by Milcarsky's Staff | Jul 30, 2019 | Appliances
For many families, the kitchen is the heart of their home. Itβs where food is cooked and enjoyed and where family and friends hang out. But the unfortunate fact remains that the kitchen is also one of the most dangerous places in the house. Here are three common kitchen hazards:
Sharp Objects
The number of sharp objects found in the kitchen seems endless.They include not only knives; forks; and kitchen shears; but also mandolines; pantry cutters; pizza wheels; the blades of blenders, garbage disposals, and food processors; skewers; and those corn-shaped picks that hold corn on the cob. The shards of dropped plates and glasses are a serious danger to bare feet. A lid from a freshly opened can could deliver a nasty cut. Even the edges of a counter can be sharp.
Mitigate the risk of injury by putting sharp things back in their place when theyβre not in use and never letting younger children handle them without supervision. Children and adults should know the proper way to handle sharp objects, according to Plan to Eat. You should also make sure that broken glass or ceramics should be swept up and never handled.
Hot Surfaces
Injuries caused by heat arenβt just limited to putting a hand on a hot stove burner, a hot oven grill or a hot pot or pan. Grease fires can shoot up in an instant. In some homes, the water that comes from the hot water faucet can cause injuries. According to GBW.Law, coffee makers contain scalding hot liquids that can result in life-altering injuries if spilled.
To lower the risk of injuries caused by heat, turn the handles of pots and pans inward so they arenβt bumped into or grabbed by curious children. If a pot or pan comes out of the oven, leave a dish towel on the handle or the lid to indicate that itβs hot. Donβt allow anything flammable near a heat source.
Hazardous Materials
Some cleansers kept in the kitchen are especially dangerous because they smell good to children and pets. One way to lower the risk of hazardous materials according to My Rolling Hills Farm is to keep them in a separate cabinet away from any food or cooking equipment and to put a lock on the cabinet doors where they’re kept. They must always be kept in their original container or in a container thatβs clearly marked.
The kitchen can be a scary place, but it shouldn’t be. Things that cut and slice, poison, and burn are everywhere. But a few simple precautions can make sure the kitchen remains the warm and welcoming place it was meant to be.
A great part of an inviting kitchen is new appliances. Check out our selection of cooking appliances today!
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 | Jul 19, 2019 | How To's
When should you renovate your home? The fact is, most remodeling projects and the costs associated with them tend to be seasonal. Hereβs the best time of the year to invest in materials to save money on design projects.Β
Spring: Outdoor Kitchen
Springtime is ripe with deals for outdoor kitchen remodels. As you gear up for backyard BBQs, consider equipping your outdoor space with the essentials to make al fresco dining more enjoyable. Keep in mind that the idea is to bring the entire dining experience outside. Accordingly, an outdoor kitchen should have all the conveniences of its indoor companion, including a stove and a refrigerator. Milcarskyβs Appliance Centre’ offers everything you need to design a fully functional outdoor kitchen. Prices for these luxury appliances start around $1,500 but the cost will depend heavily on the item and the number of pieces.Β
Summer: Bathroom
Take advantage of the bright sun and long daylight hours. In the summer, you can open the windows for ventilation and get more work done in natural light. On average, it costs between $1,250 and $3,500 to remodel a small bathroom. Look for deals for projects you can complete in less than a day or weekend. Simple projects like painting, replacing fixtures, and installing a new door cost significantly less while improving the look and feel of the space. If you are looking to change up the feel of your bathroom, changing your shower enclosure can provide a new aesthetic.
Fall: Indoor Kitchen
Cooking holiday meals can be downright chaotic if you have limited space, subpar appliances, or cabinet doors falling off the hinges. Fortunately, you will find fairly inexpensive kitchen furniture, cabinetry, and appliances when the leaves start to change colors. According to Fixr, most kitchen remodels run between $75 to $250 per square foot. You can cut these costs by taking an assessment of the space to determine what needs an immediate upgrade. The last thing you need is for appliances to malfunction in the middle of preparing your signature dish.Β
Winter: Laundry Room
Often laundry rooms come as an afterthought in home design. For this reason, they may lack the brightness and organizational space found in other rooms. Mills Custom Homes says that adding shelves, paint, or wallpaper can breathe fresh life into a laundry room, giving it character and additional utility for under $500.Β You can also change up your laundry sink if you are looking to improve the utility of your laundry room. If you tackle laundry room renovation in the winter, youβll be ready in time for spring cleaning. Avoid sticker shock and plan ahead. Otherwise you may put off renovations, which could lead to costly repairs.
by Milcarsky's Staff | Jun 29, 2019 | How To's
Many homeowners would like to upgrade their kitchens but believe they do not possess the funds necessary to do so. However, the kitchen you envision for your home won’t necessarily require a second mortgage on that home. The following ideas will allow you to update your kitchen without causing yourself financial strain.
Refinish the Walls
Sometimes all that is required to make your kitchen look brand-new and beautiful is a fresh coat of paint. You will need to scrub the walls of your kitchen to make sure all grease and food particles have been removed before trying to add paint to the surface. It would probably also be a good idea to do a little sanding before applying the primer. Don’t forget to tape around the perimeter of the area you wish to paint. In this case, you don’t want to color outside the lines.
Replace Your Countertops
If your kitchen countertops no longer match your vision for the space, they’ve become a problem to maintain or they’re too badly damaged, it’s probably time to replace them. Upgrading your countertops can wildly transform the look of your kitchen and even affect your home’s resale value. When comparing materials for your new countertops, consider not only their beauty and attributes but also how much effort it will take to maintain them. For example, marble or granite countertops will need to be polished from time to time. These materials also tend to be more expensive. Look into laminate, ceramic tile, engineered stone, or even wood instead.
Replace the Flooring
You can purchase many kitchen flooring materials such as vinyl, ceramic tile, cork, or laminate without breaking the budget you set for your renovation project. All of these options perform well in kitchens and are available in a variety of styles. Vinyl is particularly easy to install, and in many cases, it constitutes the most economical choice. Laminate is also a cheap option, but it’s not as durable as some other materials.
Refinish the Cabinets
Your kitchen can sometimes be upgraded substantially by simply refinishing the drawer fronts and cupboards. You can put the finishing touches on the project with new pulls and knobs. If the cupboards are not in very bad shape, you will only need a little paint or stain and some elbow grease. If they are in good shape but need a little more work, you can also reface them, which is much cheaper than replacing them entirely. Cabinets and drawers with more damage will require more attention. Homeowners often put off the kitchen upgrades they desire for fear that they won’t have enough money to complete the renovation. The four kitchen remodeling projects we’ve outlined here will provide you with a significant upgrade to your cooking space without breaking the bank. 
If you really want to make a practical and lasting impact on the functionality of your kitchen, itβs definitely worth it to invest in quality appliances. Visit Milcarskyβs Appliance Centre’ for ranges, cook-tops, and more! Milcarsky’s has been a Central Florida staple in the appliance business since 1985. We serve the Orlando, Tampa, Melbourne metro areas areas and beyond … There is no substituteΒ for experience!
by Milcarsky's Staff | Jun 17, 2019 | Appliances
Ask anyone who has ever gone through a kitchen fire, and they do will tell you that it is an extremely traumatic experience. Moreover, they will also tell you that it was completely unexpected. Indeed, no one starts cooking for their family thinking, βIβm about to have a kitchen fire that will destroy my wall or most of my kitchen.β However, it does happen. Thankfully, with a little bit of advance planning and some organization, there are a number of things you can do in order to guard against this happening to you.
Watch Out for Grease
Grease is very flammable, and it is a fire that can happen fairly quickly. The good news is that grease fires can be smothered fairly quickly as long as you know what you are doing. Obviously, throwing water on a grease fire is a big no-no. Instead, you should immediately turn off the heat source, and then quell the fire with a large lid.
Invest in Fire-Retardant Materials
One of the best ways to avoid or to minimize a fire would be through surrounding yourself with fire-retardant materials. One example of a substance that resists burning is the roof of your home. For example, homes with metal roofs tend to fare better against fires than homes with more conventional roofs. Moreover, simply using fire-resistant cookware will go a long way to keeping flames from spreading throughout your kitchen and then your home.
Donβt Leave Your Heat Source
When you begin cooking your meal, it can be tempting to go and briefly check your ball game or to watch the last part of your favorite television show. Donβt do it! About 10% of homesΒ were estimated to have experienced kitchen fires. Leaving your stove unattended for even five minutes can easily have a fire on your hands that could spark travel literally anywhere.
Keep Certain Items Away From the Stove
You might be surprised at just what is considered flammable, so you should do your best to make sure that everything is kept away from the burners on the stove. Items like paper towels, dish towels, potholders, and other combustibles could easily cause a house fire. Kitchen fires are an unfortunate incident in many households. However, if you follow these tips, you will significantly decrease your chances of falling prone to these terrible kitchen fires. Safety counts in the kitchen!
Many people who are worried about kitchen fires choose to use electric range tops, but if you want something different, Milcarskyβs Appliance Center has many other options as well!
by Milcarsky's Staff | May 31, 2019 | Design
You might not think about your kitchen as a seat of the latest and greatest technologies. Instead, todayβs kitchen devices and developing technologies have merged to contribute to improved safety in both residential and commercial kitchens. If you are planning to remodel or renovate your kitchen soon, look into adding a smart refrigerator, an induction oven with range and a home automation system. You can pick up one of the improved thermometers today to make an initial step toward safer food preparation.
Smart Refrigerators
You might think it sounds odd at first blush, but a smart fridge can help keep you safe at home. It monitors what you put in the refrigerator and lets you know when food has expired. A smart refrigerator can connect directly to your food delivery services so that you can order your groceries from the fridgeβs door.
The other intelligence in a smart fridge is its reduced electrical requirements. The 1980s fridge consumed a whopping 1,278 kilowatt-hours per year. Todayβs refrigerator only consumes about 498 kilowatt-hours per year. They provide more storage, too. In the 1980s, a refrigerator provided about 19.6 cubic feet of storage space. Now you get 21.9 cubic feet.
The latest devices include dynamic power controls to automatically reduce energy use during peak times of the day. It does not affect food safety, but it does save you money on your monthly energy bills. These controls work with home automation systems to save money and improve home safety.
Home Automation
Home automation technology has made residential kitchens safer. You can automate door and window locks, the interior temperature settings, the lights, the coffee maker, and the oven. Most automation providers have monthly plans that include alarm monitoring. That means you can use the same system that monitors your home security system to remotely turn on your kitchen lights and get coffee brewing in the morning.
Induction Cooking
The wonders of induction cooking will help you shave a few minutes off of the time it takes to make dinner. The real benefit is the enhanced safety. Induction heats the cooking pot by transferring heat through the glass top of the oven/range. The difference between it and a normal oven is the induction oven requires a pot for the burner to activate. If you turn on the burner on an induction oven but forget to put a pot on the burner, it will not heat up. The burner stays off until you place a pan or pot on it. That means if you turn it on and forget, you do not have to worry about accidentally touching a hot burner.
Improved Thermometers and Sensors
The latest in kitchen technology has also improved the essential thermometer and its sensors. Whether youβre cooking at home or in a restaurant environment, a cooking thermometer lets you check that food has been cooked to a safe temperature. Todayβs thermometers range in types including bimetal, digital thermistor, digital thermocouple, glass column and infrared. The latest designs provide enhanced durability and a quick but accurate reading in about six to eight seconds β some in as little as two seconds. Some devices can be left in the food while they cook. The latest designs are easy to clean and can measure food temperature to ensure the proper temperature has been reached to kill bacteria and germs.
Blockchain Technology
The underlying technology of cryptocurrency, the blockchain, has already added to the efficiency and safety of food supply chains. It records the identity and location of a food item digitally. Food gets tagged as itβs picked so that the manufacturer can track its trip from farm to table. This provides a permanent, unchangeable record for each food item. Knowing its origin, processing and movement lets consumers, retailers and the government better track food safety.
As technology evolves, it can keep consumers safer. Nowhere is this truer than in the kitchen. Your next remodeling project will provide numerous opportunities to make your kitchen a more efficient and safer room for family meals and gathering with friends. Update your kitchen with a smart refrigerator, home automation system, induction oven and range, and better thermometers. Then enjoy greater food safety at the grocery store and in restaurants through blockchain tracking.
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 | Apr 22, 2019 | Appliances
Your kitchen is the heart of your home, so you should love spending time there. Therefore, it’s worth investing in tools that will help you make the most of this space. With the right accessories and appliances, your kitchen can become one of your favorite rooms in your house.
A Pot Filler Faucet
For a handy second faucet, place a pot filler over your stove. One of the most obvious uses for this type of faucet is for filling pots on the stove, especially large stock pots. That’s not all the things you can do with a pot filler, though. You can also fill flower vases, water bottles, your coffeemaker, a tea kettle, and more.
A Pull-Out Spice Rack
Have you ever grabbed one bottle out of your spice cabinet and knocked over four others in the process? If so, you would benefit from the convenience of a pull-out spice rack. It will put all your spices within easy view so that you can easily grab one at a time. This kind of spice rack will also save you cabinet space. In fact, you can install a narrow spice rack in what would otherwise be wasted space in your cabinet layout.
A French Door Refrigerator
For a modern kitchen design, look no further than the sleek look of a French door refrigerator. Not only does this style look nice, but it can also help you organize your storage space since you’ll have plenty of door racks as well as spacious interior shelving. Purchasing a new refrigerator may also save you on energy costs for years to come. A French door unit can be particularly beneficial for energy savings since you can leave one door shut while quickly grabbing items out of the refrigerator.
A Built-In Electric Cooktop
There’s no fixed rule that stoves and ovens always have to go together. You can increase the flexibility of your kitchen layout by installing a built-in electric cooktop and a separate oven. Cooktops give your home a contemporary look. Even better, their smooth surfaces are easy to clean. You could even include your cooktop in your kitchen island layout. That way, you can see what’s going on around you and converse with your family as you work at the stove.
These four upgrades will take your kitchen from good to fantastic. You’ll find that they improve both the convenience and the appearance of your 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.
