’s health and those who inhale the smoke. Yet, quitting the bad habit is difficult. As Mark Twain says: “Giving up smoking is the easiest thing in the world. I know because I've done it thousands of times”. Anyway, apart from health hazards, cigarettes are also notorious for the bad smell that lingers for a long time. If you are a non-smoker and you enter a room where someone has smoked, you will smell a strong unpleasant odour. However, if you are a smoker, it might not make any difference to you unless the nicotine levels in your body are low and you are dying to light a cigarette. No matter if you are a smoker or not, you should take adequate measures towards neutralising the bad odour at home. Here are a few tips on how can you remedy the situation:

You know that carpets absorb all kinds of unpleasant smells, including tobacco smoke. In order to neutralise the smell, you can opt for the well-known properties of baking soda. Sprinkle some baking soda on the carpet and let it sit overnight. Then, vacuum as usual. If that method turns ineffective, you should take carpet cleaning to the next level and arrange professionals or shampoo the carpet on your own. Yet, booking with a professional company seems the best solution as the powerful steam cleaning machines will not only eliminate the cigarette smell but they will also extract the accumulated dirt.
Vinegar smells bad, no doubt about it. However, the cigarette smoke smells worse, so if you want to eliminate the odour with homemade solutions, you’d better opt for using white vinegar. Bring the vinegar to boil and then distribute it into several containers. Put them in the smelliest areas at home. If you want to clean your sofa and furniture, dampen a microfiber cloth with the white vinegar solution and treat the upholstery and the items of furniture. If you can tolerate the vinegar smell, you can also soak cotton balls into vinegar and place them in the room corners.
Change the filters of the air conditioner regularly. That might not completely eliminate the cigarette smell, but the quality of the indoor air will be significantly improved.
It is a good idea to buy an air purifier, but make sure you choose one that is suitable for the size of the room.
Baking soda can do a good job with the bad smell if you had thrown a party and cleaning up the mess on the next day includes cigarette smell neutralisation. However, if the situation is worse, you have to invest in a more powerful “tool” namely activated charcoal. It can be found in the pet stores as activated charcoal is used in aquarium filters. Put a small quantity of charcoal into a suitable container and leave it in the smelly room for a few days. It takes some more time for the odour to be neutralised, but it will definitely help.
The more plants you have at home, the easier it will be to deal with the bad tobacco smell. Plants are natural air purifiers, so you’d better make a trip to the nearest store and buy a spider plant. The latter is not demanding. As long as you water it regularly and keep it out of the reach of the sun, it should be fine.
If you take a look at the products in the pet store and you come across a kitty litter that contains charcoal, you can put it in small containers and distribute them around the house.
What about the removal of cigarette smells from your clothes. For the purpose, you can use fabric sheets that have odour-neutralising properties. Under no circumstances should you put half-smoked cigarettes in your pocket, as the smell will be much stronger and therefore more difficult to remove.
If you have a habit of smoking in the car, keep dryer sheets or wet wipes near you and wipe down the surfaces to keep the bad smell to the minimum.

Dealing with cigarette smell is quite a challenging task, but the most effective solution is to eliminate the root of the problem. In other words, the best thing you can do is to talk to your guests and family members and just ask them to smoke outside. Install ashtrays on the balcony or in the garden. If you consider it too rude to ask your guests to go outside to light a cigarette when it is freezing cold outside, you can simply establish an area designated for smokers next to a window or in a room with good ventilation.

Make the best of your weekend!

monikajones215 — Fri, 27 May 2016 07:30:32 GMT

Weekends always seem to be the alluring resort that everyone is looking forward to after a long exhausting week at work. However, when Friday is around the corner and the weekend is just a day away, many people don`t organise their time the right way and end up in the same miserable Monday mood on Sunday night. Weekends are meant to be fun and leave you energised but if you fail to combine your responsibilities with some entertainment you will neither do your household chores nor be fresh for the upcoming week. Read on and read our tips that can help you to make the best of your weekend:

The most important thing is not to spend your weekend in bed. Were you really waiting the whole time to lay in bed and do nothing? Don`t oversleep – even if you were partying all Friday night don`t sleep until the afternoon on Saturday. Yes, you need your beauty sleep but don`t overdo it. Many people wrongly assume that if they sleep more on the weekends they will feel more energised – wrong! If you interrupt your biological rhythm you will end up grumpier than a Monday morning. If you want to sleep more on the weekend, just nap for an hour or so in the afternoon – it will make you fresh and help you purge the negative emotions. Who doesn`t like naps?

Having a busy schedule means that there are probably friends and family members that you neglected lately. Make sure you spend time with your loved ones – there are no excuses! We are living in an era that gives us the opportunity to choose our priorities - even if we have many things to do there are professional services for everything. Don`t say you don`t have time to visit your parents even if you are moving out – rely on your local end of tenancy cleaning company and focus on the more important things in life. Talk to your family and listen to them. Human connection is crucial – we need to know that we are loved and surrounded by good people.

Spend time outside your house and unplug your electronic devices for few hours – you need time to relax and appreciate the beauty of the nature. Have a walk in the nearby park, go fishing or go to the beach. You need to clear up the stress and forget about the TV and your gadgets for a minute! Read a book, breathe fresh air and enjoy your freedom – life is beautiful!

Another thing that you should go for is to cook some meals at home. Make a healthy dinner and involve your family in the preparation! In the busy week days many families don`t have time to eat together as their schedules are incompatible but weekends are great for spending some quality time in making delicious food. Try making something you have never eaten before or just make your loved ones` favourite dish. Take your time and enjoy every bite – no need to rush for your next meeting, weekend is here!

Spend some time decluttering your home. Don`t devote the whole day - a couple of minutes to organise your paperwork and simplify your environment are enough. Look around the house - if you feel like going through your closet to see if you have some clothes to donate or to get rid of, do it! Spend some time tidying up – you will feel energised when your home is clutter-free. However, if you notice some major stain on the upholstery, or you see that your carpet lost its freshness, don`t waste your weekend worrying about such issues – carpet cleaners are here to help you! Still, they can`t organise your files and documents as well as make up supplies so this little task is assigned to you!

Why don`t you try going to yoga classes or a sport you like? Moving will make you feel energised and you can always involve your friends or family. Call your high-school fellow and go to meditation classes. An hour meditating can improve your ability to focus, your creativity and you will feel happy. As the weather is comfortably warm now you can check if there are any yoga classes outdoors for achieving even better peacefulness of mind and body in the fresh air.

Your hobby needs some time, too – if you want to participate in activities that you are into spend some time and find local communities with the same interests. No matter if it is baking pastries, playing an instrument or snapping photos, you will see that meeting new people will bring positive energy in your life! Plus, you already have a thing in common so making new friendships will not be a problem. We learn new things every day – take the opportunity and you will see that you will feel fulfilled!

So, what are your plans for the weekend? Do you think you can make the best out of yours? Don`t forget to be grateful for what you have and show love to your family and friends. Happiness is... realising it`s Friday!

Why should you wear an apron when performing your household chores

monikajones215 — Thu, 19 May 2016 08:28:09 GMT

If cooking is among your favourite activities, then you know that sometimes it can get very messy. After you are done with the preparing of a certain dish, you will definitely need to spend a decent amount of time cleaning. It is a good idea to consider wearing an apron during these household chores. There are plenty of reasons why this is recommended. Check them out:

An apron prevents from risk of infections – there is always a risk of infections (even minimal) when you prepare food at home. There may be germs on your clothes, especially if you have been wearing this clothing during the whole day. Those germs could easily fall on the dish you are about to cook or the one that is already done. Here comes the great assistance of the apron as it will reduce the risk drastically. It prevents your clothes from any contact with the food. So no hair, dust and germs will get any closer to your plate. And prevention is always better than cure, right?
Minor burns often happen when you cook. If you wear an apron, then it will tuck your loose clothing in and that will prevent any serious accidents.
An apron will help you avoid the mess – with all the cooking, water from washing pots and pans, spills, etc., the kitchen can become a chaos in no time. You can damage your clothes and as the food preparation process often includes ingredients that are greasy or intense in colour – like fruit juices – you may fail to succeed in cleaning them thoroughly. Some stains could be too stubborn to deal with, so you will have to throw your clothing away. Wearing an apron will prevent all that trouble as it will take the spots in and your clothes will be left intact.
A curious fact is that wearing an apron may keep you focused on housework. On a subconscious level, you perceive the apron as a kind of uniform for domestic duties. You may have noticed that the diligent teams that work in a professional domestic cleaning company wear aprons. It makes you more concentrated and will be a way to deal with distraction. For instance, if you have a lot to do you can easily get bored and switch from cleaning to returning phone calls or checking your e-mail. On the other hand, when you wear an apron when performing your household chores you tend to get things done quicker than usual.
Pick an apron in accordance with your requirement. There are various types of aprons – made from plastic or cloth or even a combination of both materials. Actually, one of the best fabrics for aprons is leather because of its durability and long life. Your choice depends on the work you will be doing. If you are going to wear an apron primarily during domestic cleaning and washing, then you should get an apron with a plastic lining. If you are more into cooking, then a plain cloth apron will be good enough.
Do not throw your old apron away. Fill the pockets with the necessary gadgets and materials, so you will not have to come back repeatedly for them. If there are not enough pockets or they are not comfortable, sew a few extra compartments. For this purpose, fold up the bottom of a long apron, and make several vertical stitches in front of the two layers of fabric, to lay out the sections - your hands will be free to disinfect and scrub the surfaces.
Just like your clothes, your cloth apron needs regular cleaning and washing. You can safely launder it in the washing machine as you select a program with a higher temperature. So you will be sure that you will eliminate all sorts of bacteria and germs that may have stumbled onto the apron. If there are any more stubborn stains, then you have to treat the fabric before you put it in the washing machine. Your local end of tenancy cleaners recommend you an easy way to fight greasy spots: sprinkle some baby powder or corn starch to absorb the grease and then apply a little bit of a dishwashing detergent on the spot. Leave it to work a couple of minutes and then wash the apron.
If your kids want to help you in kitchen or simply watch you while cooking, then you should teach them to wear an apron. That can be a wonderful way to introduce your children to cooking. What is more, that can be a lot of fun time for you and your kids. Pick a colourful apron with or without cartoon characters on it, depending on the preferences of your little one.

Admit it – aprons can be cute! There is a diversity of them offered on the market. Choose a plain apron in your favourite colour or an apron which combines several hues. Why not get an original apron with a motivational quote on it? Pick the one that not only makes you feel more enthusiastic about the household chores but also the one that will fit your needs and comfort.

Invite Spring in your house – decorating tips for a flowery mood!

monikajones215 — Wed, 13 Apr 2016 08:23:21 GMT

Spring is here and now is the right time to start thinking about some colourful updates you can do to bring some freshness at home! There are a lot of ways to transform your home for more Spring-welcoming atmosphere – use colourful paint, bright accents and of course, fresh flowers! Read on and check these ideas – you will definitely find some inspiration to take up to a project that will get you in the mood for Spring!

As we already mentioned there’s no better way to celebrate Spring than adding fresh flowers and live plants around! Not only they look great and refreshing but they are also affordable and you will improve the indoor air quality by adding some plants at home! Plants are not necessarily difficult to take care of – there are easy-care ones such as some herbs. The best part is that they would look incredibly freshening in your home interior plus you can use them when you cook your favourite dishes. Don't forget to add a colourful bouquet to liven up your table in the living room! An interesting trick is to use plain jar for a vase – but where is the fascinating part? Add some food colouring in the water for a playful punch – cheap and simple way to bring more colours in your house!

Add colour to your walls! If you want to make your home more appealing and bright, you can start a little renovation DIY project! Spring shades are lilac, sky blue and other light pastel colours – choose one prime colour and one or two other shades for highlights. If you don't want to repaint the whole room, decide which wall you find most dull and dim and splash some colours there! There are so many tutorials on the Internet which will make the renovation project a piece of cake! However, if you don't feel crafty enough you can always book a renovation procedure – the professionals will do the job for you!

You might think that a renovation project is a big step for your home interior and we all know it takes serious commitment, time and money. There`s a solution for this problem – Spring can still be celebrated by adding vinyl stickers to your walls. Vinyl wall art is a popular way to give a custom and unique look to your interior without the commitment. Feel free to change your mind after a couple of months – there would be no hassle when you want to replace these flower vinyl stickers with some snowflakes or other piece of art – experiment with decals!

Spring is a great time for swapping out your bed linens. During the cold months most of the people usually use heavy and dark linens. But now it's time for a change! Invite the Spring in your bedroom – use lavender or lilac sheets instead of the ordinary white ones. The room will brighten up and will get you in the mood for warmer days. To enhance the feeling you can add some aroma candles in the same hue on your nightstand – romantic and fresh touch you will love! The same goes for the towels – if you use dark-coloured ones switch them for something brighter – to freshen the things even more you can apply a drop of lavender essential oil on them!

Don't forget that along with changing the interior you should perform a deep sanitising procedures – you know that spring cleaning is an essential part of greeting this lovely season! Wipe walls and ceilings, clean your windows, vacuum and clean your carpets and dust the surfaces – make your home spick and span!

As you now have few ideas for the interior, it's time to move outside of your house! Improve your patio – the first thing you can do and probably one of the easiest is to update the cushions – if they are stained or faded, replace them with a new set. If you don't want to spend extra pounds on this update you can consider creating your own patchwork cushions – they will be with unique design and creating some would be the perfect way to display your imagination. Involve your loved ones in this task – ask them for ideas and think of making cushions for every family member! Don’t forget that besides the sofa cleaning, you will need to maintain these cushions hygienic too. The same goes for the cushions in your living room – decide whether you will invest more time or more money and provide your home with colourful pillows to add cosy touch both inside and outside of your house!

Last but not least, now is the best time to complete your DIY projects you have started. Because most of them usually require spray painting, Winter is not the most convenient time to let the windows open or to do the project outside. Now as the weather is getting warmer, it is the best time to finish the design of your photo frames, to add colour to a bookcase or to make a chalkboard by applying chalk paint on one of your cabinet doors! Let the creativity out!

Spring is loved by many people – who doesn't enjoy the mild weather, birds singing and the Sun shining? To make this experience even more enchanting invite Spring in your home – you will see how a simple refreshing renovation project at home can freshen your mind and body, too!

How to clean rust from anywhere

monikajones215 — Wed, 06 Apr 2016 06:53:57 GMT

Rust is the nightmare of every household. It seems to appear out of nowhere and not only rust stains are ugly but they are really stubborn. When dealing with rust a lot of people intuitively grab chlorine bleach but this is absolutely irrational as it will just make the spot worse – it can actually set it. However, removing rust is not an insurmountable task and by considering well the surface you are treating you can successfully accomplish this mission. Read on and check these tips out.

First of all, before you even begin to scrub the rust stain, give the entire surface a good basic cleaning. For instance, cleaning the spot from your sink will be much easier if you simply spray down the whole surface with some white distilled vinegar and use a scrub brush to wash it. By doing this you will disinfect properly the area and dissolve any residues that can get between you and the stain.

To begin all you really need is a plain pumice stone and warm water. The pumice stone is a volcanic rock which absorbs water as it is porous. You can find the stone in supermarkets` beauty sections. When it absorbs water the pumice softens slightly so it won’t scratch the surface while you are cleaning the rust stain. Start scrubbing the stain with the damp stone using gentle pressure and you will soon notice how the rust is lightening. After few minutes you will end up with a thin coating of a muddy substance - rinse it with some water. Wipe it with a cloth and repeat if necessary. This simple and inexpensive method should help you to take care of the rust stain. Make sure you have your pumice stone next time you start your domestic cleaning.

Alright, what about the rust stains on fabric? Most of the products that are designed to remove rust contain acids. However, sometimes they dissolve other things that you weren’t aiming for – the fabric. The best solution to remove a rusty stain from your favorite shirt is to use a mixture of salt and lemon juice. Still, you should be cautious as even this slightly acidic solution may discolour your clothing. Make sure you test it on a small hidden spot on your fabric so you won’t damage it. When you are done with the test, put your clothing on a flat and clean surface – use your countertop. Now you need to cover the stain with table salt and squeeze a lemon all over so the juice soaks in the pile of salt. Don`t make it too fluid. You can always mix salt and lemon juice in a cup so you get the right consistency. When applied on the fabric you should let it sit for about half an hour. Rinse it with cool water afterwards. Repeat if necessary. This method also works on hard surfaces but they should be oriented horizontally and stay dry as otherwise the solution will be washed away and it won’t work.

Another interesting way to deal with rust stains we heard from some end of tenancy cleaners. You can use a paste of cream of tartar and hydrogen peroxide to remove rust from hard surfaces and fabrics. But how does this work? Cream of tartar contains acid and hydrogen peroxide has oxygen bleach and when combined result in effective removal of your rust stain. Pour two or three tablespoons of peroxide and add cream of tartar to form a thick paste. Spread it over the stain and let it sit for half an hour. Rinse it with water - the rust will be gone!
Check these two natural solutions for cleaning rust stains from your items, too. The first way is to make a paste with good old baking soda and warm water and apply it to the affected area. Let it sit for about 15 minutes and gently scrub the debris with a toothbrush. Your second option is to cut a potato in half and dip it in dish detergent. The substances will create a chemical reaction and will help you to remove the rusty stains. Put some slices of potato for a few hours over the rusty area and rinse with water afterwards. You can also slightly scrub it with a soft brush.

Believe it or not, cleaning your chrome surfaces from rust stains is a piece of cake. All you need is aluminum foil and water. Crumple the foil into a ball and dip it in cold water.Maybe you are wondering why steel wool is not the better option. Well, if you want scratches along with the desired outcome, you can use it. However, the smart decision it to choose aluminum foil. Why? Rust itself is oxidized metal which means it has extra oxygen atoms. The aluminum will take these atoms away and break down the rust, leaving you a shining chrome surface. Simple like that!

Don’t panic when you notice a rust stain. Now you have a long list of cleaning techniques that are not only efficient but natural, too!

How to remove hair dye stains from almost everything

monikajones215 — Thu, 24 Mar 2016 09:02:55 GMT

No matter how carefully you dye your hair and try not to make any messes, hair dye stains seem to appear every single time. The list of the 'threatened' surfaces is long – sinks, counter-tops, floors and walls. However, if you act immediately and use these proven techniques you will succeed in cleaning the mess and no one will ever know some hair dye spot was there. Be extra cautious when dealing with marble, granite or wood as if you don’t act right away these porous surfaces will absorb the stain. Read on and check our suggestions.

How to clean the stained stone, granite or marble? The most successful method is to make a paste using hydrogen peroxide and diatomaceous earth, which is used in gardening. Pour the peroxide into the latter – just a small amount until a thick paste is form. Before applying the paste make sure you clean the area with a soft cloth dipped in mineral water. Apply the paste on the stained area using a wooden spatula to form a thick layer. Make sure you spread the paste beyond the hair dye spot to prevent from expanding any further. Cover the paste with a plastic bag so it won’t dry too quickly. Remove the dried paste after few hours using the wooden spatula. Blot the stain with ammonia afterwards. If you are dealing with a really stubborn stain, repeat this task until it is gone. When you are done, rinse with mineral water.

How to get rid of a hair dye stain on your painted walls? Immediately after it appears spray it with some hairspray that contains alcohol in order to you keep it wet. Dip a cotton ball in rubbing alcohol and soak the stain. After that wipe it clean with a soft cloth. Rubbing alcohol has some unexpected helpful uses when it comes to your house cleaning so always keep a bottle in handy. If still there’s a hue from the dye you can apply a layer of whitening toothpaste afterwards directly to the spot and wipe it with cloth dipped in warm water.

How to clean the hair dye from your porcelain, cast-iron or fiberglass? A regular all-purpose cleaning detergent should do the work but if it doesn’t turn out to be a successful mission, make a mixture of oxygen bleach with water. Use a soft cloth so you won’t scratch the surface and scrub the area. Rinse with warm water after that and repeat until the hair dye stain is gone.

How to remove the stain from your carpets and upholstery? For upholstery - make a mixture of cool water – 2 cups, a tablespoon of white distilled vinegar and a tablespoon of a liquid dish soap – stir until they are completely combined. Blot the stain area with a sponge dipped in the solution and let it sit for about half an hour. Meanwhile every 10 minutes blot the stain with a clean soft cloth with more of the mixture until it is gone. To clean your carpet use the same method but make the solution with warm water instead. If you can’t handle the stained area with it, try mixing a tablespoon of ammonia and liquid dish soap and repeat the process.

How to deal with the hair dye stain on your wood cabinets, counter-tops and floors? First of all, you should complete a little test to find out if the stain is superficial and it is just on the finish or it has gone in the wood itself. Apply a drop of water on the stained area and see what will happen. If the spot turns darker or you notice the water soaking in, the hair dye has penetrated in the wood. In this case cleaning is slightly harder as you will have to apply paint thinner or mineral spirits to blot the stain. The finish will come off as well but there’s no other way to clean the spot. Reapply the finish afterwards. If the stain is superficial, you will have to lightly sand the surface. Using appropriate sandpaper sand in the direction of the grain in order to remove the hair dye. Again, you will have to put a new layer of finish or paste wax over the area. If the stain is really stubborn you should take drastic measures – use a swimming pool bleach. Mix it with hot water until a solution is formed and apply gently to the stained surface. This should work right away. However, this solution may remove the colour from the wood as well so use it carefully and just as a last resort option. Otherwise, you will have to apply new colour and a layer of finish on the treated area.

Now you know how to take care of hair dye stains on different surfaces. Next time when you get yourself prettied up, make sure you have the needed ingredients so you can make a cleaning solution immediately and treat the area right away!

How to buy furniture

monikajones215 — Fri, 18 Mar 2016 08:38:56 GMT

Furniture is probably the most important part of the interior of any household. Your comfort, health and productivity depend on the right choice of furniture. These factors can make furniture shopping quite difficult and challenging. Well, there is no need to worry because we got you covered with these helpful suggestions.

Determine your needs. Your furniture should cover the needs of everyone who lives in the house. That’s why it is so important to know your family essentials before buying any furniture. You should determine both needs and constraints at the same time. The cleaning factor is one of them. Will your new furniture be easy to clean? In any case using the help of professional domestic cleaners is always to your advantage.

Know your style. You should find your style and the rest will be easy. You will be able to buy furniture that truly represents your personality. This will not just make your house comfortable but beautiful as well. Knowing your style gives you more freedom because you would be able to find the furniture that best suit your individual lifestyle. Just like choosing kitchen appliances. If you are a good cook, you need a better oven and vice versa. However, the best way to keep your oven in pristine condition is to contact professional oven cleaners for some useful advice.

Determine sofa quality like a pro. No one wants to buy some poor quality furniture that will be uncomfortable. Sometimes, when we are at the store we can get distracted by the advertisement or the colour of certain sofa but that doesn’t guarantees quality. Before purchasing your sofa, you have to be familiar with the material it is made of in order to find out how long its lifespan would be. Provided that you should take good care of it. Second, you have to check if it will be stable when more than two people sit onto it. Third, you have to make sure it is a comfortable one for a long-term use. You can even read some reviews on the Internet for a particular sofa you like.

With these three useful tips, you will be more prepared next time you need to buy new furniture