Tips & Tricks: Paint, Decoration and Home Renovation

Always stir the paint well. Only dilute when specified and with the indicated diluent.

• Do not dip the paint brush or the paint roller into the drum entirely and wipe off excessive paint on the edge of the drum. With this right amount of paint, the paint will spread evenly and dripping will be avoided.
• When using a paint roller, apply paint vertically first and horizontally afterwards. End with a vertical stroke from bottom to top. When using a paint brush, start at the top of the surface with the loaded brush and strike horizontally. Repeat this at the bottom of the surface. Then spread the paint in small vertical strips and repeat this as soon as possible horizontally. Finish by evening out the last layer from bottom to top.

• Paint rollers and painting cushions are used for big surfaces and with an emulsion paint rather than with a solvent-based enamel paint.
• Pencils and brushes are used for small and difficult to reach surfaces (e.g. window frames). There is a wide range of brushes, with different qualities and for all sorts of different usages.

A solvent is injected under pressure into the carpet. This solution penetrates the pile thanks to a rotating nylon brush. Afterwards, the carpet is treated with a cotton cloth which removes the stains and this cleaning process ends with vacuuming.

• Advantages : short drying period and thorough cleaning thanks to the cotton cloth treatment.

By spraying hot water under pressure into the carpet, stains will soak off. This water is immediately extracted by a powerful vacuum cleaner.

• Advantages : effective method, especially recommended for long pile textile.
• Disadvantages : longer drying period and shrinking risk.

A compact mousse with a minimum level of moisture is applied by means of a roller or a rotating brush machine before massaging it into the pile and vacuuming.

• Advantage: short drying period. 
• Disadvantages : it only cleans the surface and is not suitable for all types of carpets.

A machine with disks is used to spread the shampoo on fast rotating cylinder-shaped brushes. This leads to the foaming of the product and the soaking of the piles.

• Advantage : effective cleaning.
• Disadvantages : shrinking risk. It is important to respect the entire drying period.

Act immediately on the carpet by removing the largest part of any stain with a spoon or a knife. Afterwards dab up or massage gently with an absorbing tissue to remove the liquids. Lukewarm water or shampooing generally suffices to remove a recent stain. After applying a product that moistens, respect the entire drying period before moving on to the next step.

Miniox-stores offer cleaning machines (Carpet Doctor) for sale or to rent.

Furniture always evokes memories, even more so when they are antique. Maintenance is important and necessary, restoration is vital. Tips to carry out the following delicate procedures :

1. Cleaning: Gently rub off previous layers of wax and grease stains with steel wool drenched in grease and wax remover. Afterwards, wipe off with a dry cloth. If necessary strip leftovers.
2. Stripping: Apply the paint stripper with a pencil. Let the paint stripper soak in for a couple of minutes and remove the varnish with steel wool. Finish by brushing the surface with steel wool drenched in grease and wax remover.
3. Treatment: The naked wood is now ready for treatment. Apply an insecticide on the interior and exterior surfaces with a pencil. Using a syringe, inject the same product into all cracks and joints. Treat the seriously mouldered parts with the insecticide for an hour. Leave to dry.
4. Filling up: Apply liquid wood to a filling knife. To reconstruct imperfect parts remove all parts of decayed wood, sandpaper and refill afterwards. Let the wood dry, then sandpaper again in order to achieve a smooth and even surface.
5. Staining: On the treated wood apply an acrylic or solvent-based paint with a sponge, cloth or pencil depending on the wood grain pattern. Let the wood dry for at least 1 to 2 hours.
6. Pore filling: Use a product to fix the stain. This will result in the filling of the pores of the wood and will profound the grains. Furthermore, it enables a waxed or varnished finish.
7. Varnishing: Use a pencil to apply a layer of satin or brilliant shine varnish on the treated wood.
8. Waxing: Apply thin layers of wax using either a dry cloth or a very soft grade of steel wool. Leave to dry for 10 to 20 minutes. In case the furniture is decorated with ornaments, polish these using a cloth of wool or a soft brush.

• Wire brushes allow you to remove rust from metals, damaged layers of paint from brickwork and impurities from façades.
• Filling knifes allow you to fill up gaps, creases, joints, etc.
• Scrapers allow you to remove old layers of non-adherent paint or solidified residues (e.g. cement and other plasterwork).
• High pressure cleaners are used mainly for thorough cleaning (roofing, façades, gutters and floors).