Tag Archives: tricks

25 Uses For Coffee Filters

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1. Cover bowls or dishes when cooking in the microwave. Coffee filters make excellent covers.

2. Clean windows, mirrors, and chrome… Coffee filters are lint-free so they’ll leave windows sparkling.

3. Protect China by separating your good dishes with a coffee filter between each dish.

4. Filter broken cork from wine. If you break the cork when opening a wine bottle, filter the wine through a coffee filter.

5. Protect a cast-iron skillet. Place a coffee filter in the skillet to absorb moisture and prevent rust.

6. Apply shoe polish. Ball up a lint-free coffee filter.

7. Recycle frying oil. After frying, strain oil through a sieve lined with a coffee filter.

8. Weigh chopped foods. Place chopped ingredients in a coffee filter on a kitchen scale.

9. Hold tacos. Coffee filters make convenient wrappers for messy foods.

10. Stop the soil from leaking out of a plant pot. Line a plant pot with a coffee filter to prevent the soil from going through the drainage holes.

11.. Prevent a Popsicle from dripping. Poke one or two holes as needed in a coffee filter.

12. Do you think we used expensive strips to wax eyebrows? Use strips of coffee filters..

13. Put a few in a plate and put your fried bacon, French fries, chicken fingers, etc on them. It soaks out all the grease.

14. Keep in the bathroom. They make great “razor nick fixers.”

15. As a sewing backing. Use a filter as an easy-to-tear backing for embroidering or appliqueing soft fabrics.

16. Put baking soda into a coffee filter and insert into shoes or a closet to absorb or prevent odors.

17. Use them to strain soup stock and to tie fresh herbs in to put in soups and stews.

18. Use a coffee filter to prevent spilling when you add fluids to your car.

19. Use them as a spoon rest while cooking and clean up small counter spills.

20. Can use to hold dry ingredients when baking or when cutting a piece of fruit or veggies.. Saves on having extra bowls to wash.

21. Use them to wrap Christmas ornaments for storage.

22. Use them to remove fingernail polish when out of cotton balls.

23. Use them to sprout seeds.. Simply dampen the coffee filter, place seeds inside, fold it and place it into a plastic baggie until they sprout.

24. Use coffee filters as blotting paper for pressed flowers. Place the flowers between two coffee filters and put the coffee filters in phone book..

25. Use as a disposable “snack bowl” for popcorn, chips, etc.

7 Steps To Take Before Your First Renovation

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House renovation is a great way to get a ‘new house’ without moving to a different place. But planning your first renovation can be complicated because there are so many elements to consider. You can’t just focus on what you’d like your home to look like, it’s important to remember about the practicality of such changes. To achieve the best possible results, there are a few simple steps you have to take before any work starts.

Consider the location

Depending on the area you live in certain changes, like house extensions, may not be possible. If you are still looking for a new house, which you’ll want to renovate before moving into, it’s also important to consider the neighbourhood when deciding on a purchase. For people planning on removals to Chelsea, going there and having a look at the other buildings in the area may not be a bad choice. It’ll give you an idea of what to expect.

Set a budget

Calculate how much money you are willing to spend on a renovation. Some changes may just be too expensive and will have to be discarded. Focus on the most pressing matters at first, smaller alterations can be implemented further along the line. You should also count in a contingency of around 20%, which will let you avoid stress in case of any unexpected expenses. Knowing exactly how big your budget is will help you plan the renovation.

Plan the changes

When you think about what your dream house would look like, there are definitely elements that are more important to you than others. But your expectations may not always fit in nicely with the rest of the project. Consider what will work within the space you have. A glass stairs design is great for modern interiors, while wood floors will help in achieving a cosy atmosphere. Figure out what you’d like to change, this way, you’ll be able to ask contractors for exact quotes.

Find contractors

Price should never be the deciding factor when choosing a contractor. The cheapest one will not necessarily be bad, but there’s no guarantee that the most expensive one will be the best as well. Try to find good contractors through the recommendations from people you know. If this doesn’t help, at least try to look for reviews online. Renovations can get messy and time-consuming even at the best of times, and hiring inexperienced contractors will not help the matter in any way.

Get the necessary permits

Some parts of your renovation, especially if you plan on changing the structure of the building, may require planning permissions. You need to apply for those before starting any construction works, so make sure to find out what is necessary in your case. If you’re still unsure whether you need one or not, it’s advisable to check with your local authority. Having a house that is listed or located in a Conservation Area can limit your options, but even if you don’t need any permits, you’ll still need to comply with building regulations.

Check the insurance

You may already have your property insured, but does the insurance cover eventual damages sustained during building work? Will your insurance still be valid even if you move out of the house during the renovation? You need to carefully consider all the aspects to avoid unpleasant surprises later on. It may be a good idea to consult a specialist on the matter. Another important thing to check is whether the contractors working on your renovation are insured. Accidents can happen during construction works, so it’s better to be safe than sorry.

Schedule the renovation

Some parts of your renovation have to be finished before the others can start. It’s especially important in situations when you have hired different contractors to perform different tasks. You’ll need to schedule the works carefully. Make a list of all the changes in the order they have to be completed in. This way you’ll make sure that the whole renovation will go smoothly and you’ll avoid unnecessary damages and additional expenses.

The properly planned renovation will allow you to avoid unpleasant surprises during construction works. If you follow the steps listed above, you’ll get a house that’s, if not perfect, then at least close to your dream one. And after all the building work is done, you’ll be able to focus on the more enjoyable task of decorating your newly acquired space.

Nursery Design Help

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Your baby is on the way and you still haven’t finished designing a nursery? There’s no reason for panic, you can have a comfortable and stylish nursery in no time. With just a few trendy and practical ideas, you’ll design a stimulating and chic environment for your new family member.

In with the crib

When designing a nursery, you’ll have a lot of opportunities for DIY projects, improvisation and more affordable details, but the crib should definitely be an investment piece. Don’t hesitate to spend a bit more on a high-quality crib because your little one will be using it for the years to come. You can even find a crib that converts to a toddler bed, which is quite practical solution. You need to ensure that the crib you picked meets all the safety requirements and standards. Additionally, make sure to get a high-quality mattress that will provide your baby’s back with the right support. Afterwards, you can experiment with bedding and design that will fit the general style of the room.

The changing table is next in line

Since you’ll be changing your baby quite frequently, having a changing table will save you a lot of trouble. If you’re buying a freestanding changing table, find a multifunctional one that can be used for storing toys later on. For a small nursery, a changing top is a great solution because it can be attached to any dresser. Once you’ve found a changing table that meets your needs, make sure to equip it with all the essentials like diapers, wipes, lotions, changing pad covers, etc.

Storage to the rescue

Despite their tininess, you’ll realise soon enough that your little person needs lots of stuff. So, unless you want to trip every time you enter the nursery, you need to add plenty of storage. Depending on the size of the room, you have a range of different options, from wall shelves, to closets, to bins and baskets. The most practical solution is opting for multifunctional furniture. For example, you can buy a crib with drawers at the bottom, or a window seat with a storage compartment.

Don’t forget to treat yourself

Since you’ll spend a lot of sleepless nights and days in the nursery, then it’s only fair that you get something for yourself – a comfortable nursery chair. However, you don’t have to stick to a plain design, but choose a chair that will reflect your personal style. For example, Coco Republic offers a lot of comfortable and trendy options, ranging from lounge and reading chairs, to comfy chaise lounges.

Stylish décor

There’s no reason why your baby’s nursery can’t be stylish. There are a lot of nursery trends that all interior design enthusiasts are introducing into their own homes. Nature-inspired décor is extremely popular because it brings a sense of serenity and tranquillity, so you can decorate your nursery with big florals, mountains, cacti, leaves and animals. The hot hues are Greenery, Pantone’s colour of the year, gold rose and a neutral palette of muted tones, while bolder hues can be used for accent details.

When it comes to ideas for using these trends in your nursery, just follow your imagination. You can use these designs for decorative details, introduce them through art, add both style and depth by using soft fabrics, or transform one wall into a work of art.

DIY artwork

Your child’s environment can greatly influence their development, so why not surround them with beautiful and stimulating artwork. And what’s better way to spark your child’s creativity than being creative yourself? Do you want to pass your love for music to your child? Just frame vintage sheet music of your favourite song. You can also transform fabric leftovers into letters and then decorate your kid’s room with alphabet.

In just a few steps, you’ll design a perfect nursery for your baby. All you need to do is pick quality furniture, and use décor trends and imagination to add style to a comfortable room.

Use Black Tea To Clean Your Bathroom Mirror

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Your bathroom mirror can take quite a bit of damage over time. There are lots of ways you can approach the mess once it’s there, but you might not have known that black tea can be an effective way of keeping your bathroom clean. For mirrors that are beginning to build up with grime, dip a soft click in brewed black tea and rub it over grime to break it up. The tannins in the tea make it easy to remove and your bathroom will be looking perfect in no time!