How frustrating is it when the drain is clogged? It really doesn’t matter which drain and whether or not it is in the kitchen or bathroom but inevitably there will be a clog. It seems to be at its worst when it is your turn at the sink. First let’s look in the cabinet and see if you have what we need to remedy the problem. Do you have baking soda? If you do, you are half way to an unclogged drain. Do you have vinegar? If yes, get your gloves, we are off to unclog the drain(s). First if you want to remove the hardware, that little drain stopper, go ahead. Keep in mind, it might be a yoga position of sorts to get under the sink. Sometimes the piping under a sink is so tight that it isn’t worth the effort, even if you are a yoga instructor. If you do opt to remove the drain plug, do remember to screw the cover back on the hole so that when you start this project, water isn’t pouring out under your sink and soaking your floor. Start with two to three teaspoons of backing soda. Baking soda is a “lifter” and letting is work its magic will begin the unclogging and lifting of all blockages. Once the backing soda is down the hatch, pour the same amount of vinegar, two to three teaspoons, into the drain. Can you hear the cleaning process, maybe even see the science experiment taking place? Let this home remedy sit for thirty minutes and return with hot water. Boil water in your tea kettle to ensure the proper temperature. You should be ready to put the hardware back under the sink in no time.]]>
Cleaning With Rubbing Alcohol
Rubbing alcohol is a solvent and is found in the first aid section of the local pharmacy. The definition of solvent is able to dissolve other substances. With this being said, rubbing alcohol seems like a fantastic ingredient for a household disinfectant. This solvent has quite a hard smell so be sure the area you are working in is well ventilated. This product is also an extremely flammable liquid and should not be used to clean a hot space, such as your oven or interior of the hot clothing dryer. Basic disinfectant can be made using one part water to one part rubbing alcohol. Put this in a spray bottle and get cleaning. Be sure to get spray doorknobs and light switches as well as sinks and faucets. You will notice the clean shine once you use this mixture. If you are going to disinfect your keyboard or mouse, do not use one part water, use straight alcohol. This will dry so quickly that there is not worry of water damage to your electronic components. Another fantastic use for running alcohol is cleaning your sponge in the kitchen. Soak the sponge in rubbing alcohol for 10 minutes and rinse clean. There are a few other household tricks that rubbing alcohol can tackle. If you have fingerprints or streaks of any kind on your stainless steel, wipe it clean with rubbing alcohol on a cotton ball or soft cloth. If you have hairspray on your sink, counter top or floor in the bathroom, grab another cotton ball and wipe it clean. If you find a stain on your microfiber furniture, spray, wait 10 minutes and wipe clean with a white cloth, in order to avoid color transformation onto the furniture. You will be so impressed with the quick, painless effort of this solvent]]>
A Facelift for Your Kitchen Cabinets
Kitchens sell houses. So having a great looking kitchen is important if you are thinking of putting your home on the market or maybe you just need a fresh new look. Cabinets are one of the biggest expenses in a kitchen remodel but with a little elbow grease and creativity, you can update your kitchen cabinets without going through the hassle of an entire remodel. Here are some tips on how to make your kitchen look like new with a cabinet facelift. Give the wood a Good Cleaning You will be surprised what a good scrubbing can do. Heat, water, grease and food residue all take a serious toll on your cabinets.