It’s time for a festive family or holiday dinner at your home. You’ve made your shopping list and checked it several times. The good linen tablecloth has been refreshed and is sitting in wait of table settings, the centerpiece, and the decorative finishing touches. The dinner is in the oven, the dessert is arriving with [...]
Marble is stone that is generally polished and used in fine building work, furniture, or decorative art. It may be white or colored. It is porous, and easily stained. Marble is etched by acids. Wipe off anything spilled on marble immediately, as you would on a wood surface. Avoid setting beverage glasses [...]
Aluminum is a light-weight metal with a bright silvery luster. Small amounts of other metals are added to aluminum to make harder alloys for most uses. Its affinity for oxygen makes it resistant to corrosion and attack by most chemicals. Most aluminum used in visible parts of appliances is lacquered or [...]
True brass is an alloy of copper and zinc. It tends to oxidize (tarnish) quickly when exposed to air, which is a major reason why most brass is given a clear coating of lacquer to prevent this condition. Most conventional polishes such as “Brasso®,” “Twinkle®,” etc. coat the raw metal with a [...]
Bronze is copper alloy. In modern times, bronze is an alloy of copper and any metal except zinc. It is generally more expensive than brass and more corrosion resistant. Bronze forms a patina (green color) which is protective to the metal and is often seen on artwork. Reproduced it is called Verde. [...]
Sterling silver is an alloy of 92 1/2 percent silver and 7 1/2 percent copper. Its beauty increases with use, which causes a patina or soft sheen to form. Plated silver is silver that has been electroplated over another metal. Silver tarnishes when exposed to air. This occurs more quickly in damp [...]
Stainless steel is an alloy of iron that contains more than 10 percent chromium. Stainless steel resists stains but occasionally dulls or will show oily finger prints. This steel is noted for its hardness and is used for utensils, tableware, sinks, counter tops and small appliances. In the process of making [...]
Copper is valued for strength, malleability, ductility, and ability to conduct electricity and heat. It is also non-magnetic, resists wear, and forms a green patina which makes it resistant to corrosion. Copper is used to coat bottoms of steel pans to improve heat conduction, for decorative items, and in a few other cookware applications. It [...]
Did you know that an improperly maintained dryer could cause a fire? Lint build up in the dryer and its exhaust duct can cause many problems. It can block the flow of air, preventing your clothes from drying properly. It can create excessive heat build up. It can even result in a fire in some [...]
Ah, the fresh scent of clean laundry tantalizes our nostrils and adds a bit of pleasantness to our day. That is, until we look at the laundry and notice that it isn’t quite as clean as we thought it was. Maintaining a clean washer helps to ensure that the laundry looks its brightest and smells [...]
