What you need:

1. Determine the quality of the flatware
   
2. Choosing a stainless steel or silver plated flatware
   
3. Flatware’s weight
   
4. Matching your existing China with the flatware set
   

Flatware Set

Method:

1. Firstly, you should determine the flatware’s composition, thickness, strength, style, balance, artisanship, and the attractiveness whether you are viewing it from the front or the backside. Imagine what you will be putting on these flatware, what you will be eating and etc. All of these points will help you to know the quality of the flatware and which one to choose.
   
2. The next thing to take into consideration is whether to purchase a stainless steel or silver plated flatware. There is a lot of difference between both of the mentioned flatware, the stainless steel is a much superior flatware and besides that, it also comes with low maintenance, hygienic, durable, resists oxidation at high temperatures, rust free, resistant to stains or damage from fruit acids. Though silver plated is hard, it is less flexible than stainless steel and it is difficult to decorate it with stamped or carved designs.
   
3. The weight of your flatware set also plays an important role in choosing the right flatware because a heavier flatware set provides you with a better balance, strength, and durability.
   
4. It is common to have a perfect match and pattern of your existing chinaware with the flatware set that you are going to purchase. Though it shows only the personal choice relating to your style, it definitely provides a formal feeling whenever the flatware set and your chinaware are being displayed at your dinner table for special occasions. Speaking of chinaware, these dinner plates and more are considered to be the most expensive and classy of all the flatware set. The reason might be as its origin dates a long time back. More or less like a million of years ago.
   

Image Credit:

Flickr CC

Additional Reading:

Laying The Elegant Table: China, Faience, Porcelain, Majolica, Glassware, Flatware, Tureens, Platters, Trays, Centerpieces, Tea Sets

American Sterling Silver Flatware 1830′s – 1990′s: A Collector’s Identification and Value Guide

Choosing a Flatware Set is a post from: DIY Guides

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1. Choosing Kitchen Cabinet Hardware to Match Décor
2. Choosing the right Garage Door Threshold
3. Choosing Kitchen Bar Stools

We all love to make our homes beautiful or as homey as it can be. We decorate it as much as we can. We fill it up with nice furniture. We arrange everything accordingly. The point is we do everything we can in our capacity to make our homes lovelier. The kitchen is a place in the house where most people like to keep small so that it won\’t be difficult to keep it as clean as possible.

Most people will usually change the paint, wallpaper or get a complete remodel for their kitchen. Often we overlooked other details such as latches, knobs, handles and other kitchen cabinet hardware. These details are so practical and versatile as they can offer an inexpensive and a simple way to complement and refresh your kitchen decoration. Here\’s how you can choose the right kitchen cabinets to match your other kitchen decoration.

You will need:

Different types of knobs and pulls

Steps:

1. First, you might want to match the shape of your cabinet hardware with the elements in your kitchen décor. You can buy sunflower knobs or try vegetable-shaped knobs for a garden-themed kitchen. For a nature-themed kitchen, use branch-shaped pulls and handles or a log-cabin kitchen décor. Teapot and tea cup knobs are perfect for country décor.
   
2. Then, match your knobs and pulls to the materials used in your kitchen décor. If you have marble or granite countertops or backsplashes, purchase knobs that are made from marble or granite too. The same goes to the metals in your kitchen such as copper with copper and steel with stainless steel.
   
3. Next, match the styling of your cabinet\’s hardware to the styling of your kitchen\’s décor. Choose for European-styled bar pulls with sleek chrome bars to accent a distinctively modern and contemporary look. French Café looks evocated by the usage of clusters of grape while cast iron knobs and handles are basic looks in a country kitchen.
   
4. To match the era-theme of your kitchen\’s décor, select your kitchen cabinet hardware. You can purchase pewter, ceramic and rustic wood knobs which are a good complement to the kitchen. You can go for the porcelain or door knobs for a Victorian-style kitchen.
   
5. Make sure to replace the old hinges with hinges that match your new cabinet hardware in finish and material. If you have brass hinges and knobs before and replace these with silver-toned knobs, it is important that you replace the brass hinges with a silver-toned pair. You could also choose hinges that are designed to be completely concealed.
   

Image Credit:

Flickr CC

Additional Reading:

Can\’t Fail Color Schemes: Kitchen & Bath: How to Choose Color for Stone and Tile Surfaces, Cabinets & Walls [CANT FAIL COLOR SCHEMES KITCHE]

Architectural Hardware: Ideas, Inspiration, and Practical Advice for Adding Handles, Hinges, Knobs, and Pulls to Your Home (Home Design Details)

Choosing Kitchen Cabinet Hardware to Match Décor is a post from: DIY Guides

Related posts:

1. Deciding what type of cabinet will suit your kitchen
2. Building a wine rack in a kitchen cabinet
3. Choosing a Stain for Kitchen Cabinets

Things that you need:

1. sponge or rag
2. paper towels
3. dish soap/ antibacterial cleanser
4. vacuum
5. coil brush

Methods:

1. First, loosen the refrigerator light bulb so that it can be easily taken off. Because the refrigerator light bulbs were intended for only short period uses and will likely burn out if left on during heavy duty cleaning.
2. Then, find your temperature control knob which is located inside the refrigerator. Turn the knob into the “OFF” position. Unplug the refrigerator. Before the cleaning start, remove all the food items from your refrigerator and store them in a cooler or separate refrigerator.
3. Next, pull out all meat drawers, wire racks and removable shelves. Prepare warm soapy water in the sink and wash all the items. Wash down the inside of the refrigerator with a solution made from 2 tablespoons of baking soda and ½ quart of hot water by using a sponge or rag. Continue with the same sponge or rag; wash the inside of the door and all its compartments.
4. After that, rinse the entire refrigerator and all the areas that you have just cleaned and scrubbed by using a fresh, clean rag or sponge. After everything has been rinsed properly, dry with paper towels or newspaper or allow to air dry thoroughly.
5. Replace the drawers, shelves and wire racks. Wash the rubber molding around the refrigerator using a clean rag with hot water and dish soap. Rinse and dry thoroughly. Continue to wash the outside of the refrigerator with hot water and dish soap or an antibacterial cleanser that you can find in any hardware or discount store. Again, rinse and dry completely.
6. If there is a drip pan in your refrigerator, remove it from underneath the refrigerator. Empty the pan and scrub to clean. Rinse the pan with warm water and let it dry before replacing. For the metal plate of the refrigerator near the floor, replace it and vacuum around this entire area. Using a coil brush or vacuum hose, remove all the dirt, dust and debris that has settled in the condenser coils. When finished, wash the metal plate. Rinse and dry thoroughly before replacing it.

Finally, plug in your refrigerator. Twist the light bulbs so that it turns on again. Turn the temperature control knob back “on” and control the temperature according to your desired settings. Return all food items into the fridge when the temperature is completely cooled.

Additional reading:
http://www.essortment.com/all/ovencleaning_rdjw.htm

Image Credit:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/gavinmusic/3140092402/

Cleaning your messy refrigerator is a post from: DIY Guides

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1. Remodeling your refrigerator
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3. Cleaning your baking oven

Washing machine is one of the most neglected things that people always forget to maintain with all the housecleaning chores we do. The function of a washing machine is mainly to help us with our chores. It becomes a mechanical servant for us to make us to do other things at the same time. However, since we leave the cleaning to the washing machine alone, we seldom see it as something that is also in need to be cleaned although we never forget to scrub the bathtubs, showers and sinks. The washing machine deserves the same treatment and care because it will get soiled with the dirt left behind from the clothes washed in it. Logically, it will be the dirt, soap scum and grime that become culprits to your washing machine that eventually will need to be removed. This dirt will not only get your clothes dirty, they are also full of body oils and dead skin. It will be useless to wash your clothes in your dirty washing machine in that kind of situation. You can notice these things as most of the washing machine are dark and you simply drop the clothes in dirty and pull out when they are clean. Actually, you will be shocked to find what is trapped inside your washing machine once you step into it. Fear not, as the solution is to clean your machine properly and it\’s much easier than you might think. Here are some steps on how to make your washing machine clean.

Things that you need:

• white gloves
• damp towel
• new barrel (optional)
• 2 cups of bleach
• 2 cups of lemon juice

Steps:

1. First, wear white gloves to your hands and run them along the bottom of the barrel when you decide it\’s time to clean your washing machine. The white gloves will give you a clear image of what your hand had run into and you might be shocked with the result. It is often and normal to find a thin layer of grit, and possibly the stray of socks you been searching for. Although there will be grits, there are other materials that could be problematic to your washing machine which are the deposits and detergent deposits. Rust can build up from the laundry detergent and hard water inside the barrel and hoses. This rust can affect badly the performance of your washing machine and also your clothes, making them to wear down.
2. Next, damp a soft towel to wipe up the layer of grit or dirt at the bottom of the barrel as much as you can. Continue to wipe up and down the walls of the entire barrel. If there are any rusty spots found, you should avoid from sending them down. Exchange the extensive barrel with a new barrel if needed. Sometimes what you see as rust might not be as what it seems; it could rather be lime scale deposits. So, try washing it first to test whether it is lime scale deposits or not.
3. Then, set your washing machine water temperature as hot as possible and set the water level on high. Let the barrel fill completely and then add 2 cups of bleach for the stains and 2 cups of lemon juice for the rust. You can do this separately if necessary. But remember not to mix chemicals or cleaning agents. If you are facing with difficult stains, get cleaning products that are specially designed for washing machines in any local hardware or discount store.
4. Finally, rinse out any excess of lemon, bleach or cleaner with another cycle of hot water only after the cleaning cycle.

Additional Reading:
http://www.essortment.com/home/cleanwashingma_sokn.htm

Image Credit:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/markhillary/2473522040/

Cleaning your washing machine properly is a post from: DIY Guides

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Eventually your oven needs a thorough cleansing and cleaning after the soufflé and casserole that\’s boiled over for the fourth weekend in a row. Baked on grease, charred food, grime, dust and other grime can stain the oven\’s inner coating and even affect the way food smells and tastes. Fret not, there is always easy and simple to do when it comes on cleaning your oven. In fact, most of the things that you can use for cleaning your oven can be made by yourself. That way, you will not spend much money buying dangerous and harmful cleaning product to your health. You can find these things in your kitchen or any hardware and stores. Here\’s how you can clean your oven in a proper and safety way.

• Ammonia trick

You can pour ammonia into a plastic bowl or dish which can be easily disposed of. Put the ammonia inside your oven and close the door. Let the ammonia to sit inside your oven for a night. After an overnight inside the oven, remove the container and wipe away the stubborn stains. You can reuse the ammonia if it is stored properly.

• Grandma\’s proven and true vinegar cleaner

Mix 3 drops of hand soap or liquid dish soap, 4 tablespoons of vinegar and 5 tablespoons of baking soda until they form a thick paste. Apply this paste to the inside of the oven and scrub with a sponge or dry cloth. Wipe to clean and rinse thoroughly.

• Natural scrub cleaner

Make a paste by combining 4 tablespoons of baking soda and 4 tablespoons of hot steamy water and apply it on the oven\’s cavity using an old toothbrush or cleaning brush with a soft bristle. Allow the solution to sit for 1 minute or more. Scrub the oven until it\’s clean with a brush. Rinse with water and sponge until no traces of baking paste remains.

• For tough stain remover

Make a paste of 1 cup of baking soda, 1 cup of water and 1 cup of salt. Apply this paste inside the oven. Close the oven\’s door and heat the oven to 500 degrees for around 60 minutes. Turn off the oven and allow cooling first. Using a moist sponge, wipe away any debris remaining. Rinse well and let dry thoroughly.

• Citrus cleanser

Make a paste of equal amount of salt and lemon juice. Apply paste to the stubborn stains. Let it sit the oven for 4 to 6 minutes. Scrub with a brush until oven is clean. Then, rinse with warm water and sponge until no traces of baking soda seen.

Additional Reading:

http://www.essortment.com/all/ovencleaning_rdjw.htm

Image Credit:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dpstyles/3061423216/

Cleaning your baking oven is a post from: DIY Guides

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