38 THE QUEENS COURIER • AT HOME • MARCH 23, 2017 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM at home 5 fast shortcuts to make your home sparkle this spring We all know that one person who just adores cleaning. But for the rest of us, it’s a necessary evil that gets old very quickly! Before you tackle that long list of spring cleaning tasks, try some of these cleaning hacks designed to make these chores faster and easier. When cleaning is fun and even eff ortless, you’ll feel more energized and gain the momentum you need to knock out your list of chores. Aft erward, your house will sparkle from top to bottom, which is its own reward! 1. Find smarter tools Th row out the messy bucket and mop and reach for a smarter fl oor solution that’s effi cient and fun to use. For example, the O-Cedar EasyWring Spin Mop & Bucket System has a built-in wringer that off ers superior moisture control of the mop, which makes it safe and easy to use on all hard fl oor surfaces - even hardwood! Th e hands-free wringer requires a simple press of the foot pedal to easily spin out the water and help fi nish the job with less mess and faster drying times. 2. Try natural solutions Commercial cleaning solutions can add extra costs to your deep cleaning session, not to mention the harsh chemicals can leave behind unpleasant odors. Why not experiment with everyday pantry items? Th ese oft en cost less and are just as eff ective in their cleaning power. A simple solution of warm water and vinegar removes built-up grime from your fl oors, while leaving a clean, rinsefree fi nish. Just add a half cup of distilled white vinegar to a gallon of warm water and start mopping. If you dislike the smell of vinegar, add a couple drops of your favorite essential oil - the fresh scent will be like a small reward! 3. Shortcut to shining windows If you want streak-free mirrors and clean windows without the hassle, Cas Aarssen, author of “Real Life Organizing: Cleaning and Clutter-Free in 15 Minutes a Day” and the YouTube channel ClutterBug, has this expert tip: Add a teaspoon of cornstarch to your favorite glass cleaner and shake until dissolved. Cornstarch improves the cleaning power of the solution and makes streaks a thing of the past, so you’ll get the job done more quickly. 4. Use a cleaning method that also protects Aarssen has an easy tip that will not only shine up your kitchen appliances, it will repel fi ngerprints and food splatters oft en left behind. Just spritz on a little wood furniture polish and rub in with a soft cloth until the surface shines like new. 5. Clean up top Dust can collect on those high, hardto reach places, such as decorative molding and ceiling fans, making cleaning day more diffi cult. To clean your ceiling fan without showering dust bunnies everywhere, an old pillowcase is your best tool. Spritz the inside of the pillowcase with a vinegar and water solution and slip it over the blades of the fan, pulling it back to trap the dust. For those tough to reach moldings and corners, use a sturdy rubber band to wrap a microfi ber cloth around the end a broom, and give those hard-to-reach areas a clean sweep! Courtesy BPT 5 spring DIY craft projects to make old stuff new again Spring isn’t just the season to clean out old junk from your home, it’s also the perfect time to tackle some DIY craft projects that repurpose household items and give them new life. Repurposing, or “upcycling,” is one of the hottest trends in home decor and design for 2017, according to online DIY community Hometalk. com. Before you throw away an old book case, battered picture frame or wooden industrial spool, why not think of ways to upcycle those items instead? Here are fi ve projects the DIY experts at Arrow Fastener Company recommend to help you add a fresh look to your home while giving new life to old items: Book page wreath - True book-lovers fi nd it painful to ever throw away a book, but what can you do with a tome that’s become too worn to read anymore? Turn it into a decorative wreath that proclaims your love of the written word. You’ll need wood for a base, an old book and a craft glue gun. Industrial wooden spool seat and bookshelf - You may have no idea where it came from or why it’s in your garage, but that industrial spool can become the perfect place to put up your feet and read a book. A blog post on Pandora’s Craft Box shows you how to turn a wooden spool into a beautiful bookshelf/footstool combo. You’ll need wood stain, pieces of wood to create internal shelving, upholstery materials like batting, foam and fabric, and an Arrow T50 Heavy Duty staple gun to affi x the padding to the top of the spool. Wine bottle rustic vase - Every now and then you have a bottle of wine that’s just so good - or the bottle itself is so pretty - you just don’t want to give it up. Turning it into a rustic vase is a great way to preserve the memories associated with the bottle and create a beautiful decorative piece for your home. You’ll need a glass wine bottle, 20-50 feet of sisal rope, scissors, a mini glue gun, glue sticks and optional decorative embellishments. Feline playland - If you have a bored cat and an old book case, you have the makings of magic! Th e blog My Very Educated Mother off ers directions on how to repurpose an old book case by using a staple gun to affi x rugged carpet remnants to the interior, shelves and exterior of the case. Th e shelves are a fun place for kitty to sit, and the carpet gives her somewhere appropriate to sharpen her claws. You can also store toys, treats and even a bed on the shelves. Woodland picture frame - Do you have an old picture frame or a mirror that the glass has broken out of? You can transform the most basic or worn frame into a piece of natural art by using a glue gun to attach sticks in varying shapes and sizes to the frame. Use sticks from a craft store or from your own backyard to decorate the frame, giving it a rustic look that brings a bit of nature into your home. For more DIY projects to help you repurpose old items into new home decor this spring, visit arrowfastener.com/projects or Arrow’s Pinterest page. Courtesy BPT
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