Easy solution to cleaning grout between tiles

Cleaning the grout between tiles has alwasy been a time consuming excercise for my cleaning staff. I however recently discovered this easy solution. This method is easy, and its not harmful to the environment. The answer was found in powdered oxygen bleach.

The benefit of oxygen bleach is that it is nontoxic, it does not produce any harsh fumes, and is color- and fabric-safe. It can be used to removes any food and grease stains with no or minimal scrubbing. What the oxygen ions does is that it attacks the stain molecules, breaking them into pieces that rinse away with little effort.


You need to mix any high quality oxygen bleach with warm water and stir it until it dissolves. Then pour the solution onto the floor tile so the grout lines are flooded with the solution. For best results the oxygen-bleach solution should be poured onto dry grout so it soaks deeply. Leave it to soak into the grout for at least 15 minutes. If it completely soaks into the grout, add more of the cleaning solution, making sure there is always plenty of the cleaning liquid on the grout.

The longer you leave the solution on the grout the easier easier it becomes to clean the tile flooring. The reason for this is thatt the oxygen ions work for up to six hours. To get maximum cleaning results, it helps to scrub the grout lightly after 30 minutes. While you scrub, you should pour more of the solution onto the grout.

 
In no time at all, the grout will look as good as new.

Also remember that the fresher the stain on grout, the easier it is to remove. As yet, I have not found a stain that this solution can not remove.

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A and F Complex Management

Flower of the day - Gazanias

Gazanias (also known as treasure flowers) are ideal for brilliant colour in sunny places. They are clump-forming and have green leaves that are grey beneath. They are drought tolerant and native to Southern Africa.

Their daisy-like flowers come in shades of orange, red and yellow throughout the year. Excellent  as ground covers and rockery plants in well drained soil.

Some named varieties are ‘Day Break Bronze’ (dark brown flowers), ‘Day Break Orange’ (large orange flowers), ‘Day Break Pink’ (large pink flowers), ‘Day Break Red Stripe’ (large yellow- and red-striped flowers), ‘Day Break Yellow’ (large yellow flowers), ‘Moonglow’ (double bright yellow flowers), ‘New Moon’ (creamy-white flowers with a dark yellow centre), ‘Pink’ (grey foliage with pink flowers), ‘Raspberry’ (green leaves and small, light red flowers), and ‘Tangerine Tango’ (green foliage with double, orange-yellow flowers)/ G. splendens ‘Talent’ has grey-green foliage with many-coloured, single flowers. G. rigens ‘Vaiagata’ is low growing with yellow-and-green variegated foliage and dark yellow flowers all year. G. uniflora is fast growing with grey foliage and yellow flowers throughout the year.

AFComplex Management

Blotanical is the best

Blotanical is the place to be if you have a gardening blog (and even if you’re no a blogger).It will definitely increase readers of your blog. It is a directory of gardening blogs with a difference that makes it stand out above the rest. It was founded by Stuart Robinson whose own blog Gardening Tips 'n Ideas originates from Western Australia.

Other members of Blotanical has the opportunity to pick (rating system) your blog. You also have the opportunity to rate blogs of all the other members. It is a great community of like minded people with a passion for gardening. The members of Blotanical is very friendly and always willing to help. You will definitely not regret joining this community. I know I’m glad I joined.

You also have the opportunity to communicate with other members, build friendships, share ideas, etc. And as they say ‘You are never too old to learn’, I have found some very useful information in blogs of other members of Blotanical.

When you join, you will receive your own little plot on Botanical to which you can link your blog, display your interests and info about yourself. The best part is this piece of cyber ‘land’ is free.

First thing every day I start my day by visiting my fellow Blotanist’s, reading about and sharing in their trials and tribulations. Don’t know what I would do without them. They are part of my family now.

What have you got to loose, come and visit our community, and see for yourself.

Visit Blotanical and be amazed.

My current favorite - Clivia miniata

My current favored plant is the Clivia Miniata, it also known as Bush Lily, Coral flower or St John’s lily. It grows to a height of about 45cm in the shade of trees and shrubs.

With clusters of bright orange flowers rising among its leathery strap-like leaves it is an attractive and easy to grow plant worth a place in every garden.

The yellow form of the Clivia, (Clivia miniata ‘Lutea’) is unfortunately not as readily available.

It was revealed during a drought in Southern African in the 1980’s that this plant should not be overwatered, as it was at its most beautiful during these years without rain.

Cultivation

·         Depth and spacing: Plant with the crown above the soil surface and 30cm apart.

·         Watering: Water well in spring and summer but keep soil drier in autumn and winter.

·         Frost tolerances: Clivia must be protected from frost – a verandah, the eaves of a house or a dense tree canopy are usually sufficient for temperatures as low as –5°C.

·         Flowering time: Spring to summer, once the flowers are mature which will be in approx 3 years.

·         Soil: Well drained, a pH 5.5-6.5 best suits Clivia’s.

·         Aspect: Partial to full shade.

·         Ideal temperature range: 15°C to 25°C.

·         Pruning: Remove old leaves and stems.

·         Fertilizer: A generous amount of slow release fertilizer applied regularly from early spring to mid-summer achieves maximum growth.

·         Propagation: It can be propagated by means of seed, as well as vegetatively through offsets.