Category: Home & Garden
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How Effective are Bug Zapping Light Bulbs
When the summer approaches, we can enjoy the summer’s sunsetting sitting on our armchair. This is a really enjoyable and exciting experience of our life. But what if there are full of insects both harmful and harmless that can cause great harm to your health. The Zapping Light Bulbs can help you to get the maximum light in a short span of time. In this case, you may adopt some ways to repel and sometimes kill them. In this article, I will discuss some ways to get rid of irritating insects. There are a lot of ways to keep harmful insects including bugs, mosquitoes and many other things away from you. Some of them are fast and at the same time pollutes our environment as well while others may be environment-friendly ways too. The main concept of removing bugs by bug zapper light bulb is not so difficult. As they emit ultraviolet and infra rays, insects get attracted by the ultraviolet rays and enter into the trap and at last, they are being caught in the trap. This is as simple as water. Types of zapping light bulb But there are of two types of zapping light bulbs out there. One of them entices insects inside the zapper to kill them. On the other hand, yellow zapper light does not kill them but repel them. So, if you are searching for a solution to repel bugs from your living area, you can select the second one which does not kill them. As a result, useful insects for your environment go away from your area without killing. And the first one works not only as a device to repel them but kill them and at the same time pollutes our environment as well. Nowadays, there are other types of bug zappers which produce carbon dioxide as well to attract mosquitoes as well. Bug zapper lights that can emit only ultraviolet and infra rays to lure insects except for mosquitoes. That’s why new devices have been invented that produce both ultraviolet rays and carbon dioxide too. Now it is easier to repel and kill any insect into the zapper. Which zapping light bulb should be good for? According to me, a bug zapper light bulb is more effective and environmentally friendly than a bug zapper. A zapper can kill a larger number of harmless and useful insects entirely. Besides, if you do not keep it away from your living or dining space, it will pollute the area and as a result, your health may fall in danger. While killing the insects inside a zapper attracting by the ultraviolet rays, there produces a ‘mist’ which may pollute your living as well as your dining space. But if you can replace your thought of removing bugs from your living place and do not want to kill them, only the bug zapper light should be your best choice. It does not pollute your environment. Let’s talk about the effectiveness of the device: Are the bug zapping light bulbs are effective anyway? Well. Yes, they are more effective to repel annoying bugs from your surroundings. The main concept of repelling bugs using yellow lights are not new at all. Yellow lights attract bugs form a long distance and they come forward and cannot see further. As a result, they stuck there without being killed which is very effective not only for the environment but also for the useful insects as well. The intensity of the lights may be lower or higher. And they can attract bugs from a long distance depending on the intensity of the lights. Also, they can cover a larger part of your area. It may not repel mosquitoes: Carbon dioxide attracts mosquitoes and they find us following the carbon dioxide trails. When we breathe, we leave carbon dioxide. Besides, they also find us when we sweat. Anyways, zapper does not attract mosquitoes most. If you place a zapper near you and you sit beside the zapper, you will see that mosquitoes are not going towards the zapper leaving you. But there are zappers now in the market available that can produce both carbon dioxide and ultraviolet rays at the same time to kill the harmful and annoying mosquitoes too. The zapping light bulbs can make things happen in your favor. Conclusion: We use a lot of devices in our daily life to make our ways of living comfortable and enjoyable. But at the same time, we have also to think about our planet. We should always go for the green that will make our planet-friendlier. So, before using any device, think at least one time whether we should go for it or not. Zapper light bulb is without any doubt effective and as they do not kill the helpful and useful insects that can make our environment more efficient for us. Otherwise, we should think about our future of the present world to make it greener making any harm to the lovely planet. Read Also: A Rundown Of The Basic Led Lighting The Right Light Set-Up For Your Band Las Vegas Electricians Share Fun Lighting Ideas For Your Home
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7 Tips for Getting Rid of Clutter in Your Home
Are you guilty of hanging on to items you don't need anymore? Is your home starting to look more like the dwellings of a pig than a person? It can be easy to let clutter creep up on you. One minute all of your rooms seem spacious and empty, but the next you realize your entire floor is covered with items. Getting rid of clutter is an important step in having peace of mind. This article will give you seven tips on eliminating clutter so you can start to think more clearly. 1. Begin With the Bedroom: Your bedroom should be a sanctuary for you. It should be the place you can go to relax and get away from the world. If your bedroom is full of junk, it's not likely to be relaxing. Start by putting all of your items in a pile. This will enable you to take inventory of what you have. Get two giant trash bags, one for trash and one for donations. Put all the items you want to throw away in one bag and put the items you want to donate in the other. Once you get rid of all the useless junk you don't use anymore, you'll be able to find places to store the items you really value. Getting your bedroom tidied first will motivate you to fix the entire house. 2. Kill the Clutter in Your Kitchen: Your kitchen is where you prepare your food, so you want to make sure it's a clean environment. Begin by throwing away any food that is expired. Look through your pantry and toss and spices or soups that may have been sitting there for decades. Make room in your cabinets by throwing out extra Tupperware. Only keep the Tupperware that has a lid. Make sure every base has a matching lid. Discard any old pots and pans that go unused. Cleaning out your kitchen will ensure you don't develop a pest problem. Rodents, roaches, and other insects won't want to make a home in a clean kitchen. 3. Get the Family Involved: Decluttering doesn't have to be a one-man job. Send in some recruits, aka your children and spouse, to help you. Turn banishing clutter into a game for your kids. Set up trashcans like basketball hoops and see who can get the most useless items inside. Give them incentives for donating old clothes and toys they don't use anymore. Tell them they can't have any new toys until they donate some. Your children need to learn the art of letting go as much as you do. You can't keep accumulating items into your home unless you take some out of it. Otherwise, you might end up a hoarder and need serious hoarding help. 4. Put on Some Music: Any task can be made easier with the right music. Put on music that motivates you and watches as your body kicks into overdrive. Before you know it, your entire house will be clean. Dance around as you clean to burn some extra calories and have a blast doing it. 5. Use the KonMarie Method: Marie Kondo has become famous for her method of getting rid of clutter. She says you must think carefully about each and every item in your home. Hold it up to your chest and ask yourself if it "sparks joy." If it does spark joy, you keep it. If it doesn't make you feel happy, you should thank it for its time in your life and then discard it. This method causes you to be more mindful of your belongings. It makes you think about what items you care about. 6. Don't Get Overwhelmed: The easiest way to give up on your de-cluttering journey is to try to do too much at once. You can't possibly tackle your entire house in one day and do a good job. Instead, focus on one room at a time. Schedule in time to clean in your day so it doesn't take away from other responsibilities. If you schedule in 20 minutes a day for a week, you'll notice big progress at the end of the week. You're less likely to give up that way then if you tried to do several hours in one day. Slow and steady wins the race and the clean house. 7. Keep it Clean: If you don't want to have to go through the stress of cleaning everything all over again, take steps to keep your home under control. As soon as you're done using an item, put it away in it's designated storage place. When you're done eating, do the dishes. When your laundry is done, fold it. When the trash is full, take it out. When you do these small chores every day, they won't pile up on you. You must commit to the habit of tidying up after yourself. It will make you feel better and make your home look better for guests. Start Getting Rid of Clutter Today: The key to getting rid of clutter is commitment. You have to want to eliminate clutter and set realistic goals to get there. Picture how great your house will look once you've cleaned out all the excess. Close your eyes and envision how easy it will be to find something when everything has its own place. You'll be able to save so much extra time in your day because you won't be sifting through things for hours trying to find what you need. Enjoy this article? Want to tell us some of your best tips for eliminating clutter? Please contact us here. Read Also: 5 Tips To Add More Zen To Your Home 5 Ways That Ensure That Your Home Is Safe For Living
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6 Tips To Improve Your Cooking Overnight
Cooking is a form of art and like any other art, it needs your devotion. While many love the idea of cooking and spending hours in the kitchen, to some it is an excruciatingly scary idea as they just cannot find that confidence to cook something. But worry no more as we have come up with some spectacular tips and tricks that will help you improve your cooking hand and make you an expert at it. The best part about cooking is that you don’t have to be an absolute professional at it. There are several ways in which you can practice and enhance your cooking techniques for attaining better results. Therefore we have designed 10 unique tips to help you become better at cooking and you can definitely see the change overnight. 1. Invest In a Quality Knife This is the most important part of the cooking process. Handling a knife properly is significant when it comes to cooking and for that, it is ideal to invest in a good quality knife. Not only will it improve your ability to handle the knife but will improve the quality of the cuts in your food as well. 2. Always Choose Fresh Ingredients Ingredients make a huge impact in your dish. It is the core of the dish that makes or breaks it and whenever you are attempting to cook something always make sure that you have picked out the freshest ingredient possible. This will escalate and improve the quality and taste of your food. 3. Learn to Use Hands For Better Estimation Your hands are the ideal tool to use in the kitchen when it comes to cooking. Using your hands and fingers to check whether the meat is properly cooked is traditional and best techniques as your hands are the most sophisticated and very sensitive tools and hence can make the ideal estimations. 4. Learn to Saute professionally Often we do the mistake of overcrowding the pan with ingredients while sauteing which is absolutely wrong can make the food soggy and ruin the taste. It is crucial that the bottom of the pan is still visible while you are frying or sauteing your ingredients. And always remember to put in the ingredient when the pan is heated. This will enhance the quality of your cooking to a whole new level and make a huge difference in the food quality as well. 5. Reduce The Gravy To Get a Richer Flavour Did you know that the flavors in your gravy or any liquid item enhance when you reduce the liquid to a more thicker consistency? This is a great tip to brighten the flavors in your food and gravy items. People often tend to struggle to bring out the flavors in the gravies and soups. To avoid that, make sure to simmer the liquid for some time and you can observe a huge difference in the meal you cook. 6. Rest Your Roasted Meats This is a mistake that many make that they forget to allow the roasted meat to rest before carving them. When you immediately carve meat before it gets time to rest, the meat will release all the juices out and dry out faster. To avoid that, make sure you let the meat rest which will help it soak in all the flavors and keep them intact within. Conclusion Cooking is easy and not as challenging as you might think it to be. Only with a few tricks and by avoiding some silly mistakes while doing so you can improve your cooking overnight and that is guaranteed. Hence go ahead and make your meal by applying these few basic tips and you will surely see a change in the quality of the food you serve. Read also: 10 Unique Kitchen Hacks To Save Your Time In Kitchen And Cooking
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Portable Generators: 5 Ways To Keep Them Clean and Running
Before purchasing your portable generator, there are two essential things you should always consider; it’s versatility and handiness. This will significantly help in cases of breakdown. How? Once you’re sure of your portable generator power and versatility, then it becomes more comfortable for you to identify it’s spare parts availability. If you want your portable generator to last longer, then you’ll have to follow the number one rule of owning a portable generator strictly. Bonus: Maintenance. Proper maintenance will ensure your portable generator works efficiently. Outlined below are five tips for maintaining your portable generator for efficiency. 1. Fresh Oil Helps Changing the oil of your machine regularly replacing it with a fresh one will maintain your engine for efficacy. If your generator is new, then it needs to be synchronised exactly after 30 hours of use. This sounds demanding and tiresome but, you’re never going to regret it. Don’t worry because as time goes by, changing the oil of your small engine will only be done after every 100 hours of use, or even after every season. It is always important to have a stock of oil or gas set aside in case you run out of power. The fact is that you’ll never know when you’re going to have extended power outages. This is to prevent your engine from corrosion. 2. Plugs & Filters Ensure that your generator has a way of igniting gas into the engine cylinders otherwise, your generator will have no use. However, maintaining your generator will have you change your plug and air filter occasionally. You can do this after using it for 200 hours or maybe once at the start of each season. Having done that successfully, your generator will have a proper fuel-air mixture that will help your generator work efficiently thus, an extension of lifespan. 3. Store Your Generator on an Empty Tank This implies that if you ’re planning to store your generator for longer, maybe a month or so. But, before you do that, ensure that you drain the fuel from the tank. However, there are necessary steps you’ll need to follow before emptying your generator’s fuel tank. First, you’ll have to add a quality gas stabilizer to the fuel tank and allow it to run for about 15 minutes.Once you’ve done that, allow your engine to cool down, then start your engine and run it until it runs out of gas and automatically shuts down. On the other hand, you may use a siphon that’s non-conductive to remove excess gas in the tank. Remember, the siphon should be non-conductive to prevent the fuel tank from static electricity. 4. Charge the Battery You can charge your generator only if it has a battery because not all of the generators use a battery. Some of the generators are electric starts feature so; they will need to charge before storing them.You can as well plug your generator’s battery in a trickle charger for freshness and availability. 5. Train in the Off-Season As you continue to store your generator, you are advised to always start it after every month allowing it to run for some few minutes. This will help keep your generator’s features lubricated because oil will be circulating through the engine. Wrap Up Had problems before maintaining your portable generator? Worry not because the above tips have provided solutions to your questions. Read More: 7 Specifications You Should Look for When Buying a Home Generator Generator Secrets that manufacturer won’t tell you Advantages of Using a Portable Solar Generator
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Furniture In Utica: Benefits Of Buying Locally-Made Products
In recent days, globalization has allowed the world to become everyone’s marketplace. Goods and services can move around easier. People from any country can enjoy products manufactured from halfway around the world. E-commerce has its advantages and disadvantages but sometimes the global competition hurts local manufacturers. These days, anyone can purchase pieces of furniture from different parts of the world at a very competitive rate. This trend can be a challenge for local furniture makers and can result in inferior quality or shipping damages so it’s important to entertain the idea of buying locally. Here are some benefits to buying locally-made furniture pieces: 1. Local commerce and economy thrives: One of the best ways to support and encourage local business is to patronize local brands. If their companies are growing because of local consumer patronage, then they are likely to expand their businesses. Others who have an entrepreneurial mindset who haven’t started their venture yet will get an additional drive to start a business locally. Aside from that, the money that you earn revolves locally as you purchase local products. The members of a society are interconnected with each other. The effect of buying products made by your fellow resident would affect the earning and purchasing power of those that they employ. Family-run businesses do not answer to outside big corporations. Their profit is at their own disposal thus giving them a choice to provide better compensation to their employees. If this sounds like something you’d support, click here to buy from a family-owned furniture business in Utica. Your local products showcase your community and culture, and patronizing them would help support their production. If more people in the community engage with business, then it entails availability of variations of products and services to choose from. Also, supporting local products is way more than supporting the business itself; it means you are helping to sustain the identity of the actual products produced in your town or city. 2. Localized and personalized service: The people behind the pieces of furniture in your house have faces and names that you are familiar with. Some may even be your friends and relatives. If any issues arise with your purchase, you can contact them without going through a lot of hassle. From the delivery to the installation of your furniture, you are confident and comfortable because you know the people and you know how they work. You can rest assured that you’ll be getting the best pieces of furniture with quality service. 3. Local engagement: The more you buy locally, the more you get to engage with your community. You help each other leverage the products made by your community and can find ways to work with each other to achieve common goals. There is no better place than a community where everyone helps each other out. 4. Guilt-free purchase: Safeguarding the environment is a top priority because of the climate change issues that affect all of us. Buying a local product gives you the confidence that the materials are obtained legally and, in many cases, sustainably. You can take solace in the fact that the locally-made furniture was created within the bounds of environmental laws. You can assume that the logs weren’t illegally cut for your beautiful furniture piece. To add to that, you may be surprised to find that your locally-made chair, bed frame, or table was made with materials sourced from your community or region, which entails less contribution to carbon emissions because there was minimal transportation involved. 5. Labor laws upheld: It’s a great feeling when you know that you sit on a sofa made by artistic folks who are also well taken care of. They are well-compensated for the beautiful pieces they crafted and have medical insurance to keep them doing what they are doing best. Buying locally-made products oftentimes means enhanced transparency when it comes to the treatment of the workers. As local owners generally uphold labor laws, safety and security of workers are also guaranteed. They don’t follow laws because they are forced by legislation. They follow them because the people working in their furniture shops belong to the community that they are also a member of. That sense of responsibility comes with the fact that within a tight-knit community, everyone’s welfare is being looked out for by each other. Conclusion: It can be tempting to buy imported products for various reasons ranging from affordability to the appeal of owning furniture from another country. Whatever your reason is, give it a thought or two as you decide whether to get your pieces of furniture from a store that sells locally-crafted pieces or those from abroad. Consider the benefits you and your community will reap. Read Also: Unique Furniture To Transform Your Home How To Salvage Your Furniture After A Flood
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How to Maintain Your Garden Railings?
When it comes to property maintenance, it’s not uncommon to overlook garden railings, whether they are made of wood, iron or steel. They are outdoor fixtures that are often regarded as unessential and not necessitating care. To many, nothing significant changes if they are damaged or if they become structurally weakened. This way of thinking shouldn’t be the case, though. Railings in the garden are not only installed as decorative outdoor fixtures. Treat them as fences: Just like fences, you have to make sure that their structural integrity is maintained. They may not be there to provide security, but it’s important to make sure that they are as sturdy as they should be. Railings are installed for different reasons. For one, they could be used as protection for plants from pets or people who may unwittingly step on small plants. They will not be able to serve this purpose if they are weakened. On the other hand, railings also serve as occasional support structures for those who walk around the garden. If you lose your balance while strolling around, you will likely hold on to the railing if you see one. If the rail breaks with the slightest of pressure, it will aggravate accidents. Aside from not being able to support your weight when you lean on them, they may expose some sharp parts as they break or bend. These sharp pieces can result in wounds. Maintaining wooden railings: For garden railings made of wood, remove the vines that climb on them. These vines can hasten the disintegration of wood as it keeps moisture and prevents the sun from drying the wood. They can also serve as a hiding place for vermin. If the paint has already faded or peeled off, be sure to do a new paint job. Paint does not only improve the appearance of wooden rails. It also helps protect them from the elements. Maintaining steel or iron railings: One of the most important steps for garden railing maintenance is cleaning. Make sure nothing unwanted is stuck to the rails not only to keep them looking good but also to prevent damage. You’ll be surprised how the fecal matter of birds or the nesting of insects can speed up the wear and tear of your railings. Don’t let weeds cover the rails. Locate their origin, so they don’t quickly crawl back up again. Be on the lookout for rust. If corrosion develops, it means your coat of paint protection has been scratched. Scrape the rust off and repaint the affected portion. Examine the rest of your railings to see if there are other parts that could use a new layer of protective coating. If you use lawn trimmers or grass cutters, realise that the repeated strikes against your railing’s lower sections can become a starting point for severe damage. Strive to make your railings last long. They may not be an essential part of your property, but you spent good money on them. You may not feel like you lose anything if they are taken away, but those railings in your garden are there for a reason. Read Also: 5 Tips To Keeping Animals Away From Your Garden 5 Summer Garden Maintenance Tips And Tactics You Have To Know
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How You Can Increase the Value of Your Home with Stone Veneers
Stone veneers are a popular but often misunderstood product, though they’re slowly increasing in popularity. Installing stone veneer is a rather affordable way to add value to your property and improve the overall curb appeal. Let’s take a look at what stone veneers are and the main types of stone veneers on the market. Then we’ll share how you can increase the value of your home with stone veneers and where you may want to have them installed. An Introduction to Stone Veneers: Stone veneer refers to any outward facing material made from stone that is not designed to be load bearing. You can find both thin and full stone veneers. Full veneers are three to five inches thick and weigh far more than “thin” veneers. Thin veneers are three-quarters of an inch to one and a half inches thick. Because they are thinner, there is less time and labor required to install them. Thick “full” veneers may require advanced engineering to keep them in place, while thin stone veneers may be supported by the wall. Thin veneers can often be used on taller or higher projects. Now let’s look at how stone veneers add value to your home. The Aesthetic Value: Stone has a natural look and feel. Kafka natural stone veneer, for instance, comes in a variety of styles and finishes, so you can select the type that either matches the natural environment or accentuates it. You’ll create a look that will not only be a timeless classic but one that appears upscale, as the real stone is so expensive. This explains why a stone veneer project has roughly a 92% return on investment when you sell your home. Your home will also stand out from those around it that are clad in brick or vinyl siding. The Simplicity: Stone veneers meet pretty much all applicable building code requirements. Note that if you like the look of stone but don’t want to redo the entire home, you could have a stone accent wall put on the front of your home, or create stone pillars on the porch. Or you could put stone veneers around a gas or electric fireplace to make it resemble a real, stone fireplace without the time, cost and engineering changes necessary for a new stone fireplace installation. The Structural Benefits: Stone is very durable. After all, it takes a long time to weather. This makes stone an excellent choice for the exterior of your home; it will survive repeated freezes and thaws. A stone veneer wall can typically weather abuse by mother nature and casual impacts. It is water-repellent, pest-resistant and otherwise one of the most durable options on the market. The Economic Benefits: A properly installed stone veneer is maintenance free; you won’t have to repaint it as the colors won’t fade on exposure to sunlight or flake off with rain and wind. You won’t have to replace it in a few years because it has warped due to exposure to the elements. And as mentioned, stone veneers make a home appear high-end, resulting in higher offers for the property when you try to sell it. Stone veneers provide you with the best of both worlds. They provide the durability, attractiveness, and strength of stone. This is all without the high cost and advanced engineering requirements necessary to install full stone walls. Read Also: The Key Benefits Of Using SIPs To Build A Home 5 Ways That Ensure That Your Home Is Safe For Living Featured Image: Royalty
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Amazing Abodes: 10 Stunning Homes Around the World
The global housing market is reportedly shifting. Now, some of the most luxurious homes around the world are being sold at a fraction of what they cost a few years ago. While it may be the dawning of a worldwide seller's market, there are plenty of expensive homes exceeding the average buyer's price range. Even if you can't fork over mega-millions for a mansion of your own, it's fun to imagine what it might be like to live in the world's most luxurious residences. Amazing Abodes: 10 Stunning Homes Around the World Read on for an inside peek at ten of the world's most stunning abodes! 1. Beverly House, Beverly Hills, California: The Beverly House is within walking distance of the iconic Sunset Boulevard and has been in many major motion pictures. It appeared on-screen in major box-office hits, such as "The Godfather" and "The Bodyguard". Designed by the famous architect, Gordon Kaufman, the Beverly House is on the market for a cool $135 million dollars. But, if you don't want to commit to a mortgage, you can rent the star-studded digs for a mere $600,000 dollars a month. If you're looking to move out west, you could always sell your home to Otranto Real Estate. It won't get you $135 million, but it's a start, right? 2. Luxury Italian Villa, Otranto, Italy: This luxury Italian villa has stood the test of time since its construction, which dates back to 1840. Perched on the coast, overlooking the sandy shores, and full of charming courtyards and gardens, this one-of-a-kind 16-room property is breathtaking, even in pictures. It's currently for sale, but the price isn't open to the public. The price tag on this stunning display of Italian architecture is available by application only. 3. Buckingham Palace, London - One Of The Most Famous Homes Around The World: It's easy to see why this royal beauty is fit for a queen. As the home of Queen Elizabeth, there's no chance of buying this castle for yourself. But, you can visit and tour the castle's grounds. Buckingham Palace is open to the public during specific times throughout the year. It's unlikely that you will get around to viewing all 775 rooms. But, many of the staterooms are available for viewing and they are every bit as glorious as you might imagine. In fact, every inch of Her Majesty's royal homestead is worth the price you will pay for admission to the royal grounds. While you're there, make sure that you swing by Windsor Castle, which marks 900 years of royal architecture. If you want to see the actual home of the Queen, you will want to head to Edinburgh where you can visit the Palace of Holyroodhouse. Both are open to visitors all year. 4. Antilla, Mumbai, India: The Antilla is a 27-story skyscraper that's owned by the fifth richest man in the world. Mukesh Ambani, the world-famous billionaire, had the luxurious tower built for his own private use. His wife visited New York and fell in love with Asian interior design, causing him to design the tower for her. Antilla is the world's largest and most extravagant residential property. The home cost the businessman around $2 billion dollars. 5. The Playboy Mansion, Beverly Hills, California: It's not the original Playboy Mansion, which was in Chicago, but Hugh Hefner's final party house is bigger and better than the first. Hefner, known for his partying lifestyle and hosting exclusive soirees, placed his mansion on the market for $200 million. However, the deal included a caveat that he would be able to use the address to party until he passed. Eventually, the Playboy Mansion sold for half of the original asking price. The Greek millionaire who owns Hostess, the brand that makes Twinkies dessert cakes, bought the home. 6. Fleur de Lys Mansion, Los Angeles, California: The former home of Mariah Carey recently sold for $102 million dollars, paid in cash by an anonymous buyer. Its spread includes 12 bedrooms and 15 bathrooms. There's also a 3,000 square foot wine cellar, tasting room, two-story library, expansive ballroom, swimming pool, tennis courts, and a spa. The Fleur de Lys Mansion, built in 2002, modeled the French castle known as the Palace of Versaille, which had been the most decadent home of its time. The Palace of Versaille was the home of Marie Antoinette, who became famous for her narrow-minded extravagance. Supposedly, a crowd of peasants once stood in arms outside of her palace complaining that they hadn't even a crumb of bread to eat. The wealthy Mademoiselle supposedly responded "Let them eat cake", even though we now know that isn't accurate. The socialite's supposed response, absurd to those hearing it, has defined Antoinette as one of the most out of touch characters to ever grace the pages of history books. The quote is still cited when referring to the overwhelming differences in thought between social classes. 7. Xanadu 2.0, Medina, Washington: Owners Bill and Melinda Gates built their sprawling Washington home with many cutting-edge features. As the mastermind behind one of the century's most notable companies, Gates created the tucked away abode to match his tech-savvy image. A few of the unique amenities of Xanadu 2.0 include an underwater music system, a separately-housed swimming pool, and a trampoline park with 20-foot ceilings. The 66,000 square foot home has 24 bathrooms in all, 10 of which are full baths. In addition, it also has 6 kitchens, male and female locker rooms, a sauna, and a 2,300 square foot reception hall. The reception hall has a wall-to-wall limestone fireplace and a massive video screen for entertaining. It can seat up to 150 people or accommodate up to 200 guests if standing. Also interesting is the home's heating and light system. They are controllable using a pin-passcode that guests can set according to their personal preferences. The house's sheltered design aids in reducing energy usage and regulating temperatures. Gates also houses his ancient Da Vinci manuscripts here, which he acquired in 1994 for over $30 million dollars at an auction. He can display additional artwork, stored on $150,000 worth of storage devices, via the $80,000 computer screens adorning the walls. 8. Acqua Liana, Florida: This property's claim to fame is that it holds the title for the world's most luxurious eco-mansion. The 15,000 square foot home boasts 7 bedrooms, 11 bathrooms, a waterfall spa that's lit with fire, floating sun terraces, and an arched aquarium wet bar. It's almost hard to believe that such extravagant details could also be eco-friendly. Still, for any doubters, there are plenty of "green" qualities throughout the luxurious homestead. Acqua Linea has superior air quality, $120,000 worth of solar panels, ultra-efficient appliances, and extra LEED features. This helps the eco-mansion to maintain an energy-neutral setting most days. Its' designer created the home, not only to be sustainable living quarters but also as a work of art. His visits to exotic tropical locations such as Bali and the South American rainforests inspired him. 9. Palazzo Di Amore, Beverly Hills, California: Jeff Greene, an LA real-estate mogul, owns the Palazzo Di Amore, which is Italian for "Castle of Love". He listed the home for $195 million dollars but has since lowered the asking price by at least $66 million. The sprawling compound is an entertainment mecca. It features a rotating dance floor, laser light system, and a high-tech DJ booth. There's also a bowling alley, game room, theater, and parking space that can accommodate up to 150 cars at a time. The hard part is getting your friends to come over, it's getting them to leave! 10. Kensington Palace, London: Valued at $222 million dollars, Kensington Palace sits on one of Britain's most exclusive streets, which also known as London's "Billionaire Row". When the homeowner, Laski Mittal of India, purchased the 55,000 square foot palace for $128 million dollars, it was the most expensive address on the market. In addition to owning the famous mansion, Mittal also owns the world's largest steel manufacturing company. Kensington Palace was once home to the de Rothschild family. It's located near the current home of Prince William and Duchess Kate Middleton. Looking Into Buying a Mansion of Your Own? If you're interested in purchasing one of the mansions above, you'll be happy to know that several of these properties are currently up for sale. But, there are also plenty of other homes around the world priced for much less in the event you aren't prepared to spend millions (or billions) of dollars. But, before you invest in any type of real estate, there is some crucial information that you need to know. Ready to start searching for your own dream home? Check out this post for a list of essential things to know before buying a new house! Read Also: Top 5 Most Expensive Beachfront Homes Different Types Of Conversions To Make The Most Of Spare Space In Your Homes
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A List of Last-Minute Things You Should Check before You Move House
When we are moving house, it’s relatively easy for us to remember a good number of things, such as packing our belongings for our move and making sure all the items are properly packed and secured, and making sure that we inform our utility providers, both present and future as well. But there are indeed some other aspects which we may end up forgetting or neglecting simply because we are too focused on the major things we have to do. So what are these last-minute things you should check before you move house? Here’s a list. Things from repair shops, dry cleaning shops, tailors, and more: Yes, you probably have a lot of clothes to pack. But before you close and seal your boxes, make sure you have collected all your clothing from the dry cleaning shop and tailor, and you have taken all your items from repair shops as well. If you neglect to take things from the dry cleaners or the tailor or the repair shop, you may be faced with regret, especially if you are moving hundreds of kilometres away. Your personal paperwork, records, and documents: It may be surprising, but many individuals actually neglect to take care of their personal paperwork, records, and documents before it's too late. In essence, you should be taking care of your paperwork, records, and documents about two months prior to your move, as some files and documents may take time to process and retrieve, such as health records for your family from your local GP and records from the veterinarian if you have pets. If you have a local pharmacist, you may also want to take your list or a copy of your prescriptions from them. Some medical centres and pharmacies can transfer your records to your new general practitioner; it's still best to make sure of this before you move. Valuables and spare keys: You shouldn’t forget your valuables and spare keys, either, especially if you have a spare key with, for example, a neighbour, or hidden somewhere in your garden or property. Make sure you give your extra keys to the new occupants of your home; this is good protocol, even if the new occupants choose to change the locks in the end. Before you move to your new home, make a thorough sweep of your old home to see if there are any valuables you may have forgotten about, such as wads of cash hidden in a tin box, or jewellery which you have stashed away in a cupboard or shelf. You never know if you have forgotten a particularly valuable item, especially if you have lived in your old home for a long time, this is a common occurrence according to Advanced Removals & Storage, who offer a man with van in Cheltenham moving service. Gym memberships and library books: Aside from the things mentioned above, don't forget your gym memberships and library books too. Return whatever library books you may still have in your possession, and remember to inform the library about your move as well (this way, they can cancel your library card). If you have a membership for the local gym, make sure to cancel your membership – better yet, if they have a branch in your new location, you can simply ask them to transfer your gym membership to the other branch. Good luck, and happy moving! Read Also: 8 Home Gym Systems You’ll Want To Try Out Moving House? Here’s The Ultimate Checklist How To Sell Your House Fast?! Five Must-Know Tips To Move Your Property!
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9 Signs You Have a Pest Infestation in Your House (And What to Do About It)
The average American home has dozens or even hundreds of different kinds of insects living inside it. However, the vast majority of those tiny, unseen roommates aren't pests. Many insects and other small creatures can live peacefully near humans without causing problems. But others are pests that can infest your home, breeding in huge numbers and turning up everywhere you don't want them. From mice to cockroaches, these pests can leave all sorts of different signs. Humans have been doing pest control for thousands of years. But if you don't know what to look for, you won't know how to take the steps you need to control a pest infestation. In this guide, we'll show you exactly which signs of a pest infestation to look for. Once you recognize the problem, you can start taking the steps to fix it. Keep reading for what you need to know! 1. Damaged Wires or Furniture Big pests, like mice, often chew on furniture or through cords. If you see damaged wires or bite marks on your furniture, you probably have a pest problem that's not just insects. Rodents need to chew on things because their teeth constantly grow and need to be worn down. You'll see the marks of this activity down low, near the floor. You might also find signs that mice have been eating the food in your pantry. This damage will probably leave you asking, "What is the best way to get rid of mice?" However, the answer to this is the same as the answer to getting rid of any pests: you should always call a professional. DIY solutions are rarely completely effective. 2. Signs of Nesting Rodents also like to build nests, and you might see the signs during a thorough check of your home. They'll use any available materials to build their nests. You'll need to check all the small, hidden areas of your home where they might have started nesting. Common signs include shredded paper and cardboard. 3. Droppings Droppings are definitely one of the most unpleasant signs of a pest infestation you can come across. You can often figure out the type of pest you're working with by looking closely at the droppings. If it's a rodent, you'll find long, solid droppings that are sometimes shaped like cones. These droppings tend to be small, and won't have a strong scent. While that's a good thing, it also makes them difficult to spot. Insects droppings are different. You might find exoskeletons that have been shed, or wings, legs, and other parts of the insect body. A different sign of insect pests can be spider webs. Although spiders themselves aren't usually pests, their webs signal that they might be trying to catch the insects that have infested your home. 4. History of Pest Infestation Not sure if you're seeing sure signs of a pest infestation? Your house or apartment's history might hold some clues. Try to contact previous owners or tenants and see if they've experienced infestations before. You can also ask your neighbors if they've had any infestation issues. Where pests have been, they'll often come back, especially if measures to prevent their return aren't taken. 5. Dirt and Grime This is one of the more subtle signs of an infestation. Sometimes, what looks like a simple buildup of dirt can actually show that you're dealing with an infestation. One reason everyone hates pests is that they make a mess wherever they go. In places where insects, rodents, and other pests hang out, you might find crumbs, dirt smudges, and other bad signs. Rodents often take the same routes back and forth, so they'll leave streaks of dirt or grease along the paths they've taken. If there's dust on the floor, you may also see a trail where pests have walked. These signs may start out small, but they'll build as time goes on. The sooner you can catch them, the better. 6. Plant Damage Many insects feed on plants. If your house plants show signs of gnawing around the edges, and you don't have a pet that might have done it, it's likely due to a pest in the house. 7. Unpleasant Smells Sometimes, you'll smell a pest infestation before you see it. If you're dealing with insects that carry food, like ants, the smell could be that of rotting food they've dropped or stashed somewhere. You might also smell the pests that have died somewhere in your home, where you can't see them. They often hide in the walls or under floorboards. If you start to notice an unusual, unpleasant scent in one part of your house, make sure to carefully check it out. You might find an infestation you weren't expecting. 8. Live Pests The most obvious sign of an infestation is visually seeing live pests. However, sometimes it's easy to dismiss the problem if you see just one. Keep in mind that if one pest made itself visible, there are probably many more where it came from. These creatures tend to be great at hiding. If you catch them, you probably already have a problem -- it's not just a single creature in your home. 9. Strange Noises Almost all of your senses are useful when it comes to detecting a pest problem. Sometimes, they make unusual sounds that can be quiet and hard to catch. Pay close attention to the sounds in your home late at night, when everything's quiet. You can also put your ear up to the wall, floor, or anywhere the pests might be hiding. The sounds you hear can confirm the other signs you've found. What to Do About a Pest Infestation Now that you've spotted the signs of a pest infestation, what should you do about it? As mentioned above, your first step should always be to call professional help. If you try to fix the problem yourself, it can grow much bigger before you can stop it. Need to protect the outside of your home too? Check out our guide to keeping pests away from your garden here. Read Also: 10 Pest Control Tips To Keep Pests Away This Summer What You Should Expect From A Pest Control Visit
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The Top Four Reasons Why You Could Certainly Benefit from a Garden Shed
Storage space is essential for any home. This is particularly true if your house is on the small side – you need enough space for all your things and belongings, and it could quickly become an issue if you don't have enough space for everything you have. Where will you store items such as sports equipment, tools, and so on? While you may be able to hire a self-storage facility, do you really want to? If you put your things in a self-storage facility, you will not have access to it at any time. There is a solution, however: your very own garden shed. Check out the Shed Prices from different providers and compare them to find the most suitable one for your garden. Here are the top reasons why you could certainly benefit from a garden shed: 1. More storage As already mentioned, you could benefit from more storage space if you have a garden shed. If you have a garden shed, you can easily fill it with various items and equipment, from sports equipment to garden tools to bikes to barbecues and everything in between – stuff you don’t need all the time, but which would be nice to have handy. With a garden shed, you can have all these things stored and protected from the elements. 2. Enhanced value for your property If you have extra storage because of a garden shed, your home's value can also increase. If you ever think of selling your property in the future, your garden shed could be a unique and invaluable selling point. Everyone loves extra storage, after all. 3. Free up space in your home By having a garden shed, you can free up space in your home. You can place whatever oddly- or awkwardly-shaped items or belongings you have in the garden shed, therefore making your home more spacious. Your living space will be much more pleasant without all the clutter. 4. Extra space for hobbies and activities Your garden shed can also have a dual purpose: you can make use of your garden shed not just as a storage area but also as a place where you can engage in various hobbies. You can also make your shed look more aesthetically pleasing by adding windows. These can be made using polycarbonate by Simply Plastics. You can make your garden shed a place where you can do arts and crafts, you can convert it into a gym, or you can make it your very own ‘man (or woman) cave’. There are endless possibilities when you have a garden shed, especially when it’s well-built. To make sure your garden shed is well-built, you should rely on a good builder and manufacturer of garden sheds, such as AB Fencing, who have been specialists in garden sheds and fences for years – just have a look at their website. But if you're a do-it-yourself type of guy, then you could build one yourself and buildeazy.com has a perfect guide for you. You have yet another option when it comes to your garden shed – you can use it as a summerhouse where guests can stay and where you can do some entertaining. A garden shed can be a very useful addition to any property, and it can even transform your home and property's look and make it a more pleasant place for everyone. Read Also : 4 Essential Tools Needed To Maintain Your Garden In The Winter 5 Tips To Keeping Animals Away From Your Garden 5 Summer Garden Maintenance Tips And Tactics You Have To Know
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Edmonton Landscape Maintenance Tips
A healthy and well-maintained Edmonton landscape comes with a sense of formality, stability, and elegance. One of the best ways to contribute to the value of your property is through a healthy landscape. It also improves the total appearance of one’s neighbourhood. A healthy landscape also provides your family with a safe, natural surface where they can relax and play. Your children will also have a place for picnics, to play or aimlessly wander around to enjoy the garden. Your landscaping requires some ongoing maintenance to make it tidy and presentable even after many years. You can maintain your landscape by keeping it healthy to be beneficial to your environment by following these few simple tips. Top Dress Your Lawn: Make plans ahead for the coming of spring. Be sure to top dress your lawn during the early fall. You can make use of topsoil or a thin layer of compost for this. This is also the most favorable time to include grass seed in your lawn. With the use of slow-release fertilizers or compost, the growth of your lawn will be promoted against the next spring. Watering: Watering your lawn deeply helps to encourage deep roots. There is no specification about the amount of water to apply on an Edmonton landscape because it depends on the type of temperature, mowing height, wind, soil type, species of grass and some other factors. Use a rain gauge to sprinkle water. An inch is generally considered to be an adequate soaking but makes sure to add more water to south-facing slopes and high spots areas. Shady areas with less than 4 hours of sunlight per day should receive less water. Make sure to water early morning since you won’t lose much water to wind and evaporation. Doing it in the after wastes a lot of water Mowing: It is true that buzz-cutting your lawn makes it look really cool, like a golf green, but in the long run, the health of your lawn will suffer. Not only will a short lawn dry out and quickly burn, but it not have the ability to combat invasive weeds. Be sure to sharpen your blades every spring and slightly set them higher. The root system of your lawn is only as efficient and deep as the length of your grass’ blades. This is why your lawn should about preferably 2.5 to 3 inches high when you mow it. Go For Durable Materials: The landscape is all about plants for majority of home gardeners but another way to contribute to the ease of maintenance is through a good landscaping. This is why you need to spend some quality time to research the maintenance requirement of the materials you use and their durability. Check the pathways, edging, decking and so on. You should consider the ability of your materials when it comes to withstanding the extremes of your climate during your materials selection process. Conclusion: Everyone leads a busy lifestyle with sports, work, hobbies, school, housekeeping, and the lists appears endless, which is why a lot of house owners don’t have enough time to fiddle with endless blooms that are deadhead or with fussy plants. If you decide to do your landscaping work yourself, you should go for more easy-care plants, which will require minimal maintenance of your landscape and less hours of work. However, if you don’t really enjoy yard work and also have small extra dollars to spend, you can pay for the services of others such as Terra Nova Edmonton to do the work for you. This means you can as well include labour-intensive plants. The services of a professional also ensure good design, diverse and beautiful Edmonton landscape without you sacrificing several hours of your previous time. Read Also: Landscape Edging In Sandy/Beach Areas Create A Stunning Outdoor Space With These Residential Landscape Lighting Tips
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