MAKING THE OLD LOOK NEW AGAIN
Some elbow grease and a fresh coat of paint can do wonders for bathrooms and kitchens
Q I would like to know how to clean white floor grout. My house is about eight years old, and the kitchen, bathrooms and mud room all have tiles with white grout. The white grout is becoming grungy, dark and dirty looking. We have tried baking soda, and I used a steamer on the floors, but nothing works. How can I get the grout to look white again? Thank you.
A There are several grout whitening products available and while these products are time consuming and tedious to apply, the results are spectacular. To make the job of regular grout cleaning easier, consider purchasing a grout cleaning brush with an extendable handle; no more bending down to scrub. Here’s a household hack for everyday cleaning: Squeeze teeth whitening toothpaste onto the grout, and scrub with an old wet toothbrush. Rinse with water.
Q I would like to rejuvenate my kitchen cupboards by giving them a new paint colour. Do you think that this is a risky venture and will I ruin the cupboards? Thanks.
A With a few simple tips you will be proud to show off your new kitchen makeover because paint makes all the difference. Here are a few suggestions for success:
Leave yourself more time than you think you will require. No need to rush, if you take your time you will be happier with the results.
Purchase good quality tools and paint for the job. People who buy cheap paintbrushes will be frustrated when bristles end up sticking to their project. Cheap paint can cost you more money in the long run because you will likely need additional coats of paint, and more time for your project.
Use a paint degreaser to properly clean the cupboards before painting. Skipping this step may result in paint that doesn’t properly adhere.
Remove and carefully label cupboard doors and drawers.
The extra effort will make the job much easier.
Lightly sand wood before painting; this will help the paint adhere to the wood.
Take your time in choosing the colour. Look at the colour throughout the day to be sure that you like the look of it at every hour.
Make sure the paint is absolutely dry before replacing the drawers and cupboards to avoid smudges.
FEEDBACK
Re: Hardwood Floor Cleaning
I have found a way to clean hardwood floors that works. A clean mop and distilled water, which you can buy for under $1. Works wonders without leaving a film. Tap water has chemicals that cause dullness.
Submitted by: Micheline
HACKS FOR THE HOME:
Instead of slicing a lemon in half when you need a little fresh juice, use a metal skewer to poke a hole in the end of the lemon. Squeeze out the amount of juice you need. Your lemon stays fresher longer as opposed to cutting the lemon in half and wrapping each end with plastic. Submitted by: Hong
When cooking fish on the barbecue, cut a lemon into several slices and lay them on the grill. Place the fish on top of the lemon slices. The result is a lovely lemon taste, without fish sticking to the grill.
Submitted by: Hong
To make refrigerated butter easy to spread, use a grater to grate it. The butter will spread onto toast like jam on bread. Submitted by: Kimberly
With arthritic hands, I needed to come up with an easy way to peel a hard-boiled egg. Boil the egg as usual. Place the egg into a large glass jar and fill half full with cold water. Close the lid and shake the jar, the peel will practically fall off the egg.
Submitted by: Margaret
To prevent your remote control from getting covered with food from dirty fingers, cover the remote with plastic wrap. Use a hair dryer to shrink-wrap the plastic onto the remote control. Replace plastic wrap periodically. Submitted by: Isabel I clean my toilet by filling a spray bottle with white vinegar. I then add a few sprigs of thyme. Let soak for a few hours. Spray the toilet with the solution and scrub as usual.
Reena Nerbas is a popular motivational presenter for large and small groups. Check out her website (reena. ca) to ask a question or share a tip.
Disclaimer: Every user assumes all risks of injury or damage resulting from the implementation of any suggestions in this column. Test all products on an inconspicuous area first.