I’M JUST CURIOUS: Some handy information

by Debbie Walker

Good Day! I have been leafing through some of the helpful hints I have collected over the past few years. I love this stuff, as you probably have noticed.

This one I have to try. This is our time of year for condensation on our windows and windshield of our vehicles. The people from a First magazine shared what works for them. Fill a sock with kitty litter, tie it up after you fill it; lay it across your dash for the night. The litter absorbs the moisture in the air. Let me know how it works for you. I have to buy or beg for kitty litter.

Another thing I have come across is to clean your interior windshield with shaving cream. I tried it with my bathroom mirror and the fogging disappeared.

To organize home office supplies you could try using a wine rack. Fill the rack with plastic glasses (Dollar Tree) and you have storage. Be creative. Most of all, have fun.

I love this one! I could have used this so many times over the past many painting projects. Today I received mail from Do-It-Yourself magazine, associated with Better Homes and Gardens. In it they included a small newsletter. The following is a small portion of the newsletter: Painting:

Have you ever wondered what finish would be best for what room? Gloss, Semi-gloss, Satin, Eggshell and Flat. The answers:

GLOSS adds shine – lots of it. It’s easier to clean than flat finishes but harder to apply. Best for trim and cabinets.

SEMI-GLOSS – again easier to clean. Walls in high traffic spaces such as a kitchen or mudroom.

SATIN is super popular and less shiny. Best for walls that aren’t pitch-perfect. It’s more forgiving than glossy finishes.

EGGSHELL ­– softer and less sheen than semigloss. Harder to clean so not great, though so not great for kitchens and baths. Best for less than perfect walls.

FLAT is less sheen so hard to clean. Not super resistant to stains. Best for ceilings which are often painted and flat.

I hope you find this as helpful as I do, especially with my renovation project. The following is more information from the same newsletter:

The RIGHT PAINTBRUSH: Width matters: 1 – 2 inch brush is for trim. 2-inch brush size for cutting in around doors and windows. 3 – 4 inch brush size is for flat surfaces.

LATEX = nylon or polyester bristles. OIL = Natural bristles.

Paint Rollers:

Nap is an important word: A larger nap means a less smooth surface of the roller. This works well on rough textured surfaces like brick. The longer fibers make it easier to get into all those nooks and crannies. At the other end of the spectrum, the smallest naps – about ¼ inch – after a super smooth finish for walls and other consistent surfaces.

Roller Frame: Smaller rollers are designed for small areas like trim and cabinet. A bigger frame makes quick work of walls and ceilings.

Best Roller Technique? Zigzag to overlap the lines, going from top to bottom. Once done, lightly roll again vertically from ceiling to floor.

Okay that’s all I have today. I’m just curious what some of your tips would be. Hope this was helpful. Contact me at DebbieWalker@townline.org Thanks for reading. Have a great week!