In theory, painting projects sound super easy. I’m always fascinated by DIYs that take an old piece of furniture and turn it into something totally hip and new, using only some sandpaper and a few coats of paint! But in reality, a lot of people find painting to be a pretty tedious and time-consuming process. Painting definitely requires a bit of time and effort to get right. But with the help of a few simple tips, you can streamline the process to make your painting project painless.
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Skip The Tape – Use An Edger
When we were painting the walls of our new studio space with the help of my friend Natali, she introduced us to a handy little gadget called a paint edger. A paint edger enables you to paint right along the edge of a wall without getting paint on the adjoining surface. This saved us a ton of time, because we didn’t have to use nearly as much painter’s tape as we would have normally.
Skip The Ladder – Use A Roller Extender
Another time consuming aspect of painting a room is climbing up and down your ladder and moving it around the room every few minutes. You can eliminate the need for a ladder entirely by using an extendable handle for your roller brush. You’ll be able to paint the tops of the walls and even the ceiling, all while staying firmly on the floor. :-)
Cover Your Paint Brush
Painting projects can sometimes take a couple of days, especially if you’re painting multiple rooms. Save yourself the time and effort of washing your paint brushes at the end of the day by buying a few airtight paint brush covers like this one. (They also offer similar covers for roller brushes) or simply wrap your brush with plastic wrap. Your paint brush won’t dry out overnight, so you’ll be able to pick up your painting right where you left off.
Use Primer Only When Needed
If you’re planning to use a light-colored paint on a wall or piece of furniture that is already light in color, you can probably get away without using a primer before painting. If you’re using a light-colored paint on something that is dark in color, you would probably benefit from laying down a coat of primer before painting.
Store Extra Paint For Touchups
You’ll save yourself a TON of time and effort by saving a small amount of your paint color in a sealed jar somewhere for later use. Make sure to label the jar using the name of the paint color, as well as the brand of paint and any numbers or codes associated with the paint. You’ll be totally set if you end up needing to do some touchups later on, and you’ll know exactly what to color to buy if you run out down the road.
Next time you have a piece of furniture or a room to paint, utilize these tips and you’ll be painting like a pro in no time!
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What are your best painting tips?
Nothing will make you appreciate your dishwasher more than living without one. Last year, my daughter moved into her first place that actually had a dishwasher, after several years of living in apartments without dishwashers, and let me tell you… it was a BIG DEAL. According to Britta, having a dishwasher not only eliminated a task she hated (hand-washing the dishes,) but it also made her want to cook more, since cooking at her new place didn’t require an additional hour of scrubbing at the sink. Her enthusiasm for her dishwasher got me thinking about my dishwasher, and how much easier it makes my life!
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Beyond their ability to clean our dishes, there’s a lot of cool things about these appliances that many people aren’t aware of. So I thought I’d put together my best dishwasher tips to share with you, along with some useful information I’ve discovered around the web.
Hopefully these 10 things help you gain a new appreciation for your dishwasher, too! :-)
1. Most dishwasher cycles actually save water compared to hand-washing. The water savings are even more dramatic with newer, more efficient dishwasher models.
2. My little secret for sparkling dishes? White vinegar! In every single load of dishes I do, I place a small dish in the center of the top rack and fill it with white vinegar (1/2 to 1 cup of vinegar per load.) Nothing else I’ve tried has gotten rid of hard water spots and stains more effectively. Adding vinegar is also useful for eliminating weird smells and clearing cloudy glasses.
3. Use your dishwasher to catch messes. Over your open dishwasher door, spray cooking spray onto pans to avoid a slippery, potentially dangerous hazard on your kitchen floor, or measure out powdered ingredients without worrying about any overflow or spillage.
4. Your dishwasher can clean more than just dishes! On the top rack of your dishwasher, you can wash: silk flowers, baseball caps, small toys, flip flops, light fixture covers, vacuum attachments, hairbrushes, gardening tools, and more! Read more about what you can put in your dishwasher (besides dishes) here: Surprising Uses For Your Dishwasher.
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5. Did you know you can actually cook salmon in your dishwasher? Douse a salmon filet in your favorite marinade, then wrap it up tightly and securely in tin foil. Place it on the top rack of your dishwasher, and run for a whole cycle (including drying.) The salmon will come out steamy, moist, and delicious!
6. Taking a few seconds to load your utensils into the dishwasher by type will make it easier and quicker to unload them.
7. Check out the Owner’s Manual that came with your dishwasher. A lot of them contain a diagram of how best to load your particular dishwasher. (Besides just being good information to know, it may help settle any ongoing arguments about the best method for loading the dishwasher!) ;-)
8. If the tops of your dishwasher tines are rusty or exposed, there’s an inexpensive fix. Dishwasher tine caps like these ones are dishwasher safe, and will instantly give your dishwasher a visual facelift.
9. It’s easier than it sounds to make your own dishwasher detergent! It’s quick to do and could potentially save you a lot of money over time.
10. Your dishwasher needs cleaning too! Clean it regularly to keep it working properly. (You can get all the details from my post about how to clean your dishwasher.)
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After putting together this post, I feel as though I’ve barely even scratched the surface of what my dishwasher can do. Do you have a favorite thing about your dishwasher? Share it in the comments below! :-)
I gave each of my kids a new set of soft, high-quality bed sheets for Christmas this year. They didn’t actually ask for new sheets, but I decided to get them anyway because A) who knows when they last got a new set of sheets, and B) because it gave me an excuse to get a set for myself. ;-) But once you replace your bed sheets, what do you do with the old ones? We’ve been asking ourselves the same question for a couple of days now, so I thought I’d put together a list of ideas of ways we can put those old bed sheets to good use.
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If you have some old bed sheets that you’re just not sure what to do with, I’m sure you’ll find some inspiration here!
17 Uses for Old Bed Sheets
1. Picnic Blanket
Save your old bed sheets to use as picnic blankets, or just as a barrier between you and the ground for outdoor concerts and sporting events. (If you want to go a step further, check out this DIY project for making a tote bag that doubles as a picnic blanket!) You can also use them as tablecloths while camping to cover those picnic tables at your campsite.
2. Auto Emergencies
Keep a spare bed sheet in your car for emergencies! If you have to change a flat tire, you can spread it out on the ground to keep yourself clean while you work. You can also use it to absorb those unavoidable spills that only seem to happen when you don’t have any napkins handy. ;-)
3. Fort Building
Keep a stash of old bed sheets in a closet for building forts! Challenge your kids to make the best blanket fort they can using a couple of those old sheets. Your little ones can also use those sheets as curtains for puppet shows.
4. Sleeping Bag Liner
Use an old sheet to make a sleeping bag liner. Sleeping bag liners are thin fabric bags that are great take to hotels, hostels, or other places where you may want an extra layer between yourself and the bed. (They’re also good for keeping the inside of your sleeping bag clean, if you’re a camper.)
To make your own sleeping bag liner, just fold your old bed sheet in half, sew the long edge shut, as well as one of the shorter edges.
5. Crafting Tunic/Smock
Use an old sheet to make a tunic that will keep you clean while you’re crafting! Just cut a hole for your head somewhere in the middle of the sheet, and wear it while you’re doing messier crafts to keep your clothes clean.
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6. Cleaning Rags
Cut an old bed sheet up into smaller squares and use them as cleaning rags. I love to keep a stash of bed-sheet rags in the house for those messes that you know will stain your kitchen towels. I just use my sheet rags to clean it up, and then I don’t have to feel bad if I have to throw them away afterwards.
7. Give To A Pet
Give an old bed sheet to your pet! Your dog or cat will love having something to cuddle up on that smells like their favorite human. This can be especially helpful for anxious animals.
8. Quilt Backing
If your sheets are a cute color and are still in fairly good condition, you can give them a new life by using them as backing material for a quilt!
9. Garden Protection
You can keep your garden growing longer in the fall by covering it up on nights that are supposed to be especially chilly. An old bed sheet would work perfectly to insulate your plants from the cold!
10. Donate
If your bed sheets are still in pretty good shape, consider donating them to Goodwill or your local thrift store.
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11. Hand Warmers
Use the fabric of your old bed sheet to make some easy DIY hand warmers. Just cut out a small rectangle of cloth and sew it closed on two side. Fill the pouch with dry rice or dry beans, then stitch the open edge closed. Warm up a couple of these little pouches on frigid winter mornings, and keep one in each of your coat pockets. Your fingers will thank you!
12. Drop Cloth
Use your old bed sheet as a drop cloth for a painting project! It’s easier to manipulate than a plastic sheet, and much less likely to tear accidentally.
13. Reusable Shopping Bag
Turn your old sheets into DIY grocery tote bags. Learn how from Shareably.
14. Curtains
Turn your old sheets into inexpensive long curtains. Learn how from The Frugal Homemaker.
15. Shower Curtain
Turn your old sheets into a striped shower curtain. Learn how from Welcome to Heardmont.
16. Napkins
Turn your old sheets into cocktail napkins. Learn how from Design Sponge.
17. Bath Mat
Turn your old sheets into a braided bath mat. Learn how from A Common Thread.
Original article and pictures take www.onegoodthingbyjillee.com site
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