What’s the best homemade grout cleaner? How can you make tile floor cleaning easier? Here is the best DIY grout cleaner recipe—and tips for maintaining and cleaning a grout floor. Perhaps you have just finished renovating your kitchen with gorgeous ceramic tiles. Or, you have invested in luxurious natural stone flooring for your living room. Maybe you have just moved into a home that has tile flooring, and you want to keep it looking clean and bright. Here are the tile maintenance and cleaning hacks that will have your floors and surfaces gleaming in no time. These tile maintenance tips will keep your tile floor looking great—whether they are made of natural stone, ceramic, porcelain, or another material. NOTE: If you are installing a new floor, you might want to buy tiles online to get the largest selection of different tiles. Tile Floor Cleaning Tips Consistent cleaning and maintenance is the key to long-lasting beauty of a tile floor. Sweep or vacuum the floor regularly … [Read more...] about Best Homemade Grout Cleaner and Other Tile Floor Cleaning Tips
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Grow a Healthy Alocasia Reginula Black Velvet
Alocasia reginula Black Velvet is a beautiful and easy-to-care-for plant. This houseplant has stunning dark velvety leaves with striking silver veins. What’s not to love about this awesome plant that brings life to any room? Here’s everything you need to know about Alocasias, including how to care for them and the growing conditions they prefer. By the way, if you are also interested in flowering houseplants, read Best Flowering Houseplants. Background: What Is Alocasia Reginula Black Velvet? Alocasia reginula is native to the lush tropical rainforests of Borneo. Alocasia is a stunning houseplant that goes by several names, such as Black Velvet or Little Queen. Its unique characteristics set it apart from other houseplants, making it a sought-after addition for plant lovers. What truly sets the Alocasia reginula Black Velvet apart is its velvety, almost black leaves adorned with striking silver veins. This also makes it a great pick for bringing nature indoors. The … [Read more...] about Grow a Healthy Alocasia Reginula Black Velvet
How to Take Care of Holiday Gift Plants
Take care of holiday gift plants with these helpful tips! If you received a holiday gift plant, you are in good company. Countless thousands of people receive beautiful, living gift plants every year . But (especially if you’re not a “green thumb” gardener), the next question involves how to take care of holiday gift plants. Sure, it was delightful when the doorbell rang to announce the arrival of a gift box that contained your live plant. Straight out of the box it was gorgeous. What a nice surprise! Thoughtful as the gift was, it could lead to a potential disaster. Your thoughts shoot forward to the fateful day next month when that same friend calls and asks brightly, “So how is the plant doing?” Will you have to confess you killed it? Thankfully, no! Because in this article I will reveal the five keys to gift plant survival—so you can take care of holiday gift plants like a pro. The tips below apply to all types of holiday gift plants. If you want more information … [Read more...] about How to Take Care of Holiday Gift Plants
Why We Kiss Under Mistletoe–Christmas Mistletoe Plant Facts
Why do we kiss under mistletoe at Christmas? What are the Christmas mistletoe plant facts? The tradition of kissing under the mistletoe started way back in 16th century England. The custom traveled to early America, where kissing under the mistletoe was mentioned in a Washington Irving short story, “The Sketchbook of Geoffrey Crayon, Gent.” In Irving’s day, whenever a couple kissed under a mistletoe sprig, they took off one of the white berries. When all of the berries were gone from the sprig, the kissing power stopped. How’s that for good luck? Mistletoe Once Symbolized Romance, Fertility, and Vitality At Christmastime, we think of kissing under a sprig of mistletoe. In the 21st century, that mistletoe sprig might be artificial. Yet, most folks (like me!) prefer the real thing and order fresh or dried mistletoe to carry on the "kiss under the mistletoe" tradition. Some scholars believe that the ancient Greeks started the kissing tradition when they celebrated … [Read more...] about Why We Kiss Under Mistletoe–Christmas Mistletoe Plant Facts
Frankincense and Myrrh: History and Uses
Frankincense and myrrh are two ancient resins with rich histories and profound cultural significance. But what exactly are the frankincense and myrrh history and uses? And why was the baby Jesus given these two substances as birthday gifts? Frankincense and myrrh history and uses have captivated human civilization for thousands of years. These aromatic substances, harvested from the resin of specific tree species, have been cherished for their diverse uses and symbolism throughout history. Frankincense: Origin and Plant Source Frankincense is not an herb. Rather, it is a resin obtained from trees of the Boswellia genus, predominantly the Boswellia sacra and Boswellia serrata species. These trees grow in arid regions of the Middle East and Africa, including countries such as Oman, Yemen, and Somalia. The resin is harvested by making small cuts in the tree's bark, allowing the aromatic sap to ooze out and harden into droplets, which are then collected. Myrrh: Origin and … [Read more...] about Frankincense and Myrrh: History and Uses