Category Archives: House Cleaning

Do-It-Yourself Carpet Cleaning Tips

Do-It-Yourself Carpet Cleaning Tips

Remember what your brand new carpet looked like when you first had it installed? Frustrated that only a short time later it looks like it needs to be replaced again?

Keeping your carpet clean and looking new is no longer an easy job.

To get the most wear out of your carpet, use the following do-it-yourself carpet cleaning tips.

Regular upkeep is vital to the life of your carpet. By vacuuming your carpet weekly and not allowing shoes to be worn in your house, you can extend the life of your carpet by five years or more. Vacuuming regularly keeps dirt and grime from becoming ground in to the carpet fibers. Allowing only socks or slippers on your carpet keeps it from becoming soiled by hard to remove stains such as mud and oils.

If your carpet does become stained or overly dirty, there are numerous homemade products and easy carpet cleaning tips that you can use to make it look new again.

When cleaning the entire carpeted area, always use a warm water solution. The warm water allows the grime and oils to be broken down more quickly and completely. For the cleaning solution you can use any of the numerous commercial products available but a simple mix of water and vinegar works just as well. The white vinegar will pull residue from the fibers making your carpet softer and cleaner.

For stains, there are numerous treatments. Club soda works great on red wine stains. Brake cleaner works great on tough food stains and WD40 works great on oil or grease spots.

To use brake cleaner, simply apply the cleaner to a cloth and then blot the stain. Once the stain is removed rinse the area with a vinegar and water solution.

To use WD40, simple spray the stained area and allow the cleaner to sit for 30 minutes. Blot the area dry and then rinse it well with a mixture of dish soap and water.

The best carpet cleaning tip for removing general stains is shaving cream. Shaving cream, when applied directly to the stain and allowed to set for 30 minutes, will remove just about every type of stain. After the cream has set, gently blot it away with a dry white cloth. Be sure to rinse the area with a vinegar and water solution after cleaning.

When cleaning a carpet stain it is important to remember to blot the affected area and never rub it. Rubbing causes the particles to ground into the carpet fibers and it can also lead to the premature breakdown of those fibers.

By using these simple carpet cleaning tips you can make carpet cleaning and upkeep a breeze. Plus, you can save money on products and still have clean carpets that you are proud to show.

Top Tips For Selling Your Home Faster 2

Top Tips For Selling Your Home Faster

It has often been said that selling real estate is a specialty skill. Well, we’re here to tell you that it’s really not. As long as you’re getting some great information on how to sell in this market, you can move your property without problems. Check out this article and find out how to move your property.

Sell your home when buyers are feeling positive about the housing market. Currently the buyer’s market is at a good point, where most buyers are generally thinking positive. Selling your home when the market is good will give you a fair price, and generally will be a fairly quick sale as well.

As a seller, before showing your home to anyone, be sure to have it professionally cleaned. Cleaning the home yourself is an option, but you want to put your best foot forward so that any prospective buyer can imagine his or her family in the home. A professional cleaner will give your house a deep cleaning, without damaging anything. This will let you focus on other aspects of the sale.

Be flexible when it comes to showing your home, especially in the fall. Many buyers are just as busy with the kids’ schedules and are on as tight of a schedule as you are. You may have to open your home to anyone that is interested during the weekends or the evenings to allow anyone interested to see it.

To make your home more attractive to the buyer, try getting rid of some of your furniture. Big pieces can make your home look small. Find a place to store these items until you move; you will be surprised at how much larger your rooms appear. This will help the buyer see the potential in your property.

Make sure your “for sale” sign has all the important information. Have the listing agent’s phone number and name on the sign so potential buyers know who to call. Also, make sure the phone number on the sign will connect them with a live person who can can give them details about your home.

If a neighbor suffers foreclosure, this will damage the value of your property, unless you intervene. Foreclosed properties often deteriorate over time, and this ramshackle look deflates your own property value. Talk to your neighbors and work out a schedule for maintaining and cleaning up foreclosed properties. This will at least contribute to the look and function of the property and will help the neighborhood values remain high.

Hire a home inspector when you are even considering a home. Looks can be deceiving. Just because a home appears to be structurally sound to the naked eye, doesn’t mean it actually is. You need the services of a professional home inspector. He will go through the house, listing any problems that need to be addressed. Once you have this information, you have two options. You can either require that the seller make any repairs prior to you purchasing the house or you can get the cost of the repairs deducted from the sale price.

Moving your property and turning a profit is what it’s all about. Not every real estate venture is going to be successful, but using the tips provided in the article above will greatly improve your odds of selling your home. Never neglect to stay informed about real estate in order to gain that necessary edge.

Tips On Cleaning A Mattress

Tips On Cleaning A Mattress

A good mattress is an expensive investment, so it makes sense to learn how to take care of it. Unfortunately, spills or accidents occasionally happen, especially if you’re having breakfast in bed or your children aren’t yet potty trained. But, how do you clean a mattress? After all, it’s not like you can just toss it in the washer if it becomes soiled.

The best thing you can do is to avoid getting your mattress dirty in the first place. Encasing the mattress and the box spring in hypoallergenic cases protects them from dust and grime and will cut down on dust mites. However, liquid can still seep through most cases and into the mattress. You may want to consider placing a rubber sheet on the mattress for protection against spills or childhood accidents.

Of course, since most people find that these rubber sheets bunch up and are uncomfortable to sleep on, you may prefer to risk getting the mattress wet, especially if there isn’t a big chance that you will spill your morning coffee or your children are older. If you do get your mattress dirty, you can follow these simple steps to get it clean.

1. To remove dirt or dust, whip out your vacuum. Most mattress manufacturers suggest that occasionally vacuuming your mattress is a good idea, even if it doesn’t look dirty, to keep dust mites under control.

2. If you need to clean up a liquid spill or a stain, don’t grab your favorite stain removal product. Mattresses are made of materials that may not react well to chemicals. Instead, you should just try to blot up any liquid and leave the stain alone. If you can’t bear the thought of leaving the stain on your mattress or if it has a strong odor, you can use a cloth dampened with cold water to gently scrub the stain. You can use a bit of mild soap on the cloth if the stain won’t budge, but just be sure you don’t end up making your mattress or box spring wetter than it already is.

3. Once you clean up the spill or stain, leave the sheets off your mattress and let it thoroughly air dry before you cover it back up. There’s nothing worse than a moldy mattress, especially if the person sleeping on it has severe mold allergies.

Once your mattress is clean and dry, you may want to use this opportunity to flip it over so that it wears more evenly. You should flip your mattress over three or four times a year to help it last longer.

Find The Top 8 Carpet Extractors

Find The Top 8 Carpet Extractors

Carpet extractors are an excellent method of basic economical in depth carpet cleaning. Carpet extractors will clean your entire carpet, remove spots and stains, keep high traffic areas clean, and they’ll even clean your upholstery and drapery. Here are the top 8 carpet extractors.
1. Dirtdevil Featherlight Carpet Extractor
The dirtdevel featherlight is a lightweight and very portable carpet extractor. Comes with a 5 brush nozzle system which will gently clean your carpets and the powerful vacuum will dry the carpets quickly. It has a 1 gallon reservoir for your cleaning solution, and a nice wide nozzle.
2. AX9 Carpet Extractor
The AX9 is designed to clean almost any surface no matter how tough the access it will get into those tight crevices. That’s because it comes with a complete set of accessories to make the job easy. It provides total dryness with only one sweep. Complete with an ergonomic handle that makes moving it around more comfortable.
3. EAG 1400
The EAG 1400 is a commercial size carpet extractor that will clean up your commercial or home space. Built much like a wet/dry vac it has a dual two stage vacuum motor that provides maximum power. It has a 12 gallon solution tank as well as a 12 gallon recovery tank. The 8 large castor rear wheels, and 3 front castors make it easy to maneuver. It has a 25 foot cord so will reach and a 15 foot vacuum hose.
4. Admiral 8
The Admiral 8 comes with an ergonomic and adjustable handle with finger tip controls for operation. This no hose design makes it easy to fill and empty. It can also be purchased with the hard floor cleaning kit.
5. Ext 311 Extractor
The Ext 311 has a nice compact carpet extractor that pulls soil from the carpet effectively. The 2 stage vacuum motor, 10 foot hose, and a 9 inch and 10 inch heavy duty tool will clean any carpet easily. It has an 11 gallon solution tank and recover bucket can be removed to empty. Easy to roll along on the 2 inch casters.
6. The Speedster Carpet Extractor
The Speedster comes with 100 PSI solution pump and dual two stage vacuum motors that have a 150 degree water lift. The large rear wheels and grip handle makes this extractor easy to maneuver and move around.
7. Clean NB 48 Carpet Extractor
The NB 48 is complete with heat to dry up behind you. This commercial carpet extractor is one of the best sellers for professionals. 10 foot wand, 20 foot hose.
8. Harding 1408 Carpet Extractor
The Harding 1408 has a forward reverse brush action which gets down deep and takes less time to clean. It has an 8 gallon solution and recovery bladder as well as two sets of spray nozzles which work independently, and a 14 inch shoe. All lines are built inside so there are no outside lines. Comes complete with 40 foot chord.
These are 8 top carpet extractors but there are many many other excellent products on the market. The carpet extractor you choose will depend on how much carpet you have to clean, and how often. The one thing that has been proven over and over is that carpet extractors will extend the life of your carpets and keep them looking fresh and new.

Caring For Your Plastic Exterior siding

Taking care of Your Plastic Home siding

A low maintenance as well as durable material, vinyl exterior siding is a significantly preferred house outside. Although it is a low maintenance material, you will certainly still wish to clean your vinyl home siding periodically. Simply make sure you learn about the ideal cleansing approaches prior to you start.

Basic maintenance cleansing of your vinyl house siding is rather simple. Use a long-handled brush with soft bristles or a soft towel to clean it down with soap and water. If your vinyl exterior siding has actually textured surfaces to it, you will want to use only the brush with soft bristles so as to stay clear of wiping spots into the grooves with a towel. Beginning with the plastic siding at the bottom of your house as well as work your means up. This will help to avoid streaking from the soapy water running down your residence. If you have other materials, such as brick, on components of your house, cover them to make sure that overflow from your vinyl siding will certainly not impact it. Lastly, always make certain you rinse the location prior to the cleansing option dries out.

If you wish to speed the process of cleaning your plastic house siding along, you can buy or lease a power washing machine. To start with, nevertheless, see to it you have actually checked out the instructions on the power washing machine extensively. Second, constantly see to it you utilize the power washer at eye level. If you attempt to direct upwards, you may wind up with water as well as cleaning remedy behind the vinyl exterior siding. These can later leak as well as cause streaks that can ultimately cause degeneration.

Every so often, you may discover areas of mold or mildew on your plastic exterior siding. If these spots are tiny, after that you can just utilize a name brand family cleaner. Simply constantly make sure to test it on a small section of your plastic exterior siding in a low-profile area to ensure it will not damage it at all. If, nonetheless, the areas of mold and mildew or mold are a little bigger, you can use an option of 30% vinegar and 70% water. One more usual homemade option is mixture of powdered laundry detergent, powdered household cleaner, fluid bleach, and water. It is best to simply locate the one that is most hassle-free and also reliable for you.

Not all plastic home siding discolorations, however, are mold or mildew. You may wind up with dust, residue, or also animal stains on the outside of your house. If that holds true, there are a number of basic cleaners that are accepted for usage on plastic house siding. Check your regional shop for easy home cleansers, and afterwards review the containers thoroughly to learn if they work and also secure for usage on plastic house siding and specifically on whatever the stain is that you have actually found on your plastic home siding.

Significantly, vinyl home siding is an usual house outside. It is reduced upkeep, eye-catching, and easy to install. You may, however, every so often require to cleanse your vinyl siding in order to keep it in good functioning problem. Before you do, make sure you understand what is needed and what the correct treatment is to make sure that your vinyl house siding will look good as well as last a long time.

Tips for Keeping Leather Shoes

Tips for Preserving Leather Shoes

Among the very best investments you can make is on quality natural leather footwear. The only catch is that you need to care for those footwear religiously. A quality set of shoes will certainly last you a lifetime with proper treatment and also upkeep. Also, the products you make use of on your natural leather shoes do not have to cost greater than the rate of the shoes. There are a number of ideas to assist you maintain those natural leather shoes so they will certainly not just last longer, but will certainly maintain a great appearance.

The initial point to keep in mind is that 2 sets of top quality natural leather footwear will last greater than twice as long as one pair. This mathematical impossibility is however true, due to the fact that by purchasing 2 set of leather footwear, you can use one pair every various other day as well as enable the footwear to dry on a cedar footwear tree to take in the moisture from your skin and from the leather while still holding the shoe in the proper shape. In this case, 1 + 1 = 3.

Cleaning your natural leather shoes is largely an issue of daily care and also daily interest to any kind of acnes. Utilizing all all-natural footwear care products permits the leather to take a breath. Suggested cleaning items consist of those made particularly for leather, such as saddle soap. If you make use of saddle soap, and also adhere to the therapy with mink oil, you will certainly often have wonderful success in keeping your shoes looking like brand-new. These items can be found in the majority of areas where shoe care items are found. Goop hand cleaner which can be located in a lot of auto supplies stores is one more excellent item for getting the leather clean, without harming the product. Goop is waterless as well as is outstanding for getting rid of oil and also oil from the surface of the natural leather. Pine periodontal will certainly help to recover your shoes when they are the sufferer of small nicks, scratches as well as cuts. This product saturates into the natural leather and also acts as an outstanding camouflage. If the shade of the natural leather has faded, ache gum tissue will certainly help to restore the shade and appearance.

If you often locate that you are strolling or working where there is a great deal of moisture, you can offer some waterproofing for your leather footwear or boots. This will assist to safeguard the footwear from salt spots, snow and from water. If shoes do obtain damp, keep them on a shoe tree to completely dry, however never position the natural leather footwear close to guide heat such as an oven or fireplace unit. Beeswax provides superb water-repellent properties for protecting your natural leather shoes from the aspects. There are additionally waterproofing type products marketed where shoe treatment products appear that will certainly help shield your shoes versus the components.

Conditioning your footwear assists to keep soft and supple leather. Stopping fractures in the surface of the natural leather means that less damaging agents can assault the natural leather. Keeping the leather soft means the shoes will certainly fit extra comfortably too. Lanolin is great for softening the natural leather, while emu oil brings back the all-natural wetness of the leather by deep penetration into the shoe.

When you are cleaning and also conditioning your shoes do not neglect to care for the inside of the footwear. Making use of Eucalyptus oil or Tea Tree oil prevents the wear and tear of the stitching by combating against mildew as well as mold in the interior of the footwear as well as in the top sewing.

Keep in mind that specialized leather products such as suede or patent leather have special products planned especially for their treatment. As an example, you would certainly not wish to utilize several of the oil or lotion based products in looking after suede shoes. Usually regular, gentle cleaning to remove loosened soil as well as a spray on suede cleanser will certainly be simply the point for cleaning that type of natural leather.

If you discover troubles developing in the stitching or the soles of the show, or anywhere on the shoe actually, placed the price of repairing the footwear versus the price of change them as well as make a journey to the regional repair shop for shoes. The cost of a great technician is well worth it in regards to lengthened shoe life.

Ultimately, many individuals have success in taking care of their shoes with different house products not especially produced for natural leather shoes. For instance, petroleum jelly rubbed carefully into the leather then permitted to sit prior to a bit prior to being cleaned off keeps natural leather attire shoes looking excellent. Others promise by furniture polish splashed on lightly and cleaned down with a cloth.

One of the most integral part of keeping natural leather footwear is the day-to-day condition, cleansing and treatment.

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