CasaSugar

Steal of the Day: Turquoise Cleaning Bucket

CasaSugar — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 08:30:28 -0700

"Clean house" is always the last thing to be checked off my to-do list. But, that might not be the case if I were the proud owner of the Conran Shop Turquoise Cleaning Bucket ($29.50, reduced from $59). Made of iron coated in a vibrant shade of blue, the durable bucket will last until your cleaning days are over - which will be never. OK, maybe it won't make scrubbing my floors more pleasurable, but it'll lessen the blow a bit, reassuring me that I look good while I'm at it.

Casa Shops: Alice Supply Co.

CasaSugar — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 10:00:39 -0700

There are two things I know to be true: I'm a sucker for good packaging (and color), and my cleaning supplies rarely see the light of day. The answer to and beguiling lovechild of these truths: Alice Supply Co. In hopes of giving mundane household items a little personality, making chores a little less laborious, and ending "the humble dustpan's days of being shoved away in a closet," former surfwear industry execs Maria Barnes and Raili Clasen founded Alice, aptly named after The Brady Bunch's witty housekeeper.

Not only have they infused sunny, citrus colors like clementine and lime into their essential household tools, as well as summery stripes, cordial camo, and fresh faux bois, but they've also used classic shapes and quality, durable materials like metal and wood. While you'll find plenty of lucky retailers peddling Alice products around the country, you can also order a sponge set, dust pan and brush, plunger, toolbox, garden hose, and bucket online - and at friendly prices. I'm convinced, and if housekeeping is anything like their hip lifestyle photos suggest, you can call me Alice.

Cool Idea: Galvanized Steel Instead of Shower Tile

CasaSugar — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 12:00:00 -0700

Country Living has an inspiring article about how one of its contributing editors (also a carpenter) transformed his dated, minuscule bathroom into a seriously glamorous one for only $1,000. The photos definitely wowed me, but I have a soft spot for clean, white rooms, especially those with feminine accents. What really impressed me was his innovative use of sheets of corrugated, galvanized metal as a tub surround instead of traditional shower tile. The sheets totaled only $21, and the only other supplies he needed to install it were an enamel finish, roofing screws, and caulk, for about $10.
The juxtaposition of the frilly, ruffled shower curtain and crystal chandelier with the galvanized sheets and bucket keeps it all from looking too industrial, and fittingly, gives it a country vibe.
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How-To: Clean Wicker Outdoor Furniture

CasaSugar — Tue, 05 May 2009 11:00:15 -0700

Now that the weather is looking up, I'm sure many of you are taking advantage of your outdoor spaces. Before you throw a barbecue, make sure your outdoor furniture is looking spic and span. Every type of furniture requires its own cleaning routine. Wicker furniture is not actually meant to be used outdoors because it's really vulnerable to moisture, wind, and rain. But a lot of people seem to own it, so I've got just the tips you need to keep it so fresh and so clean. To hear them, read more.

You'll need a sponge, a bit of wood oil soap, a scrub brush, a duster, a bucket, a hose, and water. Murphy Oil Soap is a tried-and-true eco-friendly product. It's biodegradable, free from detergents, ammonia, and bleach, and its packaging is recyclable.

First, dust it with a feather duster or even your vacuum with a brush attachment to get tough dirt out.
Then, mix 1/2 cup of wood oil soap to one gallon of warm water.
Dip a sponge in the solution, and then wipe down the entire piece of furniture.
Next, use your scrub brush dipped in the solution to get into all of the crevices.
Then, rinse it down with a hose and let it dry in the sun completely.
Maintain its good condition by hosing it down and drying it every few weeks.

Casa Beta: Method's Le Scrub

CasaSugar — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 09:00:17 -0700

While I usually clean my bathroom (or, ahem, I should say, my husband cleans the bathroom) with vinegar, baking soda, and Bon Ami, I decided it was time for a switch. And to be completely honest, this switch was pressured by the hubz's complaints about the overwhelming vinegar smell in our small bathroom space during cleaning. And I agree, it's definitely a pungent scent. So, when Method sent over some cleaning products for me to test, I immediately grabbed the bathroom products. I started off testing Le Scrub ($6), a mild abrasive cleanser.

I needed to use the Le Scrub because I'd dyed a silk dress in a bucket, which I'd placed in the bathtub. And when I poured the dye water out, the tub was stained with the fuchsia dye. It looked positively crime scene-like in our porcelain tub, since the bottom and sides of the tub were stained and speckled a reddish pink. The hubz was not pleased. "Great, we have a pink tub," he groused.

Thus, the dye situation led me to put the Le Scrub to a stringent test. To see how it did, read more.

I'm not going to lie to you: this job took a little elbow grease. However, I'd much rather put a little oomph in my scrubbing than breathe in bleach! And wow, does the Le Scrub smell good. It uses eucalyptus oil for its scent, and it smells absolutely dreamy. I could've sworn I was on a hike in a local park's eucalyptus grove instead of in my pink-stained bathroom.

My method with this Method product was to immediately scrub with the Le Scrub after I'd poured out the dye water. Then, I sprayed the product over the bottom and sides of the tub and gently dry-scrubbed the product onto the porcelain. I let this sit overnight, and scrubbed it out the next morning. I doubt that you'd have to employ the same technique on a normal, dingy tub, but for a big job like this, it worked splendidly.

Method's site reveals that none of its products use nasty cleaning agents such as phthalates, parabens, ammonia, or triclosan, and the Le Scrub's ingredients seem pretty natural to me. I definitely liked this product, and while I'm a pretty staunch supporter of vinegar and baking soda, I'll be restocking Le Scrub for dealing with the tub in the future.

Source

How-To: Clean Your Fireplace

CasaSugar — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 05:30:00 -0800

For me, the rule of thumb has always been that if I use my fireplace at least four times a year, I'll clean it at least once a year. I tend it to use it more often that, so I clean it more. It's not the most exciting task, but that's just the price you pay for enjoying a crackling fire. Ideally, it's best to clean it when you won't be using it again soon (i.e. before and after the Winter season). To learn how to clean out your fireplace, read more.

First of all, don't even think about cleaning your fireplace until all of its ashes have cooled - give it a day, at least. I'd also recommend putting on a mask before you put your face near all of that ash. This job can get messy, so lay down some newspapers in front of the fireplace to keep the ashes contained.
To begin, open the damper and use a stiff bristle brush to briskly and strongly clean soot and creosote buildup out of it. Creosote is the dark residue on the inside of your chimney and back of your fireplace.
Now, remove ashes from the hearth with a broom and dustpan or shovel into a bucket with a lid, and then vacuum the hearth to get rid of fine bits. Let the ash sit for a few days to make sure any live coals die down before you get rid of them.
Put your fire grate and andirons on your newspapers and scrub off loose residue with a wire brush.
Place your fire grate and andirons on an old towel and wipe them down with a rag. Wipe them down gently with steel wool dipped in metal polish, then wipe off the polish with a rag. Once dry, spray with a vinegar and water solution, and wipe clean. Then let dry.
Now, spray your vinegar and water solution onto your fireplace bricks, and let it soak. Then, use your stiff bristle brush to give it a good scrub. Repeat until clean.
Rinse everything with warm water and let dry. Vacuum the surround of your fireplace, and toss your ashes. If you have only wood ashes, you can compost them, but do not compost Duraflame ashes.

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How-To: Cleaning a Crystal Chandelier

CasaSugar — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 09:00:45 -0800

One should expect a crystal chandelier like this Neiman Marcus Sterling Chandelier ($1255) to shine like the top of the Chrysler building after you've purchased it, but even beauty queens need a good rinse every once in a while. Since you've invested so much in it, it's important to care for your crystal chandelier in the correct way. Think of it like child-rearing! To learn how to bring back your crystal chandelier's original sparkle, read more.

First things first. If the crystals on your light fixture are removable, gently remove them and place them on a couple layers of soft towels on a flat surface. If the crystals are different shapes and sizes, and you don't think you'll remember their order, take a digital photo of it to record it before you remove them.
Then, line a bucket or your sink with a few more layers of towels and gently wash each crystal with a mixture of lukewarm water and gentle dishwashing liquid, rinse, and dry with a clean white rag. Hold each crystal into the light to make sure you haven't left any spots.
Now, to clean the arms of the chandelier itself, first gently dust it once with a feather duster. Then dip a clean rag in a solution of one part hot water, one part white vinegar. Gently wipe down the arms with the cloth, wring it out, and dip it in the solution again. Repeat these three steps until it sparkles! Then, let it air dry.
Next, hang the crystals back in their original places. To prevent leaving fingerprints on your freshly cleaned chandelier, use a cloth to or a pair of gloves to hang them. Fini!

Casa Verde: Natural House-Cleaning Hints

CasaSugar — Thu, 20 Sep 2007 07:36:55 -0700

I know that a lot of you, like me, are making the transition to eco-friendly cleaning products, since most over-the-counter cleaners are bad for both the environment and your health. Of course, there are a lot of great eco-friendly brands out there, but you can also clean your house with ordinary and non-toxic substances you probably already have lying around.

Thanks to Mallomar for pointing me to this list of natural household cleaning tips from holistic health guru Dr. Andrew Weil. I can't wait to try some of these; I especially love the idea of replacing my bleach-based mildew remover with grapefruit-seed oil. Check out the list and tell me if you've tried any of these when you read more

Baking soda: An all-purpose cleaner; especially effective on glass coffee pots and glassware; removes red-wine stains from carpeting. A paste (made with water) can shine stainless steel and silver; the paste can also remove tea stains from cups and saucers. Make a paste with a castille- or vegetable-based liquid soap and a drop of essential oil (tea tree or lavender) to clean sinks, countertops, toilets and tubs. Pour 1 cup down the sink to clear a clogged drain, followed by 3 cups of boiling water.
Boiling water: Use weekly to flush drains and avoid clogs.
Coarse salt: Cleans copper pans and scours cookware. Sprinkle salt on fresh spills in the oven, then wipe off. Sprinkle salt on rust stains and squeeze a lime or lemon over them, let sit for several hours and wipe off.
Essential oils: Mix lavender or tea tree essential oils with water and spray on kitchen or bathroom surfaces for an environmentally and people-friendly antibacterial spray.
Grapefruit-seed extract: Add a few drops to water in a spray bottle for an odorless way to kill mold and mildew.
Lemon juice: Use as a bleaching agent on clothing, and to remove grease from your stove and countertops. Add 2 Tbsp lemon juice to 10 drops of (real) lemon oil and a few drops of jojoba oil to clean and polish wood furniture.
Olive oil: Use to lubricate and polish wood furniture (three parts olive oil to one part vinegar; or two parts olive oil with one part lemon juice).
Potatoes: Halved potatoes can remove rust from baking pans or tinware - follow with a salt scrub or dip the potato in salt before scrubbing.
Tea tree oil: Can be added to vinegar/water solutions for its antibacterial properties. Use it to kill mold and mildew, and on kitchen and bathroom surfaces instead of chemical products. Add 50 drops to a bucket of water to clean countertops and tile floors.
Toothpaste (white, plain): Cleans silver; can remove water stains on wood furniture - dab on, allow it to dry and wipe off.
White vinegar: Cleans linoleum floors and glass (from windows to shower doors) when mixed with water and a little liquid soap (castille or vegetable). Cuts grease and removes stains; removes soap scum and cleans toilets (add a bit of baking soda if you like). Pour down drains once a week for antibacterial cleaning. Add to water in a spray bottle to kill mold and mildew.

How-To: Assemble A DIY Home Cleaning Kit

CasaSugar — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 11:15:44 -0700

Do you love to keep your house so fresh and so clean, but don't like to use lots of toxic cleaners to get your home sparkling? Good news - you can use the same natural ingredients that your great-great-grandparents used to get their homes clean. Considering that DIY natural cleaners are up to 1/10 the cost of conventional cleaners, you'll also be saving a lot of money. Best of all, these cleaners are safer to use around children and pets than conventional cleaners, and won't compromise your home's indoor air quality. Take a look to see what supplies you'll need for your home-cleaning toolkit. And stay tuned, because I'll be bringing you a bunch of cleaning "recipes" to use.

Supplies

Washing soda
Baking soda
White distilled vinegar
Apple cider vinegar
Borax
A good liquid soap or detergent
Tea tree oil
lemon juice
olive oil
essential oils (for scenting your cleaner)
Spray Bottles
Glass Jars
carrying kit/bucket

You can assemble these ingredients yourself. Take a look at my widget to get an idea of where to buy some of these products.

Source

Ask Casa: Decorate My New Orleans Living Room!

CasaSugar — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 07:45:46 -0700

Hi CasaSugar,
I need your help! I just moved into a one-bedroom in New Orleans, and will be living on my own for the first time. My bedroom is furnished but in my living room, I have a television and TV stand, and that's it. So, I'm basically starting from scratch! Can you offer me some suggestions for my living room?
My style is classy, urban, girlie, and colorful, but not outrageously so. I want comfortable, welcoming furniture, not like "sleek" or anything. And, I want it to look mature! I like dark wood, and maybe dulled blues, greens, reds, or yellows for fabrics, so the space has color but isn't too bright. I also want to get cool New Orleans artwork for walls, so maybe if the color of some of my furniture can bring out some of those colors, that'd be nice. I'd also like a pull-out couch for guests. My budget: as cheap as I can get for good quality furniture; I am a recent grad, after all. Do you have any thoughts? Anything would help!
Thanks,
Brooke

To hear my thoughts and see my suggestions, read more.

Hi Brooke,
Thanks for thinking of me! I love starting from scratch: think of all the possibilities! It's hard for me to get a clear idea of your style, but I am going to try my best. I get the impression that you want a grown-up apartment. The best way to do that is to make conscious decisions about what you bring into your home, so everything looks composed. Beyond that, add original artwork, and invest in at least some good quality furniture.

I built a living room for you from the sofa up. I chose the Macy's Montreal Sofa in pear, which has plush cushions making it refreshingly casual, and warm but not overwhelming in color. It's also on sale, and available as a sleeper if you so choose. Next, an Ikea Ektorop Tullsta Chair is comfortable and classic but inexpensive. Try a Bemz slipcover with it to make it look more polished. Then, the Brocade Home Silhouette Side Table in Coffee is dark wood, as you like, and has nice feminine curves to give your apartment a bit of girliness.

A woven screen from World Market is inexpensive, and will add texture and an architectural element to your apartment. The Soho Bookcase, also from World Market, is also affordable and dark wood, and its clean lines will give your place a mature, urban feel. You can find a wing chair much like the Anthropologie Astrid Chair at a local flea market or antique shop (New Orleans has many) to add comfortable seating; have it reupholstered in a subtle botanical pattern with subdued colors, or a solid fabric with a nice texture. A low, round coffee table like the West Elm Angled Leg Coffee Table is welcoming and cozy.

Next, I chose a coordinating rug with other "dulled" but warm colors and a floral pattern for femininity, the Ballard Designs Calabria Rug. If it's out of your price range, a quick glance at ShopStyle will show you plenty more to coordinate (or check out these). Set a mother-of-pearl table lamp on a clean-lined Parsons side table in dark wood for a girl-y/urban mix. Long, silk or velvet drapes will finish everything off with sophistication. Then, add a mix of glass vases around the room (filled with fresh flowers, of course). Find a nice silver tray, wine bucket, corkscrew, and matching colors to create your very own bar; you do live in New Orleans, after all.

Then, pick up some original artwork. Check out some local antique print shops, and frame a lithograph of old New Orleans. Invest in a George Rodrigue or a James Michalopoulos (or his Jackson Square knock-offs), and a more affordable Simon Hardeveld. Restrain yourself from decorating with Mardi Gras beads and don't go overboard with the fleur-de-lys. For more accents, check out Hazelnut on Magazine Street.

Hope that helps!
Cheers,
Casa

Montreal Sofa - $999.00	Calabria Rug - $79.00
Ektorp Tullsta Chair - $149.00	Silhouette Side Table - Coffee - $199.00
Mika Woven Screen - $129.99	Soho Bookcase - $269.99
Astrid Chair, Snapdragon - $1,498.00	Angled-Leg Coffee Table - $299.00
Adjustable Metal Floor Lamp - $149.00	Chiara Table Lamp - $69.99
Parsons Cube Side Table - $169.00	Tyler Velvet Queen Sleeper Sofa - $1,299.00
Chemistry Lab Vases - $18.00	Tall/Wide Flat Vases - $5.95
Maxfield Serving Tray - $69.00	Luxe Ruffled Serving Bowl - $49.95
Speckled Grouse Decoy Print - $220.00	Black Grouse Decoy Print - $220.00
Simrin Surya Coasters - $44.00	Screwpull by Le Creuset Lever Wine Opener Gift Set - $79.98
Monogrammed Wine Bucket - $62.00	Silk Dupioni Window Panel - $59.00