Fireclay is a unique material used to make sinks and tubs. It maintains the appearance of porcelain or ceramic, but because the clay is so heat- and fire-resistant (it is created at a much higher temperature), the material’s resilience is increased. Repair a scratch in your fireclay sink with a manufacturer's repair kit. Things You Will Need + Rag Water Sink cleaner Mineral spirits Lint-free cloth Repair kit Fireclay rarely suffers from chips or scratches, but when it does you can acquire a repair kit from your sink’s manufacturer to reinforce the damaged area with similar damage-resistant material.

Chimney caps help keep birds, squirrels, leaves, water and twigs from coming into your chimney. Without them, your fireplace can develop a permanent smoky smell caused by rain, mixing with the creosote on your chimney walls. Like the chimney itself, chimney caps can be cleaned. How you clean a cap depends on what it is made of: stainless steel, galvanized steel, copper or clay. If your cap is so dirty it cannot be cleaned to your liking, you can replace the cap or paint it black (depending on the material).

Normal glass is glossy, smooth and transparent, but exposing glass to hydrofluoric acid makes the glass pitted and translucent or "frosted." Frosted glass can be cleaned as you would non-frosted glass, but because the dirt-attracting pits in the frosted glass, it’s often necessary to use an abrasive sponge to thoroughly clean its surface. Frosted glass is also easily marked by metallic objects, requiring the use of wet-and-dry emery paper to banish any dings and streaks.

The sewer pipe in your backyard may serve an important purpose, but that does not make it any more attractive. An ugly sewer pipe sticking up out of your backyard can ruin the look you have worked so hard to maintain; hiding that pipe from view should be part of your landscaping plans. You can use a number of techniques and landscape elements to disguise that unsightly sewer pipe.

The outside of your home provides a wonderful area to relax, and enjoy nature. Unfortunately, stray cats, skunks and even mold can all cause a nose-wrinkling odor to appear on the outside of your home, and in the yard. These odors will quickly turn the great outdoors into an unpleasant place that you avoid at all costs. If rinsing the offending area with a water hose does little to alleviate the stinky odor, try a few inexpensive remedies, that some homeowners keep on hand.

Moisture and mold or mildew may hit where you list expect them, such as in a closet full of stored clothing. Damp conditions with little air flow are ideal for mold and mildew growth but not for storing your apparel. Remove closet moisture by dehumidifying or providing a source of ventilation to ensure your stored clothing stays dry at all times. Drying Out the Closet A closet with a tight-fitting door -- especially if it isn't opened frequently -- traps in moisture, especially during humid conditions.

Leather is an attractive and durable fabric that is used to manufacture many items, including clothing. Although there are many benefits to this wonderful organic material, draw backs include the challenges of cleaning and eliminating odors. Remove mothball smell and other unpleasant odors with a few simple ingredients. Moisture can damage the appearance of leather and, therefore, you must use it minimally in your efforts to remove smells such as those from mothballs.

Replacing the pull rope on a Briggs and Stratton can be performed in a short period of time. Of course the rope always seems to break just when you are ready to use the engine. The oil has been checked, the gas tank is full and you give a good tug to the starter rope. The next thing you know you're holding a handful of rope. Over time and with use the knot at the end of the rope can come loose or break.

The Wexford Deluxe tower fan is a useful item on a hot summer day because it is multi-functional. You can set it to different speeds or utilize an internal timer which will automatically stop the fan after a certain time. The top controls are accessible and are identifiable by LED lights that flash when a certain function is enabled. Locate the "Power" button on the included remote control and press it to turn the unit on.

Spiral staircases can offer beautifully artistic access to the second level of your home with minimum space requirements. When designing a spiral staircase, it can be difficult to determine the length of the handrail required, since it follows a helical spiral up the staircase. The length of a spiral staircase's helical handrail can be calculated by the diameter and height of the staircase. However, this figure can indeed be calculated with just a few variables, such as the radius of the staircase and the height to the next floor.