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Kitchen & Dining

Get your formal dinner linens ready for Easter now

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Tips on how to clean linens

It’s time to dust off the linens

Easter meals can be a special treat for the family so prepare now to wash your formal table dinner linens, table cloths and napkins. If they’ve been in the drawer since last holiday or a special birthday then they’re dusty, wrinkled and probably has that smell that they’ve been in the drawer for too long.

You can always take them out and send them to the dry cleaners. If you do, make sure they specialize in high-end fabrics. Remember, though, dry cleaning for items like these can be expensive. Especially if you have a large table, family and guests sitting down for the meal.

If you’re like most of us, you’ll want to save money and do it yourself. Here are some tips for making your formal dining room table linens ready for the holiday guests.

Take the table cloth off the table or drawer and shake clean. If it’s been on the table, there will be crumbs or even candle wax. Out of the drawer, it’ll be somewhat dusty.

If there is candle wax, peel it off. If you can’t peel it off, use the hottest water the cloth will allow but just on the spot. With linen, warm water is what you use.

Inspect closely for spots. Stretch out the table cloth and napkins to be able to review the entire piece. If you see spots then spot clean with a tooth brush, warm water and a small amount of detergent. One-fourth detergent to a cup of warm water is the formula. If you’re green, use vinegar instead of detergent. Don’t spot clean as it will risk spreading the stain. Gently scrub or wipe just the stain with a toothbrush.

When using the washing machine, the best is to clean the table cloth and corresponding napkins by themselves. Especially if they’re linen. Use warm water and dish soap. Try to dry naturally. If not, be ready as soon as the drying is complete to prevent wrinkling and a potential lengthy ironing chore.

If your table cloth and napkins are not linen. Treat them as regular wash. Make sure you wash with similar colors of other fabric and if they’re white, use a little bleach to brighten them up for the event.

As soon as they’re clean, dried and ironed immediately put on the table or fold nicely. If it’s the table cloth, keep the fold loose. If it’s the napkins, keep the fold tight.

Ultimately, though, the point of this article is to remind you that cleaning your formal tablecloths and napkins need to be done in the next two weeks so you can have that chore done to spend on the dozen of other chores to prepare for the holiday guests.

Just another Shop RTO holiday and lifestyle tip.

ShopRTO provides consumers home decorating and living tips and promotes rent to own as a shopping option for affordable home furnishings.

Go furniture shopping inside the store not on-line

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Rent to own furniture stores

Furniture shopping at the store can actually be fun.

Furniture shopping at the store makes sense. Larger appliances and HD TVs as well. Why? Here are some very good reasons.

Sitting on a couch and bed are a must in person. It’s paramount to personally view a HD TV before you buy it. Looking and opening an oven, refrigerator and washer/dryer combo are a must. And listening to a wireless speaker system needs your ears. And you can only do those in person. You need to make sure it’s the perfect fit, color and size.

Try it before you buy it. Yes, you can try it at the store but it’s better if you can try it at home. Rent to own stores are the best for that option. That’s part of their unique niche in the shopping world. They will deliver and let you try it for a week or month and then pick it up if you want. Make sure you ask the rent to own store employee their policies. Each rent to own store is different.

Furniture shopping and other important home furnishings is a science as much as an art. Use these tips to make your shopping a Rembrandt.

Make sure you compare prices on-line and competitors ready. Have their prices, specials and discounts already on your iPhone to show the salesperson. You could get it cheaper in person or it may already be cheaper. These stores need you in there and will have incentives. Ask about delivery fees and warranties as those can be expensive and not listed in their pricing.

Make sure you bring your measurements with you when looking for specific furniture, appliances and electronics. If you think you can eyeball measurements then don’t. Rarely works and if you’re that good then you’re one of the lucky few.

Do your homework especially furniture shopping because there are so many styles, colors and prices. Take photos or video of where you’re planning to put the furniture so as to get the size and colors as matched as possible.

Rent to own stores can be good to go to if you want to look at varying furniture, HD TVs and appliances especially if prices or payments are an issue. Again, you can try before you buy with a single obligation to own. You have the option to own not the obligation to own. That’s a common misperception.

Rent to own prices also include delivery, pick up and maintenance as part of their pricing. Those are not extra fees as typical retail does. And shop around, rent to own stores and general retail stores are begging for your business so use their competition to your advantage.

Just another ShopRTO home furniture tip.

ShopRTO provides consumers home living, finance tips and rent to own as a shopping option for affordable home furniture and more.

Need a refrigerator? Here’s some tips to get the best one for your home.

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Shoppers guide to picking the right refrigerator

Refrigerator shopping can be daunting so use these tips

Putting in a new refrigerator? Better be prepared, though, because your refrigerator is a big investment and a big part of your home and life. You’re talking about your three meals a day that is, in many parts, dictated by the Ole fridge. So here’s some tips you’ll want to keep in mind for the shopping process.

Make sure you measure first! And make sure you measure the width, depth and height. After you make your first measurement then measure again just to be sure.

Plan the spot where you’ll be putting it by its usage and activity around it. Think about how doors are opened and what, if any, impediments that will cause. Think about the foot and cooking traffic that will happen next to it, around it and when using it. You don’t want it blocking or being an obstacle to work around.

There are four basic styles of refrigerators that you need to know to help make your choice. There’s the side by side that the doors open outward with the freezer on one side and the fridge on the other. There’s the french door style that the doors open outward with the freezer on the bottom. Then there’s the freezer on top and the freezer on the bottom.

The most important consideration is its use. Are you single or divorced, on the go, depending on frozen food? Make sure you have the freezer to accommodate. Do have kids with different tastes and needs? That usually means you need a refrigerator with a combination of adjustable shelves. Do you eat a lot of fresh produce? You may want one with many different compartments with different temperature adjusters.

What kind of cleaning will you prefer. The wire shelves can be a little more difficult than the full shelves. And the ability to remove the shelves and compartments easily to clean in the sink that makes it easier, quicker and more thorough.

Just to re-emphasize that the two most important considerations for getting that new refrigerator will be your eating habits and size/space that will dictate the style and choice.

Then there’s the price. Refrigerators can range from $600 to $2500 just for residential. So you need to assess your four different payment options. Cash is the best if you have it but for most us that’s unrealistic so think about rent-to-own places vs credit card. Then there’s used ones as well. If you’re going used, try rent-to-own stores first. They have fridges being returned frequently thus the store needs to get rid of those barely used ones to put the new ones on their showroom floor so can offer the best deals out there.

And, make sure you google refrigerator reviews. There are dozens of sites like good housekeeping and consumer reports that help tremendously.

Just another ShopRTO good kitchen tip.

ShopRTO provides consumers home decorating, living and kitchen tips and promotes rent to own as a shopping option for affordable home furnishings.

Do I have my appliance repaired or replaced? Read these tips.

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Tips to repairing appliances

When do repair or purchase home appliances.

Appliance repaired or get a new one? Good question. Repairing or replacing refrigerators, washers/dryers, dishwashers and stoves can pose a tricky situation. Appliances are expensive enough to warrant repairs but repairs can also be too expensive to be worth it. Where do you draw the line?

Obviously, those appliances under warranty are not a factor in this discussion. It’s those appliances that you’ve had in the 4-7 year range that leave you with that tough decision. Experts say the most dominant factor when making your decision is how old that appliance is and how expensive a model you have.

Consumer Reports conducted a study years ago that still helps today. They surveyed thousands of consumers who faced this dilemma and found these interesting tips and observations:

  • If the repair cost is more than one-half of the cost to purchase one then toss it and buy a new one.
  • Many respondents felt that appliance repairs would be too costly and too much of a pain-in-the-who-know-what that they didn’t even consider repairing and bought a new one. DO NOT do that. Appliance repairs can be easy and relatively cheap so always explore that option.
  • Do not repair anything that costs $200 or less to buy new such as a garbage disposal. Not worth it.
  • Most respondents had the best experiences with independent contractors. In these days, ask your friends and neighbors through Facebook or Neighborhood forums who the best appliance repair person is. You’d be amazed how quickly and good referrals you will get.
  • Most appliance repairs can be made at home. It’s not as inconvenient as you may think.
  • If you end up having to buy a new one, the good news is that they will be more energy efficient.

And, remember, if you’re left without an appliance for a couple of days, go to a rent-to-own store and rent one while you’re shopping around. Or, if you can’t buy outright consider rent-to-own. But only if it makes sense. Use ShopRTO’s best practices to see if rent-to-own is better than a credit card in your circumstance. And, if you want to buy used, go to a rent-to-own store as they can have some of the best “used” deals in town.

Just another ShopRTO lifestyle tip.

ShopRTO provides consumers home living and decorating tips and promotes rent to own as a shopping option for affordable home furnishings.

Finding the right dining room table

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The right dining table

Rectangle, square, round?

You’re ready for a new dining table and don’t know where to start. You know your taste but maybe not all the factors to consider? We can help you with that.

Number of diners.
How many people typically join you for dinner? Do you entertain often? The number of people that will will be seated is crucial for your table needs as you will want a table big enough to seat everyone comfortably. Some tables allow for removable space known as a table leaf. These pieces are great for accommodating more guests than you usually would and can easily be removed and stored for a later occasion. As a rule of thumb allow for 24″ between chairs for a proper and comfortable dining space.

Know your space.
How big is your space? You will want to be sure that there is ample wall to furniture space, at least 24″, as well as room for diners to get in and out of their seats. If you’re working with a bigger space, a rectangle traditional or square shape will suit your needs. If you have a smaller space, round tables are most efficient, accommodating more while providing an inviting dining experience.

A few things to note:
– Square tables won’t work in a rectangle room due to dimensions. Two sides of the table will be closer to the walls making it more crowded for guests on those ends.
– If you have children around, the corners of square or rectangle tables can pose as safety hazards.
– Round tables, if supported by one center pedestal, can be a tipping hazard. Checkout the weight and distribution capacities along with giving it a good lean on one side for sturdiness.
– The width of tables gets wider as it gets longer. Keep a width of at least 36″ for place settings and serving dishes.

Happy table hunting and know that if you’re feeling uneasy about making a purchase, drop into your local rent to own store and try one out for size before you buy.

Just another ShopRTO lifestyle and home decorating tip.

ShopRTO provides consumers home decorating and living tips and promotes rent to own as a shopping option for affordable home furnishings.

Easy microwave cleaning

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Tips for cleaning microwave

Quick and easy tips for cleaning your microwave

Most of us are all too familiar with the occasional food splatter when heating something up in a microwave and with Thanksgiving just around the corner, we’ll have plenty of leftovers on our hands that will call for a zap. Eventually the occasional food explosion takes a toll on our microwaves and we have a few tips on how to maintain its cleanliness while preserving its functionality.

If your microwave has been working in high gear and already has a layer of food remnants, then a deep clean is in order. Before you get your scrubbing game face on, have your microwave run a pregame steam to help loosen sediments. Simply take a microwave safe bowl and fill it with a half cup of water, squeeze and toss half a lemon in there to add a fresh aroma and nuke to boiling, about 3 – 5 minutes. Lemons are high in citric acid and are considered to be one of the best natural cleaners due to their low pH and antibacterial properties. Be sure to let the water sit and cool, about 10 minutes to allow the steam to work its magic, before removing or handling, it will be hot.

Now that the steam-clean has run it’s course and the water has cooled, take the remainder and add its equal of white vinegar to create a 50-50 solution. Now dip a washcloth, sponge or cleaning instrument of your choice and wipe the surfaces. White vinegar is also known to be a natural disinfectant so the combination with lemon water will provide you with an active cleaning solution. If you have some stains you are hoping for removal, add a tablespoon of baking soda to the solution. Baking soda is another of one those awesome all natural, nontoxic stain removers.

Your microwave should now be in pristine, nearly good as new condition. Keep up the spotlessness by covering your food to prevent splatters and wipe down the surface after every use. This will also help minimize the frequency of how often you will need to deep clean in the future.

Is it time to replace your microwave altogether? Find your local rent to own store and shop around!

Just another Shop RTO lifestyle tip.

ShopRTO provides consumers home decorating and living tips and promotes rent to own as a shopping option for affordable home furnishings.

Get money rebates for replacing home appliances

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Go to rent to own stores for kitchen renovation

Save money. Update your kitchen.

If you think you need new appliances such as washers, dryers, refrigerators and dish washers then make sure you take advantage of the rebates being offered.

Old appliances waste a lot of money and energy. That waste hurts both your pocketbook, your local power grid and further pollutes the air. As such, the government and our society would benefit if you would upgrade to energy saving appliances.

Through their energy star program, you can find out what products are eligible and what type of incentives are offered. Most common are rebates. You mail in the proper paperwork and get a check back.

Depending on the size and cost, the amounts can range from $25 to $100. If you’re talking about a new AC unit the rebate can be  in the thousands. No matter what, any rebate is worth the postage or labor sending in.

You’re going to have to deal with the old appliances. If they’re still good, try to sell them. If not, you may have to pay a recycle fee or a fee to get rid of them. Depends on where you live.

Some appliance companies will do it for you. Rent to own stores will because that’s what they do. They’re in the service business so take advantage of their services that are a part of their fee.

And if you do go rent to own appliances then they’ll set it up for you. Again, part of their service. Try the product before you buy it. You’re not obligated to make the next payment and it’s a legal debt-free transaction so you won’t get in any trouble.

And, make sure you exercise the 90 or 180 days same as cash option. Gives you the flexibility of payments over the months and still with no legal, financial obligations. Again, it’s a part of their service. And, best of all, going with “same as cash option” saves you a lot of money while getting those services that retailers don’t offer. And, remember, when you buy it and get the receipt send it in to get your energy saving rebate!

Just another Shop RTO home finance tips.

ShopRTO provides consumers home living and decorating tips and rent to own as a shopping option for affordable home furniture and more.

Clean and organize your freezer

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Clean ice maker

Organize your freezer.

Can you see the back of your freezer? If not then you’re like most Americans who use the freezer but not to your best use.

The food items that time forgot need some attention so what’s the best way? Set aside some time and commitment as it won’t take too long and can make your life and meals more efficient and tasty. Make sure you won’t need any ice for the next half day as you’re going to get rid of all ice in your freezer. Or have a bag of ice ready.

First get a cooler where you can store those freezer items you want to keep. Empty and examine the contents of each item. If it’s been in there for one month or longer then ask yourself will you really use it? If it’s been there more than 6 months then toss it.

If you don’t know what it is then toss it. You obviously forgot it was there which prompts the best tip and that is to always label your freezer items with masking tape and a sharpie.

Empty all ice trays and/or buckets into a bowl and put in the cooler. Take off all shelves and let them thaw a bit so they don’t crack when you wash them with warm water and vinegar. That’s two parts water to 1 part vinegar mixture. Or warm water and a 1/2 cup of baking soda. Either will do.

If you have an ice machine with a bucket, completely dismantle and wash. You’ll notice over time how ice has built up at the exit point and if you don’t regularly dismantle, thaw and wash; it will either freeze up the hole or the motor. Either way, you have to go through this exercise. Better spend time than money.

Wipe the inside of the freezer with your warm water mixture. If there are really bad spots, put some water on it and leave it for a moment then wipe away. You may need to find an old toothbrush for those really sticky items. And wipe down the door sealant! Don’t forget that one.

After cleaning the inside and all of the shelves you dismantles. Dry them all with paper towels and put them back.

Organize your freezer with those items you kept and create a calendar of preparing dishes for the freezer and from the freezer in regular rotation.

Just another Shop RTO Home Lifestyle and Refrigerator tip.

ShopRTO provides consumers home living and decorating tips and rent to own as a shopping option for affordable home furniture and more.

Measure the correct way when picking the right dining room table for your home

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Make sure you have the correnct dining table dimensions.

Pick the right size for your dining room table.

There are several key factors when picking out your new dining room table. The most important is the proper size for your dining room table which means measuring first. And most people use the wrong measurement process so use these.

When you determine the room you’re going to put that dining room table, you need to measure three things going backwards to find out the dimension and type of dining room table.

First measure exit/entrance distance from any walls that you plan to put the table. Ideally, you want at least three feet of room to get in and out of your chair to enter and exit the table. Measure from the back of the chair and back legs to the edge of the wall, bookcase, etc. Some chairs have legs that stretch beyond the top of the chair so make sure you remember that when picking out the chairs that go along with the table.

Secondly you measure the exit/entrance room from chairs pulled out from the table. As if you’re through eating and relaxing in your chair talking to your family and friends. The way you measure that distance is to have your chair pulled out from the table to fully extend your legs.

Then, you can measure your table by your knees. In other words, your knees need to align to the edge of the table when your legs are fully extended. Once, you have gone through steps one through three, you will be able to measure the correct dimensions of your table with the chairs.

Hopefully you will have a sitting chair in your house to base these measurements on and give yourself some wiggle room when shopping. Now you have solid measurements to go into furniture stores that factor in the length from your home wall to your knees fully extended sitting.

Those measurements will basically dictate whether you need a square, rectangle, oblong or round dining room table. Try to go with dining room sets so you don’t have to worry about chair height. But make sure when you’re testing out the dining room chairs to sit at the very edge of the seat and the very back to see if they wobble or tip. You will not be happy with chairs that wobble or tip but most people don’t test to that extent then have those regrets later.

You can avoid buyers remorse through rent to own furniture stores. Test the table out at home for a month and if you like it, execute the early purchase option. Better yet, exercise their 90-days same as cash option and if you like the table after a month testing it out then make those last two monthly payments to really save while not putting yourself in a buyers remorse bind.

And if you don’t like it have them pick it up then choose another. Many ready to own stores will let you replace while keeping previous payments. BUT, make sure first. Every rent to own store have different policies and wiggle room so ask before.

Just another ShopRTO Home Decorating and Home Furniture Tips.

ShopRTO provides consumers home living and decorating tips and rent to own as a shopping option for affordable home furniture and more.

Know your cooking needs before shopping for ovens and stoves

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Cooking FamilyIf it’s time or you’re looking for a new oven and/or stove, the first thing you do is pay close attention of how much you use it and, most of all, on what.  There are so many varieties of stoves and ovens to choose from that can make your cooking more efficient and enjoyable.

Write down your regular cooking menu items. What do  you cook? How often and how much? Whatever your regular cooking menu is, start writing them down. You’ll quickly find out what type of stove and oven you need.

Make sure you consider each season. Families tend to cook indoors and bake more in the Winter. School season tends towards quicker meals. Seasonal changes can be very significant to the cooking needs so when writing down your menus, go through each season to be thorough.

Another good tip is while you’re cooking, what are your most frustrating or helpful elements of your current cooking and baking experience? Most people don’t think about it because they’re so used to their current oven or working around it. If there is something frustrating with current stove, chances are a new one can fix it.

If you bake a lot then consider double wall ovens, dual range or single. An important factor is how big of a dish you cook or how many. If you do a big Turkey for holidays, keep that in mind. If you have some rolls, potatoes and a casserole all for one meal think about multiple ovens as that will simplify the timing process for when dinner’s ready and everything is cooked to perfection.

If you cook on the oven top a lot then look at a five range types. There are those smooth tops that have range or two that accommodate pans with different circumferences and allow for dual ranges for large frying pans. Those help with flexibility and saving energy.

Then there’s the eternal debate of gas vs electric. I won’t go into the many nuances except to say more advanced cooks prefer gas as it gives you more control and an even burn but costs more but saves money on electric bills. Electric ovens are safer and cheaper.

The last but not least tip is to go into the shopping process with a budget in hand. Ovens can range from $600 to $5000. Don’t open yourself to wasted trips or time. Know your budget.

If you can’t buy outright, make sure you compare a credit card vs rent to own. Rent to own stores offer all types of stoves and payment plans. You are never obligated to buy it out right so gives you the flexibility to return it if you don’t like it. On the flip side, you can find a great used deal at rent to own stores to buy it outright and save a bundle. Just be sure to call around as timing is everything when you go that route.

It’s all about the budget of your payments. The more you can afford each payment and less number of payments, the less money you spend overall. And then there’s the legal obligation of a credit card vs no legal obligation with rent to own. Those are two biggest factors on which transaction is better for you.

Just another ShopRTO Home Appliances tip.

ShopRTO provides consumers home decorating and living tips and promotes rent to own as a shopping option for affordable home furnishings.

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