Monday, November 21, 2011

10 Tips for Keeping Your Ceramic Tiles Looking Great

!±8± 10 Tips for Keeping Your Ceramic Tiles Looking Great

You enter the bathroom. You turn on the lights. You dream of having a nice, relaxing bath or a cold, invigorating shower. What you get instead is a strangled shriek and despair.

Yes, ceramic tiles sure brighten up any bathroom or kitchen with their artistic and wonderful designs. We all love that glossy finish and the pearl-like shine. But moldy and dirty ceramic tiles are a big turn off, especially to those who have a fetish about bathing in a spotlessly clean bathroom.

What about your kitchen? Can you bear placing your food atop a surface that looks dubious? Can you imagine the germs sticking themselves to your favorite vegetable? Ewww...

Alas, help from professional cleaners may cost us hundreds to thousands of dollars. That money can be better spent on other worthwhile items. All we need to know is how to properly care for our ceramic tiles so they'll keep looking clean and brand new.

1. Wipe 'Em Daily

Keep this as a mantra to yourself. This is easy enough to do, especially on kitchen counters, and it won't take you more than 15 minutes. All you need is a wiping cloth and some water. Always wipe surfaces after use. This is the best method from keeping dirt and debris from piling up. Dry tiles with a cloth or a sponge to prevent mildew formation.

2. Felt and Pads

Do you have heavy furniture made of wood, metal, aluminum or even plastic? Try to place felt or similar pads to their legs. This will help reduce the wear and tear on the tiles and will also facilitate easier shuffling and movement.

3. Protection with Mats

All houses have spots where heavy pivoting occurs. This could be your doorstep, or in front of the kitchen sink or the bathroom door. Situate mats of good quality to protect your tiles from pressure, weight or friction. These mats can also reduce dirt, grit, sand and oil that is deposited in your tiles since the fibers of the mat trap them nicely.

Make sure to wash the mats every once in a while to remove the deposits. Replace worn mats if possible.

4. Weekly Appointments with the Damp Mop

Aside from the daily regimen of wiping them, your ceramic tiles can also benefit a great deal from mopping them with a solution of vinegar and water. Mix ½ cup of vinegar to a gallon or so of water and use this to mop your floor.

Let it sit for 5-10 minutes. Then mop the floor again with tap water to remove most of the vinegar and odor. The mild acidity of the vinegar will promote the death of mildew. Also, refrain from using soaps on the tiles as they will dull they surface.

5. Kiss Grime Away With Bleach

Ooh, your neighbor tracked his mud-soiled boots on your spotless white tiles. Even though you want to beat him up bad, you might want to hold in the urge because you need to act on that dirt, fast! Wipe off most of the dirt with a wet cloth. If there are stubborn streaks remaining on your beautiful tiles, it's time to bring out the bleach.

Add about half a liter of bleach to a bucketful of water. Make sure you have your rubber gloves on, since bleach is very harsh on the skin. Mop the floor with the solution and let it sit for 15-20 minutes. After that, try rinsing it with water.

If stains still remain, repeat the process until you get back your shiny, sparkly tile. Remember to wipe it dry with a clean cloth after the procedure.

6. Clean that grout!

Grout is the cemented space between your tiles. White tiles usually have a white grout and white grout is a breeding ground for mildew, molds and dirt.

If you already spot mild discolorations on your growth, it's time to mix about ¼ of a mild detergent to a bucketful of water. Splash some on the grout and let it sit for 5-10 minutes. After that, try scrubbing the grout with a soft cloth. The color should fade away quickly. Again, wipe your tiles with a dry cloth after the procedure.

7. Abrade me not

NEVER use abrasives and harsh soaps on your tiles. They reduce the shine and polish as well as make cracks and pits that would be a more ideal ground for dirt and grime to settle in. Use only mild soaps and detergents. Always dilute strong acids before using them on your tiles.

8. Can you hand me that toothbrush?

Stubborn dirt and grime in your grouts? Well it's time to give them a little push. This will involve getting down on you hands and knees but it's all worth it when you see your tiles looking like they're newly installed.

Again, make a mild detergent solution from ¼ cup of detergent to a bucketful of water. You can add a small amount of bleach if you want, but remember to protect your hands and knees. Let it sit for a few minutes.

After that, get a used toothbrush and start scrubbing your grout. Be careful not to damage the side of the tiles. The ugly dirt should give way even with only a little force. Rinse with water and wipe dry.

9. Stock on Drying Cloth and Sponges

You might have noticed that every procedure call for wiping your tiles dry. That's because there is no sense in performing the task yet leaving molds and mildew for a chance to attack. Remember that these organisms grow best in moist surroundings.

With all that cleaning going on, you'll get tired from washing and drying the same cloth everyday so stock up for convenience.

10. Be Patient.

The thing is, people look up handy tips and tricks to cleaning their tiles. But some mail back, feeling very unsatisfied with the results. The usual problem here is PATIENCE. If a specific procedure tells you to wait for 15 minutes, it's best to follow it. See, waiting allows the solution to seep into the layers of dirt and grime. The solution loosens up impacted dirt and facilitates removal. This is the key to a successful cleaning venture.

With that said, have fun in cleaning and remember: Always wipe it dry.


10 Tips for Keeping Your Ceramic Tiles Looking Great

Top 10 Norelco Razors Hydroponic Nutrients Buy Now

Thursday, November 3, 2011

What's On Your Toothbrush?

!±8± What's On Your Toothbrush?

What is the one thing we use several times a day and probably do not think much about? Give up? It's our toothbrush, that small slender little thing that some of us keep in our purses, some in their lunch pail and of course, we all have one in our bathrooms.

But, have you ever wondered what's on your toothbrush? Bet, you haven't!

Your toothbrush is a petri dish! Why? Well, for one thing it lives in an outhouse (bathroom,) if we carry it around with us it is usually in a closed zip lock bag or in a plastic container, with no room to breathe. Besides being confined, the poor thing gets hot and all kinds of things multiply on it!

Did you know some bacteria and viruses could survive for a week on a toothbrush? Yep! Such things as herpes simplex virus, influenza, and streptococcus, which leads to gum disease are just a few of the germs and bacteria that can lay in wait on your toothbrush.

Since most of us from the beginning of time have always kept our toothbrushes either in a toothbrush holder or in a glass container we share with others in the bathroom, the thought of germs never entered our minds.

However, according to the Academy of General Dentistry contamination from brushes touching can occur, as most families keep their brushes in a huddle on the counter or in a cabinet. Bacteria that can cause oral infections (like gingivitis and/or more serious gum diseases) can spread from one family member to another through toothbrush contact.

Toothbrushes that are stored on a counter or in a toothbrush holder are vulnerable to contamination from airborne bacteria, such as from flushing a toilet. As gross as that sounds, it appears that scientists commonly find coliform bacteria (E.coli) on toothbrushes. If it enters the blood stream, E.coli can cause a serious infection.

Here are some interesting facts for you to mull over. According to research scientists, the human mouth may have over 500 different bacterial strains residing in that warm humid place.

The bathroom is the single most germ-ridden location in the house with the bathroom sink being first, followed by the floor and the toilet seat.

Microbes from your toilet may be atomized and sprayed up to 20 feet when you flush if the lid is not down.

Excess toothpaste left on your brush is an invitation to bacteria to join in.

So what is a person to do to promote good toothbrush hygiene?

First of all never share your toothbrush with anyone.

Clean and dry your toothbrush after every use and store it upright in an open container and keep it in the medicine cabinet. If sharing a container with others do not let the brushes touch.

Brushing with a hard bristle brush can harm teeth and gums. Use a softer brush and brush gently.

Replace your toothbrush every three to four months or whenever the bristles appear worn or splayed.

During my research for information for this article, I came upon an interesting "gadget" if you will that really has the answers to the germ and bacteria problems I have been discussing. I truly find merit in this product, so much so, that I am buying it as individual gifts for my family.

I have included some of the information I found regarding this product for you to read.

The Germ Terminator Toothbrush Sanitizer:

When you hear it steam, you know it's clean. Finally, there is a safe, simple and completely effective solution to the dirty problem of toothbrush germs, and it makes perfect sense. There are actually a few methods floating around out there, but only one is the safest, most reliable, and most effective: the Germ Terminator Toothbrush Sanitizer. Using the Germ Terminator Toothbrush Sanitizer is hands-down the best way to make sure that your toothbrush is completely germ free. The Germ Terminator Toothbrush Sanitizer uses the proven power of steam to kill all germs, bacteria, viruses, fungi (molds and yeasts) and any other disgusting microbes that may have collected on your toothbrush. Most importantly, the Germ Terminator Toothbrush Sanitizer also provides a clean, germ-free environment where your toothbrush can be safely stored until the next time you use it.

The Germ Terminator Toothbrush Sanitizer is entirely unique with its patented steam-sanitization and germ-free storage system. Using the pre-measured Germ Terminator Toothbrush Sanitizer cup, you just add a little water to the sanitizing unit. The Germ Terminator Toothbrush Sanitizer generates a burst of continuous germ killing steam that safely, efficiently, and effectively wipes out greater than 99.9999% of all germs tested in major laboratory testing with absolutely no germs detected after any test! Again, all you need to do is add water!

You may have heard about other methods for cleaning your toothbrush, like soaking it in bleach, hydrogen peroxide, or mouthwash, boiling it, placing it in the dishwasher, exposing it to ultra-violet light radiation or ozone, or simply leaving it out to dry to get rid of the germs. A few of these techniques might work to kill some of the germs, but they are either essentially ineffective and/or potentially hazardous to your health.

With numerous worldwide patents and patents pending, the Germ Terminator Toothbrush Sanitizer is the most effective, natural, simplest to use and safest device ever created to sanitize your toothbrush. It takes only seconds of your time and it might be one of the most significant health decisions you can make for you and your family. It just makes sense. When it comes to something you put in your mouth, the bottom line is "CLEAN has got to be better than DIRTY". How can anyone argue with that logic?


What's On Your Toothbrush?

Purchasing Stair Bunk Bed


Twitter Facebook Flickr RSS



Fran�ais Deutsch Italiano Portugu�s
Espa�ol ??? ??? ?????







Sponsor Links