November 20th 2015 - Vinly lino flooring

A few days ago me and hubby had gone to a shop to return a product and whilst we were there we said may as well have a look around "just encase there is anything we need". Well as you do on these impromptu shopping trips a few randoms bits went in the trolley - bottle of champagne for Christmas Day, candy canes for family learning at school etc.

Then we went round to the DIY section and looked the vinyl lino flooring.  They had very little of it and a sign that said "reduced to 33.99 per square meter".  Sadly they didn't have any of the black and grey "mis-matched tile" pattern that I had seen in there and wanted over 6months ago.  But they did have a couple of blacks that I could live with.  I turned round and nearly tripped over a roll of lino on the floor - it was black and grey tiles (not what I wanted but similar) and had a size of 3m by 2m and a price of £49.95.  This was more than I really wanted to spend but the right size.  I said to hubby that has got to be the price before it was reduced and I think it would be about £30 now.  He went to find a member of staff.

Him and 2 members of staff came back and we asked them if that was the correct price on the roll, he said it was but as its all now reduced would be about £25.  YEP i'll take it - hubby then asks IF it is the correct size we need - yes!  SO the 2 members of staff carried it to the till for us and when it went through it came up at £19.95!  BONUS! I can cope with that sort of price for a new floor.

We left it rolled up and then today cleared the existing floor (pile of laundry to be washed, the rack that holds crisps and a perching stool), hubby removed the kick boards, swept all the crumbs that had managed to get under them and lifted the old lino and re-swept the floor.  All ready to fit the new lino down. 

I helped hubby a couple of times but left him to do most of it  as I would have got stuck on the floor with my knee.  Once hubby had cut it all to fit he put the kick boards back on the cupboards and then taped the floor on the door edges as we don't have any of the grippers at the moment.

It looks really  nice and fresh in the kitchen, the only snag is the grey in the floor is different to the grey on the walls which now look more blue.  The wood work still needs finishing from when we moved in 2years ago!

I have to say I personally prefer the Lino to the slate tiles that we have laid by both the front and back doors.  Lino is warmer for 1 thing.  It is easier to clean with a steamer, the grout doesnt flake as there isnt any, it doesnt chip if things are dropped on it (yes it splits if knives get dropped), it is easier to fit and you dont have to wait hours before you can walk on it and it was much cheaper than the tiles were as well.

January 15th 2015 - cleaning the microwave

January 15th 2015 - cleaning the microwave

Today I was after a simple pin to do as in lots of pain with my knee again.  Now you might think that the task of cleaning the microwave isn't easy, well I thought the same until I came across this pin that has 31 hacks for cleaning.  I was abit skeptical as to whether it would work or not but thought I would give it a try.

It says "Get it out with a bowl of 1 cup of water and 1 tablespoon of vinegar. Microwave for five minutes, then wipe down with a paper towel or sponge."  Yea right like thats going to work!!!  

This is what the inside was like before I added the mix, not the worst it has been but could certainly do with a clean - 

Well I added my cup of water and vinegar to a bowl and put on the microwave on high power for 5mins as it said.  I got a scouring pad and started to wipe the water that had formed on all sides and it didn't look much different.  I took the glass plate out and wiped that with kitchen towel and then a tea towel to dry it, placed it back in and took another photo and  as you can see below there is a big difference.

So a 5minute clean up and the microwave is clean.