If you have carpet in your home, you know it needs to be periodically cleaned. Here are some effective tips that will allow you protect your carpet and remove stains, dust and other dirt otherwise which make you irritated. Carpet Cleaning Tips
Of course, you use carpet, rugs and upholstery to increase beauty, safety, and comfort to your home. For that, buying these costly things is not enough and you require maintaining them well as because, if you are reluctant to clean, maintain and place them properly, you will get opposite result. Let us get some easy to use tips that can keep your carpet always clean, safe and intact for longer time.
Use Entrance Mat Carpet Cleaning Tips
A good entrance mat protects carpet from getting dirty soon. The important point to remember is you should get a good quality and a long entrance mat so that it can clean shoes and keep the soils off. In addition, you will need to clean the entrance mat regularly.
Stain Removal Tips
Steam Clean
Steam clean is a proven method for proper cleaning. If you can do it your own, it is better but if you want professional carpet cleaners for steam cleaning, you can just search for the best carpet cleaning NY on Internet. Within a few seconds, you will get many services in front of you. Select the best by checking their quality as well as if they use a deep cleaning machine or not. You can go for steam cleaning yearly or half yearly.
Mildest Cleaning Products
When it comes to cleaning products, you must use the mildest, as harsh product will reduce the life of your carpet. If stains look deep and permanent, only then go for harsh product, but you must go through its labels well and must maintain the procedure as directed.
Well, when you call any services for carpet, upholstery or couch cleaning, you can ask to maintain these tips for better cleanliness and long life. In New York, City Steamers has provided best carpets, upholstery, furniture and rugs cleaning services for years. To experience their top services, you can contact them at www.city-steamers.com.
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Home Improvements
Summer is coming and it is going to be HOT! If you are thinking of buying an air conditioning system, choosing the right one can turn out to be extremely confusing. As you research your options it is hard to differentiate the best from the rest. This guide will help you understand Air Conditioning basics so you are an informed buyer.
Why do you need one? Air Conditioning Basics
How to maintain these machines?
You need to realise that installation of the machine alone is not the solution to all your problems. Regular maintenance of the air conditioner is a very important way in which you can increase its longevity. This will enable you to minimise the chances of a breakdown as well as save a lot of money on the repair work. Moreover, by keeping the filters clean you ensure clean and hygienic interiors.
Where to find a reliable store to buy a proper system?
With the advent of the Internet, it has become extremely easy to look for dealers in your area. Apart from asking your friends and acquaintances you should go online to look for a reliable store. Although there are many websites that claim to represent authentic dealers, do not trust the words of just any dealer that comes your way. Verify the authentication of the store before making any purchase from them. It would be wiser to choose a store that has valid registration and licenses. Apart from all this you need to make sure that you go through the customer reviews and testimonials before zeroing down on a particular store.
When it comes to air conditioning, Hillsboro Oregon, Orenco and Aloha residents can visit Oregon Heating & Air Conditioning. They have a lot services in store for you ranging from repairs to the replacement of the machines. Their products are especially designed to be energy-efficient thereby enabling you to minimise your electricity bills to a great extent.
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Watering the grass is a critical part of maintaining a healthy lawn. Watering too little can cause the grass to turn brown and thin out, creating room for weeds. Watering too much can lead to turf disease and shallow root systems, which means your grass is weaker and less able to stand up to drought, lawn-feeding pests and other problems. How to Water Your Lawn
HOW TO TELL WHEN YOUR LAWN NEEDS WATER
Turfgrass plants are 70 to 75 percent water, so giving them enough water is vital. Symptoms of inadequate water are easily seen:
- Grass slowly loses its bright green color and starts to fade to yellow.
- You may notice wilting, which causes grass blades to roll or fold.
- If you walk across your lawn and your footprints remain in the grass, or lawn mower tracks remain visible, your lawn needs water.
- If grass loses its green color altogether and turns yellow and then tan, that signals drought dormancy. That means grass has stopped growing. Once your lawn has turned brown and lost all color during drought dormancy, it could take several weeks of steady watering to spur regrowth.
The most accurate way to determine whether your lawn needs water is to use a knife to cut a wedge of soil (through the turf) about four inches deep and feel the soil. Ideally, it should be moist, not powder dry nor soggy and wet.
“Signs of typical wear and tear on yards this time of year are amplified when lawns are stressed,” said Ben Hamza, Ph.D., director of technical operations at TruGreen. “Brown spots on lawns may not always be from lack of water or nutrients, but instead from lawn-feeding insects that can mimic drought damage on select grass types. Homeowners need to have a clear understanding of the source of the yard problem to effectively resolve.”
HOW TO WATER YOUR LAWN
Established lawns should be watered deeply, but infrequently. Deep watering once a week encourages deeper root growth, while frequent, shallow watering produces a limited root system.
- When watering, make sure you moisten the top three to four inches of soil, which covers the root zone.
- Although watering frequency depends on the type of grass, your soil, and the weather, most grasses require about one inch of water each week for healthy growth. Let Mother Nature do as much of the watering for you as possible.
- The best time to water is in the morning and in non-windy conditions. This conserves water and allows grass to dry before evening. Grass that remains wet for long periods of time is more susceptible to disease development. Watering in the afternoon is the worst for water conservation. Up to half the water can evaporate in the air or on the ground during the hot part of the day.
- If you’re using a movable sprinkler, let it run in one spot just until the water begins to run off the surface, then move to a different area of the lawn.
- Monitor your underground irrigation or sprinkler system to be sure that you moisten the lawn’s entire root zone without over-watering any sections.
- To help ensure uniformity, place a one-inch deep, empty food can in the middle of lawn area to measure depth of water collected after each watering cycle.
- Make sure you are familiar with and follow any local watering restrictions.
Hidden Environmental Pollutants in Your Home
Find Out What’s Lurking in Your Home…
Plastics – Plastics can leach chemicals into food, especially if they’re heated or worn. Instead of plastics, opt for glass or stainless steel. Unwanted chemical leaching is magnified when food is placed in plastic heated in a microwave. While microwaves don’t pose a radiation risk, consider warming up food in ceramic or glassware.
Indoor Air – What you can’t see can harm you. This is especially the case when it comes to indoor air. Aside from pet dander/odors and possible indoor smokers, there are a number of radical elements floating through your home. The kitchen is one of these places, where a number of gases and chemicals infiltrate the air. Crack open a window and get a room air purifier as a must-have kitchen appliance to filter the air and make sure you’re not inhaling indoor pollutants.
Nonstick Pans – Nonstick coatings on pots and pans can release toxic fumes at high temperatures. If you use nonstick pans, try to use only low or medium heat. However, if possible, use ceramic ovenware, cast iron or stainless steel cookware
Drinking Water – While our water filtration systems are some of the best in the world, your pipes may not be. If you live in an old building with lead pipes, let your water run for a couple of minutes each morning. While most people turn to bottled water thinking its more pure, statistics show bottled water is actually far less regulated for contaminants than tap water. If you don’t want to use tap water, consider buying a filter and invest in a reusable bottle.
Detergents – Phosphates in some detergents can contribute hand-washing. Phosphates in some detergents can contribute to water pollution when they go down the drain, so choose phosphate and chlorine-free biodegradable detergents. If you use a dishwasher, check to see if it carries the Energy Star label. The same principles apply for your laundry detergent, through which you may be exposing yourself to harsh chemicals. Try using fragrance-free and dye-free detergents.
Toxic Cleaners –You may be doing your best to clean your home, but if you’re using cleaners with toxins in them, you’re actually causing more harm than good. Conventional cleaners can contain toxic chemicals that aren’t necessarily highlighted on the label. End of the day, all you want to do is get rid of the germs and bacteria. Fortunately, natural ingredients work just as well to do this. Try using baking soda to scour and vinegar as an antibacterial agent. Also, try looking for natural cleaners that are both eco-friendly and effective.
Canned Foods – Most homes have pantries or at least pantry cupboards. Most cupboards are racked with row after row of canned goods. However, Bisphenol-A, a chemical linked to a variety of health issues and diseases, can leach into food from the lining in cans.
Natural Air Purifiers – Indoor house plants act like natural air purifiers. The foliage and roots work to absorb chemical pollutants released by synthetic materials. Ferns, for example, are ideal plants for homes with pets and kids. However, if you don’t want to deal with plant maintenance and care, you can always opt for a real air purifier. Whatever you do, don’t use air fresheners, as they can irritate lungs, cause headaches, and numb your nose to odors.
Reduce Allergen Magnets – Upholstered furniture, such as chairs and sofas, can harbor allergens like pollen, dust mites, and mold. However, there’s an even bigger trap for indoor contaminants, and that’s your wall to wall carpeting. Your exposure to this is event more threatening if you have kids, especially younger kids that crawl around the carpet all day. One way you can eliminate this problem is by getting vacuum with a HEPA filter; another way is by getting wood flooring. If you decide on wood flooring, consider bamboo flooring, which is much cheaper and far more environmentally friendly.
Lead Exposure – A new coat of paint is the quickest pick up for any home. But before cracking open the paint container, take a moment to check your home to see if any of the previous layers of paint contained lead. Some homes built as recently as 1978 are known to carry lead in their paint. A low lead level is not any less damaging. Even low-level lead exposure can affect brain development in a fetus, newborn or young child. And when buying paint, look for no-VOC products.
Dry-Cleaned Clothes – Dry-cleaned clothes may come back with unwanted chemicals, some of which have been tested to cause cancer. Try hand washing or steaming your clothes instead.
Mattresses Health – Mattresses are wrapped in plastics and treated with flame retardants. If you have a synthetic mattress, air it outdoors before bringing it in your home. Cover the mattress with a wool or organic mattress pad.
Cosmetics – It’s daunting to know that 99% of personal care products, such as cosmetics and hygiene products, have never been tested for safety by the Cosmetics Ingredient Review Panel, the FDA, or any other institution. Some common ingredients have already been linked to adverse health impacts. Your option here is to either use fewer products or use natural one.
Stir Up the Air – Bathrooms are havens for mold due to the high humidity levels. An exhaust fan can help clear the air- both of the humidity and of fumes from vinyl shower curtains and cleaners. Try using an exhaust fan that vents outside or crack the window when you bathe.
While our homes are our castles, it’s important to be aware of what dangers are lurking in them. Most of these listed pollutants can be eliminated or prevented with proper care and guidance; and while a few chemical fumes off of plastics may not seem like a big deal, over time it can add up.
Get Started on a Pollutant-Free Environment
Shireen S. is a green expert working with www.air-purifier-home.com to help them maximize consumer awareness. She can be reached at shireen@air-purifier-home.com
Writing Real Estate Property Description That Sells
There are do’s and don’ts when it comes to writing a professional property description that sells. An effective property description can determine whether or not you sell the property. Writing Real Estate Property Description That Sells
Headline:
To begin, your headline must jump out from the page and catch the attention of the buyer. Make the headline appealing with captivating and positive words.
Description:
Always begin your description with the selling points of the property. List the best features first to keep the attention of the buyer. Use adjectives to spice up the description. For example, instead of stating dining room, try spacious dining room for your family to gather and share a meal. Let the buyer know why they will want the selling
It’s important to sell the area to potential buyer as well. Are you selling to someone looking for a single family home or a multi-million dollar estate? Highlight points in the area that appeal to your buyer like schools, shopping, public transportation, etc.
Location:
Include the geographical area in your description. Many buyers are looking to buy in a specific area.
Price:
Including the price of the property is especially important for the for sale by owners. Price inclusion is a way to screen potential buyers.
Call to Action:
End your description with encouraging words for buyers to call you. Give them a reason for a call to action. “This beautiful property will go fast, call now for more details.”
Wording:
Choose your words wisely and keep them positive. Certain words sound better and are more appealing to potential buyers. For instance try cozy instead of small.
Now that you know what should go into an effective property description, you need to know what shouldn’t. Avoid the following:
- Spelling, grammar and punctuation mistakes
- Uncommon abbreviations
- Cliches
- Jargon
- Passive voice
- Over the top vocabulary
Write in the present tense and make sure to include words like you and your in your description. This way potential buyers will feel as though you are speaking directly to them.
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Home Solar Panels
Keep in mind, the thermal energy comes out for free and the sin is the only way to have it. So, why not make your own way to use it and help yourself minimize your expenses? Actually, various solar panels could be used in order to achieve home solar panels. These special panels are comprised of the semi-conductors that are working with the solar cells. There will be a huge area of P-N junction in diode created. Moreover, when the solar panels have the contact in the solar energy, it could now produce electrical energy. Using solar energy could get mixers, geysers, and heaters to work. As a result, you could find radical reduction into your monthly bill for electricity.
On the other hand, the economical do-it-yourself kits are always available and only involve a reasonable small investment. Such kit is capable of assembling the kit on its own and significantly reduces the investment. Panel repair is facilitated once you kept some essential tools at hand. Usually, these kits supply the entire items needed for the installation. These kits have all of the small items like poles, screws, bolts; solder gun, plywood, meters and the complete manual.
Installing home solar panels could surely reduce 90% of electric expenses. You could surely drop off the grid by simply installing different DIY solar panels. You will certainly notice the change right after the week you have installed it.
Help Kids Grow a Windowsill Garden
A child’s awe while watching a seed germinate and grow into a healthy plant with beautiful flowers or a delicious vegetable is something very special. Their sense of accomplishment expands when the flowers they grew are arranged in a beautiful bouquet or their vegetables are shared in a family dinner. Help Kids Grow a Windowsill Garden
This accomplishment illustrates how windowsill gardens encourage learning from plants at home.
With an indoor container garden, children can watch the tiny seeds they tenderly planted germinate and grow into much larger plants. Make the experience educational by encouraging your children to journal how much water is needed to keep the plants healthy, how fast the plants grow and even when new leaves or flower buds appear. They will be surprised by the growth process happening every day.
Spring is the perfect time to get involved in growing – no need to wait until summer to start planting. The Miracle-Gro Kids Windowsill Greenhouse kit, available in Flower and Vegetable Garden varieties, includes everything for children to start planting immediately. The kit provides an optimal environment for indoor seed starting, and the greenhouse environment helps the seedlings grow strong until ready to transplant.
Once seedlings are large enough for transplanting, children can use these simple tips to find their green thumbs and keep their gardens growing strong:
- Containers – All sizes and shapes of containers can become new homes for seedlings once they’re too large for the greenhouse. Whether placed in a sunny area indoors or out, any clean container with drainage at the bottom will work. Consider using colorful buckets, painted clay pots, old chipped porcelain or ceramics from the kitchen – even an old tool box can add a bit of creativity to the garden. Go vertical with pocket gardens and hanging baskets.
- Soil – Quality soil is a must to help plants grow big and strong. Fill containers with Miracle-Gro Potting Mix, and gently pat down so soil is loose, allowing roots to grow and spread easily. Be sure to keep soil moist by watering frequently. Smaller containers dry out easily and may need to be watered more.
- Light – Container and windowsill gardens tend to grow better with southern exposure, where the light is the strongest. Remind children to rotate the pots to encourage plants to grow straight, rather than bending toward the light coming in the window. Think about placing container gardens on window ledges, front stoops, balconies or back patios – any warm, sunny area where children can watch them grow.
- Labels – Put craft time to good use in making labels for each container. Provide children with photos of the plant for them to draw on the labels or tags to stick into the soil for easy identification. Children might even want to name their plants or containers. Let the creativity run free.
If the containers are growing flowers, once blossoming, harvest the blooms and encourage your child create a beautiful arrangement to decorate your home for admiring friends. Teach your child how to press or dry the blooms and create cherished art. Photography is another great way to preserve the memories. Photos make great keepsakes and, tucked into a journal, serve as excellent reminders of what your child planted and can grow in his garden again next year.
If your children planted vegetables, help them find a fun recipe or two that incorporate their produce. Get kids involved in making dinner by cleaning the vegetables for chopping, and stirring into the stew, sauce or salsa. When the dinner bell rings, your child will be proud to serve the meal they grew – right there in your home.
Promote life learning and a green thumb for your children and watch their knowledge and pride grow alongside the flowers and vegetables that are started from seed. It will be an exciting project that can last for weeks and months on end.
When designing a new home, you want to take advantage of the chance to make it as energy efficient as possible, thereby saving money and have a healthier, comfortable living space. For new home builders its an important factor to think about environmentally sustainable homes. Sydney homes needs to be well shaded so as to take advantage of the winter sun, and block it out in the summer, and this also includes the shading of glass.
Unprotected glass is the major reason for unwanted heat in the home in the summer months, where radiant heat becomes trapped within the confines of your living space. One of the most effective ways to provide shading is through the use of eaves which are designed to protect your house, including the windows, from the rays of the sun in the hot months, and to let in helpful sun during the cool months.
This can be achieved in passive heating climates by angling the eaves to allow some low angle winter sun to reach walls, floors and specially house windows. The way that you correctly align your eaves would rely mostly on the weather – in colder altitudes the width of the eaves must be reduced to 42 to 43 percent, and also increasing the distance between the window head to the eave. It might not be beneficial to alter the width of the ease with the help of hot summers in the lower latitudes.
There are very specific formulas that could be used based on latitude and climate to determine an optimum eaves width for energy efficiency. One way of calculating the needed width of the eaves on a ground level home is to multiply the distance from the eaves-line down to the bottom of the window by 0.7. Doing so should keep the glass adequately shaded in the hotter latitudes during the summer months.
Considering all the possibility for shading is an important consideration for new home builders. Sydney home builders usually use external sources and plants, blinds or even louvers, operable clerestory windows, glaze and tinted glass so as to adjust the way sun enters the home. You want your home to work for you, instead of against the climate. If it runs too cold or too hot, it could become expensive to keep your home tolerable.
If your home is well designed, however, and sustainable, it would both run better as well as save you money. Fixed shading devices such as eaves, if properly installed, not only save money, but save lots of time, energy, care and hassle, making your home a more comfortable, healthy and homely place to live.
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Warnings Signs of Termites Invading Your Home
The warning signs of termites
Most termite species like to stay underground and within walls, where it’s dark and damp. Here are some signs to look for:
Mud tubes
The easiest sign to detect. These pencil-width paths lead from a nest directly into your home and make it easy for termites to avoid sunlight. Check the surrounding land, any crawl spaces and your basement.
Swarms
Reproductive termites grow wings and fly during spring and fall. Check for this type of termite and the wings they shed.
Piles
Drywood term
Weakened wood
Long, thin cracks and sagging can be signs that wood has been hollowed out by termites. (Holes in wood are not commonly caused by termites, and may be a sign of beetles or carpenter ants.)
What a termite control professional can do for you
Termite professionals have years of experience and expertise when it comes to using the right treatment method for your unique situation. Different techniques are required based on the location of termite activity, the type of foundation you have and even the number of porches and patios. And just because the obvious signs of an infestation aren’t there, such as mud tunnels or splitting wood, it doesn’t mean that termites aren’t. There are a number of professional termite control products on the market today, including DuPont Altriset. It works by paralyzing the mouths of termites within hours of exposure, stopping further damage immediately.
Your risk and how to reduce it
Risk level varies, largely depending on where you live. However, there are common measures that will make your home less appetizing to termites.
Termites like moisture
Eliminate water in gutters and puddles or any other areas where water might gather on or near your home. Repair any plumbing or drainage problems. Laying down plastic barriers in crawl spaces, basements and attics will help keep them dry.
Don’t provide termites with extra food
Remove lumber or freestanding wood from the base of your home. Don’t plant trees too close and clip away any vegetation, such as shrubs, that might be touching the foundation or walls.
Damp spots and cracks are an open invitation
Check outdoor faucets and gutters for leaks and ventilate humid crawl spaces. Repair cracks and holes in the foundation with caulk, closing off termite entry.
Don’t take any chances
Have your home inspected each year by a professional. It doesn’t take long and can mean early detection – saving you time and money.
A smart way to protect your investment
By mimicking a substance found in certain tree bark, DuPont Altriset paralyzes the mouths of termites to stop them from feeding within hours of exposure. It also clings to their bodies undetected and enhances social behavior so that it is spread quickly throughout the colony. Your home is termite-free within three months and protected for years to come. To learn more about how Altriset works and how it can help protect your home, visit Altriset.com. Knowledge is power, especially when it comes to termites.