Pewter is a tin-based alloy, now made with mostly tin plus small amounts of other metals for extra strength, including copper, antimony, and bismuth - but never the dangerous lead as in days gone by.
Windex is an unexpected household cleaner that can degrease your kitchen and dissolve wallpaper glue and residue. The ammonia in Original Windex is a solvent that breaks down the adhesive properties of glue in wallpaper, allowing you to wipe it off the wall easily.
One of the most effective ways to clean your home is to work from top to bottom. This ensures that whatever dirt or dust is lurking above falls down first, so you're not forced to redo any of the hard work you've already done below.
A good kitchen rug will follow a particular set of criteria. First and foremost it should be washable, because the kitchen is a dirty place. The second criteria is that it should be interesting, as an interesting texture, pattern, or color scheme can obscure the inevitable accumulation of wear.
Over decades, concrete, block, stone, and brick foundations naturally weaken as mortar joints decay, tie-rod holes rust out, and block cavities collect moisture, creating new leak paths that didn't exist when the home was built. When looking at a concrete foundation, it isn't a matter of IF it will leak, but WHEN it will leak.
All of the grease, oil, baked-on food residues, and other debris can also be a fire hazard. When you use your oven, this debris could be releasing dangerous, and even toxic, smoke and fumes into your home. Dirty ovens even reduce the overall lifespan of your appliance, and can lower its efficiency and damage heating components.
Persistent mold and mildew odors often linger long after water damage occurs, and odor-control products such as AqueLyst SpillMaster are designed to address these smells without relying on harsh chemicals. Addressing these odors without introducing harsh chemicals remains a challenge for many property owners and facility managers. AqueLyst, a brand focused on advanced odor elimination, offers a science-backed solution. Unlike conventional products that simply mask smells, AqueLyst uses molecular-level neutralization to target and eliminate the source of unwanted odors.
Budget shouldn't mean boring, and sometimes, all it takes to totally flip the vibe of your space is a sneaky little upgrade that looks ridiculously expensive (but totally isn't). We're talking about genius fixes for droopy couches, must-have kitchen hacks, and decor pieces that scream "I hired a designer" without leaving your wallet on life support. Whether you want to add some drama to your doorstep, organize your chaos, or bring full-on luxury spa energy to your bathroom,
Other than wanting to preserve a vintage piece for nostalgic or aesthetic reasons, some vintage cookware sets can be worth a fortune these days. But even if you don't have a full set or plan to cash in on your cookware later, part of the charm of vintage kitchen items is their lasting durability combined with their often whimsical and colorful designs or features.
When you hire the cheapest operator in town, you usually aren't getting a clean floor. You are getting a soaking wet carpet, hidden upcharges, and a sticky chemical residue that acts like a dirt magnet the second it dries.
Stainless steel is known for its shiny look and incredible durability, which makes it a great choice in your kitchen, whether we're talking stainless steel appliances or cookware. But when cleaning cooking residue and grease from pans or polishing off your stainless-steel fridge, it's important you don't reach for the paper towels since they can leave scratches and leftover fibers on the surface of the material.
The grout on my bathroom floor tile haunts me. It's one of those projects I never really have the time or the initiative to tackle, but I hate how dirty it's become. It's beyond the maintenance stage and in need of a really good cleaning. Luckily, I discovered a DIY grout cleaner using common household products that worked wonders in my bathroom.
But once food has carbonized and bonded to metal, the issue is mechanical, and you need something to physically break the residue apart. Eggshells are mostly composed of calcium carbonate, the same mineral found in chalk and limestone - you've probably encountered it in your toothpaste, too. When crushed into a powder, these shells become a mild abrasive, which can gently sand down the grime.
I have a confession to make: When I first toured my apartment, I did not look behind the bathroom door. Rookie move - I know. I was enamored by the large bedroom and ample closet space that I didn't have in my previous apartment. And, to be frank, the offer was too good to refuse. So I signed the lease and moved in shortly thereafter.
Because it's so important to the function of my home, it's become an afterthought when it comes to making it beautiful. All I need is a functional, clean space - it doesn't need to feel as relaxing as my bedroom or living room. Plus, it's not like I have the time (or money!) to invest in transforming the bathroom space by hiring a stager or designer. But I'm interested in making each space feel a little more beautiful these days.
When Sean Spellman opened Dawnlands in Westerly, Rhode Island, last year, it was more than just a new address on the map. Conceived as an art gallery and gathering place, Dawnlands was built entirely by Sean and his family-no contractors, no designers, no outside help. Each board and bench was made with intention, using local pine and sensibility shaped by Japanese, Scandinavian, and coastal Californian influences.
Apartment Therapy's January Cure is a free 20-day program that'll help you refresh your home for the year ahead. Sign up here and get all assignments delivered to your inbox. A major step for any home project is getting started - and that includes identifying all the steps and tools needed to get the job done. Today, we're going to do just that, so I'll keep the details brief!
It's likely that you've encountered recycled glass countertops without realizing it. They're far from the hippie-style broken-glass mosaic art of yesteryear, instead presenting as sleek, highly polished, professional slabs with intriguing bits of confetti-style color trapped inside. That's the recovered glass bits set into a binding material such as resin, cement, or concrete, and then smoothly polished so that the composite surface feels like stone.
This is the one and only paint that's on the market that's designed to actually absorb moisture. If you take Lilypad paint and apply it to the wall, the film will actually absorb excess humidity as it starts filling the room, and then, when it dries, it resets itself by slowly letting it back into the space. So it's regulating humidity, Dr. Stein said.
For home cooks designing or remodeling a high-traffic kitchenspace built to last the long haul, flamed granite countertops belong on your radar. The two chief benefits of flamed granite are its durability and its low maintenance. The material is wildly resistant to wear, but beyond its tactical appeal, it also happens to be aesthetically stunning in a distinctive, one-of-a-kind way (just like your do-it-all kitchen, and the myriad folks who use it ... and use it, and use it).
As we dig out from snowstorms, turn the heat up against the unrelenting cold, and throw another log onto the fire, I thought perhaps an article about summertime pursuits might be encouraging. As hard as it may be to believe right now, winter will in fact end, and our thoughts will turn to warm-weather fun -parties on the deck, porch, or patio. Don't have an outdoor gathering space? Now is the time to start planning.
If your counters are stained, damaged, or just outdated, you don't necessarily need to invest in a costly kitchen countertop upgrade. There is actually a cheap trick to protect your kitchen cabinets and countertops, making it easy to temporarily cover up ugly counters until you have the time and money to find a permanent solution. Contact paper is a DIY-friendly way to hide unsightly stains and blemishes, revitalize your kitchen, and try out different countertop styles and colors before making a commitment.
