How to Clean Sandblasted Metal Before Painting

Sandblasting is an efficient method for removing old paint and rust from a metallic item to prepare it for painting. Sandblasting is performed on virtually any metallic item, from patio furniture to car parts, and creates a smooth surface as a result of abrasive qualities of the sand. After sandblasting, the metallic object must be thoroughly washed to remove all traces of dirt and grease in addition to residual traces of sand which will interfere with all the paint.

Transfer the metal object to an outside location where you have plenty of space to work.

Fill a bucket with 1 gallon of water and then pour in 2-3 tbsp. Of a strong detergent cleaner. Mix the solution well until soap bubbles shape in the top.

Add a stiff-bristle brush to the sterile water mix and then scrub the entire surface of the metallic item, working your way from top to the bottom. Be certain to work the bristles to any small crevices and connection points to remove grease and buildup from them.

Wipe the metallic item thoroughly, using the spray from a garden hose. Rinse the item from top to bottom until no longer soap bubbles form on the surface.

Analyze the surface of the metallic item carefully to determine if a faint rust-colored residue is evident, which can be known as”flash rust” If flash rust is present, wear rubber gloves and then soak a rag in paint thinner. Wipe all surfaces of the metal to remove the residue.

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Removing White Spots on Wood Furniture With Vaseline

When you set a wet object, including a glass with melting ice, on a piece of wood furniture, the condensation can drip down and leave behind a white spot, often a telltale ring. Spicy dishes set on a table without a coaster may also leave behind white stains, which would be the consequence of water penetrating the timber’s finish.To eliminate the mark, you must utilize something which pulls the moisture from the end, such as Vaseline or a different brand of petroleum jelly.

Mix oil soap formulated for cleaning wood according to the package instructions.

Put on the soap to a damp white cloth. Wipe the white spot softly to remove any polish or wax buildup. Reapply as needed according to the package instructions.

Dry the washed place using a dry white cloth.

Scoop out Vaseline or other brand of petroleum jelly with your finger or a different white cloth to cover the blot.

Rub a thick poultice of the Vaseline or other petroleum jelly into the stain and leave it on overnight.

Wipe away the excess oil jelly with a dry, white cloth after 24 hours.

Repeat Steps 4 through 6 as necessary until the white spot is gone.

Reapply wax or wax into the cleaned spot according to the package instructions.

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Tips for Cleaning Exterior Brick

Cleaning outside brickwork such as walls, paths and fences on a regular basis not only retains the brick looking fresh and new, but also increases its lifespan. Moss, mildew and layers of grime trap moisture that degrades the surface of the brick. Removing grime will conserve your brickwork for years to come.

Condition is Everything

Inspect the brickwork for any damage, before cleaning. Cracks, chips and missing chunks of mortar may allow water to seep beyond the surface, resulting in irreversible damage. Make any necessary repairs prior to cleaning the bricks that water and detergent do not make the issue worse.

Test It Out

If you’re planning to use any detergent on the bricks, test an inconspicuous area prior to cleaning. Spray or use the cleaner on the brick, scrub as you would during cleaning then rinse. Check the brick when it dries to guarantee that the detergent hasn’t caused any discoloring.

Spray It Off

Use a pressure washer to remove grime and surface dirt. Take care to not damage the masonry using the maximum pressure or holding the sprayer too near the bricks. Keep the pressure below 3000 psi. Typically, pressure washing will be sufficient to wash out the brick. When it is stained or heavily soiled and the sprayer doesn’t depart the brick tidy, you might have to use a detergent.

Do-It-Yourself Detergent

Utilize a commercial brick cleaning solution to remove stains and grime, or create your own. For grime, mix equal portions laundry detergent and water. Particularly those due to moss, mix one part bleach. Or, make a paste you could spread on the brick by mixing one part salt and one part dishwashing liquid then adding only enough water to make a thick paste. Start at the base of the wall and work your way up, letting the detergent endure for five to ten minutes prior to scrubbing with a brush and rinsing.

Blast It Off

As a final resort, you may use abrasive blasting to remove stains and dirt. This process can damage mortar and bricks if not done properly. It is not suitable for historical or soft bricks. This sort of job is best performed by an expert. If you decide to do it yourself, test a small area first to make sure the abrasive doesn’t pit or damage the brick. Abrasive blasting options include lavender, nut shells, cherry or peach pits and glass rings.

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How to Clean Kitchen Knobs

They might be expected while it’s easy to overlook the knobs on cabinets, drawers and appliances as soon as it comes to kitchen cleaning. Baking or grease, food supplies coat the knobs grab them, leaving behind a mess that dries set up. Clean those knobs with things already in your kitchen.

White Vinegar Wonder

A soft cloth dipped in vinegar and rubbed every knob over cleans the plating and removes mineral residue left from water if the knobs get wet.

Foil Finisher

Wet aluminum foil rubbed above a chrome-plated knob generates an aluminum-based gloss that smooths knobs and even eliminates some rust. Until the knobs feel clean and smooth, then wipe off the residue with a soft fabric rub.

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How to Remove Black Marks From Pfaltzgraff Dinner Ware

Pfaltzgraff began as a house pottery company in the early 1800s, offering dishes and serving pieces in various ceramic materials, like stoneware and earthenware. Black marks occasionally develop on Pfaltzgraff dinnerware when tiny pieces of metal from aluminum or silver utensils become deposited on the hard glazed surface. These dark “scrapes” or lines may seem unsightly, but you can typically remove the marks having an inexpensive, homemade glue.

Wash your affected Pfaltzgraff dinnerware piece under running warm water. This helps remove any tiny dirt or food particles that might thwart your mark-removal efforts.

Pour two to three tablespoons of baking soda into a small mixing bowl. Slowly add water and stir the 2 ingredients together till you get a thick paste.

Dip a clean, damp sponge into the baking soda paste. Apply the glue directly onto the black marks, using light pressure to tighten it into the lines. Allow the glue to sit for three to five minutes.

Rub the paste gently with the sponge in a circular motion until the black marks completely come off the dish. Clean your dinnerware piece as usual and dry it with a clean, soft towel.

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The Way to Scotchgard a Massive Couch

Sizes stain inhibitors prevent liquids from quickly penetrating the surface of couch fabric. While they don’t prevent liquids from penetrating totally, they usually maintain the liquids on the surface long enough to give you time to have the paper towels.

Sizes Away

Buy spray stain inhibitor designed for upholstery fabrics. Check the label for the square footage of coverage at each can and buy enough to give your couch at least four coats of spray. Test the spray on an inconspicuous section of the couch, checking for cloth colour fastness, and if the spray shifts the pliability of the cloth — particularly on microfiber, chenille or velvet. Remove the pillows and at a well-ventilated room, spray the couch. Begin at the peak of the rear and cover the surface with an additional spray. Examine the application directions for the best distance to maintain the can from the fabric. Let the couch dry, then apply the rest three coats — just one after every drying session. Spray one side of each one of the pillows, allow it to dry, then spray the remaining side. Should you place clean a section of the couch afterwards, reapply the spray to the washed area.

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The Size of a Lotus Flower

The lotus (Nelumbo nucifera), also referred to as sacred lotus and Indian lotus, is revered in Buddhism and Hinduism as a sign of divinity, fertility, and purity of mind and body. The plant has been widely cultivated in China for more than 3,000 years for food and medicine. The plant also produces edible seedlike nutletsthat can be utilized to make conventional mala prayer beads. The plant most widely recognized attribute is its big, beautiful blossoms.

Description

As an emergent aquatic plant, then the lotus plant produces flowers and leaves straight from its roots. The smooth, waxy leaves have been supported over the water by a very long petiole that’s attached to a stem, which frequently lends the appearance of floating on the water’s surface. The leaves generally reach as much as two feet in length and remain poised 3 to 6 ft above the surface, while thick rhizomes burrow in the mud beneath. The lotus is native to Asia and northern Australia, and is cultivated as an ornamental in shallow ponds, marshes and other wetland habitats throughout U.S. Department of Agriculture hardiness zones 5 through 10

Flowers

The lotus blossom is cup-shaped, ranges in colour from white to pink and reaches an average length of 8 to 12 inches. Each blossom comprises about 15 petals and starts in the morning and closes at night. After about three days, then the fragrant blossom goes to yield a fruit that resembles a nut. The fruit, which includes several chambers that hold individual seeds, is embedded in the surface of a 3-inch broad receptacle that looks to be an upside-down ice cream cone. This special structure has worth in floral arrangements because it takes on the appearance of a wasp’s nest when dried.

Growth Habit

The lotus is a fast plant that thrives in tropical and temperate climates in shallow aquatic environments up to 8 feet in thickness, although it is winter hardy as far north as USDA zone 4 as long as roots do not freeze. For cultivation in small garden ponds, it is helpful to plant roots in suspended containers for ease of management. In larger ponds, roots may be secured directly to the bottom in close proximity to the water, where plants can become established and colonize from seed.

Other Lotuses

American lotus (Nelumbo lutea), also referred to as yellow lotus and water chinquapin, is a North American species that produces yellow blossoms equal in size to the Indian lotus. N. nucifera cultivars, such as “Momo Boton,” create smaller leaves and rose-colored blooms.

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Annual Flowers for Root Bound Areas

The areas under trees are usually filled with tree roots. Some of those roots are near the top of the soil, which makes the place root bound. Digging up the area can injure those roots and hurt the tree. Annual flowers are ideal for putting in root bound areas because you can plant them from seed, or in tiny holes to get six-packs of seedlings. Annuals are shallow rooted, so won’t disturb the roots of their trees.

Spring

In warm-winter climates, U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 8 through 10, spring starts as early as December. If the place is root bound but at a sunny location, cool-season flowers work well. Think about the seasons. The place could be in colour during the summer but in full sunlight during the spring because it is under deciduous trees. Cool-season annual flowers comprise Lobelia (Lobelia inflata) which grows to from 6 to 30 inches high and is covered with small blossoms in pale blue or white. Calendula (Calendula officinalis) contains bright orange and yellow daisy-shaped blossoms from 3 to 4 inches round. The blossoms are edible. The bush grows to 18 inches high. Sweet peas (Lathyrus odoratus) typically grow from 5 to 6 feet high and also need a support for their tendrils to grasp. But there’s a dwarf variety that only grows to 18 inches and does not need a support. Other spring picks comprise stock (Matthiola incana), pansies (Viola x wittrockiana) and snapdragons (Antirrhinum majus).

Summer

Summer gives you a wide variety of blooms from amaranthus (Amaranthus) to zinnias (Zinnia elegans). When the spring blooms are fading, pull out them. Pulling up the plants will make the place a little uneven. Gently rake the area smooth using a grass rake so you don’t disturb the tree roots. Plant the seeds of this summer annuals. Amaranthus have purple, red, pink or yellowish blooms. The blossoms may form small fuzzy balls or even be tufted on upwards spikes. Zinnias have a selection of colours, all except blue; sizes from 1/4 to 4 inches in diameter and grow from 6 inches to 36 inches high. Other summer annual blossoms include cosmos (Cosmos bipinnatus), growing up to 48 inches high, and marigolds (Tagetes patula).

Drought Resistant

Trees such as oaks don’t do well with frequent watering during the summer, particularly in Mediterranean climates where oak trees have adapted to slopes that don’t get much rain. Plant drought-resistant annual flowers underneath the oaks. Love-in-a-mist (Nigella damascena), verbena (Verbena), moss rose (Portulaca grandiflora) and bachelor button (Centaurea cyanus) are all drought resistant.

Planning and Planting

Before planting, soak the area so it’s moist to a depth of 6 inches. Test it out by plunging a screwdriver into the soil. Let the area dry off a little so you’re not planting in mud, but rather damp soil. How long that takes depends on the weather. In foggy coastal areas it could take as much as a week. In dry inland locations, the soil could be prepared the next day. Scatter the seeds and then cover no over 1/2 inch of soil. The exception could be big seeds, like sweet peas; poke a hole in the soil 1 inch deep, slip the seed in the hole and then cover. Water with fertilizer that’s water soluble to soak the bed.

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Vanilla Bean Plant

The vanilla bean plant (Vanilla planifolia) belongs to the Orchidaceae or orchid familymembers. This plant originates from tropical forests located in Mexico and Central America at U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 10 and 11, where it stays warm nearly year round. Today most vanilla beans are produced in Madagascar; Reunion, formerly called Bourbon; and Indonesia. The vanilla orchid climbs up tree trunks, grasping the wood together with fleshy roots, in which it produces greenish-yellow flowers 2 inches broad. With pollination, the vanilla bean develops on the plant.

Vanilla Flowers

Vanilla plant flowers resemble typical orchid blossoms, but they last just one day if not pollinated. The flowers are hand-pollinated since these orchids are generally grown out of the native surroundings without access to their pollinators located in the wild. Pollination is only successful if done in the early hours on precisely the same day that the flower opened. Otherwise pollinated, the orchid blossom dries up and falls off the plant.

Vanilla Beans

Vanilla beans are the 6- to 9-inch-long seed pods of the orchid. The beans develop just on mature plants that have got 10 feet or more in height. It takes approximately five months for the beans to ripen. Once the beans are harvested and cured, the vital oils found in the seeds and in the oil liquid surrounding the seeds are used. This oil is used to flavor ice creams, puddings, sauces, deserts and other types of cooking. Vanilla is also used in cigars, perfumes and liqueurs.

History

The Aztecs in Mexico used the vanilla bean to flavor a beverage called xocolatl. This beverage was a mixture of chocolate, honey and vanillathat has been drunk by Montezuma. Cortez got the beverage from Montezuma when the Spanish invaded Mexico. Vanilla beans were shipped back to Europe starting in the 16th century, even in which their use spread across the world.

Growing Requirements

Vanilla bean plants grow best when the air temperatures are between 80 and 95 degrees Fahrenheit, meaning they require a heated greenhouse in many climates. They require bright shade and high humidity, which equals daily misting, but not wet soil. Growth of the orchid plant stops when subjected to temperatures below 55 degrees Fahrenheit. This plant needs some sort of support to climb, and flowering generally starts within 1 to 3 years after planting.

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