Easy DIY jewelry cleaner

<p>Hey hey! I’m back today with a Pinterest-inspired post that I’ve been meaning to share for a while now. My plan is to start writing more of these posts – taking simple projects or helpful tips I find on Pinterest and showing how they turned out for me. </p> <p>This one is super simple and cheap (<strong>free</strong> if you have the basics on hand). I found this DIY jewelry cleaner while pinning months ago and it’s actually from a food site <a href="http://www.food.com/recipe/jewelry-cleaner-180133?soc=pinterest">here</a>. Which is fitting because all of the “ingredients” are from the kitchen:</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0O7iVUOTupKmKjvL7BpC2-whZ_5TL73bVhlSQocWo0CzaU6YU55UkFp22cvgSfUmJnGY-IecRAJ7-BklrEOgf9K6kcU6gxAe2JQZICfFB2mIPJ0oVBniEOVd3jlxvcEw2pJuBvZ8iwb4/s1600-h/IMG_2510%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img alt="DIY jewelry cleaner" border="0" height="513" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzNC6xyWUlsKbNPjsEuASV1R8_EGaiBhQbMFEeXwUT_lym3Rtnh-fV0NIjazF7ErMwzlv3bg8IYprofEKeXbzIGyOfwpDfp_82iMMGYAwlBhE2W-xBsNWh795jK1EX5HFB3QwxKVylJHM/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="DIY jewelry cleaner" width="400" /></a></p> <p>You’ll need one tablespoon each of salt, baking soda and dish detergent. Also, one cup water, a piece of aluminum foil and a bowl. </p> <p>Just stick the water in the microwave for one to two minutes (I do two to get it nice and hot) and while it’s heating use a piece of foil to line the bottom of the bowl:</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3SGtHogz_27djMrPIOQss_yf-db0_a7Tn9kd9GUXTzGePctbKNAey40mkEHQWVsXUZP9eTo6ooQM1fcrPqqAs05WSIFU5fMlrdd5KLx5mWfM6McGZ5NQ5GaUDgPmMI64Xp1D_2PHFdKQ/s1600-h/IMG_2517%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnHTUk1Lu2R5cOQu-DXw74uD-x9rTtQT3MMajALn3azAd3ykQc8fI514rL5vMCAzN0WzwwVmhXF4CPjQv-iimupqtDDmsS5s44qf1B0jtX2OJlUCGqV0Mdk3kubfCW3D4L7OYV1kfNFlI/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="" width="320" /></a></p> <p>When the water is ready, pour it in the bowl, add the tablespoons of baking soda, salt and detergent in and watch it fizz:</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi905UByPnFytnFWLACpN_Jvv_yVb2tvtI5TXmWV_Znbb4Eo7BsJoTxquQ6FYD5cOLODHITNByT9YkSlOBh_5kIzabLSK5e7I3jCk5xjH9QKRosLQMWIfFs5iEauhu91YXik6krAYA8IiM/s1600-h/IMG_2522%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWelv9xu2eQhZFAFN8jcgCC1C-arQgoteRCb8a_t8ToBuyej-PImO3ErNuTe4IHkrNHy4hp97Ex7Dw_K7koQZmwcNLPGr5TTQITSgsT7twEPamXwGx4XtLelG1tti9wQ9K86L2XSyuJk4/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="" width="320" /></a></p> <p>That’s the fun part. ;) </p> <p>Then you just place your jewelry in the bowl for five to ten minutes. The ingredients eat away at the grime and dirt and my rings come out sparkling! It’s amazing! </p> <p>I feel like I commercial for dish washing detergent with all the SPARKLE but it’s true – this stuff really works well. I used to use jewelry cleaner from the store, but the brush that came with it fell apart after the second use. Since then I’ve used a soft toothbrush but I find I don’t really need to use it with this recipe. </p> <p>If you’ve got some major gunk on there you may still need it. When I take my rings into my jeweler to be cleaned they look at me like I have three heads and ask WHAT IN THE WORLD I have been doing. I guess the spray paint, saw dust, paint, glue and all the other DIY messes stick around. ;) </p> <p>This homemade version eats away at all that stuff and makes them absolutely shine. Love it. And the ingredients are so basic I always have it all on hand. If you are cleaning a bunch of jewelry you’ll want to make a new batch each time, according to the source. </p> <p>I’ve also used this on more delicate jewelry like an opal ring – it worked beautifully. Some of the reviewers on the site I linked to mentioned it messed up sterling silver jewelry, but then others said it cleaned up their silver beautifully, so try it for silver at your own risk. Check out that link for reviews before you try something you are hesitant about! </p> <p>I’m thrilled with it and highly recommend it – I’ll take an easy, cheap solution any day! :)</p> <p>So have you found any great tips on Pinterest lately? I hope to share some of mine with you more often – good results and the bad. Cause it’s nice to actually DO something I’ve pinned on Pinterest, you know. ;) </p>

Easy DIY jewelry cleaner

Hey hey! I’m back today with a Pinterest-inspired post that I’ve been meaning to share for a while now. My plan is to start writing more of ...

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Show us your family spaces!

<p>Good Monday to ya! Hope your weekend was lovely! I’m kicking off the week with our next room in the Show Us Your House series of linky parties – this one is family rooms and I’m really looking forward to seeing these links!!</p> <p>First up, I’ll share our space. This is one room that just did not work for us for years…and it’s completely my fault. ;) When we built our home I chose a corner fireplace instead of the normal spot between two windows. I’ve gone on and on about what an AWFUL IDEA THAT WAS, but I won’t blabber on anymore about that. You’re welcome. ;) </p> <p>I finally figured out a way to <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2011/11/fireplace-redo.html">make that corner fireplace work</a> better in the room last year and I am SOOOO much happier with it: <img alt="wood treatment above fireplace" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXVBnU_y0x06zyTk-5Qy2KnTvDiyZV02UrakMRwVUX3r22UMQiWLNW1fEaob9NkqYm8Xx6weS7pgkSPEZj8RhcE0a2Uym0a6jcyaF12sdIamvXr18c696yvnnNx9BPc08lYGDD_rEoYzY/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="wood treatment above fireplace" width="320" /></p> <p>Last summer we also moved the TV stuff to a different spot in the room and that one change opened up the room tremendously. </p> <p>We finished paying off an <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2011/02/well-its-official-were-weird.html">insane amount of debt</a> early last year (I can’t believe that was only last year!) and our first real purchase (paid for with “cash” of course), was a super nice <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2011/04/sofa-search-update.html">sectional from Arhaus</a>:</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy7XMGFw4RvBD_HcGmp1GsZN3BPA2ZdJ3VF0jaPhxkLm9jr0zb7Vqv4p8uRUcNV-nyiJS5KeYG9jDXvBFAtNJOOC4ZrJpOoXhT0SAm4He19jerpOCIQFzqsWmLurzW8XjvkZgUrlgz_N0/s1600-h/IMG_2500%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><font color="#4c4c4c"></font><img alt="small sectional" border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuxxAH5pYJKjH2H3B1wxhBVG8P66Uqe0Q4Ccd4SdqRTiJPdQq7mcyXjIiWuItJswbIvn1SkFDEjo900MJAb0ojIW2sjQFBBIG9qRXqYSlHv024d668xLrQWmmUU0Gcv6LKWnGITpzaKU8/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="small sectional" width="450" /></a></p> <p>This is hands down one of our best purchases ever…if not the best. This sofa is so darn comfy and has held up great! The cushions aren’t flat, spills wipe up easily…it’s fantastic. I swear it looks like the day it was delivered! </p> <p>You can see by that pic that I put the <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2012/06/rug-giveaway.html">Rugs USA rug</a> back in the family room – that old rug was in such awful shape I decided to try this one again. At first I didn’t think the drapes and pillows worked with it, and I still don’t think the drapes work <em>great</em>…but they are fine for now, I’m not worrying about it. I wasn’t about to try to rework the whole room for the rug. Maybe later, but not now. :)</p> <p>I found a couple new pillows from Target (earlier this summer) that incorporate a lot more of the colors of the room. Before I had solid red pillows in here – these pull in the rug much better. I also pulled some knit pillows from our bedroom, because let’s be honest…we all know I never make our bed. I mean…<em>really</em>. </p> <p>So at least they are being used in the family room instead of sitting in a pile next to the bed:</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp8StUp6LauAhec-HhfMofkg6Lg9M5W2jDm9090fVwDpFYr_hl9MbbPChRAPUpqt49fdgW5jVaJol15lNhWCuB8nGotVcwCxGE7bkge8oUeD2ZWhon7Sj-q6rqPxYizoGio2rBk63juzs/s1600-h/IMG_2497%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="contemporary rug blue gray" border="0" height="587" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiofbbtKSOJfozKvGBZm8qi9Zbjs72NWkX8cdPisWu102V-XEiev0e41rg8QOEozlS2onIl2IYN6hAWxRN6N4zcyaHR6bDVoBLo0Xqhyrvk-ZWz4QCgOnAx8h5R87B5LVSoeU_0AFmOF0c/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="contemporary rug blue gray" width="400" /></a></p> <p>Last summer our <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2011/08/our-visitor-murphy.html">fridge went kaput</a> (almost exactly a year ago!) and when it went kaput our laminate floors went with it. So insurance paid for new floors and we kicked in a little extra for <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2011/10/our-new-house.html">real hardwoods</a> throughout our main level:</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4U-tH17RP4hw2x1Yq2Bx56GUU9WnMGGM_Jt69zKVglG_C0MCCzkyPnqeVRWQyAprg7NQfHJek76fSddQn1d3QEbdnFsm-gnZ6yqh-lnKDpSgMGnzyhaYu3VqXYlpq3z0y4Z9kPyD6RGs/s1600-h/IMG_2504%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="jacobean stain floors" border="0" height="621" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivbmC2EpLJcDZl2a8YUvUu1tAr9AdlX_GICRvSZlutYVqSnAjf8V5UYkqEtQfiKpNSXwk9NusTui1AJz_P5K0qFAYq-9ueyDR4geJzxhgjMcjN5_ey_kd-OSP1G4zSyRm28neTB_aSk54/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="jacobean stain floors" width="400" /></a></p> <p>OH MY GAH, I love them so very much. So. very. much. There’s no way we would have been able to do this without that lovely fridge melting down on us, so now I’m not nearly as upset about it. ;) Living in a mess for two months was not <em>so</em> fun at the time though.</p> <p>When we moved the TV stuff last summer, I turned a Craigslist dresser into our entertainment center:</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOdgthTEzU4k1Tb214m8I3rSzyh3VCcy-jWaebirxS54ltvUv7A6Y_4QMjIYKf0AkKsTjNi3Zt67si18Zyu_xzuevyuvjof1Y5lWxZapMBsSvqsdyP6M_gRsME24EiSJleDZeGeEqU4RA/s1600-h/IMG_2507%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img alt="dresser as entertainment center" border="0" height="571" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVnTW9RDJmWO7BEGnZ3LNeou6c2vmBk5SEx08-t2oDnZNQW4McuRg17e0XUBbbFZ4Ld3w7ZfD1Km6_JvVHh8bIkHhkkF_jiO3607J_RnOgVwY9QyGXn337oDVtPRyvbSpvx5KK7Rn8MPo/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="dresser as entertainment center" width="400" /></a></p> <p>(That rug is showing as bright blue there and I’m not sure why, it’s really more of a charcoal blue color. See pics above.) </p> <p>The components under the TV work great by the way! I LOVE having them out of the way. I<strong> loathe</strong> electronics and cords and stuff…I am always trying to figure out ways to hide them if possible. </p> <p>I do have some plans for this room – new art, new paint and perhaps a new wall treatment? I’ve got the color picked out but I’ve been mulling over the wall treatment for awhile now. It will happen as soon as I want to do all that work. Which could mean about a year. ;)</p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p>I love how this space has been transforming over the years but my favorite part is how much more open than it used to be. Moving that TV (it used to be to the left of the fireplace) over across the room has made a HUGE difference. </p> <p>You can find all of the posts about our family room <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/search/label/family%20room">here</a>!</p> <p>Now let’s see your family spaces, your living rooms – whatever you call the room where your family chills and relaxes! </p> <p>Don’t forget the schedule for the rest of the year!:</p> <p align="center"><strong>September</strong> (basements/rec rooms), <strong>October</strong> (bedrooms), <strong>November </strong>(foyers), <strong>December </strong>(mud/laundry rooms)</p> <p>I ask that you link back to TDC in your post, especially if you’d like to be considered for a feature in a recap: </p> <div style="padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 5px" align="center"><img alt="Show Us Your House" src="http://www.homestoriesatoz.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/image34.png" title="Show Us Your House" /></div> <pre style="border-bottom: #cccccc 1px solid; text-align: left; border-left: #cccccc 1px solid; padding-bottom: 10px; margin: auto; padding-left: 10px; width: 90%; padding-right: 10px; display: block; white-space: pre-wrap; background: #f0f0f0; height: 45px; color: #777777; font-size: 90%; overflow: auto; border-top: #cccccc 1px solid; border-right: #cccccc 1px solid; padding-top: 10px"><div align="center"><a href="http://thriftydecorchick.com/" title="Show Us Your House" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.homestoriesatoz.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/image34.png" alt="Thrifty Decor Chick" style="border:none;" /></a></div></pre><br /><br /><p>Go ahead and link it up and have fun!</p><br /><!-- start InLinkz script --><script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.inlinkz.com/cs.php?id=184404"></script><!-- end InLinkz script -->

Show us your family spaces!

Good Monday to ya! Hope your weekend was lovely! I’m kicking off the week with our next room in the Show Us Your House series of linky parti...

Read more »

Painting tips (and the laundry room walls)

<p>Hey there! I’m back with another update on the basement laundry room. When we started finishing our basement in January, we decided to move the washer and dryer to a dedicated room down there. Some people thought I was crazy, but I can now tell you from experience, it’s freakin’ awesome. ;) (You can see the reasons why I did it <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2012/04/case-for-basement-laundry-room.html">here</a>.)</p> <p>I told you about the <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2012/05/picking-out-basement-paint-colors.html">paint color plan</a> for the basement a couple of months ago, and I knew I wanted to paint the laundry room this Pebble Beach color from Benjamin Moore:</p> <p><img alt="pebble beach, benjamin moore" border="0" height="401" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj6TEnVV0IX4Y5yBDFBdCZH1AGzpYPaDPJkQrK3kLprBZziAgvzow8Lj_tjDYwovyYDreygYC2PUF2XW2seO-KdNXvcbHutmUrCA41iT9mhfVKOMVQvNAHcAhf0KhYgk4xbo0xzTG-4a8/?imgmax=800" title="pebble beach, benjamin moore" width="425" /></p> <p>I got these matched at Sherwin Williams because I’ve fallen in love with that paint, and I got it for a great deal during one of their sales. </p> <p>Since I was painting the laundry room, I figured this would be a great time to recap some of my favorite painting tips. I use these pretty much every time I paint and they keep the process as cheap as it can possibly be! </p> <p>First up, the dreaded preparation. If I can avoid this part, I do. :) I showed you <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2009/07/got-holes.html">how I fill holes</a> in the walls here and that’s still my method. But if there are small nail holes I’ll just quickly fill them with spackle and wipe away the excess (don’t even need to sand) or just leave them alone – paint fills them in if they are small. ;)</p> <p>I saw an idea in Family Handyman a while back that recommends using nails to make holes in the rim of the paint can to prevent the paint from filling up that area and dripping all over the sides:</p> <p><img alt="preventing drips on paint cans" height="355" src="http://hostedmedia.reimanpub.com/TFH/Step-By-Step/FH11APR_STOPAI_01.JPG" title="preventing drips on paint cans" width="450" /></p> <p>I have tried it and honestly it didn’t do much good. I used large nails and lot of holes too – it just didn’t drain well. So I stick by my easy (but messier) method, which is just wiping the paint from the rim with my finger and onto my paint t-shirt:</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZrNVX6Z_wWkLUzFlIrhPcwJSM3wMigCum9Xt-im2TTreaIHZEnPhkb7YztTsnqaZlMlgJq5TlVRa2q6bpij_kxtr8EsigJElqWVqHCA1nGMD9g7aim7_UJUv7Apvz4TmJvA6B2nGrVxQ/s1600-h/IMG_1463%25255B3%25255D%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="painting clothes" border="0" height="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBUlFGqaBvrZJtXvE9BkgooXfMqY0dgFS8Pt-y6k4ATWvm4ld5plgjgAJ3iohKjfznkiB1x7lKSY2O2XuP_zXjM0xKVI3Vi6YFUZAwYN1p1205Ng9sceeDe0u3mXvYO2ySGS-5reBndh4/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="painting clothes" width="400" /></a></p> <p>I wear that one pretty much every time I paint. If I don’t have it on, I just grab a rag and use that. I always find it’s impossible to keep my hands completely clean while painting anyway, so why not just use them. ;)</p> <p>I saw a tip from Sabrina Soto on HGTV once a while back that I still use – before I paint I grab painters tape and use it to clean off the roller:</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-l9Iw27cs_J0/UC6GSDPf6sI/AAAAAAAAWeQ/t0PkM-qgH4g/s1600-h/IMG_2447%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="frogtape" border="0" height="435" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-qI9mAeNXQyU/UC6GSeODXnI/AAAAAAAAWeY/u0ITg5s4-P4/IMG_2447_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="frogtape" width="290" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzbSGUqBaDGRxGQZQKtZLxtcoy-DrZO3SiPb5QFmcFo1xTBdTWFghu7_UP5CoGq3bhF5NoUqKGAKRcmrqK8ezJXkp_TONpIbqdp6eIGwLNmrt0-GBadJqR1wuRGvQkN_-xAGKjf_YVqK4/s1600-h/IMG_2446%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="clean off roller before painting" border="0" height="435" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgme-LONqBKPHsdAzFxe77PN8nXQ4HvKgfWOY0jCGBloN45fR8L-vRdI4ZE_H5b6MqTdkSVfmMosA52U5weZ3M57PLL3dFkOiVob8QAqYq4HsU5TIpk-nAsUR0wPMT0sQv_TmuQCILgb0M/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="clean off roller before painting" width="290" /></a> </p> <p>(You’ll be seeing a lot of that green FrogTape around here by the way, I’m one of the members of their new <a href="http://frogtapeblogsquad.shurtechtw.com/">Blog Squad</a>, whoot!!)</p> <p>This way the fuzzies end up on the tape and not your walls! (And the cheaper your roller, the more fuzz you’ll get off, in my experience.) </p> <p>Here’s another tip – it took me a while to realize this, but even if I’m painting a regular room with normal ceiling height, I put my roller on a pole, instead of holding the roller. It is SO much easier on your body to stand back and let the long pole do the work. My back and shoulders used to <em>ache</em> when I used just the roller. Now it doesn’t bother me much at all because I use the pole. </p> <p>By the way, please don’t buy a pole at the store just for painting!! Any standard broom that comes apart (and most do) will attach to your roller:</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipay3Mn1MVKMIhdJCE2UETLlMbNWBbbM-e3Ng-YYGm7Bwc-SsuZZKfSt1zNFc3mFWDH35Kr64_x0gbj3a96r_WDQUElRLwvEKPOFehLceKmVcHC9Ue3dwuq1ptZ016MJnCxAQkYsxCjCU/s1600-h/IMG_2449%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="use broom pole for painting" border="0" height="470" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidKPA0rHa3HMRqVmdDnclHctWrfmSSRz1znJ8kUBJPg30VmNOslBnZtpJwFRJP8mpFUA9naj8DezR1jaJ3R7n8d7aLsOEWMLxVMf6J6QRM6BBjBW22P25YTZZoWvS8dk8LuI4nU-jdbm4/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="use broom pole for painting" width="290" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl1B2l3EdKSApAI7awHe6MHdUukMUsXYTcfGYn6hGoQQOM337Uvwa43f28dNiy23sELsp72Xug96zNSrSY_QyTaCabmVWhrQ_yzjhnnoJnLMl1ew4Di6qh3hzGgrEP6NahRMCxVR99zSc/s1600-h/IMG_2452%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="use broom pole for painting" border="0" height="470" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxaLKIbrynft4tIBJ4uYCDvcewQSY_4c8ySCmgcvKv1yv1C8voXg97Uxe-sfsJcvk34AHKibdtTGpo_0Jx4S-xRb5ancdrWGqPVt7IZ372fGkqbllRHqlcgI2DRa1ZY9WkHF83nhOFhLY/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="use broom pole for painting" width="280" /></a>  </p> <p>You can’t tell from these photos but that red broom handle is covered with paint. ;)</p> <p>As far as trays go, I just use the plastic liners as my tray, without a metal tray underneath. You don’t need it. I’ve tried the metal paint trays where the paint is supposed to peel right off and uh, it did <em>not </em>happen for me. Maybe it was the fault of the operator, but it was ridiculous. Save your money. :)</p> <p>When it comes to small jobs where I’m just using a small foam roller, I will either just dump some paint on a couple paper plates: </p> <p><img alt="cheap paint tray" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibx63p5K1gzbvhnx5lmh_GBmjkVA-4uZlWtSXeYegF3zdhM8gldC05W3frsIr5Cys-YkFsmM9NnKi-sLpMy-eW9UkcARFkG06zIh_KlfBQeaHkgUhryiz07ZJErlyl1UslMr8u-LEd_ZQ/?imgmax=800" title="cheap paint tray" width="359" /></p> <p>Or I will skip the plastic tray all together and use up some of my plastic shopping bags and line the metal tray with it:</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLmJYlIoap1p6EWi8qTTFGSvtXiJI0JhFeuZLxg42Rk27hP6SFrSGZ0uu_XYXcS5crGvNiehP1zILO7EO_NMDzEyfzx_7xInGGz8i5NmI7an_mdhkzQOh5sLiBAhz4VRyTveYFr0UGbFs/s1600-h/DSC00919%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="plastic bag paint tray" border="0" height="427" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO4VeR4L77FErx2IZzfU6j8NqTWBK_PkHJpUiH0WTcCnfhCfUEbekNHX3dD6OIJliyguKKNPzN2kGkN3Xj5HjZgjRcfWBGwURJeGA_ases3GV8F35bRiM_AnLHUFH0SATuzNw1SQgbjGQ/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="plastic bag paint tray" width="320" /></a></p> <p>If you do this, make sure to turn the bag inside out if there is print on it. :)</p> <p>I don’t buy the little handheld paint trays specifically made for cutting in with a brush. Instead I use coffee cups and wash them out after each use:<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGvlC4amPrp6loneqiC_I3s03aApvb8NFUSFFZI795aZj-QKQ3UN88sDnbo3UVOUvHr5of_GanI3tHnDyfiY4xW5pG0JlyG9roljMuRwqiSKU34NSNq34CLEh6eAsrO2nB24I2vcfgihM/s1600-h/IMG_2453%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="coffee cup as paint tray" border="0" height="445" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH7RSVtWeed6MFoKLVH_lEc2MqlkQRBd8u55FEbySz42QxoYaRhImsHqCFmfflhpyKhBNlvU454YxF2kr8wh8Y8btxNm2V4TKty4p16CYLZRFpzHnYmJwEQ1lLxStPXe0035wf_45CPlc/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="coffee cup as paint tray" width="320" /></a></p> <p>If you don’t have any (we don’t drink coffee so we don’t have a ton), you can get them for about 25 cents at Goodwill. They hold just enough and are the perfect size for a paint brush. The handle makes them easy to hold on to and carry around the room. </p> <p>One more tip I learned years ago – if need to stop mid-painting and have wet brushes, stick them in a Ziploc bag or a plastic grocery bag (tied up) and they will stay wet for days. </p> <p>Some say to put them in the fridge but I’ve never found it necessary – they stay wet just as long left out as well:</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHc3JUZAhwVHkULLhCx6s5_qKWl2M6TzhGSvN-iPgu3Xg7KXnfl_VBIXBTgdTk-yoL7nChZM8HR5tgCHv45xJKSGpRGaBjmsQjo60tZPJk5_ebl3dFZwUPkny5EA1FxlxHyRhmK1FdsJI/s1600-h/IMG_2455%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="store wet paint brushes for later use" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhILh1AB85Z0NCZJSLMZG4J15XoPnwz8djnWKR2HUZXc7VwcY_e356wgy2O6vHpynb0aVg4NCgZbg0te_jcKtGNq-d_59yGURCCDTEB8pDYoy6oPDGnBf3NoIaHMTfPPH64Ai6R7RksnUs/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="store wet paint brushes for later use" width="320" /></a></p> <p>If I have paint left in a tray I’ll wrap it up in a bag and tie it up to keep it till I’m ready – that way I’m not trying to get all that paint back in the can (you’ll always lose some). You can keep used rollers ready to go that way as well! (Although I find they dry out quicker than the brushes.)</p> <p>And when are ready to wash the brushes – you’ll love this little guy:</p> <p><img alt="paint brush cleaning comb" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9ttFod6btElfQBhcpJJQs4dCwH8p5qdxEwgz7SRx7zHbTCYLTR8TRVmq3Kv2QfDl3pdawa6v3pl1murR3GXIdADeIDnL_yn5CNSayL9t_8BX51ClLVN2qRtzishg59mkYYLFauXOh3nM/?imgmax=800" title="paint brush cleaning comb" width="320" /></p> <p>This brush comb is about $5 but has saved me a TON in new paint brushes. You just brush it through while washing them out. It gets all the bits of paint out and leaves the bristles nice and straight while they dry out. I LOVE this. </p> <p>So there you go! A few of my favorite painting tools and tips! If you have never painted and are nervous about it, don’t be. I hadn’t put a drop of paint on a wall in my life before the day we closed on this house. And that first day I painted our family room and it’s still the same today…so I did OK. ;)</p> <p>Back to the laundry room -- here’s the space before we started:</p> <p><img alt="" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiymyrfNHnIeCcR4VSPOpgH8J2rZv9coMnnY89rw9lRmuedldxQENjDcwNTa632exkjJKmdqhnAwaoNozZyrh312wemPpQw_bTGJgJjYVbfNoC7P9hcr3geFzQzvse8s_mOHYpvI7W00bY/?imgmax=800" title="" width="320" /></p> <p>And here it is after <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2012/07/how-to-pick-out-tile-in-laundry-room.html">the tile</a> was installed, Pebble Beach was painted on the walls, and baseboards and quarter round were installed:</p> <p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo5nsq0plPyK6wmZrbqGfynzZr3vOWyl3QmWQ-Z533UMTWeukkTMItwgRSxwk_sKCnp3O1yBGjusrEWatw2j9k5vr0HYnQc88gQqZ81E_Ldpd4fi5cYF_1W-1Bi35xL7cZIMhs4sH44gg/s1600-h/IMG_23393.jpg"><img alt="light gray laundry room" border="0" height="435" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxGyXHrlDd4a7_-Mba_G25HZIyQyHpa6mQxFCNFcm9Xh5qvgXjz7bwT12KWmlP9IV1xFdZhwfX5uxACVqiVzKaUtrhJd_bvFHCs7zXhOMR9OcwlnD5APFJImslTPXEbh0OpkifDRim5XQ/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="light gray laundry room" width="290" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-1igH9-rR2k39cZdGqe9pf_Cf7Dct9xgHTCZHxINkaFQLb2iMvw53WhmV2fYaCRGulOGuAM6CxGbU1bDGthmO63AO0IQ6TS29ntJZm3b3LZhayFYcGZzMO021j0WWvjho96Ol05oOBw4/s1600-h/IMG_23403.jpg"><img alt="light gray laundry room white tile" border="0" height="435" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg280xxDwaSuxSa_5-ks3mTMz8636EwDqZsUZi3s3JkFqtmdcANKWXlODZELvX_6nO9uJSXU9ghoXjaokbEglF5P72KoejUcpRcFSNJsFzLzfHvtAot311dEYcJRam6dCaqFG8-xFvdIN0/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="light gray laundry room white tile" width="290" /></a></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p>I was up at the crack of dawn one morning scrambling to get that trim down so the washer and dryer could be installed! By the skin of my teeth, I tell you.</p> <p>I thought this color was going to be much lighter than it was – but there isn’t any natural light so I think with that it would read MUCH lighter. I love it though – it’s coming together just as I had imagined! I’m going for a “rustic elegance” look in there – that term came to me after I started the shelves in here and I think it’s fitting. I’ll show you those soon!  </p> <p>So do you use any of the tips I mentioned? Do you have any painting tips I missed here?  I love hearing new ones so share away!</p> <p>**Don’t forget -- the next <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2012/07/show-us-your-bathrooms.html">Show Us Your House</a> party is next week and it’s time to show off family rooms! That one will go up Monday <strong>morning</strong> this time – probably around 10 a.m. EST. I know that will be different from my past link ups that go up at night so I wanted to make sure to let you know!</p> <p>Have a great weekend!!</p>

Painting tips (and the laundry room walls)

Hey there! I’m back with another update on the basement laundry room. When we started finishing our basement in January, we decided to move ...

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