| How to Care for Laminate Floors Posted: 13 Aug 2018 01:00 AM PDT Laminate flooring is beautiful and easy to take care of. Caring for your floors may seem daunting at first, but once you figure out the right techniques and materials, it's simple! Protect your floors by cleaning them routinely, removing stains immediately, and using furniture pads to keep your laminate floors in pristine condition. EditDoing Routine Cleaning - Clean your floors with a dry microfiber mop to remove debris. A microfiber mop is ideal for cleaning laminate floors because it easily picks up dirt, crumbs, and pet hair. Whenever you notice that your floor looks dirty or dusty, run a dry microfiber mop over it to clear away the debris.[1]
- If you don't have a microfiber mop, you can also use terry cloth or cotton.
- Vacuum with a soft flooring attachment as an alternative to dry mopping. Regular vacuuming is important in order to remove dirt, dust, and debris from the floor. When vacuuming, use a soft flooring attachment in order to be as gentle on the floor as possible. Be sure to use a hardwood setting on your vacuum as well.[2]
- Use baby shampoo and water to wash laminate floors. Many commercial cleaners can leave laminate floors looking dull and streaky. Baby shampoo, however, is gentle and safe to use. Mix of baby shampoo with of water. Dip a microfiber mop in the solution, wring out the excess water, then use it to scrub the floors. When you're done, go over your floor with a dry cloth.[3]
- Excessive moisture can warp the laminate, so don't skip the drying step!
- Mop your floors with vinegar and hot water once a month to add shine. Use of vinegar per of water. Dip your microfiber mop in the vinegar and water mixture, then move it back and forth across your floors.[4]
- Only use this method once a month or less to prevent damage to the protective seal on the laminate.
EditRemoving Stains and Scuff Marks - Remove stubborn stains with nail polish remover or rubbing alcohol. It is important to clean up stains as soon as possible so they don't set in. Stubborn stains, such as paint, oil, tar, and marker, can be removed with an acetone-based nail polish remover. You can also use rubbing alcohol to remove these types of stains.[5]
- Just pour a small amount of nail polish remover or rubbing alcohol on a soft cloth and use it to scrub the stain. Repeat if necessary.
- Use ice and a plastic scraper to remove substances stuck to the floor. You can harden substances such as wax or gum by applying ice to them. Then, use a credit card or plastic scraper to gently remove the substance. Avoid using a metal tool to scrape the floor, as it could scratch or damage it.[6]
- Get rid of rust stains with lemon and salt. Metal items can leave rust stains on your laminate floors. To remove them, sprinkle table salt (not coarse salt) over the area. Cut a lemon in half and rub 1 half over the salt. If the stain is especially stubborn, you can saturate the area in salt and lemon juice and let it sit overnight. Then, rub a new lemon half over the stain in the morning.[7]
- Use a damp cloth or paper towel to pick up the salt and remove any remaining lemon juice.
- Remove scuff marks with WD-40. If there are scuff marks from shoes covering your laminate floor, don't fret! It's super easy to remove them. Just spray a small amount of WD-40 onto the scuff mark, then wipe it away with a cloth or paper towel.[8]
- Clean the area with baby shampoo or a mixture of vinegar and water after removing the scuff mark so the spot isn't slippery from the WD-40.
EditProtecting Laminate Floors - Put mats outside your exterior entrances. Placing a floor mat outside the entrances will prevent dirt, snow, grit, and other debris from being tracked over your floors. It's also a good idea to place mats in heavily trafficked areas of your home to prevent wear and tear.[9]
- For example, you may want to place a mat in front your sink or stove.
- Use protective pads under heavy furniture. If heavy chairs or tables get moved around, your laminate floors can get scratched up. Put protective pads under heavy furniture and under furniture that is moved often—like dining room chairs.[10]
- Put up window coverings to protect your floors from direct sunlight. Excessive heat and sunlight can cause your floors to fade. Use window coverings, like blinds or curtains, to prevent direct sunlight from hitting your floors on a daily basis.[11]
- Rearrange your rugs and furniture to prevent discoloration. Keeping your rugs and furniture in the same location for several years at a time can cause your laminate floors to age unevenly, resulting in patchy spots. Try to rearrange your rugs and furniture once a year to prevent discoloration.[12]
- There are tools available to replace damaged planks within minutes at most home improvement stores.[13]
- Check the manufacturer's instructions before cleaning your floors. Using the wrong products could void your warranty.[14]
- Do not sand, refinish, or lacquer laminate floors.[15]
EditThings You'll Need EditDoing Routine Cleaning - Microfiber mop
- Baby shampoo
- Vacuum with a soft flooring attachment
- Vinegar
- Water
EditRemoving Stains and Scuff Marks - Acetone-based nail polish remover
- Rubbing alcohol
- Ice
- Plastic scraper
- Table salt
- Lemons
- Cutting board
- Knife
- WD-40
- Cloths or paper towels
EditProtecting Laminate Floors - Floor mats
- Protective pads
- Window coverings
EditSources and Citations
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| How to Substitute for Cake Flour in Recipes Posted: 12 Aug 2018 05:00 PM PDT Cake flour has a lower gluten and protein content, which makes it lighter than all-purpose flour. It adds lightness, structure, and sponginess to delicate baked goods, like cake and scones. You can replicate cake flour's effect by combining regular all-purpose flour with cornstarch, mixing organic cornstarch with oil or spelt flour, or using a smaller amount of all-purpose flour. Making your own cake flour also means it'll be cheaper, more natural, easy to make with common ingredients you're likely to have on hand, and fresher than store-bought flour. EditIngredients EditUsing All-Purpose Flour and Cornstarch - 2 tbsp (20 g) cornstarch (normal or organic)
- 7/8 cup (130 g) all-purpose flour
EditUsing Oat or Spelt Flour with Cornstarch - 1 tbsp (10 g) cornstarch (organic) or arrowroot powder
- 7/8 cup (78.75 g) oat, spelt, or white wheat flour
EditUsing All-Purpose Flour - 7/8 cup (130 g) all-purpose flour
EditUsing All-Purpose Flour and Cornstarch - Place 2 tbsp (20 g) of cornstarch into a 1 cup measuring cup. To make a cup of cake flour substitute, start with 2 tbsp (20 g) of cornstarch. Measure this ingredient out precisely with a measuring spoon and place the cornstarch in a 1 cup measuring cup.[1]
- The cornstarch will help mimic the lightness of cake flour, which is perfect for light, fluffy cakes that still need structure, such as chiffon or angel food cake.[2]
- Fill the rest of the 1 cup (130 g) with all-purpose flour. Use a spoon to transfer flour into the measuring cup, over top of the cornstarch. Keeping adding flour until the 1 cup measurement is full, then level the top off with the flat edge of a knife. This method helps prevent packing and gives you a more precise measurement.[3]
- Avoid the "digging" technique when measuring flour. Digging the cup into a bag of flour can pack extra flour into the measuring cup, which makes the cake denser.
- Combine the flour and cornstarch in a mixing bowl. Dump the measuring cup's contents into a mixing bowl, then use a whisk or spoon to combine the flour and cornstarch. Mix well until the 2 ingredients are combined.
- Use another bowl and a strainer or sifter to sift the flour mixture 3-5 times. Place a strainer or sifter on top of another bowl that's about the same size as the first. Pour the flour and cornstarch mixture through, shaking and tapping the sides of the strainer or sifter until the mixture has fully sifted through.[4]
- Sifting will combine and aerate the flour mixture, which will help make the cake light and fluffy.[5]
- Scale the 1 cup measurement up and down for the recipe. Use this substitution for 1 cup of cake flour while baking. Scale it as needed, following the amount recommended by the recipe.
- For example, if the recipe calls for 1/2 cup (70 g) of cake flour, use 1/2 (75 g) cup of all-purpose flour and replace (25 g) of flour with (10 g) of cornstarch.
EditUsing Oat or Spelt Flour with Cornstarch - Measure (10 g) organic cornstarch into a 1 cup measuring cup. Cornstarch will give you the best replica of cake flour. Using organic cornstarch will also give you the healthiest option.[6]
- You could also use of arrowroot powder as an even healthier alternative for organic cornstarch. However, arrowroot is harder to use if you haven't baked with it before, and it changes your cake's texture and cooking time.
- Fill up the rest of the 1 cup (78.75 g) with oat or spelt flour. Add spoonfuls of flour to top off the 1 cup, then level it off with the flat side of a knife. Oat and spelt flour are naturally lighter flours, which will help keep the cake fluffy.[7] They're also healthier options—oat flour helps stabilize blood sugar and spelt flour is good for people with gluten sensitivity.[8]
- You can also use white wheat flour, but then you'll need to add another (10 g) of cornstarch or arrowroot powder. This type of flour will also add a strong wheat flavor to whatever you're baking.[9]
- Dump the ingredients into a mixing bowl and whisk them together. Combine the 2 ingredients completely in order to fully aerate the flour.[10]
EditUsing All-Purpose Flour - Measure out 1 cup (150 g) of all-purpose flour. Use a spoon to fill up the measuring cup and the back of a knife to level off the top.
- Scoop out (25 g) of the all-purpose. Use a measuring spoon to carefully remove the (25 g). The amount will affect the density of the cake, so try not to spill any of the 1 cup (150 g) of flour. Pour the (25 g) back into the bag of flour.[11]
- Removing 2 tbsp (25 g) from 1 cup (150 g) will leave 7/8 cup (125 g).
- Use it as a substitute for 1 cup (140 g) of cake flour. Because cake flour is lighter, you can mimic this effect by using only 7/8 cup (131.25 g) of all-purpose flour as a quick, simple substation for 1 cup (140 g) of cake flour. This technique is especially convenient if you don't have any cornstarch handy.
EditThings You'll Need - 1 cup
- 1 tablespoon
- Spoon
- Knife
- 2 mixing bowls
- Sifter or strainer
EditSources and Citations
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| How to Become a Brewmaster Posted: 12 Aug 2018 09:00 AM PDT Becoming a brewmaster can begin with something as simple as taking up brewing in your home. If you've brewed beers at home for a few years, you may be ready to take the next step. You can start by applying for a job in a brewery or by completing coursework through a brewing course. Then, you can work your way up through a brewery or start your own. EditGaining Experience - Find educational resources. One great way to get started on the way to becoming a brewmaster is to start the learning process in you kitchen or backyard. You can find guides online for the process or get a book. Your local library probably even has a book you can use to get started.[1]
- You can also visit a home brew shop in your area to learn more about the process.
- Learn to brew at home. Once you've researched the process, you can try your hand at brewing at home. Keep in mind, the process will include malting, milling, mashing, boiling, fermenting, conditioning, and filtering, so it's not for the faint of heart.
- Brewing at home also helps you learn if you like the different parts of the process. Some parts of the process smell strongly, for instance, and you may find you don't like the smell.[2]
- Gain knowledge in chemistry and biology. Brewing beer relies heavily on both of these sciences, so it can help to take a few classes in these areas. You'll use microorganisms to brew your beer (yeast), which is where biology comes into play. Chemistry will help you understand the brewing process better, as well as assist you in balancing the overall flavor.[3]
- You can take classes in high school or college, or you can sign up for some at your local community college. You can also look into free online courses like those from Coursera, Khan Academy, or Princeton.
- You'll also need at least some college mathematics to get you through a brewing course.[4]
- Network with other brewers in your area. As you start to brew, it will help to meet other like-minded folks. Try attending conferences on brewing or joining local brew clubs. You can pick up tips, share ideas, and meet other people in the field.
- Enter local brewing contests. Once you've started developing your own brews, enter them in local contests. You'll get valuable feedback and meet other people interested in brewing who live in your area. Plus, you'll get your name out there and get an idea of how your brews measure up to other beers.
- Apply for a job in a brewing pub. One way to learn about brewing is to simply get a job in a brewery. Apply for an entry-level position, such as the assistant to the brew master. That way, you can learn about brewing on the job.[5]
- You may need a certificate from a brewing school or a degree to get an entry-level position. It depends on the company.[6]
- If you can't land a gig in a brewing pub, try a related field. You could become a bartender, review beers for a blog or the local paper, or become a beer sales representative.
EditAttending Brewing School - Find a brewing program. You can attend either a standalone program or one associated with a university. See if there's a program nearby that you can attend by checking the list at https://www.brewersassociation.org/resources/schools-organizations/. This list has most of the schools in the U.S. and a few international schools, as well.
- Apply for the brewing program of your choice. How you apply depends on the school or university. For instance, at a university, you'll likely need to apply through the school's admission office. In that case, you'll need things like your transcripts from high school or other colleges, references, and a personal statement, as well as a completed application form.[7]
- Non-university programs will have a similar application process. You may be required to prove you've taken certain prerequisites, as well as describe the brewing experience you've had. You'll be required to fill out an application form, and you'll likely need to pay a fee.[8]
- Some programs have scholarships you can apply for.
- Complete your required coursework. The amount of coursework you'll need to complete varies widely by program. You might do a certificate program in a couple of semesters. Other programs might be as long as 4 years, or possibly longer if you continue on to graduate work.[9]
- In some cases, you may need to pass an exam at the end, though it depends on the program.
- In most programs, you'll be doing hands-on brewing in conjunction with what you're learning in the classroom.
EditWorking up to Brewmaster - Prepare for the demands of the job. Brewing beer is not the easiest task. It's physically demanding and requires a lot of cleaning. Also, you will often be working in warm to hot conditions when brewing, due to the process of heating and brewing the beer. Make sure you are in good physical health and able to withstand periods of heat.[10]
- Exercise regularly, at least 30 minutes a day most days of the week.
- Get hired at a brewery. If you haven't already been hired as a brewer's assistant, it's time to get that experience now. Look for positions in your area. When applying, use creative tactics to get your foot in the door. For instance, you could bring a bottle of your homebrew to the interview.[11]
- You could also bring a formula for 1 of your favorite beers or format your resume like it's a beer bottle label.
- Learn as much as you can about brewing on the job. Once you get hired, use your time wisely. Be ready and willing to learn all about the brewing process. Ask questions, and take notes if you have trouble remembering. You want to gain as much from the brewmaster's experience as you can.[12]
- Say yes to job offers that progress your career. The more experience you gain, the more likely you'll be offered jobs with more responsibility. In fact, other breweries may try to steal you away for a better position. Keep your eyes and ears open, and try to move up as you can.[13]
- Consider beginning your own brewery. If you can get financial backing and a good location, beginning your own brewery is a viable option. Of course, you'll want to have the knowledge and experience you need to run your own brewery. Don't jump in before you know that you're ready to take that responsibility on.[14]
EditSources and Citations EditQuick Summary
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