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Is It Safe to Use Soft Scrub on My Ceramic Tile?

Over time and with years of use, ceramic tile can start to look dirty and stained, no matter how much you sweep and mop. Soft Scrub is a brand of products for cleaning a variety of surfaces, from toilet bowls to kitchen countertops. If you already use a Soft Scrub product on other surfaces in your home and like the results, you may wonder whether the same product can get your ceramic tiles looking new again.

How Much Laundry Detergent Do You Need With Soft Water?

Hard water, as opposed to soft water, is high in minerals, such as calcium and magnesium. Hard water interferes with the effectiveness of many cleaning products. For example, soaps lather far easier in soft water than in hard water. Hard water corrodes pipes and plumbing fixtures and leaves rings on tubs and toilets. When you soften your home's water, you can reduce the amount of laundry detergent needed to wash a load of laundry.

What's a Non-Conforming Basement Bedroom?

Having a non-conforming basement bedroom rather than a conforming bedroom can make the difference between life and death. Conforming bedrooms meet legal requirements to ensure that the bedroom is safe, including the use of egress windows in case of an emergency. Other factors may determine whether a basement bedroom is non-conforming, depending on the laws in your area. General Information Non-conforming basement bedrooms may not have an egress window. A non-conforming basement bedroom derives this name by not conforming to a municipality's building codes.

How to Wire a Square D Panel

Schneider Electric's Square D electrical panels hold circuit breakers for power distribution. Only Square D style circuit breakers fit in a Square D style panel box. Square D circuit breakers and panels use a square with a capitol D inside as an identification marker. Turn off the power to the panel before working on it. Three wires enter a residential Square D service panel from the electric meter; two 120-volt hot wires and a neutral.

How to Use 2x4 Lumber as a Patio Edger

Although patio paver manufacturers encourage you to install specially designed vinyl edging around a patio's perimeter, 2-inch by 4-inch lumber can effectively serve the same purpose. Even better, you can use 2-inch by 4-inch lumber to build concrete forms for pouring a patio slab. Whether you're installing pavers or pouring a slab, the building process is the same: Simple butt joints connect separate pieces of lumber, and stakes anchor the lumber to the ground.

How to Clean Smoked Walls From Gas Heat

Soot and smoke produced from a gas heater can cover the walls with an oily residue that is difficult to remove. This residue will give off an unpleasant odor and -- if not removed in a timely manner -- will stain the walls permanently. Fortunately, you do not have to live with smoke-stained walls. With a few common and inexpensive household items, you can successfully remove the smoke and soot, restoring the look of the walls.

How to Take Pen Stains Off Canvas Shoes

Ink stains can be difficult to remove from canvas shoes and other apparel. You will receive the best results if you treat the stain immediately after it happens. Luckily, most canvas shoes are washable, so the chance of successfully removing the stain is better. Ink stains can be stubborn. You do not have to use expensive commercial products to remove the stain; common products found in most homes are effective in removing the stubborn ink from the canvas.

How to Anchor a Boat Dock

Anchoring systems for boat docks vary. Several factors must be considered before deciding on a docking system. The water depth and distance the dock must be from the shore to operate efficiently and safely are important. If the dock will be subject to frequent changes in water level or heavily stressed by high winds and heavy wave action, the anchoring system must be adjusted. Better anchoring leads to a longer lasting dock that needs less maintenance.

How to Use a Mortar Bag

If you are an aspiring mason, you will learn that there are several tools that you must be familiar with, such as a mortar bag. The simple use of a mortar bag will make your job as a mason easier and quicker. You will never want to do your work with the old tube again. It's good to use for new mortar application and is the best way to replace old, damaged mortar as well.

How to Identify the Company of a Cast-Iron Dutch Oven

Cast-iron cookware retains its heat so well that some owners pass the piece down to younger family members. Whether your grandmother gave you a piece or you find a used piece at a thrift store or yard sale, you need to identify it correctly. Some dutch ovens are worth a significant amount of money, including those from Griswold and Wagner. Identify the Company of a Cast-Iron Dutch Oven Turn the dutch oven over and look at the bottom.