How to of the Day

How to Paint Kitchen Tiles
How to Clean Gold Rings
How to Do Bicep Curl Resistance Band Exercises
How to Run Uphill

Posted: 26 Jul 2019 05:00 PM PDT

Are your kitchen tiles worn out or dated, or do they no longer fit with your modern décor? If you're looking for a fresh look, painting the tiles can be a surprisingly easy and inexpensive option. While you need to take care of some simple prep work and choose the right products, painting kitchen tiles is a relatively simple project for the novice DIYer. You'll be amazed at how different your kitchen looks and how well the paintwork lasts.

EditSteps

EditCleaning and Preparing the Tiles

Prepare the work area carefully before you start. You don't want to get paint splashed on your bench tops, floors, or walls, so take some time to cover any areas that you want to protect with a painter's drop cloth or an old sheet.
Clean the tiles thoroughly with detergent and a wet cloth. Any cooking splatters or grime on the tiles will prevent the primer and paint from adhering properly. To get a perfectly smooth finish, give the tiled area a thorough clean with a tile-cleaning product, or use sugar soap and a scouring cloth.^[1]
- If you see any mould, you can remove it by applying a fungicidal spray.^[2]
- Scraping out and replacing any grout that is in poor condition before you start will give the best finish.
Sand the tiles with fine-grit sandpaper. Once the surface is dry, lightly sand the tiles to score the surface, using 220 grit sandpaper for ceramic tiles.^[3] This will remove any glaze and help the new paint to adhere better. Once the surface is sanded, you'll need to wipe away any remaining dust or grit with a damp cloth. Leave the tiles to dry completely for 24 hours; after all the preparation work, you really want to make sure the paint will stick.
- Using an electric sander will make the job quick and easy if you have a large area.^[4]

EditPriming the Tiles

Mask the edges of your work area. Use painter's tape to mark out your specific area, making sure you use long runs of tape to give you a straighter edge and pressing down firmly. When you have finished masking the edges, give the tiles a final quick wipe with a damp cloth to remove all the dust and leave the area for an hour to ensure it is completely dry.
Prime the tiles with a high-quality epoxy primer. Purchase primer from your local hardware or paint store and apply it evenly according to the manufacturer's instructions. Allow the primer to dry and cure; drying times can vary a lot so check the instructions on your specific product carefully.^[5]
- Choosing the right primer for your specific tiles will ensure you get the best result.
Sand and clean the tiles a second time. Once the primer has cured, lightly sand the surface of the tiles again and wipe away any dust with a damp cloth. The cleaner your surface area, the better the paint will adhere. Now you're ready for painting.

EditPainting the Tiles

Stir the paint, and pour it into a clean working pot. Choose a high-quality latex, oil, or epoxy paint that will adhere properly to the surface of your tiles.^[6]
- Epoxy is generally the most durable and appropriate for ceramic tiles around your kitchen sink or floor.^[7]
Use a small, angled brush for the edges and a roller for larger areas. Use a paintbrush to paint the edges and hard-to-reach areas, like corners, first. If you have a large surface to paint, use a roller for covering the tiles more quickly. To avoid any overlapping brush strokes, start in one corner and work your brush strokes or roller down the tiles, then across the area or wall.
- A roller won't get into the grout, so make sure you apply the paint with a brush here as well.^[8]
Apply several thin coats of paint. Rather than applying a thick coat, it's better to be patient and apply several thin coats allowing each coat to dry completely before adding the next.^[9] Finally, perform the finishing touches by removing the painter's tape carefully and allowing the final coat to properly cure for two to three days before you use the area.

EditTips

To avoid the paint peeling and dating quickly, choose the right tiles for your makeover and opt for areas that aren't subject to high-traffic or high-moisture.
Wear disposable gloves if you want to avoid getting any paint stains on your hands.

EditReferences

Cite error: <ref> tags exist, but no <references/> tag was found

How to Clean Gold Rings

Posted: 26 Jul 2019 09:00 AM PDT

Gold rings are a lovely way to accessorize your look, but they can get dirty over time. Body oil, soap, and lotion build up on the ring, which attracts dirt and grime. The safest, easiest way to clean your gold rings is to use mild dishwashing detergent or white vinegar. Both of these cleansers will remove mild tarnish. However, you can clean a heavily soiled solid gold or diamond ring in ammonia, as long as you don't do it often.

EditSteps

EditUsing Mild Dishwashing Detergent

Add about of dish detergent to a bowl of warm water. Choose a dishwashing detergent that's labeled for fighting grease. Then, add it directly to your bowl of warm water. Swish the bowl to mix them together.^[1]
- Your measurements don't need to be exact, so it's okay to just squirt some detergent into the bowl.
- As another option, you can stir the bowl with your soft-bristled toothbrush.
Put solid gold or diamond rings in the solution and soak for 15 minutes. Gently place your rings into the bowl using your fingers, a slotted spoon, or a small strainer. Then, set a timer and let them soak for 15 minutes.^[2]
- If your ring is solid gold, it doesn't matter if it soaks for longer. However, it's best not to let diamond rings soak for too long, as some settings may loosen. While this isn't likely to happen, it's a possibility.
- The soapy water will loosen any dirt, debris, or oils so they're easier to remove.
Use a soft-bristle toothbrush to scrub your ring until it's clean. Dip a soft-bristle toothbrush into the soapy water to get it wet. Then, brush the top, sides, and bottom of your ring to get it totally clean. Pay special attention to crevices between the stones, as well as any gaps on the back side of your ring.^[3]
- Don't use a medium- or hard-bristle toothbrush, as the they can damage the finish on the ring.
Dip the ring in your cleaning solution for an extra rinse. Use your fingers, a slotted spoon, or a small strainer to dip the ring back in the soapy water. Swish it around a little to help wash away any remaining grime. Then, remove the ring from the cleaning solution.^[4]
- If your ring was very dirty, you might want to visually inspect it at this point to make sure it's clean. If it's not, then you can scrub the ring a second time.
Rinse your ring in fresh warm water. Hold your ring under running water to wash away the soapy water. Be careful not to drop it down the sink drain.^[5]
- As an alternative, use a cup of fresh water to rinse your ring. Simply dip the ring in the cup and swish it around to remove any soapy residue.
Let your ring air dry or use a microfiber polishing cloth to dry it. Lay it out on a soft, clean cloth if you want to let it air dry. However, you can blot it dry with a lint-free microfiber cloth, if you have one. Be gentle as you wipe the ring dry, as gold is easy to scratch.^[6]
- Some cloths can scratch gold, especially if they're made of rough or fibrous fabric.
- Air drying your ring will not cause tarnish.

EditWashing Your Ring with Vinegar

Place a solid gold or diamond ring at the bottom of a bowl. Put the ring in the bowl first so you can add less vinegar. This will make it easy to handle the ring once it's done soaking, and it will prevent wasted vinegar.^[7]
- If you already poured the vinegar into the bowl, use your fingers, a slotted spoon, or a small strainer to put the rings into the vinegar.
Cover the ring with white vinegar and soak for 15 minutes. Pour the white vinegar over your ring until it's completely covered. Then, set a timer for 15 minutes to treat the ring. The vinegar will loosen the dirt, grime, and oils that are built up on the ring so they'll come off easily.^[8]
- A solid gold ring can soak longer than 15 minutes, but a diamond setting could come loose. Although this likely won't happen, it can in some cases.
- Only use white vinegar to clean gold rings. Other types of vinegar may damage the finish.
Scrub the ring with a soft-bristle toothbrush dipped in vinegar. Soak the bristles of your toothbrush in the bowl of vinegar, then scrub each side of the ring until it looks clean. Work the bristles around dips and crevices to remove hard-to-reach grime.^[9]
- Make sure your brush has soft bristles, as medium- or hard-bristle brushes can damage the gold.
Rinse the ring under running warm water. Hold your ring under the stream of water, being careful not to drop it. Continue rinsing it until all of the vinegar is gone.^[10]
- Your ring may smell like vinegar after your wash it, but this smell will dissipate. However, you might have to wait a few hours.
Air dry the ring or pat it dry with a microfiber cloth. Lay the ring on a soft, clean cloth to air dry. As another option, use a lint-free microfiber cloth if you have one. Gently blot the ring dry using your cloth.^[11]
- Don't use rough or fuzzy fabrics to dry your ring, as these can scratch the gold.
- Letting your ring air dry won't cause any tarnish or discoloration.

EditDoing a Deep Clean with Ammonia

Use ammonia only on solid gold or diamond rings. Ammonia is a very strong cleanser, so it's not appropriate for most gemstones or pearls. However, it's okay to use it for solid gold or diamonds, which are very strong. Just don't use it more than once every 6 months because the ammonia can discolor your gold if used frequently.^[12]
- It's best to use ammonia only when your gold is so dirty that the tarnish or grime mars the look of the ring.
Mix 1 part ammonia with 6 parts warm water to create a jewelry cleaner. Pour the ammonia into a bowl, then slowly add the water. Be careful not to splash. The measurements don't have to be exact, but they should be a close estimation.^[13]
- For instance, if you use of ammonia, add of warm water.
Soak your ring in the solution for 1 minute. Gently place your ring into the solution using a slotted spoon or a small strainer. Then, watch the clock for 1 minute. Remove your ring from the solution using your spoon or strainer. Don't let it soak any longer because the ammonia is too strong.^[14]
- Don't put your fingers into ammonia, as it may irritate your skin.
Scrub your ring with a soft-bristle toothbrush until it's clean. Dip the toothbrush in the ammonia solution, then brush each side of the ring until it's clean. If your ring has diamonds, pay special attention to the crevices around the stones.^[15]
- Never use a medium- or hard-bristle brush, as these are too stiff and may damage your gold.
Rinse the ring thoroughly in warm running water. Hold the ring under the warm running water to rinse away the ammonia solution. Make sure the ring is thoroughly rinsed. However, be careful that you don't drop it down the drain.^[16]
Let the ring air dry or pat it dry with a microfiber cloth. To air dry your ring, lay it out on a clean, dry cloth. If you have a lint-free, microfiber cloth, you may prefer to pat your ring dry. Gently blot the ring to remove the excess water.^[17]
- Avoid using stiff or fuzzy fabrics to dry your ring, as these can scratch the gold.
- Letting your ring air dry won't damage the finish.