Category: Home Improvement

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Downsizing

7 Expert Hacks for Downsizing to a Smaller Apartment

So you want to downsize to a smaller apartment?  If you’re banging your head against the wall trying to figure out how to make a move go smoothly, you’re not alone. We’ve all been guilty of having too much stuff! Give yourself a break and start thinking of solutions. Stay inspired by focusing on the many benefits of downsizing!  Moving into a smaller apartment gives you the chance to start over and get rid of things you no longer need. It can also help you to get organized and keep only the essentials.  Even better, you won’t have to clean nearly as much space and can live as a minimalist! That in itself has some serious perks. Your stuff won’t own you and you’ll have more time to enjoy life. Do you see where we’re going with this?  Get ready, because, in this article, we offer seven expert hacks to help make the process of moving into a smaller apartment easier.  Here are 7 Expert Hacks for Downsizing to a Smaller Apartment: 1. Analyze the space you’ll have It’s essential to know the total space of your new apartment before you start the downsizing process.  Take a look at your new floor plan and figure out how much room in feet and inches are on each wall. That way you’ll know what will fit in your apartment. If the measurements aren’t on the floor plan, ask the leasing office to provide you with the details.  But, the floor plan or provided measurements won’t tell you everything. You need to measure the extra spaces as well:  Closets Space under the bed (more on this later) Bathroom storage and cabinets Garage storage (if your apartment includes a separate garage) Kitchen storage and cabinets Other spaces where you might add shelving (like the top of the fridge or in a window) When you’re done with that, measure your current furniture and decide which pieces will fit into your place and which ones you won’t need.  2. Determine your actual needs  An excellent way to figure out what your needs are is by asking yourself if everything was gone, what would you replace?  Jot down some necessary items you can’t live without such as a bed, sofa, coffeemaker, dog bed — whatever is important to you.  You should also ask yourself the following questions:  What sentimental items will I miss the most?  Does this item serve a purpose?  Do I already have something that serves the same purpose?  Can I use this item to accomplish more than one task?  Is this object in good shape, and will it last for a while longer? This is the point where you’ll be making some headway on knowing what you’re keeping and what you can live without.  If ever in doubt of whether you should keep or donate something, go back to asking yourself these questions.  3. Set some tangible goals  When it’s getting closer to moving time, you need to come up with a game plan.  Best get started with setting some goals before time escapes you!  We’re assuming you want to declutter and possibly redecorate your new place, and if that’s the case, it’s time to set some tangible goals.  Ask yourself these questions: (Yes, we realize we’re telling you to do this yet again.) What do I hope to gain by adopting a minimalist lifestyle?  Do I want to keep the furniture I have or get new furniture (#1 and #4 will help with this) How do I plan to declutter?  How will I maximize my space? (Keep reading because we cover this in #4.) What will I do if I can’t decide to part with some items?  Should I pay for storage elsewhere to store extra belongings?  Need some help answering those kinds of questions?  Here are some goals you could have: I want a clutter-free apartment that will give me peace.  Not fixating on my possessions will help me feel free.  I’d like to have a clean slate and keep my belongings organized moving forward.  Being minimalistic will help me put emphasis on the most important emotional and physical items in my life.  Write down a few goals that inspire you so that when you feel like giving up, you’ll be able to remind yourself of your intentions. 4. Be a master organizer by maximizing space  Since you know how much space is in your apartment, as we recommended in #2, you should already have a plan in place as to where everything should go. With the limited storage space in your new digs, it’ll help to store things vertically. Vertically aligning hooks and shelves helps you take advantage of every square inch of space.  You might want to use adhesive hooks at first because most are easy to adjust. We’ll be getting into how to simplify your wardrobe next, but for now, keep in mind that multi-use furniture can solve a lot of storage problems.  Keep reading because we’re about to reveal some killer ideas.  One idea is to maximize space by incorporating storage headboards. These are pieces of furniture such as bookshelves and a hutch that’ll fit over your bed.  Incorporating these types of units will make it easier to store a variety of items from family treasures to books and jewelry.  For example, incorporating a fitted unit in your closet can make it easier to organize.  Beyond that, think of other ways you can make use of storage. Is there any room underneath the bed you’ll be moving into your fancy new apartment?  If there isn’t and you need an upgrade, buy a bed that has drawers underneath. Trust us — those drawers will be your best friend when you need to store extra items of clothing such as blankets or sweatshirts.  Keep your bed if you like it, and it just so happens that you may be able to squeeze in some bins underneath to use as storage. For example, milk crates work well when you want to store books, tee shirts, and keepsakes. 5. Simplify your wardrobe   Seriously, how do you go about simplifying your wardrobe with you have a gazillion t-shirts?  If you think your new closet is small, just think about the people who live in tiny homes. Now those are super tiny!  Don’t worry; you can do this if they can!  Here are some steps to follow that’ll make your wardrobe functional in no time at all.  Step 1:  Get all of your clothing out (ALL of it!) and put it somewhere you can sort through it. Whether that’s on the floor or on your bed is entirely up to you.  Step 2:  Next, divide those clothes into three different piles and decide to donate, keep, or store them.  Step 3:  Ask yourself if the clothing fits you or if it's still in wearable condition. If you haven’t worn jeans, for example, due to a weight gain or loss, donate or store those items.  Don’t keep clothing that’s falling apart. That’s just a waste of precious closet space! Step 4:  Are you done going through your clothing and separating them into three different piles?  Okay good, you’re going to do it again. This time ask yourself if this clothing fits your personality and your current lifestyle.  Step 5:  Mission complete! Well, almost. Organize the clothes you’re keeping, store what you plan to wear later (such as seasonal clothing), and drop off clothes you’re donating. 6. Sell or donate what you don’t want  Now that you know how much space you have, and how to simplify your wardrobe, let's dive into why it's so essential to sell or donate belongings. It's time to stop and figure out which items you can and can't part with.  As you know, whether you're moving to a different city or relocating to a separate apartment at the same complex, moving takes a lot of work. You should do everything in your power to simplify the moving process.  Eager to make some money to help with moving expenses? One way to do that is by selling belongings and furniture you no longer want. Try Craigslist, eBay, garage sales, Facebook, consignment stores, and more. Before you even start packing, you should sell, donate, or recycle stuff you can live without. This will eliminate packing everything up only to decide later that you didn't need that item of clothing or five extra plates.  If you have problems deciding whether you want to keep, sell, or donate an item, take a hard look at everything you own.  Think about whether another person would find use out of that item. If the item is useful, you can either donate it or sell it, depending on its value.  Who knows, your trash may turn into someone else's treasure.  7. Digitize nonessential media Next let's dive into how you can digitize and save documents, pictures, videos, cassettes, videos, DVDs, and CDs.  While it's important to keep hard copies of documents such as your social security card and birth certificate, try to save and scan everything else.  Transfer CDs and DVDs to digital files by using free computer programs such as Freemake Video Converter, Movavi, and WinX. Scan documents to your computer or save them as PDF files. After you're done scanning everything, use services like Google Drive, Dropbox, and Microsoft One Drive.  Online storage sites are lifesavers when your goal is to digitize media.  Think of all of the space you'll free up in your new apartment by getting rid of boxes of videos, paper, and more by going paperless!  It'll take some time, but it'll totally be worth it. And boom! Suddenly you'll realize you're there.  So, do you think it’s time to move? Even though downsizing may seem daunting, it doesn’t have to be. Moving to a smaller apartment has its perks, such as decluttering your life and organizing your new place with fewer belongings.  Simply put, downsizing to a smaller apartment means:  Enjoying lower monthly expenses and living costs Not having to clean nearly as much since your place is smaller Living a minimalist lifestyle without meaningless belongings getting in your way  Instead of sweating the small stuff, take the moving process step by step. Before you know it, you’ll be enjoying your new digs, relieved that you took the time to eliminate the clutter. Carolina Creek is a great townhouse-style community located about a mile from Eastern Carolina University's campus. The community consists of 2x3 and 3x3 apartments and contains a full amenity suite including a fitness center, pool, business center, and game room. The community is the best value in the Greenville NC student housing market. Read Also: 5 Tips For Designing a Tiny House How To Make Your Home Look Like You Hired An Interior Designer Buying A House Vs Renting An Apartment: Which Is More Affordable?

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Metal Studs

Why Metal Studs are More Suitable for Your Construction Works

When it comes to building structures, it is preferable to consider using metal studs in place of wooden studs for non-load bearing walls. Research shows that more than 50% of structures are built with metal studs made from cold-formed sheets. However, metal studs conduct cold, but builders prefer using metal studs in place of woods for the following reasons. 1. Metal studs are lighter than wooden studs and convenient to work: Metal studs are lighter in weight than wooden studs because of their hollow shape. This makes them less bulky than wooden studs in terms of transportation and storage. When cutting metal studs using aviation snips, there are no sawdusts, unlike cutting through wooden studs. But it is advisable to protect your hands from sharp ends using gloves, especially during galvanized steel frame building construction. 2. Metal studs are easier to handle: In terms of installation, metal studs weigh far less than wooden studs and are held in place with screws. Therefore, it easy to correct installation blunders with metal studs. 3. Metal studs are less prone to attacks from atmospheric elements: Metal studs are not inclined to stresses and uneven shrinkage. Unlike wooden studs, which are susceptible to such factors with time. Also, metal studs are more resistant to mold and rot, which are common wooden infections. Although metal studs rust with time, this is preventable by installing a vapor barrier on the concrete floor. This explains the durability and sturdiness commonly enjoyed with galvanized steel frame building. 4. Metal studs have a higher tensile strength than wooden studs: Metal studs have a higher tensile strength and flexibility than wooden studs. Therefore, they are preferred for construction in wind prone areas and seismic zones like the Gulf Coast states of the USA. 5. Metal studs are resistant to fire and insect attacks: Metal studs are not prone to insect attacks like carpenter ants and termites, which can cause grave damages to wooden studs. Also, in terms of fire outbreaks, metal studs are fire resistant and do not burn in the case of a fire outbreak, unlike wooden studs. 6. Metal studs have a higher cost advantage: Wooden studs cost 15% lesser than metal studs, but metal studs offer cost advantages in other areas. These advantages cut across warranty call-backs in the sales of metal studs are much reduced because metal studs are not susceptible to shrinkage, and additional stress-related factors. Buildings built with metal studs do not have cracks or nail pops to fix after completion. Therefore, scraps are significantly reduced. Up to 20% wastage is recorded when wooden studs are used in construction. Hence the cost of disposing of discarded materials is decreased considerably. 7. Higher insurance discounts: Owners of buildings built with metal studs enjoy a higher insurance discount due to lower risk factors. Unlike buildings built with wooden studs, which attracts a higher insurance premium because of their higher susceptibility to fire and other environmental factors. Conclusion: Metal studs are preferable for buildings because they are environmentally friendly compared with wooden studs. They can be recycled and are readily available in similar wooden dimensions. Read Also: How To Protect Your Wood Flooring In A Busy Household Hardwood Timber Flooring: Gives A Classic Look To Your Home

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House Cleaning Service

Your Guide to a Spotless Home: Cleaning Service Hiring Tips

Best Maids has been a major player in the cleaning business in Chicago, Illinois, for 20 years. They continue to outshine the competition for good reasons.   They offer free consultations and a 100% customer satisfaction guarantee with their cleaning services.  When searching for a cleaning or maid service in Chicago, it’s important to consider several factors. Let’s explore what makes Best Maids an industry leader. What to Look for When Hiring a House Cleaning Service When choosing a house cleaning service, here is what you should look for:  The Staff Names can be deceiving, but Best Maids lives up to theirs. The entire staff is professionally trained, licensed, and skilled. Due to the company’s low staff turnover and efficient scheduling, you usually get the same crew each time.  This setup is reassuring. It ensures consistent quality and helps build a long-term relationship.   Best Maids performs stringent background checks before hiring, giving you peace of mind that the staff in your home are trustworthy. Attention to Detail Best Maids is transparent and detailed about house cleaning services. They provide a checklist for what will be cleaned in each area.   From notoriously grubby, often overlooked spots like extraction fans and picture frames to light bulbs and ceiling fans, house cleaning Chicago covers it all. What are the Products They Use It’s important to understand the potential harm or benefits cleaning products can cause. Best Maids uses non-toxic products that ensure your health and the cleanliness of your home.  It’s equally important that the cleaning staff is trained to handle all your appliances. This includes air conditioners, kitchen equipment, and boilers.   For specialized maintenance, like air conditioning, consider hiring an aircon cleaning expert in Brisbane. They can ensure your HVAC systems run efficiently and help extend their lifespan, saving you on energy costs. Look into The Extra Charges Some areas of the house need cleaning, but many services don’t include them. Best Maids offers extras like wet-wiping light bulbs, moving heavy items, refrigerator clean-ups, and organizing drawers.   These services cater to those who prefer not to handle these tasks themselves. The Region They Work A company with long-standing success and continuous growth can expand its reach. Best Maids now offers house cleaning service across many areas of Chicago.   They cover zip codes like 60601, 60602, 60603, 60604, 60605, 60606, 60607, 60608, 60610, 60611, 60613, 60614, 60615, 60616, 60618, 60620, 60622, 60626, 60631, 60632, 60637, 60638, 60640, 60641, 60642, 60643, 60645, 60646, 60647, 60653, 60654, 60655, 60657, 60660, and 60661. Personalized Service Personal needs differ and any good service should account for them. Best Maids listens to your preferences, including your preferred cleaning time.   You may have a baby at home or work remotely, and cleaning can interrupt your routine.   Best Maids aim to meet your needs and provide a healthy, clean home with minimal disruption.   Once you’ve scheduled an appointment, they offer to hold the slot for ongoing cleaning or adjust to your convenience.  Whether you need a one-off deep clean, special services, or a long-term house cleaning solution, Best Maids have consistently proven their worth. This Is Why Regular House Cleaning is Important  House cleaning isn’t a one-time task. It’s an ongoing function that requires your time and attention. Suppose you decide to take the time and put in the effort to clean up your property. Whenever you believe you’re done, it’s time for upkeep! House cleaning may be a dirty small business, but not for industrial cleaners operating in big businesses.  Preventing Dirt Buildup and Allergens Dust, dirt, and allergens build up fast. If not cleaned on a regular basis, these particles can settle into surfaces and air ducts. Even causing health problems and poor air quality. Keeping a clean house not only provides a neat appearance but also eliminates allergen exposure. Dusting, vacuuming, and sanitizing will prevent allergens such as pet dander and pollen from building up over time to cause respiratory problems. Prolonging the Life of Furniture and Appliances Your furniture and appliances are not cheap. Routine cleaning and maintenance go a long way in keeping them in good condition and avoiding unnecessary damage. Dust, grime, water spots, etc. can ruin wood finishes over time, dust-clogged air filters don’t work as well, and laptops/televisions, etc won’t last if they overheat due to dirt buildup.  Enhancing Mental Well-being A cluttered, dirty space can cause you to feel stressed and anxious. On the other hand, a clean and organized environment can help you feel calm and focused. Cleaning your home regularly can help reduce your stress levels, make you feel more in control of your life, and create a peaceful atmosphere for restful sleep.   When everything is in its place, it’s easier to be productive, creative, and content.  Saving Time and Effort Deep cleaning sessions are required sometimes, but they can be long and exhausting. If you maintain a clean-ish home with a regular cleaning schedule, you shouldn’t need to deep clean very often. A few minutes a day or an hour of work each week to stay on top of clutter and maintenance is much easier than 8 hours slogging away at the dirt in an overused room once every few months. Establishing Good Habits Cleaning becomes a habit over time. It is easier to keep a clean home when it is part of your regular daily routine.   Whether you do a little bit every day or set aside specific days for different cleaning tasks, having a routine keeps things consistently tidy. Final Thoughts Keeping up with a regular cleaning schedule is about more than just appearance. It’s an investment in your health, your time, and your peace of mind.   Commit to cleaning regularly so you can develop a living space that promotes total well-being.  Read Also: 7 Advantages Of Hiring A Residential Cleaner How Cleaning Helps Us Feel Better And Why We Don’t Do It 5 Tips On Effectively Picking A Tile Floor Cleaning Machine Run Cleaning In Dallas: Why A Professional Cleaner Is Better

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Wood Flooring

How to Protect Your Wood Flooring in a Busy Household

A busy household is one with a lot of love. Whether it is a lot of people all living together in one home or just neighbors and friends dropping by at all hours of the day and night, keeping up with a barrage of feet across your floors can be difficult. A stylish wood flooring might be exactly what you need in terms of aesthetics but what can you do in terms of protection? Keep reading to find out. Choose the Right Floor: Protecting the floor actually begins a long time before it is even laid. One of the most crucial decisions you can make when it comes to choosing the right flooring comes from which wood you pick. If you opt for a design which has been treated to be resistant then you know it will be a little longer lasting than something else you could choose. You should also choose something on the neutral side so it will always be in style no matter how much you change the rest of the room about. The right color will blend in with everything and can even help to disguise stains depending on what you choose. Enforce “Shoes Off” Yes, you might have to be one of those households which enforces a shoes-off rule. If you want to maintain clean floors as often as possible, you need to ensure that no-one is trekking mud and dirt through your home on the soles of their shoes. Some people only like to use this rule when they have carpets, but it can also be used when you have wood flooring you want to keep pristine. Keep a collection of slippers just for guests if they aren’t comfortable walking around in just socks. Use Protector Pads on Furniture: Head to any hardware store or even your local supermarket, and you will be able to find a square of felt which you can cut up and used to cushion the feet of your furniture. This can be bought either in the pre-cut shapes or you can do it yourself. If you have furniture like chairs which frequently get dragged along your floor, this felt will help to protect the floor. Long scores and other damage on the floor can be extremely difficult to fix and you should instead try to focus on preventing such damage. Put the pads on any furniture will be resting on the floor even if it will not be moved often. It might not be the most convenient for you to try to place the pads on your heavy dresser, but it will be worth it if it means your floor won’t be damaged. Just the natural shift of people walking around the house might be enough to cause it to move and damage your floors. Wipe up Spillages ASAP: Wood floors are great as they do not require that much in the way of maintenance but there is one thing you must be exceptionally vigilant about. This is spillages from liquids; something which might happen quite a lot in households with a lot of people. From drinks being dropped to vases getting knocked over, there is plenty of scope for things being spilled on your beautiful wooden floor. If this spillage is left unattended, you can risk the wood warping and become irrevocably damaged. There is not really any way to correct wood once it has warped so it is easier to just be vigilant and clean up the spills as they happen instead. If you have young children, make sure that you instill in them the knowledge that spilling on the floor is not wrong if it is an accident, but it must be cleaned up as soon as possible. Gentle, Regular Cleaning: A wood floor can look beautiful, but you need to be very careful about what you use to clean it if you want it to remain as good as possible for the longest amount of time. First of all, a regular sweep will work wonders. Build one into your routine. If you do a daily clean down or tidy of the room with the wood floor just to keep things nice and neat, running around with a broom is not a massive addition to your cleaning routine. When it comes to something a little more, all you need is a good microfibre mop. These are brilliant as you can really wring them out to ensure that they are merely damp as opposed to wet. You should not want to use anything too wet to avoid the warping problem mentioned above. A damp microfibre mop and a suitable cleaner which can be used on wood flooring are all you need to ensure that the wood is left sparkling clean. Read more: Use Floor Polishing For Keeping Your Flooring Looking New A Stylish Rug or Two: If your wood floor is in somewhere with a lot of traffic, for example, a hallway or the kitchen, then you might want to take an extra precaution to protect the floor through the use of a rug. This will protect your floor from some additional wear and tear and can help to prevent those tell-tale marks which slowly appear from lots of feet trailing through the same area. What’s more, it is incredibly easy to find rugs to match whatever style you might have in a room. With a load of different textures and designs to choose from, you can very easily find the perfect rug to match your room and rest knowing that the floor underneath will stay protected that little bit longer. Find the Right Floor for You Today: If you have been holding back on installing a wood floor because you think your household is too busy for it, you need to correct that mistake now. There are plenty of options for you even if you have a house bursting at the seams with loved ones! With the tips mentioned above, there is no reason why you cannot have a beautiful wood floor in your home even if you have visitors at all hours of the day and night. Read Also: How Long Does Vinyl Flooring Last? 7 Advantages Of Reflective Epoxy Flooring 5 Factors To Consider In Choosing The Right Floor Colors

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Home Relocation

4 Questions To Ask From Your Home Relocation Company

No matter what sort of circumstance may arise, telling your family that you are selling their "Home Sweet Home" is unarguably baffling than anything else-both mentally and emotionally. But, sometimes in quest of life betterment, we've to make the hard call. So, by now, you've found the right buyer and inked a mutually beneficial deal. What's the next big step of your master plan? Find a team of removalists to share the burden of relocating the house from your shoulder. But, with so many movers out there, marketing themselves to the best in the business is far more challenging than you might perceive at the first place. However, don't you worry, as we enlist the four Must-Have questions to ask when you are interviewing multiple candidates for a trustworthy home relocation company?-so, why think or rethink, check them out- Q.1 Are You Licensed? The first obvious step when locating a credible moving company in your geographical location is inquiring, whether they hold the license to operate in a given state or the entire country. Having this question in the questionnaire list will ensure you stay clear of even the slightest possibility of a moving scam. Since your relocating service provider will be relocating valuable stuff from one location to another, simply, you can't risk hiring anyone who calls himself/herself to be representing a removals company. You are required to do your thorough research work. It begins with analyzing the website, go for the details related to the licensing and then you can obtain other critical information from over popular customer feedback portals to deduce whether the individual you are contracting is worth the dollars or not. Q2. Do You Have Relevant Experience With My Specific Type of Moving? The next big question to hurl at your prospective removalist agency when conducting a face-to-face interview is to inquire, do they have the expertise to your specific relocation needs? For instance, you are relocating to a high-rise building, ask whether they have a team of removalists and the knowledge of managing unloading the stuff carefully at your new address on the 17th floor. Can they deal with the fragile items that need to be carefully moved from one place to another? This establishes you don't confront any last-minute hassle, which can prove to be a costly and overwhelming headache for a homeowner like you. So, don't be timid to ask this question, even if the company is in the business for the last decade. Q3. What Sort of Liability Coverage do You Provide? It is optimistic to think only about the positive scenarios, but you may land into trouble if you don't look into the worst case. So, ask what the liability coverage your removing company will be assuring you with. Whether your new address is just three blocks away or moving to a state thousands of miles away, this is one factor that the majority of the homeowners overlook, only to find themselves in the middle of a big hassle. It is indispensable to give a priority to a removing company that is putting forth an array of options when it comes to liability coverages. The Two Types of Liability Coverage- One is Full Value Protection and the other being the Released Value Protection. Under the Full Value Protection coverage, the remover will be responsible to pay for the damage of the shipment. But, the shortcoming associated with this coverage is that it is a costly addition. So, you can go with Released Value Protection, if money is a factor when hiring for a removing agency. But, it covers only a certain percentile of the loss. Q4. Do You Have Any References? Before you finalize on hiring a removing company, ask for references. You can go that extra mile by talking to their previous clients and inquire they were satisfied with the services offered to them? Ask what sort of difficulty they confronted with their removalists, and what are the pros of the company. These few questions will help you reach a conclusion about whether to hire or not. Conclusion: Trust your guts when making the final tough call. Also, have a quick look at the reviews & ratings of genuine customer feedback sites. Read Also: 10 Things To Do Before You Move Out Of State Investing In Property Is Investing In Your Future 7 Helpful Tips During An Emergency Moving Process

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Epoxy Flooring

7 Advantages of Reflective Epoxy Flooring

Flooring trends come and go, and that’s not a bad thing when you think about the decade in which orange and brown patterned carpet was all the rage. It’s proof that not every trend is a good one, but some are more withstanding of changing tastes and times than others. Epoxy floors are a great example of flooring that stands the test of time despite the trendy nature of this type of concrete floor. If you’re thinking about epoxy concrete, here are some of the biggest benefits of this type of flooring. 7 Advantages of Reflective Epoxy Flooring: 1. It’s Durable: Durable flooring is hard to find when you have kids, pets, and even high heel shoes on the floor all the time. Reflective epoxy floors are among the most durable. They are able to withstand significant wear and tear, which means they are more affordable than other floors, too. You don’t have to replace them as often, which means less money comes out of your own pocket. 2. It’s Strong: When you use epoxy on your concrete floors, you make them strong. They’re less likely to break down when you use them, and the chemicals in the flooring are not going to break down as quickly. Furthermore, the chemicals you use to clean this kind of floor will not cause erosion, breakdown, or damage. That's big if you are into clean floors at home. 3. It’s Affordable: Imagine you have a beautiful home, but the floors are less than attractive. The builder used a builder-grade carpet, and you can’t handle it anymore. However, you don’t have the budget to redo the floors with tile or wood. Why not go with epoxy to save some money? It’s easy to rip out the old floor, spruce up the concrete below, and add epoxy to the top. It’s strong, beautiful, and it’s more cost-effective than other flooring options. 4. It’s Safe: What makes some people feel nervous about adding concrete epoxy floors to their home is the safety feature. Aren’t they slippery? Won’t you have a higher risk of falling? Will a small spill turn your home into a danger zone? The answer is no to all of the above. Epoxy is strong and safe. It’s not susceptible to slippage, impact, fire, and even temperatures that are extreme in nature. Your home is safer with this on the floor. 5. It’s Aesthetically Appealing: You want your home to look good, and you want it to show well when you host friends and family. This type of flooring gives you just that. It’s bright, it’s beautiful, it’s attractive, and it comes in any color, pattern, and design imaginable. You get to customize your own floors, and you can add anything you want. Imagine adding your family crest to the floor by the front door for added appeal. It’s almost too good to be true, but it’s easily done with a stencil. It’s even easier if you hire a professional to do the work for you. Renucrete Sydney Polished Concrete can help you create the perfect epoxy flooring in your home. 6. It’s Low-Maintenance: One of the most common misconceptions homeowners have regarding epoxy floors is about maintenance. Many people assume it’s hard to take care of it. It’s not easy to deal with, and it takes a lot of work. The truth is that it does none of the above. It’s exceptionally easy to maintain, and it can be cleaned regularly without the risk of damage. The epoxy removes the porous aspect of the concrete, which means your floors are even easier to maintain. 7. It’s Easily Changed: If you remodel your home and spend thousands of dollars on trendy wood floors, you love them for years. What happens, however, when you decide that grey wood flooring you loved so much a decade ago is no longer in style? You’re spending thousands more to replace it with something else. Your epoxy floors, however, aren’t like that. You don’t have to rip up the old floor if you decide you’re tired of it. You simply add whatever you want to the top, and you can always go back to the concrete if you choose. Epoxy floors are not just for industrial spaces. They’re making homes feel larger, airier, and more modern every day. It’s not something you might consider until now, but adding epoxy floors at home might be exactly what you’ve been looking for to turn your house into a home. Read Also: 5 Factors To Consider In Choosing The Right Floor Colors

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Residential Cleaner

7 Advantages of Hiring a Residential Cleaner

Keeping your home clean can seem like a never-ending task, especially when you consider the big cleaning jobs you have to do routinely. While most people are reluctant to even consider it, hiring a professional residential Cleaner has a broad range of advantages. Some of the perks of using professionals may be obvious, but you may not have considered a few of the other benefits listed here. 7 Advantages of Hiring a Residential Cleaner: 1. Free Up Your Time: Possibly one of the most obvious advantages of hiring a residential cleaner is that you will have that time to yourself. What could you be doing if you didn't have to dust, mop the floors, and vacuum the carpets? You might be able to devote that time to paying closer attention to your children or catching up with old friends. Many people get so caught up in their day-to-day chores that their social lives fall by the wayside. Hiring cleaners frees you up to reignite your social life. 2. Obtain a Professional Level of Clean: While you may do a good enough job at cleaning your home, you don't always feel up to the task. On those days, you won't get the same high level of cleanliness. Conversely, hiring professional cleaners will ensure every cleaning job is thorough and of the highest quality. The staff that cleaning companies hire are trained to provide a better quality of service, ensuring you'll be satisfied with each visit. 3. Get Those Big Jobs Out of the Way: Imagine you want the exterior of your home rinsed of dirt and debris, or you want the cobwebs removed from the garage. Handling that by yourself will be difficult and time-consuming. However, professional services, such as JCEco Blasting GC Pressure Cleaning, can do the work far more efficiently. In addition to the years of experience, they have in performing similar work, they also have the industrial equipment to do the job more quickly. 4. Save Money: Believe it or not, you can actually save some money by hiring a residential cleaner. While you do have to pay the cleaning service, the fee is small in comparison to the expenses you would otherwise incur. In addition to the cleaning supplies you're continuously having to buy, you would also have to buy or lease the equipment. On the other hand, professional cleaners have their own equipment and supplies, which are far superior to anything you might buy in a department store or hardware store. The industrial machines they use will do a much more thorough cleaning job. 5. You Can Make Special Requests: Everyone's health and environmental concerns are different, so residential cleaner keeps a wide range of products stocked. If you have children or pets, you may want to ensure non-caustic substances are used to clean your floors. Alternatively, you may maintain an eco-friendly household. In that case, you can request that your cleaners only use green cleaning substances. Professional cleaners will meet whatever special requests you may have to ensure you’re satisfied with their service. 6. Your Home Will Be Cleaner: The professional cleaners you hire won't just clean better. They will also clean areas of your home that you probably ignore, getting deeper into corners, crevices, and tight spots. Since they have a wide range of tools and equipment, they will have the resources to get into those hard-to-reach areas. After one thorough cleaning, you may find yourself wondering how you ever managed without them. 7. You're Free to Organize Your Household in Other Ways: While professionals are cleaning your home, you have more time to concentrate on preparing more nutritious meals or reorganizing the stacks of papers your family left laying around the home. There are probably dozens of chores you set aside for a rainy day because you normally don't have the time. Now you do. You can paint the spare bedroom, plant that vegetable garden, or accomplish other tasks you have always wanted to tackle. You'll be amazed by how much more you can accomplish with a little extra help. Now that you've had an opportunity to learn what residential cleaners can do for you, it may be time to reconsider your opinion on hiring them. They may make your life easier in ways you had not previously considered. Considering how busy other aspects of your life keep you, hiring a little help may be a blessing. Read Also: 7 Benefits Of A Clean And Decluttered Workspace 5 Tips On Effectively Picking A Tile Floor Cleaning Machine

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Plumbing Myths

10 Plumbing Myths Debunked

Colepepper Plumbing plumber home services often get calls to fix issues that are caused by misguided beliefs and even myths on how plumbing systems work. An easily preventable plumbing problem can escalate to a full-blown emergency in no time if you believed such myths and hold on to habits that will wreak havoc both on your pipes and on your budget. Below are 10 of the most common plumbing myths and the truth behind them. 10 Plumbing Myths Debunked: Myth 1: It’s OK to Have a Dripping Faucet: A dripping faucet, according to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, can waste as many as 3,000 gallons of water a year. To give you an even clearer picture, you can take approximately 200 showers with that much water. If you have a dripping faucet, you are essentially paying for 3,000 gallons of water that you don’t use every year. That’s definitely not acceptable. Myth 2: It’s OK to Throw Oil and Grease Down the Drain: Some folks mistakenly believe that oil and grease will end up in the sewers even before it solidifies in the drain pipes. The truth, however, is that grease may become solid even before it gets to the main sewer line. Throwing grease down the drain is a sure way of clogging up the drain. Myth 3: Pouring Hot Water Down the Drain Will Clear Up Blockages: This is somehow related to the previous myth. There are those who believe that pouring hot water will cause grease blockages to melt and flow straight into the sewers. What this will do is just melt the grease a bit and then spread it down the drain further, causing an even bigger problem as it will spread the clog deeper into the pipes. Myth 4: Drain Cleaners Do a Better Job Than Hot Water: Although this may be true to some degree, drain cleaners do more harm than good. Drain cleaners have strong solvents that can eat away at pipes. In time, the clogged pipes will be the least of your problems. Myth 5: Combination of a Plunger and Drain Cleaners Are Very Effective: Slow-moving drains can lead to some of the most unwise attempts to clear out a clog. Pouring drain cleaner down the drain and then trying to work at the clog with a plunger can cause serious injuries to you. This should not even be attempted at all. Myth 6: Toilet Tank Cleaners Help it Perform Better: Toilet tank drop-in cleaners hardly do anything to make toilets flush better. What is even worse is that it can eat away at some of the more delicate parts of the flushing system, thus causing it to malfunction over time. Myth 7: Placing a Brick Inside the Toilet Tank Will Help Save Water: The brick will degrade inside the tank over time and its particles can cause blockages or may cause the flushing system to malfunction. You can just tweak the water level adjustments inside the tank if you want your toilet to use less water to flush. Myth 8: Ice Cubes Can Sharpen Garbage Disposal Blades: Your sink’s garbage disposal unit has no blades. However, the ice will help clean its grooves that impel the solid waste down the waste bin. Myth 9: Flushable Baby Wipes: These supposedly flushable wipes have been observed in too many cases of clogged toilets. Even some toilet paper brands can cause blockages. It's better to throw the wipes in the trash can instead. Myth 10: Toilet Water Spin the Other Way Down in the Southern Hemisphere: Even if this myth were true, which it's not, it won’t make your domestic life any better. Rather than believing these and other myths related to plumbing, it's better to exercise caution and develops habits that will help keep your home’s plumbing system in good shape. It will also be a good idea to schedule a yearly maintenance inspection by expert plumbers to catch any potential plumbing emergency. Read Also: 5 Best Type Of Plumbing Pipe Guide To Choose An Authentic Plumber Service Company

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Interior Designer

How to Make Your Home Look Like You Hired An Interior Designer

Buying a house is always thrilling and exhilarating for young people or couples when first starting out. Finding a beautiful place to live in the ideal neighborhood can really get your juices flowing and set your imagination running wild. Some people seem to get tripped up afterward when they attempt to turn their new house into a welcoming and inviting home. Does this sound familiar to you? Interior design is a difficult skill to master if you’re new to the game. That’s why it’s often best to hire an interior designer to lend a helping hand. But, if hiring an expert isn’t in the cards for one reason or another, then consider the next best thing. Consider learning a few clever interior design tricks that’ll make your home look elegant, luxurious, and so amazing that your friends and family members will be floored to learn that you didn’t have any professional help whatsoever. If this seems even a little bit exciting to you, please stick around to discover our best expert tips and tricks. How to Use Colors Effectively Like You Hired An interior designer When painting your brand spanking new house to make it look and feel more like a home, remember to use colors effectively. As an example, you should always make it a point to begin the basic color palette like green, blue, and orange. But instead of painting your home with these colors, you can create new colors by mixing and matching. And you can use these freshly discovered colors to paint your walls, windowsills, closets, and kitchen cabinets which you’ll find more info on by clicking the link. It’s going to be easier to mix and match the colors than you think. First, take a well-known primary color like royal blue. Next, find another complementary color and mix them up to create a new and better color. You can do this throughout your entire home to give it a makeover from top to bottom. In fact, you may want to consider the 50/150 rule. One of your batches of paint should be 50% lighter while the other batch should remain 150% darker. Add Eye-Catching and Pleasing Textures Just as important as altering your colors, textures will make a world of difference to the look, feel, and vibe of your new place. When you first walk into a room in your home and get a glance of the place, it may seem like it’s all one shade. But then you focus even further and realize that there are lots of different textures and shades of color all threaded throughout the furniture like the lamps, cushions, sofa, throw rugs, pillows, and everything else. Or maybe you walk into a specific room and notice none of these things. That’s when adding different textures is incredibly important to the overall look and feel of your new place. You can add colorful silk cushions on the couch, shiny and colorful lamps on the desks, a beautiful teal green, royal blue, or brown leather sofa, or whatever your heart desires. Just make sure the different textures and colors go well together and you’ll create a pleasing look that looks like it was created by a professional interior designer. Glass Showers of the Way to Go A traditional bathtub with a shower and a shower curtain is certainly functional and definitely nice to an extent. But if you really want to go above and beyond and make it look like an interior designer designed your place, you should add glass showers to your bathroom. Not only are these showers incredibly attractive, but they are also roomy, spacious, and very accommodating. You’ll have lots of space to move around and breathe and you can install a stand for your shampoos, conditioners, shaving supplies, toothbrush, toothpaste, or just about anything else you might want on hand while taking a shower. Even better, a large shower makes your bathroom looks so much bigger and the glass door is incredibly attractive to boot. So you’ll definitely get a kick out of glass showers in your bathroom and you’ll really enjoy and appreciate this new addition that looks like it came straight from the mind of an interior designer. Final Thoughts Did any of this information help you? Or do you feel even more confused than ever? If we’ve answered some of your questions then you should definitely use this information to design your new house and make it feel like a home. If not, feel free to hire an interior designer to help you make it look absolutely perfect. The choice is yours so we’ll leave it up to you. Read Also: Top Expert Tips For A Stunning Condo Interior! Experts Recommend: Top Interior Design Trends For 2017 5 Factors To Consider In Choosing The Right Floor Colors

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stainless steel wire rope

The Subtle Art Of Stainless

All materials have certain qualities. People like have lots of different textures around them. One material that has gained a great many fans in recent years is stainless steel. Stainless steel is a modern material with lots of varied uses. It can be made into stainless steel wire rope, used in cookware and become part of your appliances. Those who have explored the many possibilities of stainless steel are often amazed and delighted at what they find. The Subtle Art Of Stainless: Better Control: Cooking well means following many skills. A good cook is someone who can make the most of any ingredient. Part of this process is having the right kind of tools on hand to do the job properly. For many home cooks and professional chefs, stainless steel items are a must. A set of stainless steel knives, for example, offers the kind of control that people need in order to do many different types of cooking chores. This makes it possible to use the knife carefully in order to cut vegetables with intense precision. Doing so helps any cook make everything from soups to salads and serve it in a way that pleases the eyes. Gorgeous Shine: Shine is one quality that many people enjoy having in their private spaces. A set of appliances with a nice shimmer helps bring in light to any kitchen space. Stainless steel appliances offer a modern look that fits in well with other elements in the kitchen such as ceramic tile flooring and thoughtful shelving. These are also appliances that are easy to keep clean. Given these qualities, it is no wonder that stainless steel is such a popular material for the contemporary kitchen design. Less Likely to Rust: Another great quality of using stainless steel is the fact that it does not rust. Rust is a process that can destroy many different types of materials and render them virtually useless. Using stainless steel overcomes these problems. There are no worries about the possibility of having the material cave in because it was not kept up. People can rely on this material to stay in good shape for as long as they own something. Doing so helps people retain the use of a product and avoid having to spend a lot of time protecting it against the elements. Long-Lasting: People often turn to stainless because they know it will last. This is not a flimsy material that might be subject to all sorts of problems as the person has it in on hand They know they can have knives in their home that are always ready for use. They also know that any items that are made from it are items that will always have a place in their home. There's no rushing to get things fixed because they've broken down yet again. Items made from stainless are items that will last as long as they are needed. Not as Thick: Many common items are quite thick. This can make it hard to work with them. Not so items made from stainless. For example, the blade of a paring knife needs lots of precision in order to properly remove a tomato skin or break down an apple for apple pie. The thin blade of the knife that is made from stainless steel is much easier to use and control properly than a knife that might be bulkier. A person can use a set of stainless steel knives with ease even if they don't have much formal training. Doing so makes it possible for anyone to be a better cook. Recycle With Ease: It can be hard to recycle certain materials such as plastics. They may not break down or find use in other items. Stainless steel can be used again and again. The strength of the material means that it has a lot of uses in many areas of life. People will find it used to create beautiful, towering skyscrapers. They'll also see it used in the home in many areas from sinks to saucepans that can handle heavy heat. This makes it easy to find new uses for this product when you are done with it. Read Also: Asphalt Pavement Maintenance Tips 10 Most Amazing Chemicals To Prevent Rust In Steel

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Maintain Clear Windows

10 Tactics To Maintain Clear Windows

There is nothing as wonderful as sunshine to perk up your mood, create a sense of calm, or rejuvenate your spirit after considerable hard work. After all, hotel advertising utilizes actresses and actors walking out into the sun and smiling to instill a sense of relaxation, but scientific studies have shown that sunshine helps boost serotonin levels in your brain (the chemical that boosts your mood). But, in our busy lives, it isn't always possible to step outside for a dose of sunshine, leaving the majority of people to rely on their windows. And if that sunlight has to fight through dirt, smudges, and everything else that the weather (or children) have smeared over it, there just isn't as much of that mood-lifting light reaching you. Ideally, you should wash your windows twice a year, and despite the clear benefit, that is a daunting task. Here are 10 tactics to clean and maintain your windows. 10 Tactics To Maintain Clear Windows: 1. Gather Your Materials: It is important to have the right materials to clean your windows. Using the wrong ones will leave you with dirt and smudges regardless of your vigorous scrubbing. A squeegee is a superior choice over a rag, which will move the dirt from one part of the window to another. With a squeegee, you can pull all the dirt to the bottom without transferring a single spec. For small-paned windows, you may require a sponge instead of the squeegee to fit in tight spaces. And lastly, you will need several clean rags for sills, sashes, and drips. 2. Cleaning Solution: Next, you will need the right cleaning solution, two gallons of water mixed with 1 teaspoon of dish soap or equal parts water and vinegar. This amount of soap creates fewer suds and thus less soap residue to smear a clean window. 3. Pick the Right Day: Windows should not be cleaned on any day. It may seem sensible to pick a warm sunny one (after all, a little sunshine is beneficial), but the sun will dry up the cleaning solution before it can be wiped away. Therefore, a cloudy day will give you enough time to spray and wipe down your windows without any streaks. 4. Wash the windows: With a sponge or spray bottle, wet the windows with the cleaning solution. For tall windows, or windows on the second story, you may want a ladder, or you can attach the sponge to a long handle or broom. 5. Dry Immediately: And then dry the window with the rag or squeegee. For smaller windows, pull the squeegee straight down, but with larger ones pull the squeegee from side to side to clear off all dirt and cleaning solution. Make sure to wipe all drips as it is important to remove the water before the window dries to prevent streaks. 6. Clean the Rest of the Window: Make sure the clean the sills and sashes as well. They have taken just as much or a beating from the weather (and children) as the glass and deserve a little TLC. 7. Stubborn Stains: Occasionally, dirt takes a little extra work to clean off, but that doesn't necessarily mean scrubbing. Apply either straight vinegar and let it sit for 5 minutes or gently rub the stain with a mineral deposit remover before cleaning normally. 8. Saving Time: If all of this sounds like your whole afternoon, an afternoon that could be spent more enjoyably at the pool or more productively at the office, consider a window cleaning service such as Thistle Perth Window Cleaning. Let someone else do the difficult part for you, while you enjoy all the sunshine benefits. 9. Keeping Windows Clean: With all the strenuous work and cash spent on cleaning windows, maintain them by vacuuming blinds and window sills inside to keep dust from accumulating. 10. Enjoy: Now you can enjoy all the mood enhancements that sunshine brings. It is time to relax and enjoy the room. Or, if you are feeling an energy boost with the newfound light, perhaps it's time to conquer that junk drawer. Read Also: speedwrite Automatic Text Generator Review & Alternatives How to Plant Grass Seed on Hard Dirt? Is Other Consumer Services A Good Career Path In 2021?

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Homemade Carpet Cleaning

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

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