Home Maintenance and Repair

This is just to keep track of what I'm doing with home repair and give me incentive to keep going. It always sounds like I have some kind of audience when I write, but there is nobody but Just Me reading this, but that's how I write. LOL

Kitchen

floor finished!

The first thing I tackled was the floor. Not sure that was the wisest, because I know I will be creating dust and such while re doing the rest of the kitchen. Floor before: I should have taken a before pic but I was too embarrassed. Years ago someone dropped a hot pot or something and melted and burned the floor in several places. It was generally very scratched and damaged. So I got to work and spent several days scrubbing, unwaxing, and generally cleaning the floor. I sanded down some of the spots that were burned, dug out some of the burned stuff, and colored some of it with crayons

The following is from Life Hacker

"Holes and cracks in the floor are no fun, but the fix is pretty simple. Just stick a crayon in the microwave."

Actually, there's a little more to it than that. The Guardian has the details:

Crayons make an excellent filler for small gouges or holes in resilient flooring. Select a colour that closely matches the floor. Melt the crayon in the microwave on medium power over a piece of greaseproof paper, until you have a pliant glob of colour. With a plastic or putty knife, fill the hole. You can use a softened crayon to cover even quite deep scratches on wooden furniture.
Considering your kids are probably the ones gouging the floor in the first place, melting one of their crayons to fix it not only solves the problem of the hole in the floor but how to punish the culprit as well. Nice."

I will probably go back and do more with the rest of the burn spots, but my shoulder was killing me, and then there was the finger in the car window incident that left my finger aching for days. Excuses, excuses.

After I was done with the spots I covered the whole thing with floor sealer. This is what I used.
 More work to do, but it looks SO much better.

Next, the counter tops. They are OLD formica, stained and nicked. I've bleached them so far. I put some gel polish on them but it seems to be water soluble! Well I had it, I tried. On to the next plan.

http://www.bobvila.com/articles/refinishing-laminate-countertops/#.V5jO5PkrKM8


He basically says, sand it with 320 grit sand paper, then coat it with polycrylic by Minwax. He said an 8 oz can did all the countertops.

And then there is the burn to the left of the cooktop. This is part way done. I cut out as much of the burned area as I could, and filled it with spackling. I had light, so I am using that. I don't know if it is sturdy enough, but it doesn't get hard use there, and with a layer of epoxy paint and the polycrylic, it should be fine. It won't be invisible, but it will not show much. I'm working on that first. Good start.






So. Will I be able to stand to leave it alone? It isn't PERFECT. I had to experiment with a couple kinds of paint and remove the first one. This is just plain craft acrylic! I think it would peel off with use, but I hope that if I put a layer of polycrylic on it... we will see. I keep having the urge to sand it down more. Unfortunately, it just makes the boo boo bigger. So I am going to STOP. Perfectionist Me will have a hard time leaving it alone. LOL

And of course the next thing I see is that I need to re-seal or grout the tile at the counter.... it doesn't end. LOL


Here are some thoughts about car wax I want to remember. from This Old House, article by Jennifer Stimpson

10 Uses for Car Wax
Whether in paste or liquid form, car wax is formulated to fill scratches and give a high shine to nonporous surfaces like glass and metal, while protecting them from smudges and stains. It's handy in other ways, too, so grab a lint-free cloth and get to work.

  1. Keep appliances fingerprint-free
 car wax can help keep stainless-steel fingerprint and smudge free
Apply a thin coat of car wax to stainless-steel fridges and stoves. Buff clean to resist fingerprints and smudges.

2. Give faucets a shine
 car wax can shine metal fixtures in the kitchen or bath
Rub car wax onto kitchen and bathroom metal fixtures to keep them shiny and spot-free.

3. Unstick hinges
 car wax can lubricate hinges
Use car wax to lubricate the hinges of garden shears and scissors.

4. Fix a skipping CD
 car wax can help clean and repair skipping cds
Apply a small dab of car wax to a scratched CD and buff it clean using short strokes along the length of the scratch, not across it. Rinse the CD with water, and let it air-dry before playing.

5. Combat corrosion
 car wax can help outdoor brass fixtures keep from tarnishing
Apply a thin coat of car wax to brass door knockers, mailboxes, and other outdoor fixtures to keep them from tarnishing.

6. Fight mildew
 car wax can help reduce mildew growth on a shower door
After using your regular cleanser, apply a layer of car wax to the inside and outside of a shower door and buff off with a dry cloth to stave off mildew growth.

7. Make drawers and windows easier to open
 car wax applied to the tracks of drawers and windows can help them slide more easily
Rub a small dab of car wax onto the tracks of drawers and windows so they'll slide more smoothly.

8. Prevent bumper-sticker residue
 car wax can help protetct against bumper sticker residue
Before placing a sticker on your car's bumper, rub a tiny bit of car wax onto the area the sticker will cover. Later, it will peel off easily—no gummy mess to scrape off.

 9. Keep snow from sticking
 car wax applied to a snow shovel can prevent snow from sticking
Shoveling is hard enough when snow is heavy and damp. Apply two thick coats of car wax to the head of a shovel (or to the inside of your snowblower's chute) to prevent the white stuff from sticking.

10. Make a mirror fog-free
 car wax can help prevent condensation on a bathroom mirror
Rub a thin layer of car wax onto a bathroom mirror and buff it clean. Next time you step out of the shower, you'll be able to see your reflection without having to wipe away condensation first.