Archive for the ‘kitchen’ Category
Dirty Dishes.
Let's face it - after a good meal and all of the preparation that went into it, the last thing you want to do is clean out some scrubby-looking pans. But, like it or not, you're stuck with them. That's why you'll want to find out some quick, no-nonsense tips for cleaning your pans that will help you finish the process and move on with your night. Here are some of those tips.
Remember: water is the universal solvent. If you don't want to clean out a pan right away, but don't necessarily want to let the caked-on food dry out and become hard, either, try filling it up with a good amount of water. Soaking the pan in water isn't the most attractive solution, but it will make it easier for you later on when the food comes off much more easily. Water is considered the universal solvent in the chemistry world, and you should put that bit of scientific knowledge to good use. One tip: don't use water and soap for this soaking - the water will work fine by itself.
Be mindful of temperature. Of course, you don't necessarily want to add cool water and bring your pot or pan from boiling to room temperature in zero seconds flat. Instead, give the pots and pans some time to cool off before you start cleaning them: this will help them remain durable and strong.
Read the directions after you buy some cookware. Like it or not, the directions are there to help - they can make you aware of any individual needs these pots or pans might have. So if there are certain cookware items that simply don't respond to different types of cleaning, you can save yourself the trouble simply by reading the instructions right after buying a new pot or pan.
Buy re-usable towels, rags, and cleaners. If you're going to be cleaning out your cookware on a regular basis, you'll want to do the cleaning with something you can re-use, as well. Paper towels can be great around the kitchen, but you constantly need to re-stock your supply. You can instead use an old rag to do a lot of your wiping and simply throw it in the laundry from time to time to keep it fresh and clean.
Save room in your dishwasher. Some of your cookware will go well in the dishwasher - remember, check your directions first - and you can use an empty dishwasher to your advantage simply by throwing in a couple of your pots and pans. This isn't always ideal, but it will help you to clean up the pots and pans without working too hard after a long day.
Photo Credits: kbc kevin
Originally posted 2009-07-20 08:00:48.
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Posted by Fix Handyman on December 20, 2011 in
How to Fix, kitchen, Make Clean
Loose or Broken Tile?
Whether your kitchen floor is new or old, there's nothing that disturbs the balance of a room quite like a broken tile. After all, tiles were installed with a pattern in mind: break one link in the chain and the whole thing falls apart. That's why it's important to know how to fix a broken tile - like learning how to change a tire, sometime it pays to know how before you have to do it.
First, we can assume that the conjoining material between each tile is already hard, which means that you'll have to do a little work that might include dust and debris. Make sure to wear protective eye goggles - you might even want to cover your mouth to prevent inhaling too much dust into your lungs.
Next, you'll have to destroy and remove any leftover spots from the previous tile. Most likely your tile is still in place, unless the whole tile itself came out already. In order to remove tile chips, you're going to want to follow a precise pattern: break the tile in the center using a hammer and nailset, and then cut the tile into an X pattern using a glass cutter. Then you can use the hammer to chip away the rest of the tile - beginning in the center - and pry up the pieces using a metal tool.
Once the area is cleared of the main tile bits, it's time for you to dry it out - suck out the remaining debris with a vacuum cleaner. It might not hurt to sand down any protruding areas that might get in the way for the new tile, so be sure to vacuum after you've done the sanding, as well.
Now that you have a clear area where your tile used to be, it's time to replace the tile. First you're going to want to fill the area with latex primer and allow it to dry - you should probably make sure to protect this area so that no one steps in it, particularly small children if you have them. After the primer has dried, you can apply tile adhesive, making sure to move it left and right to make sure it settles in properly. It's important to keep the tile level, so use a mallet to make sure that it gets in far enough. Any extra tile adhesive that comes out of the sides can be scooped up with a stick or screwdriver.
Give the tile some time to dry and you should be all finished. You've covered up the spot in your kitchen that detracted from all the rest. Now if you could just get a new set of cupboards.
Photo Credits: wakingphotolife
Originally posted 2009-08-04 13:55:27.
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Posted by Fix Handyman on December 14, 2011 in
Floors, Handyman, How to Fix, kitchen
Got a kitchen drawer mess?
Your broken kitchen drawer can feel like a major nuisance - after all, who wants to struggle with opening a drawer when all you want to get is a simple knife or fork? Believe it or not, however, these drawers are put together simply, and fixing them can be just as simple once you take a look inside. If your drawer is broken, you should be able to fix it by setting aside a small block of time and a little persistence. Of course, you'll need a little knowledge, too.
The first step to fixing your broken kitchen drawer is diagnosing the problem you're facing. Usually, the problem is one of two things: a split in the wood itself, or a problem with a mechanical joint that is forcing the drawer to fail. Either way, your job will essentially be to re-build and re-attach either broken part so that your drawer looks like the other (working) drawers in your kitchen.
Pull out the drawer as far as you can and take a look at the problem. Is the drawer not coming out far enough? Then you're probably looking at a potential jam or blockage at some part of the roller. If you have trouble getting to your drawer, be willing to move out some nearby parts in your kitchen, including other drawers.
Since the problem usually arrives either with the wood or the mechanism itself, you'll have two ways to fix your drawer. For problems with the wood - often a wood split - you'll want to purchase some wood glue and re-set the wood so that it is even again. Let the glue dry for a while before testing out the kitchen drawer again.
Problems with mechanical joints in your drawer can be fixed in a similar way, though you'll probably want to be more careful. Make sure that the area is clean first, and make a mental note of where the old glue appears to be. You'll probably want to clear away some of this glue in order to make way for a new, stronger adhesive. Again, let the glue set before you test out the drawer.
If you get lost, try to use your functioning drawers as blueprints for how this drawer should look. Remember, a drawer is not a complicated device. There are only so many things that can go wrong. Once you diagnose the problem, you can set about fixing it right away.
Photo Credits: put that down
Originally posted 2009-08-05 13:55:30.
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Posted by Fix Handyman on November 22, 2011 in
Handyman, How to Fix, kitchen
Defrost needed!
Defrosting your Freezer
No one likes this job. There is no use in leaving sticky notes on the refrigerator, or complaining loudly when you open the freezer door. Not even threatening to video the mess inside the freezer and posting the family’s frozen shame on the Internet will get anyone moving. The only choice is to call everyone into the kitchen and tell them the time will be now. The freezer will be defrosted and the cleaning begins right now.
The preparation
You will need some very clean towels. If you decide to use regular paper towels then be prepared for them to leave a residue behind when you clean. Paper breaks down very quickly, and you can typically find yourself doubling the cleaning time having to scrub away bits and piece of paper towels. Should you really want to use paper visit a hardware or handyman store and pick up the heavy duty workmen type.
Baking soda is the cleaning agent recommended the most. You don’t want to use strong chemical cleaners in a place where you will be storing food no matter how cold the storage will be. If you don’t think this will be enough to handle the situation in your own freezer than look for products that are labeled as safe around food. Organic products will be best in this situation.
Defrosting
Most refrigerators have a defrost setting for their freezer units. Larger freezers almost always have them, but if you can’t find the setting on yours then turn the setting to 0. Since the fridge and freezer is one unit then you will need to defrost both sections at the same time.
Here is where the rest of the family comes in as you will need to remove the food and either place it in a bag, box, or on countertops if available. If there is ice cream involved everyone can grab a spoon and relax until the ice in the freezer starts breaking up. When you are working against a deadline you might try putting a pan of hot water in the freezer to speed things up a bit. You will need to put another pan underneath the freezer to catch the water as the ice melts. It is better to let the ice melt without attempting to chip it out. You can scratch the surface of the freezer's interior and since you can’t see what is under the ice you cause damage to the unit. You can also hurt your hand because the cold will numb your fingers while you are holding whatever implements you’re using.
Once the ice slush and water have been cleaned out then use either the baking soda or the other cleaning agent you have chosen and clean all parts of the unit. Sticky messes might be scrubbed at with the same type of brush you would use on dishes.
Make sure that both the freezer and refrigerator are dry before you turning the unit back on. Wait until the entire unit is cooling before replacing the food as otherwise it will take longer to return to the normal cooling temperature.
Photo Credits: katesheets
Originally posted 2010-05-09 03:42:23.
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Posted by Fix Handyman on November 12, 2011 in
appliances, Handyman, How to Fix, kitchen
Midnight kitchen raid anyone?
Your pantry cabinet in your kitchen can come in a lot of different shapes and sizes: while some people have simple shelves, others will have full-on walk-in pantries. But no matter how big your pantry is, there's no escaping the potential for a breakdown or the need for repairs. The question is simple: will you be able to repair it yourself? After you read this article, you will.
First, it's important to realize that there are essentially two different types of breaks. The break is either superficial or structural. For example, a scratch on your pantry door would fall under the "superficial" category, in that it diminishes the attractiveness of your pantry but doesn't mean you can't still us it. Structural damage, such as a broken shelf, can be a little more substantial and might even effect your quality of life - daily life, that is.
The best way to fix most items around the house is to understand how it is put together - and then take it apart. You'll have to take apart most items down to the point of the problem itself so that you can make the necessary repairs and build it back together again. That's why it's important to properly diagnose what's wrong with your pantry. If you can't get to the problem, you'll have to do some removing, including actions like removing screws. Hey, it's not home improvement without getting your hands a little diry!
Common structural problems with pantries involve broken or stuck sliding mechanisms (for shelves and doors), broken hinges on doors, and broken shelves. Oftentimes, you'll be able to make the repairs simply by re-attaching something to where it originally belonged. If there is more extensive damage, however, you'll have to look into repairing the parts themselves and, failing that, replacing them.
You can replace virtually everything in your pantry if you understand how to find each part. If you know what kind of wood to use and how to get it properly colored and stained, you can replace a dented piece of wood. If you know the specific parts to door hinges and slides, you'll be able to order many of those online or find them in a hardware store.
What you do to fix your broken pantry will largely depend on the problems you face. But don't fret; what's important about your do-it-yourself home repair isn't always the problem, but the can-do attitude you bring to the table. Don't let your pantry be broken for weeks and then months on end: it's time to stop the procrastination and to get things done!
Photo Credits: la fattina
Originally posted 2009-07-31 03:45:35.
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Posted by Fix Handyman on September 11, 2011 in
Handyman, How to Fix, kitchen
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