by Milcarsky's Staff | Mar 17, 2021 | How To's
Adding new tile can do wonders for your home’s design and resale value. While tiling a floor might look complicated, it can be straightforward so long as you follow basic advice. Once you are done reading, you will be prepared to replace your kitchen’s tile floor.
Remove the Existing Tiles
It is possible to perform a dustless tile removal yourself, though having the right tools and proper protective gear is an absolute must. Get a hammer and chisel or pry bar for your tools. Then you should locate a starting point in the floor such as a bare edge.
Use your tools to pry up the first tile square. The process from here should be fairly straightforward. Throw away the tile squares as you work on them. Make sure not to fill it up to high, or the bag may break or become too heavy to move.
Preparing the Floor
Now that you have pried the original tile floor up, you have to prepare the base floor. This will require a bit more elbow grease, but it is essential to make sure your new tile lasts a long time. Take care to clean any residue on the base floor.
That’s not all you need to do, however. Since you won’t get a better opportunity to inspect the base floor, make sure it is sturdy and doesn’t need replacing. You should also remove any nails that are sticking out of the floor. You want the base floor as smooth as possible for your new installation. This is arguably the most important part of the entire process.
Laying the New Tile
Now for the fun part. Gather the new pieces of tile from your storage, and get ready to lay them down. Make sure you bought enough tile for the job. To do this, measure your kitchen’s width and length to get an estimate (buy a little extra just in case).
Just like you did when removing your old tile, select an effective starting point for laying down the new tile. Depending on the brand you bought, you may need to apply mortar and insulation. When it’s all set down, apply grout, and wait roughly 20 minutes. Then apply a sealant to the edges of the tile.
Voila! You have an excellent starting point for installing your new tile floor. Make sure you choose a tile that will age well and that complements your appliances, countertops, and tables. It not only will look great, but it will feel good too.
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by Milcarsky's Staff | Jun 4, 2020 | How To's
Painting or repainting your kitchen walls can be an exciting and fun process. However, there are many questions you have to ask yourself and many tough decisions to make before you can start actually painting.
Choosing a Type of Paint
Choosing a type of paint can be tricky, and color is not the only factor to take into account—for example, you can choose oil-based or latex paint. Used for both interior and exterior painting projects, latex paint is a popular option. It is easy to work with and dries quickly—a good option for painting walls and ceilings. Oil-based paint yellows over time and is worse for the environment. However, oil-based paint can be more durable than latex paint. Both kinds of paint come with pros and cons; weigh the positives and negatives when deciding which type of paint to use for your project.
Choosing a Finish
Next, you need to choose a finish. There are many types of finishes which work well for interior walls, but not all work equally well for kitchen walls. For example, although a flat finish is great for some interior rooms, it does not clean well and is therefore not ideal for kitchens or bathrooms. Semi-gloss and high-gloss finishes tend to be better options for kitchens because they are easier to clean.
Semi-gloss and high-gloss finishes have higher sheen levels. The higher the sheen level, the higher the shine and durability. However, durability does come with costs: for example, gloss finishes reflect light, which can accentuate even minor flaws in the paint.
Coordinating Colors
Another important thing to consider when choosing your new paint is coordinating colors between the cabinets, countertops, finishings, flooring, and walls. It could be a good idea to stick to a specific color scheme for the entirety of the room. Choose multiple paint colors, then test them on the walls of your kitchen in order to see how different colors and shades go together with the rest of your room. In addition, consider whether or not each color works well with the color of adjacent rooms.
Selecting a new paint for your kitchen walls can be fun, but it can also be complicated. If you follow these steps and keep in mind the benefits of different kinds of paint, different finishes, and coordinating colors, the process will become far less complex. Choosing the right paint can be a breeze.
For everything else you need in your kitchen, we’ve got you covered. Take a look at all the cooking appliances we have available!
by Milcarsky's Staff | May 1, 2020 | Appliances, How To's
The kitchen is an area of the home that should be cleaned quite regularly. Since you’re doing a lot of gathering and cooking here, it’s important that you don’t have germs and bacteria-harboring here. If you’re not a fan of using harmful chemical cleaning agents in your home, there are a number of safer alternatives that you can use. They will do the job just as well, but you won’t be inhaling anything that could be carcinogenic.
The Sink
A kitchen sink can get pretty grimy. After all, this is where you do your dishes, wash your dirty hands and handle raw ingredients. Depending on the type of material that your skin is made out of, there are some natural methods of cleaning you can use. Stainless steel can be quickly cleaned with a baking soda paste. The abrasive nature of the baking soda will quickly clean off any caked up messes. According to FirstKey Homes, if you’re worried about a clogged drain, pouring half a cup of salt down the drain followed by hot tap water can break down clogs in the sink caused by fat, oil, and grease.
The Stove and Oven
Even a brand new stove and oven can quickly get messy. If you’re someone who likes to cook, there are likely baked-on messes inside your oven and on your stovetop. A stovetop with coils can be taken apart. You can clean each part with soap and water. Reassemble when everything is clean and dry. A flat top stove is also easy to clean. Wet the top of the stove. Sprinkle a little bit of baking soda on it. Use a soapy sponge to move the baking soda around. Leave it on the stovetop for 15 minutes before wiping it clean. It might take a few times rinsing with clean water to remove all the soap and baking soda.
Flooring
If you have vinyl flooring in your kitchen, this is one of the easiest surfaces to clean. Use a sponge or rag with soapy water to wipe everything down. You can use a dry cloth to absorb any excess moisture. Wood or laminate flooring should be wiped down with a dry cloth regularly. Tile is very durable. According to Rainbow International Restoration, you can clean it with a diluted mixture of vinegar and water.
The kitchen is a common focal point in a home. If you want your kitchen to shine while paying attention to the health of you and your family members, think about alternatives to harsh cleaning products. There are plenty of ways that you can change up your cleaning routine.
If you’re ready to update your kitchen with some new appliances, we have a great selection! Take a look at all the cooking appliances we have to offer!
by Milcarsky's Staff | Apr 8, 2020 | Design, How To's
More and more people are taking an active approach to decrease their personal impact on the environment. One way to do this is to change the way you do things in the kitchen. While all kitchens will continue to register some impact on the environment, there are a number of steps you can take to minimize these effects and help to conserve the global environment for future generations.
Reduce Your Water Usage
You can conserve water in the kitchen by making a few small changes. One suggestion is not starting the dishwasher until there are enough dishes to make a full load. You may also want to refrain from thawing frozen foods with water. You can leave these foods in your refrigerator overnight and achieve the same results.
New faucets are also something to consider if you want to save water in your cooking space. There are several benefits of installing new faucets that can help make your kitchen more sustainable. Some new faucets will help with water usage by reducing the maximum flow of the faucet. A new faucet will also eliminate any drip that is present with your kitchen sink that might be wasting water.
Use Natural Cleaning Products
Green cleaning products are available for you to clean your kitchen without the use of chemicals that can harm you, your family, and the environment. These cleaners are made using substances that are nontoxic and biodegradable. Sustainable manufacturing practices are also used in the making of green cleaning products. Other benefits of using natural cleaning products include better air quality in your kitchen and support for an anti-bacterial environment.
Use the Whole Plant
It is possible that you are one of the countless people who cut the greens from their beets or chops off the top of a celery stalk before eating it. There is no reason to throw these plant parts into the trash. If you do not wish to eat these parts of the plant, they can serve a variety of other purposes.
The number of ways you can productively use vegetable scraps is seemingly endless. Some suggestions include making vegetable stock, creating body scrubs, and using them in compost.
Transitioning to a green kitchen is a solid way to do your part to protect the environment from the burden placed on it by human beings. If you are unsure where to begin this transition, the three suggestions explained in the article are a great place to start.
Looking for energy efficient appliances for your home? Browse options here.
