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DIY Grout Cleaning vs. Professional Restoration: What’s Best for You?

DIY Grout Cleaning vs. Professional Restoration: What’s Best for You?

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Dirty, stained grout can make even the most beautiful tiles look tired and worn out. When faced with discolored grout lines, homeowners often debate whether it would be better to tackle the job themselves or call in the experts. The choice between DIY grout cleaning and professional restoration depends on your budget, the condition of your grout, and the results you want to achieve. Let’s break down the options to help you decide.

The DIY Grout Cleaning Approach

For light stains and routine upkeep, DIY grout cleaning is a practical choice. With the right products, you can significantly improve the look of your tile surfaces. This method is cost-effective and allows you to work on your own schedule.

Using a high-quality cleaner is key to success. Grout Shields offers powerful cleaning solutions that cut through dirt and grime without damaging your grout. A good scrub and proper sealing can protect your grout from future stains, making ongoing grout maintenance much simpler. While DIY is great for surface-level cleaning, it may not be enough for deep-set stains or damaged grout. read more

Why Cyber Monday could break spending records despite economic uncertainty

Why Cyber Monday could break spending records despite economic uncertainty

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By WYATTE GRANTHAM-PHILIPS

NEW YORK (AP) — Deals promoted as some of the best of the holiday season are expected to keep people across the United States glued to their computers and smartphones as the post-Thanksgiving shopping marathon wraps up on Cyber Monday.

It’s no secret that buying things online is now a staple of many people’s everyday routines. And year after year, those purchases mount during the gift-giving holiday rush. Experts expect consumers to drive record Cyber Monday spending this year, even amid wider economic uncertainty.

Adobe Analytics has estimated that U.S. shoppers will spend $14.2 billion online Monday, or 6.3% more than in 2024. They already spent $11.8 billion online for Black Friday and another $6.4 billion on Thanksgiving Day, exceeding Adobe’s forecasts.

Consumer spending for Cyber Week — the five major shopping days between Thanksgiving and Cyber Monday — provides a strong indication of how much shoppers are willing to spend for the holidays.

“Cyber Week is off to a strong start,” Vivek Pandya, lead analyst at Adobe Digital Insights, said. “Discounts are set to remain elevated through Cyber Monday, which we expect will remain the biggest online shopping day of the season and year.” read more

Shoppers spend billions on Black Friday to snag holiday deals, despite wider economic uncertainty

Shoppers spend billions on Black Friday to snag holiday deals, despite wider economic uncertainty

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By WYATTE GRANTHAM-PHILIPS

NEW YORK (AP) — Despite wider economic uncertainty hovering above this year’s holiday season, shoppers turned out in big numbers for Black Friday — spending billions of dollars both in stores and online.

Adobe Analytics, which tracks e-commerce, said U.S. consumers spent a record $11.8 billion online Friday, marking a 9.1% jump from last year. Traffic particularly piled up between the hours of 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. local time nationwide, when $12.5 million passed through online shopping carts every minute.

Consumers also spent a record $6.4 billion online on Thanksgiving Day, per Adobe. Top categories that saw an uptick in sales across both days included video game consoles, electronics and home appliances. Shopping services powered by artificial intelligence and social media advertising have also particularly influenced what consumers choose to buy, the firm said.

Meanwhile, software company Salesforce — which tracks digital spending from a range of retailers, including grocers — estimated that Black Friday online sales totaled $18 billion in the U.S. and $79 billion globally. And e-commerce platform Shopify said its merchants raked in a record $6.2 billion in sales worldwide on Black Friday. At its peak, sales reached $5.1 million per minute — with top categories including cosmetics and clothing, according to the Canadian company. read more

Orlando small businesses can count on local shoppers’ loyalty this season

Orlando small businesses can count on local shoppers’ loyalty this season

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As Americans feel their wallets tighten this Black Friday, Orlando’s small businesses are counting on the loyalty of customers in their community to ensure steady business.

Sarah Johnson-Markve is the owner of the Good Crowd gift shop along Edgewater Drive in College Park. She said while financial conditions have made the past few years tough for retail, but  so far this year’s holiday shopping season feels the same in sales as last year’s.

Photos capture enduring enthusiasm for Black Friday, the biggest shopping day of the year

She credits that to the community she has built around the shop since she opened it in 2019.

“They want to shop small. Sure, they might need to go get some electronics at a big box store,” she said. “But what they are really looking for is how to support small businesses on Black Friday as well.”

A pedestrian walks with his dog past Bijou's Boutique in College Park, Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2025. College Park is one of the neighborhoods participating in Small Business Saturday, with the City of Orlando running shuttles into their Main Street Districts for holiday shopping on Nov. 29. As a part of the national small business promotion held annually on the Saturday after Thanksgiving, participating districts include Audubon Park, Garden District, City District, Curry Ford West, College Park, Ivanhoe Village, Gateway District, The Milk District, Mills 50, Parramore, SoDo, Thornton Park, and West Lakes. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)
A pedestrian walks with his dog past Bijou’s Boutique in College Park, Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2025. College Park is one of the neighborhoods participating in Small Business Saturday, with the City of Orlando running shuttles into their Main Street Districts for holiday shopping on Nov. 29. As a part of the national small business promotion held annually on the Saturday after Thanksgiving, participating districts include Audubon Park, Garden District, City District, Curry Ford West, College Park, Ivanhoe Village, Gateway District, The Milk District, Mills 50, Parramore, SoDo, Thornton Park, and West Lakes. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)

Robyn Bertram, who was at the Good Crowd Friday afternoon to buy gifts for her friends, agreed with the sentiment, although she said there are many who are not in the financial position to do the same. read more

Teen brands win over wary Black Friday shoppers while other deals disappoint

Teen brands win over wary Black Friday shoppers while other deals disappoint

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By Jaewon Kang, Bloomberg News

This Black Friday, one class of retailers has figured out the trick of luring shoppers suffering through frigid temperatures and high inflation: teen brands.

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To tempt picky Americans, they are offering sales on products like perfume, body wash and sweatshirts. It’s seemingly paying off: The most crowded stores Friday in cities across the U.S. belonged to brands including Edikted, Kendra Scott, and Bath & Body Works.

Other mall retailers saw thin crowds and disappointed shoppers, who were expecting bigger discounts at higher-end brands like Ralph Lauren and Coach. read more