| How to Buff Floors Posted: 01 Mar 2019 04:00 PM PST If you have scratched or scuffed floors, buffing them can refresh their shine. You can improve the look of your floors by buffing them by hand, but it's best to buy or rent a floor buffer, which uses slow speeds and high pressure to remove and replace the top layer of finish on your flooring. You can buff any type of floor, whether it's wood, vinyl, concrete, or tile. Before you buff your floor, make sure you secure the area and clean the floor to remove any grime. Then, use a microfiber cloth or a spray buffing machine to restore your floor's shine. EditSecuring the Area - Remove movable items from the floor being buffed. Place these items in a separate room or hallway. Moving these items allows you to buff the area under and around them. Otherwise, it will be very difficult for you to get an even shine.[1]
- Keep in mind that the buffer is a bulky machine that can easily damage items that it bumps into, and that it'll be harder for you to buff the area around the items in the room if you don't remove them.
- Block off the area to prevent people from slipping on the wet floor. This will also help protect your freshly buffed floor from getting dirty while you're still working. Tell other people living in your home or those who are in your place of business that the floor will be wet for the next several hours.[2]
- If you moved large items from the room, you can always use these as a blockade to help keep people out. Simply position them along the entrance to the room.
- If you're cleaning a commercial floor, put up "Caution" or "Wet Floor" signs for added safety.
- Place your pets in a safe location, if you're buffing the floor of a home. Pets can get in the way of the buffer and may dirty your floor. You don't want to accidentally buff pet fur into your floor, as you won't be able to remove it once it's buffed into the finish. Put your pets in a separate room and shut the door.
- Alternatively, you can place your pets in their kennel if they already use one.
- Your pets will likely be afraid of the buffer, so keeping them out of the way will save them a lot of stress!
EditCleaning the Floor - Use a broom or dust mop to remove any debris. Start in the corner of the room and slowly sweep the entire room. Make sure you get the floor as clean as possible. Otherwise, you risk buffing dirt into the finish.[3]
- Over time, buffing a dirty floor can permanently alter the color of your floor finish, turning it a dingy yellow color.
- Wash the floor with a wet mop to ensure it's completely clean. For best results, dip the mop into a bucket of soapy warm water. Then, start in the corner of the room and slowly work your way back toward the entrance. As you mop, make short, even strokes to clean the floor.[4]
- Rinse your mop when it starts to look dirty.
- Use a floor cleaner that's formulated for the type of flooring in your home.
- Allow the floor to dry for 2 hours or use a fan to dry it faster. Touch the floor to make sure it's dry before you move on to buffing. Don't try to buff a wet floor because you will be applying a buffing solution, which is also a liquid. If the floor is already wet, there will be too much liquid, which will make you need to change your buffing pad more often.[5]
- Turning on a fan will help you dry the floor more quickly. A ceiling fan or box fan will work best.
EditBuffing Your Floor by Hand - Start in the far corner of the room. Then, work your way backwards toward the entrance to the room. Don't pass back over areas you've already buffed, as they need time to dry.[6]
- Work in by sections until you finish buffing. Focusing on small sections will help you achieve better results. Plus, it will keep you from getting overwhelmed during the process.[7]
- If you don't like the results of your first few sections, you might decide to stop hand buffing the floor and switch to a machine. Some floors won't show much improvement from hand buffing.
- Depending on the size of your room, it can take awhile to finish buffing. It's a good idea to take regular breaks, if necessary.
- Spray a buffing solution onto your floor for extra shine. When you're buffing by hand, spray the solution onto just the area where you're working so the solution won't be dry by the time you get across the room. It's best to use a bottle with a spray nozzle to evenly distribute the solution.
- If your solution doesn't have a spray nozzle, use a clean cloth to wipe it onto the floor.
- Make sure you choose a buffing solution that's formulated for your type of flooring material.
- If you prefer a natural option, create a white vinegar solution by adding of white vinegar to of water. Put the solution into a spray bottle, then spritz it onto your floor.[8]
- Use a microfiber cloth to buff the floor using tight, circular motions. Move your cloth slowly from side to side as you work each section. When you complete each pass, start the next one with some overlap with the previous pass. As you buff, apply as much pressure to the cloth as you can.[9]
- The microfiber cloth shouldn't damage your floor, no matter what material it is.
- Keep in mind that buffing a floor typically requires a lot of pressure, so you may not see much difference if you don't press down very hard.
EditUsing a Spray Buffer - Spray the buffing solution onto your floor, if you're using it. For best results, use a professional sprayer or a product that comes with a spray nozzle. Start in the far corner of the room and work your way toward the other side. Apply a light, even layer over the entire floor to be buffed.[10]
- Use a buffing solution formulated for the type of floor material you have, such as wood, tile, or vinyl.
- If you don't have a sprayer, you can use a mop to apply the solution. However, it won't be as effective at distributing it. You can buy or rent a sprayer from most home improvement stores. Additionally, some buffing solutions come in a spray bottle.
- Attach a red buffing pad if you're spray buffing your floor. This pad is intended for use on a wet floor, so it will soak up some of the buffing solution. Follow the instructions for your buffer to attach it correctly.[11]
- Be sure to read all of the instructions that come with your buffer.
- It's best to have an extra pad handy if you're going to be buffing a large surface area. Although you'll be able to use both sides of the pad, it can get clogged up or dirty as you work.
- If you're spray buffing your floor, you'll need both a red pad and a gray or beige pad, for best results. Your floor will look better if you do a dry buffing after your spray buffing.
- Work in by sections. Start in the far corner of the room and work your way back toward the entrance. As you buff the floor, mentally separate it into small sections to make it easier to buff the entire surface area of the floor.[12]
- Overlap your passes to ensure every bit of flooring gets buffed.[13]
- Rotate your machine back and forth as you move across each section. Although the buffer is doing most of the work for you, rotating it will help you achieve a better result. Not only does it ensure the buffer covers all of the surface area, it will also help you really work areas where there are scratches or scuffs.[14]
- Your motion should swing back and forth like a pendulum.
- Move backwards as you work so you don't step on the buffed sections. This helps you avoid stepping on the parts of the floor you've already buffed. You don't want to step on the buffed areas because they will be very slippery. Also, you don't want to mess up the finish.[15]
- Walk slowly so you don't accidentally trip over your own feet.
- Hold the buffer over scratches and scuffs for a few extra seconds. As you work, look for visible scratches and buffs. It's okay to give these areas special attention by holding the buffer over them for a few extra seconds. Additionally, you can make several passes over them.[16]
- If you still notice a scratch or scuff after you finish, you can try hand rubbing it with a soft cloth soaked in buffing solution.
- Flip or change the buffing pad if it gets clogged or dirty. Stop and check the buffing pad every few minutes to see if it looks dirty or clogged. Additionally, you'll know the pad needs to be changed if the floor isn't getting as shiny as it was previously.[17]
- Most buffing pads can be flipped once during cleaning. If your pad looks soaked through, just switch to a new one.
- Follow spray buffing with a pass of dry buffing, for best results. Switch out your red buffing pad for a gray or beige one. Then, start buffing your floor in the far corner. Slowly work your way toward the other side of the room.[18]
- Your buffing pad likely won't need changing on this pass. However, continue to check on it regularly to make sure it's not clogged or dirty.
- It's best to wait until your floor is dry before you start your dry buffing.
- Use a clean dust mop to remove any dust created by the buffing process. Once your floor is dry, return to the corner of the room and begin making short, even passes with your dust mop. Continue working your way over the entire surface of the floor until you reach the other side of the room. This helps get your floor as clean and shiny as possible.[19]
- Using a floor buffer can stir dust up into the air, which will then fall back down onto your freshly buffed floor. A clean dust mop can remove this debris.
- Clean your buffing machine, broom, mop, and buffer pads before putting them away.
- Dust tends to blow around when a floor is being buffed, so it's helpful to wear goggles or safety glasses.
- Buffing machines are heavy so that the weight will help with the effectiveness of the polishing. Make sure you're able to push the heavy machine without straining, as you could injure yourself.
- Never leave a damp pad on the buffing machine after cleaning it because the moisture can damage the machine.
EditThings You'll Need EditSecuring the Area - "Caution" or "Wet Floor" signs (optional)
- Safe place for pets (optional)
EditCleaning the Floor - Dust mop
- Wet mop
- Floor cleaner
- Fan (optional)
EditBuffing Your Floor by Hand - Buffing solution or vinegar solution
- Spray bottle (optional)
- Microfiber cloth
EditUsing a Buffer - Goggles or safety glasses (optional)
- Buffing solution (for spray buffing)
- Floor buffing machine
- Buffing pad
- Dust mop
EditSources and Citations
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| How to Hold a Butterfly Posted: 01 Mar 2019 08:00 AM PST Getting the chance to hold a butterfly is a truly magical occurrence. They are shy creatures, so you should consider yourself lucky if you get one to stay on your hand. Finding and catching one may be tricky, but a fun experience overall. Handling butterflies to look at them closely, in all their beauty, requires a gentle and caring approach. EditFinding a Butterfly - Search in the summer during the daytime. Butterflies tend to be more active when it is sunny, and summertime is butterfly season (between May-August). So when you're looking for butterflies, go in the morning or early evening when it's not too hot.
- In the morning or early evening, butterflies will sit with their wings spread out to absorb the sunlight. Once they are warmed up, the butterflies will start to fly around and find food.[1]
- Keep in mind, butterflies won't fly if the temperature is less than 60 degrees.[2]
- Go to an area with bright-colored flowers and fruit. Butterflies have a sweet tooth. You will find them in places where there are an abundance of flowers, as they use them for their nectar. Regular spots to find lots of flowers include botanical gardens, parks, meadows, and butterfly groves.
- Search in an area with bright colors. Butterflies tend to be seen around red, yellow, orange, pink, and purple blossoms.
- Look for the following plants that various species of butterfly tend to enjoy: daylily, marigold, oregano, lavender, goldenrod, sage, fennel, and others.[3]
- Butterflies also enjoy fruits, so you can find them by citrus trees or blackberry plants.[4]
- Visit your local zoo. You may not be able to find any butterflies due to the area you live in or the weather. Luckily, many zoos have butterfly exhibits where visitors can get a close-up view of various butterfly species.
- Always follow the rules and guidelines at the exhibit. Although you may not be permitted to touch the butterflies at the zoo, there is a chance that one lands on you so you can observe them up close and personal.
EditCatching a Butterfly With a Net - Obtain a net to catch a butterfly. You can purchase a net or make one using a wooden handle, a wire hanger, duct tape, and netting. The net should be at least 24 inches (2 feet) deep, allowing you to trap the butterfly in the deep end of the net.
- Avoid purchasing a cheap "children's" butterfly net. The shallow netting may harm the butterflies.[5]
- Research the laws in your area regarding butterfly hunting. In some cities, you may need a permit to carry a net. You can find this information by doing a quick Google search of "butterfly net laws" along with the name of your city and state.[6]
- Slowly approach the butterfly from behind. Butterflies can be skittish and will scare easily, so it's best to approach one from behind where they won't see you. For best results, sneak up on one that is resting on a flower. It will be harder to catch one while it is in mid-flight.[7]
- Catch the butterfly in the bottom of the net. To catch the butterfly, do a quick scoop to surround the butterfly with the net. Move your net so that the butterfly is at the deep end of the net, not toward the top rim.
- Flip the net over the handle. Once the butterfly is in the deep end of the net, flip the netting over the handle so there are no open holes. This will prevent the butterfly from escaping back through the hoop.[8]
- Get the butterfly out of the net with both hands. Now it's time to get the butterfly out of the net without it flying away. Do this very gently, as to not damage the insect's body, legs, or wings.
- Carefully flatten the net bag so that the wings of the butterfly are closed over its back. From the outside of the net, use your thumb and forefinger to hold the top part of the wings.
- With your other hand, use your thumb and forefinger to firmly grasp all four wings, then carefully remove it from the net.[9]
- Try holding the butterfly upside down; that will calm it down.[10]
EditHandling a Butterfly - Wash and dry your hands. Although butterflies are very resilient creatures, chemical contact with their scales, wings, and bodies should be avoided. Whether you catch your butterfly with a net or are lucky enough to have one land on you independently, you need to make sure your hands are clean and dry before touching it. So if you put on any sunscreen or bug spray before you went off to catch your butterfly, wash your hands to get that residue off before touching them.[11]
- Use sugar water to attract the butterfly to your hand. You may be able to get a butterfly to land on you without trapping it in a net by making butterfly nectar, which is a sugar and water mixture. You can make butterfly nectar by boiling a solution of 4 parts water and 1 part sugar. While observing butterflies near flowers or plants, put a little bit of the sugar water on your hand. They are attracted to the mixture and may fly to your hand to feed.[12]
- Remain very still. Butterflies are very skittish and will scare easily. If you want one to land on your hand and stay there for a while, you need to be still and avoid any sudden movements.
- If you put sugar water in your hand, butterflies will usually feed for 30 seconds to a minute before flying away again.[13]
- Be careful when handling. While the butterfly is sitting on your hand (or wherever it decided to land), avoid petting it. Just try to observe its beauty without touching.
- Butterfly's wings are covered in tiny scales. These scales give them their wing patterns, and make them more aerodynamic when flying. When you touch their wings, they lose scales. If they lose these scales, they can still fly. However, depending on the number of scales lost, it may make them less aerodynamic and can affect their flight pattern slightly.[14]
- Try to catch larger butterflies, as they are easier to hold.
- Be very gentle when handling the butterfly. You do not want to accidentally pull off the butterfly's legs or wings.
EditThings You'll Need - Sugar water (butterfly nectar)
- Butterfly net
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| How to Make Caramel Squares Posted: 01 Mar 2019 12:00 AM PST Caramels are a rich, creamy, and tasty treat that both children and adults love. Homemade caramels are also fun to make, but cooking with sugar is a science and it requires some precision. The keys to making homemade caramel squares are using a candy thermometer and reading the recipe through before you start. Once you get the hang of making these caramels, you'll have a great gift, dessert, and treat that you can use for any occasion. EditIngredients - 1 cup (240 ml) heavy cream
- 1 cup (225 g) sugar
- ½ cup (120 ml) corn syrup
- ¼ teaspoon (1.25 g) salt
- 4 tablespoons (56 g) butter, plus more for greasing
- ½ teaspoon (3 ml) vanilla
EditMaking the Caramel - Gather your supplies. This recipe makes about a pound (454 g) of caramels. To make them, you'll need your ingredients, along with a few supplies that will make the job easier, including:
- Large heavy-bottomed saucepan
- Wooden spoon
- Pastry brush
- Candy thermometer
- 10-inch square baking pan greased with butter, or lined with parchment paper
- Pizza cutter or sharp knife
- Heat the cream, sugar, and corn syrup. Combine them in the heavy-bottomed saucepan and heat over medium heat. Stir to combine, and continue stirring regularly until the sugar melts.[1]
- It's important to use a saucepan with a heavy, or thick, bottom because this will help prevent the sugar from burning.
- Make sure you use heavy cream or heavy whipping cream, which both contain at least 36 percent butterfat. This fat quantity is required for the caramelization process.[2]
- Add the butter. Stir in the butter until it melts. Once the butter has melted, bring the mixture to a boil, stirring frequently. As you wait for it to boil, brush down the sides of the saucepan with a pastry brush to remove as much sugar as possible.
- Brushing the excess sugar off the sides will help prevent the caramel from crystallizing.[3]
- Heat the caramel, then add the vanilla and salt. When the mixture comes to a boil, stop stirring. Sit back and let the caramel heat up to 250 F (121 C). When it reaches that temperature, remove it from the heat and stir in the vanilla.[4]
- It's important that you don't stir the caramel as it heats up, because the agitation can encourage the growth of sugar crystals, which will turn your soft and chewy caramel into a grainy mess.
- Pour and cool the caramel. Immediately pour the mixture into the prepared baking pan. After you pour the caramel, you can sprinkle the top with a few pinches of salt if you want a salted caramel flavor. The salt complements the sweetness, and helps bring out the flavor of the caramel.[5]
- Once the caramel has been poured, set it aside and let it cool to room temperature, about two hours.
- Cut the caramel into squares. When the caramel has cooled, turn it out onto a flat surface. Use the pizza cutter or sharp knife to cut the caramels into one-inch (2.5-cm) squares.[6]
- From here, the caramels are ready to eat, cover in chocolate, or package for gifts or storage.
EditStoring Caramel Squares - Wrap the caramels individually. Whether you want to eat your caramels within a few days, give them out as gifts, or store them for a longer shelf life, it's important to wrap them individually. This protects them from moisture, and from sticking together.[7]
- For each caramel, cut a four-inch (10-cm) square of waxed paper, parchment paper, or plastic wrap. Wrap up each caramel square in an individual piece of paper, and then twist the ends to seal the caramel.[8]
- Because of the milk in the recipe, room temperature caramels should be eaten within about three days.[9]
- Refrigerate them to enjoy later. Once the caramels are individually wrapped, you can transfer them to a sealable plastic bag and store them in the refrigerator. Keeping them in a plastic bag will help keep them chewy and soft.[10]
- Refrigerated caramel squares will last for about three months.[11]
- Freeze them for an extended shelf life. To keep your caramels fresh for longer, transfer the individually wrapped treats to a freezer bag, press out all the air, and store them in the freezer.[12]
- Before using or eating your caramels, give them a few hours to thaw completely.
- Caramels stored in this way will last for up to six months.
EditCovering the Caramels in Chocolate - Cut the chocolate. One way to make caramel squares even more decadent is by covering them with chocolate, and you can do this easily and with just one ingredient. You'll need:[13]
- One pound (454 g) of milk or semi-sweet chocolate. Cut the chocolate into small pieces to help it melt faster and more evenly.
- A double boiler. If you don't have a double boiler, you can use a small saucepan and a large glass bowl.
- Heat the chocolate. Fill the bottom of the double boiler with about an inch (2.5 cm) of water. Place the bowl or top of the double boiler on top, making sure it doesn't touch the water. If it does, pour out a little of the water.
- Place the chocolate into the top of the double boiler and heat it over medium heat. Stir it regularly.
- When the chocolate has completely melted, whisk it vigorously until it's shiny. Turn the heat down low to keep the chocolate warm as you work.
- Roll the caramels in chocolate. When the chocolate is ready, drop a few caramels into it. Use two forks or spoons to roll each caramel around in the chocolate, coating each one evenly.
- When the caramels are covered, transfer them to a sheet of wax or parchment paper and set them aside to cool before serving or wrapping.
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