DIY Supermarket

Over time, food waste and various solids can accumulate and adhere to the trap beneath a kitchen sink and eventually clog it.  The connection is also prone to developing leaks over time through bumping, as other items are stored beneath the sink.  You can replace the trap itself or the entire drain assembly.

Use pliers to take out the old assembly and then attach a short tailpiece to the sink basket’s threads.  Secure it in place with a nylon washer and a slip nut and then slide the slip nut on together with a nylon washer to secure the longer tailpiece.

The tailpiece can then be connected, its length determined by the precise location of the drain line coming from the wall.  It should come to the base of the bottom of the wall drain line, although if it is too long, it can later be cut down to size.

The P-trap is then attached to the tailpiece and tightened before positioning the trap arm of the P-trap and marking where to cut it so that it fits perfectly the wall drain line.  The arm is then removed and cut to length with a PVC tube cutter or a hacksaw.

Next, slide the slip nut and washer over the cut end of the arm before inserting the arm into the wall drain.  Then align the P-trap arm and tighten before also tightening the arm to the wall drain line.

Attach the short tail piece to the other sink bowl and secure the other end of the connecting drain line to the shorter tail piece before installing an escutcheon plate to cover the gap between the wall and the wall drain line.

Remember to place a bucket beneath the sink before starting work.

Vinyl tiles can be used in any room of the house.  They have the advantage of being durable, easily maintained, and, as detailed in this article, easy to install. 

Prior to installation, ready the room by taking out all furniture.  Then clean the floor that the vinyl tiles will be covering.  In addition, check the subfloor to make sure it does not have any damage, such as holes or cracks that need to be repaired before laying the vinyl tiles. 

Next, you will lay down the underlay boarding.  This is usually a thin, plywood or fibre board secured with underlay nails.  This step is vital if the floor is uneven. 

Now start tiling at the room’s centre spot.  As you work out and near the walls and door jambs, you will need to cut the vinyl tile with a utility knife to get them to fit properly.  To do this, you will need to place a whole tile on top of the tile nearest the wall.  Fix the top tile so that its four edges are aligned with the tile that is already below it.  Now set yet another tile on top of this top tile and push it up against the wall.  Trace a pencil on that inner edge of the top tile, in effect marking the middle tile.  Use the middle tile for cutting. 

It may take a little practice at first, but eventually even those who consider themselves home improvement novices, will be expertly cutting vinyl tiles. 

If your pans are covered with grime and have stains, there is no need to go out and purchase a new set.  By taking a little time to clean them properly your pans will look as good as new and will be ready for any cooking challenge.

The most important thing when cleaning your kitchen pans is to know what material they are made of.  If you have copper, cast-iron, stainless steel or non-stick pans, the following solutions will help you clean the toughest of grime.

First, get some soda crystals and dissolve them in hot water.  Use one cup of soda crystals for every two cups of water.  Soak the pan for 30 minutes; this will help to dissolve burned on grease. 

Use a scouring pad to clean stainless steel pans.  If you have copper or non-stick pans, do not use anything abrasive.  Instead, wipe them clean with a sponge or soft dishcloth.

If you have stains on the inside of the pans, put three tablespoons of baking soda in the pan, and then fill the pan with water and bring this mixture to a boil on the stove.  After boiling, let the pan soak for a few hours. 

Copper pans will clean up nicely by using a little tomato ketchup; smear the ketchup on the pan and let it stand for 30 minutes, then simply wipe it off and the pan will sparkle.

Some pans are made from aluminium.  If you have these, do not use the soda crystals.  Instead, use borax and follow the same process as with other pans.