Important Spring Cleaning Steps To Take And Mistakes To Avoid
Winter is long gone and spring has set in bringing with it an eagerness for tidying up, right? All this makes you want to deep clean your carpets, scrub down those cupboards, and deodorize the fridge. Making for a robust list of things to tackle before summer hits.
To make it easier for you here are nine or so super spring cleaning tips to help you clean your house step by step.
Splatters of food make your microwave look and sometimes smell bad. Wondering how to deodorize it? Lemon is the answer. Boiling lemon slices in a couple of cups of water in your microwave will give you a freshly fragrant microwave fast.
You want to vacuum the curtains every 6 months or so focusing on the dust hidden between the pleats. And take them to the dry cleaner every two or three years to get the hidden grime out.
Has one of the kids used your walls to showcase hidden talent? Never mind. Just lightly spray on WD-40 and wipe down with a damp sponge. This will remove crayon marks and other lingering stains too.
Musty odors lingering? Take your favorite perfume or cologne and mist a switched off, cool bulb with it. When you next flip the switch a pleasing fragrance is guaranteed to envelop the room. As for any smell lingering in your closets just hang some charcoal briquettes which will act as a natural deodorizer.
To remove the dirt from cloth or plastic shades hit them with a shot from your hand held shower head to blast the dust away. Then let them drip dry in the tub.
For squeaky clean, lint free windows use micro fiber clothes, balled up newspaper or coffee filters instead of paper towels. And remember to clean the inside and outside of the window in opposite directions. That way you can tell which side the streaks are on.
For pet hair clinging to the upholstery or wall hangings do this. Mix two ounces of liquid fabric softener with a cup and half or so of water and spray near the fabrics to eliminate the static cling. Doing so makes it easier to brush the hair off and vacuum it away.
Finally vacuuming is likely something most of us don’t do enough. Or we do too fast. It helps to prevent sand, dirt and grit from settling into the pile if you vacuum the high traffic areas two or three times a week. Making like six or seven passes for each section. Then once a week get the rest and run the vacuum head over them at least three or four times.
Try these tips and your home will be just the way you wanted, shiny and ready for the new season.
Featured Author Aiden Mundt is into things like upright vacuum cleaners, hand held vacs and steam cleaners. If you’d like to find out more, or to get his take on a model you have your eye on visit AskTheVacuumGuy.com for the helpful vacuum cleaner reviews you need.
Quick Guide to Flooring
Is your carpeting dull, lack luster and well past it’s prime? Are you living with chipped tiles in the kitchen? Ashamed to have friends over because of the embarrassment your floors cause you? Maybe you’re envious of the brand new floor your neighbor had installed and how it transformed their kitchen?
When flooring is concerned you will find you have many options. Too many for some. Which makes it hard to decide and easy to go around in circles while trying to decide. Plus since you will be living with the choice for years you want to get it right the first time.
So without considering a specific application let’s look at how you can improve the first impression your floors make.
Why don’t we start with wall to wall carpet? Because when you change that you change the look of the entire room. You’ll likely want to strongly consider a stain resistant nylon. One with a dense pile that weighs in at around 45 ounces. But the key is the pad. Make sure you invest is a top notch pad since that is what will keep your carpet looking new longer. If you have to chintz, save on the carpet but never the pad.
Next there’s the growing popularity of wood floors. Some find the glossy finish on laminates hard to resist. Engineered wood is another option. Of course if your wallet can handle it, few things compare to the classic beauty of hardwood.
You’d be surprised the difference wood flooring can make. Nowadays you’re not limited to oak or even domestic woods. African hardwoods to exotics are highly sought after options. Or you can make a real difference by opting for eco-friendly bamboo.
Ceramic tile is ideal for kitchen and bathroom flooring. Besides being durable, they’re stain-resistant and so cleaning is never a problem. The choice of colors is vast. You can go for a more natural look, go bold, or pick something that adds richness to your floor.
There is still room for versatile vinyl too. Which offers home owners durability, versatility and convenience. Available in tiles or sheets you’ll find many pleasing colors presented in solids or subtle patterns. Easy to clean vinyl offers the look of a just waxed floor without the waxing.
Finally don’t forget how area rugs can tie the colors of a room together. Or serve as the focal point. Some home owners swear by area rugs because they are extremely versatile. They’re easy to maintain and beautify your home wonderfully!
Replacing dated flooring be it carpet, vinyl or wood won’t be cheap. But it’s the best way to add sophistication and elegance to your home. Leaving you to enjoy the newly installed beauty for years to come.
In the market for a new vacuum cleaner? By visiting AskTheVacuumGuy.com you will find out more about bagless vacuums plus upright and canister types. From the Dirt Devil vacuum to the Dyson DC11 to the Miele Capricorn. Don’t be an uninformed shopper. Get the help you need by visiting that site today.
Carpet Saving Vacuuming Ideas
Many seem to avoid vacuuming their carpeting. Preferring instead to postpone or delay the task for another day. And no big deal right? It doesn’t hurt anything to put off a task that few relish or enjoy.
Actually that’s a mistake. One that’s not good for the health of your carpet or your family. That because accumulated dust can make allergy sufferers miserable. Plus sand and grit deposited on the surface of your carpet sooner or later works it’s way to the backing where the abrasive particles cut away at the very carpet fibers themselves.
Plus there’s a right and wrong way to vacuum. Unfortunately, most get it wrong. In part because no one taught them any different. Let’s see if we can’t change that.
Anyhow, once most get this point, and understand the benefits of regular vacuuming, they make it a priority. To help with that let me share nine easily forgotten tips that will make the time spent vacuuming as effective as it can be.
Divide your carpet into high and all other traffic areas. Vacuuming the high traffic areas like halls and stairs a couple times a week is best. While weekly is sufficient for the rest.
Dirt hooks a ride on our shoes. That’s how most of it makes its way into your carpet. To combat that use walk off mats and keep a coarse mat outside the door and use it before entering.
Help your vacuum do a good job by keeping it armed with fresh bag and filters. You see as the dirt accumulates air can’t pass thru them as easily. You know this a loss of suction power. So don’t try to push the bag or filter longer than you should. Filters are best replaced every three months. And put in a fresh bag when the current one is three quarters full.
The biggest mistake too many make is to be in a hurry when vacuuming. A quick pass and they’re done. It’s better to give high traffic areas six or seven slow passes to remove the maximum amount dirt. Even low traffic areas can benefit from three or four passes of the beater brush.
You want to be sure the vacuum is set to the right height. Setting it too low and you run the risk of excessive wear to the belt or roller brush. Set too high and the beater bar isn’t penetrating deep enough into the fibers for proper cleaning action.
You want to use the vacuum’s beater brush or power head to suction out the dirt. All of it. So the idea is to repeatedly hit the same section of carpet to make sure you accomplish that.
Inspect your vac often to keep it clean and maintained. Inspect the belts and replace as needed. Clear the brushes of strings, threads and the like. Make sure the head is operating as it should.
Avoid running over the cord with the vacuum. Find a central location, plug it in and keep it behind you as much as you can.
It may sound obvious but vacuum during the day so you can see what you’re doing.
Nothing beats the look of a freshly vacuumed carpet. If you have a bagless vac you can even see how much dirt, dust, hair and debris you’ve extracted from the rug. And it’s a good feeling knowing your home is clean and fresh.
This article was provided by AskTheVacuumGuy.com. A site that has taken a hard look at the Miele Capricorn, Dyson Animal, plus a Dirt Devil Vacuum or two. If you’re in the market for a new vacuum you really need to check that site out.
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