Author Archives: Jeffrey Scott Thomas

Floor Cleaning Tips & Tricks

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Regardless of how tidy you are, your floors, rugs, and carpets get dirty. Between the dirt you track in on your shoes, the accidental spills, and the inevitable accumulation of dust, your floors can get quite grimy. Here are a few cleaning tips and tricks for all types of flooring.

Natural Stone Floors
One of the most important rules when it comes to cleaning natural stone, is to steer clear of acidic products like vinegar, ammonia, or bleach, as they can ruin the stone. Your best bet is to use a pH-neutral cleaner that won’t react with the minerals in your stone floor.

Tile Floors
Tile is easy to clean. Simply combine ¼ cup of vinegar and one drop of dish soap in a spray bottle. Fill the rest with water and mix well. Spritz the mixture onto your tile surface and wipe it down with a microfiber cloth or mop. Steaming the tiles and grout will provide a deep cleaning.

Carpets
Unlike other flooring surfaces, carpets have their own set of rules. For a deep clean, it’s best to steam clean your carpets. For regular cleaning, using a vacuum should suffice.

Hardwood Floors
Wood floors need a lot of attention. Start by determining whether your floor is sealed or not. If it’s unsealed, avoid using water and instead try mineral oil and periodic coats of wax. If the floor is sealed, a simple mix of hot water and soap is a safe bet.

Linoleum
Start by sweeping or vacuuming the floor to get rid of dust, hair, and dirt. Then add about six drops of mild detergent or dish soap to a gallon of warm or hot water. Dampen a mop with the mixture and use it to clean the floor in sections. Avoid getting the mop too wet, and make sure to dry the floors with a towel when you’re done. Standing water can damage linoleum.

Disney Nightmare Before Christmas Push Light – DIY

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Nightmare Before Christmas collectibles are always expensive. You can create this cool light very easily with a Sharpie, black acrylic paint, a brush and a push light from a dollar store. With a Sharpie marker make the outline of the design you see on the picture. Fill eyes with black acrylic paint. Paint base black. If you would like you can seal with a coat of polyurethane. You could look up other Jack Skellington facial designs and have many of them on a wall.

Baby’s First Christmas Ornament

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We have all seen Christmas ornaments for Baby’s First Christmas. They all look non-personal. You can make one that is personal and special to your child. You can use a glass bulb or you can use plastic in any color. You could also use the ones from a craft store that is clear and can be opened. If you use one that can be opened you could put a little keepsake inside as well. To make the glitter footprints use white school glue. Spread white school glue across a sheet of wax paper. Take the wax paper and place on the bottom of your child’s foot. If your child’s foot is not being cooperative tickle the top of the foot near the toes. They will extend their toes allowing you to do this part much easier. Now place the foot against the bulb. Having someone help you is very helpful. Roll the foot a little to make sure the glue print is a good impression. Wipe your child’s foot with a wet wipe. Over a bowl pour the glitter onto the bulb. If need be press lightly to make sure it adheres well. Allow to dry overnight. Use a spray polyurethane to spray two to three light coats over the entire bulb to make sure the glitter does not come off. Let dry until no longer tacky. Its now ready to hang on a tree. You could also do this with a hand print.

Upcycled Storage Jars

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Photo From Lewisville Love

What a great way to reuse and upcycle old jars like these. Clean the label off which might need a product like Goo Be Gone. The top has been spray painted with a silver spray paint that is designed to be used on outside plastic to ensure durability. You can also use steel wool to rough up the plastic to help ensure the paint sticks. Labels like these can be purchased in many craft stores. Use these for spices, nuts, chocolate chips or other snacks and kitchen needs. But don’t just stop in the kitchen. These could work in a bathroom for bath powders, bath bombs, hair bands and first aid supplies. Use in a home office for supplies like staples, rubber bands, new tape rolls, paper clips and other odds and ends.

Organizing For School Mornings

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I hate school mornings, Grumpy kids – Grumpy me! Arghhhh! So ideas to simplify the mornings are always good. Here is an idea I found on the internet I wanted to share. Each child had 2 sets of three drawers (like pictured – around 12.50 per unit) and stacked on each other. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday were written on paper and slipped on the inside of each drawer front. Each drawer had an outfit folded and ready to go. If paperwork like permission slips or something important had to be turned in on a particular day that also would go in the drawer. Their book bag packed each nigh goes on top of their respective drawer system.. This leaves sleepy heads no choices because they already are made. You can place these in a mudroom or in their own rooms out of the way. It just helps make the mornings a bit more quiet and much less panicky….. which is good if I have yet to have my coffee.