A to Z Blogging: H is for Hinge

One of the thousand or so tasks I have found at 507 (our new rental property) to occupy my time is cleaning off the paint from the hinges.

First let me say that if you are ever inclined to simply paint over the hinges on cabinets or doors in an effort to "save time" just don't. It is not pretty. The paint does nothing to enhance the property (which is what painting is supposed to do). It is NOT a time saver, because somewhere down the line some OCD person someone is going to have to clean all that accumulated paint off the hinges.

Really, do yourself a favor and just say no to painting the hinges!!

In case you are wondering how such a task might be accomplished, I can tell you that a Google search led me to understand that the best and most efficient way was to cook the little buggers in a crock pot overnight in a solution of water and either vinegar or dishwasher soap.

Well, I didn't have either of those at 507, but I did buy a crock pot for the sole purpose of disengaging the old yucky paint from the hundreds of hinges around the place.  I had some Dawn dish soap, so I used a bit of it in the crock pot which I allowed to simmer for about 4 hours.

It is true that the paint sort of falls off, but not all of it, which necessitates a lot of scraping and rubbing, but eventually I managed to get all the cabinet hinges washed off.  Unfortunately my OCD tendencies would not allow me to leave the screws painted, so those are a work in process.

It is truly enough to unhinge an old gal! :D