How I Tried to Clean Brass!

I needed to clean the cute brass caps that fit on the feet of my chair. Actually, I am not positive that they are brass. Nonetheless, my friend, Grace, offered to clean them for me in exchange for an alteration done to her daughter's dress...deal! Yes, the barter system is alive and well.

Here is what the caps looked like

Grace was not sure how to clean them, and I thought I read something about CLR?

The dress took me no time to alter, and I have a feeling Grace worked a long time on the caps. This is what they looked like after she scrubbed them with CLR

Better than before...but still needed some work. Back to the internet...this time the magic potion was a mixture of equal parts; vinegar, salt & flour

Smear it on

and let it sit for an hour

rinse with water....and Ta Dah

Orangey-pink caps.....OK, repeat the process...let it sit ANOTHER hour

rinse with water

Better...but still not great. At this point, I am wondering what type of metal this is? Time to break out the Big-Guns

Two coats....and

Perfection! This is how I don't clean brass! Do you know of a better way?

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What's Your Little Secret?

....continuing on with the challenge, this is day 28 of 31...for all 31, go here

It seems as though everyone has a trick, or little secret as to how they keep their upholstery clean...here is mine

I wanted one of these Bissell mini cleaners for the longest time. Would I really use it? Does it really work? Yes and Yes!


With two kids, a husband, and Buster

Things can get pretty dirty around here. This is my favorite solution

Pet & Stain

So, that's my secret...what is yours?


This is not a sponsored post. It is my honest opinion. In fact, Bissell, call me!

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Funday Monday

So today is Monday,

and I am putting on my Cinderella duds

and taking care of business.

My Mom loved housework -- not just the end results, but the process.

She loved to clean.

I really envy that.

Out of all the crazies I inherited from her, why not that one?

But needs must.  Get a load of this:

This copper rooster weathervane hangs from our conservatory ceiling.

Years ago I slung a green beaded necklace on his arrow, and it's still there.

But there's a new decoration.

Can you see the line of cobwebby stuff from his wing to his wattle?

Trust me, it's there.  Looks like a shadow.  Enlarge the picture at your peril.

This Norwegian treenware bowl has lovely rosemaling.

And not such lovely dust.

Our dear dog Dion had a bath yesterday, and for 24 hours

afterward he sheds like a son of a -- well, what he is.

 Dion reminds us that there is a solution to this -- no baths!

Too late!

Our dog does professional-level fuzz distribution post-bath.

Oh well.   Time to stop whinging and put my Big Girl pants on.

It ain't getting done while I'm planted here at the computer.

Maybe later, I'll take this empty parlor fireplace mantel

and play with decorating it.  After I dust it, of course!

In 2009, this was our September mantel:

2010's Fall decorating was much simpler, below, as we were busy painting and fixing the kitchen

and sunroom, and my Dad was in and out of the hospital

last Fall -- too busy to fuss overmuch.

Okay, full disclosure:  I'd misplaced some of the Fall decor last year.  I have since found it.  Life's good.

This year, I think we should go a little over the top, don't you?

Meanwhile, if one of you has a spare one of these:

Fairy Godmother.  This image and Cinderella courtesy of  The Graphics Fairy, a most generous lady!

. . . please send her to That Old House, where she can wave her magic wand and Poof! my dust shall vanish.

Because as a friend of mine (who had 6 children) once said,

"Housework is like stringing beads on a cord with no knot on the end."

What is your least favorite chore?  -- Cass

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Calling all neat freaks! (or those aspiring to be)

So, this week I have been scouring the DC area for apartments.  After living in NYC for 3 years I figured every other city would seem inexpensive and abounding in square footage.  I was wrong.  The apartments in DC are less expensive, and slightly larger, but I guess I had my hopes up too high.  That's okay though, because a smaller space forces me to be more creative with how I store, organize, and edit my belongings.  If there's one thing I love - it's solving an organization/space issue beautifully, functionally, and inexpensively.

So the next month or so I might be throwing a lot of organization sales and ideas your way as I'm figuring our how to keep all my belongings in my new, down-sized apartment.

If you have any ideas let me know!  All these goodies are from the fab. sale site Beyond the Rack.  You have to be a member, but it's free and fast to sign up - just click here.

 canisters, $10.99

 I always use a folding dish rack like this, that way after I put away the dishes I can stow the rack under the sink and clear off counter space - important in small kitchens.  bamboo dish rack - $9.99

We eat a lot of fresh fruits and veggies and hanging baskets will keep them from taking up valuable counter space. $5.99

Once I know our exact kitchen dimensions we'll definitely get a kitchen trolley.  They're cute and super useful. $59.99

I think city homes especially should be no-shoes indoors. One treads on pretty nasty stuff walking the city streets...it also keeps your floors cleaner. $17.99

 

In my opinion you can't have too many bins, baskets, and boxes.  $7.99

shoe tree $49.99

hamper $19.99

I've never seen one of these before. It's a boot storage shelf. Good idea if you have a lot of knee-high boots. $44.99

sweater shelf $9.99

metal cabinet shelves and racks - especially those that roll out - maximize your cabinet space. $21.99 - $74.99

If any of these call to the neat freak in you head over to the sale at Beyond the Rack.  Here's the free/fast sign up link.

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