Drain blends with shower floor

California Faucets has a solution for disguising one of the least attractive parts of a shower: the drain.

The company's Style​Drain Tile is designed to accept an inlay of tile or stone that matches the shower floor, making the drain less noticeable.

The product has a square inner frame that holds the tile or stone. Water flows through a gap between that inner frame and a larger outer frame.

The frames are made of brass and are available in five decorative finishes. Prices range from $397 to $589, depending on the finish.

More information at www.calfaucets.com.

Cleaning wood furniture

Q: I have a mixed variety of furniture, from rock maple to cherry and some things in between. I'm just not sure how to clean it on a weekly basis. Would a dampened microfiber cloth be good enough?

A: Dusting is all most wood furniture needs on a weekly basis. Many furniture makers recommend vacuuming furniture with a dusting brush attachment, but a soft cloth is fine, too. Microfiber cloths can be used dry for dusting, but you can dampen the cloth slightly if you wish, as long as the furniture has a water-resistant finish.

Some people think furniture should be waxed or polished regularly to "feed" the wood, but in reality, waxes and polishes just sit on top of the finish and build up if they're overused.

If you want to give the furniture a more thorough cleaning occasionally, furniture maker Bernhardt recommends using a mild soap made for wood cleaning or a good-quality furniture cleaning product. Follow the directions, and avoid wetting the furniture a lot.

Bernhardt says you can follow this cleaning with a good-quality furniture polish if you want more shine.

Stay away from polishes containing silicone and oily polishes that can attract dust and dirt.

Akron Beacon Journal