Lilac City Momma

Life Hacks

4 Practical Tips for Cleaning Your Glass Shower Enclosure

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A glass shower enclosure is a good addition to your bathroom. It makes you feel excited heading to the shower each morning. You also have something to look forward to when you head home after a long day at work. Once you are inside, you can just isolate yourself and forget everything that is going on around you. But if you’re a busy mom like me, you will want to keep it clean and spend the least amount of time doing it. 

Even if you spend quite a lot of money to have this enclosure installed, it is an investment worth the price. The enclosure needs to be properly cleaned and maintained just like any other item inside your bathroom. Here are some tips to guide you when cleaning.

  1. Use squeegees or microfibre cloths

When soap bubbles and water accumulate on the glass, it could pose health risks. You should not let this buildup happen. It can be easily removed with the help of a squeegee. This is like a windshield wiper that has a handle. This makes it easier for you to remove stains on the glass. If you don’t have one, you can use a small cloth just to wipe off the buildup of soap bubbles on the glass. It does not have to be done daily, but at least you do it once you notice stains and soap bubbles building up.

  1. Use a dryer sheet

If you want to instantly clean the glass, get a dryer sheet, damp it lightly and use it to scrub the entire glass shower enclosure. It easily wipes everything away. This is perfect if you don’t have enough time to clean everything. You can also add a cleaning agent to soften the fabric and allow the stains to be easily removed.

  1. Use an old shirt

If you have time to wipe the stains off, get a cleaning agent and put it in a spray bottle. Dilute it with water and use it to clean the glass enclosure. To remove the cleaning agent, use an old shirt. You can use the same shirt when cleaning up the enclosure in the future. A worn out shirt helps easily remove the stains out.

  1. Check the enclosure for problems

Aside from the cleanliness of the glass shower enclosure, you should also check it for any issues. There might be broken parts that have to be replaced. If the glass is cracked but is still intact, don’t wait for it to finally give in. Have someone come over and replace it. The same thing is true for the shower and other accessories found inside the enclosure. Maintenance is essential since it prevents more serious problems from happening.

It is nice to have a shower enclosure at home. Therefore, you need to make sure it will last for a long time.

Reasons Why Miniature Circuit Breakers are Better Than Fuses

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Miniature circuit breakers are automatically operated electrical switches that are designed to protect various electrical appliances. People are also protected against electrical shocks and other related issues.

Under normal working conditions, the amount of current flowing through a network causes no problems. However, if there is a fault which occurs in the network, or if the current exceeds the safe limit, this could lead to damage to appliances, and pose a huge risk to people. Therefore, the moment the electrical current surges, there should be something to regulate it, and this is where miniature circuit breakers are useful.

Previously, a fuse did the job. Fuses are still widely used to regulate the flow of current. However, these days, there is a preference for the use of miniature circuit breakers in most residential and commercial electrical installations. Here are some reasons why circuit breakers are more effective.

Circuit breakers are more sensitive

If there is abnormal current flow, the circuit breaker automatically switches off the electrical circuit. It stops all problems right away. This happens in less than a second. This is how effective they are in sensing problems. This is not necessarily the case if just using a fuse.

Faulty zones are easily identified

The good thing about circuit breakers is that if there are problems, the faulty zone is immediately identified. With a fuse, the wire needs to be checked through the fuse grip, which needs to be opened, in order to confirm where the faulty zone is. It takes time and effort.  

There is a better interface

Using a knob, circuit breakers have a better interface compared with a fuse. With a fuse, the entire component needs to be taken out. Again, this takes a lot of time. It is not really ideal especially when it comes to emergency cases.

MCBs are generally safer

Compared with fuses, miniature circuit breakers (MCBs) are generally deemed safer. The overall design makes the circuit breakers easier to handle. There is also a lesser risk of fire and other problems. Circuit breakers are also reusable. They need not be maintained all the time. There is a smaller replacement cost. On the other hand, a fuse has to be replaced whenever it blows. Therefore, even if you feel like you have saved money because a fuse is cheap, you end up spending more in replacement costs.

With a Miniature Circuit Breaker, the upfront cost is a bit higher, but it can be used over a longer period of time. You won’t have to worry about safety and efficiency. There is no wonder most people now opt for miniature circuit breakers. They are also highly recommended by experts.

Avoid These Mistakes When Choosing a Wedding Venue

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Wedding preparations are tough. Some couples have to wait for months or even years before getting married because of all the preparations. There are even those who have unfortunately decided to call off the wedding.

The venue is one of the reasons why wedding plans are difficult. You might have a lot of criteria when it comes to the venue and it is your right to select the best place. However, even if you have found the perfect location, your desired date might not be available. Therefore, you have to adjust the date again and consult with everyone else regarding their availability. By avoiding these mistakes when choosing your wedding venue, dress and catering, your dream wedding can finally come to fruition.

  1. Booking the venue without finalising the details

You shouldn’t just book a venue in fear that you won’t have it on your desired date, unless you reserve it now. You should finalise the guest list first. You should check the cost and compare it with other venues in the area. If you rush this process, you might regret it. You might find a better venue later. Worse, the venue might not be large enough to accommodate everyone you have invited or wish to invite.

  1. Not asking about the complete fees

Don’t just ask for the cost of the reservation. There could be extra charges you need to be aware of before you finalise the deal. Once these hidden fees are charged, the total could be much more, and you might just want to change your mind regarding the reservation. Ask about all the fees in advance and everything they cover.

  1. Failure to understand the cancellation policy

Let’s face it. Even if you have already decided on the date and other details of the wedding, things could still go wrong, and you might have to postpone the wedding. Therefore, you need to know what the cancellation policy is at your chosen venue. If they don’t allow cancellation, you won’t have any choice but to pay the full cost and this could be very high.

  1. No contingency plan

If you have chosen an outdoor wedding venue, you should be prepared for all possibilities. Even if the weather forecast says the weather will be fine on your wedding day, you can’t trust it completely. In the event the weather changes, you should have an alternative venue so that the wedding can continue.

Now that you understand some common mistakes in booking a wedding venue, you can continue all your plans. Be more particular, especially if you are booking Asian wedding venues. You should also not forget to ask exactly what is included for what you have paid, so you won’t have to spend more money on any unexpected items later.

The Best Corporate Caterers Will Look After Your Guests

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You hire a professional catering service because you want to serve only the best for your guests. Obviously, you want to make them feel satisfied. And especially if you’re a mother, like me, you will want to serve your guests more than a quick crockpot meal. Also, if you are hosting a corporate event, there will probably be important guests in attendance, and you don’t want to disappoint them.

The reason why professional caterers are worthy of doing the job is because they have tons of experience in the business. They will not just provide food for the guests. They will give the best possible dining experience. They will arrange people to wait on tables, and attend the requests of guests.

Aside from the main dishes that you order, they will also provide food for those with special requests. Vegetarians or those who have food restrictions due to allergies, or religion, will also be catered for.

From the start until the end

The best part about hiring professional caterers is that they will be there to provide service from the moment the food counter is opened until the guests leave the venue. They are used to serving important people who may have lots of requests. They have well-trained staff who have done corporate catering in the past.

You won’t be embarrassed

There is huge pressure when organising a corporate event. You have to consider a lot of details. Food is the major part of such events, so you might have to allot a bigger budget for catering, but it’s worth paying a bit more to hire an experienced professional catering service.

Reserve now

If you are organising your event during a peak season, expect that the top catering companies will be busy. They might have to refuse your request, especially if they have already accepted a lot of catering requests. Once you have found the best caterer, after a tasting session, you should book them right away. Of course, you need to check the overall budget but you should not hesitate especially if you know that their services will guarantee the satisfaction of everyone in attendance.

In the event that there is a need to cancel the event, or hold it on another date, check the cancellation policy of the catering company. You might still have to pay a certain amount of money. However, if the cancellation is at the last minute, don’t expect a full refund.

Pick the best professional caterers and entrust them with this major aspect of your event. You still have a lot of other concerns to attend to. You will be able to focus on other details once you know the food is already taken care of, and look forward to a successful corporate event.

How to Properly Maintain Your Vinyl

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Whether you have come into a sizable collection of vinyl records or you were merely curious about them as they seem to have risen in popularity, it is important to realize that vinyl is a very different substance than what you might be used to with CDs, DVDs or, if you really fancy your retro media, laserdiscs. While the previously mentioned forms of digital media are all composed of a polycarbonate plastic, vinyl records are made from polyvinyl chloride that has been made flexible through a plasticizer; this means that vinyl records are significantly more at risk of warping from high temperatures than digital forms of media, as well as being more prone to developing a static charge.

Upkeep and Repair

In the decades since the introduction of vinyl records, several tools and techniques have arisen to preserve their quality by doing it yourself. The previously mentioned issue of attracting a static charge comes from the relationship of dust particles and vinyl. The occasional “pop” or “click” generated from playing a well-worn record is the result of the needle passing over statically-charged dust that has settled into the natural grooves of the record. While some vendors may carry vinyl cleaners in their inventory, your best bet is to use a record-safe brush that will collect dust particles with minimum damage to the record’s shape, a plastic-safe cleaning solution and a soft towel to gently work through the grooves.

Approaches to Storage

Unlike with CDs and DVDs, that can safely stack up in a pile, the physical construction of vinyl requires that collectors put in a bit more work to maintain their personal record catalogs; piling them up like a traditional CD spindle will result in a warped mass of PVC that will produce nothing but noise when played on a turntable, if even that. Invest in a tall multilevel shelf that can accommodate the width of your records-vinyl should always be stored vertically so as to avoid warping-and that can be positioned well out of the way of solar exposure; ideally, you want to keep your record library in a location that is free of heat and moisture. Furthermore, you should always keep your records in their slipcases when not in use; slipcases are the best way to protect your vinyl from dust and sunlight.

“What is a Warped Record and How Did It Get That Way?”

Because of its plastic-like nature, a record warps when its shape has been maligned through heat, regular pressure or both. While you can play a record that has been slightly warped, the sound quality will suffer. In addition to the warp-inducing pressure generated from stacking vinyls like they were plates, records can also become pressure-warped from being tightly shrink-wrapped within their album covers. Fortunately, you can avoid this problem by looking into which venues practice this bad habit and shopping elsewhere.

While some say that you should fight fire with fire, using heat to soften and mold a warped vinyl record back into alignment is a horrible idea! While you may succeed in leveling out the physical record, the grooves responsible for making music are going to be even worse than before. Records that become sufficiently warped may be known to “skip”-the player’s needle will be pushed backward, resulting in an audio loop.

The Importance of Thickness

Thickness is a common listed detail with most records. The thicker the disc, the more resilient it is to long-term use. Even though new records are created with a thickness of 180 grams, every play session slightly erodes a record’s durability.

Jessica Kane is a writer for SoundStage Direct, the number one online source for the best vinyl records and turntables.