Upgrading Your Home to a Smart Home

26 November 2018

It seems like a thing of the future; something reminiscent of sci-fi films set on spaceships, complete with large, omniscient motherboard computers. But having a smart home controlled by virtual voice command technology is very much a thing of the present. With the release of Apple’s Siri technology in 2011, the virtual assistant game was changed. The ability to give commands verbally to an in-device personality, Siri, opened the door for easier, more productive living. Now with Amazon and Google joining the race, and other companies following suit, there’s suddenly a whole heap of new virtual assistant options.

Moving away from purely phone/tablet based assistants, the market now includes home-based alternatives. Google Home or Amazon’s Echo (complete with assistant Alexa) allows users to turn their space into “smart homes”, wherein with a simple verbal command, they can instruct their assistant to perform all kinds of tasks around the home, such as turning lights on and off.

There are also some things you should be careful about. According to Lendi smart home can be targeted by hackers since the whole house is connected via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth.

Some of the best things include While upgrading Smart Home:

Controlling lights
Changing a home’s temperature
Playing music
Opening/closing garage doors

There are loads more options you can choose from, and third-party capabilities you can put in place (Amazon’s Alexa can perform over 10,000 tasks!), like creating lighting sensors, or scheduling changes to your lights, alarms, and thermostat.

Virtual voice assistants also signal a massive change in the lives of people living with disabilities or illness. The chance to utilise voice commands to perform everyday tasks removes the barrier that mobility issues and physical impairment create. For able-bodied people, virtual assistants are a cool new way to increase productivity and promote convenience. Consider then the massive improvement this technology can make in the lives of people living and thriving with disabilities. The extra support can be life-changing. All in all, another point scored for the virtual assistants’ pros list.

So, the basic gist is that having your house properly set up as a smart home is awesome and opens you up to a heap of benefits. However, setting the system up can be confusing.

You’ll largely need to consider two things:

Choosing your assistant:

The main players that hold the monopoly on the smart home/virtual assistant market are Amazon’s Alexa, Apple’s Siri, and Google’s Assistant. They all have their pros and cons, and your choosing which one suits you best is ultimately a matter of personal preference. They all offer easy-to-use voice commands, but there are several different things to consider when deciding on an assistant:

Price
Capabilities (what can you do/control?)
Compatibility with Android or Apple products
Ease of set-up (how long and difficult is it to get running?)
Ease of use (Is it perceptive and easy to talk to?)
Assistant’s intelligence (How easily and well it can answer questions.)

Choose your hardware:

After deciding on your virtual assistant, you’ll need physical hardware to support it. Each different assistant offers different options, like the Amazon Echo. They too have their pros and cons. There are also different models of each hardware device, so there are multiple cost, sound and utility options. Your hardware largely depends on which assistant you choose, so that will also narrow down your options.

The last important thing to think about when considering the purchase of a virtual voice assistant is your internet’s performance. If you’re having to use your phone’s personal hotspot at home because your connection is slow and temperamental, perhaps think about changing your home internet’s carrier or plan. You’ll need to choose a reliable broadband connection to run and use your assisting device, and you may need to research bandwidth, and how this affects how well your devices stream content and perform commands.

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Ariana Smith

I enjoy writing and I write quality guest posts on topics of my interest and passion. I have been doing this since my college days. My special interests are in health, fitness, food and following the latest trends in these areas. I am an editor at Content Rally.

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10 Trends About Homemade Carpet Cleaner You Should Know

There are a lot of do-it-yourself enthusiasts in the world. It’s because there are so many things you can make on your own without having to purchase expensive products. There are many homemade solutions that work just as well, if not better than anything you could buy from a store. The 10 trends below are homemade carpet cleaning solutions that can help you in a bind. 1. Food Stains: Dropping something like ketchup on your carpet can be frustrating because of its bright color and the concern that you’ll never fully remove the stain. There are many ways to remove this type of stain. A preferred method is to use a paper towel and a detergent made from liquid soap. After combining the detergent with water, dab it onto the stain gently and allow it to sit for 20 minutes. Then use another paper towel to remove excess water. You can also use a vinegar and water solution for this type of stain. Sometimes food stains are stubborn, so you might need to use the solution more than once. 2. Beverage Stains: There are so many different beverages that can be problematic when spilled on the carpet. This includes juice, coffee, wine, and just about anything else that has a dark color. A great way to remove beverage stains from carpet is by using a cloth soaked with warm water and blotting the area until the substance is completely removed. Sometimes water alone will remove the liquid if it’s taken care of immediately. However, there’s a chance that you’ll need a strong solution, which can also be made at home. You can simply add an equal part of white vinegar to the water before dabbing it onto the carpet. 3. Oil Stains: Oil stains on the carpet can come from a lot of different sources. Sometimes it’s from using creams and lotions that end up on the carpet. Perhaps there are stains from butter or some type of cooking oil. Many types of oils can be removed with a solution made from either liquid detergent and water or vinegar and water, depending on your preference. Once you’ve made your preferred solution, press down with a clot on the stain for just under a minute. It’s important not to scrub because that will enlarge the stain. 4. Tracked in Mud: It’s inevitable that mud will be tracked into your home, especially if you live in an area of the world where there is a lot of rain. That’s usually when you end up entering your home with shoes covered in dirt and mud. Depending on how much mud has been tracked in, the first step might be to sweep up or vacuum the area to eliminate as much mud as possible before applying a solution. Then you’ll need to create a solution with liquid detergent and warm water. This solution should be dabbed onto the carpet numerous times for less than a minute. You should be able to see the difference, but a true assessment will take place after it dries. 5. Chewing Gum: Removing gum from carpet can be tricky, especially if it’s been stuck for a while. A great way to remove it is by placing an ice cube onto the gum until it is completely frozen, which might take a few minutes. You can then break the frozen gum for removal. You’ll then need to use the homemade carpet cleaning solution of your choice to clean any remnants. 6. Pet Accidents: There are few things as concerning pet accidents that seem to occur just before you have company. A great way to remove both any stains and odor is with a vinegar and warm water solution. This mixture should be pressed into the carpet on the location of the accident. The amount of vinegar used depends on the stain, but equal parts of both vinegar and water will usually suffice. 7. Ink Stains: Don’t be intimidated by ink stains. Although they are sometimes difficult to remove, it is possible. Liquid detergent and hot water mixture is the best place to start. You can blot this solution onto the carpet with a cloth, let it sit for two minutes and then use paper towels to dry it. You may need to repeat this process. 8. Strong Odors: Removing odors from the carpet will usually start with vacuuming to ensure you’ve removed any dirt and particles that might be causing the odor. Once that’s done, you can sprinkle baking soda onto the carpet to freshen things up. The baking soda should be left overnight before vacuuming again. 9. Natural Fiber Carpets: Sometimes natural fibers are easier to clean, but they might require extra care. A highly effective solution that can be used for virtually any type of stain on natural fibers includes about two tablespoons of ammonia and a cup of warm water. You can also make a solution with a half cup of vinegar and the same amount of water. Whether or not you choose to use a spray bottle or a bowl is up to you. When using a spray bottle, be sure to spray lightly. 10. Synthetic Fiber Carpets: Removing stains from a synthetic carpet can be handled in several different ways. Prepare a solution that you can pour onto a cloth and gently apply to the carpet. It’s best not to pour the solution directly onto the carpet. You can try a cup of white vinegar mixed with two cups of water to remove the stain for a natural option. You can also try using any liquid detergent that you like combined with warm water. The mixture is half a teaspoon of detergent and two cups of water. These are all great ways to remove different types of carpet stains. You can also get help removing tough stains at carpestology.com.au. Read Also: Five Easy Steps When Cleaning Your Mattress 10 Ways To Preserve Your Carpet’s Beautiful Design

Turn Your Basement into a Useful Space with These Tips

Who wouldn’t want a place where they can play to their heart’s content, focus on their work, or simply relax and unwind? You don’t have to look outside for these things. You can have them underneath your home, right in your basement. Turning your basement into a useful space is the next best thing when it’s not possible to expand your home outside. The foundations are already there, so all you need to do is to continue the work. Before you work on your basement, take note of these home-improvement tips to your project. Plan What You Want for Your Basement: To start, figure out what you want your basement to be. You can only begin securing a building permit, buying the materials, meeting a contractor, and taking the next steps once you already have a plan for your basement. The basement is located away from the hustle and bustle of the rest of the house, so it can be the perfect place to concentrate on your work or meditate and relax. The location also renders it natural soundproofing, making ideal to turn into a studio or a home theater. If you want to be more practical, you can also turn it into an extra bedroom for guests or for a new family member. You can even add in a bathroom for more convenience. With an upflush SaniBest Pro toilet, installing a toilet doesn’t require you to break ground for drainage. The up-flush system allows you to conveniently connect the toilet and other fixtures in the basement bathroom to your existing sewage system or septic tanks through the toilet’s external discharge tank and pipe. The basement has endless potentials—an entertainment room, an extra bedroom, an office or study, or a children’s playroom. You can turn it into anything you want. Create a Budget: Like with any other home improvement projects, renovating your basement can quickly drain your funds. You’ll be spending money every step of the way, from securing permits to finishing your basement. You need a budget plan so you don’t end up spending far more than you intended. Creating a spreadsheet for your expenditures can also help you keep track of how much funds you’ve already used up and how much is left. It will help manage your expectations and stick to your initial budget. Secure the Necessary Permits: Renovating or remodeling your basement will require a building permit. If you’re caught doing construction on your house without one, you will be made to pay a fine and ordered to take down all the work you’ve done. A building permit is necessary especially if you’re doing major changes to your house’s structure or mechanical systems. A contractor usually deals with this bit, but if you’re working the project independently, you should contact your local building department to apply for a permit. If you plan to apply for a loan to fund your project, a lending company will ask you to present a building permit before they approve anything. In addition, a permit is necessary in order to count the renovated basement in your home’s appraisal. Resolve the Moisture Problem: Moisture is one of your biggest problems when renovating or remodeling your basement. Because of its location, the place is naturally damp, and it doesn’t help that water from the house typically ends up below. Being exposed to a damp environment for prolonged periods can be detrimental to your health. Moisture usually causes the growth of mold, and mold can cause an otherwise-healthy person to develop upper respiratory tract symptoms, coughing, and wheezing, as well as trigger the asthma of some people. Even without mold, dampness itself already presents a risk to a person’s health. Remove the sources of moisture in the basement before you start building your plan. Seal up cracks where water can come in, and waterproof the walls. Get rid of excessive humidity, and insulate the plumbing pipes. Finally, install a drainage system for a long-term solution to the problem. Conclusion: For some people, it’s not feasible to expand their living space outside due to lot and legal restrictions. Renovating the basement is their only opportunity to build another room in the house. But even if you don’t have that same restriction, working on your basement can still be a good investment for your property. For one, a renovated basement is usually not counted as one full room so that it won’t be counted in your tax, but it can still raise the value of your home in case you sell it. Instead of leaving your basement alone, you can turn it into a useful space and reap the benefits later. However, you need to commit to the project since it does need considerable work and resources to do. Read Also: Five Ways To Improve The Air Quality Inside Your Home Outstanding Design Advice If Your Home Is Really Small

The Versatility Of The Ottoman Makes It A Must-Have

The ottoman is one of the most versatile pieces of furniture available. You can use them in just about any room – living room, dining room, kitchen, den. An ottoman is comfortable, flexible seating for kids and adults, a handy footrest, a makeshift coffee table, and may also double as storage. Ottomans were first introduced into Europe in the 18th century from Turkey. At the time, Turkey was the heart of the Ottoman Empire, hence the strange name of this piece of furniture. Its comfort and flexibility meant that it soon took off in European parlors, especially in Britain. How many ways are there to use an ottoman? These are just a few ideas to get you started. 1. Coffee Table : Whether your ottoman is leather, upholstered, or wicker, you can quickly transform it into a coffee table. Use a classic wood or metal tray to set down food and drinks and you can enjoy coffee or breakfast with a book on the sofa. This is a great idea for smaller spaces where both an ottoman and a coffee table would take up too much room. 2. Kitchen Table Seating : Want to add some unique flair to your kitchen table? Use a pair of ottomans as kitchen table seating, especially paired with two traditional chairs on the other side to add some dynamic asymmetry and character to your kitchen table. Leatherworks well here as it’s easy to clean. 3. Movable Living Room Seating : One of the great things about an ottoman is that many are lightweight and easy to move around. This makes them a great solution for adjustable living room seating. If you have kids or regularly invite over guests, they bring the flexibility you wish you had in a living room when you sit down to watch a movie or the game or gather around a table to play a board game. You won’t have guests sitting on the floor. The flexibility of the ottoman makes it a must-have in any living room. If you have a living room with limited space, you can also tuck ottomans away for everyday use and bring them out when you need extra chairs. 4. End of the Bed : Need seating in your bedroom that’s not just the bed? An ottoman tucked at the end of the bed gives you a place to sit while you change or get ready in the morning. It can also become a convenient place to put all those outfits you pulled out of the closet and decided against at the last minute. Many ottomans also open and turn into storage space. A hinged top ottoman provides extra storage space in the bedroom when your dresser just isn’t big enough. 6. Footrests : You don’t need to get creative with ottomans to enjoy them. Use your ottoman as a classic footrest and kick up your feet after a long day at work or with the kids. In fact, using a footrest when you relax might even help with back pain. Bring an ottoman into your home and enjoy flexible furniture. Read Also : Relax In Style In The Comfort Of Your Homes Choosing The Right Roof For Your Home – Types To Select From What To Know About Your Furnace Filters

Upgrading Your Home to a Smart Home

Some of the best things include While upgrading Smart Home:

Choosing your assistant:

Choose your hardware:

How Cleaning Helps Us Feel Better and Why We Don’t Do It

Las Vegas Electricians Share Fun Lighting Ideas for Your Home

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Ariana Smith

I enjoy writing and I write quality guest posts on topics of my interest and passion. I have been doing this since my college days. My special interests are in health, fitness, food and following the latest trends in these areas. I am an editor at Content Rally.

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10 Trends About Homemade Carpet Cleaner You Should Know

Turn Your Basement into a Useful Space with These Tips

The Versatility Of The Ottoman Makes It A Must-Have

Upgrading Your Home to a Smart Home

Some of the best things include While upgrading Smart Home:

Choosing your assistant:

Choose your hardware:

Share this Article

How Cleaning Helps Us Feel Better and Why We Don’t Do It

Las Vegas Electricians Share Fun Lighting Ideas for Your Home

Tags

I enjoy writing and I write quality guest posts on topics of my interest and passion. I have been doing this since my college days. My special interests are in health, fitness, food and following the latest trends in these areas. I am an editor at Content Rally.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Popular

Follow Us

Recent

Related