Some Important Carpet Cleaning Tips

image1

 

carpet-cleaning

There are some great tips to help clean your carpet with out too much hassle or fuss. We all have to deal with an unclean carpet now and again and it can be a daunting task especially when you are paid a lot of money for the carpet and don’t want to further damage it.

All carpets no matter the stain need some attention now and again. It’s always good to give them a regular clean to prolong the life of the carpet. The problem is many individuals are put off by the idea of actually doing the cleaning mainly due to not knowing the best techniques and also the thought of having to rearrange furniture in order to get at the stain.

Use Salt for Carpet Cleaning

Perhaps you have never heard of this technique, but give it a try. Use a little salt to help remove carpet dirt. Salt helps to soak the stain therefore helping to remove it from your beloved carpet.

Use a Carpet Cleaning Powder

Baking soda works remarkably well for removing stains and dirt from your carpet. It can be the one thing that changes your carpet cleaning regime due to it’s efficacy.

It’s very easy and straight forward to do: take the powder and spread over the troublesome area, then leave for as long as possible, before using a hoover to suck up the absorbed powder. This can work wonders when done properly!

Top Tip – leave the powder down over the course of the night. This will give the powder plenty of time to work on the stain.

Use a Carpet Cleaning Shampoo

Like baking soda (powder) there are also many good carpet cleaning shampoos you can use to clean your carpet. Each shampoo will have it’s own directions which you must follow to get the most out of that product.

Make sure you dilute the liquid as directed and then apply thoroughly to the stain and then leave for the directed amount of time to get the best results. Be sure to absorb or hoover the substance back up if it is necessary.

Top Tip – when applying the solution make sure to take the time to work it into the carpet. The better you do this the better the results will be.

The Most Important Carpet Cleaning Factor

There are a few important things to keep in mind when doing you cleaning. There are the obvious ones i.e. follow product directions exactly as stated, make sure to work product in, leave for enough time to be effective etc. However one of the things that gets neglected is cleaning at regular intervals.

Schedule to do a full carpet clean at least twice per year. Don’t just wait for stains to appear to instigate the clean. Instead value your carpet and give it what it deserves.

How to Cater for Any Guest

how-to-cater-for-any-guest

We all have friends with specific dietary requirements, or know of kids who are just plain picky. So when you’re planning an event at home, take the stress out of hosting with these simple tips, covering everything from recipes for kids to what to cook when you have a vegan coming to tea. Taking up the challenge could be a great opportunity to incorporate new ideas into your culinary repertoire!

Serving for Special Diets

First up, when you send round the invitations, make sure to ask whether your guests have any special dietary requirements, so you know well ahead of time and can plan menu adjustments. Once you know which diets you’re catering for, here are some ideas on how to cook for each:

  1. Gluten Intolerant: cakes and sauces can often be made gluten-free very easily – just substitute gluten free flour for your usual flour. Dough-based dishes, however, such as bread and pizza, can lose their elasticity if made with gluten-free flour. Try a seafood or meat-based main with lots of vegetables and potatoes or sweet potatoes on the side – you might even be able to avoid having to track down any special ingredients entirely this way.
  2. Vegan: most people have a few vegetarian dishes in their repertoire, but cutting out cheese and eggs can prove tricky. Indian cuisine is a great option, as many dishes in this style are naturally vegan (as long as it doesn’t include paneer, a type of cheese). For dessert, shop-bought puff pastry is almost always vegan and makes an impressive base for a tart.
  3. Lactose Intolerant: almond, soy or hemp milk all work well as substitutes for cow’s milk, depending on the recipe you’re using. Coconut cream can add richness to dishes, while for buttermilk try substituting one tablespoon of lemon juice or vinegar per 250mls milk substitute. Also bear in mind that lots of pre-prepared foods like bread and sauces contain lactose, so check the labels carefully.
  4. Nut Allergy: this can be tricky to cater for, as nuts are hidden in lots of common foods, so again be sure to read labels carefully before you buy. Soy and satay sauce will also often contain nuts, as can pesto and many salad dressings. But cutting out nuts still leaves plenty of options, from Mediterranean-style dishes to hearty Baltic stews.

On the other hand, if you’re planning your event at a restaurant, check reviews carefully and ring up beforehand to ask whether they’ll cater for the special dietary requirements of your guests.

Cooking for Kids

Kids will often find richer, dinner-party style food overwhelming, so if you’re hosting kids at your event, you may want to think up a different menu for them. Recipes for kids tend to be simple: think pasta, soups or schnitzel. Something a little more interactive that will encourage them to try new things is giving them the opportunity to prepare the food themselves: try making fajitas with bowls of different ingredients they can add in the centre of the table. If you have a theme for your event, kids can enjoy it too, whether that’s autumnal seasonal ingredients like apples and squash, or even unicorn-style rainbow recipes for kids.

Of course, the type of event will play a big part in deciding which dishes you prepare, and if in doubt, you can always ask friends to contribute something, making your job as a host considerably simpler!

Three Easy (and Yummy) Recipes for Kids to Make with Mum and Dad

Mini pizzas

During the summer holidays it is hard enough to think of activities to keep your kids entertained – nevermind planning 6 weeks of dinners and lunches too! Boredom can easily strike, especially if the weather’s not great, and serving un-entertained little ones the same meal for the fifth time is unlikely to change the situation.

Luckily, we’ve killed two birds with one stone by listing some easy recipes for kids to make at home with mum and dad. It will keep them occupied and ensure they get something tasty to eat. Simple.

Mini pizzas

This is great recipe for kids as a fun birthday party idea or for a playdate. Eat them with a bit of a salad as a delicious evening meal or pack them in foil as a snack.

  1. Use a classic pizza dough recipe for your base but divide it into small portions instead of one large one. You can also buy pre-made, uncooked, dough for convenience.
  2. Add a layer of tomato puree to the base, or try a barbeque sauce for something different.
  3. Get your kids to add toppings and experiment – ham, pineapple, pepperoni, cheese, peppers, onions, mushrooms, roasted veg and chicken are all good toppings to offer up.
  4. Sprinkle with grated cheese and bake until cooked and golden.

Bubble and Squeak

An oldie but a goodie – bubble and squeak is a traditional British recipe for using up Sunday roast leftovers. Not only is it easy to make, but it also teaches your kids about food waste.

  1. Supervise your children while they cut all of the ingredients (usually cabbage, vegetables and potatoes) into small slices. This should only be done by older children and you should never leave them alone with sharp knives or other dangerous items.
  2. Put these ingredients into a saucepan with a little butter and lightly sauté. You can add some garlic and other seasoning here if you would like.
  3. Add fresh eggs and mix to create a scrambled egg texture.
  4. Serve on toast or with yummy soldiers for a lovely lunchtime treat.

Rice puff cereal cakes

Who doesn’t love cereal cakes? Easy to make – and a little messy – they combine many of the things kids love into one activity. Make them as a treat for good behaviour.

  1. Melt a little butter in a warm pan and add chocolate.
  2. Add your chosen cereal – rice puffs or flakes work best – and stir until mixed. You can also add a small amount of golden syrup to help everything bind together better.
  3. Pour the mixture into a lined tin and cool in the fridge until fully set. You can either set this treat as one big dessert as little individual slices. Kids can get more involved by adding some toppings – mini marshmallows, chocolate drops, fruit, raisins, and nuts are all good options.

Remember: too much sugar isn’t a great idea for children but the occasional treat won’t hurt. There are plenty of yummy dessert recipes for kids that are low in sugar which you can try on other occasions to help your child eat a balanced diet.

Those are just a few fun recipe ideas for cooking with children this summer. Lots of recipes can be adapted to make them easier for little ones and if you’re stuck for other activity ideas, have a look online.

Instilling a love of cooking at this age can mean your kids will enjoying trying out new recipes and baking in the future – and might even help fussy eaters experiment with new foods. Try these recipes for kids and happy eating!

Make Your Bathroom Classy With Luxury Towels

 image1

luxury towel

If you’ve ever been to a spa or a luxury hotel, you know that it’s hard to beat the feeling of wrapping a luxurious, soft, thick towel around your body after a hot shower – so get down and comfy with it with some high-grade pampering fit for only the best spa experiences.

Luxury towels, made from only the highest quality cotton, is a sign of high standards, an excess of money and extravagance; but what if I told you that you can experience the same thing in your home? The best in quality doesn’t come cheap, but likewise, luxury towels are made to last and you really can feel the difference:

Qualities of a luxury towel

While any towel can pat you dry after a bath or shower, a luxury towel will make the experience so much more enjoyable. A thick and soft bath sheet, made from 100% Egyptian cotton, will keep you warm and dry. Towels are measured in GSM (Grams per square meter) and range from 600 to 900 for luxury brands, where the higher the number the thicker the towel.

For that extra level of class, it’s recommended to aim for 750 GSM with Egyptian cotton.

Colour

While white bath sheets go with almost anything, you may wish to more closely match the towels with your bathroom decor. The linens of a bathroom are often the only spot of colour, and can give a truly complete feel to the design. Beware that coloured towels may shed a lot of lint in the beginning, but this shouldn’t last beyond the first or second wash.

Caretaking

Make sure that your lovely new towels last as long as possible by taking great care of them.

The number one mistake that most of us commit with towels is to use fabric softener when washing them. Makes sense right? Soft towels require softener? The complete opposite is actually true; most softeners contain chemicals which will make the towel feel harsher and is detrimental to the absorbency of the fabric. If you have already made this classic error, rinse the towels with a cup of diluted vinegar to remove the softener residue.

Keep the temperature of the wash low, around 40C should be enough. For lower quality towels the temperature can be higher, but stick to the lower range when dealing with those thick luxury towels that we love so much.

Cost Effective Ways To Upgrade Your Bathroom

image1

If you are interested in fixing up your bathroom, to give it a nice fresh look and feel, you might be dismayed at how much it could cost to carry out that kind of work.  However, if your actual bathroom is structurally sound and doesn’t need to be fully upgraded and renovated, there are many things you could do that won’t break the bank so much.

Cost Effective Ways To Upgrade Your Bathroom

Improved Lighting

In the majority of bathrooms, lighting is normally overhead which can cause shadows and make everyone look like raccoons around the eyes.  If this is the case in your bathroom, just by adding either wall lighting fixtures or a mirror with little lights around it, you could make the whole room look and feel brighter without spending too much.

Large Bathroom Floor Tiles

Although you may feel that smaller tiles would make a small bathroom feel larger, it is the opposite that is actually true.  Porcelain or ceramic tiles are the perfect choice, especially the larger sized ones, as they look good and do not require much maintenance.  It obviously takes a tiler a lot less time to tile a floor using larger tiles than smaller tiles and because less grout is required you will have less cleaning to do between them.

Replace The Taps And Faucets

Another great way to breathe a fresh breath of life into a bathroom that just needs some attention, is by replacing the taps and faucets you currently have in the sink and bath.  If you look at the website for a company like PlumbTile you will find lots of different options and types of taps whether you are looking for individual hots and colds or looking for more sophisticated mixer taps.

There are many other things you can do to your bathroom, but the above has hopefully giving you some great ideas to start with.

What Should Know and Consider When Betting on Formula One While Staying at Home

formula one

So you are a big Formula One fan, staying at home and know more than just the basics about how the race weekend works. Before you start betting on your favourite sport, there are some things you should know.  In the following article we will discuss some of the most important considerations you should make when betting through a Sports betting website like http://sports.williamhill.com/.

The Car Performance

It is probably common sense to a lot of people reading, but if a F1 racing driver does not have a car that compete with the other favourites in a race, he is not going to have a chance of winning.  The best example of this is the difference between Jenson Button and Fernando Alonso.  They have won 47 races and 3 world championships between them but when they race in an unreliable and under-powered Honda engine they only managed to secure one Top 10 finish.

As you would also consider common sense, a car that is just as unreliable as it is fast, is useless.  Reliability is a more important aspect of the cars and teams when placing bets.

The Driver’s Performance

Just as in life, some people are better doing certain tasks than others – some drivers fair better on particular tracks than others.  When you take a look at the career records of drivers, taking into consideration the record of their team mate’s, you can usually figure out the drivers who are most likely to do well on a particular track.

The Characteristics Of A Track

During each race weekend, the engineers and drivers look through and analyse vast amounts of data in order to fine-tune the set-up of their car to meet the unique demands of each track.  When speeding round Monza, how a car handles corners matters less than driving at top speed as much as possible; whereas with the Monaco GP things are very different – cars are generally configured to take corners at low speeds and have optimised traction.  Although these two tracks are at either end of the spectrum, most tracks on the circuit sit somewhere between the two, meaning that cars have to be set-up in a very compromised and balanced manner.

It is important to remember though that drivers will always be limited by whatever they have at their disposal.

Randomness

During Singapore last year Ricciardo knew the strength of his car depended on how well and how long he could make his tyres last between each pit stop.  Additionally though, it was known that the Safety Car being on the track would reduce completely his advantage because it would limit the number of laps he could drive at full speed.  When it comes to the Singapore GP though, it was unfortunate that it is the type of circuit where there are commonly regular Safety Car periods during a race.  This is because there are many points along that track where it is tricky to recover stricken cars during a race.

Ricciardo was thus confined to 2nd place because of the 2 points in the race when the Safety Car was on the course.

How Installing High Speed Internet Can Increase Your Home’s Value

pic

The 2015 report by the National Association of Realtors on home values was good news for home owners. The report showed that home prices had increased by 8.2% in the second quarter of 2015 as compared to figures in 2014.

If you’d purchased a home with the hope of selling it later, you ought to be doing all that you can to further increase its value and capitalize on the current improvements in the real estate market. One way of doing this is by installing high-speed fiber internet.

According to researchers at Carnegie Mellon University and the University of Colorado, high speed internet has become a must-have in home shopper lists. Simply installing high-speed fiber optic internet can result in an increase in the value of your home by anything between $5000 and $175,000.

Installing high speed internet will not only benefit you by providing you with high speed access to information, but will also provide you with greater return upon selling your home.

How to get fiber optic internet

Fiber optic internet offers you high speed internet at affordable prices.

Check availability

Check for the availability of fiber optic internet service providers in your area. Although the availability of Fiber optic internet is growing rapidly, it is not yet available to all parts of the US. Check to see what internet service providers are available in your area e.g. CenturyLink in Perkin IL.

Compare different service providers

If you have more than one choice for internet service providers in your area, compare the services providers on a price comparison website. These websites give you a breakdown of the features of the different services and allows you to compare them side by side. This allows quick comparison.

You may also want to read reviews by customers to find out what others have to say about the service providers you’re considering.

You will also need to visit the websites of the individual internet service providers to get more details about the specific packages they offer. Compare features such as upload and download speeds, terms of service, cost, contract length and special features or add-ons.

Study the contract

Study the contract before signing up for the service. How long is the contract for? What will happen in case you fail to make a payment? What are the terms and conditions for terminating services mid-contract? Are there fees and fines to be paid?

Be sure to study the fine print of the contract. Many people often find themselves paying dearly for having not paid attention to one or two details outlined in their contracts.

Book an installation appointment

If you’ve found a service provider that suits your needs, contact them and set up a date for the installation. Ensure that you have discussed your needs for access and devices with the service provider for better installation.

Be sure to include the fact that your house has high speed fiber optic internet when advertising for a buyer. This could mean the difference between the buyer going for another similar home to  yours.

6 Space Saving Solutions for Petite Kitchens

petite kitchen

I know how frustrating it can be to have a small kitchen and not have enough room to store all the things you need. The kitchen is an important room in any house and if yours is desperately in need of a revamp, I’ve got a few space saving solutions for you.

  1. Consider full-height cabinets

Why not install some full-height cabinets along one wall? They would give you so much more extra cupboard space and if you go for white or cream doors, your kitchen will still feel bright and airy. You can take your pick from a range of finishes. For example, solidwoodkitchencabinets.co.uk offers units finished with natural, water-based paints that help to enhance the natural integrity of the timber.

  1. Be clever with your accessories

If you only have a small worktop area then it’s important to keep it clutter free.

Why not ditch your knife block and use a wall-mounted knife rack instead – and perhaps you could relocate your fruit bowl to the middle of your table rather than having it take up valuable space on your worktop? Organise your cupboards so that the things you use on a daily basis are close to the front. If you don’t use certain items very often (for example, special Christmas serving plates) why not consider storing them in another room or in your loft?

  1. Ditch your bin

If your current bin is taking up too much floor space, why not get a bin that attaches to the inside of one of your cupboard doors? This way, it will be hidden from view and it’ll give you much more space. You might have to empty it more regularly if it’s smaller, but that shouldn’t be a big issue.

  1. Get a pan rack

If you want to free up some space in your cupboards, consider getting a pan rack that you can hang from the ceiling. There are some really pretty racks available, so it can be a nice feature as well as being a practical addition to your kitchen.

  1. Add hooks to your door

Don’t be afraid to utilise your kitchen door by adding hooks to it. You’ll be able to hang your aprons, tea towels and shopping bags – freeing up valuable space in your drawers.

  1. Check your tins

When was the last time you sorted through your food tin cupboard? You might find that you have lots of tins,herbs and spices that are out of date and just need to go in the bin. If you find tins that aren’t out of date but that you don’t fancy eating, why not consider giving them to your local foodbank?

I hope this blog post has given you some ideas to help you save space in your kitchen. Let me know how you get on by commenting below.

DIY Improvements can potentially decrease the cost of your home

picIt is believed by many, that in order to increase profit, you have to spend a little. Fortunately for some, when making home improvements to sell your house, this is not always the case.

Research conducted by TrustMark suggests the mean dissatisfactory repairs to your house can lower its real-estate value up to a shocking 11%. The government endorsed trade scheme concluded more than 50% of investors reject a house entirely and 90% of the people who took the survey concluded they would compromise their offer due to DIY household enhancements.

When looking to put your house on the market, a fresh layer of paint can make a significant difference and potentially slightly increase the percentage of the asking price. More often than not, the owners attempt to take on duties which are outside of their skill set when attempting to improve their house to sell.

It can be beneficial to attempt to make improvements to your house, not only that but avoiding the cost of a tradesman initially seems an intelligent decision. Be that as it may, in the UK, the regular three bedroom house was valued at £218,779 and it is suggested you could take a loss of over 10% excluding the price of resources and time spent attempting to resolve any issues.

By researching online homeowners are offered multiple tips on how to reduce spending when looking to sell your house. The growth in online estate agents is the main provider of a speedier as well as low-cost way to get rid of your property. You also evade costly charges of the old-fashioned estate agents however some technological advances are not as beneficial as they seem.

A recent example is the “I’ll give it a try” homeowners entrusting google to help rewire their property or attempt to fix the boiler with the aid of a Youtube video; this method can be detrimental to the asking price and leave your house in a hazardous state for you and the next owner.

Justifiably a glimpse of poorly attempted improvements can discourage potential investors, the savvier individual when attempting to put your house on the market is to completely avoid making repairs.

Russell Quirk an expert in real-estate, CEO of emoov.co.uk noted “When arranging to sell your house DIY improvements can slightly increase the sale price. Unfortunately, we must note making DIY improvements does not necessarily mean you will receive more money for the property. For instance, some investors would rather purchase a house which they can renovate. Similarly, numerous investors will redo the kitchen and bathroom in their new house without paying more if it was recently installed. It is widely accepted that potential flaws of the house will be used to renegotiate the asking price. It is down to the owner of the house to consider whether the expense of DIY, the manual time required to make the adjustments as well as the price they want to sell their home for.”

Baring this in mind here are a few pointers:-

Do’s

  • As previously stated, an uplifting layer of paint can be beneficial in ensuring your house is more highly regarded and thus augmenting its’ value.
  • Ensure the grass has been maintained. An orderly garden can be a selling point of your property and possibly add significance to the buyer.
  • Tidy and de-trash. A potential investor will have an idea of what they are looking for in a property; ensuring the house is spotless can encourage a deal.
  • Express any exclusive attributes. When planning on spending money to improve your house, ensure that it is worth your time and money. If you emphasise potential exclusive features of your house, for example a fire place or traditional wooden beams, it will attract more buyers than a newly fitted bathroom.

DIY Don’ts

  • If you are not a certified electrician or gas engineer for your safety stay clear of any alterations. To an untrained eye it can be a potential disaster and can lead to putting yourself and future buyers in danger. The initial thought of saving money may seem appealing, however incorrect wiring is one of the largest causes of a reduced worth of your home.

Avoid fluttering away your spare money on pricey household appliances. More often than not, potential buyers have a personal idea of what they expect from the kitchen and bathroom. Rarely will someone pay over the odds for a house so the supplier is able to regain their investment elsewhere.

Don’t get caught in a sticky situation, if you plan on making improvements ensure that they are adding value to your house. Even if you feel your house needs a little DIY, that doesn’t mean that it isn’t going to sell. It is quite frequent that potential families may wish to add their own touch when making improvements so that it is suited to them. The worst case scenario would be being unable to sell your property and being stuck in the middle of too far passed a project house and unable for somebody to move in immediately.

The worst case would be trying to sell your house and falling in-between being fully furnished and ready to move in and the house needing that much work doing you can’t warrant buying

  • Avoid overpricing. If your house requires maintenance it would be wise to reconsider the asking price increasing the likelihood of the sale.

Information by UK’s leading online estate agent Emoov.co.uk

Benefits Of Choosing Tile Flooring For Your Home

pic

So you have given a considerable amount of thought to how you are going to decorate the floors of your home.  It is now time to choose whether you will use carpet, laminate, wood or tile flooring.  Perhaps you are very much on the fence about tile flooring, but in the following article we hope to show you some of the best reasons for browsing GoHaus and investing in it.

It Will Last a Long Time

As it can cost a lot to redecorate your home’s flooring, you will want to choose a material and product that will last a long time.  Tile flooring, particularly porcelain and ceramic are robust and have a long shelf life.  When you follow the correct instructions for having it installed and maintaining it, it not fail on you for many, many years.

Various Options Available

Versatility is another great benefit of tiling.  There are now tiles in various sizes, styles and colours.  Even if you love the look of wood, you can’t have that material in a high moisture area.  However, there is a solution as there are now tiles that have a look.

Hygienic And Healthy

While you may have already been aware of the benefits and reasons for having tile flooring we have already covered, you may not have realised it is hygienic and healthy.  Tiling flooring can actually help to preserve the air quality of your home.  As tiles are fired inside kilns at very high temperatures, they carry either very little or no VOCs which are responsible for various health issues.

Less Maintenance

Tiling, as you may be aware, is very waterproof and is therefore protected against all manner of spills from shower, bath and sink water to drinks and even pet accidents.  Not only will soap and water be enough to clean dirty tiles, but many grouts available nowadays are almost completely stain-resistant.