We all have a special recipe passed down from one generation to the next. But do you have a magic potion recipe? It’s ok, we play well with others here at A. Dodson’s and we also like to share our toys. And potions.

Alison learned a special technique from her momma, Alice Dodson, for removing water spots or scratches on furniture and hardwood flooring. When we were preparing to open our Home Decor Consignment Shop next door, I caught Alison on her hands and knees with a Ball Jar. And then I saw magic happen right before my very eyes.

Alice’s Wood Cleaning Magic Potion

1/2 Raw Linseed Oil

1/2 Turpentine

Instructions:
Dap the mixture on your stain or scratch
Use #400 Steel Wool and rub with the grain of the wood.
Wipe with a heavy towel then let sit overnight. Heavy stains or scratches may take two rounds.

Alice's Magic Potion

BEFORE

AFTER

Alice learned this trick from Jimmy Winn from Mt. Vernon Antiques in Port Norfolk, VA. When we asked Alice how long she’d been using this technique her answer was “how old am I?”

And now, our dear friends, go forth and show us some of your Before and Afters!

If you’ve shopped at A. Dodson’s, you know we support a charity every month through our Round Up. It’s a program where we match a customer’s donation when they round up their purchase to the nearest dollar. It’s been amazing to see how our combined donations have been able to help animals that are in need, veterans who are disabled, the environment that is polluted and families who care for ill children. The list goes on and on. And while there never seems to be an end to the amount of need, there also never seems to be an end to our customer’s generosity.

But just in case you’re still wondering why we work so hard each month to bring attention to charities who are on the frontline, take a look at this short 3 minute video from Team Riverfront when they came to accept their $450 Round Up check last week.

When A. Dodson’s accepted the challenge of designing and decorating a house made entirely of 100% Made in America products, we knew we were in for an experience. We’re trying our darnedest to document every lesson we learn and every “No WAY!” moment we have because what we’re learning is stuff everyone should know. And so here goes…

Check out the cool ceiling in the bottom right photo. We're loving it!

When selecting trim for your home, American lumber is a much better choice because it’s just been milled versus lumber that’s been sitting around waiting for transport from, say, Chile for 6 or so months. When lumber sits around it begins to twist and warp making it much harder to work with and ultimately causing you to purchase extra or settle for subpar results.

And, of course, it goes without saying that buying lumber made in America supports American jobs. In an industry that’s been one of the hardest hit in the last 4 years, every single purchase makes a difference for our economy.

Stay tuned for our next installment of Made in America | What We’ve Learned when we talk about the difference 5% can make in Hampton Roads.