When building your kitchen pantry, whether you are adding extra shelving or cabinets to your kitchen storage capacity, the added pantry space can provide style to your kitchen as well as functionality. The simple collection of your necessary items in a newly-fashioned area can breathe new life into the atmosphere of a well-organized kitchen.

Here are some tips to help you install a kitchen pantry:

• Determine how you want the pantry to look. Will it simply be a set of additional cabinets built adjacent to existing cabinets, or do you have a closet off the kitchen that can be converted and shelved to make a real pantry space complete with designated shelves for canned goods, dry goods, and extra dishes and pans. Remember, there is no requirement that the pantry be in the kitchen; you can designate a closet for that purpose outside of the kitchen.
• How will your new pantry cause you to adjust your original storage scheme, and are you prepared for what that will mean. Especially if you are using a nearby closet as your new pantry, take into consideration the increased walking distance to get to that space when considering what to relocate to that new storage space. Frequently used items need to be stored close at hand for comfort.
• Your pantry space will certainly involve building shelving for storage. Will you be using pull-out shelves installed with rollers for easy use?
• Will the pantry’s shape and size permit the placement of drawers to accommodate silverware storage and for small items? How will that be arranged?
• If space is a consideration, can existing cabinets in the kitchen be re-configured to obtain more efficient storage within the space already being used?

The tile chosen for this duty can be any heat resistant tile. Glazed, colorful tiles in compatible colors with the space where they are installed are a popular, decorative choice. The plus with these tiles is that they are easy to keep clean with only minor effort!

In order to competently install a tile backsplash, follow these simple instructions:

1. The wall the tiles will be placed on should be clean, smooth and dry before beginning the actual application of the tiles.
2. Set out or draw out the design as it will appear on the wall when the tile work is finished.        3. Be sure you measure and lay out all supplies carefully; it is easier to catch a mistake before it is glued tightly to the wall!
4. Apply mastic to the entire space to be covered with tile..
5. Set your field tile as a border along the bottom.
6. Cut any tiles that need cutting in order for them to fit.
7. Put in place the decorative tiles over the field tile border.
8. Apply grout to the tile work at the tile joints.
9. Notch the tiles with a wet saw to improve their ability to remain in place.
10. Clean the finished effect and check to be sure that all are caulked.
11. Enjoy your beautiful handiwork!

When simplifying your kitchen you should keep the following things handy.

• Keep only the most used utensils on the counter.  These utensils can include spatulas, wisps, wooden spoons, or knives.  By leaving these things out you can save time when cooking a meal.

• Only leave the most used appliances out.  For example if you have coffee everyday then you would want to leave out the coffee makers; but if you rarely have tea, the tea maker should be placed away until needed.

• Salt and pepper should always be left out on the counter in arms length.  Salt and pepper are both the most common ingredients in recipes and should be available at all times.  It may seem like a small issue; however when cooking a meal it is easy to lose salt and pepper, and knowing where they are can be a huge help.

If you keep the previous things handy in your kitchen, you will most likely become more organized and reduce clutter. When your kitchen is more organized and has less clutter you will find that using your kitchen is easier than ever.

Cleaning your stove does not always have to be time consuming and a difficult. By following these simple steps you can have your stove looking as good as new in just minutes.

1. Make sure that all electricity and gas is shut off.  This is important because you will be using liquid and moving around the stove.

2. Remove all removable parts from the stove and clean them individually.  You can clean them with just soap and water or some type of chemical stoves cleaner.

3. Depending on the type of stove you have you will need to clean the oven.  Some ovens have self cleaners, so you would just spray the chemical into the oven and let it work.  If you do not have a self cleaner you will want to scrub the oven out with soap and water.

4. With a damp cloth clean the entire stove thoroughly.  You may not want to use soap on this part because you will not be able to rinse.

5. Reassemble the stove and reconnect power.

By completing these steps you can have your stove looking brand new.

Err, it happened again, you are taking a shower or doing the dishes and the water just will not go down!  This can be very frustrating and annoying and can make you want to pull your hair out. What do you do?

Here are some steps that you can take to help rid whatever is clogging your drains!

1. First, remove everything that is located from under your sink.  This will help you gain better access to the pipes and keeps things a little less frustrating!  This also helps to protect the items in case of a leak.

2. Make sure you cut off the water!  This is very important to remember.  Located the water shut off, usually at the back of the wall.  It will be a silver knob and you need to turn it clockwise to close off the supply.  If there is standing water in the sink you should remember to plug it before you remove the pipes.

3. You can place a towel or a small pan under the sink to catch any leaking water and then remove the pipes.

4. Newer homes that use PVC pipes will not require any tools to remove them but older homes may need a large pipe wrench.  Remove the pipe at the elbow and try to find the clog.

5. Once the clog is found you can now place the pipes back on.  Be sure to tighten them gently but firmly to assure there are no leaks.  You may want to test the water slowly with a bucket underneath to make sure that the pipes are screwed on properly. 

It can be very annoying when your sink is clogged and it can seem like a difficult thing to fix.  However, it is fairly simple and does not usually require the help of a plumber.  Doing it yourself could save you time and money!

There are some steps that you can take to help remove the odor from your drains without much effort! 

1. If you have a garbage disposal, start by running water along with it to try and rid some of the smell debris or water buildup left inside your disposal.  Things like milk can cause a bad odor after some time. Make sure you always run the water for a few moments after you have turned off your garbage disposal. For more maintenance tips on your garbage disposal check out our “Quick fixes for Your Garbage Disposal”

2. If you have a lemon, squeeze half of one down the drain and cut up the remainder into smaller pieces and place inside the disposal.

3. Now, turn on the disposal again and let the grinder do its magic.

4. If you do not own a disposal let the lemon juice sit in the sink overnight without running the water.  Do not put the rind down the sink unless you own a disposal as this will cause a clog.

5. You can also try ½ cup of vinegar and let it sit for a couple of minutes.  After, run very hot water down the drain for about two minutes.  After that, add some baking soda and leave it sit for at least an hour or more.

6. Run hot water.

This is usually all it takes to get the smells out of your drains.  If you are still struggling, perhaps purchase a commercial drain cleaner.  Bleach is another alterative to the vinegar but it is much stronger and should be used in a well ventilated area.  This is sure to do the trick!  Your kitchen will be smelling great again in no time.

Here are a few tips on how to refurbish your cabinets cheaply, giving your kitchen a new breath of fresh air: 

1. Take down the cabinet facings—doors and drawers—and see what the kitchen cabinets really look like, to see what you have to work with.

2. Once you have ascertained the condition, you can decide whether or not to strip and stain the wood, or paint it to match your walls or accessories.

3. A popular new look in the kitchen is to paint the cabinet frames one color, and then the facings another contrasting color. Another popular look is to leave the facings off altogether, line the shelves with a bright shelf liner, and have open neat shelves to organize your kitchen contents.

4. If you have a really limited budget but still want to make a small change, change the knobs on the drawers or doors.

5. If your budget really limited, buy a preparation such as Liquid Gold or some type of wax and exert a little elbow grease to make the doors gleam like new. 

Rejuvenating the look of your kitchen can be done on the cheap or planned to use up some set aside savings. Play around with your options. See if the local paint store has a designer who can help you. Write down a number of your choices and their costs, and think about the various ideas before you act on them. Use your imagination and have fun with your new kitchen look!

Take some time to look your kitchen over and then try a few of these things. 

• Purchase racks that you can install inside of your cabinets.  When you do this you will be able to store things inside the cabinets on the shelves and on the door.  This is like doubling the space that you have inside all of your cabinets.

• Get cup holders that attach underneath of your cabinets.  These are great places for you to store your coffee mugs and it gives you more space inside of the cabinets for other dishes and glasses.  These are really easy to find and they are also easy to install. 

• Another idea may be pot racks.  This allows you to store your pots out in open.  They are much easier to get to and it gives you more space under the stove and in the cabinets.  This also creates a really nice look for many new, contemporary kitchens.  Again, these are really easy to find and they are also easy to install.

• Make shelves at the end of islands.  This simple creates more storage and it looks nice if you place the right things in this location. 

Try following these simple tips and tricks in order to help you keep your garbage disposal working as it should.

•    Always run water in it before and after you use it. This will help you keep it running smoothly.  The water will help things wash down smoothly and it will keep it clean.  You should allow the water to run for 20 second before and after the use of the garbage disposal.

•    Do not run hot water down the garbage disposal.  It is a common misconception that a lot of people do, but it is not advised.  It actually melts any fats and it then builds up on the disposal blades.

•    Only place food in it.  You should never try to crush bones or fabric materials.  The garbage disposal was designed for food only.

Some of these tips are common sense but that does not mean that people do everything they are supposed to with this equipment.  If you would like your garbage disposal to work properly for a long period of time you need to follow these tips. 

If you do run into an issue with your garbage disposal make sure you know quick fixes for common garbage disposal problems. Also, NEVER attempt to fix a broken disposal unless you have unhooked the power to it first. You should never place you hand down a running garbage disposal or a disposal that the power is still hooked up to. So go take care of that garbage disposal!

If you notice that the flow of water from the spray is sluggish, first make sure the hose is not kinked. If the spray hose is not kinked, then you may need to clean the aerator in the spray nozzle. If the water flow remains sluggish after you have cleaned the aerator, you may have a diverter valve problem. You’ll have to clean or replace the diverter. 

If the spray head leaks however, you just need to replace the washer from the hose. For a leak at the faucet end of the spray hose, tighten the hose coupling. For a hose that leaks itself you probably have a cracked hose and will need to replace it.

Three common problems of a sink spray and how to fix them:

Clogged Spray Nozzle: Remove the nozzle screw and clean the perforated disc with a soapy water and small scrub brush. Open the clogged holes of the nozzle with a safety pin. Replace the nozzle.

Leaking Spray Head: With the water off, unscrew the spray head and replace the spray washer. Make sure the coupling is tightened once you reattach the spray head. 

Leaking Spray Hose: Remove the spray hose with a basin wrench. Remove the coupling under the sink along with the spray-head coupling. Replace the hose with a new one and reattach the spray head coupling and the sink coupling.

How to Clean the Diverter Valve: Unscrew the sinks faucet cap to reach the diverter. Make sure you know how to take apart a faucet.  Loosen the screw that is on top of the diverter just enough that the diverter is loose to lift it out of the faucet. Once you have the whole diverter out, take it apart for cleaning. Use soapy water and a small scrub brush to clean the inside and out of the diverter. If the diverter is too corroded you may need to replace it. Once you have cleaned the diverter or had purchased a new one, you are ready to reinsert it into the faucet.