WHAT MAKES AN IDEAL KITCHEN.

It is a mistake to suppose that any room, however small and unpleasantly situated, is "good enough" for a kitchen. This is the room where housekeepers pass a great portion of their time, and it should be one of the brightest and most convenient rooms in the house; for upon the results of no other department depend so greatly the health and comfort of the family as upon those involved in this 'household workshop'.

Every kitchen should have windows on two sides of the room, and the sun should have free entrance through them; the windows should open from the top to allow a complete change of air, for light and fresh air are among the chief essentials to success in all departments of the household. Good drainage should also be provided, and the ventilation of the kitchen ought to be even more carefully attended to than that of a sleeping room. The ventilation of the kitchen should be so ample as to thoroughly remove all gases and odors, which, together with steam from boiling and other cooking processes, generally invade and render to some degree unhealthful every other portion of the house.

There should be ample space for tables, chairs, range, sink, and cupboards, yet the room should not be so large as to necessitate too many steps. Undoubtedly much of the distaste for, and neglect of, "housework," so often deplored, arises from unpleasant surroundings. If the kitchen be light, airy, and tidy, and the utensils bright and clean, the work of compounding those articles of food which grace the table and satisfy the appetite will be a pleasant task.

It is desirable, from a sanitary standpoint, that the kitchen floor be made impervious to moisture; hence, concrete or tile floors are better than wooden floors. Cleanliness is the great desideratum, and this can be best attained by having all woodwork in and about the kitchen coated with polish; substances which cause stain and grease spots, do not penetrate the wood when polished, and can be easily removed with a damp cloth.

The elements of beauty should not be lacking in the kitchen. Pictures and fancy articles are inappropriate; but a few pots of easily cultivated flowers on the window ledge or arranged upon brackets about the window in winter, and a window box arranged as a jardiniere, with vines and blooming plants in summer, will greatly brighten the room, and thus serve to lighten the task of those whose daily labor confines them to the precincts of the kitchen.

The kitchen furniture.
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The furniture for a kitchen should not be cumbersome, and should be so made and dressed as to be easily cleaned. There should be plenty of cupboards, and each for the sake of order, should be devoted to a special purpose. Cupboards with sliding doors are much superior to closets. They should be placed upon casters so as to be easily moved, as they, are thus not only more convenient, but admit of more thorough cleanliness.

Cupboards used for the storage of food should be well ventilated; otherwise, they furnish choice conditions for the development of mold and germs. Movable cupboards may be ventilated by means of openings in the top, and doors covered with very fine wire gauze which will admit the air but keep out flies and dust.

For ordinary kitchen uses, small tables of suitable height on easy-rolling casters, and with zinc tops, are the most convenient and most easily kept clean. It is quite as well that they be made without drawers, which are too apt to become receptacles for a heterogeneous mass of rubbish. If desirable to have some handy place for keeping articles which are frequently required for use, an arrangement similar to that represented in the accompanying cut may be made at very small expense. It may be also an advantage to arrange small shelves about and above the range, on which may be kept various articles necessary for cooking purposes.

One of the most indispensable articles of furnishing for a well-appointed kitchen, is a sink; however, a sink must be properly constructed and well cared for, or it is likely to become a source of great danger to the health of the inmates of the household.  The sink should if possible stand out from the wall, so as to allow free access to all sides of it for the sake of cleanliness. The pipes and fixtures should be selected and placed by a competent plumber.

Great pains should be taken to keep the pipes clean and well disinfected. Refuse of all kinds should be kept out. Thoughtless housekeepers and careless domestics often allow greasy water and bits of table waste to find their way into the pipes. Drain pipes usually have a bend, or trap, through which water containing no sediment flows freely; but the melted grease which often passes into the pipes mixed with hot water, becomes cooled and solid as it descends, adhering to the pipes, and gradually accumulating until the drain is blocked, or the water passes through very slowly. A grease-lined pipe is a hotbed for disease germs.

Tools You May Need for Your Next Kitchen Remodeling

Are you a homeowner who has recently decided that a remodeled kitchen is just what you need?  If so, there is a good chance that you may want to do that remodeling yourself.  If that is the case, there are a number of tools, likely a large number of tools, which you will need.  While there is a good chance that you may already have the majority of the tools needed for your next kitchen remodeling project, there is also a chance that you might not.  Rest assure though because the majority of the tools needed can be found right at one of your local home improvement stores.

When it comes to determining the tools that you will need, when starting your remodeling, it is important to determine which type of remodeling you will be doing. For instance, if you are installing a new set of kitchen cabinets, you will find that the tools needed may vary a little bit from the tools that would be used to replace your kitchen floor.  That is why it is advised that you determine exactly what in your kitchen you would like remodeled, as well as what types of tools will be needed.  Despite the fact that you may need different tools for different projects, there are a number of common tools; common tools that you may need no matter what kitchen remodeling project you are working one.

Perhaps, the most important tools to have is a hammer.  Hammers are used on a wide variety of different kitchen remodeling projects, particularly ones that require nails.  Hammers can also be used to help position a tile or countertop piece into a tight space.  Since hammers are used all around the house, sometimes on a daily basis, there is a good chance that you already own a hammer.  In fact, there is a good chance that you own more than one!

Aside from a hammer, it is also a good idea to have a collection of screwdrivers on hand. Although there is a good chance that you already own a couple of screwdrivers, you may want a multi-function screwdriver.  A multi-function screwdriver is one that easily allows you to change the screwdriver heads, in no time at all.  In fact, if you are really looking to save time, you may want to purchase an electric screw gun.

A putty knife is another tool that you may need to use, when remodeling your kitchen.  Putty knifes are ideal when replacing a kitchen countertops or when retiling your kitchen floor.  They are great for removing unwanted or unneeded caulk or spreading around the glue that is needed to hold your kitchen tiles down.  Putty knifes are common tools, but they are not as common as hammers or screwdrivers; therefore, you may need to purchase yourself one.

It may also be a good idea to have box cutters or handsaws on hand.  If you are replacing the flooring in your kitchen or if you are installing a new laminate kitchen countertop, there is a good chance that you need to cut materials down to size. In some cases, a box cutter could do, but in other cases, you may need a handsaw. That is why it is best to have them both on hand.

In addition to the above mentioned tools, you may need to have a wrench, a measuring tape, a glue gun, a pair of pliers, and a ladder.  Of course, it is also advised that you think along the lines of safety. In addition to the above mentioned tools, it may be a good idea to have a pair of safety goggles, a face mask, work gloves, and even a hard topped construction hat, just in case.

Remodeling Your Lighting Options in kitchen

each year millions of homeowners do it ( kitchen remodeling ).  Are you looking to become one of those home owners?  Whether you are looking to remodel every square inch of your kitchen or just part of it, there is a decent chance that you may be in the market for new kitchen lights.  The lighting found in a kitchen has a significant impact on the room’s overall atmosphere.  That is why many homeowners, when remodeling their kitchen , make the decision to change their kitchen light fixtures.

If you are interested in replacing your kitchen lights, you will find that you, literally, have an unlimited number of different options.  Kitchen lights, as well as their fixtures, come in a number of different sizes, shapes, and styles.  Honestly, there are some many different kitchen light fixtures to choose from, you may have a difficult time making up your mind. Despite having a difficult time making a decision, it is important that you do. As previously mentioned, the lighting in a room has a significant impact on the overall quality of that room, as well as how you may feel while inside of it. That is why it is important that you take time to research all of your choices, so that you can make the perfect selection.

One of the most popular types of lights for the kitchen are ceiling lights.  Ceiling lights are light fixtures that are attached right to the ceiling.  Although they are often known as the most traditional type of lighting for the kitchen, they can be anything but traditional. Whether you are shopping online or at one of your local retail stores, you should have access to hundreds of different light fixtures, many of which are ceiling lights.  The cost of a ceiling light will all depend on which style you choose, but, in most cases, you will find that ceiling lights are the most affordable of all kitchen lights.  If you are remodeling your kitchen on a budget, these types of lights may be best.

In addition to ceiling fans, hanging kitchen lights are quite popular.  Hanging kitchen lights comes in two main styles, chandeliers or pendants.  Pendant lighting fixtures are lights that hang down from the ceiling, often about a foot or more.  Chandelier lights are a usually a collection of hanging lights that are all grouped together.  When it comes to chandelier lights and pendant lights for the kitchen, you will often find that they are referred to as mini lights. This is because the larger size light fixtures are often too large to use in most standard kitchens.

In addition to the above mentioned kitchen light fixtures, you may also want to purchase lights that are known as under cabinet lights.  Under cabinet lights are ideal for those who are looking for a quick snack in the middle of the night.  If you are purchasing new kitchen cabinets, as part of your kitchen remodeling project, an under the cabinet light may be the perfect addition to your new cupboards.

Whether you have decided that you would like to purchase a mini pendant light, a ceiling light, or a mini chandelier kitchen light, you will still need to choose the light that looks best in your kitchen. As previously mentioned, it may be a good idea to start shopping at one of your local home improvement stores, but if you are looking for a light fixture with a particular design, it may be best to shop online.

How To Start Seedlings for your Garden

Seedlings save you time and effort by allowing you to skip over the delicate seed phase of a plant's life. However, seedlings are still in a fragile stage of development, and a novice gardener will need to prepare adequately in order to prove his green thumb.

Here are the steps to start seedlings for your garden.

    Prepare four-inch pots for seedlings. Fill the pots just below the rim with potting mix. You can buy the mix in a gardening store or make them yourself with a blend of peat moss.
    Transfer the seedlings from their old pots to their new ones. Lift the old pots, turn them upside down then press on all the sides. The potting mix should then be loosened enough to be released; you can also slit the sides of the old pot to allow for additional pressure. Carefully remove the soil ball from the fragile root system.
    Create a hole in the potting mix to fit in the roots of the seedling. Cup the soil ball with your hand to support it during transfer. Gently insert the seedling into the pot, fill in the roots with the surrounding mix then water the seedling. Set the pot under a bright light, but avoid direct sunlight for now. Add liquid fertilizer on a regular basis to provide adequate nutrients to them.

    Prevent fungal infestation. If your seedlings suddenly wither and die, there’s a good chance a fungal growth has gotten to it at the roots. Use pasteurized potting mix and clean and bleach the pots thoroughly before use. You can also space the seedlings so that the fungus won't transfer through all of them. Thinning them out is also required once they develop their second set of true leaves. You may either transfer excess seedlings to another yard or dispose of them.
    Learn about your seedlings' specific needs. Many edible plants need plenty of light in order to grow. If natural light is unavailable, you will need to install florescent lighting for the seedlings. Other summer-attuned seedlings need a warm bed of soil to continue its development. You will then need a heating mat to warm the potting mix for the next couple of weeks. Both florescent lighting and heating mat can be purchased in gardening stores.
    Harden your seedlings before transferring them to open ground. Pot-grown seedlings that are grown using controlled conditions may lack the toughness it needs to deal with the elements. You will need to gradually expose the seedlings to outdoor conditions. Lay them outside in direct sunlight for a few hours then lengthen the time they are outdoors during the succeeding days. You can also use this technique for cold weather. Avoid over-hardening your seedlings, however, as some plants can bolt (flower prematurely) when exposed again and again to cold weather.


Seedling care is among the more advanced gardening skills, and requires a balance of nurturing, monitoring and protection in order to succeed. Once you go past the seedling phase, taking care of the plants will be less of a hassle as they will develop hardier systems to resist adverse conditions.

How To Stop Mushrooms from Growing

Mushrooms may be fine on the dinner table, but when small and inedible wild mushrooms start growing in your lawn, it can be quite disgusting. If you want to prevent mushrooms from growing in your house or in the lawn, here are some steps that you need to follow.

    Dry. First of all, you need to make sure that your house is as dry as possible. Remember, a mushroom is a type of fungus that needs very few things in order to survive. One of the things that it does need in order to live, however, is some water. If a place is moist and not enough sunlight gets into the area, fungi and mushrooms can begin to grow. By keeping your house dry at all times, you should be able to prevent mushrooms from growing. This can, however, be a bit difficult when talking about your yard, which you probably need to keep, watered to keep the grass alive.
    Cut. Next, make sure that you cut down some of the larger tree branches that obstruct sunlight from getting to your lawn. Apart from moisture, mushrooms thrive in places that have plenty of shade. By making sure that you remove the excessive branches in the trees in your backyard, you should be able to prevent mushrooms from growing near the trunk, or in the shade of the tree. The next time you consider planting trees in your backyard, also try choosing trees that grow tall, but which do not have branches that spread out too much.

    Clean. Also make sure that you clean your surroundings regularly. If there are cans or containers lying around where water can collect, make sure that you dispose of these items or that you cover them. This way, mushrooms will not grow inside of these old and dirty cans. Also make sure that you remove dead plants and rotting wood from your yard. These contain nitrates that mushrooms love. After you have finished mowing your lawn, also be sure to collect the cut leaves so that they will not become fodder for mushrooms.
    Fungicide. If cleaning, cutting, and keeping your surroundings dry is not enough to prevent mushrooms from growing around your house, you should consider using fungicide. As much as possible, the use of fungicide should only be a last resort. After all, fungicide can disrupt the beneficial microorganisms that are living in the soil. When you use fungicide, be sure to read the instructions and labels well, and make sure that you apply the fungicide only in areas where you have seen mushrooms grow. These fungicide are usually available in hardware shops.
    Lime. Finally, you can also consider adding some lime in your soil. Lime is much friendlier on the soil compared to fungicide, and will only work to reduce the acidity in the soil. Because mushrooms usually grow best in soil that is fairly acidic, adding a little bit of lime in the soil may help to eradicate mushrooms.


With these easy steps, you should be able to easily prevent mushrooms from growing, and kill the mushrooms that are already in your house.

How To Clean a Pool

Step 1

Tile cleaning has two aspects - the removal of the streak formed by the accumulation of grime, all lotions and other skin applications, and the removal of the deposit formation or lime scale due to the hardness of water. Dirt line can be removed by brushing the dirt line with tile cleaners specially meant for this, while using a pumice stone is a good way to tackle the hard water deposits. Unless this brushing and cleaning is regularly done, the deposits and dirt can become stubborn streaks of algae and dirt. While brushing, ensure that pump is at maximum suction and the brushing is from the dirt line towards the deep end and the main drain. Some algae and dirt also beat a path directly from grassy and green pathways to the pool. Keeping your pool surroundings tiled or the greenery trimmed clear off the path will help.
Step 2

Surface cleaning -Confirm that the skimmer weir and the filtration system are working fine. If there is no skimmer weir in the pool, all the surface cleaning will have to be done manually, a leaf net being an ideal device for collecting and removing all drifting leaves and other foreign objects. Using a rake helps in gathering the muck on the surface. All the collected debris should be bagged and trashed as dried debris lying around will find its way back when it's windy. Squeezing some tile cleaner all along the pool will make any surface froth gather at the pool edges, making for easier cleaning. If the pool is located in an area which collects a lot of rubbish, then it may be necessary to check if this has also piled up at the pool bottom. If yes, remove with a leaf bagger or leaf net. An alternative is to fix, to the suction hose at the skimmer, a leaf catcher during vacuuming. Ensure that the water level is always at the skimmer level and never below.
Step 3

Regular inspection. Ensure that you inspect and clean the skimmer basket daily and the pump strainer basket weekly, so that filtering and suction runs properly.
Step 4

Examine, clean, tune and recharge the filter so that it works at its optimum efficiency. Check the starting pressure levels and the suction strength which are the indicators for a service. While servicing, ensure that all parts of the filet are also fine and working well. The pump also needs to be serviced regularly.
Step 5

Vacuum the pool weekly once at least, increasing the regularity in windy weather. Keep in mind that the vacuum hose has to be cleared of any air before attaching to the suction point. ‘Vacuuming to waste', through a setting on a multiport valve, is the most efficient cleaning method in situations where there is larger piling of debris, but this will also increase the amount of water spent.
Step 6

Clean the decking area. Use a high pressure cleaner along with a 5% chlorine solution is also necessary to eliminate bacteria and check infection. Prior to moving the cover, ensure that almost all the dirt from the deck and cover is cleaned and the cover is neatly kept in a clean area.
Step 7

Proper storage of tools. A mechanic is only as good as his tools. Store your tools and accessories as recommended in the manual and away from direct sunlight.

After all that work, the pool is now ready for you and that first dip will make all your cleaning efforts worthwhile. The rest of the swim is just the icing on the cake.

How To Grow a Moss Garden: Landscaping Ideas

Samurai movies, anime, and moss gardens... what do they have in common? All three rose to popularity in Japan before moving west into our cultural consciousness. In the case of moss gardens, the Japanese have been growing them for centuries; from a religious perspective, moss gardens have been thought to elicit a calm, contemplative state of mind.

There are many different mosses from which to choose as you plan your garden - yellows, greens, browns, even white varieties. Some, like cushion mosses, provide just what their name suggests, while rock cap mosses naturally offer a vibrant covering on any large rocks you'd like to put in your garden. Some plants that we consider mosses are technically not moss at all, but rather are classified as liverworts or hornworts. These plants look and behave similarly to moss. As they are all non-vascular plants, they lack roots, leaves and stems.

Why would you want to start a moss garden (or simply let your current mosses live and thrive, as the case may be)? Here are a few good reasons.

    In many cases, they're heartier than our ornamental grasses and flowers. Mosses thrive on water and low sunlight - good news for the many moss-lovers who live in temperate areas with lots of annual rainfall. Seattleites, why do you labor ceaselessly over your Kentucky bluegrass and flowers when moss would yield beautiful, robust growth with practically no help from you? Many people plant grass every year where it just won't grow due to low sunlight; moss would grow there in a heartbeat! If you live in dry, arid climates, moss gardens aren't the most practical landscaping idea.
    They don't contribute to your pollen allergies. Grass and other pollen allergies are some of the most common causes of runny nose, watery eyes, itchy throat and sneezing that many people experience in summer months. Why exacerbate your allergy problems with what you grow in your own yard? Make your yard a sanctuary by nurturing that moss instead of killing it in favor of grasses.
    Moss-killing chemicals and fertilizers. Across our country, fish are dying and our freshwaters growing increasingly contaminated by the chemicals we use to nurture our artificial gardens and lawns. Chemicals used to eradicate moss, as well as chemical fertilizers used to promote flower growth in conventional gardens, enter the runoff water that flows into storm drains and eventually rivers. By embracing mosses and appreciating them for their natural beauty, we can also reduce our ongoing pollution and keep freshwater fish alive and healthy.
    Aesthetic beauty. Have you ever wandered through a forest after rainfall and admired the bright mossy beds catching the glint of sun under a big tree? Grass could never look so brilliant. You could achieve that same beauty in your own backyard by growing a moss garden!

As I said earlier, certain environments will be better suited for cultivation of a moss garden.  First, it's important to understand the basic principles of landscaping -  instantlandscapingideas.com has lots of excellent tips you can use when you're planning your new garden design.
Here are some guidelines as you plan your own moss garden.Water. Some mosses can survive lengthy drhow to grow mossy periods, recovering quickly once they get moisture again. Most mosses, however, require moisture and low sunlight in order to thrive. If the location already has moss growing, that's generally an excellent indication that the place is hospitable to all mosses. Once your garden is thriving, the only care it generally requires is some misting with water during any dry spell.Shade.  Unlike plants that need full sun, moss prefers to grow in part sun. In fact, moss is a great addition to any shade garden. The majority fare better in shady conditions, or at least places where they don't face constant sun exposure. A moderate amount of sun is fine. In sunnier areas, you can plan the location of your moss garden on the shady side of a large tree. In the northern hemisphere, therefore, it's best to plant on the northern side of a tree, whereas the reverse is true in the southern hemisphere. Again, if you choose a spot that already has mosses, you'll enjoy success with a moss garden.

    If part of your desired moss garden location has more sun exposure, in those spots try to plant mosses that aren't as shade-dependent. Bryum mosses, found commonly on walls or in cracks along the sidewalk, fare better than most in direct sunlight. Grimmia moss is another variety to consider for patches of heavier sun exposure.
    Preparing the soil. Weed the soil bed and remove any grasses. Moss will likely kill the grasses anyway, but removing any grass presence beforehand can ensure that your moss garden grows without any competition.
    Transplanting moss. Many of you already have mosses growing in your yard. Lucky you - you can just cut a chunk of moss mat and then move it to the desired location for your garden. When you transplant a mat of moss, moisten both soil and moss mat before you plant it in place. Make sure it rests at the same level as the rest of the ground around it. Most importantly, pack the soil tightly around and beneath it.

    If you have no moss in your yard already, or if you simply want other varieties, you can look for mosses at garden stores. However, mosses aren't always commonly found for sale at these stores. But don't lose hope - look for mosses in your friends' yards and in other areas of public property where growth is probably undesired (like pavement cracks). You might even find what you're looking for at one of a few sites (like Moss Acres) that sell and ship chunks of common moss varieties.

    You don't even need moss mats, as a matter of fact (good news when it comes time to cull moss from a crack in the pavement). Though live moss mats are the best method for transplanting, you could also just pull up some moss with your hands, throw it into a blender with some diluted buttermilk (naturally!) and then spread this cocktail over the designated soil bed. In several weeks, you should start to see the moss growing.

Instead of constantly fighting a losing battle as you attempt to preserve the health of fragile, decorative flowers and grasses, consider the mossy alternative. A moss garden might just help you reconnect with the serenity of nature.