Puppy Wash

            Do you have a special Fido in your family? Does the thought of bathing him in your Jacuzzi tub make you shudder? Is she too pampered to be hosed down in the driveway? Maybe it’s time to consider including a canine cleaning station in your laundry room. A perfect addition to a mudroom or laundry room, this tiled tub can do double duty to hose off muddy shoes or children. Below are a few points to keep in mind as you determine if this idea is worth it for you.

 

• Make sure the tub is large enough for your full grown dog. He may be a puppy now, but he will grow.
• High or low? Depending on the size of your dog, you may want to have a tub mounted higher for a small dog, to avoid bending over or one near the floor so you don’t have to lift that lab up high.
• Mount the faucet on the wall, high enough so Fido won’t bump his head. A hand shower is perfect for hard to reach spots and cleaning out the tub when you are finished.
• Tile the bottom and up the walls with a large size, easy to clean ceramic tile. Minimal grout joints and a non-slip surface are optimal. Make sure you tile far enough up and around to cover the “shake” zone.
• Include a shelf for storing shampoo and an outlet nearby should you need a hair dryer.
• Make sure you have storage space nearby for towels and any other brushes or items you may need during bath time.

 

Too much for you? There’s always the local vet or groomer that would be happy to take over this task for you. 

Painting Brass

            Do you have some bright brass or antique lamps in your house? What about chandelier? Do you dream of replacing it with something more current or up to date? Have you considered painting it? “Paint brass?” you say, “No way.” I recently found an antique brass lamp on Craigslist. I loved the shape, but the color just didn’t work with the rest of my furnishings. “Paint it.” was my first thought. Below is the process I used and it turned out great.

 

            Step 1: Using blue painters tape, tape off the electrical cord and bulb socket.

 

            Step 2: With fine sandpaper, lightly sand the lamp or brass item, making sure to                             hit all of the profiles. This will help with adhesion of the paint and make                               sure the surface is smooth.

           

            Step 3: Using a high quality spray paint in the color of your choosing, I chose                                 Rust-Oleum, spray a primer coat onto the entire lamp, taking care to                                evenly coat it and avoid drips or runs. Allow to dry completely, overnight.

 

            Step 4: Lightly sand the primer coat, dust off and spray another coat of paint.                                Allow to dry completely, overnight.

 

            Step 5: Spray a 3^rd coat of paint if necessary. You want to make sure there is an                             even, thick coat of paint over the entire surface. After it is dry, remove the                                blue painters tape and it is ready for use.

           

You now have a brand new lamp! I am no longer dismissing an item because of its finish. It can always be painted!