Monday, 6 August 2012

Taking Good Care of Your Hard Wood Floor With Wax Finish

The best advantage of having hard wood floor is that you don't have to worry about allergens getting trapped like they do in carpet. Cleaning the floor at least twice a week using the right vacuum cleaner, sweeper, dry mop and wood floor cleaner, keeps the floor from abrasive build up and keeps its shine much longer.

If stains find its way to your floor, clean it right away. This will prevent the substance from staining the hard wood floor and saves you the hassle of having to remove the stain later on. To clean the stain on the floor use a hot water, a clean cloth and a cleaning solution that is suited for hard wood floors. Do not use abrasive cleaners as it will damage the coating of the floor.

Maintenance Guide for Waxed Finish Hard Wood Floors

If vacuum cleaning, mopping or sweeping does not make your wax finish floor shiny again, buffing it is your next best choice. Buffing should be done first before you apply a second coat. Often times you would not need a new layer to coat after buffing. If buffing does not make your floor shiny, you'll have to use a liquid wax for wood floors and a wood floor cleaner. Apply the wax to the floor and buff it after it dries.

In removing stains from waxed finish floors, here are some tips that you can follow:

Ink stains and water Stains- to remove this type of stain use a #000 steel wool. If it won't work try using a sand paper with fine grain together with a wood floor cleaner and a #00 steel wool. After that make sure you wax and buff the area.

Common Surface Marks- common scratches and marks on the surface of your wax finish floor can be adhered by applying wax on the area. Buff the area to restore its shine.

Food stains- In cleaning this type of stain use a damp cloth and start cleaning on the outer surface of the stain and move your way inside. After removing the stain see to it that you dry and wax it afterwards.

Sticky Stains- harden the stain by applying a cold pack of ice. When the stain hardens it should crumble off of the floor. Use a rag or cloth to clean the stain off.

Furthermore, to avoid unwanted scratches on your floor, never drag heavy equipment and furniture across your waxed floor. Also, if your kitchen and bath room floors are made of wax coated hardwood floors, place a rug directly below the sink and on the door step of the bathrooms.


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Sunday, 5 August 2012

DIY Carpet Stain Removal Guide

Express Clean Guide to Carpet Stain Removal

Spilled Something horrible on your carpet or rugs, don't panic!
Do not use incorrect detergents on carpets or upholstery i.e. (washing up liquid, wash powders, domestic bleach, disinfectants.
Continually work from the exterior of the spot back to the inside to prevent dispersing.
Always apply the cleaning substance to the absorbing spotting materials not straight onto the carpet or textile.
Stimulate rapid drying (carefully use a hairdryer on moderate temperature to help).
Deal with spills as swiftly as possible for improved chances of success.
Keep the material or carpet as dry as possible.

Alcoholic beverages, Coffee, Tea, Liquefied Foods, Urine

Soak up excess spillage.
Use Detergent Vinegar Solution, a small amount at a time.
Work from the external border of the mark inwards.
Frequently soak up with dry towels.
See beneath for remaining rinse process.

Chocolate, Sweets, Blood, Glue, Egg, Ice Cream, Milk, Soft Drinks, Vomit

Clean up surplus with a dull knife.
Use a Detergent Solution beginning at the external fringe.
Soak up moisture.
Follow up with Ammonia Solution.
Blot dry.
See beneath for remaining rinse process.

Solids, Fats, Tar residue, Chewing Gum, Oil, Ointment, Shoe Polish.

Clean up surplus with a dull knife.
Use a Dry Cleaning Solution followed by Detergent Vinegar Solution.
Blot dry.
See beneath for remaining rinse process.
Unidentified Staining.
Clean up or soak up excess spilling.
Use a Dry Cleaning Solution followed by fresh heated water.
Blot dry.
If additional procedures are required, use either Detergent or Detergent Vinegar Solution.
Blot dry.
See beneath for remaining rinse process.

Remaining Rinse Process (relevant to all above strategies of spot elimination).

Blend one-part white vinegar and four-parts water.
Add mix into a spray container and spray over the tarnished region.
Blot moistened region (do not rub) to eliminate surplus moisture content.
Distribute white kitchen towel (placed 6-8 sheets deep) or absorbing towel over the afflicted region and position a weight, like a telephone directory, on top.
Leave overnight and repeat if required.

Although the stain eradication guide may be simple, it ought to help avoid some fairly common and costly DIY stain elimination damage. Regrettably, there can never be a guarantee of total removal of a stain, but the appropriate routine will give your expert cleaner, when called in, the best probable chance of success.

REMEMBER: Act Swiftly. Clean up solids, soak up fluids. Take a good deal of time, it is worth the energy. Blend the solution correctly and check it on an out of the way piece of carpet. Always work from the external fringe of the mark to the middle. Pat or blot instead of scrubbing or rubbing. And, most significantly, NEVER OVER-WET.


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Saturday, 4 August 2012

Water Based Penetrating Concrete Sealer

A water-based penetrating concrete sealer is the best option available for filling in gaps between bricks, coating concrete surfaces, and providing a semi-gloss finish to certain parts of your home. This form of protection gives full coverage, so you can ensure that your driveway or pathway will stay in top condition. It will be protected against the harmful ultraviolet rays of the sun that cause fading. It will also be protected against foot traffic, liquid spills, and growth of weeds.

Nothing can be more frustrating than having a driveway or pathway with cracks and tiny holes. Things like this may seem trivial which is why a lot of homeowners ignore it. However, seemingly unimportant things like this can turn into worse situations. A little crack on your driveway can be bigger in the next few months, making the surface uneven. As a result, you will not be able to drive your car properly into the safety of your garage or out the gate.

Likewise, a small gap between the bricks on your pathway may seem alright for some people. You may even find that quite adorable. Then again, you should be aware that these small gaps could be the birthplace of weeds that will eventually damage your pathway. If you do not coat your pathway with a concrete sealer, it will not be protected against weeds and fungi. Mold and mildew can even grow on it, putting the health of your family at risk.

When buying a concrete sealer on the market, you should choose the water based type. Water based concrete sealer is environmentally acceptable which means that it does not contain ingredients that may be harmful to the environment. Once dry, you may dispose it along with the other trash in your house. Just place it in the garbage bin. Do not worry about its effect on the environment. There is no special disposal required not like with the other types of sealants.

Water based penetrating sealers have a clear, water repellent, and non silicone coating, which is why it is able to protect the exteriors of both low porosity and medium porosity materials. This concrete sealer neither scratches nor peels, but strips off easily when you want to replace it. It can provide adequate protection even with minimal maintenance. Hence, you can be rest assured that your home will still look great after many, many years.

Moreover, concrete sealing may be used as a primer for waterborne finishes to increase their performance and durability. You may apply it over cured coatings, as well as on the surfaces of bricks. As a result, your bricks will have a glossy appearance. Its vibrant red color will also last for a long time. It will not fade or crack. It will stay in good shape despite being exposed to varying weather conditions for years.

Water based penetrating concrete sealer is also breathable. This means that it allows moisture to escape, making your driveway or pathway less prone to cracks. After years of usage, your driveway or pathway will collect moisture from rain, snow, or spills. Fortunately, this concrete sealer does not allow efflorescence to be trapped.


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Friday, 3 August 2012

Five Tips in Finding a Good House Cleaning Service

Finding a good and trustworthy house cleaning service can sometimes be difficult. Generally, one finds a house cleaner from a friend, a friend of a friend, or someone who knows where these good services are found. Well, you get the picture. And it always seems like the first time the new cleaning service cleans, the house looks perfect. Then there are the odd occasions when the quality can go down. Here are some tips to help you find good service, which ensures that they keep doing the job you want.

Tip One: Don't just go with the first company you meet. For some reason, many people are uncomfortable interviewing service workers. It feels very personal, especially if you're meeting the actual person who may be cleaning your home or apartment. Even if you've gotten a stellar recommendation from someone you absolutely know and trust, you still need to meet and interview at least two firms or individuals. Ask how long they've been in the business, how many people they have cleaned for and how were they hired by the people they work with.

Tip Two: Get four references, and make sure you call them. This is another one of those things that we sometimes feel is too much work to do, but it really is crucial. When speaking to the person, you need to be specific in your questions, such as why would you recommend this person? This question form will force them to give you reasons. The other key question to ask is what would be the one thing that you would change about the way they clean your home? This gives the individual the opportunity to be critical without being negative. Sometimes, this is the most enlightening part of the conversation.

Tip Three: Give the firm a try. Now this may seem like a waste of time. Won't they do their very best job on this first cleaning? Yes, they should, as you can sense what their very best is. If after this first cleaning you find there are problem areas, then they're probably not the firm for you.

Tip Four: At the first cleaning, be sure to do a walk through with the service to find out what they use or recommend on different surfaces. Although most companies use similar products, it is good to let them know of special requests ahead of time. This little walk around could also tell if the person does not seem to know what to use. It can be an indicator of inexperience or lack of attention to detail.

Tip Five: Be critical. When reviewing the cleaning work, make note of anything you find unacceptable or uncertain. Again, don't be shy about giving honest feedback. Most people have little individual pet peeves regarding their house cleaning, so these need to be addressed. If the service doesn't consistently measure up, move on. A good, conscientious service will know what is important to their customers where they will make sure that those things are consistently handled.

Keep these tips in mind when hiring and you'll have a much better chance of getting a quality cleaning service.


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Thursday, 2 August 2012

Carpet Cleaning On Your Own - Are You Sure It's A Good Idea?

If you have a lot of carpets at home then you will have to give the subject of carpet cleaning some thought. You definitely have to ensure that they are kept as clean as possible and this will only happen if you have a regular schedule for cleaning them. If your rugs and other floor coverings are not cleaned well then there is a chance that they will begin to harbor fungus and molds. They will also smell a lot.

The problem is that carpet cleaning is a very cumbersome job especially if you have quite a few of them at home. You need to go over every part of them carefully in order to remove ingrained dirt. You also need to wash them regularly in order to get them as clean as possible. This strenuous job is generally beyond the capabilities of most people which is why it is a good idea for you to get professional help instead.

A professional carpet cleaner will ensure that all dirt is removed from the rugs. In fact, the cleaners will have detailed knowledge about how exactly to get rid of specific kinds of dirt. If there is dust on the rugs then it generally needs to be vacuumed out. Grease or food stains need to be cleaned with special detergents. Once the rugs are cleaned well with water then they need to be dried properly so that there is no chance of them attracting mold.

Professional carpet cleaning can be quite expensive especially if you have a large number of these rugs to get cleaned. This could be one reason why you might want to clean them yourself even though it will take a lot of effort on your part. However, there are certain steps you could take to bring the cost down of cleaning the carpets and can therefore afford to get professional help for your floor coverings.

You will be very glad to have clean carpets at home because they will smell and look very good. They will also last very long since it is a well-known fact that the presence of dirt particles will cut the fibers of the carpet, leading to holes in them in the long term. All you have to therefore do is identify a really good company that will clean your carpets for you at a very reasonable price so that you don't have to do it yourself.


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Wednesday, 1 August 2012

Listing Out Priority Tasks for a Maid

People require a maid for a variety of different reasons. Some need their home sanitized from the baseboards to the ceiling fans. Others are just looking for a little help maintaining a clean home on a regular basis. In either situation, it is not always easy to interpret what a specific customer needs done. Making a list of tasks in order of their importance can be a helpful communication tool.

Start With the Basics

A maid traditionally offers a basic set of services for every home. The cost of the service typically depends on the size of the home and the amount of work that needs to be done. These tasks are often listed on the website or a business's paperwork presented to the customer.

Look over the list and figure out what things on the list are the most important. Are there some things that really don't need to be done? Are there other things that need to take precedence over the other tasks? Use the original maid's list as a guide and begin making changes.

Extra Services Offered

If your home needs a window cleaning, it is possible to ask the maid to handle this task. Again, check the company's website to see a list of extra services that may be offered. Homeowners often see this as an opportunity to save money. If someone is already coming to the house to clean, it makes sense to pay a little extra and have the work done by professionals. Hiring another company means bringing in a whole new set of workers along with the added expense.

Make a list of the added services that you need completed. Remember to list the things that are most important to you at the top and as time permits, the cleaners will get as far as they can on the list. You also have the option to ask that all of the work on the list be completed without worrying about the amount of time they spend in the home.

Above and Beyond

Sometimes, the lack of housework has let things get out of hand. In these instances, a maid may need to spend several hours in a home. If this is the case, a list can be helpful but also unnecessary. If you are paying to have all of the work completed, regardless of the amount of time it takes, you can trust that everything you need will be completed.

Getting some extra help around the house can make your life easier. For many homeowners, there is nothing better than walking into a home and instantly smelling the clean, fresh air. By making a list of the most important tasks ensures that your expectations are met and you are satisfied with the work being performed.


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Tuesday, 31 July 2012

Maintain the Beauty of Your Carpet With These Tips

This article will give you several tips that should help keep your carpet in good shape and make it stay as beautiful as it should. The way we feel when we step into a house decorated with a clean and spotless carpet is indescribable. It is so pleasant to walk into a welcoming room. No one wants to walk into a room with a poorly kept carpet. This is because a poorly maintained carpet will have residue within its fabrics and some unpleasant odors. One of the biggest investments a homeowner will make would be purchasing a carpet, be it for the living room, bedrooms or even the car. The carpet is the furniture that portrays a person's home-keeping abilities. This article will certainly provide you with some tips that you can use to make your house ooze of freshness, cleanliness and health.

a- Start by choosing the right fabric for the carpet you need. You would want to check on the cleaning needs and the durability.

b- Make sure you buy a vacuum that is of great quality and is not just easy to handle or is a light cleaner.

c- I cannot emphasize how important it is to vacuum the carpet regularly.

d- Make it a point to take off your shoes before stepping on the carpet when you spend the day walking on asphalt.

e- Ensure that every spill is blotted out immediately and with a clean piece of cloth or towel.

There are only five tips mentioned in this article, but there are a million tips that work miracles when it comes to keeping your carpet looking beautiful and clean all the time. One thing I can recommend is to grow a close relationship with a professional in the field of carpet cleaning. This will make it easy for you to ask for professional advice without any extra charges. This closeness can work in your favor in many ways, such as receiving priority treatment as well as discounts on prices. A professional will put in great contributions in making sure the carpet has a long life.

In conclusion, you don't want to use cleaning products that are meant for the home to clean your carpet. This can cause irreparable damage to your carpet. Such products are not designed with carpets in mind. They are designed for use on clothes. Many carpets have been destroyed by the use of oxygenated products. To use these products on your carpet, you must ensure that they are properly extracted from the carpet fabrics after use. However, this can only be well done by industry professionals. The best way to get the proper treatment for your carpet would be to tell the cleaning professional everything that he must know. Every spill should be detailed in time and type. This will give the cleaner a chance to make an informed and good decision for the proper cleaning procedure.


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