How to Organize Your Cleaning Supplies

Everybody has cleaning supplies at home ranging from maps, vacuums, toilet-cleaning brushes, dustpan, and broom. These tools are mainly used to keep your home clean and in order. However, it is also important that you keep them properly. Organizing your cleaning tools is also a vital part of maintaining a clean and manageable home. There are various ways to organize your cleaning materials; among them is to provide proper storage for the tools.

First, you must assess the available cleaning supplies at home. Check if the vacuum is still working properly. If the mop’s head is already worn out, replacing it with a new one would be the best thing to do. Take note of the cleaning items that need repairs as well as those that must be discarded. Throw away those that are already broken, or are not functioning properly since they will just eat up valuable space.

After you have segregated them, start gathering your cleaning items. Those that are used in the kitchen should be placed together, and same thing goes with items that are used in the bathroom. Make use of separate storage boxes when storing these items. Apart from the cleaning tools, you also have to get rid of cleaning products that you will not be using anymore. You can either give them away to your friends, relatives, or neighbors. If you plan to discard them, make sure to carefully read the instruction to learn the proper way of disposing them. Cleaning products which contain ammonia or liquid chlorine bleach must never be combined during disposal.

Once you have disposed those that are not needed, you may now start organizing your cleaning closet by grouping the cleaning items according to their use.

Place the items you rarely use inside the storage boxes, or plastic bins, and then, label each storage box so you know where to look when the need arises. For mops, brooms, and dustpan, you can add hooks and wall-mounted holders so you will have a place to hang them.

As for the clean rags, clothes, and towels, you may place them inside the available storage boxes, or hanging baskets. And remember to place the cleaning products in a location that will not be easily reached by children.

If your cleaning closet cannot accommodate all these items, you can stash the remaining tools in the hidden spots in the house like the bookshelf, and the back of the door. Try to maximize the available space in your cleaning closet by stacking your tools properly. Doing so will allow you to do quick cleanups without having to go through a pile of disorganized cleaning items.

Cody Scholberg, a storage box lover, writes about the uses of storage boxes. Learn how to find the right storage box for you.

Cowhide Rugs for the Home

Cowhide Rugs for the Home

Cowhide rugs are a great new accessory for homeowners and business owners who want to adorn their home or office in a way that is natural, cleaner and more beautiful. These rugs are split from durable and sturdy cowhides which are much easier to keep clean, come in more interesting shapes and designs and allow for the owner of the rug to keep their space as clean as possible. These rugs do not have woven fabric, and they do not collect dust like a traditional rug.

Cleanliness

Many people who have hardwood or laminate flooring will use these rugs to help give their home or office a little bit of character. However, these rugs do not bring carpeting back into the space. A traditional area rug is a perfect place for dust, dirt and mold to hide. Pet dander and all kinds of allergens can hide in these rugs with relative ease. A cow skin rug does not have any woven fibers, and it will not trap these allergens in the same way that a traditional rug will.

This means that a cowhide rug can be cleaned up very easily with a vacuum cleaner or even a broom. The simple cleaning process and the overall cleanliness of these rugs make them much easier to use in the home because they are simply cleaner than their fabric counterparts.

The Design

Cow skin rugs are perfect for adding a little bit of flair to a room because they do not come in traditional shapes and sizes. The odd shapes and sizes of these rugs makes them perfect for placing among furniture to break up the room and add an architectural element that is unlike anything else in the room.

Also, cowhide rugs can come in the original coloring of the animal it originates from. This is great for rooms that themed as if they are outdoors or for rooms that match the color scheme of the rug itself.

The Durability

A cowhide rug is perfect for the homeowner who has a lot of foot traffic coming through their space every day. Typically, traditional rugs will begin to fray and tear because they are not made of natural materials, and tend to be less durable. However, cowhide rugs can handle more foot traffic and more use because the leather hide is much more hardwearing.

With a cow skin rug, everyone can have a much nicer rug on the floor that is easier to clean and gives the room a unique sense of character.

Flooring in Alpharetta

The flooring Alpharetta has to offer is plentiful, and homeowners looking for carpet and hardwood in particular are limited only by their individual budgets and their personal sense of style in flooring. Many homeowners choose to have hardwood flooring in Alpharetta. One common tree that shows up a lot as flooring is the beautiful Southern Live Oak, a massive species that can have a crown of 150 feet. Its dark walnut planks are beautiful as flooring. Another common choice is the Eastern Red Cedar, with rich dark patterns that look great in homes. However, no matter what wood is chosen for the hardwood floor Alpharetta residents settle on, the key once installation is finished is keeping it clean and maintained. This is easy enough if certain considerations are kept in mind. First, water is one of the most problematic substances for wood. Any spills must be cleaned up right away, and any roof leaks must be tended to. Next, be sure to sweep with a soft bristle broom on a regular basis, and vacuum about once a week to get dirt out of the spaces between the planks. Stick a mat both inside and outside each entryway, and place runners in areas you know will be seeing a lot of use. Be sure to use rubber fasteners so the mats and runners don’t slip. The hardwood flooring in Alpharetta, like any other hardwood flooring, can cause a nasty bump if the floor mat slips and someone falls.

Carpet is another good option for flooring in Alpharetta. The most common type of carpet in Alpharetta, as well as many other places across the country, is cut pile. This variety is made with small loops at the top that stand straight up, making it less likely to have a crushed appearance.

Another popular carpet in Alpharetta is frieze. This variety has fibers that have been repeatedly twisted making it difficult to leave an impression with a shoe or other heavy object. This makes it ideal for areas of high use. Cut and loop pile carpet is another variety, combining fibers that stand straight up with fibers that are looped. This is a popular choice because many different looks can be achieved through varying the height of each strand. Berber is a variety of carpet that has enjoyed growing popularity. The individual pieces of yarn are thicker and larger, making them a good choice for areas that are high-traffic. The Saxony variety is common as well among carpet in Alpharetta. Saxony has cut piling that manufacturers twist and then use a heat treatment on to keep it standing straight up. This variety uses more than one type of yarn to twist together. These carpets are durable, but tend to reveal footprints and impressions very easily.

Whether it is carpet or hardwood flooring that Alpharetta residents choose, it is important that they select a flooring that is suited for their home and lifestyle.

Find out more about flooring Alpharetta. Get more information on hardwood flooring Alpharetta and carpet Alpharetta.

Interior Design Today

Today, interior design has become a means of making a statement on the latest designs, thus creating an identity. A professional designer can identify, research and creatively resolve issues and lead to a healthy, safe, pleasing, user friendly and comfortable physical environment.

 

Interior design in India, is now well in sync with the global trends like simple straight line designs, Italian design concepts, green ecofriendly design, smart automated homes and offices that invite transparency in design.

 

The international style of interior design continues to be minimalist, clean, clear, sophisticated and soothing. Space and light continue to dominate the ambience. The trend that is emerging now is to camouflage an eclectic element with this clean, bold look. In terms of colour, the same trend of vivid colour thrown over a predominantly light background colour scheme continues, but in a sophisticated manner. Move over you now witness more awareness on CO2 monitoring by the use of eco friendly paints, CRI rated carpets, solar energy, use of leds and cfls, sensors in water sources, etc.

 

Individuals today believe in individualizing their space. They hate to be cloned. What is in, is the concept of designer spaces. It takes a broadminded approach to achieve an outstanding effect, and can extend from decor, lighting, colour and of course space planning. Office interiors are now being designed in such a way that an individual is not lost amongst the associates who work there.

 

The need for an ’emotional culture’ in our living environment is rising. The designer needs to reach a level where the user and him can connect as only when their wavelengths match is when the desired result is achieved.

This is because interior designing is all about individualism. The best out of the designer will evolve only then as this is not a product to be sold, it’s a service which is unique for each individual. Work becomes relaxation, effort becomes challenge. People want to identify themselves with their environment .

 

Architects in Mumbaiand interior designersall over the world are engaged every day in adding value to our homes, workplaces and living environment. Delivering a fresh and unique design with an informative approach is what a designer should look at. Getting your facility done up by a professional is preferred by a lot of people today as the end product is quite satisfying and well thought of. It doesn’t end to the furniture design and space planning, inputs are required even on the kind of art décor, upholstery, lamps, etc. that will compliment the space. And that makes the outcome worthwhile and a treat. We at iDream, with our understanding of space, comfort, sustainability, functionality, efficiency, taste and above all beauty, shape places that identify individuals.

Loknath Swain is a Mumbai based writer. He writes on subjects related to architects in mumbaiand interior designers

 

DIY Home Improvement

Of course, nearly everyone as at some point tried DIY home improvement. But does it increase the potential selling value of a home after? According to interior designer Scot McAllister:

“Home improvements, their costs and their resultant profits are not a precise science. For this reason, it’s hard to specifically quantify what works and what doesn’t. For example, laminate flooring has undergone a popularity nosedive due to the market being flooded by so many photographic plastic options.”

McAllister continues with:

“Their cheapness has created a stigma – and even expensive options have become tarred with the same brush. When replacement costs start ticking away in buyers’ heads you don’t need to be Carol Vorderman to understand that offers will be reduced.”

DIY projects that increase the value of a home

To raise the value of a house, you need to carry out DIY home improvement projects that will definitely withstand the test of time. For example, if you do have laminate flooring you can install vintage wooden doors.

 

To install wooden doors, you would need a screwdriver, a pair of thick gloves, 4-inch door-frame screws and a hammer. To remove the door from the frame, simply unscrew the hinges from the door frame.

Get that old door off

Once the hinges come off, slowly ease the door from frame itself, taking care not to damage the edges. You would want to of course, preserve the old door for use later on. Home values go up when front doors are beautiful- so choose the replacement door properly.

Another interesting DIY home improvement project that can raise the value of your home is replacing worn out bathroom tiles.

If the tiles are more than a decade old and you plan on selling within the next few months, now would be the opportune time to replace the tiles.

Replacing worn out tiles

The replacement of worn out bathroom tiles is a bit more difficult than the first project, Of course, the tiles in the bathroom can no longer be recovered completely intact, so make sure you can dispose of the broken tiles immediately afterward.

Designer tiles can be put in place of the old ones. Designer tiles employ a variety of new colors and textures that will naturally emphasize the dimensions of the bathroom.

 

For this project you would need a few sacks for tile disposal, a large chisel or a crow bar and a mallet or an equivalent. If possible, work the tiles when they are wet as this reduces friction and lessens dust clouds during working. Drive the crowbar against the underside of the tiles and slowly work around the tiles.

Ease the tiles off the floor, making sure that none are left behind. Smooth white cement may be used to install the new designer tiles after the bathroom floor has been re-leveled.

 

Justin Ray, an interior designer for the TV show How Not to Decorate warns people:

“A bad DIY project will always detract from the resale value. Anything that looks unprofessional, such as a badly-fitted kitchen or uneven plastering, will get buyers wondering.”

 

For DIY and home improvement projects Benedict recommends Dekorbeton Decorative Concrete and Roof Bond Roof Insulation

Top four natural cleaning supplies

While market is flooded with numerous chemical based cleaning supplies in Melbourne, we have natural and instant solution for this, right around us. Often we run after something that we already have and realize its presence lately. Natural cleaning supplies are some of them which are available easily and are quite effective. Moreover, being natural they are not harmful and neither do they have any side effects. In fact, using them regularly at home can improve hygiene and environment of the home. Some of popular replacements of commercial cleaning supplies are as follows:

Borax
Borax is a natural cleaning agent that can easily tackle stubborn stains often present in sinks and toilet bowls. Borax, when applied on the walls of toilet bowls with a soft brush cleans every bit of stain. Also, it kills molds and germs. It can be used both in sinks and carpets. To use it, make a thick paste of 1/2 cup borax and 1/2 cup of water, and apply on the stained carpet. Wash it after keeping it for few minutes. Use the power directly in the bowls and sinks.

Baking Soda
Baking soda is another natural cleaning agent which is used to clean floors and surfaces. It destroys odors from the root instead of covering them up. Baking soda can be used in any corner of the house. Popularly, they are used for cleaning kitchen counters or to remove hard grease and stains from floors. For bathrooms cleaning, mix three parts of baking soda with one part of water, and apply on the bathroom floor to remove stains. This is also an effective solution for choked drain pipes.

Just pour 1/4 cup baking soda down the drain weekly and avoid the problem of blocked pipe. You can also use for cleaning toys by making a paste of one quarter cup baking soda and the same amount of warm water.

Vinegar
Vinegar is a very effective natural all-purpose cleaning agent. The benefit of using Vinegar is that it cleans as well deodorizes the surface at a time and that too without causing any harm to it. It is safe to use on many surfaces like bathroom kitchen and fabric. By mixing one part water and one part vinegar, you can clean bathroom counter and bathtub. To clean up rings in the toilet, use pure vinegar. Kitchen floor, appliances and stove can be also cleaned with Vinegar. It can be also used as a natural fabric softener. This is very good option for people having sensitive skin.

Lemon Juice
So far, you have been using lemon juice in food items, but they can be also used as a natural cleaner in a home. It has a feature to destroy soap scum and hard water stains on any surface. Mix one part lemon juice and one part water, bottle it in a spray container for bathroom and kitchen cleaning. Lemon juice when mixed with baking soda works tremendously to clean and shine brass and copper items.

This article is shared by Anne Mehla for Cedar Hospitality. Cedar provides high quality cleaning supplies and aged care supplies in Melbourne. Cedar Hospitality also supplies wide range of catering equipments in Melbourne.

Organized House Cleaning

House cleaning sometimes feels like endless drudgery. It doesn’t have to be that way, however. With a bit of forethought and organization, one’s home can be kept cleaner with seemingly less effort. What’s the secret? Here are a few tips:

– Pick up as you go: The mess won’t pile up if you put items back into their proper spots after using them. After folding the clean laundry, don’t just leave folded piles on the back of the sofa. Have every member of the family grab their clean clothes and put them away. After paying the bills at the kitchen table, mail the envelopes and file the payment stubs. After playing a board game, put the pieces back into the box and place the whole box in the cupboard. Try to never leave anything in a place where it doesn’t belong once you’re finished using it. – Only touch the mail once: When the mail arrives, sort it into appropriate categories. Have a basket for bills and one for “needs a response.” If it’s junk mail, immediately shred and recycle or dispose of it. Don’t let it pile up on the counter or the accumulation will begin to feel overwhelming. – Keep counters, tabletops and desks cleared off: Don’t let piles of miscellaneous items stack up on these surfaces. Messy surfaces generate an appearance of chaos. – Train everyone in your household to make their bed as soon as they get up in the morning: Even the youngest child or most rebellious teenager can pull a comforter up over the bed sheets. When the bed is made, the whole room looks neater. – Once a week, set the timer for an hour and have everyone in the family clean till the buzzer rings. Feather dusting, wiping countertops, sweeping the floor and sterilizing the bathroom can all be done in a short amount of time if everyone in the household pitches in.

When the hour is up, treat everyone to ice cream. – Twice a month, tackle one big job. Some examples of big jobs include polishing the woodwork, waxing the floors or dusting the mini-blinds. All of these items don’t need to be done every week. Just do one biggie every other week along with the quickie weekly cleanings and the house will be spic and span. – Every six months, clean out closets and drawers of clothing that no longer fits or hasn’t been worn for a while. Fill up boxes and black plastic bags to drop off at the local thrift store or Goodwill. There will never be an overstuffed feeling in clothing storage areas if they’re weeded out and maintained on a regular basis. – Rotate the food in the refrigerator every time you go grocery shopping. Don’t let items grow mold on the back of the shelves because new food gets shoved in front. A regular rotation will avoid wastefulness. – When a new item is purchased, such as a sweater, toy or socks, toss out one old one. If a sweater, toy or clothing item is in good shape, donate it to someone who can use it.

With a bit of organization and a house cleaning system, a person’s home should remain eternally tidy.

Dallas house cleaning services can make your home more orderly. Find one today at http://www.angieslist.com.

Plan Your Home Improvement Projects

Home improvement projects are full of tasks you want to do and many that you have to do. Every home needs its additions and with today’s budgeting and enterprising minds, the business of renovating and improving has become easier simple and cost-saving. Home improvement projects are great ways of expanding your home without really expanding them physically. Transforming your home into your holiday hangout is a great way for better lifestyle.

These projects generally have one or more of the following goals:

1. Beautification and added features

• Change of wall-papering and the color of the house
• Adding new flooring such as carpets, tiling, linoleum, or wood flooring
• Upgrading cabinets, fixtures, in the home

2. For Comfort

• Upgrading heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems
• Waterproofing the house

3. For Maintenance and repair

• Roof and floor maintenance due to tear and wear
• Repairing plumbing and electrical systems

4. To create additional space

• Extend the “livable space” by converting basements into bed rooms, home theaters, or home offices
• Extending one’s house with additional rooms at the side of the house or, sometimes, extra levels to the original roof.

5. Saving energy

• Energy-efficient insulation for electricity and water

6. For necessary safety features:

• Home fire and burglar alarm systems inclusive of security doors and windows
• Fire sprinkler systems to protect homes from fire
• Storm cellars as protection from tornadoes and hurricanes
• Backup generators for providing power during power outages

Home improvement can be a dream came true for many people.

However, it is important to balance up the cost of the projects against the return of the investment. Even if you don’t have any intention to sell off your house in future, it is still worth-while to know the real cost of the home improvement projects versus the quality of one’s lifestyle which it can bring significantly.

However, it is always better to have someone experienced and skillful to manage these projects for your home as the experts know how to run these projects effectively in the shortest time and lowest cost, with better suggestions and ideas to offer than you.

At the end, I’d like to share cool websites with information on topics like Kitchen Remodeling Brooklyn and New Bathroom. Visit for more information.

DIY Xbox Repair

Once, in living memory, most technology was not particularly reliable and many items broke down on a fairly regular basis. Even relatively low tech Items like a pop up toaster used to have to get its elements either replaced or rewired every so often. Light bulbs were all incandescent and used to burn out every few 100 hours. (There were some places where on could buy light bulbs rated for a slightly higher voltage so the light was marginally dimmer but they used to burn for thousands of hours instead).

Within every town and suburb there was some little guy who owned a general repair shop. He would undertake repairs for all sorts of appliances, from Vacuum cleaners needing belts replaced or motors rewound, to refrigerators and washing machines.

Hi Fi equipment, TVs and Video recording units were likewise expensive to begin with and when they had a failure you had to find someone to repair it. These repair technicians were somewhat more specialised but nevertheless existed and serviced a niche in the market.

However over the last 20 years things have changed considerably. For a start electronics has improved hugely. Thus many electronically controlled items are designed and built to last. And last they do. Electronic components are usually soldered onto a printed circuit board and nothing is really serviceable.

The other point is that many appliances are now no longer particularly expensive. One no longer would even think about repairing a toaster or a kettle. Vacuum cleaners tend not to break but when they go faulty purchasing a new unit is no longer a budget breaking expense.

If the control unit of an appliance becomes faulty the chances are, if a repairman will undertake to even look at it, he will rip out and replace the circuit board without any attempt to trace its fault.

In the days when computer monitors were still cathode ray tubes the technician would explain that you could purchase a new one for little more than he would charge to even open a faulty one. Nowadays with electronic circuit boards and LCD and even LCD screens there definitely no service parts so if you have one go faulty on you, and it is out of your service warranty period there is almost nothing for it but to purchase a replacement.

Imagine therefore the chagrin of the Xbox 360 owner when failures started to occur soon after launch. Many of these faults were minor software errors which were corrected by upgrades but other became more serious.

The LED lights on the on/off switch normally glow green when everything is functioning as it should.

If one of these LEDs started showing red then an error has occurred. These were usually minor and could be reset by switching the unit off and on again. But one in particular got the name ‘The red ring of death’

The commonest cause is over-heating and it could be reset by switching off and letting it cool in a well ventilated place for an hour. If not, and it is out of guarantee there are Xbox repair instructions on line.

If your Xbox 360 has a red ring of death then DIY Xbox repair may help you repair it.

House Cleaning Caddy

One of the most important house cleaning tools that a homemaker can have is a caddy. What exactly is a caddy? Just like the human version totes around golf clubs for the professional golfer, the plastic model totes around cleansers and tools for a house cleaner. If a golfer had to carry his or her clubs by hand or look for them every time it was time to make a shot, what a slow game it would be! And the same is true for tidying up the interior of one’s abode. This plastic tote should be kept stocked with supplies at all time and stored in a closet. When it’s time to do the weekly tidying up, grabbing the tote along with a vacuum, broom, dust pan, bucket and mop will allow the home to be easily cleaned. What supplies should fill the receptacle?

– Feather duster: This is an essential tool for dusting every nook and cranny in the home. This duty should be performed in a left to right and up to down pattern, so that no areas are left dusty. During the feather dusting process, the stick should be tapped against a hard surface such as a table edge or a shoe to knock the dust from the feathers to the floor. The floor will be vacuumed or swept soon anyway, so this is a time saver. – Window cleaner: Window cleanser should be used on mirrors, windows, patio doors and shower doors. – Squeegee: The squeegee should be utilized in conjunction with the window cleaner. This tool is wonderful for all glass surfaces in order to prevent streaking. – Wood polish: A lemon wood polish is ideal for tables, shelves, stair rails and cabinetry. Some polishing products are designed to clean and polish at the same time. – All-purpose cleanser: For counter tops, bathrooms, appliances, painted woodwork, doorways, etc., an all-purpose cleanser will be ideal.

Spray-on products are preferable to dab-on types. – Floor cleaner: Depending on the flooring material your home has, a mild detergent for the floor should be stocked. These solutions are usually designed to be diluted with water to the appropriate strength. – Toilet cleanser and brush: Toilet cleansers should be squirtable so that they can drench the entire bowl and underneath the rim. A brush will double the efficiency. – Rags: Old tee-shirts make ideal rags since they are soft, washable and won’t scratch surfaces. Wash cloths will be advantageous for certain types of scrubbing, such as bathroom fixtures. – Sponges: Sponges that have both a smooth side and a scrubbing side will be useful for kitchen and bathroom tidying. Like the rags, these can be easily washed in the washing machine so that they may be used over again. – Paper towels: Some grimy jobs are better left to paper towels that can be thrown away. Keep a roll on hand in the caddy. – Toothbrush: Keep old toothbrushes in the plastic tote. These small bristle brushes are ideal for getting the crud out of small spaces. – Black plastic trash bags: Trash bags should be ready to take away the contents of each room’s wastebasket.

Once the caddy is stocked, the house cleaning can begin.

If you still can’t fill up your caddy for some Dallas House Cleaning, consider finding a top-rated service at http://www.angieslist.com.