Resolution: Eliminate Stains Around the Home

Did you know that January's healthy eating resolutions produce the most yogurt stains? Correction fluid stains are likelier in April when people are preparing their tax returns! With careful planning, you can have some simple items on hand to eliminate stains that could ruin your bed linens, upholstered furniture, carpets, rugs, and other surfaces. The Field Guide to Stains is a great home reference, and it covers practically all kinds of stains, from baby food and red wine to ketchup and ink. Here are some cool stain solutions from authors Virginia M. Friedman, Melissa Wagner, and Nancy Armstrong.

• Remove red wine from carpets and rugs: blot up as much wine as possible with an absorbent cloth; saturate the stain with club soda or cold water; repeat the first two steps as needed; if stain remains, make a paste of borax or baking soda and water at a ratio of approximately 3 to 1. Smear paste on stain with an old toothbrush and let dry; vacuum; repeat until no more stain can be removed; if stain remains, treat with a carpet spotter.

• Remove candle wax from hard surfaces (wood, tiles, paneling, etc.): put an ice cube in a plastic bag and rub the wax until it is brittle, then peel as much wax as possible; if a residue remains, lay an absorbent cloth over the stain; gentle press the cloth with a warm iron; the wax will melt and seep into the cloth; if the cloth begins to brown, replace with a fresh cloth; continue to iron until the wax has been completely absorbed by the cloth; if a dye stain remains, wipe with rubbing alcohol and rinse surface with water.

• Clearn tarnished bottoms of pots and pans: spread a little ketchup on the affected surface and let it sit for about a minute; wipe clean and rinse, and they're good as new!

• Remove mildew from tile: make sure that the room is well vintilated before treating the mildew; spray a tile cleaner on the tiles and show curtain according to manufacturer's directions -- or pour white vinegar into a spray bottle and spray the tiles and shower curtain; scrub with a brush or sponge; rinse well with water; if the stain remains, mix a 10% bleach solution and pour it into a spray bottle; spray the bleach mixture onto the stain; let stand several minutes, then rinse well with water.

• Get gum out of a carpet or rug: place an ice cube in a plastic bag and rub over the gum until it hardens; use a dull knife or spoon to remove as much as possible; if the stain remains, treat with a carpet spotter (use according to manufacturer's directions).

• Get coffee stains out of a carpet or rug: blot as much liquid out of the surface as possible; saturate stain with club soda or cold water, then blot again; apply a carpet spotter according to manufacturer's directions; OR spread non-gel shaving cream onto the stain and work into the carpet with an old toothbrush; rinse with cold water or club soda, then blot; OR mix borax with warm water to make a paste at a ratio of approximately 3 to 1 and rub into stain; let paste dry, then vacuum; rinse with cold water or club soda, then blot. If the stain remains after any of these three cleaning methods, sponge with a mild bleach such as white vinegar or hydrogen peroxide; let stand 15 minutes; blot; sponge well with water or club soda and blot with a dry cloth.

Resolution: Remodel My Old Bathroom

Many homeowners are living with bathroom eyesores. Old tile, cracked sinks, worn out vanities, outdated lighting, and tubs from the Great Depression can weigh down the hip factor in any home. Why not resolve to make some changes to your bathroom and bring it completely up to date? Here are some considerations along with inspirational photos from some bathrooms designed by our Design2Share in-house decorator, Irwin Weiner ASID.

 

• Get inspiration for your bathroom and kitchen remodeling projects by looking at the websites for exhibitors to KBIS, the Kitchen & Bath Industry Show. Check out all the building materials and new products that you might want to add to your renovation wish list.    [Link: http://www.kbis.com/show/exhibitor-list

•  Bathroom appliances are much more eco-friendly now and they conserve water. Incorporate water-saving showerheads, faucets, and toilets into your new bathroom. Check out WaterSense from the Environmental Protection Agency and Save Water America to learn more.  

• Remote sensors can help modern bathroom appliances automatically dispense soap and turn the water on in your sink without turning knobs.
  

• · Are you familiar with the latest toilets on the market? The Washlet by TOTO, for instance, has a remote control, a nozzle that automatically extends from under the seat for a warm water cleansing that eliminates toilet paper, a dryer, air deodorizer, a heated seat, a SoftClose seat, a quick-release feature to remove the seat for easy cleaning, and a sensor to gauge the precise amount of water needed to flush waste away (a great water saver).  

•  Plan for lots of natural light in your new bathroom, from both skylights and windows. Layer your lighting for atmosphere and to help you with tasks: general lighting (your overhead light), task lighting (for shaving and make-up application), accent lighting (highlighting artwork or beautiful tile work), and decorative lighting (up lights or recessed cans for ambient glows and relaxing soaks in the tub).

 

•  Many homeowners add a whirlpool or an air jet tub to a bathroom. Whirlpools send out jets of water around the body with water taken in from the tub; air jets send gentler bubbles of air pushed out from the tub’s mechanized system. Look into the pros and cons of both systems (e.g. whirlpools are harder to clean, air jets can only be used in acrylic tubs).

 

• · Do you have the room to go glam? How about adding a steam shower, heated towel bars, a dressing area, or a bathroom telephone and TileVision television? What about a heating system under your bathroom tile floors to keep your feet toasty warm?

·         Get inspiration for your bathroom and kitchen remodeling projects by looking at the websites for exhibitors to KBIS, the Kitchen & Bath Industry Show. Check out all the building materials and new products that you might want to add to your renovation wish list.    [Link: http://www.kbis.com/show/exhibitor-list] 

·         Bathroom appliances are much more eco-friendly now and they conserve water. Incorporate water-saving showerheads, faucets, and toilets into your new bathroom. Check out WaterSense from the Environmental Protection Agency and Save Water America to learn more.   [Links: http://www.epa.gov/watersense/ and  http://savewateramerica.com/home.swa] 

·         Remote sensors can help modern bathroom appliances automatically dispense soap and turn the water on in your sink without turning knobs. 

·         Are you familiar with the latest toilets on the market? The Washlet by TOTO, for instance, has a remote control, a nozzle that automatically extends from under the seat for a warm water cleansing that eliminates toilet paper, a dryer, air deodorizer, a heated seat, a SoftClose seat, a quick-release feature to remove the seat for easy cleaning, and a sensor to gauge the precise amount of water needed to flush waste away (a great water saver).    [Link: http://www.totousa.com/Default.aspx?tabid=113] 

·         Plan for lots of natural light in your new bathroom, from both skylights and windows. Layer your lighting for atmosphere and to help you with tasks: general lighting (your overhead light), task lighting (for shaving and make-up application), accent lighting (highlighting artwork or beautiful tile work), and decorative lighting (up lights or recessed cans for ambient glows and relaxing soaks in the tub).  

·         Many add a whirlpool or an air jet tub to a bathroom. Whirlpools send out jets of water around the body with water taken in from the tub; air jets send gentler bubbles of air pushed out from the tub’s mechanized system. Look into the pros and cons of both systems (e.g. whirlpools are harder to clean, air jets can only be used in acrylic tubs).  

·         Do you have the room to go glam? How about adding a steam shower, heated towel bars, a dressing area, or a bathroom telephone and TileVision television? What about a heating system under your bathroom tile floors to keep your feet toasty warm?