by Milcarsky's Staff | Sep 1, 2022 | How To's
No matter where you live, chores are a necessary task to maintain the cleanliness of a home. Some people love to do laundry, while others despise doing it. Getting your laundry done is essential so you can have clean clothes to wear for every occasion, from your finest suit to the fire-resistant clothing you wear at work. Today, we will go over five unique challenges you may have to face when doing laundry.
Challenge #1: Cleats, Shin Pads, and Helmets
One of the toughest laundry challenges is washing sporting equipment. Sporting equipment can get particularly smelly, and it is more complicated to clean than the average piece of clothing. Remember to brush off excess debris before putting these into the washing machine. Check the instructions first to ensure your equipment can be washed in the washing machine. It is best to put shin pads and similar padding in a pillowcase or sack to protect them during the wash cycle.
Challenge #2: Fire-Resistant Workwear
When it comes to fire-resistant clothing, always separate these items from your regular clothes. Use laundry detergent (not soap) to wash fire-resistant clothing. Consider turning them inside out to help them last longer and resist color fading.
Challenge #3: Tangled Strings
If you have to wash anything with strings, it is not uncommon for those strings to get tangled with other clothes in the machine. Luckily, there is a pretty simple solution to prevent this problem. Get wash bags and place any clothing items with strings into those to keep them separate from everything else in your load of laundry.
Challenge #4: Blood Stains
Blood stains can be particularly frustrating and difficult to remove from clothes. Handle blood stains with care and begin by cleaning them with cold water as soon as possible. Use your fingers or an old rag to help the blood separate from the clothing. Next, use an enzyme-based stain remover to clear the last remnants of blood on your clothes and put them in the washing machine.
Challenge #5: Skunk Spray
Dealing with stinky smells on your clothing is always a challenge, but skunk spray is one of the worst things. A combination of hot water, laundry detergent, vinegar, and baking soda can do the trick for this laundry challenge. It might take multiple washes for the smell to come out of your clothing, so be patient with the process.
After reading this brief guide, we hope you feel more equipped to deal with unusual laundry stains and challenges. Whether you are cleaning sports equipment or fire-resistant clothing for work, it is imperative to tackle clothing stains as soon as possible. The best practices we shared will keep your clothes neat and clean for years to come. If you are in the market for a new washer or dryer, come to Milcarsky’s Appliance Centre in Lake Mary, Florida. You can also browse through our inventory online before coming to our store.
The Milcarsky's Appliance Centre' team wants to help answer any questions you may have. We'd also like to let you know when we publish a new blog post or have some great news to share.
by Milcarsky's Staff | Jun 15, 2022 | Design
Your kitchen should be one of the most frequently used rooms and areas in your home. Afterall, everyone eats, usually three meals a day. In theory that should mean at least two or three stops to the kitchen minimum per day per resident of the house, not to mention cooking, baking, and prep work. But if you find that you don’t use your kitchen as much as you would like, the problem may not be you. Here are three practical kitchen upgrades that can help you get better use of your kitchen.
Lighting
The first practical upgrade that can help you get better use out of your kitchen is improving your lighting. While it may seem simple, if your kitchen doesn’t have the proper lighting, it is going to be more difficult for you to cook in your kitchen. If you find that you don’t get enough light in some areas of your kitchen, it may be a good idea to add some additional recessed lighting to the ceiling, or potential even some undercabinet lightens to brighten up the workspaces and give you the visibility you need to prepare food properly and safely.
Storage Space
Another practical upgrade that can help you make much better use out of your kitchen is increasing your storage space. Without proper storage space, you won’t be able to put away essentials when they are not in use, which will limit your counterspace, making cooking a headache. Your best solution is going to be adding cabinets that make sense in your space. There are a lot of different looks and styles for kitchen cabinets, so you should be able to find something that works well in your kitchen and serves your needs. Find ways to maximize storage space wherever possible.
Add an Island
The final practical kitchen upgrade that can help you get better use out of your kitchen is adding an island to your kitchen. If you find that no matter what you do with storage space there is simply not enough counter space in your kitchen, then an island is your solution. Adding an island can double your available counter space without really limiting the usefulness of your space, unlocking more of your cooking potential.
Getting good use out of your kitchen isn’t just about knowing how to cook. It’s also about making sure your kitchen is designed to make cooking easier. Give these three practical upgrades for your kitchen a try and see how they make your life easier.
Check out this article for tips on preventing flooding in your laundry room!
by Milcarsky's Staff | May 13, 2022 | How To's
Solving clutter in the kitchen gives you more room to work and can free up storage space that you never knew existed. These are detailed tips for getting your kitchen better organized and keeping it that way.
Removing Clutter From Your Kitchen:
- Start with a clean kitchen. It’s easier to tackle the clutter if you clean the kitchen first. You’ll give yourself room to work with fewer distractions.
- Clear stuff out. Take the items you never use and throw them out or put them aside to sell or donate. If you have limited kitchen space, put devices you seldom use into basement or attic storage. If you take your food processor out less than once a month, keep it in those less-accessible cabinets over the refrigerator.
- Plan your counter space. Designate an area to keep open as your primary workspace. Save time by keeping the gadgets that you use every day, such as your coffee pot, within easy reach.
- Arrange products by their function. Store together the items that you use together. Have one spot with all the equipment you need to make a cup of coffee or tea or assemble a salad.
- Organize your cabinets. Stock up on storage products to keep things from getting lost in cavernous kitchen cabinets. It will be easier to find what you need if you take advantage of modular organizers, sliding drawers, tiered shelves, and pull down racks. You can even buy products that require no installation if that’s your preference.
- Hang stuff up. Reclaim unused space by installing hanging hooks. Expensive cookware can be kept safe and accessible on a pre-made trellis. The otherwise wasted space between the cabinets and counters can hold mugs, towels, and other small items. If you have a pantry or kitchen door, add a door rack for more storage.
- Go paper free. If you’re drowning in recipes and take out menus, consider the environment and your own peace of mind. With everything available online, you may be able to avoid much of that paperwork. Limit yourself to one small bin or clip to avoid accumulating documents you don’t really need.
Preventing Clutter in Your Kitchen:
- Keep your kitchen in order. Rejoice in the fact that you’ve got the hard work out of the way. It takes more time to get your kitchen organized than to keep it that way. So strive to do a bit of maintenance regularly. You can break it down into one drawer or section at a time or into short intervals of 15 minutes a week.
- Shop wisely. Now that you know what’s in your kitchen, you won’t be wandering around garage sales wondering if you have enough shot glasses. Be discriminate in your shopping so you get only kitchen products that you really need and have room for.
- Discard unused items regularly. As you discover more items that you never really use, get rid of them immediately. It may make sense to keep a few plastic yogurt containers, but you probably don’t need an extensive collection.
- Indulge in low cost decorating. It’s easier to feel motivated to keep your kitchen organized when it looks pretty. Plus, simple decorating touches will have more impact in a streamlined kitchen. Try changing your dishtowels and curtains to keep up with seasonal colors. If you can’t afford new cabinets, paint the doors or replace the hardware.
Banish the clutter from your kitchen and ensure it doesn’t creep back. Cooking is more fun when your kitchen feels spacious and attractive, and you’ll be able to get more done in less time.
The Milcarsky's Appliance Centre' team wants to help answer any questions you may have. We'd also like to let you know when we publish a new blog post or have some great news to share.
by Milcarsky's Staff | Feb 18, 2022 | How To's
There are few rooms in your home that carry the risk for water damage as strongly as your laundry room. Most laundry rooms are on the ground floor or basement of a home and have all sorts of plumbing hookups that allow for huge volumes of water to leak and cause flooding issues if your laundry room is not set up properly. While your homeowner’s insurance will protect you from a flood in your laundry room, it is always better to just avoid a flood when you can. Here are a few tips for preventing flooding in your laundry room.
Be Vigilant
The first thing that you need to do to prevent flooding in your laundry room is to remain vigilant against the threat of flooding. If you are keeping an eye out for minor leaks and issues, you can catch and fix issues before it turns into flooding. Water can cause all sorts of problems, especially in large quantities, which is why it’s so important to watch out for it in your laundry room. If there is a puddle or a small amount of water on the floor of your laundry room, investigate where it came from and make sure you fix that issue before it’s too late.
Install Water Leak Sensors
The next tip that can help you prevent flooding in your laundry room is to install water leak sensors in your laundry room. Water leak sensors are devices that you install in or around your pipes that can help to sense leaks and other issues before they get out of hand. A water leak sensor can work through any number of ways, from measuring water flow in the pipe to monitoring the sound waves that flowing water creates to identify leaks from flowing water. These devices can help you identify issues as they are developing to fix them before a flooding event happens.
Add a Floor Drain
The final tip that can help you prevent flooding in your laundry room is to add a floor drain to your laundry room. A floor drain is a great backup measure to help prevent damage if there is a major leak in your laundry room. A floor drain is exactly what it sounds like, a drain in the floor of the laundry room that will allow water to flow down and into your pipes rather than flowing freely into your home. This allows you extra time to solve an emergency flooding situation before damage starts to occur.
There is nothing that is quite as frustrating as flooding in your home. The area of your home that is most susceptible to a major flooding issue like this is your laundry room. Follow these three tips to ensure that your laundry room is ready to prevent the worst of flooding issues.
Check out this article on the top things you should buy for your kitchen!
by Milcarsky's Staff | Jan 26, 2022 | How To's
There are many different components you need for your kitchen to be functional. Besides the large appliances there are many other small items that can help you have a kitchen ready for food preparation. Top things you should buy for your kitchen are a cast iron skillet, high quality utensils, and countertop appliances.
Cast Iron Skillet
Cast iron skillets have a great ability to retain heat. While heavy, they are durable. Cast iron is free from many chemicals found in other pans and it can be just as non-stick. Because cast iron retains heat it can help create an even cooking surface. Cast iron skillets can’t be cleaned the same as other cookware. They need to be washed with water and dried immediately. It needs to be seasoned each time it is used by spreading oil over the surface.
High Quality Utensils
Instead of spending your money on low-cost utensils, opt for the high-quality utensils. These may cost more initially but they will last longer. Utensils include spatulas, measuring cups and spoons, knives, or any other tool you would use to help you prepare food. High quality utensils will be more durable and more resistant to heat. This will ensure they don’t break often so you can continue to prepare food without missing a key utensil. Knives are of particular importance. There are different kinds of knife sets that you can look into getting, depending on how often you use your kitchen and what you like to cook.
Countertop Appliances
Countertop appliances can make cooking easy and convenient. You can use them to make many different meals. Some popular appliances are a Crockpot or an Instant Pot. Crockpots are a slow cooker, while Instant Pots are more versatile in ways it cooks things, but it is essentially a pressure cooker. A Crock-Pot will take longer than an Instant Pot, however both give you the convenience of being able to put ingredients inside and not worrying about it till it’s done. You also have the benefit of cooking an entire meal in one place, reducing the number of dishes you will have.
There are so many options for items to have in your kitchen. You want your kitchen to be a functional space where food preparation is made easy. Top items such as cast-iron skillets, high quality utensils, and countertop appliances can help make any kitchen project easier.
Do you need to update your major kitchen appliances? We have what you need!
by Milcarsky's Staff | Jan 25, 2022 | How To's
You don’t have to spend a lot of time or money to give your home a major facelift. With strategic choices, you can drastically improve the look of your home. Here are some small ways to make a big impact.
Change the Color
One of the most cost effective ways to increase the value of your home and improve the way it looks is to apply a fresh coat of paint. To increase your home’s value, paint the house a light, neutral color that will be universally appealing. Or, choose your paint based on the ambience you would like. It is well known that the color scheme of your home affects the mood. Some colors, such as blue and gray, create a calm and serene environment. Green promotes feelings of health and brings a natural feel. Bright, neutral colors like yellow and gold are enlivening and uplifting. Reds can be energizing. Browns make a space feel cozier. Black is an easy way to bring more sophistication into your home. And white feels fresh and clean. In addition to changing the paint colors of your home, it is easy and inexpensive to accessorize with complementary colors. Focus on throw pillows, artistic pieces, and wall hangings.
Do Small Renovations
Small renovations can make a big difference and bring back the most bang for your buck. The most important renovations for increasing home value are to the kitchen and bathroom. These don’t have to be large to make a big impact. In the bathroom, consider changing the plumbing hardware, installing glass shower doors, refreshing the cabinets with a fresh coat of paint and new handles, or replacing the vanity. In the kitchen, you can easily swap or refurbish the cabinets, install granite countertops, add a modern backsplash, update the lighting, or replace the appliances. Small kitchen products can almost immediately recover the remodeling costs.
Upgrade Window Treatments
We don’t often think about our window coverings, but dated curtains and cheap aluminum blinds age your home considerably. On the flip side, chic curtains and high-end shades add value and style to your house. Changing window coverings is simple and inexpensive but improves the look of your home by leaps and bounds.
You don’t have to break the bank or spend a ton of time making substantial upgrades to your home. The little things make a big difference. Tackle one thing at a time until your home feels like the haven that you deserve.
Read this next: Splurges Every New Homeowner Needs in Their Kitchen
The Milcarsky's Appliance Centre' team wants to help answer any questions you may have. We'd also like to let you know when we publish a new blog post or have some great news to share.