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Keep Tile and Grout Clean in Your Newly Renovated Bathroom

You’ve renovated your bathroom and have lovely new tile. How do you keep it clean?

Cleaning bathroom tile is different than other kinds of cleaning. While you can clean most things with soap and water, you don’t want to use that on tile because soap scum is one of the things you’re trying to clean off. Bathroom tiles also offer a particular cleaning challenge since they are a unique combination of smooth and rough with porous grout. Most bathrooms experience daily use and are bathed in constant moisture, making them the perfect breeding environment for mold and mildew. Here are some tips for cleaning your tile:

Start with the least harsh cleaning product. Try combining one cup each of vinegar, baking soda, and salt. This creates a paste that you can apply to tiles. Use a stiff brush and scrub in a circular motion.

If vinegar and baking soda doesn’t work, try cleaning with a spray-on bathroom cleaner and a scrub sponge. Rinse the area thoroughly when you’re finished.

Clean white grout with a diluted bleach or hydrogen peroxide solution. For stubborn grout stains try a steam cleaner.

For difficult stains, turn to a commercial grade tile or grout cleanser. Certain stains need cleansers designed for rust or iron removal and some respond well to toilet bowl cleaning products.

Never mix cleaners together and use gloves while cleaning.

As a final step, you can sponge on lemon juice, which makes the floors shiny, disinfects the tile, and deters mildew.

Grout is not waterproof and often needs to be replaced. Seal tiled floors each year to keep them looking like they did the day your bathroom remodeling job was complete. Using a little car wax on wall tile can also help prevent the build up of soap scum.

Clean regularly. Mold feeds on itself, so the longer you go between cleanings, the more you will have.

Keep the bathroom well ventilated. Open windows and doors when possible and always use the bathroom fan. This can help prevent the development of mold and mildew.

Bathroom Renovation Tips

Firstly having a renovation is exciting, but don’t let the excitement overcome the realities of having multiple workmen/ tradesmen and artisans working and invading in your personal space! Renovations can be a costly exercise, and very stressful making sure that everything runs like clockwork to meet your deadline and stay within budget…

Once you have a clear idea of what sort of bathroom renovation you are thinking of doing, you have to ask yourself, is this going to be worth it? Stress wise, cost and resale at the end of the day… If your answers are yes to these questions the battle is half won.

Before calling any tradesmen, grab some paper and make notes (examples below):

Sketch some ideas down on a piece of paper. (You don’t need to be a Van Gough, something simple and 2d)

What sort of finishes you are aiming to achieve

Think practically and about the future

Now time to get hold of the plumber (We offer free quotes)…

There are a few signs that give away what sort of work the plumber will be giving you at the end of the day. For example:

1) Is the plumber prompt and on time?

2) Does it sound like the plumber knows what he is talking about or is he speaking around the point?

3) How do they carry and present themselves?

4) Is their quote professionally presented?

5) How long did it take for the plumber to submit his quote?

6) Does the plumber have any contactable references who you can contact?

These are very important things to take note of when deciding which plumber to use for your bathroom renovation. I would rate the above questions out of ten and attach the ratings to their quote.

The quality of plumbing is not determined by the price of the quote, but by the plumber who is doing the plumbing! It is very important to try and judge what sort of service and quality of work you will be receiving from the plumber. Going with the cheapest quote could be dangerous especially if you have not rated them using the above guidelines. Try and stay clear of people claiming to do “everything”, find someone who specialises in one trade and that trade alone!

The Best Kinds of Home Decor – How to Turn Your Old Stuff Into Masterpieces

A lot of homeowners go far and wide to look for pieces that will improve the look of their respective homes. People shell out hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars on numerous home decor items just to achieve the look that they want. However, more than just putting up a random configuration of various art pieces, it is important to make all these things unify and thus make it something that is distinctly your own.

Nothing beats a personal touch when decorating one’s own home, and what better way is there than actually displaying the house members’ artwork! Alright, most will think that this is an utterly silly idea, but in the following paragraphs, you will see how we can make this work, and make this personalized artwork look better than anything that you can buy from anywhere else.

One good example of “home-made” artwork is a painting made by your own kids. Do you remember that one that was made from bond paper and water color, when they were just fiddling around? While it is true that they are not in any way outrightly elegant to display on walls, a quick trip to the local craft shop to have it installed in a nice frame will radically turn what was just a curiosity into something that will make people smile for years to come.

How about old family pictures? Just do a quick tinkering with Photoshop to resize the images. You can also add some effects like gray scaling, and then print them on pieces of photo paper. Afterwards, you can have them framed and hung on a wall for everyone to see. With these, one can cherish old memories and remember loved ones who are now far away.

Old, broken toys can be refurbished and installed on wooden pedestals. There are a countless number of possibilities, and the only thing that will limit you is your imagination.

Home decor need not be painfully expensive. In reality, what makes a home a real home is the history of the people living in it, not the price tag of the furnishings inside.

Shabby Chic Bedroom

The bedroom is the place where we can be ourselves and relax, read a book, watch television and of course sleep. Your bedroom is a peaceful place where you retreat to after a long days work or play. You should be able to go into your bedroom, close the door, and leave the world behind you. That is the most relaxing and satisfying feeling, you can ever get. This room should be warm, welcoming and tranquil. Shabby chic can make this possible.

To turn your bedroom into a sanctuary start with transforming the bed. If you have available to you wooden doors, an iron gate, or any other interesting item that can be attached to the wall turn it in to a headboard. Next concentrate on bed linens.

Bedding and pillow cases should be of a fabric that is soft but frilly. Lace and other fabrics with ruffled edges or fringe will work well. Throw a handmade afghan at the foot of the bed. Don’t be deterred from mixing fabrics and patterns, for example, velvet with chiffon and tweed with silk. As long as the color scheme blends it will look great.

When picking your color scheme, remember that shabby chic normally uses the color white, pastels, floral colors and patterns. If you happen to be in the mood for painting, pick colors from the green, yellow and baby blue families or you can simply stick with cream white. A lot depends on what kinds of furnishings and accessories are being used. If you have any pieces you want to convert to your new theme paint them white. For accessorizing your bedroom, look for antique items like a floral wash bowl and iron picture frames. All that glass that you have had in storage can be used as well. Increase the lighting in your room to really make it shine.

Lighting sets the mood in your room. Why not try hanging a small chandelier over your bed? And if that’s not your flavor place glass candle holders around your room or find lamps that have prisms or beads hanging from the shade. All that’s left is an area rug.

An area rug can complete your room by giving it the warmth and comfort that you need. You do not have to use a typical dark, rectangular area rug. You can choose from a variety of rugs that will fit the color scheme. So keeping with your shabby chic theme, pick area rugs that are pastel in color or have a floral print. If you can not find an area rug you like, consider having one made to fit your room and personality perfectly. Additionally, the area rug does not necessarily need to go on the floor.

Area rugs can make excellent tapestries, so think outside the box and hang it on the wall. This shows real creativity, which can help add energy to the room. Your bedroom is the place in your home where you reenergize. It should be cozy and warm just for you.

5 Factors to Consider When Renovating Your Bathroom

Bathroom renovation can be quite the undertaking. There are so many different elements that are fit into such a relatively small space. And when you decide to take on the job yourself, things can really get interesting. If you’ve decided that it’s time to renovate your bathroom and aren’t sure where to begin, here are five important factors to consider:

Budget – This is an obvious one. And it will help you determine the amount and quality of all the materials you’ll be using in your renovation. Always be sure to add a little on for incidentals… because we all know they always happen!

Plan – You have to have a plan. This one could even go before budget, but they are certainly intertwined. What materials to use, your timeline, your design, all fall under the plan. Start off with a good plan and you’ll reach your goal that much faster.

Floors – There are lots of different choices for a bathroom floor. Linoleum, hardwood, I’ve even seen carpet. But my favourite pick is definitely ceramic tile. It is a very sturdy, very attractive floor that will add character to the room and will last for years.

Walls – It goes without saying that your bathroom is surrounded by walls. Everytime you turn around, there’s another wall. There are lots of options here, too. Again, I’m partial to tiles. Depending on your sense of style, glazed tile can be really nice. And be sure to let the colour you choose reflect your personality.

Sink – The sink is often forgotten but it usually is a focal point in most bathrooms. With a sink, you’ll really have to take how much space you have into consideration and whether or not you need storage space. There are many options from a traditional sink and vanity to a pedestal sink to a versatile console sink.

Of course, there are many other factors involved in a successful bathroom renovation, but these five will help point you in the right direction.