Heating and cooling systems are important for any home. The right system will keep you comfortable all year round and save you money on your energy bill. But with so many different types of heating and cooling systems available, it can be tough to decide which one is right for your home. The following are things to consider when choosing a heating and cooling system:

1. Climate:

Your area’s climate will go a long way toward determining the type of heating and cooling options you have available to you. For instance, if temperatures drop below freezing for several months out of each year or tend to fluctuate dramatically between seasons, you’ll probably want a furnace. On the other hand, if temperatures are mild most of the year or only get cool in the evening, an air conditioner would be a better option. However, when unsure which system is right for your home, it’s worth considering a versatile one.

2. Budget:

Heating and cooling systems can be expensive, so it’s important to consider your budget when choosing one. If you’re not sure how much you want to spend, ask your HVAC professional for advice. They’ll be able to help you find a system that fits both your needs and your budget. Keep in mind that a higher-end system may save you money in the long run by reducing your energy bill.

3. Home Size:

Heating and cooling systems are measured by their capacity, which indicates the amount of air they can move in a minute. This is usually advertised as tons of Btus per hour (BTU/hr). The higher this number is, the larger your home will have to be for that system to heat and cool it effectively. If your home is larger than the capacity of a particular system, you may need multiple units or an additional option to efficiently heat and cool it and vice versa.

4. Energy Efficiency:

These days, many heating and cooling systems are more energy-efficient than they used to be. If you’re concerned about your home’s environmental impact, look for an Energy Star-qualified system with a high-efficiency rating (HERS score). Some premium models on the market can save even more money while lowering your carbon footprint.

5. Maintenance and Repair:

Even the best heating and cooling systems need occasional maintenance and repair. If you’re not comfortable doing this work yourself, be sure to choose a system that is backed by a reliable warranty and service agreement. This will ensure that any problems with your heater or air conditioning maintenance are taken care of quickly and efficiently.

Choosing the right heating and cooling system for your home can seem like a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be. By considering these five factors, you’ll be able to find the perfect system for your needs and budget.

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With fall here, there are many different things that you can do around your home. These projects will help your home look better and ensure that everything is in working condition for the upcoming winter months.

 

1. Landscaping
This time of year is perfect for landscaping. The first thing you should do is inspect your grass. Look for any brown spots that need to be treated. If you have not seeded your grass this year, now is the time to do so. You can also fertilize during this time. Also, take a look at your trees and shrubbery. If they need to be pruned, you want to do this now.

2. Pressure washing
You will want to pressure wash the exterior of your home as well as your decks and driveway. This will help eliminate any mold and mildew built up on the side of your house or your decks. After you get done pressure washing your deck, make sure that you seal it to ensure the wood’s longevity.

3. Outdoor Furniture and Equipment
Clean your outdoor furniture and equipment. After you wash them, cover them, and store them for use in the spring.

4. Cleaning your Gutters
During this time of year, you will want to make sure that your gutters are clear of any leaves and debris. If they fill up, this can cause damage to your roof.

5. Inspect your Roof
Take a look at your roof to ensure that it is not damaged in any way. This is especially true if you have had summer hailstorms. If there is an issue with your roof, fix it immediately before the winter months.

6. Check Your Heating System
Check your heating system, and make sure that it is functioning correctly. If you have a fireplace, check the chimney to ensure that birds have not built a nest, and that is free from creosote.

7. Checking your Plumbing
Now is an excellent time to inspect your plumbing system to ensure that all of your drains are draining well. You also will want to make sure that all of your pipes are insulated against the cold.

8. Ensuring Adequate Insulation and Ventilation
Inspect the ventilation system of your home to make sure that it is in good functioning order. Also, take a look at your insulation to ensure that every room in your home is well insulated.

9. Pest Control
The fall months are a great time to treat the roof for any unwanted pests. Treating for pests now will help you to avoid pest-related problems in the spring.

10. Minor Electrical Repairs
If you have any minor repairs that need to be done, the fall months are a great time to do these. Taking care of minor electrical repairs promptly is crucial to prevent them from turning into major problems. Issues like loose connections, damaged wires, or malfunctioning outlets, while seemingly small, can quickly worsen. Neglecting these problems could lead to electrical fires, power outages, or costly damage to appliances and electronics. 

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This is good advice for those of us who own a home with a basement. It is advice that could save you thousands of dollars from a future water leak, broken pipe, or plugged drain. It would be advantageous for all homeowners who have a finished basement to consider making sure that their finished basement is completely waterproofed.

A water damage restoration company will come out to your home and check that all of your concrete walls are completely waterproofed and will survive the downpour of any rainstorm. They will also check all pipes, drains, and other areas of your home for potential future problems.

There is an old saying that goes something like this when it rains it pours. It is true that the majority of people do not really get upset with a little bit of rain. However, if it continues to rain day after day for weeks at a time, then it can become a flood emergency. When there is a lot of rain for long periods of time it can cause tremendous damage to your house, office, or any other structure. Water damage can destroy buildings in a very quick time. It does this in a variety of ways.

For example, maybe the sudden downpour of water cracks a water line, and water seeps into your basement area. If left untreated the water will eventually rot or cause things to mold. This can be avoided by hiring the right water damage cleanup company.  If you think that you can put something like this off until a future date, think again. They say that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. That is what will save you the big bucks in the future. A few bucks of preventive maintenance now is well worth it.

 

Pets are great, but they can leave behind odors. It can also be hard for you to get rid of those odors. The good news is that there are a number of cleaning methods that will get rid of pet odors.

Vacuum Everything

One of the easiest things that you can do to get rid of pet odor is to vacuum everything in your home. You should vacuum everything in your home at least once a week. You will also need to change the vacuum filter on a regular basis.

Invest in Products That Were Specifically Designed to Remove Odors

There are a lot of great cleaning products that work well. However, it is best for you to invest in products that were specifically designed to remove pet odors. Not only do these products work better, but they can also save you a lot of time and frustration.

Invest in an Air Purifier

Many odors are caused by fungus and bacteria. An air purifier can absorb the odors caused by bacteria and fungi. That is why you will need to put an air purifier in every room that your pet will be in.

Change the Air Filter

Your HVAC system can play an important role in getting the pet odors out of your home. The filter can help remove odors from the air. However, you will only be able to get the most out of your HVAC system if you change the air filter on a regular basis.

Neutralize the Odors

One of the best things that you can do to neutralize pet odors is to use baking soda. You can put baking soda in places where your pet is frequently. However, you should only use baking soda if your furniture has a removable cover.

Get Some Air

You can let the odors out by letting the fresh air in. It would be best if you opened the windows and doors to let the fresh air in.

Fill Your Home With Things That Can Freshen It

There are many things that can be used to freshen your home. This includes things such as plants, air fresheners, and candles. If you fill your home with things that freshen it, then you can get rid of the odors.

Wash Everything That Your Pet Has

Your pet’s bedding and blankets should be washed on a regular basis. If you cannot get the odor out of the blankets and bedding, then it is time for you to buy new ones.

Seek Professional Help

If all else fails, it might be time to hire a professional house cleaning service. They will have access to the best products and equipment to tackle the most challenging odor-removal problems.  

Once in a while, it is imperative to give your home’s exterior a deep clean. However, your cleaning efforts may not provide the results you need and require an extra touch. Cleaning your home’s exterior can be quite a daunting task, given the intensity that it requires.

Thus, you may opt for a pressure washing service to give your home that extra touch for a smooth shine. Pressure washing is more than giving your home a deep clean but also a way to ensure proper home maintenance. Your home’s exterior is exposed to various harsh elements that may leave undesirable stains that may be a challenge to remove.

Giving your home a power wash allows you to maintain its impeccable condition and avoid unnecessary repairs. This means that you can save more on your maintenance cost and prevent a decrease in your home’s value. That said, here are some factors to consider when hiring a pressure washing company.

Pressure Washing Process

Before hiring an exterior cleaning company, take time to find out how they go about the whole process. Ask them how they deal with cleaning various surfaces and how they ensure minimum damage. Ensure that you hire a pressure washing company that uses various methods to deal with stubborn stains on different surface materials.

This way, you can guarantee minimum damage to your property and avoid unnecessary repair or replacement costs. Find out how they handle cleaning various surfaces to reduce damage and associated costs on their clients’ properties.

Insurance

Find a pressure washing company that protects its employees from accidents that may occur in the line of duty. This way, you can find a legit company that protects its workers as they would do with your property. Thus, you can avoid potential lawsuits when pressure cleaners get injured while cleaning your home.

Price

How much do they charge for their pressure washing services? Pressure washing is a worthy investment, and you need to get the best services for your money. Ask for a quotation from the company based on the required services to know how to plan your budget.

Check out other fees associated with the services and go for a company that provides quality washing services. Know what you need for your home and determine how much it will cost you before hiring a pressure washing company.

Reviews and Testimonials

Take time to know what their previous customers have to say about them. Hence, go through their website and social media pages to learn what to expect from them. This way, you can learn more about the company’s reputation and its service quality. Go for a company known for customer satisfaction and how they meet their customers’ expectations.

Flexibility

Determine how fast they can get to you to provide pressure washing services. Thus, you can plan your schedule and determine if they are available to cater to your needs. Go for a company that is well known for its timely response and availability to clean when called upon.

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Spring cleaning your home is quite simple, but you must ensure that you have divided the work into ten small things you may do. This article will take you through each of the ten items, and it will show you a clean home that was not all that difficult to clean. You must do these items throughout the week, or you may complete them in one day depending on your schedule.

#1: Hire A Carpet Cleaner
You must hire a professional carpet cleaning service who will clean the carpets at the beginning of the season. The carpets will feel much better, and they will be far softer after the cleaner is done with their work.

#2: Scrub The Walls
You must clean up the walls and fingerprints that you have throughout the house. The house will be much easier to enjoy when you have clear walls, and they are quite easy to keep clean during the years.

#3: Clean The Fridge
You may clean out your fridge quickly, and you will find there is plenty of food you may pitch.

#4: Clean The Stove
You must clean up your stove, and you will find that spending about an hour on the grates and burners will make it easier to clean going forward.

#5: Clean And Store Seasonal Clothes
You must clean and store your winter or summer clothes, and you will get them out of the way for the appropriate season.

#6: Clean Your Closet
You may clean and organize your closet quite easily, and you will notice how simple it is to ensure that the closet is easier to use. You need to move everything off the floor, and you may add storage to the closet if you so choose.

#7: Clean Your Bathroom
You may deep clean your bathroom easily, and you must ensure it smells fresh when you are finished. The tub, shower, and sinks will be easier to use once they have been cleaned.

#8: Clean The Basement
You may clean out your basement easily, and you will get rid of things you simply do not need anymore.

#9: Clean The Deck
You must clean your deck so that you may go outside, enjoy the weather and bask in the sunshine.

#10: Clean The Driveway
You must clean your driveway if you wish to complete the process, and you will have a clean house inside and out.

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Tips For Choosing The Best Flooring For Your Home

Determining which new flooring to put in your home can seem like a tedious, daunting task. There are many popular options to choose from and each comes with its own set of options to pick from as well. When comparing different flooring choices, take into consideration the look and feel of the room and the amount of foot traffic the room gets. Below are some of the top flooring options to compare before making the ultimate decision.

 

Hardwood
Hardwood is a traditional favorite when it comes to flooring. It offers a natural, warm feel and matches many homeowners’ decor. Of the many types of hardwood flooring options to choose from, oak is the most popular. Exotic hardwood flooring options such as Tasmanian Oak and Brazilian cherrywood can be imported. Styles of hardwood flooring can vary from parquet and plank to pre-finished boards that can be installed yourself.

Laminate
Laminate flooring is another popular choice because of its affordability and durability. It costs less than hardwood and is easier and quicker to install. Laminate flooring is composed of wood-based materials that are laminated together and covered with photographic imprints.

Bamboo
Though the name can be confusing, bamboo flooring is not created from trees. It is manufactured using lightweight woody grass. Bamboo flooring is highly durable. It is made from a quick-growing, regenerating plant that is as strong as steel. Humidity does not stand a chance with it because it resists swelling and contraction. For environmentally friendly homeowners, bamboo is a great flooring option because it is grown in controlled forests where it takes only three to five years to grow to maturity. In contrast, the trees used to manufacture hardwood flooring take up to 120 years to mature.

Cork
Cork is another environmentally friendly flooring option. Because of its honeycomb-like structure, the flooring offers a cushiony feel when walking on it. Cork flooring can come in a range of finishes, and pre-finished tiles are available for use. Cork flooring is perfect for bathrooms and kitchens because they offer a non-slip surface.

Linoleum
Another green flooring choice is linoleum. It is manufactured using natural materials and does not deplete forests. The primary materials used to create linoleum are wood flour, rosins, and linseed oil. It is waterproof, scratch-resistant, ding-proof, and easy to clean. Linoleum can come in a variety of distinctive patterns, and colors and is comfortable to walk on.

Tile
When you have a little bit more to spend, tile options such as natural stone, porcelain, granite, slate, travertine, and marble are great flooring options. If you want tile but are on a budget, porcelain is the most affordable. It is easier to maintain than marble and has the same beauty and durability as natural stone.

Vinyl
Vinyl is one of the more affordable options of flooring for your home. For homes that are prone to moisture issues, vinyl is a great choice. It is soft underfoot and easier to clean than tile. When it comes to the amount of traffic your home gets, the thicker the vinyl the better.

Concrete
A popular trend in flooring these days is concrete. It is the most affordable, durable, and easy-to-clean option available. Concrete can be stained with multiple colors and stamped with countless designs.

Carpet
Of course, carpet is the choice for many homeowners. Clean carpets provide warmth and coziness along with helping to filter allergens out of the air. If you have your carpets cleaned regularly, they will last for many years.

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It is important to clean your driveway on a regular basis. Regardless of whether you have a brick or concrete driveway, it has to be handled with care. You will need to take the following steps to clean a brick or concrete driveway.

 

Do a Treatment Test First
Concrete and brick may appear resilient and tough. However, they can be damaged just like anything else. Before you use any type of treatment, you should do a spot test to ensure that there won’t be any damage.

Clean When the Time Is Right
The best to clean your driveway is when the weather is sunny and dry. It will be dry quicker. It will also be easier for you to clean your driveway when it isn’t windy outside.

Scrub Your Driveway
Every driveway needs a good scrub. You should use a metallic brush, dish soap or laundry detergent, and water. You will also need a scrubbing cleanser, such as Bon Ami or Comet. You start off cleaning the driveway by washing it with soap and water. After that, you should rinse your concrete and apply the Comet or Bon Ami. Scrub the concrete with a metallic brush. Rinse your concrete off again.

Use a Pressure Washer
A pressure washer is something else that you can use in order to clean your pressure washer. A pressure washer is effective for removing tough stains. However, it is important for you to know how to properly use it. You may need to hire a professional to do this such as a power washing service. Your driveway probably only needs to be pressure washed once or twice a year.

Remove Mildew And Mold
Mold and mildew can easily build up on the driveway if it is exposed to water. You can easily remove the mildew with bleach and water. You can also use a special detergent that was designed to remove mold.

Remove the Rust Stains
If your driveway has rust stains, then you will have to use a product that has oxalic acid in it. However, you may need to hire a professional if the rust is deep down in your bricks.

Remove the Tire Marks
Hot tires can easily leave marks if they come in contact with your driveway. You can use a brush and degreaser in order to remove the stains. Keep in mind that you can protect your driveway from future stains by applying a sealer.

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Everyone wants to cut down on the number of germs living in their home. Yet those with pets and babies may worry about using household cleaners. Many of those cleaners can contain harmful or harsh chemicals that can be lethal to both pets and babies. Here are a few eco-friendly ways that you can sanitize your home.

1. Baby-Safe Cleaning Wipes
Whether you have a baby or not, you could always use baby-safe cleaning wipes. These are different than traditional cleaning wipes because they’re made with less powerful chemicals. Baby-safe cleaning wipes are designed to be used against the sensitive skin of babies.

They’re powerful enough to sanitize but not powerful enough that they’ll harm your baby or pet. You can be sure that they’re safer for the environment, too.

2. Remove Carpet
Your carpet could contain a lot of allergens within its fibers. Even if you vacuum regularly, allergens could be lurking deep in the roots of the fibers where vacuums can’t always suck.

You do away with these lurking allergens by removing the carpet entirely. Hardwood floors, vinyl floors, and tile floors are easier to clean. They also don’t trap allergens.

For those who like comfy and soft textures beneath their feet, you can keep the carpet, but keep allergens at bay by having a professional carpet cleaner come in twice a year.

3. Baking Soda

You can never go wrong with using baking soda. Besides being a great way to deodorize, baking soda can also be used to sanitize.

The alkaline powder inside baking soda can remove proteins and neutralize acids. When mixed with vinegar, it can create a bubbly cleaning paste that can effectively remove most stains and other problems.

Baking soda is safe to use and easy to buy.

4. Hydrogen Peroxide
Commonly used to disinfect wounds, it can also be used to remove mold, mildew, and stains in your home. It can kill many kinds of dangerous bacteria. Simply coat cloth in the peroxide and wash away counters and bathtubs to sanitize and kill bacteria instantly.

5. Salt
If something is rusty in your home, or you just want a powerful clean, you can add salt to some lemon juice. This can not only clean off the rust, but it can also disinfect your home. You can also create a paste of salt, flour, and vinegar to remove burnt stains on cooking supplies. It can even be used on pewter, gold, and silver to make it shiny.

Finally, if you’re someone who uses their sponges frequently, you can clean them up by having them soak in saltwater when you’re not using them.

6. Clean Air Ducts
Keeping your heating and/or cooling ventilation systems clean and running smoothly is essential for a healthy environment. Change the filters for your system regularly to prevent unhealthy particles in the air from circulating through your home.

Even if you are consistently changing the filters and limiting dust and dirt in your home, allergens can accumulate in your air ducts. Hire a professional to come twice a year to clean air ducts and remove the hazardous particles.

It is important to keep the tiles and grout clean for two reasons. The first is for the obvious reason which is to make it look nice. The second reason is to slow down the aging process of the floor. If kept unclean the tiles will start to lose their shine and start to fade. The following steps are the most common ways to keep those floors looking new.

1. First, clean the tiles and grout using a broom or vacuum cleaner to get rid of any dust. This is very important because, if you use cleaning solutions when the dust is still present, it can make things worse and be counterproductive.

2. The next step is to apply whatever cleaning solution you plan on using. There are many store-bought products available today. If you are against using those, then there is always baking soda, water, and vinegar. Mix the baking soda with water, approximately three parts soda, and one part water, and apply it to the tiles and grout. When applying to grout the best way is to use your fingers, and you can wear gloves to do this. Then, mix some water with vinegar and spray it on the floor and grout. However, do not spray vinegar on certain types of tiles such as marble and limestone. Vinegar can damage these. Let the solution sit for about 30-45 minutes

3. After all of the mixtures are applied, you will notice small bubbles forming. This is basically the combination of baking soda and vinegar working its magic. Afterward, when it is time to clean, start with the tiles first. This is because when the tiles are cleaned some of the debris and dirt will find their way to the grout, hence, the reason why the grout is cleaned last. When cleaning grout, the best way is to get on your hands and knees and use a toothbrush. This is what will give it the extra shine. As far as the tiles go, an ordinary cleaning brush will be enough.

4. After all of this is done, pour some warm water on the floor and let it sit for about 10 minutes. This will loosen any remaining dirt still clinging on. Use a mop to clean up the water, and change the water frequently while mopping.

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Clean carpets make a home look and feel beautiful. Regular carpet cleanings do more than just keep a house looking its best. Keeping carpets properly cleaned keeps allergens, pet hair, and dust to a minimum, making a household environment as healthy as it can be.

For households that have young children or older individuals living there, this can make a huge difference in everyone’s well-being. Carpet cleaning should be done professionally even though it is possible to perform a deep cleaning by renting a carpet-cleaning machine at a nearby grocer or hardware store.

Instead of bothering with removing furniture from each room prior to a carpet cleaning, leave that to the Boulder carpet-cleaning professionals. Leave the task of getting all the corners of every carpet in every room to these professional carpet cleaners, also. They know precisely how to utilize the right tools and equipment for the job.

There is also a variety of choices to opt for when using carpet cleaners. A formulation that makes use of carbonation cleans powerfully to get the carpets deep-down clean with much less moisture. You could do this job yourself and not realize the potential for mold and other problems when using a rental machine that operates mostly using hot water and cleaning solution.

Look for green clean options as well and be sure to contact your local carpet cleaning service for special offers. If you have a high-traffic household or one with pets or smokers, be certain to get your carpets professionally cleaned every six months. It keeps the home healthier, cleaner and makes the carpets last longer. Make the right choice when you need to get your home ready for the holidays, special occasions, or a seasonal clean.

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Now that winter is here and you’re spending more time indoors, you need to make sure that your home is safe and healthy for these colder months. That will mean keeping your home warm and comfortable for your family, but it will also mean eliminating some of the more obvious safety hazards that pop up in colder weather. Here are a few tips that will help you with that.

Keep Your Walkway and Driveway Clear
Unless you’re ridiculously cautious and sure-footed, you’ve probably slipped and fallen on an icy sidewalk or driveway. If you want to keep this from happening on your own property, keep your walkway and driveway clear of ice and snow. Shovel after every significant snowfall so the snow doesn’t get packed down, and apply some sidewalk salt if your walkways get particularly icy.

Humidify Your Home
The air gets very dry in the winter, and that can make things uncomfortable for everyone in your home. If you haven’t installed a whole-home humidifier, consider doing so. If you live in a smaller space or only really need to humidify one room, you can also buy a smaller humidifier at any department store. It can cut down on painfully dry skin and all of the other issues associated with a lack of humidity. Just be careful about raising the humidity higher than 50 percent since dust mites and mold will thrive in more humid environments.

Take Care of Your Roof
Your roof is especially vulnerable in the winter, so you’ll want to make sure it’s in good shape before the snow starts to fall. Try to schedule a roof inspection before the weather gets too harsh, and clear any excess snow off the roof with a roof rake. Doing so can help prevent ice dams and leaks, and it might prevent any catastrophic collapses if there is a particularly heavy snowstorm.

Open a Window
You might want to save this for warmer days, but you should open a few windows for about 10 minutes a day or so to air out your home. Otherwise, you’re basically breathing recycled air all the time, which isn’t good if you have allergies or any respiratory infections.

Prepare for an Outage
Power outages can happen at any time of the year, but they are especially dangerous in the winter. It’s always good to invest in a generator in case you lose power in your home, but if you don’t want to invest in one, you should at least have a battery-powered radio, plenty of warm clothes and blankets, candles, a cell phone with a charged battery, and plenty of non-perishable foods. You will need them if you lose power in a bad snowstorm and cannot leave your home.

Keep Carpets Clean
Carpets can harbor dirt and allergens that can be hazardous to your health. Regular vacuuming is important to minimize the dirt tracked in during the winter months. Schedule regular professional carpet cleaning during these months when you are spending more time indoors.

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While most people focus on keeping the inside of their homes clean, keeping the exterior clean is equally crucial. Not only does exterior cleaning provide aesthetic value, but it also boosts the durability of materials by eliminating dirt, fungus, mold, grime, and mildew. For most people, whether cleaning their homes’ exteriors by themselves or through professional cleaners, the best options are either power washing or soft washing.

 

Even though both of these methods are effective, they serve different purposes. Therefore, it helps to know their differences to determine which method is best for addressing your specific needs.

Power Washing
This method works by pushing highly pressurized water through a nozzle to eliminate grime or dirt from any surfaces the water hits. Power washing is highly effective and cleans surfaces quickly, but you should use it selectively.

Due to its forceful approach, power washing could damage your property if not used carefully. Generally, use power washing when cleaning sidewalks, landscaping bricks and driveways, and never use it on your home’s siding.

Soft Washing
Soft washing follows a gentler approach to cleaning, by relinquishing pressurized water in exchange for chemicals. While this method may look somehow similar to power washing because the same type of nozzle is used, the water pressure is low, and cleaning is a result of water and chemical solutions.

The biodegradable chemicals used in soft washing are ideal for removing algae, moss, and dirt. This method will neither damage your home’s exterior nor harm surrounding plants.

When You Should Use Power Washing
As mentioned before, power washing uses pressurized water, usually, 2500 PSI or higher, to clean surfaces. While such pressure can quickly remove stains, there is a likelihood of damaging the soft surfaces of your home’s exterior. For instance, it could destroy your home’s siding, crack windows, damage shingles, or remove paint.

To avoid any damages, reserve power washing for surfaces like:

• Walkways, concrete sidewalks, and driveways

• Stone brick or other hard surfaces

• Paved patios

When You Should Use Soft Washing
The average pressure of water used for soft washing is 1000 PSI or lower, which is safe for the delicate parts of your home’s exterior. Unlike power washing, soft washing cleans surfaces using specific detergents and some patience.

Opt for soft washing when cleaning surfaces like:

• Lanais, screens and screened enclosures

• Wood panel sidings

• Cedar shakes

• Stucco and coquina

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Maintaining Your Oriental Rug

Taking care of your high-quality Oriental rug is an important step in protecting it. Taking good care of it keeps the value of the rug preserved as well as increasing the value of the rug as time goes by. Whether you keep it in the family as a priceless heirloom, or choose to sell it one day, knowing how to take care of your Oriental rug will help maintain its value. Below are some easy things to do that will keep your rug in excellent shape for generations ahead.

 

Spot Cleaning – When something gets spilled on your Oriental rug, cleaning that spot right away is the best (and easiest) idea. You don’t necessarily have to perform a deep cleaning on the entire rug with every spill. Keeping a bit of mild dish detergent and some vinegar on hand is great for minor accidents. Use a clean cloth dipped in the mixture of vinegar and detergent to dab the spill off on the rug as soon as you notice it.

Pet Accidents – Even highly trained pets are prone to have accidents. Using a simple solution with vinegar is the best way to clean up a pet accident. Mix together 8 parts of water with1 part of white vinegar and 1 small squirt of dishwashing detergent. An alternative mixture is simply made by using 1 cup of water mixed with 1 teaspoon of ammonia. Use pet odor removal products with extreme caution since they can potentially bleach your rug.

Sunlight – Keep your Oriental rug out of direct sunlight as much as possible. Over time, the sun can fade out the dye in your rug drastically. If you cannot keep the rug out of direct sunlight, try rotating it as much as possible to keep any fading on the rug consistent all over.

Cleaning Rugs Professionally – It’s a good idea to have your valuable Oriental rugs professionally cleaned at least once a year. Even rugs well maintained throughout the year need a professional cleaning to remove hidden debris and dirt that you cannot see.

Rug Padding – Using a padding under your Oriental rug will help protect and stabilize its shape and reduce the chances of wrinkling. This also makes the rug safer to walk on and adds a layer of comfort.

Maintain Rug Repairs – Like most other valuable items, if you keep repairs up-to-date, along with professional cleanings every year, your rugs will last much longer. Some minor rug repairs include reweaving, minor fringe repairs, and patching. As we all know, accidents do happen. Repairing minor things as they occur will prevent major costly repairs later.

Using the Right Vacuum – The type of vacuum you use on your Oriental rug makes a difference. Never use a spinning head vacuum on an expensive Oriental rug. Use vacuum attachments instead, so you can clean delicately while avoiding damage to the elaborate knotted threads.

Oriental rugs add an atmosphere of beauty, elegance, and artistry to your home that regular rugs cannot match. By following some of the above steps, you can keep your Oriental rug as beautiful as it was the day you first brought it home.

Having carpet in your home provides a number of pros and cons. Both hardwood floors and carpet can be beautiful and they both can be easy to clean if you maintain them. Most like carpet because it keeps the home a little bit warmer in the wintertime, and if you are like me you love to walk around with your shoes off. Carpet collects a lot of dirt and dust just as hardwood does, but if you keep it clean and regularly get your carpet professionally cleaned you will love the comfort it brings. There are a few rules to consider when getting carpet installed in your home.

The first should be to ask everyone to take their shoes off when entering your home. This prevents tracking dirt from the outside. Another should be to tell the children not to eat where there is carpet. If you have children then you know trouble is only a cup of juice or a chocolate candy bar away. When a disaster happens nowadays we tend to look online for remedies and DIY blogs to fix the issue. If you want to keep your carpet looking brand new then you should call a professional in times like this. Using some cleaning agents can discolor your carpet in certain spots making your carpet look older than it really is.

Professional carpet cleaning services combine professional-grade cleaning equipment with the best cleaning agents, and most importantly the experience. Carpet can hold germs and in turn, hold smells. If you smoke in the house then you should get your carpet cleaned regularly, this will keep the smell that you are nose-blind to out and keep your carpet smelling fresh. If you have pets you will smell them no matter what air freshener or carpet powder you use from the store. A professional carpet cleaning service uses equipment that deep cleans the carpet getting the germs and small particles out that fall deep inside the carpet.

So if you want to keep those spots in your new puppy from becoming an issue you can call someone with experience, because a dog has a powerful nose and will seek out that same spot until he is properly trained.

If you have a light-colored carpet then it will be near to impossible to keep it cleaned with store-bought chemicals. Once again it takes a professional to get an even clean throughout the entire surface of the carpet.

The autumn brings its own cleaning obligations every year. There are so many items that have to be put into storage for the winter and tasks that need to be done. Closing your swimming pool, arranging your garage, and cleaning out your home while the weather is still warm enough are all at the top of a homeowner’s to-do list. Let’s take a look at the fall deep cleaning routines that many follow in greater detail below.

 

#1: Raking the Leaves
Raking the leaves is a cleaning chore that is synonymous with fall weather. Fall describes the falling of the leaves and the descent of everything that sprouted in the summer back to the ground from which it came.

Nowadays, you can make short work of lawn care with an electric leaf blower or a mulching mower that chops up any clippings into a rich fertilizer. Many people also turn over their lawns and reseed with a winter fertilizer that is ready to grow new grass in the spring.

#2: Home and Garage Organization
It is critical to organize your belongings in your home, shed, and garage before old man winter comes. If you don’t organize your belongings now, you will have a lot of trouble in the cold weather. You don’t want to be moving furniture or fidgeting with anything when it is freezing cold outside. You can slip on the ice or freeze your fingers off in the cold snap. 

There are also certain things that need to be put into winter storage while other items need to be unpacked or brought out of their storage spots. You should bring your snow shovels and snowblower to the front of your garage for easy access, for example, and store away all those summer toys and pool supplies way in the back.

#3: Shampoo Your Carpets
Before the winter comes, you should deep clean and shampoo your carpets. Hiring a professional company to come in and do it after you have organized and vacuumed is the best idea. You can also have the carpets in your vehicles shampooed. In both cases, you can find car floor mats and use certain habits to limit tracking dirt into the house.

Removing your shoes in a foyer area and investing in laser-measured custom car floor mats are all viable solutions to winter grime. You will be surprised at how fresh your carpets look after they are shampooed and may decide to put off purchasing brand-new carpets.

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Conclusion
You can thoroughly enjoy the winter when you take a few simple steps to prepare. These are just a few fall deep cleaning tips that you should consider. Most homeowners get too busy to think about these things until after the perfect window for fall cleaning closes.

Prioritizing what may keep your home clean during the year can help you assess what is necessary to keeping it that way, clean.

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One of the first things you can do in the morning to help you begin organizing your home is making the bed.

If any laundry needs to be done it is best to organize it in the morning so that you can move any material that needs to be washed into the laundry room and out of the way.

After organizing dirty laundry, assess what needs to be cleaned as far as using cleaning supplies to do so.

Some useful cleaning supplies for rooms such as the bathroom and living room include a microfiber cloth, a wood polishing cloth for any wood furniture that has collected dust, a toilet scrub brush, a spray bottle with multi-purpose cleaner, and a cleaner that is appropriate for any wood furniture you may have.

If your rooms are cluttered with excess items that you may not use, find or purchase a organizer where you can put the items that you do not frequently access.

You could also consider donating items that you no longer use to a local thrift store.

Once you have cleaned and organized your home you can go over the rooms to make sure it is free of clutter and dust.

Remember, your home does not have to be perfectly organized or clean as long as you feel it is comfortable to you.

Many of these tips were referenced from: Real Simple