5.19.2015
Don’t Rush to Grow Up
Thirteen is such a special age, but the curious ting is that you won’t fully realize it until years later. Looking back, I am filled with fondness for the young, awkward, painfully naïve me who loves listening to Garth Brooks every time I feel down. But at that time, of course, I would have traded places with someone older and wiser in a heartbeat.
So what I mean is, being a teen is meant to be savored. Don’t be in such a hurry to turn 20, 25, and 30. You have the rest of your life to be a full-fledged grown up; for now, all you’ve really got to focus on is growing up.
5.02.2015
How To Clean a Dirty Stovetop
When I see kitchens like this:
…I shrink in shame. After so many mealtimes, my stovetop looks sooo dirty.
Here’s what I learned from my mom: The key to keeping this major kitchen area clean is to be extra vigilant of spills and stains – once you see it, even while cooking, wipe it off, because it will harden. Constant cleaning also results to a bacteria-free cooking zone.
To lessen the stress you feel whenever you see your dirty stovetop, here is what you can do:
1. Make sure that before you turn on the burners, the stovetop is clean. Heat just makes food stick to the stovetop more. For daily cleaning, use a mixture of three parts water to one part baking soda on a clean sponge. If the dirt is particularly tough, you can try this:
2. After an especially greasy cook-off, shut off the power or gas, take out the removable parts, and soak them in a solution of equal parts ammonia and water.
3. Clean out tough grime left on the burners by putting on a large pot filled with water and a half-cup of baking soda. Let this solution boil over onto the burners.
4. If grease and other foodstuff have hardened onto your stovetop, you may have to scrape them off gently with a razor blade. Soften extra-sticky areas by spraying on your ammonia and water solution. Wipe off.
5.01.2015
Four Tips To Maintain Your Vinyl Tiles
What’s not to love about vinyl tiles? They are water-resistant, affordable and come in myriad patterns and colors.
But without proper maintenance, your pretty vinyl floor can become pretty faded and dirty. This is because the patterned or colored surface is printed on a vinyl sheet, and its protective topcoat may wear off from use. Plus, tiles with textured surfaces also contribute to dirt buildup.
Need to repair your vinyl tiles? I have tried this and it really worked:
Mop your tiles if a broom can’t remove the surface dirt. Use lukewarm water with mild detergent if the tiles are extra-dirty, and run the mop across the tile surface.
To remove stubborn scuffmarks, apply a bit of eucalyptus oil to the spot with a dry cloth. To avoid scratches, put felt pads like these ones underneath your furniture’s legs.
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Sunlight may discolor and fade vinyl tiles over time. If you have direct sunlight streaming through a window, always draw the curtains in that area.
To lengthen your vinyl floor’s life, use vinyl finish solutions like Pledge Floor Care, Multi-Surface Finish, 27-Ounce Bottles (Pack of 6). Apply two coats of the solution on the floor and go over it with an electric polisher. Buff every two weeks.