Category Archives: House Cleaning

Ventless Gas Fireplace – Taking Care Of Yours

September 26, 2022   Matt

Ventless Gas Fireplace – Taking Care Of Yours

Efficient operations of a ventless gas fireplace can be expected only by regular maintenance of a fireplace. You should have a certified chimney sweep inspect and clean the chimney as and when necessary. It is a good idea to learn how to inspect it on your own as well and keep checks at regular intervals. The chimney should be checked at least once a year or after approximately eighty fires. A chimney brush can be used to keep the chimney free from creosote build-up.

There is a good amount of precautionary measures which should be taken during the inspection and cleaning process of a fireplace. Make sure that all ventless gas fireplace fittings are tightened securely and completely extinguish the fire before cleaning. Make sure the chimney is cold along its length.

Glass doors may produce tough stains from flames and heat. These stains can be cleaned by using a glass cleaner available at ventless gas fireplace stores. In order to shine brass fireplace utensils and fittings, Worcestershire sauce and a toothbrush may be used. The firebox is the area where the logs burn. It should be cleaned at least once a week during the months in which it is being used most. It is a good idea to leave an inch of ash while cleaning as it acts as insulation for the coal to heat up faster and easily retains the heat.

An exterior slate hearth can be made to shine by washing, drying and coating it with lemon oil while exterior brick hearths can be cleaned by making use of a brick cleaner available at a ventless gas fireplace shop. A chimney cap should be used to prevent damage due to water, nesting of birds and carbon monoxide entering the house.

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Benefits And Dangers Of Chlorine In Showers, Pools, And Cleaning Products

September 21, 2022   Matt

Benefits And Dangers Of Chlorine In Showers, Pools, And Cleaning Products

For the past few years, many people have been alarmed
with the surfacing news about the possible dangers of
chlorine. The news was backed by many clinical
researches and studies on tap water. Experts and
researchers stressed the fact the there are dangers of
chlorine in showers, pools, and cleaning products.
However, people should also not forget about the
benefits of chlorine.

Before you look into the dangers of chlorine, you
should first know what chlorine is. Every home has a
shower room and quite a few have swimming pools too.
It is also a must to maintain the home’s cleanliness
by using cleaning products. Since you’re exposed to
chlorine everyday of your life, it would help a lot if
you know substantial info about chlorine.

Chlorine is used for different purposes. It is one of
the elements found in cleaning products and aside from
that it is also used in pool sanitation. The gas form
of chlorine is poisonous. You will note that chlorine
has a strong odor and when the liquid form us
released, it immediately turns to a hazardous gas.
Just try to imagine your pool filled with that
element; you will surely have second thoughts about
dipping in it even for a few minutes, right? But you
must know that the chlorine present in pools and
showers is already extremely diluted.

Public pools make use of more chlorine as compared to
private pools. Even if they have high chlorine
content, public pools are much safer. Chlorine is a
powerful cleaning agent. Private pools usually have
lower chlorine content because less people swim in it
and so there is fewer bacteria.

If chlorine is used properly, you will benefit a lot
from it. It can disinfect the water that flows from
your faucet and it can kill the bacteria present in
the pool. The house will also be kept clean and free
from germs and other bacteria. However, things can
suddenly turn unpleasant if you are overexposed to
chlorine.

Homeowners should be advised that chlorine is a
dangerous compound. Many years ago, it was used as a
poisonous substance. It can destroy your respiratory
system and if you inhale its concentrated form, you
will not be able to breathe. Chlorine is not explosive
but if you mix it with other compounds like ammonia or
turpentine, it can become combustible. Be very careful
when mixing cleaning products. You see, if you have
chlorine bleach at home, don’t try to mix it with
other household cleaners because it can turn into a
dangerous gas.

You can’t avoid using chlorine everyday. However, with
the right practice, you can use the element to your
advantage. Make sure that you keep all your household
cleaners in a safe place. The same thing should be
observed when storing your sanitation supplies for the
pool. You have to ensure that children can’t reach it
to avoid any accidents in the future. When using the
household cleansers or the pool cleaning supplies, you
should wash your hands thoroughly afterwards and
before preparing your meals.

There is always a good side and bad side; that is also
true with chlorine. If you use if properly, you can
enjoy its benefits but if you use it unwisely and
carelessly, your health will pay the price so be aware
of the dangers of chlorine in showers, pools, and
cleaning products.

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What You Need To Know About Shopping For Jewelry

September 16, 2022   Matt

What You Need To Know About Shopping For Jewelry

Buying and selling jewelry can be exciting. Before you jump into this market, you need to do your research and learn all you can about jewelry. There are many things to learn so that you don’t get poor pieces and so you don’t lose money on a sale. The tips below can help you with that.

Buying and selling jewelry wholesale is a great way to make a profit doing something you love. Before you begin to invest in bulk or wholesale rings, earrings, and necklaces, find out what business steps are needed to make your operation legitimate. In some states, this means applying for a vendor’s license.

If you are purchasing jewelry strictly for adornment purposes, you should buy 10K gold. The reason is you will get a much better price on 10K gold than on 14K or 18K. Even though the purity level is less, 10K gold will still wear well and hold up over time.

If you are using bleach or other household cleaners, remove your jewelry first. The chemicals contained in these cleaners can ruin the luster on your precious gems. They can also discolor gold and silver. Put your favorite jewelry in a safe place and then get on with your cleaning project.

Before you decide to purchase a piece of fine jewelry from an online auction site like eBay, be sure to do your homework. Check for feedback and ratings from other buyers, and carefully read the item description for information on guarantees regarding quality, authenticity, and any return policies. This will spare you a great deal of hassle if the item does not live up to your expectations.

Do not be afraid to buy silver jewelry. Gold items are incredibly expensive right now, and silver is “in”. Search for products that are labeled as sterling silver because they have a large amount of the metal in them. Not only will you save money, but you will have the opportunity to buy a nice piece of jewelry that you might have missed otherwise.

Try mixing and matching your jewelry pieces for a whole new look. You may have purchase some jewelry in sets and feel like you should always wear those same items together. However, if you mix and match your jewelry, you will find you can create new and exciting looks that you had not thought of before.

Deep, rich blue sapphires are commonly known as the birthstone for those born in September. Their dark, mysterious coloring is often thought to have protective powers over anyone who wears the gem in their rings, bracelets, or brooches. Blue sapphire nicely complements purples and deep scarlet accents and looks beautiful with all settings, but especially platinum or silver.

Learning what you can prior to buying or selling jewelry ensures that you can make smarter decisions as to what you should have to get what you need. So, do yourself a favor and do your research and apply the above tips to your jewelry buying or selling ventures.

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Four Critical Tips for Cleaning Up after a Flood Strikes

September 11, 2022   Matt

Four Critical Tips for Cleaning Up after a Flood Strikes

The value of knowing how to respond to an emergency has never been so clear, with one of the worst hurricane seasons ever behind us. Educating yourself on what to do in a flood, therefore, is one of the key disaster preparedness issues. Here are some valuable tips homeowners should be aware of when cleaning up damage left behind by a flood.

Don’t Go Near the Water: Floodwaters can be some of the most contaminated water you will ever come in contact with. Seek medical attention right away if you or a family member has been exposed to flood waters for any length of time. Topical floodwater contact could lead to serious infections. If you believe you or anyone else has drunk floodwater, seek medical care at your local hospital or clinic as soon as possible, as the dangers of infection are even worse.

Tread Lightly: Stay out of any buildings or structures that still have floodwaters encircling them. Don’t underestimate structural damage floodwaters can cause. A structure’s foundation can be significantly weakened by floodwaters in relatively short periods of time, especially in older structures. Foundations can sink and become unstable, causing cracks and gaps in the flooring, even a house’ total collapse without warning. An apparently sound structure may also have suffered gas leaks, electrical damage, or water line damage, so you should steer clear of such buildings until local officials have declared them safe .

Wait Until the All-Clear: Just because the rain has stopped and the floodwater seems to be withdrawing, doesn’t mean its safe to go home and start cleaning up. Of course you’ll be anxious to find out what damage if any has been done to your property, but sometimes, floodwater damage creates many a hazard that requires professional clean up before the area is cleared as safe to local area residents. Keep watching for information on the weather if you have access to local radio or television stations, which will inform you of any threat from incoming storms, or other floodwater-related dangers in your area.

Handle with Care: You should inspect flood-damaged buildings cautiously once local officials have judged the area safe. Start with examining your house carefully. Tread carefully; flood damage can weaken structures. Do not smoke inside the building. (gas leak hazard) Bring battery-operated flashlights or lanterns as electricity may be cut off. Study the floors, walls, doors, staircases, and windows closely to make sure the house is not in danger of collapsing, using the flashlight to look at the foundation for cracks or other signs of damage.

After you’ve examined the structural integrity of the building, check for damage to the utility systems. Find and note down damage to the building’s gas, electrical, and sewage system. Check for gas leaks by listening for a small hissing noise and smelling the gas in the air. If you suspect a gas leak, shut off the main valve immediately and contact the gas company.

Scrutinize the building’s electrical system. Any broken, frayed, or loose wires are spots for worry. If you see any sparks or smell any burning, immediately turn off the electricity at the circuit breaker or fuse box.

You will also need to check out your home’s sewage system. Avoid using the toilet and call a plumber if you believe the sewage lines have been damaged. If fresh water pipes have also been damaged, call your water company and don’t drink water from the tap.

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Need Help With Learning About Jewelry? Take This Advice (2)

September 06, 2022   Matt

Need Help With Learning About Jewelry? Take This Advice

Shopping for your jewelry is all about a matter of knowledge and taste. If you know what you are looking at, you will be more capable of making a confident decision on what you want to purchase. This article will give you helpful advice on all the different types of jewelry, and what you should know about each one.

Deep, rich blue sapphires are commonly known as the birthstone for those born in September. Their dark, mysterious coloring is often thought to have protective powers over anyone who wears the gem in their rings, bracelets, or brooches. Blue sapphire nicely complements purples and deep scarlet accents and looks beautiful with all settings, but especially platinum or silver.

When you want to store your fine jewelry, you should follow the instructions that were provided with your specific piece, and follow them exactly. Generally, you do not want pieces touching each other to keep them from scratching. It is best to store your jewelry in the box or pouch it came in.

When buying any type of diamond jewelry, ask the jeweler who grades their diamonds. You want to know that they are using the best quality graders as well as a very experienced grader. Otherwise you might not get the quality of diamond that you are actually paying for. You could even ask for a second opinion.

Jewelry is something that has been, and can continue to be passed down from generation to generation. In order to make this happen you have to take care of your pieces and make sure that they are maintained by a professional jeweler. Clean your pieces each time you wear them and put them away in a safe place, completely dry and free of any dirt or residue.

A relatively recent popular trend is the rise of the “mood ring” or other such indicative jewelry, often made with liquid crystals that change their color in response to changes in body temperature. They are quite popular especially among children and teens, and can match many outfits because of their changing color.

When selecting the right piece of jewelry, it is important to have a gemologist or other registered jewelry appraiser present to ensure you are getting the right price. The difference in quality of some precious gems may look minimal to the untrained eye, but these slight differences can change the price of jewelry substantially.

If you are cleaning your jewelry at home, make sure that you use warm water and a mild soap. Rinse very thoroughly to make sure that there is no residue left on the metal. Dry well and leave to air dry completely. Water left on precious metals can leave residual water stains.

As was stated earlier in the article, shopping for jewelry is all just a matter of what you know. Making a confident decision based on your preferences and knowledge is simpler when you know what you are talking about. Follow the tips you just read to give yourself that edge over other customers.

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Things You Must Know When Selling Your Home (2)

September 01, 2022   Matt

Things You Must Know When Selling Your Home

Now that you have decided to sell your home, you are looking forward to relocating and getting started with your new life. In order to sell your home quickly and move, there are a few simple tips listed below that will help to have your home sold in not time.

Do not forget to remove clutter from your garage when you are preparing your house for sale. All of the junk that has been accumulating in the garage can make that space very unattractive. It is difficult for the buyer to envision what he can do with that space if your clutter is everywhere. Since you will be moving anyway, start getting rid of things that you do not plan to take with you.

When trying to sell a home, the phrase “make a good first impression” means everything. Make sure that the front of your home is well manicured and looks neat. If it is autumn then rake up any stray leaves and if it is winter make sure that you shovel neatly. Many people refuse to buy homes based on minor details like this.

When renovating, pay attention to the area around you. Building a pool is a great improvement at any time. Building a pool, tennis court, guest house, and spa in an area filled with single family homes however may not be the best choice. If your house is significantly improved from the surrounding area you will have trouble selling when the time comes.

When preparing a home to sell, make sure the windows are clean. Sparkling clean windows let in more natural light to the interior of the home and make the home’s exterior look more attractive. Window cleaning doesn’t even have to be expensive; you can purchase a window cleaning attachment for your hose or just use a squeegee.

As trivial as it may seem, if your steps leading up to your home are broken, you may want to consider fixing them before you put your home on the market. Seeing broken steps can make people think that the rest of your home may have similar damage to it.

When selling your home, consider how the outside looks to potential buyers. You can make a great impression by having a mowed lawn, trimmed shrubs, and a clutter free front porch. You should also try to repaint or wash the outside of your home to help show off its true appeal. The better the house looks outside, the better impression you will have on buyers.

Maintaining the appearance of a house is an important factor when considering marketing that real estate. It will be under the critical eye of anyone who is looking at buying that property. By keeping everything looking perfect or brand new, you will maintain the best appearance to the potential customer.

Selling your home does not have to be difficult. With the ideas presented herein, you will be well on your way. By enlisting the help of a realtor, being flexible with timelines and schedules, and using other tips listed in this article, will help move you closer to actually reaching your goal.

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