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Silicone baking products came out onto the market place several years ago. When I first saw these products in the local retail stores, I was skeptical that they would perform just as well as my traditional baking dishes.

I decided to purchase a loaf pan and take it home to try it out. After all, I am an avid baker and would really put it through the test. After a few uses, I can honestly say that I was pleasantly surprised at how well it performed, matter of fact, it performed better than my metal and glass baking dishes.

Over the years, I have purchased numerous pieces of silicone bakeware and I can honestly say, I now use them every day when I bake for my family.

Here are 8 key benefits of why you need to use this type of bakeware in your own kitchen.

1. You will find that you can readily purchase the baking pans out in the market and for an economical price…many will come with a multi-year warranty, which makes them a great investment.

2. You will find that you will get even heat distribution, completely baked centers and even browning of your baked goods.

3. Silicone bakeware does not rust, dent or stain. Your bakeware will look beautiful for many years, with the proper care.

4. You will find that the majority of the baking pans are dishwasher, microwave, refrigerator, freezer, conventional oven and convection oven safe, up to 425 degrees Fahrenheit. Please read manufacturers instructions as this can vary.

5. You will save time and calories because these types of baking pans do not need any greasing or flouring. They are made from a nonstick material, making the removal of your baked item, quick and easy.

6. Once they are removed from the oven, they cool down quickly.

7. Due to the type of material they are constructed from, you can easily fold the baking pans in half or collapse them for storage which saves on kitchen and cabinet space.

8. Clean up is a snap! You can place them on the top rack of your dishwasher or easily hand wash them in hot soapy water.

In closing, I think once you try a piece or two, you will be pleasantly surprised at how silicone bakeware will out perform your metal and glass baking pans. Your baked goods will bake better, taste delicious and clean up…will be a snap.

French polishing is one of the most beautiful ways of finishing mahogany and oak antique furniture. It originates from times past when skill and craftsmanship were still important, and a time when furniture makers were more than willing to spend time creating the perfect finish to a quality piece of furniture.

French polishing is not a product as some people may think, but it is an actual technique of wood finishing. It became popular in the late 19th century and was used on the most expensive furniture at that time. Eventually, it lost favour because it’s such a labour intensive process, and this meant that furniture manufacturers opted for finishes that could be easily mass produced.

By the 1930s, other finishing methods such as sprays became more popular and this cause a sever decline in the amount of French Polishing that was being done, in fact it practically died a death.

How To Bring A Quality Piece Of Antique Furniture To Life

But when refinishing a piece of antique furniture, French Polishing is one of the best and most effective methods for restoring the pieces to their original luster. It can create a mirror-like finish that adds to the appearance and quality of any piece of antique furniture.

This is true for antique dining room furniture which may have to endure every day use, as well as living room furniture and bedroom furniture. The finish that French Polish gives the furniture enhances the colour and provides a warmer look than a spray on finish.

What Exactly Is French Polish?

French polish is made by adding denatured alcohol to something called shellac. The shade can be varied to match the type of wood that is being refinished. A rubbing pad, often made of cotton wool wrapped in a square of white cotton is used to apply the polish to the piece of furniture.

The polish is applied in circular motions and is extremely time intensive. The coats are built up slowing by using many applications of polish. This process can take several days and many coats to complete, depending on the piece and the number of applications.

French polishing can be sensitive to heat, so you should be careful to never set hot mugs, or dishes on its surface. The good news is it is also one of the few finishes that can be repaired, which is why antique furniture can be rejuvenated with a little work and attention.

The aesthetic value of French Polishing can’t be matched either. Using cheaper, easier finishes does not give the same quality, nor does it do your piece of antique furniture the justice that it deserves.

French polishing was considered a lost art for many years, but today, there are a few of us industrious craftsmen that are reviving the art.

If, for example you have a piece of antique oak furniture that is looking a little tired, you should perhaps try to find someone who’s an expert at furniture restoration and French Polishing. When you see the results of your restored antique furniture, you’ll be glad you took the time to find a true craftsman.

Thermal comfort is defined in British Standard BS EN ISO 7730 as ‘that condition of mind which expresses satisfaction with the thermal environment.’ Therefore to have ‘thermal comfort’, is a psychological term meaning that a person is neither too cold or too warm.

In general, within a typical UK office environment, there is relatively little change in humidity and air movement, and so the most critical factor becomes the ambient air temperature. Getting this right can feel like an ongoing battle for both employers and staff as every individual has a different comfort level. In addition to personal preferences, each individual’s comfort zone may differ slightly each day, depending on their choice of clothing.

In the workplace, getting the temperature correct goes beyond just comfort though: if the office is too hot, the occupants may feel tired and drowsy and productivity is reduced. So if minor temperature changes can have this impact then major temperature changes, in the event of a dramatic heat wave or broken or faulty air conditioning can cause stress, anxiety and in some cases even effect safety.

What is an acceptable workplace temperature in the UK?
The Health & Safety Executive give guidelines of defined thermal comfort in the workplace, as somewhere between 13°C (56°F) and 30°C (86°F), with strenuous activities being towards the lower end and more sedentary activities towards the higher. However, with a focus on the office-environment, the British Council for Offices regards somewhere in the range of 21-23°C (69-73°F) in summertime as reasonable.

Relative humidity should be kept at around 50% – too high and the office will feel stuffy and too low dries out the skin and eyes and also causes electrostatic charge on both office equipment and its users. The minimum fresh-air rate should be 10 litres per second per person and the optimum air movement should be 0.1-0.5 metres per second.

There are a number of things that employers and employees can do to improve thermal comfort during the summer months Some are ridiculously obvious such as removing layers of clothing, drinking plenty of water, eating lighter meals with more water content such as salads and fruit and using a desk fan to increase air movement.

However, an employer could also take action to:

* hire or buy air conditioning

* fit suitable anti-sun blinds to reduce the heating effects of the sun

* insulate any hot pipes or machinery to stop the heat radiating in to the office

* introduced flexi time to help avoid working or travelling to and from the office during times of peak temperatures

* relax the dress code

* allow outdoor meetings

* switch coffee breaks for ice-lolly breaks

* ensure all office equipment such as photocopiers, computers and lighting are switched off when not in use.

Due to the fact that is impossible to please all of the people, all of the time, the HSE has devised some sensible guidelines that suggest that the thermal comfort levels should ‘satisfy 80% of occupants’ at anyone time to be deemed ‘reasonable’.

These temperature and thermal comfort factors are of course all played out against a backdrop of global warming and increasing carbon emissions. A survey found that in the summer, increasing the recommended temperature in an office by 2º C in a building of 100,000 sq ft, could save six tonnes of carbon emissions in a year.

There is no real right or wrong in these situations – it is a very touchy-feely area for employers and employees to get right. Very few office places of work can successfully manage without air conditioning but make sure the office manager has a good handle on how to operate the system and use it in conjunction with the other hints and tips to maximise efficiency, keep costs to a minimum and keep a smile on everyone’s faces no matter what the temperature is outside.