Wednesday, April 6, 2011

Trick for Stripping Old Hardware and THANK YOUS!!


Ever had a beautiful piece of old hardware covered over with layers and layers of paint?  Don't despair!  There is an incredibly easy way to strip the old paint off back down to the original finish.  I'm in the middle of restoring another unit in one of The Old Girls, so this trick is very fresh on  my mind and I'm happy to share it with you!


Take your crock-pot (This one is vintage 1974.  If you are using the one you use to cook, you might want to line it with one of the cooking liners you can get by the foil and plastic bag section).  Place your old hardware inside, squirt in a generous squeeze of your favorite dishwashing liquid.  Add water (trying not to suds up too much) until crock-pot is full and hardware is covered.  Turn it on low for 24 hours.  Let it cool down and scrub the hardware with an old toothbrush and/or one of those green scrubby things.  You will be amazed at how easily the layers of paint and grime wash off.  It is a WOW.  If you discover a finish that isn't great, it is ready for a nice crisp coat of spraypaint and it looks as good as new.  These, I LOVE!


Replace them on your freshly painted doors and enjoy (this in NOT a freshly painted door, but one painted over three years ago next door to the one I am working on now)!


I had two really great events this week in the blog world!!  This wonderful diet/cookbook came in the mail from JoAnn at Moogy and Pap from her giveaway!  Yea!  Thank you so very much, JoAnn.  I really, really need to get on some kind of diet! 

Next, Melissa at Melissa's Heart and Home featured my blog on hers!  Incredibly nice!!  Thank you so very much also, Melissa!!  If you get a chance, stop by and say hello to these wonderful ladies.


And, lastly, I want to leave you with one more WOW for this Wednesday at Kim's Savvy Southern Style!  This is one of my friend's backyard.  It is one of the anchor houses of the Azalea Trail.  If that's not a WOW, I don't know what is! 

blessings ~ tanna

35 comments:

podso said...

Tanna: And the simple response to this most interesting post is "wow." ...to the backyard, to the giveaways, to the simple solution for that hardware, to the end result, and to the vintage crockpot--one of the firsts I believe, I had the exact same one. Oh and let's throw in a wow to your lovely crystal doorknobs too!

:-)

dotsie

KimMalk said...

Oh my goodness! Who would have thought that a crock pot could work such wonders on hardware. Thanks for passing this cool (er, hot) tip along :). Hugs, Kim

Kim @ Savvy Southern Style said...

Tanna, that is so cool how you cleaned that door knob up and thanks on the tip. That backyard is really a WOW! That looks like something at the botanical gardens.

TexWisGirl said...

HUGE WOW!!! Congrats to your friend on her LOVELY place!!! Love those door handles. Wouldn't have a place for them in our house, but they look great!

tara said...

Beautiful back yard! WOW...

I have that crock pot too, just a different color. Good info to know. Thanks for sharing!

Hugs,
TARA

Julie Harward said...

That is a very cool tip! I will look for you at Mellisa's and that garden is beyond beautiful..wow..I would like to spend an afternoon there! :D

Deb said...

that is a great tip....I said WOW soon as I saw that photo....

Jill from Killeny Glen said...

I love old hardware like that!

What a great week Tanna. That back yard is SPLENDID....I would like to read a book out there with an iced tea!

Schnitzel and the Trout said...

That door knob and plate look perfect. Who would have thought?

Brenda Pruitt said...

That's most definitely a WOW! Love your idea with the crock pot. And I thought it was just for stew and roast...
Brenda

Debbie said...

What a great way to strip door hardware.Your friends have great backyards! Look at all that space! I sure enjoy the pictures and it sure makes me humble! :D

Wanda said...

Hi Tanna ~
What a great idea. Thanks!!!

I have a beautiful glass door knob from the old parsonage we lived in up North.

You new Diet Cook Books looks great.

And that back yard...to die for!!

Solar Powered said...

Yeah, that's a wow! My oh my.
Let me know how you like the cookbook...I love all things mediteranean.

Amanda said...

First chance to sit down at the computer in a day or two. Immediately I must ask, "Why have you never shared the hardware trick with me?" Our house is fraught with door hardware that needs to sit in the crock pot. I don't think we have one door knob that hasn't been touched with paint at some point.

Love the WOW Wednesday photo. Amazing. I just want to run out there with a big glass of sweet tea and watch the sun set over the azaleas...

Diana Ferguson said...

Yep, me too! Had that crock pot.

Cheryl @ TFD said...

Hi Tanna, what a beautiful garden! And thanks for the great tip. The crockpot is exactly like the first one I ever had.

Tanna said...

Dear Sweet Daughter, Amanda, I have shared that tip crock-pot tip with you. LOL! Must have flashed in one ear and out the other. Not a very tasty sounding recipe. LOL! XOXOXOXO Mom

nanny said...

I had the harvest gold version of the crockpot.....lol
What a neat trick!
Since I do almost all of the yardwork (99%)ha I think of the hours required for upkeep on your friends gorgeous yard!!!!! Definitely WOW!

Katie Mar said...

how innovative!! i never would've thought to do that. my parents house has a couple of old handles in our house that are covered with paint. i'll have to give my parents that tip!

Ann from On Sutton Place said...

Oh my gosh the crock pot tip for cleaning door hardware is brilliant! Thanks for sharing...~Ann

Melissa Miller said...

You are so welcome Tanna! You have been a true joy and pleasure to get know. I hope many new friends found the way to your blog.

That is a wow for sure! Gorgeous.

I do remember those crock pots. Pretty doorknobs. Love the idea!

Warmly, ~Melissa :)

Chatty Crone said...

WOW to your neighbors yard - it knocked me over with it's beauty.

And thanks for the paint tip. How did you find that out?

Sandie

Catherine said...

Dear Tanna, Beautiful doorknobs..I would love to have doorknobs like that! Well, as for the diet cookbook I am sure that the recipes are great. It is said that a Mediterranean diet is the best to be on so the cookbook must be good. As for that backyard well three words to describe it, OMG! Well, to answer your question about the cookies for the cake I used chocolate cookies. Blessings to you, Catherine xo

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Lauri said...

Great tip, thanks!

From the Kitchen said...

Wow on your friend's back yard. I can see myself sitting and sipping tea there--sweetened with lemon please.

Our old house has those glass doorknobs and we found a bunch of extra ones in the basement. I recall them from my family home growing up.

Best,
Bonnie

Betsy Brock said...

I love those gorgeous glass doorknobs!

Shug said...

What a great bit of information..who would have thought all you would need is a crock pot, a brush and some liquid. Turned out beautiful!
How about that back yard...I have only seen it from a distance and I am always in awe over the Azalea District.
Enjoy your weekend...
shug

Mary Bergfeld said...

Thanks for the tip. I'll have to try this next week. We start spring cleaning in anticipation of the holiday and I'm bound to find something that needs extreme cleaning. Have a great weekend. Blessings...Mary

Wendy said...

Amazing and so simple! I am going to bookmark this for furture reference! Thank you :)
Hope it is okay...I featured you in my weekend reading today!
Have a wonderful weekend.
Wendy

Terri Smith said...

Exceptional "Hardware" Trick! Can I Just Say THANK YOU? WOW! And Congrats On The Blog-Share! Oh..And Least I Forget Your Friend's GORGEOUS Backyard!!! Heavens To Betsy..Is That A Work Of Pure Art Or What? No Wonder It's An Anchor To The Tour! Before I Close..Thank You So Much For Your Sweet Comment On My "Pansy" Composition. Floral Pieces Are Truly Not My Thing But I'm Feeling So Happy About Springtime Just Couldn't Resist Trying My Hand At It. Sending Hugs Of Warm Georgia Sunshine Sweet Friend, Terri

Debbie said...

What a great use for an old crock pot. Lucky me, I have one in the attic that would work just perfectly.

And WOW on the friend's back yard!

Covnitkepr1 said...

Now who wouldda thunk.lol
I write and maintain a spiritual blog which I have titled “AccordingtotheBook” and I’d like to invite you to follow it.

Beverly said...

Tanna.. are you kidding.. what a backyard.. they would have to kick me out.. I would move in. What a great hint in cleaning old hardware .. I laughted at the crock pot.. I had the same one in the 70's .. that thing was impossible to clean.

Amy said...

Lovely!! The azalea's were gorgeous this year. Love your blog! Amy

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