Check out Mrs. FIXIT on AOL's DIY Life

I've started blogging for AOL in their DIY life column: Check it out at http://www.diylife.com/2010/02/10/cheap-trick-clean-a-baked-on-mess-the-easy-way/

Best Tile - The best there is....

I don't know if you've ever taken on a big home improvement project, but let me tell you it's a lot of work. You would not believe the number of choices that are out there on the market today. Well, with this studio house renovation I had the daunting task of choosing tile for the bathrooms, and let me tell you it's no easy job, there's ceramic and stone and tumbled stone and gloss and matte and polished and honed - who knew? Well, I took my search to Best Tile in Syracuse NY and they made all the difference. Their super friendly and knowledgeable staff listened to my ideas and my lifestyle and they helped me whittle 10,000 choices down to the perfect choices! Thank you Best Tile! If you'd like to check out Best Tile and all they have to offer, click through www.besttile.com - It's just that simple!

Bathroom Bonanza

Let's face it, nobody likes to clean the bathroom, but it has to be done. Well, I have some quick and easy ideas to help you out! First off, forget the eighty-five cleansers for your bathroom and save yourself time and money. Mix together two-thirds of a cup of white vinegar, a half a cup of rubbing alcohol and a tablespoon of dish soap into a spray bottle. This mixture will clean tubs, showers, sinks, toilets, windows and mirrors. To prevent mildew from growing on your shower curtain, soak it in a strong saltwater solution in the bathtub for about a half an hour, and then hang it up. The salt will help to hinder mildew growth. Spray it every couple of weeks with salt water to keep it up! If your bathroom is smelling a little less than fresh, forget the sprays and fresheners and check your laundry room. Dryer sheets are perfect, stick one in the wastebasket and another in the hamper and you'll have a fresh smelling room in no time. For more ideas to help in the bathroom, check out my website www.mrsfixit.com

If it seems like the littlest things are setting you off lately, I have some easy solutions to erveryday frustations.. Have you ever used a steel wool soap pad once and put it with your dishwashing supplies only to come back to a rusty mess. Store it in the freezer in a plastic zipper bag after each use; you won't believe how much longer it will last. If it seems like you're scrubbing lime scale from your teapot every time you turn around, eliminate it. Throw a few marbles in the bottom of the pot and it will prevent that growth. As a bonus, if your teapot is dangerously close to boiling dry you'll hear the marbles banging around. If you snag your sheer curtains when you hang them up, slip the finger of a rubber glove over the end of the curtain rod, the fabric will slide over the glove instead of getting caught on the metal. If you can feel a draft every time you walk by an outlet, don't get frustrated; fix it. Use the outlet cover as a template to cut a styrofoam meat tray down as an insulation shell for the outlet, no more drafts and you've saved yourself some money.

Candle Safety

If you enjoy lit candles around your home, I have some saftey tips for you! Before you burn any candle, trim the wick to a quarter of an inch. This helps start the candle burning evenly. (A tip: you can actually trim them with a nail clipper).A major cause of household fires is a candle too close to flammable materials. An open window and a slight breeze is all it would take to knock over a candle or sweep the curtains across the flame. To prevent this, keep windows closed, but also protect the flame with a heavy hurricane or lantern that will still allow for light and scent. Never let a candle housed in glass burn too close to the edge or bottom of the container. It could break the glass and start a fire. Along those same lines, you should never burn a candle on top of a glass top table. If the glass gets too hot it could break and cause an even bigger problem. You should really protect any surface that you're setting a candle on from the heat. You could use some rolled cork or thick felt to make candle coasters that will absorb excess heat and protect the surface from damage. Candle safety so you can enjoy!

Painting Step-by-Step!

I'm sure you know how to paint, but sometimes it's the little things that can make the project go a whole lot smoother, I have some tips to help you out. When taping off your room, run a putty knife along the tape to ensure a tight seal and crisp edges. When painting a large space it is sometimes easier to work with a bucket and a painting grid like this rather than a paint tray so you don't have to stop and refill so often. I've said it before, but it warrants repeating, I love a wheeled paint pad for cutting in around a room. Professionals may disagree and opt for a brush, but for the amateur painter it gives nice control, coverage, and crisp clean edges! A gallon milk jug with the side opposite the handle cut out makes a great "cutting in tote." Dip the small paint pad inside and scrape the excess off on your cut edge so it drips back into the jug! When rolling walls, work in a "w" pattern in small three foot sections evening out the paint as you go. If you need to stop in the middle of a job finish a whole wall and stop at a corner, otherwise you'll end up with lap marks that will be difficult to mask. If you need to stop in the middle of a job finish a whole wall and stop at a corner, otherwise you'll end up with lap marks that will be difficult to mask. Now if you have questions about paint and products, visit a paint store - their knowledgeable staff will send you in the right direction. I trust my buddies at Sherwin Williams in Dewitt, NY with all of my painting questions and needs. Check them out for yourself! To fins a location near you visit www.sherwinwilliams.com

Clean Machine

Need some help with your cleaning chores? Well I have some tips to help you get them done so you can get on with your life! Rubber band your cleaning rag directly to your cleanser, this way it's always ready to grab and go. Speaking of grab and go; spend a little extra and have duplicates of cleaning supplies that you use in more than one room. For example keep some vinegar in a spray bottle under the kitchen sink and the bathroom. This way if someone makes a mess you can easily tackle it right away! I use baking soda all over the house, but there is no way to seal the box so it ends up getting spilled. Solution? Pour it into a shaker. I like the flip top jars that Parmesan cheese comes in. They're perfect; just make sure you label them clearly! Want another double duty tip? Put a stinky sponge in a bowl and cover it with lemon juice or white vinegar in the microwave. Set it high for no more than five minutes and let it sit with the door closed for another ten minutes to cool. The steam and vinegar or lemon juice will cut through grime on the inside of the microwave so you can easily wipe it away. The heat disinfects and deodorizes your sponge at the same time! Make sure you give it that extra ten minutes to cool so that you don't get burned. And be prepared for a strong vinegar smell when you first open the door! Easy steps to turn you into a cleaning machine!