Author: Mitch Johnson

Sometimes paint brushes can be hard and cannot be used after once or twice using. There are some tips on cleaning the paint brushes, so they are ready whenever you use them.

GOOD PAINT BRUSHES (and a poor one can really botch a job) are expensive and deserve proper care. Put them away clean. The time to clean them is right after you finish using them. If the paint hardens even a little, the cleaning job will be more difficult and, if the brush is left to another day, you may never be able to reclaim it.

SOME TIPS ON CLEANING PAINT BRUSHES: first, there are many kinds of paintbrush cleaners on the market, and also equipment intended to keep brushes soft and con?ditioned for a job that is to be resumed the next day. Some of these cleaners are designed for neglected, paint-hardened brushes that might be worth saving, and you may want to in?vestigate them. Otherwise you will consider the thinner used in the paint or varnish that you are using with a particular brush, because that is the agent that will clean the brush best when the painting job is done. For brushes used with rubber?ized and synthetic resin paints, which are thinned with water, you would use warm water with a good detergent. Work out as much of the paint as you can on a clean newspaper before you clean the brush. If washed immediately these brushes are easily cleaned. When the brush is thoroughly clean and you have shaken out as much of the water as possible, wrap a clean piece of paper around the bristles, leaving just the tip of the brush exposed, snap a rubber band around it, and hang the brush up to dry-bristles down. When you want to use the brush again the bristles will be straight and even, without those troublesome side whiskers that stick out and daub bits of paint in the wrong places. If you can’t hang the brush up (and why can’t you?) at least lay it flat; never stand it on its bristles. And never leave a brush you propose to clean soaking in water. Such a course may loosen the bristles.

BRUSHES USED WITH OIL PAINTS, varnishes, and enamels mixed with turpentine should be cleaned with turpen?tine; those for paints and varnishes thinned with denatured al?cohol are cleaned with denatured alcohol; lacquer brushes with “lacquer thinner,” or acetone. And so on. The can of paint will have printed instructions that will tell you what solvent has been used so you can scarcely go wrong if you read the directions. After cleaning your brush in the proper solvent, wash it thor?oughly with a detergent and water, rinse, wrap, and hang it up, as described. The solvent used for cleaning can be saved and used again for this purpose, or as a thinner for future paint jobs. Stopper it tightly. Most of the paint dissolved in the solvent will settle in time to the bottom, leaving the fluid clear.

NYLON PAINT BRUSHES are sensitive to alcohol and should never be used for applying shellac or cleaned with de?natured alcohol.

GARDENING EQUIPMENT can be localized in a corner of the basement, perhaps near the outside door for conven?ience. A row of clip-type holders, of the sort sometimes used for brooms or mops, can be fastened to a convenient wall to hold rakes, hoes, sickles, sharpeners, and other garden tools so that you can find them easily when they are needed. The clips will secure them in an upright position, off the floor, so they won’t all slide down when you are attempting to extract what you need from a jumble of tools. And you will be able to sweep the floor without having to move them.

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Author: Lee Dobbins

Deep reds and golds inspire appetite and good conversation so what better way to decorate your dining room then with an Asian inspired theme!

Even if you don’t have a professional designer you can get an Asian inspired look in your dining room by changing little things, for example adding a wallpaper border and coordinating your tableware and serving dishes to give an exotic Asian look to the room. Don’t be timid to change things like your floor coverings, lighting, decorative accessories and wall color in conjunction with your table and chair set and sideboard.

Decorative items are key to pulling your Asian inspired look together. Even if you can’t replace any other items - you can get a new look by changing the decorative accessories! Focus on shopping for tableware, serving dishes and table cloths and runners, in colors and patterns that match your Asian look. You’ll be amazed at how easy and economical it is, and what a huge difference these changes make! You might want to include a rice paper folding screen or Shoji doors combined with Asian style potted plants and you could even try some exotic knick knacks like geisha girl figures or anything with an Asian look to add some punch to your dining room. Adding more touches such as a beautiful silk kimono hung on the wall can make your room look like it was done by an interior designer.

Flooring can make or break your decor, but if you can not pay for new flooring in your dining room then you can mask your existing floors by using small rugs with an Asian flair. If you are lucky enough to be able to afford new floors, check out dark hardwood floors or bamboo flooring. Accent them with oriental rugs or bamboo mats for an authentic look.

An important factor when decorating your dining room with an Asian inspired look is your wall color. For this look the colors can really enhance the feel - you should consider adding reds and muted tones with contrasting woods either as wallpaper or paint. Try using a deep red paint on the walls, or you might consider a lighter colored paint or wallpaper in plain pattern. You don’t have to get too fancy or spend a lot of money and if you don’t want color on the walls, you can always cover the walls in a neutral palette and put the color into your flooring and accents.

You don’t have to buy a coordinating table and chair set, sideboard, and hutch but the dining room should have plenty of sleek and elegant furniture. To really showcase the Asian theme, try furniture with a black lacquer finish or a quality rattan set.

Window treatments can have a large effect on your Asian inspired design theme. To put together a magnificent look in your dining room try hanging silk drapes with or without embroidery or silk fabric valances with sheers. For a less formal look, you could try bamboo shades that roll up.

Lighting is an important element in your home and the dining room is no exception. To compliment your Asian inspired decorating style, you will want to keep in mind the style of the fixtures as well as the type. When you are incorporating an Asian style, you would want to take a look at making use of plain overhead lighting with accent lighting with silk or puffed paper shades, crystal chandeliers or exotic lamps but try to shy away from anything that has a country style.

One decorating area that is often ignored when decorating your house is the wall space. Even the ugliest walls can be made to look good with great accessories and wall art. Try adding Asian silk paintings hung in vintage frames or block prints to your dining room walls to enhance the exotic appeal of your Asian Interior Design. You can even add a nice Asian folding screen in the corner with a large oriental plant in front of it for depth and appeal.

Getting a nice Asian look in your dining room can be as basic as just buying new decorative accessories or as involved as doing a total room remake. Either way, attention to the fine details and making sure to coordinate your accessories and furniture will help you accomplish a wonderful new Asian inspired style that will make dining at home a new experience!

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