LET'S CLEAN: windows

The best way to clean windows, or any large stretch of glass, is with a squeegee. It does a quicker and more efficient job.
What you will need:
A good quality squeegee
window wand
If you'll be cleaning high windows, you also will need an extension pole.

The basic process is simple - apply the cleaning solution with the window wand and pull the dirt and water off with the squeegee.

In detail
1. Mix a capful of ammonia or five drops of liquid dish detergent in two gallons of water.
Too much detergent causes streaking.

2. Dip your window scrubbing wand or a sponge 3/4 of an inch into the solution.
picking up just enough water to wet the window without flooding it.
-Wet the entire window then go back over it once to loosen any stubborn soil.
-Run the scrubber against the frame on all sides of the window to pick up any dirt you've pushed against the frame.

3. Moisten the squeegee blade before you start and wipe it with a damp cloth between strokes.
A dry blade will skip and jump on the window instead of gliding efficiently.

4. Tilt the squeegee at an angle so that only about an inch of the rubber blade presses lightly against the top of the window glass.
-Pull the squeegee across the window horizontally.
This will leave a 1-inch dry strip across the top of the window. By squeegeeing across the top first, you eliminate drips running down.

5. -Place the squeegee close to the frame in the dry area near the top and pull down to about three inches from the bottom of the glass.
-Continue this way across the window, overlapping into the clean, dry area with each stroke, and wiping the blade with a damp cloth after each stroke.

6. Finish with a horizontal stroke across the bottom and wipe any water off the sill with a damp cloth.

On some windows, it's easier to cut the water off the frame side as well as the top, and then squeegee the entire pane using horizontal strokes. Large windows should be wet and squeegeed half at a time, the top half first.
Finally, if you're cleaning both the inside and outside of the window, squeegee horizontally on one side and vertically on the other, so you can tell whether any streaks are inside or out.

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LET'S CLEAN: fireplace

Cleaning the face of a fireplace is a project that demands patience. Fireplace stone and brick may be hard, but they're also spongy. This means it has plenty of tiny holes for soil to build up in.

1. Make sure the floor around the fireplace is well covered.

2. Mix a solution of high-alkaline cleaner and one ounce of chlorine bleach per gallon of warm water.

3. Wet the surface of the fireplace well with the solution
Do not use so much that it runs. Dirty water running down the face may cause hard-to-remove streaks

4. Scrub the solution in with a brush.

You should see the suds getting dark and dirty as the buildup comes off.

5. Rinse well.
If the surface is shadowy, a light cleaning with a phosphoric acid cleaner may be enough to brighten it the rest of the way.

Don't use any acids stronger than phosphoric, as it will damage the brick or stone.

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LETS CLEAN: kitchen cabinets

Most kitchen cabinets are well finished and even wood cabinets have enough polish on them so that you can use a regular cleaning solution. The oil that builds up on cabinets, particularly around the handles is a combination of kitchen grease, food smears, oils and hand oils. All-purpose cleaners will take care of this job.

If your cabinets are laminate, metal, painted metal or glass, you can wash them all over with a heavy-duty cleaner.

Let the solution sit a minute or two, then take a sponge and scrub wherever needed.

Remove the grimy suds from the sponge by squeezing it into the sink, never back into your cleaning solution.

Rinse with a damp “ dry to remove any last traces of scum and leave the cupboards clean and glowing.

Never use acids or powdered cleansers on cabinets. A thorough washing once a year should be enough. Keep a spray bottle of all-purpose cleaner handy the rest of the time and spot-clean after kitchen use.

On wooden cabinets, take a more mild approach:

To get off persistent dirt, wash around all handles and any other grease zones first with hand dishwashing detergent.

Wash the entire cabinet, including the handle areas, with an oil soap solution.

Wipe lightly with the solution and dry right away with a cloth.

If your cabinets are dull from wear or age, spray furniture polish very lightly once a year or so to fill in the pores and bring back that original shine.

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Replacing the Roof on Your Home

Watch this video, courtesy of  Danny Lipford and learn how to re-do the roof on your home all on your own!

http://www.dannylipford.com/video/replacing-the-roof-on-your-home/

 

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Looking For Some Inspiration?

Looking to see some art in the city? Or maybe get some inspiration for a certain room in the house? Head to Toronto and check out any of these six art galleries and get inspired!

Art Galery of Ontario
http://www.ago.net/

Gallery One
http://www.galleryone.ca/

Harbour Gallery

http://www.harbourgallery.com/

 

McMicheal Art Gallery

http://www.mcmichael.com/

 

The Powerplant
http://www.thepowerplant.org/

University of Toronto Art Center

http://www.utac.utoronto.ca/

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Painting Techniques

Spruce up your walls with some of these classy and fun techniques that give a room that little extra.

The Sponge Technique

In this painting technique, first a solid base paint color is applied. When this paint dries off, a wash or glaze is applied using a roller. Before this dries off a damp sponge is used for exposing the base coat. This dampened sponge gives a clouded look to the wall. Once this new layer of glaze or wash dries you can also opt to apply another layer. Make sure each layer dries well before applying the next one. You can opt for two different colors for base and top coat or different shades of same color. Usually darker colors are used for the base and lighter for the top coats.

The Pressing Technique

In this technique, first a base coat is applied. Then a second coat is applied after the base coat dries off. You have to cover the wall, while this coat is wet, using a long sheet of plastic. The one used for food wrap is preferable. Now press it over the wall using a hand broom. Once you have finished pressing entire colored wall, peel off the plastic wrap. Do not drag it. You should not cover long patches. Use medium sized wraps all over to have the best look and ease of peeling.

The Ragging Technique

This is done using paper towels or rags. A base coat is first applied over the entire wall using small strokes. You can paint in different directions as well. Let this dry off. You must take a glaze or other shade and apply it using a roll. Now using rags or paper towels rag off the color in different directions. Change the pressure while ragging to have a variety in the texture. Even small variations will give it a more classy look. You can also use a variety of fabrics to get different effects.

 

 

 

 

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Organize Your Garage

Step 1: Put together a team
For most people, organizing the job is a massive undertaking. Involve several members of the family, if you can. Many hands make light work. Or, at least, lighter work.

Step 2: Organization day
Be ready. Have a tarp available to stack things on. You'll need large plastic tote boxes (or some type of containers), garbage bags, markers for labeling, and gloves to protect your hands. You might consider colour coding your tote boxes — one colour for items for the car, another for garden tools, etc.

 

Decide how you want to sort your clutter. For example: garbage, recycle, give away and keep. Garbage can be disposed of immediately. Contact your local landfill to find out how to properly dispose of old batteries and hazardous materials.

Recycling items (bottles, metal, etc.) are also readily disposed of and provide the incentive of a little extra cash.

 

It's sometimes easier to part with the treasures in your garage if you know someone else can get use from them. Give away — or hold a garage sale — for those items that you can no longer use, but that someone else might have use for.

 

The most difficult pile to sort will be the "keep" pile. Do you really need the items in that pile? Be tough.

Years of clutter won't disappear in a day. A garage can take four days to clear and sort. Gauge your own garage realistically and allow yourself enough time to complete it.

 

Step 3: Organizing what's left
Now that you've disposed of everything you can, it's time to find a nice orderly arrangement for the remains of the day.

You have three potential areas of storage: floor, ceiling, and walls. Utilize them according to your own specific needs. Wall shelving for garages is relatively inexpensive; garage cabinetry can dress up your garage. Bikes can be suspended from the ceiling or racked against the wall to free up more floor space. Clear containers — labeled — take care of the odds and ends neatly.

 

Step 4: Clean up
This is the time to sweep up and hose down your garage. Leaving it neat will encourage you to keep it organized and tidy and eliminate another organizing marathon.

 

Before:

After:

 

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