Fast Carpet Stain Removal

Date: 2010.09.01 | Category: House Cleaning | Response: 0

Removing Stains

There are many different products available on the market that will help you to remove almost all types of stains. The ideal solution in minimizing or totally removing stains is by simply cleaning the spills and dirt the moment they crop up. To clean up these carpet stains will not require much more than common household cleaning products.

There are several ways to clean up stains simply by using products already available in your home which you use on a regular basis, such as detergents, rubbing alcohol, vinegar, lemon juice, etc. Its simply a matter of knowing how to use these common household products and the procedures involved to clean up stains. Please find below some techniques for removing some common stains.

Pet stains

For your first option you can use one teaspoon of clear, household type ammonia to a half cup of cold water. You can use this solution in a spray bottle or apply it to the carpet directly. It is very important not to wet the carpets backing when you apply the solution. afterwards you have applied the solution, use paper towels to blot then allow it to dry completely.

For a second option, you can use detergent solution made of hand soap or dish soap. The combination is one one-fourth of a teaspoon detergent to one quart of water. You should always make sure the soap doesn’t contain bleach or lanolin.

The third and best option, is to use water, it can re-hydrate the stain to help with removal. Most types of pet stains can be cleaned up by using a steam cleaner. Once you have finished, be sure to dry the area as thoroughly as imaginable.

Ink stains

• You can purchase isopropyl rubbing alcohol at your local section or grocery store.
• You can apply it by pouring some onto a clean white towel or cloth. You can use paper towels as well, as long as they are white.
• Using a clean cloth blot the stain from the center out toward the edge, change cloth as needed.
• Make sure you be careful, because if the stain is small, you need to blot in one direction only so you don’t spread the stain.

Beer and wine stains

• Create a mixture of white vinegar and water with a 1:1 ratio.
• Apply the mixture to the stain using a spray bottle to impregnate. You should allow the stain to sit around ten to fifteen minutes.
• Use a sponge and clean in a rubbing motion. Rinse the area with warm water.
• Brush the carpet pile back into the instinctive direction it has.
• By using layers of white paper towels, place paper towels on top of the area, then something with weight on the paper towels. Allow everything time to sit like this until the area has dried.

When Home Cleaning Gets All Too Much

Date: 2010.09.01 | Category: House Cleaning | Response: 0

One the best pieces of Home Cleaning Advice is not to be afraid of getting in help. There are always occasions when home cleaning can get the better of you, or you need to do a big spring clean. That is why it is worth sourcing some home cleaning help.

If you are lucky enough to live in London then check out www.elbowgreasecleaners.co.uk

Teak as the most advisable hardwood material for furniture

Date: 2010.08.19 | Category: House Cleaning | Response: 0

People constantly seek for furniture that is made from quality and high standard raw materials.  Durability, cost and effectiveness are the issue for choosing the best furniture to buy.  Hardwoods are the most common material that consumers buy for their furniture at home.

There several kinds of hardwoods. And Teak is the most advisable hardwood material for furniture especially for outdoors. In 2004, retailers attracted new customers by offering a high-quality, reasonably priced alternative to teak: eucalyptus. Eucalyptus is as strong and as durable as teak, and on average it is from 10 – 20 % denser. With its density, straight grain, smooth finish, and honey color with subtle rose highlights, Eucalyptus is a first rate choice for outdoor furniture.  Its resistance to decay is similar to that of teak wood. In fact, when finished with a high-quality oil, eucalyptus takes on a teak-like appearance. However if this wood is not seasoned properly prior to being used in manufacturing it will split, crack and chip. Because Eucalyptus contains such a heavy volume of water, that when it is dried, it is reported to shrink as much as 34%.

Eucalyptus, when used for outdoor furniture can be finished with high quality penetrating oil, stain mixture to take on a Teak-like appearance. However, to maintain the look, the furniture has to be cleaned and resealed on a regular basis. Eucalyptus furniture can also be painted.

“Eucalyptus is a wonderful choice. Our plantation-grown eucalyptus meets FSC standards for environmentally responsible management, so it supports our corporate commitment to eco-friendly, sustainably harvested wood alternatives.” Caroll, President of Creative Woodwork International

Tropical Hardwood Comparison:

Teak Outdoor Furniture

Strength : Strong

Durability: Moderate

Density: 610 – 690 kg per cubic meter

Cost: Expensive

Eucalyptus Outdoor Furniture

Strength: Strong

Durability: Moderate

Density: 600 – 800 kg per cubic meter

Cost: Affordable

You have to make sure you know what type of furniture you want to go with your garden at home and precisely what you are to buy. Don’t ever be taken advantage. If you want the beauty of teakwood, as well as the durability of Teak, then you have to purchase Teak. You must keep in mind that the alternative woods are not Teak, they are not stronger than Teak and will not last as long as Teak if they are not treated.

DIY House Cleaning – Ten Tips For Cleaning Wood Furniture

Date: 2010.08.19 | Category: House Cleaning | Response: 1

1. Most wooden furniture can be cleaned with a bit of warm soapy water and a damp cloth.  The only exception is wood that has been finished with something other than polyurethane or hasn’t been finished at all. Use a mild soap of the sort you use for washing hands rather than a harder laundry soap.

2. Never use the method described above for French polished wooden furniture – this has not been treated with polyurethane!  Dust frequently to keep it shining and keep water well away.  If you really need to, use straight beeswax to polish it.  Dust before you polish. Just rub the beeswax straight onto the wood, then buff with a soft cloth. You can use the same method for putting a gentle shine on your fingernails, if you want to.

3. Untreated wood can be cleaned with a home-made polish of blended oil (use olive oil or some other vegetable oil ñ the cricketer’s favourite, linseed oil, is a winner) and a little white vinegar. Add essential oil if you like. As usual, apply with a soft cloth and buff with another one.

4. When you dust, make sure the cloth is slightly damp. This will trap the dust and take it away rather than merely pushing it along, which can possibly scratch the wood surface. Remember to rinse out the duster frequently. Feather dusters of the old-fashioned sort work well.

5. Very special wooden items should be kept out of direct sunlight, as UV rays will attack the finish on the wood. The UV will also bleach the wood. However, this may be an advantage for lighter coloured unfinished items.

6. Very special wooden items should not be allowed to become too dry. This can become a problem with items in modern homes with excellent ventilation, heating, dehumidification and all the rest of it. An old musician’s trick is to put a jar of water inside an upright piano to provide it with the moisture the wood needs. Special hydrators (try a good music shop) can also be used inside cases for guitars, violins and the like. Keeping up regular damp-dusting also works, to a certain extent. Also keep wooden furniture away from strong dry heat, or even in a special room that isnít dried to desert-like conditions.

7. If dark wood gets scratched, hide the mark by dabbing on iodine, instant coffee mixed with vegetable oil or a brown wax crayon. Simple but very effective!

8. If you have an old-fashioned Scandinavian style raw pine kitchen table, don’t use boiling water to scrub it down during the house cleaning process unless you want the wood to turn slightly yellow. Scrub it with cold water and soap. However, boiling water is a very effective steriliser and you may consider this factor worth a bit of yellowing. You can always counteract the yellowing effect, dry the table and sterilize the table even further by putting the table in strong sunshine for a bit and letting the UV rays do their thing.

9. You do use coasters on coffee tables and other tables to protect the finish, don’t you? One trick used by friends of this writer is to get a piece of glass cut to fit over the top of the wood. No problems with heat marks, everyone can see the wood and it’s a breeze to clean.

10.  Linseed oil can be applied to any wooden furniture to nourish it and to help seal in moisture so it doesn’t dry out too much. Apply sparingly to clean, dry furniture. Sports shops are good places to find linseed oil.

Mold on vinyl

Date: 2010.08.19 | Category: House Cleaning | Response: 0

In this article you will learn a few of the need to knows when it comes to mold and mold growth.  

One of the best things that you can do to reduce and or eliminate mold growth on exterior surfaces is to have your home or business organization cleaned by a professional and reputable pressure washing company.  Make sure that they are reputable,  check them out with your local BBB and get references.  A bad pressure washing company can cost you but a knowledgeable company can be priceless.  Not only are they able remove exterior mold, which can help prolong the life of what ever surface they are cleaning,  but they also are able to help you save your curb appeal.

Allowing your home or business to go uncleaned and unprotected against mold can cost you a lot more on the back end.  In fact avoiding maintenance on your home or business can even result in structural damages costing you thousands.  So we are here to help you better understand mold and mildew growth. Some of the data below is provided by the EPA.

Molds and mildew are fungi that grow on the surfaces of objects, within pores, and in deteriorated materials. They can cause discoloration and odor problems, deteriorate building materials, create slick surfaces and lead to allergic reactions in susceptible individuals, as well as other health problems.

The following conditions are necessary for mold growth to occur on surfaces:

• temperature range above 40°F and below 100°F
•  nutrient base (most surfaces contain nutrients)
•  moisture

Spores are virtually always present in outdoor and indoor air, and almost all commonly used construction materials and furnishings can provide nutrients to support mold growth. Dirt on surfaces provides additional nutrients.  Cleaning and disinfecting with nonpolluting cleaners and antimicrobial agents provides protection against mold growth.  However, it is virtually impossible to eliminate all nutrients. Moisture control is thus an significant strategy for reducing mold growth as well as developing a regular maintenance schedule with your local pressure washing company and mold inspector.