Category Archives: House Cleaning

How To Make Money By Starting A Carpet Cleaning Business

How To Make Money By Starting A Carpet Cleaning Business

If you want to make money working for yourself and be your own boss carpet cleaning is an easy business to get into. When you start up a business there are two key components that you need, a product to sell and someone who’s willing to buy it. Carpet cleaning is not rocket science but does require knowledge on general carpet cleaning, stain removal and knowing the limitations of what your equipment can handle.

There are three main types of carpet cleaning; dry foam carpet cleaning, liquid extraction carpet cleaning, and hybrid liquid extraction using a bonnet to thoroughly scrub the floors. Most carpet cleaners use the liquid extraction method because it most cost effective. When starting your business you need to lay out a business plan. To develop a carpet cleaning business you must have money for start up because your business is equipment based.

When you first go to purchase carpet cleaning equipment you’ll be amazed at how many different types of extraction equipment is available. To find carpet cleaning equipment it is advisable to shop at a local cleaning supplies and janitorial equipment distributor or look on line at vacuum cleaner and carpet extractor websites. There are many types of carpet cleaning units available, some of these types include carpet spotters, portable carpet extractors and truck mount carpet extractors.

Carpet spotters are made for cleaning smaller spaces and areas that are not flat like cars, boats and furniture. Carpet spotters are also great at removing small spills and stains and are light and easy to transport. A great way to expand what you offer in your carpet cleaning business is to offer mobile auto detailing. Mobile auto detailing is quickly catching on and people will pay good money for this extra service.

Portable carpet extractors are what you are probably going to be looking at if you’re just starting out in the carpet cleaning market. There are two types of portable carpet extractors, tank and wand units and portable walk behind. Tank units are the best if you are going to be cleaning a lot of carpets frequently. Tank units allow you to attach carpet wand tools for a variety of jobs and are the most versatile. Tank extractors also come with heaters that super heat your extraction solution which in turn yields a cleaner carpet. Tank portable carpet extractors usually range from 00 to 00 dollars new and are available with many options.

The third type of carpet extraction unit is the truck mount. Having a truck mount unit for commercial carpet cleaning is the ultimate way to go. Truck mount carpet extractors are usually mounted in a truck, van or trailer and contain very large suction motors which are run off the vehicles own power. Truck mount carpet extractors come with super heating heaters that heat the carpet extraction solution up to high temperatures. Truck mount units are usually self contained so the both the solution tank and the waste liquid tank is contained in the vehicle. Truck mount setups can range any where from ,000 to ,000 dollars depending on the options you choose. If you are starting out your own carpet cleaning business a used truck mount systems is a great way to go.

The basic equipment needed to start your carpet cleaning business is a vehicle to get to your carpet cleaning location, a carpet extraction unit and carpet cleaning chemicals and cleaning supplies. After you have acquired all your cleaning equipment it’s time to get insured. It is not recommended that you clean someone else’s carpets without insurance and most people who hire you will require proof that you are insured and bonded for their own protection. Knowledge of carpet cleaning is required for cleaning carpets. There are many books and internet sites that are devoted to commercial carpet cleaning from which you can gain knowledge about the carpet cleaning industry.

After you have learned and practiced with your own equipment its time to get some clients. A great way to learn and get experience is to offer to clean your friends and relatives carpet for free or at a discounted price. This is a great way to gain experience and knowledge about carpet cleaning and sometimes learning by making mistakes is the best way to perfect your carpet cleaning skills. The most cost effective way to get clients is networking. Tell people about your carpet cleaning endeavors and ask them to spread the word. Advertising in smaller local newspapers is also a great option because ads are usually cheap and they are targeted to specific communities. When you first start out you should run some good deals even if you are breaking even on the actual carpet cleaning costs at your jobs. You will want to get the word out there as much as you can, and if you do a great job word will spread fast.

When you are cleaning your clients’ carpets it is important that you look and act professional. Remember that you are in someone else’s house and that you are being paid as a service to clean their carpets. Before you start cleaning your clients’ carpets, have them show you all the trouble spots and let them know if it is possible to get stains out. Many people believe that professional carpet cleaners can remove every stain from carpeting but this is not true because some stains can be ground in and permanent. It’s ok to let the client know if you are unable to remove a stain. After you are done cleaning the carpets take the client around and show them any trouble spots before you leave. Explain to them why you can’t get the stain out and what other treatments such as dying can be done to the carpet. Make sure before you leave that the client is happy, just as good carpet cleaning spreads by word of mouth news of bad carpet cleaning will spread even faster and could give you a bad reputation in the carpet cleaning world. Make sure to keep a list of all your clients and follow up with them over the year to see if your carpet cleaning skills are needed again. Over time you will build up repeat clients to add to your new clients which will in time expand your carpet cleaning business.

How To Make Gourd Bird Houses In 9 Easy Steps

How To Make Gourd Bird Houses In 9 Easy Steps

Bird houses can be a great way to attract birds to your yard and if you want a unique natural look, the gourd bird houses may be the way to go. The first thing that comes into mind when it comes to creating bird houses is to find the perfect gourd. This can surely help in saving effort and money.

Gourds can be easily found or grown in the garden. Gourds are distinctly identified by their eye-catching colors and markings. They can even be said to resemble alien forms. This happens especially during the late summer and they can be very entertaining to the eyes.

Gourds will normally be something that have to be intentionally grown. To grow one, certain steps have to be taken and regular tending must be done. Apply fertilizer in the soil where you plan to plant the gourd. For a plant grown in the space of the garden, a half dozen seeds should be placed. Then follow properly the directions in the seed packet. Thereafter, the plant should be regularly watered and the fertilizer reapplied every month. For creating bird houses, a large gourd has to be cultivated. This type normally takes 130 days to mature.

Turning the Gourd into a Bird House

Once you have the right gourd at hand, it can be easily crafted to make a good bird house that you can put in your yard or garden space to attract the birds.

Working with the gourd is relatively easy. It is just like working with the wood. However, doing so will require some tasks to be fulfilled. These steps are necessary to make a bird house successfully out of the gourd.

1. Put hot water with soap in a pail. Get the gourds and soak them. When at least 30 minutes have passed, take out the gourd and clean it.

2. Cleaning the gourd will require the use of a scrub. Do this until the gourd is entirely clean. Just take into account the possibility of discolorations in the gourd. This will not normally take off so do not fret over the stains.

Dry the gourds after cleaning.

3. Select the dried gourds that have the right length for your bird house. a diameter of 8 to 14 inches will be proper enough.

4. Make sure that the walls of the gourds are properly measured so as to make it most comfortable for the birds. It should be at least quarter of an inch thick so as not to make the bird house too warm.

5. Next detail to work on is the hole for the birds to enter. Most of the gourd bird houses are created for martin birds. A hole of two and a half inch are normally sufficient for the martins to enter into.

Drill a hole also at the bottom of the cage for the drainage system.

6. Clean out the insides of the gourd. Scrape out the seeds inside. You can also pour water inside to make sure that the dusts created by drilling are removed.

7. Preserving the gourd is also necessary. Purchase copper sulfate from hardware shops and follow the instructions on how to prepare the mixture. Soak the gourd in the preparation for 15 minutes and let it dry.

Make sure your hands are properly protected with gloves in preparing the mixture.

8. Paint the exteriors of the gourd house. White house paint is normally used to make the bird house to easily attract the birds. Just ensure that no drain holes are left unclogged.

9. Then, make a hole on the top neck of the gourd. This is to give way for the wire that will be used to hang the bird house.

Being closer to the birds is not a difficult task. Again, you only need the gourd at hand and some handy skills. Build a gourd bird house and the birds will come to you.

Quick Advice For Being Your Own Handyman

Quick Advice For Being Your Own Handyman

When it comes to home improvement, many homeowners believe in an all-or-nothing approach. They prefer to wait for a total remodel rather than tackling a series of smaller, more manageable projects. Choosing the latter can save money and make your home a more attractive and enjoyable place to live. Here are some tips and tricks to get you started.

When you first discover leaks on your ceiling, it is probably time for a new roof. Letting it go could lead to disastrous consequences. Find a trustworthy roof specialist in your area and ask them to come take a look at your roof. Make sure the specialist is skilled and experienced.

If you are lucky enough to have a deck on your home, then you probably do routine cleaning such as sweeping and general removal of outdoor debris. You should also do a deep cleaning of your deck surface at least once a year. Remove everything from your deck to give yourself plenty of room to work.

If it is at all practical, do repair-type home improvement projects as soon as you notice a problem. Much of the damage that occurs to your home is the sort that you can live with and soon forget. You must resist this impulse! The different systems of your home are closely connected and damage can spread with shocking speed. A small problem can become a big one faster than you can imagine.

If you don’t want to have a toilet that won’t stop running, try checking the flapper valve. Flapper valves act as rubber seals for the tank and allow water in and out. Pull the siphon from the tank and examine the valve. If it’s dirty, clean it. If its broken, replace the valve with a new one.

If you cannot afford to hire a designer, start researching. Check out books, websites, magazines and books for inspiration and information. One layout in a magazine can be your inspiration for what you want your home to look like. These resources can also provide information for less expensive projects that you can do on your own.

Try a mural painted on the wall to resemble a window in order to open up a room without the costs and work of taking out a wall or adding a window. If you get a high quality mural painted on the wall to resemble a window, you will find that it opens the room up quite well without causing you to go through the costs, effort, and stress of actually putting in a window.

Securely screw your bookcases and other tall furniture to your walls! Not only is this step an important safety precaution in fortifying your home for a potential earthquake, doing so might actually prevent a child or elderly person from knocking these tall items over on themselves and sustaining serious injuries.

Rather than wait decades to save up the money for a total remodel, why not look for home improvement projects of all sizes and scales? By following the advice in this article, you can discover the joys of making occasional enhancements and upgrades to your home without waiting for a day that may never come.

Whiten Your Teeth By Following These Tips

Whiten Your Teeth By Following These Tips

A whiter smile is crucial to an appearance of which you can really be proud. Beyond simply looking good, your teeth can take some serious damage over time. In your later years, this can become something that affects your health and requires extensive medical care. The best solution is to begin taking care of your smile earlier, and you will never need to worry about such issues.

A great teeth whitening tip is to make sure that you visit the dentist on a regular basis to have your teeth professionally cleaned. This will help to reduce the plaque that builds up on your teeth and will also make sure that you do not have any other oral health issues.

You can whiten your teeth at home with some common items. Mix peroxide and baking soda into a paste. Brush your teeth with this paste for several minutes. You can repeat this often as it is safe and non-toxic. Using at home products is cheaper and safer than products with unknown ingredients.

When you decide to do any kind of dental regimen that includes whitening your teeth you should be sure to have the advice of a dental professional. If you try to do things completely on your own you may make amateur mistakes that will set back your progress by several months.

Be sure to brush your teeth at least twice a day. Regular brushing helps to prevent plaque build up, because this can result in permanent discoloration of your teeth. Once it builds up, it is difficult to remove without the assistance of a dentist, so it’s better to avoid the problem in the first place.

One important teeth whitening tip is to make sure that you always drink plenty of water. This will act as a natural way to remove extra food and harmful materials from your teeth, keeping them whiter. Be sure to rinse with water after eating as often as possible.

Beverages that contain acid or carbonation are best drunk with a straw to help keep your teeth white. By using a straw you can divert the beverages past the teeth and prevent some of the staining potential. Try not to fill your mouth with beverage when drinking as this will defeat the purpose of the straw.

Visit your dentist regularly. Sometimes, the regular cleaning a dentist can provide will remove stains from your teeth and you may not need to have them bleached at all. This deep-down cleaning will help get the stains out of micro-cracks in the enamel in your teeth.

Chew parsley leaves. Parsley leaves are known to make your teeth sparkle and help clean them. Chewing the leaves for a few minutes every day will give you teeth whitening results. You can do this a few times a day or once a day. Doing this can also help prevent bad breath.

Through these tips and anything you may learn from your dentist, you can become a more confident you with a mouth full of teeth even in the most senior of years. Not everyone must end up with dentures or only half their teeth remaining. This is the perfect way to avoid such a fate.

Teeth Whitening Techniques To Try At Home

Teeth Whitening Techniques To Try At Home

If you are one of the millions of people that have stained, discolored teeth, and would like to learn how to get rid of your embarrassing smile, then you’ll be glad to hear that teeth whitening can be a fun, an uncomplicated, and affordable way to get the smile you have always dreamed of. This article contains many easy tips to help you on your way to a gorgeous smile.

Establish a tooth care routine. You want to brush your teeth at least two times per day; this helps remove the accumulation of plaque, which plays a large role in turning your teeth yellow. If you get into the habit of brushing your teeth at certain times of the day, you are more likely to be consistent with your routine.

Visit your dentist regularly. Sometimes, the regular cleaning a dentist can provide will remove stains from your teeth and you may not need to have them bleached at all. This deep-down cleaning will help get the stains out of micro-cracks in the enamel in your teeth.

Avoid harsh chemicals by using natural teeth whiteners as opposed to store bought whiteners. Not only are natural whiteners much less expensive than whitening systems from the store, most options also have side benefits. Natural whiteners such as raw fruits and vegetables provide your body with nutrients while whitening your teeth.

To whiten your teeth on the go, try whitening strips. Available from many manufacturers in all price ranges, they really are one of the handiest ways of whitening your teeth while on the run. Apply the strips and wear while on your commute to work or out running errands with the kids and you’ll have white teeth without a lot of effort.

Learn to brush properly to get a whiter smile. You should be holding your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle against your gums and then using a circular motion to brush your teeth with instead of the back and forward motion you were taught. To make sure you don’t scrub too hard, hold the brush like you would a pencil.

If you are a coffee drinker, make sure to always brush your teeth after you finish your morning cup. Coffee has harmful staining agents that can permanently yellow your teeth. By brushing afterward, you lower the risk of these agents staining your teeth and it can be a major helpful tactic in keeping your teeth white.

A pretty obvious tip that people may forget about teeth whitening is to make regular visits to your local dentist. Regular visits to your dentist will eliminate the need for frequent teeth whitening, as the dentist will normally clean your teeth to remove any plaque or tartar that has accumulated.

Certain foods can easily stain your teeth such as soy sauce or curry. However, other foods such as apples, carrots and broccoli can clean your teeth while you eat them. So not only are they healthy for the body, they will also give your teeth a mini clean while you chew.

You will feel better about yourself if you have white teeth. Implement these ideas to transform your dingy, stained teeth into sparkling white ones.

Pregnancy Tips For New Moms: Some Advice

Pregnancy Tips For New Moms: Some Advice

Whether or not you live in a house, a condominium, apartment or even a trailer, making improvements to your residence is always a good idea. Yet, if you are unsure what projects to undertake or how to go about them, it’s good to have a few ideas and insights before you get started.

Ask to see your contractor’s insurance certificate to ensure he is insured, then call his insurance company to find out what he’s actually covered for. There are minimums set out by law which his coverage will need to adhere to, so find out what they are in your state and make sure he meets them.

If you have a large, open kitchen, consider building or buying a movable kitchen island. An island can be covered with tile, granite, or marble tops, making it the perfect extra surface for preparing meals, serving food, finishing up homework, or as a makeshift mini-bar that goes wherever you need it to. Many models include storage features like drawers, hooks, and built-in cutting blocks.

Get really good references for contractors you use on your home improvements. It is far too easy for a con artist to take your money and run, leaving you with a wreck of a home and no more money to fix it. Don’t trust just anyone. Make sure you have plenty of excellent references, from people you really trust.

If you are lucky enough to have a deck on your home, then you probably do routine cleaning such as sweeping and general removal of outdoor debris. You should also do a deep cleaning of your deck surface at least once a year. Remove everything from your deck to give yourself plenty of room to work.

It is amazing sometimes how people settle for the existing paint schemes of the rooms in their homes. On the other hand, they choose schemes themselves through lack of experience that do basically nothing for the value and feel of their home. Choose some brilliant paint schemes today and see just how far painting a room can go with helping the value and feel of your home.

Clean out your home every few months by taking a look around and collecting items that you no longer need. It is a great feeling to update your home decor as well as giving unwanted items to charity. Take those things you no longer need and donate them to a local charity or orphanage. This will de- clutter your home and give you space for new items.

When painting your bathroom, kitchen, or other area that sees lots of moisture (or kids’ hands), choose a semi-gloss or high-gloss paint. Unlike flat (matte) paints, glossy surfaces are easier to wipe clean and are less likely to show spots when exposed to moisture from steamy showers or boiling pots.

As mentioned earlier in this article, home improvements happen best when you have some clear ideas on what to do and how to go about them. Take the tips from this piece and apply them to your home today. In no time at all you will find yourself living in a happier, healthier home.

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