Sherri's Helpful Hints

Keeping Tile Tidy

Many people don’t realize this, but the secret to great looking tiles is great looking grout. Grouts are porous and, as a result, they easily absorb grease, dirt and lime scale. Spillages such as wine, lemonades or greasy substances will cause marks and patches in the joints in the floor. Grout between wall-tiles, particularly in damp areas like bathrooms, will become dirty and unattractive as a result of Mold, Mildew and Limescale.

Mold is one of the most unsightly problems, it usually starts off in the wettest area of the room, this could be the bottom of the shower or bath, then starts to spread and if left unchecked could cover a large area of the wall. Discoloration of grout joints in bath or shower areas due to continued use of acid formulated shampoos and soaps. This causes yellow orange and pink stains to the grout over even a short period of time.

The answer is obvious; protect the grout using a sealer. Although relatively unknown, protection awareness is growing. Sealing forms an invisible barrier between the grout and the surface, this will then protect your investment for years to come.

Different tiles present different problems and it would be impossible to comment on every type, however in general, porous flooring such as Terracotta should be sealed every two to three years to lock in the beauty of the tile and protect it from wear. Mexican terracotta in particular is very porous and difficult to clean. Mexican Terracotta does not get baked in a kiln, instead they are left to bake outside in the sun and if it is a cloudy day the temperature can fluctuate leading to an increase in the porosity of the tile.


Which Iron is Right for You?

• Variable Steam: This feature is used to adjust the amount of steam used depending on the fabric being ironed.
• Spray Feature: This sprays clothing with a fine mist of water. This feature is a must for any steam iron as it is utilized in the ironing of all different fabrics.
• Variable Heat: All irons are going to feature basic low, medium and high settings. More advanced steam irons will offer more temperature options for efficient ironing.
• Cordless Irons: Some steam irons are cordless. For cordless steam irons, they are warmed every few minutes in their “charger.”
• Steam Cleaning: Some steam irons allow you to use vertical steam which can work for steam cleaning clothes that are hanging up.

You will need an ironing board on which to place the clothing being ironed. Adjust your ironing board to provide maximum comfort for your height and allow you to iron without stooping or bending.

Always make sure clothing is clean and dry before ironing them. And be sure to keep your iron out of the reach of children and never leave it unattended.

If you have tried ironing your clothing yourself and have found it is simply not for you, there are professional services you can utilize to take care of the task for you. Dry cleaners also often offer ironing services. You may even be able to pay a friend or swap chores with them to get your ironing completed without having to do it yourself.