By this I mean, not only scrubbing the floors, the oven and counters, but I plan on emptying out the fridge and all of the cupboards.

Unless you have a bare fridge, I think most of us can say that we all have a jar or two or ten that has been sitting in the back of the fridge or in the fridge door for God only knows how long. Did you know that most items such as jams, mayonnaise and relishes are only good for three or four months once they’re opened? If you’re like us and you don’t us them up that fast they could be in the fridge a heck of a lot longer than that, right? Not good.

So between the fridge and all the stuff I find in the back of our cupboards I’m sure there will be a lot of stuff thrown out. I know there are things in my cupboards that I haven’t used in years. That includes foods like muffin mixes and small appliances.

Once I do get around to clearing out my cupboards I might take a serious look at my pots and pans. I have Lagostina pots and I love them, but they’re getting old or at least some of the ones that I use most often are getting a little worn out. Maybe I could add one or two new pieces of enamel cookware to my collection? I know I’ll have more room for them once the cupboards get cleared out.

Whens the last time you totally cleaned out your fridge and or cupboards? Big job, isn’t it?

We’ve actually been putting off finishing our renovations for 6 or more years! Can you believe that I’ve been living in a house that has two by one strapping spaced about a two feet apart all across the living room and dining room ceiling for 6 years or so? All that’s left to be done to finish the ceiling is for us to put up the tin ceiling tiles that we purchased about 8 years ago.

My husband and I both ended up having some bad health problems about 6 years ago so it made sense to put a hold on our reno. We also had some bad family tragedies happen around that time too .. but now, even though I’m still sick with Crohn’s we should be able to slowly start finishing the renovations that we started.

I mean .. all we have to do is put those tin ceiling tiles up, cut and apply baseboards, quarter round and maybe some molding around the top of the walls where it meets the ceiling and we’ll pretty much be done our living room dining room renovation.

Then we can either start on the kitchen or the basement. We just have to get motivated to get started!

I’ve been trying to motivate myself by looking at decor websites and magazines …I’m really interested in the look of a stone sink for our kitchen .. but I’m not sure it’s quite as easy to care for as a stainless steel sink … it also might cost more … so we’ll see.

Have you ever done renovations on your home? If so did you kind of stall at some point? If you did, what did you do to get yourself motivated again to start working on your renovation projects again?

One my first attempt using the steam cleaner I went after the backsplash tiles in the kitchen, the stove and the fridge. The cleaner worked great on the stove and the fridge. It really got the grime out of the corners and crevices on both appliances.

The backsplash tiles in the kitchen were another matter. I used the scrubbing attachment on the steamer to try to clean the grout area between the tiles and while the grout did look cleaner where I worked at it they didn’t look anywhere near as clean as I’d hoped.

I guess I was hoping that using the steamer once on the tiles would remove years of grime that had built up on the grout. I guess I’m going to have to get some kind of grout cleaner to clean the grout between the backsplash tiles and then I can use the Shark Steamer to maintain the clean look.

One my next attempt to use the Shark steamer I’m going to tackle the bathroom. The grout in the bathroom isn’t that bad, but it could use a good cleaning. What I really want to clean in there is the silicone seal between the tub and the shower wall tiles. It looks like it has mildew in some areas and the steamer should at least help kill the mildew … and hopefully remove it too.

Actually almost all of our upstairs bathroom is tile of some kind or another. The tub/shower area is tiles up to the ceiling and then the walls have tile that goes from the ground up to about 4.5 feet in height. (our Kitchen is like that too .. I guess the former home owners really liked tile?). The bathroom floor has those tiny square floor tiles and yes, the grout between those tiles could use a very good cleaning too.

Hopefully I’ll find the time this weekend to get the steam cleaner out and try it out in the bathroom. It’s a shame that I’ve only used it once since I bought it.

Do you have a general purpose steamer that you use to clean the bathroom, tiles, appliance and perhaps even the floor? If so, what kind do you have and are you happy with it’s performance?

But you can make a dramatic difference in the appearance of your kitchen for much less time and money with the right kitchen remodeling ideas. All it takes is a modest amount of cash and some time and effort on your part. Here are some ideas that can update the look of your kitchen, and you can do them yourself.

1. Add some light. You might find it incredible that a new lighting unit could make such a big difference to the look and feel of your kitchen. Be creative in your choice and choose something truly eye catching. A fixture that incorporates a fan will be both practical and a focal point of the kitchen.

2. Grab a bucket and a brush. Your kitchen will seem like new if you give it a new layer of paint. The look of the room will be livened up considerably with a change in color. By selecting the color carefully, you can also enlarge the appearance of the room.

3. Add some tiles. You can find tiles in a huge assortment of patterns, colors and materials that will add instant style to your kitchen. Try adding some tiles on the wall around the countertops. You can also use tiling on your floor. It’s not that difficult to install flooring tiles yourself if you follow the directions.

4. Spruce up your cabinets. Many people simply can’t afford to replace their kitchen cabinets; it’s just too expensive. However, you can achieve a similar effect and shell out less money if you just refinish what you already have. Your cupboards will look like new with a coat of paint and some new handles. Be certain that the paint you’re using is appropriate for the type of cabinets you have.

5. Buy a fridge. Buying brand new appliances may not be cheap. But it’s amazing how much of a difference it can make to the appearance of your kitchen, at much less expense than a total makeover. Also, if you purchase energy efficient appliances, you might recover some of your money through lower utility bills. Try a completely different finish, like stainless steel. Simply changing the color can also make a big difference.

A few simple changes like these can make a remarkable difference in the appearance of your kitchen. Only you will know just how easy and cost effective your DIY home improvement project actually was.

One of the first things you’ll want to do is find home improvement contractors that can check your house for the right wiring procedures that are required for a new heating or air conditioning system. This is quite important especially if you are going to be remodeling. Your basement or adding a family room or entertainment room. An inspector from EnergyStar will most likely be able to come to your home to let you know how safe the remodeling you’re considering is, and these home energy raters will also be able to give you a computer analysis of which types of wiring you should avoid. An air leakage test will also be performed to let you know whether or not duct work needs to be done. When these home improvement contractors come to your home, you’ll also be able to request that the contractor will leave a list of possible improvements that you need to have fixed before you begin the renovation process.

You can also check out any number of websitesto help you find contractors that would do a great job of renovating your home. You can simply click on the link that describes the services that you need, so you can have your swimming pool built or remodeled, or get an estimate on landscaping as well as learn which builders are best for renovating bathrooms and kitchens. You can also use the cost estimator tool, which will let you know just how much you’ll need to save before you start having your home improvement work done. You can also research many other articles on this site and find out more information to help you find the best home improvement contractors and use the right questions when looking into their work history.

Another idea may be to find a home improvement contractors at work by implementing eco-friendly techniques that will work in your renovation project, this will allow you to continue living green. Even during the construction period of your home. This could be more expensive in some cases, but if you’re planning out your budget the right way, you should be able to get the renovation and supplies you need. An eco-friendly contractor can uncover additional savings for you during your project and after. By using materials and appliances that are more efficient. Good luck!