Gifts from your neighborhood

“Small Business Saturday” and Christmas are approaching, and we’re thinking it’s the year to go ‘outside the box’.
As a Facebook friend shared recently:
“Everyone — yes EVERYONE gets their hair cut. How about gift certificates from your local hair salon or barber? Gym membership? It’s appropriate for all ages who are thinking about some health improvement.
Who wouldn’t appreciate getting their car detailed? Small, locally owned detail shops and car washes would love to sell you a gift certificate or a book of gift certificates.
Perhaps that grateful gift receiver would like his driveway sealed, or lawn mowed for the summer, or driveway plowed all winter, or games at the local golf course?
There are a bazillion owner-run restaurants — all offering gift certificates. And, if your intended isn’t the fancy eatery sort, what about a half dozen breakfasts at the local breakfast joint. Remember, this is about supporting your neighbors whose financial lives are on the line to keep their doors open.
How many people could use an oil change for their car, truck or motorcycle, done at a shop nearby? Thinking about a heartfelt gift for mom? Mom would LOVE the services of a local cleaning lady for a day. My computer could use a tune-up, and I KNOW I can find some young guy who is struggling to get his repair business up and running.
OK, you were looking for something more personal? Local crafts people spin their own wool and knit them into scarves. They make jewelry, candles, pottery and beautiful wooden boxes. Plan your holiday outings at local, owner-operated restaurants and leave your server a nice tip. And how about going to see a play or ballet at your hometown theater? Musicians need love, too, so find a venue showcasing local bands.
And, of course, leave the mailman, trash guy or babysitter a nice BIG tip.
Christmas is about caring about your neighbors, encouraging American small businesses to keep plugging away. And, when we care about our communities, the benefits come back to us in ways we couldn’t imagine.”
As your local tile installers, we’d also add the gift of a new tile backsplash or a refurbished stone floor to the above list 🙂

Mopping tile is not thorough cleaning

“Mopping a floor is not a method of thorough cleaning; it is a method of minimal soil removal and primarily a means of soil redistribution over a broad area. While a mop picks up very little soil it makes a great application tool for many cleaning products.
Cleaners work by loosening and suspending soils for removal. To effectively clean a floor a product must be applied, allowed to dwell on the surface loosening the soil, abraded by the appropriate means, removed by extraction then rinsed followed by more extraction. Sounds like a lot of work and it is. Intensive cleaning is usually done with alkaline floor cleaners. They are favored for their aggressive removal of soils but as previously mentioned; require a good rinse after use, especially if a floor is to be sealed.”
Great floor care advice from Dave Gobis in a recent Tile Magazine article. Check out his do’s and don’ts for maintenance.