How To Remove Easter Egg Dye From Carpet April 20, 2011
Posted by creatingyourspace in : Care and Maintenance, Carpet , add a comment
Easter is only a few days away! We hope you and your family have a wonderful day planned. Have you died your Easter eggs yet? Just in case a little dye gets into your carpet, we’d like to share some cleaning tips with you. Happy Easter!
Detergent Solution – Mix one fourth (1/4) teaspoon of a liquid dishwashing detergent per one (1) cup of lukewarm water. NEVER USE A STRONGER CONCENTRATION! Thorough rinsing is necessary to remove detergent residues that may cause rapid soiling. It may be necessary to rinse with warm water several times to completely remove residues. (See Residue Precautions.) Care should be used in selecting a detergent. Never use a laundry detergent of any type, because laundry detergents may contain optical brighteners (fluorescent dyes) that dye the fiber. Do not select an automatic dishwashing detergent because many contain bleaching agents that destroy dyes and some fibers.
Warm Water – Lukewarm tap water should be used in most cases to rinse the cleaning solutions from the fiber. Failure to completely rinse the solutions from the fiber may cause accelerated soiling.
Ammonia Solution – Mix one (1) tablespoon of household ammonia per cup of water. Please note: Be aware that ammonia, if used improperly, can cause a color change. Be sure to test a hidden area.
Call a Professional – Professional cleaners have the ability and the equipment to use more aggressive cleaning solutions to remove stubborn spills. Always consider consulting a professional cleaner regarding any spot removal question. CRI – 1-800-882-8846.
Plan for Baking with your Children April 15, 2011
Posted by creatingyourspace in : Kids, Kitchen , add a comment
Baking cookies gives you a great way to connect with your children. If you get them involved in the kitchen from a young age, you are more likely to raise children who enjoy cooking and baking.
To make cooking with children a success, plan ahead. Start by staying in your own kitchen comfort zone. If you’re an avid baker, go ahead and plan on cookies from scratch using one of your child’s favorite recipes. If, on the other hand your cookie efforts are generally limited to picking up a few boxes from your local girl scout, look at cookie mixes or pre-made cookie dough from your grocery’s refrigerator section.
As the next step, prep your baking area and elements. Make sure you have everything you need to make your cookies – both ingredients and tools. Although a kitchen floor is designed to handle spills, have a supply of paper towels or kitchen work towels ready to keep clean-up time to a minimum so you can stay on task with minimal interruptions. Choose a spot in your kitchen with the least clutter, so there will be less to clean up after the baking project is completed.
During the preparation and cutting time, take advantage of the moment to include educational opportunities such as reading, following directions, and measuring accurately. But above all, focus on the fun.
While the cookies bake, start your clean up. Children need to have the full experience, so involve them in that too. Make it simple by putting all the utensils in the sink and putting extra ingredients away. Then move to the countertop and floors last to cover any dripping involved during clean-up.
You may think you’re finished when the cookies come out of the oven and the floor is done but there’s one more step before the first bite: check faces, hands and feet for any extra flour or batter before heading to the flooring in the rest of your home.
Stone Creates Rich Feel in Bathroom April 7, 2011
Posted by creatingyourspace in : Bathroom, Design and Decorating , add a comment
Would you like to visit this hotel spa? Can you picture taking a break from wandering around Naples to soak in this luxurious hot water, then dropping on that cushioned chaise lounge for a short nap?
For most of us, a break consists of a hot bath at the end of the day if we’re lucky. If you’re not headed to Naples anytime soon, what about recreating some of that feeling by using stone in your bathroom?
A tumbled travertine or another stone of your choice will give you that old-world feel. You could even add an arch design on your wall to soften the lines. With its interesting neutral tones and natural patina, stone can be anything but cold. If you wanted, you could really warm up the space by installing radiant heating under the floor.
Another magic feature of this room is the soft light coming through the deep window wells. Soften your bathroom’s light by using glass block or sheer curtains to cut the glare while still bringing in the light.
Not enough room for that chaise lounge? You could add a wooden bench with a white cushion instead. This would give you a cushy spot to rest without taking up too much space.
That blue water plays an important role in this space. Selecting towels and accessories in that color will bring the tone into the room. Add a spa tub, some water just hot enough to relax your muscles, and you’ve created your own spa space without any travel involved.
