Many new boat owners ask about boat cleaning and maintenance tips that can keep their vessel looking clean longer. Maintaining your boat regularly will also make it easier to clean the next time around. Cleaning your hull often will prevent oxidization stains from sticking permanently. Waxing your boat after cleaning will make your boat shine and also make dirt come off easily when you clean it. Practical boat valeting tips can also make the task of cleaning your boat easier and more effective. Follow these simple maintenance tips to make it easier to keep your boat clean. 1. Choose the right equipment to clean your vessel. Instead of using a bucket or garden hose, try to get your hands on a power washer. Power washing boats can cut your cleaning time by half and will require less effort on your part to get hard to reach places. 2. Use marine grade cleaning solutions, compounds and wax. If your boat is extremely dirty or if you take your vessel out into salt water, you should consider using stronger detergent and cleaning solutions meant to remove oxidization stains caused by sea water. Marine wax will also protect your hull from future stains. 3. Always use fresh water f...

The last thing you want on your brand new window are ugly stickers all over the place. But if you don't know how to get rid of stickers, you might leave residue on your windows that might make them less attractive. In this article, I will give you indications on how to get rid of stickers the right way. First of all, you have to make sure that you pick up the right equipment for the job. Sometimes, all you'll need to do the job is a good Scraperite blade and some soapy water. This method works especially well for brand new stickers. All you have to do is spray a little water on the sticker and let the water sink in. Next, all you need to do is scrape it off with your plastic blade. However, if you get a little resistance while trying to remove the sticker, it's better to forget this method and try another one. If you want to get some more removal power, you can always try a vinegar solution instead. Vinegar works better on stickers that have been there for a while. You can use basically the same method as with water but make sure that you use just enough vinegar so you don't get excessive dripping. Use a soft towel or rag to sponge the excess vinegar and let it sink in for a w...

When planning a New Years Eve Party, selecting the right party appetizers is crucial to the success of the party itself, both for the hosts and the guests. The first consideration is to make it easy on the cook. There are all sorts of wonderful creations you can make as New Years Eve party recipes, but if the cook is in the kitchen all night, it isn't much fun. Planning ahead is essential. Become a list maker if you aren't already. Write down a list of everything you have to do to get ready for the party, from grocery shopping, to buying party favors, to making sure all the wine glasses are clean and ready to go. Most New Years parties begin mid to late evening, so your guests will have eaten dinner by the time they arrive. A well selected mix of appetizers and small portion foods will be a hit, as guests can graze over the course of the evening. Providing food at frequent intervals during the evening also helps to prevent guests from feeling the effects of their drinks on a less than full stomach. So what do you serve? Here are a few essential things to consider when selecting party appetizers for your New Years Eve party: Provide small plates, either china, paper or plastic, for ...

The wine bottles are empty. The candles have seen their last flicker. And the last guest has gone home. You want to put your feet up with a big sigh of relief, but wait — there's cleaning up to do. Doing any type of cleaning when your holiday party is over might not seem like a particularly glamorous way to finish the evening. But taking care of a few housekeeping matters right away will lighten your load when you wake up the next morning. And tidying up actually isn't that hard when you have a game plan. Clear the mess first Close Go around the house with two bags — one for trash and one for recyclables — and start clearing all the tables. Toss paper cups and plates, crumpled napkins and food in the bag designated for trash, and place bottles and cans in the recyclables bag. Preventive measures help too: for my holiday parties, I decorate big boxes with wrapping paper and put bows on the front with tags that say "Trash" and "Recycling." Then I line the boxes with big trash bags, so at the end of the evening, most of the work is already done for me. Round up the dishes Gather all the real plates, glasses and utensils, take them to the kitchen and place them in the dishwasher immedi...

Useful thin plastic blades can clean smooth surfaces of paint and glue, decals and stickers without damaging surfaces beneath the coating, as well as make sharp crease lines in paper without cutting through the paper. The plastic blades can be used to spread glue and the short handle makes it easy to work in limited spaces. Very good for cleanup and removing paint splatters or over spray on smooth surfaces. A safer, smaller version of the putty knife on delicate surfaces. Pros Blades available in different flexibilities for work on different surfacesBlades will fit paint scrapers that hold standard razor bladesSmall plastic razor blade holders are a great size for work in confined spacesEasily scrape paint and glue off smooth surfaces, and some slightly more irregular surfacesBlades last a surprisingly long time Cons Not available everywhereWork best on thin materials, a kitchen grill scraper is still best for resin spills. Description  Small double edged thin plastic blades great for scraping a variety of surfaces, resistant to many solvents.  Good way to remove labels, decals, masking tape and sticker glue, without damaging painted surface underneath.  Small handle...