Homemaking Archives - Joy's Flair

The Gloves Are…On?

Posted on March 29, 2017May 2, 2017 by Joy

Cleaning. It’s the bane of many a homeowner’s life. You can do your best to keep things clean, but the muck has an annoying habit of building regardless. Worse, it builds the moment you finish cleaning. All you need to do is turn your back, and the dust is there again! Though the cleaning conundrum applies to the whole house, some rooms are worse than others. It goes without saying that the kitchen is a crucial place to keep clean. And, also one of the hardest. But, the bathroom has it beaten in those stakes. And, the bathroom sees a lot more muck and unpleasant stuff than the kitchen side! So, we’re going to look at how to perfect your bathroom cleaning methods. It’s time to tackle the beast!

THE RIGHT PRODUCTS

Buying the right cleaning products should be top of your list. You’re going to be using some heavy duty chemicals. It might be worth stocking up on some rubber gloves, too! Knowing what products you need can be difficult. There are many on the market. For the most part, though, a lot of the options available are unnecessary. For your general cleaning, you should be okay with a bottle of cream cleaner and some bleach. Oh, and don’t forget a washcloth! Other jobs require other products, but these aren’t necessary every time you clean. You may want to buy some glass cleaner for your shower enclosures. In general, the cream cleaner will work on these too. A specialised cleaner may be necessary for getting those stubborn water marks off. Depending on your toilet, you may also want to keep a rim cleaner on hand. Not all toilets need these, but those with small bowls or deep rims could benefit!

SPOT PROBLEM AREAS

It’s also important that you know what things to look out for while you clean. Some areas are going to cause more problems than others. Any tight corners could invite a buildup of muck. Make sure you clean behind your door, and behind your toilet. Areas like these are easily forgotten, but they’re notorious for dirt. Think, too, about problem areas like grouting. If you have shower tiles, it’s crucial you clean the grouting with cream cleaner. You may notice a slightly pink colouration each time. If you don’t wipe that away, it can cause blackening and breaking. If you let jobs like that slide, they’re a lot harder to cope with!

HINTS AND TIPS

Hints and tips will also help in your cleaning quest. After all, you can’t get things right if you don’t know what to do. This is especially true when cleaning those problems areas we spoke about. Get advice about the best way to stop your grout from rotting. Find out, too, how best to clean behind the toilet. You can find out most things online. It might also help to talk to friends and see if they have any tricks to share. A problem shared is a problem halved, after all.

Image credit:

Image 1 – https://flic.kr/p/6YrFq2
Image 2 – https://flic.kr/p/adNn8V
Image 3 – https://flic.kr/p/8WWEnt

How to Select the Most Appealing Cabinets for Your Kitchen

Posted on February 14, 2017May 2, 2017 by Joy

Your kitchen cabinets hold your plates, glasses, bowls and other dishes. But, just because kitchen cabinets are practical items doesn’t mean they have to be plain. Look at a few things to consider when selecting the best Lancaster custom cabinets for your kitchen.

The Color of the Wood

If you have flooring in a dark color, you may want to go with white or light-colored kitchen cabinets as a contrast. When guests enter your kitchen, their eyes will immediately move up from the dark colored flooring to your cabinets. If you want to make a bold statement, consider cherry wood. This deep red wood makes a striking impression. If your flooring, walls and countertops are neutral in color, your cherry wood cabinets are likely to become the highlight of the kitchen!

The Design of the Cabinets

The design of a cabinet can add flair to a kitchen in need of a refreshed look. Instead of getting white cabinets with a plain surface you may want to opt for some with a raised or recessed design. This simple detail can make all the difference in the overall appearance of the space. Oftentimes, it’s a good idea to echo the style of some other items in your kitchen. For instance, if you have a wooden kitchen door with a recessed design, you may want to get cabinets in that same style. This ties together the space in a subtle way.

The Handles on Your Cabinets

A cabinet handle may seem like an incidental detail, but it can be an appealing finishing touch on a beautifully crafted cabinet. As an example, there are bronze handles with intricate design work. Plus, there are knobs that are a traditional choice, but with an interesting twist in their style. Of course, a handle is a practical item and it must be sturdy and ready for heavy use. However, a handle or knob can be just as attractive as the cabinet it’s attached to.

Finally, think about the tone you want to set in your kitchen. Do you want a light, airy atmosphere? If so, white or neutral colors can lighten up the tone of the space. It’s worth your time to think about the type of kitchen you want to spend time in with family and friends.

Image credit: Nancy Hugo, CKD – https://flic.kr/p/CXEp5

How to solve a problem with a toilet that will not flush

Posted on December 19, 2016May 5, 2017 by Joy

If the toilet in your home is not flushing as it should you need to deal with the issue as soon as possible. Living in a home with a toilet that will not flush is unsanitary. If you do not have the time or patience to solve the problem yourself you should contact a plumber in Mossman to help. Of course, you can try and get the toilet flushing again without contacting a professional plumber.

toilet that will not flush

We are going to take a look at why a toilet may become blocked in the first place. We are also going to suggest methods of unblocking a toilet you may want to try. Hopefully, one of these methods will help you to solve the problem.

Why might a toilet drain be blocked?

A blockage in the drain from a toilet is caused by items being flushed. This can be something as simple as an excess amount of toilet paper. It could also be a toy which has been flushed away by your child, or a feminine hygiene product. Any of these items, and others, can become lodged and block the drain so that water and debris from the toilet cannot be flushed away.

Flushing the problem away with water

If the toilet does not clear when you flush it you may be able to solve the problem very simply. You can try filing a bowl or bucket with water and pouring it down the toilet. If there is a loose blockage in the toilet, two or three buckets or bowls full should help to move it. Once the blockage is gone the toilet should flush normally again.

Using a plunger to unblock a toilet

If you are having problems getting rid of the blockage you should try using a plunger. If you do not have a plunger you can improvise by wrapping a plastic bad around the end of a coat hanger and tying it tightly. You can then use this improvised devise in the same way you would use a plunger.

Clearing a blockage with a drain snake

Using a plunger to unblock a toilet does not always work. If you have tried using a plunger, and the toilet still will not flush, you can try using a drain snake. This is an implement that plumbers use and it enables you to reach further down the drain to remove any hard to reach blockages. You can buy a drain snake from a store. If you reach this stage in the process you may find it easier to just call in a professional plumber.

As you can see, it’s quite common for a toilet drain to become blocked. If this happens the toilet will not clear when you flush it. You may be able to solve the problem yourself, using one of the methods we have suggested. If you do not have any success you will need to find a plumber who can help.

Image credits:

Image 1 – www.plumbingdetectives.com.au

Image 2 – By Karam.Anthony.K – Own work, Public Domain, Link

Image 3 – By Photograph: Frank C. Müller, Baden-Baden – Self-photographed, CC BY-SA 2.5, Link

Easy Ways To Make Your Home Look Better (Whilst Still Living A Regular Life)

Posted on December 6, 2016May 5, 2017 by Joy

Most people dream of having a Pinterest-worthy home – but know it would only happen in another universe. The reality of owning and running a home is far beyond what we all see on social media or in interior design magazines. If you are single, the dishes pile up, and if you have kids, you can’t walk more than a few metres without stepping on a toy or a piece of Lego. That’s without even mentioning all the wires and extension cables spilling out of devices just to keep your home lit up. Unfortunately, there are just some things we need to have in our homes that most interior designers conveniently move out of the way during a photoshoot. So what exactly can you do to carry on living your regular home life, but make it a bit more aesthetically pleasing?

plug-adapter

Have more plugs installed

A lot of us find that we are low on mains power sources in our homes. Or, sometimes, we have plenty of plugs, but they are in unfortunate places, such as right behind where you want your sofa to be. When we don’t have enough plug space, the first thing most of us tend to do is to reach for the extension cable. Whilst this is an easy and practical solution, it is not without its faults. A handful of wires trailing across the middle of your floor not only looks unsightly, it is also a trip hazard. If you are really struggling to use all your appliances when you want to because of a lack of socket space, you might want to think about getting some more installed.

Invest in subtle home security

Think of home security and you probably think of a bulky alarm box in your hallway, and accusatory security cameras darting looks around your driveway. But in reality, the home security sector has come on in leaps and bounds throughout the last few years. It now understands the consumer’s need for home security that is both subtle and stylish, to match the rest of the modern home. Smart home security, in particular, excels at this, with touchscreen panels available for your home. You can click here to find out more about an alarm system that doesn’t ruin your house aesthetic.

toy-room

Bring back the toy box

Keeping a home tidy when you have children obviously isn’t an easy feat. Your children just want to play – they don’t understand that having a messy home makes Mom stressed. But if you decide that it’s time for them to have a little more responsibility over putting their toys away, it could be time to bring back the toy box. Having a large chest to keep all the children’s toys in means that they can all be kept in one place and this way, you avoid any going missing too after being left on the floor for days on end. You could even go the whole hog and put a mini storage box in each room to collect toys in at the end of the day. This way, you don’t need to make multiple trips back and forth from your child’s bedroom picking up various toys – just pick the box up and take it all in one go.

Cheap Ways to Revamp a Child’s Bedroom

Posted on September 27, 2016 by

Children typically spend far more time in their bedroom than adults do. A child’s bedroom has to serve as a playroom, homework room, and space to entertain their friends, as well as being where kids sleep. Many kids also have to share a room with a sibling, which makes the job of decorating it even more difficult.

New Bedding

There are many cheap and cheerful ways to revamp a child’s bedroom, but the simplest is to buy them some new bedding (click here for inspiration). A change of bedding will transform a child’s bedroom in super quick time. Look for character duvet covers – Frozen for girls and Marvel Superheroes for boys are always a good choice.

Paint a Mural

Are you the artistic type? If so, why not spend a few hours painting a mural in your child’s room. The design does not have to be super complicated. A simple tree with a few birds and flowers will work perfectly well. Alternatively, look for large decals to stick on the wall, or cut out your child’s favourite comic book characters and paste them on to the wall.

Photo Montage

A wall of photos is a nice touch in a child’s room. Spend a few hours with your child selecting their favourite photos of family, pets, and friends. Next, buy a selection of cheap photo frames. Using match pots in a variety of colours, paint each frame. Fill the frames with photos and hang in montage on the wall. Your child will love his or her own photo gallery.

Art Gallery

Children’s artwork looks great when printed on to canvas. The process is easy to do – simply take a digital image of the finished piece of artwork and have it printed on to canvas. You can also have your child’s digital photos printed in the same way. Your child’s bedroom will soon be full of masterpieces.

Wall and Floor Prints

Use simple block printing techniques to decorate walls, floors and furniture. Cut out simple motifs from half-potatoes and dab them in acrylic paint. You can also use hands or feet to create prints, but be warned, this is super messy.

Textile Crazy

It is easy to make simple textiles for a child’s bedroom. Rag rugs require no skill whatsoever and if you have a couple of old flannel sheets, you have most of the materials you need to get started. Alternatively, why not have a go at making some simple tab top curtains or a roman blind. There are lots of online tutorials, so you don’t need any previous experience.

Paint the Furniture

It costs money to replace old furniture, so give yours a new lease of life with some paint. Use milk paint or chalk paint, as they are both non-toxic and safe to use in a child’s bedroom. You can create some amazing paint effects with milk paint and chalk paint, so start experimenting.

Don’t spend a fortune on new furniture for your child’s bedroom when it costs very little to revamp what you already have.

Image credit: mattwalker69 – https://flic.kr/p/evpfx4