CasaSugar

Cool Idea: Dish Towel Curtain

CasaSugar — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 12:00:52 -0700

I spotted this image in the portfolio of British photographer Polly Wreford and am utterly charmed. Some clever crafter has created a curtain from a hodgepodge of white or white and blue dish towels. Of course, this idea won't work in all homes, but I think it has a quaint country cottage look that would be endearing in a kitchen. Even the most amateur sewers can figure this one out, and dish towels sell for practically pennies so it's also quite the economical solution. And, the thick, absorptive textiles do a great job of keeping out glare without blocking your natural light.
Source

Etsy Find: Do the Dishes Tea Towel

CasaSugar — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 04:30:48 -0700

Sometimes we all just need a straight talkin' to. That's especially true when the pots and pans are piling up. So beyond a bit of Palmolive and some elbow grease, perhaps the answer is the Show Pony Do the Dishes Tea Towel ($20), a fair trade organic cotton towel with the kitchen commandment spelled out in screen printed stacks of dirty plates. Perhaps you're a gal who goes for the three-packs of striped dish towels from the grocery store, so this one may not be for you. But I love me some tea towels, and have an ever-growing collection, so you can bet your bottom dollar that this Show Pony piece will show up in my kitchen.

Etsy Find: Hearts Dishtowels

CasaSugar — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 09:30:11 -0800

Love Shack Month doesn't only apply to the bedroom or a romantic tablescape. You've got to have love in your kitchen, too. These Appetite Home Hearts Dishtowels ($12 for 2) are just the thing to get that fire burning in the cucina, emotionally speaking. They're 100 percent cotton and hand screenprinted with hearts in nontoxic red and pink inks, completely usable, and washable. A simple way to turn up the heat in your home. Just make sure not to scorch your dinner.

How-To: Clean Your Window Blinds and Shades

CasaSugar — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 10:00:52 -0800

As FotoFlat says, it's "2010, Y'all. Out with the old." It's nearly March already, so I hope you've gotten a start at cleansing your home of things you don't need and giving it a deep clean too. One area that's often overlooked, especially if you don't hire a cleaning service, is your window blinds and shades. Dust can collect there overnight, and they're bound to be covered in greasy fingerprints. So I figured I'd give you a little refresher on cleaning them.

Window Blinds:

Lay a towel down in your bathtub (for protection).
Remove your dusty aluminum or PVC blinds and place them in your tub.
Fill your tub up with warm soapy water - dish soap will do. Make sure to keep the roller mechanism dry, though!
Rinse with your shower head or a spongehead and shake the water off.
Rehang the blinds and let them air dry. You can place a towel underneath them to catch the water.

To learn how to clean your fabric shades, read more.

Fabric Shades:

Using your small brush attachment, gently vacuum your fabric shades or blinds.
If any spots remain, test clean them in an inconspicuous place using an upholstery cleaner (like a spray). Let dry.
If the colors haven't bled or faded, spot clean the dirty spots. Fini!

Cool Idea: Bookshelves in the Bathroom

CasaSugar — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 08:00:06 -0800

Who says bookshelves have to be reserved for books? In this bathroom, Ikea's Bergsbo Bookshelf ($249) is used to organize pretty towels, linens, and other bathroom necessities.

You can use bookshelves to organize a number of objects, in any room in the house. Use them to display pretty serving dishes in your kitchen, next to a few favorite cookbooks, or add one to the entryway to showcase favorite hats while providing a landing strip for mail, keys, and bags.

Do you display anything on your bookshelves besides books? Tell me about it in the comments.

Source

How-To: Get the Red Out

CasaSugar — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 07:00:36 -0800

As we get closer to the holiday season, you can virtually guarantee that all of the festivities and merry making will lead to a red wine stain or two. But don't worry, you can usually combat that stain, especially if you act fast. Learn how to get the red out when you read more.

First, make sure to blot (not rub or scrub) the stain with paper towels. However, if the fabric is "dry clean only," skip this step and get it to the cleaners posthaste.
Position a dry washcloth between the layers of the fabric (such as the front and back of a blouse) to prevent staining on the back of the material.
Mix one teaspoon of laundry soap or dish soap and one cup hydrogen peroxide in a small bowl. Dip a sponge in the bowl, and gently blot the stain.
Review and follow any special washing directions for the type of fabric.
If the fabric is machine washable, wash in cool water and air dry.
If not, wash by hand with a mild detergent.

Etsy Finds: Terrific Tea Towels

CasaSugar — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 12:00:44 -0700

I'm a huge fan of tea towels. They're so versatile that I use them for everything from drying dishes to covering a batch of cookies to napkin substitutes. I like them even more when they come with a cute design, like all of these great towels I've found on Etsy.

View Slideshow ›

Casa Quickie: Put Your Veggie Oil to Work

CasaSugar — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 14:00:02 -0700

If your vegetable oil thinks it can get away with only working in the kitchen, you better tell it to think again. Veggie oil isn't only good for cooking: you can also use it to remove adhesive left from sticky labels (or the stickers themeselves) on anything around the house. Just drop a bit of oil onto a paper towel or a tea towel and give the adhesive a good rub. If the item you're working on is washable, rinse it with a bit of soap and water. If not, just dampen a tea towel and use a drop of dish soap, then wipe away the oil and adhesive with the cloth. Bye-bye sticky stuff!
Source

How-To: Remove Red Wine Stains

CasaSugar — Thu, 07 May 2009 08:00:28 -0700

Sometimes you can get away with treating stains at a later date, but when it comes to red wine stains, it's best to treat the spill immediately. If you find yourself with a ring of shiraz on your favorite white tablecloth, or a drip of pinot noir on a beautiful blouse, take these steps as soon as possible. I'll tell you how to banish stubborn red wine stains when you read more.

First, make sure to blot (not rub or scrub) the stain with paper towels. However, if the fabric is "dry clean only," skip this step and get it to the cleaners posthaste.
Position a dry washcloth between the layers of the fabric (such as the front and back of a blouse) to prevent staining on the back of the material.
Mix one teaspoon of laundry soap or dish soap and one cup hydrogen peroxide in a small bowl. Dip a sponge in the bowl, and gently blot the stain.
Review and follow any special washing directions for the type of fabric.
If the fabric is machine washable, wash in cool water and air dry.
If not, wash by hand with a mild detergent.

Source

How-To: Clean Out Your Refrigerator

CasaSugar — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 10:00:18 -0800

Another year, another resolution. It's hard to eat healthy when your refrigerator is stocked with temptation. And it's hard to get off on the right foot with any resolution when your home base is a mess. So, it's time that we all get a fresh start this year with a clean fridge. You may think that the task only requires a dose of motivation, but there's a method to this cleanliness, and I'm going to enlighten you with it. To learn the steps to a cleaner new year, read more.

To begin, clean your kitchen counter and sink and remove everything from your countertops.
Take out your trash, and put a fresh bag in your garbage can.
Put any dirty dishes in the dishwasher and turn it on, or wash them by hand. Unload your dishes and put them where they belong: out of sight!
Turn off your refrigerator and unplug it.
Now, on to the real work. Begin with your freezer. If you have an ice maker, toss all your ice and wash the ice bin by hand. If you have ice trays, toss the ice and put your trays in the dishwasher. If you have neither, get yourself some ice trays!
Toss everything in your freezer except unopened boxes of frozen food. If you haven't eaten your frozen leftovers by now, you never will. If you have curbside composting with your garbage service, you can compost your food and even paper towels, instead of throwing it all in the trash. If you have a backyard compost pile, only place fruits and veggie-based foods in it.
Put the keepers on your kitchen counter.
On to the fridge. Work your way down starting from the top shelf and toss all of your leftovers. Rinse all your Tupperware and other storage containers and put them in the dishwasher.
Turn your dishwasher on.
One shelf at a time, pull every food product out of your fridge, tossing or composting it if it's expired or the sell by date isn't within the last two weeks. Put the keepers on your kitchen counter.
Apply the last two steps to the refrigerator door and any bins you have in your fridge.
Fill your sink with water and a good dose of dishwashing liquid.
Soak each refrigerator shelf in your sink for a delicate few one at a time. Scrub it well with a sponge. Shake dry. Spray it with glass cleaner, wipe, and let dry. Continue with each shelf. And remember, you can also clean with vinegar.
Spray the interior walls of your refrigerator and freezer and their doors with Clorox Greenworks and scrub your heart out.
Now, clean your vegetable bins by soaking and sponging them, and then spraying them with your Greenworks as well. Let dry.
Now, replace the shelves and bins.
Replace your food to your fridge and freezer, keeping them organized with some system.
Remove your ice trays from your dishwasher, fill them, and place them in the freezer.
Unload the rest of your dishwasher.
Make a list of what to buy now that I've made you toss everything.
Remove the Christmas cards from your fridge and store them. Toss or store any other paperwork on your fridge. Start fresh with a paper-free fridge, just magnets!
Wipe down the exterior of your fridge.
Now, have a glass of wine and relax.

Source