insider’s secret weapon for wine stains: oxiclean
There’s an interesting service story over at nymag.com worth checking out. It’s a series of cleaning and decorating tips from famed costume-designer William Ivey Long (Nine, The Producers, Grey Gardens) who recently opened a bar in the East Village called Shoolbred’s. In addition to dishing out his favorite sources for fabrics and wall art, he also sings the praises of Oxiclean, which is amazingly good at getting wine stains out.
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the wonders of power-washing
I didn’t tell you how Chad spent his first father’s day — power-washing the deck. It was completely his idea, I swear! He had spent a teenage summer assisting a wrestling coach in Columbus, OH power-washing outdoor decks, and was determined to do the same to ours. He rented the machine from Home Depot for about $70, and aside from trickery needed to get the whole thing started, it was pretty easy. You connect the thing to your hose, and then direct the pressure nozzle at the wood. It blasts away dirt and algae that had accumulated through the years. And the results were amazing! Our deck went from dingy ashen grey to a looking like brand new wood. The only thing that slowed him down was running out of water (our outdoor hose doesn’t get as much from our well as the rest of the house). When he was all done, he gave the whole thing a coat of cedar stain. Now all we need is that deck furniture and we’ll be outdoor dining in high style! Wanna know more? Check out this story at This Old House’s site.
help! i need grilling tips
In order to take full advantage of our first summer with a deck, we just had to buy a grill. As a longtime city-mouse, I have never ever owned a grill. (Until the other weekend, that would have been a recipe deal breaker for me.) Now that we have one we’re starting out slowly. Nothing fancy. I’ve been testing out some rubs and glazes from Real Simple that are pretty tasty. I also got the idea to put potato slabs on from Rachael Ray’s mag. But there are a couple of questions I have:
1) We have a gas grill, but don’t we need charcoal or something for flavor? What do you suggest and how does it work?
2) How the heck do you keep a grill clean? We got one of those uber-tough scrub brushes — is that enough? The meat sure does make a mess. I wish I could hose the whole thing off. Perhaps the mess makes things taste better, like a cast iron pan? I doubt it.
I’m sure you have some grill knowledge and experience to share. (Which reminds me, have you noticed how many Father’s Day cards feature grilling? It’s like women aren’t supposed to know how! Grrrrr.) Tell me your tips please! And I’ll write about the results. — Angela M.
cool, biodegradable (sort of) umbra trash cans
I saw these Umbra Artala trash cans in person over the weekend and the designs hooked me right away — more great-looking garbage cans like these, please. The fact that they’re labeled “biodegradable” I actually found a bit puzzling. The Artala cans are made of plastic designed to “break down into a powder” in a landfill, but of course — that still leaves plastic powder behind. But if it’s a good-looking and very reasonably priced (Just $16.) waste bin you want, you may want to keep the Artala can around for awhile anyway. –Mary T.
P.S. Check this New York Times article for more “ready to rot” home designs.
welcoming spring: ingrid cleans green
Spring is that time of year when we scrub winter slush from the windows, banish dust motes, and shine floors to a sunny sparkle. As we’ve discussed, the trick is finding natural, eco-friendly cleaners that can effectively scour and polish. If you’re into light, breezy scents and roll-up-your-sleeves practicality, Shaklee’s Get Clean Starter Kit is still the best bet. A favorite of Oprah, the kit includes a caddy filled with thirteen key products from convenient cleaning wipes to laundry and dish detergents, plus reusable bottles. While it requires a bit of mixing and measuring, the payback is your contribution to a greener planet.
My most “scentsible” housekeeping secret is Caldrea. This Minnesota-based business is the purveyor of Caldrea and Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day cleaning products, all infused with essential oils. Caldrea’s new limited-edition spring scent, Watercress Wild Lily, is a crisp floral bouquet for spritzing countertops and sudsing dishes. Caldrea also offers fragrant All-Purpose Cleansers and Window Sprays, plus chic old-school tools such as a French Street Broom and a fabulous rooster feather duster.
The latest offerings from Mrs. Meyer’s include the new, intoxicating Basil Collection laundry or cleaning packs and a limited-edition Rhubarb Spring Cleaning Kit. The rhubarb aroma is a dead ringer for my Grandma’s garden patch pies. (Note to self: do not drink the dish soap!)
By the way, we hear that new Shaklee products are launching this summer, so stay tuned to Shelterrific to get the dirt first! –Ingrid S.
