Category Archives for "articles"

0 Taking Care of Your Furniture – Vol.1

Furniture plays an important role in shaping the overall style and appearance of the home. When the furniture in the room are appropriately picked and arranged you have the feeling of space, light and tidiness. And when the furniture are chosen in a way that they match everything else in the room and they complete its appearance then you feel good and happy at your home.

Furniture is not purchased every day so they need special and regular care in order to be maintained in a good condition for longer. Each kind of furniture needs different cleaning and maintenance. Therefore, you need to know how to take care of your furniture so that you can keep it new, stylish and elegant for as long as possible. 

A very important factor for the condition of furniture is that they need to be placed on an even floor. If it is uneven it might cause damage and warping to furniture. 

When moving furniture you need to carry them from one place to another and not drag them. This will prevent their legs and the floor from scratching. 

Keep your furniture away from damp. The continuous influence of damp on your furniture is extremely harmful and they will most certainly be deformed and damaged. 

When there are stains on the furniture you need to remove them right away. If there is even a small damage it needs to be immediately fixed. 

Dust on polished and lacquered furniture should be removed with a clean soft towel or a velvet cloth. Do not use damp towels and cloths because due to damp polish and lacquer lose their shine. 

Mahogany furniture should be cleaned by rubbing them with vinegar or cold tea and after that with a soft cloth. Their polish can be refreshed by treating with a cloth which you need to wet with cool water and then wring out. After that, rub it with a dry linen towel. 

Lacquered furniture is cleaned by treating with a soft tampon soaked in gas. Then polish it with a woollen cloth. After the cleaning you need to air the room. 

Stain wood furniture should never be washed with water. Wipe them with a dry soft cloth every day. When they are damaged they need to be renovated with one-colour stain. Do not place such furniture near fireplaces and stoves.

0 How To Organize Your Wardrobe

We all assign a special place to the wardrobe in our bedrooms. It is the place where we keep our clothes, sheets, covers, hats, belts, scarves and many other accessories. Every morning we open its doors in order to choose our outfit for the day and most of us (women) spend much time changing several sets of clothes and appearances. When we open the wardrobe door it is good to see and to be able to find everything we need. It is essential that our wardrobe is well arranged and organised. We need to follow certain rules when we put our wardrobe in order so that it will be convenient for us and save us time. 

First, we need to define separate sections in the wardrobe for each member of the family. If we have separate rooms and therefore separate wardrobes for everyone it will be even better. Then we will have a larger space for ourselves which we will arrange the way we want. If, however, we share a wardrobe with someone else, everyone needs to have their own space. 

Then, you need to separate your clothes in different sections according to certain criteria. You are the one who has to choose what these criteria should be. For example, you can divide your clothes according to their colour. You can start with the white ones and finish with the black ones. That is, from lighter to darker clothes. In this way your wardrobe will look nice and it will be easy for you to find each piece of clothing. 

Another idea is to make separate sections for your working outfits, daily and party/evening ones. In this way you will know exactly where to look according to the occasion. 

Another useful thing you can do is to make different sets of outfits while arranging your wardrobe. You can combine your clothes in ways that they will be ready to wear. You can also add accessories to them so that you will save some time from ferreting and wondering what to choose. 

As we mentioned accessories, they should also have their place in your wardrobe. So create a separate section and arrange them according to their kind. 

You should also define a section for underwear and household linen. The clean linen should be always ironed, folded and arranged well. 

It is good if you have enough room to put hangers so that your clothes will not rumple. But you can also use the shelves for those clothes that are not easily rumpled. Do not forget to set room for your shoes, or course. And it’d better be a large space.

0 How To Spring Clean With A Checklist

You probably know that the annual spring clean can be a tiring and confusing, but necessary job. Creating a work checklist and following it will make it all simpler and easier. But how to make one? Here are some suggestions:

1. Start from the inside. Open up the windows, as you’ll be dusting. Move from room to room with a duster in your hand and attack every surface and corner you can find.

2. Don’t forget the ceiling fans. Dust and wipe them, because if you turn the on while dirty, they’ll spread dust everywhere.

3. Take care of the windows. Wash the curtains, dust the blinds, and wash the glass and the window sills.

4. Move onto your closet. Put away the winter clothes and hang instead your summer clothes. Be sure to check for any items that don’t fit anymore – if you find any, donate them.

5. If the temperatures are warming up, turn off you heater and turn on the air conditioner. Change the filters beforehand, of course.

6. Finally, get a box and go around the house, collecting items that don’t belong where you found them. Return them to their places, and if there’s any junk, throw it out.

0 How To Prevent Air Duct Contamination

If you’re reading this article, then the chance is that you are one of the increasing number of people who have had the air duct systems at their home cleaned. That’s all good – you’ve probably felt some relief from the allergies and other symptoms of polluted indoor air that have been plaguing you, but that’s just not enough. If you leave things like that, the air ducts will soon be dirty again, and you’ll find yourself suffering again. Here are some steps you should follow to ensure that your air ducts don’t get contaminated.

1. You have to prevent the entry of dirt in the ducts.

• consult with the system’s manufacturers on what kind of filters you should use
• change them regularly
• if they get clogged, change them more frequently
• place the filters firmly in their place so that air can’t pass through any gaps and make sure you’ve put them all
• when you have your system maintenance, don’t forget to ask for a cooling coils and drain pans cleaning
• if you decide to renovate your home, seal off all opening and do not remove the seals until you’ve cleaned the house
• don’t let your home become dusty. Don’t forget that vacuuming increases the dust in the air and that can result in more dust in the air ducts

2. You have to prevent the air ducts from moisture.

The duct should never be wet. If you wish to prevent any growths in there, control the moisture.

It’s relatively easy for it to enter the system if there are any leaks present – usually caused by improper installation. Condensation is suggested to be a major factor in contaminating the air ducts, if some form on or near the cooling coils. If you spot any, there’s little doubt that the mould is already growing. If you don’t want that happening, here are some tips on how to control moisture:

• look for and repair any damage, leaks and gaps
• keep an eye on the cooling coils, as they are supposed to keep the water from the air and if there’s anything wrong with them, then the chance that the ducts are contaminated is high. See if the condensate pan works
• check if the air ducts are sealed well in non-air-conditioned areas, as this will help prevent condensation from entering the ducts.

0 Should You Have Your Air Ducts Cleaned

Not many people today know much about the air duct cleaning – it’s still not that popular, and its benefits are still questioned. Since it depends on the different conditions at different homes, it cannot be said for sure that it will benefit you, if you choose to have your air duct system cleaned.

If the members of your household don’t suddenly start suffering from unexplained allergies, syndromes and sickness, and if, after you check, you see no dirt or mould in the air ducts, then the cleaning procedure is unnecessary. The return registers may be dusty – that is normal, though – it doesn’t mean that the ducts are filled with dust and debris, and you can easily either vacuum them, or take them off and wipe them.

If, however, the above mentioned symptoms are at hand – allergies, strange symptoms and sickness, and you suspect the cause is environmental, you should probably visit your doctor. There are published works about identifying health problems caused by low air quality.

If it’s been a long time since you’ve had the air ducts cleaned, or if you’ve had them for a long time and never cleaned them, consider cleaning them just because they may actually be dirty, even if you don’t feel ill. It hasn’t been determined yet if periodic air duct cleaning is beneficial, but it almost certainly doesn’t bring any harm, if it’s done properly, that is.

However, if the cleaners don’t follow the appropriate air duct cleaning procedures, it can cause problems, even if there weren’t any before. A broken vacuum, for example, can release more dirt than there was in the first place. If the service providers are careless, they may damage the cooling or heating system and thus forcing the need of repairs, or may increase the heating or air-conditioning cost.

0 Should Chemical Biocides Be Applied On Air Ducts

Have you ever had your air duct system cleaned? Then you may have been asked the question, if you wanted chemical biocides used to remove the contamination on the insides of the system. Chemicals sound dangerous, and in cases where air-clarity is concerned, you should be careful.

So, here’s the question – are the chemical biocides supposed to be safe?

First, see if there are any parts of the air duct system that are made of fibreglass, as there have not been any chemical biocides made for that kind of material.

The cleaning company that you’ve employed may tell you that it is necessary to apply chemical biocides to the inside of the air ducts to destroy contamination and mould, and also prevent them from ever appearing again. Some may offer the use of ozone for the same purposes. That is a gas used for lung irritant in the outside environment. There are still many discussions as to the necessity of using chemical biocides and ozone in air duct cleaning.

There are a couple of problems with using those in air ducts:

• There is not enough research done to prove the effectiveness of using both chemical biocides and ozone in ducts. Improper handling of them may only move the contamination from the air ducts into the living areas of your home.
• There may be negative health reactions in the inhabitants of the house.

EPA regulates the chemical biocide products, and before they have been used, they have to be registered by EPA. They must have a specific use, and it has to be clearly shown on the label, as with any other important information. It is considered a crime not to follow the label’s directions for use.

There are some products especially for cleaning the insides of sheet metal air duct systems. There are also a few products registered for using as hard surface sanitizer, and that also means the sheet metal used in air ducts. Some of those are appropriate for the job, but if the directions on the label call for actions inappropriate for air ducts (for example, “rinse with water” is not a thing that should be done in air ducts as it will stimulate mould), then they are not suited for that.

There are still only products for metal sheet ducts; there haven’t been any chemical biocides registered for use on fibre glass duct board or even simply fibre glass linings, so if there is any in you air duct system, you should think twice before giving you permission of chemical biocides.

0 How To Choose A Company To Clean Your Air Ducts

There are probably many companies that provide air duct system cleaning, so how should you choose one?

First, try checking the Yellow Pages in the “duct cleaning” paragraph or search the internet. You should know that not all cleaning companies are equally qualified and able. Check out at least three of those that catch your eye, and get written estimates before you decide on one of them. When you choose, they’ll come to your home, so ask them to justify their cleaning the air ducts by showing you a contaminated area of them.

If the company start going on about the miraculous health benefits of air duct cleaning, do not hire them. Such statements are anything but proved. The same applies for those who recommend the procedure as a inseparable and routine part of the system’s maintenance. Look out for companies who flaunt with an EPA certificate – EPA don’t certify cleaning companies.

Refuse the use of any chemical solutions that you don’t know much about – for all you know, they might be even more dangerous than the contamination itself.

Look for satisfied customers’ references, or vice versa. It may turn out that the company you’ve chosen are completely incompetent, but are good at advertising. A simple search in Google will be enough.

Talk with any cleaning company that has caught you fancy, and make sure that:

• they have experience in cleaning air duct systems like the one you have;
• they will do their job protecting your home and family from contamination
• they will follow the standards according to the material the ducts are made of.

Find out how they charge; if they charge by the hour, ask them how many hours will their work take, and if they foresee any interruptions. Don’t forget to ask for a written agreement on total cost and service before they start working.

0 Removing Oil Stains From Your Carpets

You probably know the agony of having some oil stains on the carpet. The realisation sinking in, the oil sinking in… It really is one of the most difficult stains to remove, ever. It’s not, however, impossible, and here’s how you can clean it.

For this, you will need some absorbent cloths or newspapers, a grease fighting dish washing soap, like Dawn, some cornstarch or baby powder, a vacuum cleaner, an old toothbrush, a bucket, some sponges, water, a few towels, and a lot of patience.
1. Start with trying to soak up as much of the spilled oil as you can with one of the absorbing materials. Put towels or newspapers and press them on the stain to absorb the oil. If it’s newspapers that you’re using, don’t press them for too long, or the ink will print itself on the carpet.
2. When you’ve absorbed most of the oil, cover it with cornstarch or baby powder completely. Brush over it lightly with your fingers to work it in the carpet. This will absorb the oil between the fibres.
3. Leave it like this for a couple of hours.
4. Vacuum away the cornstarch or baby powder.
5. If you’ve spilled a lot, repeat steps 2-4 again.
6. Now you can take care of what’s left.
7. Put some grease-fighting dish washing product on the stain. Spread it across the area with your fingers. Work it in the carpet again.
8. Use the toothbrush to scrub it into the fibres.
9. Since the dish cleaning product suds easily, you will have a bit of a hard time removing it.
10. Spray the area with clean water and blot with a clean cloth.
11. Repeat the process until all of the soap is gone.
12. If you have carpet cleaner, use it – it will easily rinse the spot.
13. When all of the soap is gone, put a towel or two on the wet area and put some weights on it. Leave it for an hour.
14. Leave the carpet to air dry.

You can dry the carpet more quickly if you place a dehumidifier nearby.

Try using a dry cleaning solvent to remove the oil stain. Just blot it in with a clean clot, and then remove by blotting with a different cloth.

If you need some more cleaning power, try mixing some vinegar with the dish washing detergent, and then applying it on the stained area.

0 How to Neutralize Different Odours at Home – vol.1

Odours at home can be caused by various factors. They mostly come from the kitchen due to different kinds of food products or food leftovers, garbage disposal, etc. But they quickly spread all over the house and this is quite unpleasant. We all want our home to be nice to live in and to smell fresh and good but it is not enough to aromatize it with different sprays, candles, etc.

That is why we should first discover the source of the unpleasant odour and then try and neutralize it. Different smells are removed by using different methods so we should know them in order to deal with this problem.

The smell of milk that has been boiled over is nasty and it spreads quickly all around the house. In order to prevent this from happening you need to cover the milk with wet paper splashed with some vinegar. Vinegar completely absorbs the odour from boiled over milk.

The smell of burnt milk can be removed by putting the utensil while it is still hot in cold water and adding some salt.

When you cook something with cabbage the house is filled with this characteristic unpleasant smell which is too stubborn. It is difficult to remove even when you air the room. In order to avoid this, you should put a slice of bread wrapped in clean paper inside the utensil in which the cabbage is boiling. Or you can put a towel folded in two and soaked in water and vinegar under the cover of the pot.

In order to neutralize the odour from the knife with which you have cut onion you should rub it with warmed up salt and then wash it with water. Another way to remove onion smell is to wash the object with hot water and vinegar.

You can diminish fish odour from plates and forks by washing them first with soap and water and then rubbing them with lemon peel. Finally, you should wash them with water only. If you do not have lemon peel at hand you can use vinegar.

In order to neutralize the unpleasant smell of burnt grease, put half an onion in it or a half of sliced potato and stir for about 10-15 minutes while it is still on the stove.You can remove any kind of smell from your hands by adding several drops of ammonia in the water with which you wash them.

0 The Importance of Deep Cleaning

Unfortunately, no matter how hard you try to clean everything every single day, dirt has the ability to set in, and this is the reason why it is so difficult to be removed completely. It requires something more than the daily tidying up.

Everybody wishes to have an impeccable house and to be a good housekeeper, but maybe the most essential in fact remains the idea that after deep cleaning you will rest more relaxingly and less worried knowing that you have overcome the dirt and cleaned the one that cannot be seen on a short notice.

The look of your house is indeed important but the most crucial is still the health of your roommates or family members.

So, it is a good idea to schedule days of the week you dedicate to deep cleaning.

To start with, after you have already cleaned the floors in every single room with the hoover, you have to take care of the so-called ‘hard to reach’ spots like the corners, the space behind the furniture, or under the cushions that you usually forget to clean, and the items that generally collect dirt on their surface.

Your vacuum has special attachments for these things or at least for the corners, like the brush, so now it’s time to use them!

Don’t worry if you keep thinking that even after you have moped the floors there is still remaining dirt in your home, this happens quite often and most of us have the same problem.

Use a cloth to wipe the surface of the furniture, mop the floors or use the vacuum and at the end polish the furniture, especially if leather. There is a great variety of sprays and cleaning supplies in the stores now, so you will have the real chance to choose the ones that fit your budget and have considerable price.

Furthermore, sunlight and fresh air will naturally help too to keep the place clean.

And remember that bacteria hide on what people’s hands touch like all the handles in the house, so you need to disinfect and wipe these areas as often as possible in order to deep clean. Take care of all the space under of behind the furniture, and you will have less problems.

Good luck.