October, 2019 | home improvement

Bathroom Care Tips For A Spotless Finish

October 31, 2019

These bathroom care tips were created to help you keep your bathroom looking cleaner without too much effort. The bathroom is an important area in your home; it’s one of the ways you make an impression on your guests. This can put a lot of pressure on you to maintain a spotless bathroom. Of course, you keep it “hygienic” all the time, but “spotless” isn’t always possible. Rust stains, soap scum, and dirty grout prevent some people from attaining the “spotless” achievement.

If a bathroom that looks like new every time is what you’re aiming for, these bathroom care tips are for you. Once you get the initial bathroom overhaul, something I like to call the master cleaning session, out of the way, keeping it up should be a breeze. Let me just remind you that keeping any area of your home spotless takes regular maintenance. With that said, we’ll break this down into two parts: the “master bathroom care tips” to take your bathroom from dingy to spectacular, and the “everyday bathroom care tips” to keep your bathroom cleaner on a regular basis.

Master Bathroom Care Tips:

This is not the time to shy away from powerful products or professional services. If you’re dealing with overwhelming grime, rust, and build up it’s okay to use bleach to cut through months or years of neglect.
If you’re using harsh chemicals, always make sure you have enough ventilation to prevent inhaling them. Don’t underestimate the fumes.
If there are certain spots that are particularly dirty, apply treatments and bathroom cleaning products to those areas first. Let the products penetrate while you take on other areas.
Use steel wool or a scrubber with extra-firm bristles to scrub – always using gloves!
For tubs and sinks that need special attention, fill up the sink with the hottest water possible and add either bleach or other powerful detergent known for removing stains.

Everyday Bathroom Care Tips:

Once the bathroom is in better condition, you can start using more gentle bathroom cleaning products for your everyday routine.
Make use of storage to keep clutter at bay. This will make wiping down surfaces much easier.
If you don’t have a way to ventilate air in your bathroom, it can encourage mold and take longer for your towels to dry. Give your bathroom a hand and leave the door open to allow any moisture to exit.
Keep a scrubber in the shower so you can take care of any stains while you’re in there. One less stain to worry about come cleaning day
Speaking of cleaning day, dedicate one day out of the week to clean your bathroom. You can either use that day to clean all of your main rooms or just one room at a time.
Take one day out of the month to do regular deep cleaning on your rooms. This means applying a grout cleaner to your tiles, disinfecting your toilet bowl and bathroom floors, etc.

The Grout Cleaner Dilemma

Having a good …

Useful Tips for Remodeling Your Bathroom

October 30, 2019

| No Comments

| bathroom, interior

If you are planning on redoing your bathroom space, a great way to do so would be to add in new bathroom fixtures. Use of modern bathroom fixtures can help revamp the look of the bathroom. You can start the remodeling work by consulting some good interior designers who can help you with your choice of fixtures. Alternately, if you find their services too costly to afford, you can start remodeling your bathroom yourself.

The best way will be to go through some good home décor magazines and conduct some online research on how you can revamp your bathroom area. They are professionals who can provide you with plenty of innovative ideas and then you can proceed to search for stores that provide best western bathroom fixtures at most cost effective rates.

While choosing the best western bathroom fixtures from the market, keep in mind that modern bathrooms usually have a polished look. Even though there is room for you to experiment with your personal tastes, it is always ideal to stick to the timeless designs. This will guarantee that your bathroom will never go out of style. Uncluttered space is the key to modern bathrooms as it helps to create a feeling of cleanliness, so providing ultimate comfort to the user.

Do not forget to arrange for plenty of storage space in closets or cabinets in your bathroom as this can help to avoid spilling important items on floor. Even small bathrooms with only a little space can look elegant and spacious provided that the towels or other supplies are stored properly. Complements your bathroom fixtures by adding some good lighting to your bathroom space.

Make sure you conduct in-depth research by going through bathroom fixture catalogs and plan your overall bathroom design accordingly. Visualize the way you want your bath space to look like. In that way, you can easily choose the right type of tub, shower, sink and commode for your bathroom that are high on functionality within being visually appealing.

Before you start with your remodeling plans, ascertained your overall budget as this will help you to avoid overspending to a great extent. You can get plenty of online stores and retail outlets from where you can buy quality bathroom fixtures at very affordable rates. Make sure to buy products that lie within your budget and allow you to create the bathroom look that you've always wanted. …

Supporting Loved Ones in Moments of Grief: Now or Later?

October 30, 2019

| No Comments

| house

The older I get I find myself spending more time at funeral homes. It is inevitable, I suppose, to spend at least some of that time thinking about death and loss. Is there a better time to reflect on such subjects? It is never a comfortable situation albeit necessary. The real angst comes when interacting with other loved ones and especially with those closest to the deceased. There seem to be a few simple ground rules to funeral etiquette and how one should conduct themselves.

Always remember that the bereaved are not thinking about being a good host. Even though families do grieve differently it might be best to try to stay out of the way. A small sincere gesture now will be one among many. During the funeral visitation and service the family will be overwhelmed with support. Probably more than they can handle. If you truly want to support them then allow them to grieve in their own way without being in the way. This is the time when they will have the most amount of support from family and friends. Obviously, if there is a need then be sure to fill it the best you can but if you are not sure of what to say or do then probably it is best to do less.

The time to step up will be later when a majority of family and friends have returned to their usual routines and have faded away. This is not an effort to besmirch people but they have lives and families to return too. It is true that everyone has their own methods to deal with grief but most feel the worst later when the reality of the loss sets in. Little things such as coming home to a dark house or waking up alone could trigger fond memories and the feeling of loneliness. This would be the time to make that small gesture that could be the difference. Weeks later when others have drifted off could be the time to make a phone call and just offer to talk. Say hello and check in. This would be the time to ask if they need anything. This would be the time you could really help and support your family member.

There are many ways to show your support for your loved ones but some things are universal. Sincere and kind words and acts have to be universal. A small gesture at the time of the funeral service or memorial when they are overwhelmed and a small gesture later when they may need to be propped up could mean the world to the bereaved.…

Buying a Wall Hung Style of Bathroom Suite

October 29, 2019

| No Comments

| bathroom

A wall hung style of bathroom suite consists of a wall hung toilet with a cistern that's concealed either behind a false wall or inside a piece of bathroom furniture (either a WC unit or a basin and WC combination unit) and a wall hung basin. The basin may also be a standardone piece of sanitaryware or an inset or countertop basin combined with a wall hung vanity unit. If you choose a bathroom furniture option, your WC unit and vanity unit can be coordinated for a streamlined look.

This look is one that compliments contemporary bathrooms well; it's also very practical for two reasons:

1. Its clean lines and streamlined design makes it easy to clean, plus it does not touch the bathroom floor at any point, which means that the floor is easy to clean, too.

2. The positioning of the bathroom suite allows you to see the whole floor area. This is a big advantage in small bathrooms, as it makes them appear larger than they are.

When you're choosing your sanitaryware, remember that you will ordinarily need to select your brassware (taps) and waste for your basin separately. It's also possible that your concealed cistern and wall mounting frame for your wall hung toilet will be sold separately, too. Make sure you buy everything you need: do not assume that things will be included – check!

You'll need to select taps which complement your overall bathroom suite aesthetic, whether that is sweeping curves or straight lines and angles. Do remember as well that your basin may be pre-drilled for either single, monobloc mixer tap, or for a pair of basin taps. Alternately, it may not be drilled at all: either so that you can decide where the tap should best be placed, or because the basin is designed to be paired with deck or wall mounted taps. Make sure you check what kind of taps you'll need before you start looking – it will make your choice a lot easier!

When you're buying your basin waste, there are two basic types to choose from: slotted and unslotted. The former should be used where your basin has an overflow slot; the latter where it does not. You also have a choice of whether to go for a pop up waste or a manual design.

If you are thinking of buying a wall hung style of bathroom suite, the main thing to check before you go ahead is if your bathroom walls are structurally up to the job of supporting the weight of a bathroom suite and (in the case of the toilet ) the weights of the occupants of and visitors to your home, too. The main disadvantage of a wall hung style in cases where the existing walls are not very strong will be the cost of strengthening or replacing them. …

Foxes As Pets – 6 Ways They Differ From Dogs

October 27, 2019

| No Comments

| house

A lot of people are enchanted by the idea of owning a pet fox. They’re charming, intelligent animals, and there is a lot of appeal in having a “special” animal that not many people have. While foxes can make decent pets for someone with the time and resources to care for them, a lot of people make the mistake of buying a pet fox thinking it is going to be just like a dog.

1. Foxes Are Difficult to Train

Dogs are born with a very strong pack mentality. A dog sees you as its alpha, and is hard-wired to want to obey the leader. They live to please you. A fox, however, lives to please itself. While they are very intelligent, the core motivation of a fox is different than that of a dog. The dog wants to please you and make you happy, the fox wants the treat.

2. Foxes Stink

Foxes have a very strong odor. While a dog can take a few weeks without a bath to work up a powerful stink, foxes smell skunky 24/7. This strong, musky odor can be lessened somewhat by having the fox neutered, but it cannot be eliminated entirely.

3. Foxes Are Shy

Many people picture a fox as an awesome pet that they can show off to their friends and neighbors. Unfortunately, the reality almost always falls far short of this. While foxes often become very attached and affectionate with their families, they remain impossibly shy around visitors and strangers.

4. Foxes Have Special Needs

Foxes have special dietary and exercise requirements outside that of a dog. They are extremely energetic, and require loads of exercise every day. A large, carefully-built outdoor enclosure is a must. Which brings me to my next point…

5. Foxes Are Escape Artists

Foxes are much more proficient at getting out of enclosures than even the most determined dog. They can leap six feet in the air, climb up fences, and even cling upside down to climb along a chain link ceiling for short distances. Any enclosure that is meant to keep foxes must not only be large, but impossible to dig out of and have a full roof.

6. Foxes Are Destructive

Many people buy a fox under the mistaken impression that it can be kept as an indoor pet, and left with free run of the house while they are away at work. Nothing could be farther from the truth, particularly with the larger species like red foxes. They will steal and hide anything small enough for them to carry, and shred just about everything they can get their teeth in to. It is nearly impossible to break even the best-trained fox of these behaviors. A dog can be taught not to chew things, a fox can only be taught not to chew things while you’re watching. While a fox is loose in the house, it requires constant supervision.

In conclusion, foxes can make fascinating pets for people who are prepared …

Decorating With Antique Oil Lamps

October 26, 2019

| No Comments

| kitchen

Since the miraculous advent of electricity, oil lamps have become something of an antique, and understandably so. It's not particularly practical to use an antique oil lamp in your home today, not to mention a safety hazard. However, these lamps are still very much in demand, but not for the reasons they once were. Antique oil lamps are collectible items now that can be found on more eBay auctions than you could ever know what to do with. They make excellent collectors' items and can even be used through your home as decoration and for the occasional power outage.

Most people associate antique oil lamps with thoughts of the old west, which is why they make such interesting decorative pieces for rooms geared towards this theme. If you've bottled the modern, sterile look of a kitchen with stainless steel appliances and black marble counter tops, you may want to give the country farmhouse look a try. It can give off a much warmer feeling and is a perfect place to showcase the antique oil lamps you've been collecting. Most of them have handles on top, so all you need is a hook to screw into the wall and you're all set. Your antique oil lamp has gone from a dusty artifact to wall decoration!

Antique oil lamps can be a unique and clever way to light up the back yard for a night time get-together with the neighborhood. Being careful not to put them near anything too flammable, they can be placed through your back yard. The antique oil lamps will give your guest enough light to see each other, while keeping it just dim enough that they can still see the stars in the night sky. Antique oil lamps can make an interesting takeoff on a tiki torch as well. You can find poles that stick in the ground with hooks on top to hang the lamps on.

When collecting antique oil lamps and trying to use them in your decorating scheme, it is essential to think of safety first and protect your family from any possibility of a fire. If you do keep oil lamps around for use in the event of a power outage, either do not keep them filled with oil, or keep the ones with oil in them in a different place. The last thing you want is some freak accident what somehow ignites the antique oil lamp mounted above your sink. Aside from this rare possibility, collecting and decorating with antique oil lamps is a way to preserve a little history and use it in your every day life. …

A Review of the Sportcraft TX5.0 RC Treadmill

October 26, 2019

| No Comments

| house

I love walking, especially out doors, but there are times in winter when it’s just too darn cold. So, recently I bought the Sportcraft TX 5.0 RC Treadmill. Here’s my review and why I’m glad I bought it.

It’s great that I can now enjoy a good walk workout in the comfort of my own home and the features of the Sportcraft TX5 treadmill are really good. I talk about the best ones below.

Out of all the features of the Sportcraft treadmill, the best one is that it can easily go from its horizontal walking position to a vertical position so I can easily store it: I live in a small town house so space is an issue for me. Mind you, the Sportcraft machine does look quite stylish so leaving it set up and on display won’t embarrass a style-conscious person.

The display panel that comes with the Sportcraft TX5 is fantastic as it gives me lots of information. Not only does it show the miles and steps I’ve walked; it also shows the calories, heart rate, time and speed. There’s a quick mode button that lets me change the speed as well; It’s real easy, you just use the “+” or “-” signs to slowly increase or decrease speed in increments of one tenth of a mile.

Although it is a cheap machine, I’ve found I can also use it for running, though I have to admit I don’t run on it all that much. When I do run, I find the remote control to be very useful as it allows me to easily change speed without touching the display panel.

I’m a bit of a safety nut and one reason I’d put off buying a treadmill was because I was afraid I’d fall off – I had visions of my legs and arms being mangled. But, the Sportcraft TX5.0 RC has banished those fears. It comes with a safety cord that attaches to you and a sensor on the panel so if you should fall or slip, and the cord is not connected to the sensor, it stops automatically.

What I liked, and my husband loved, was the low price of the machine at just under $250. My husband found setting up the Sportcraft treadmill a breeze. The manual that came with it was easy to follow.

If you are looking for a treadmill, I would highly recommend the Sportcraft TX5.0 RC Treadmill. My husband doesn’t use it though as he’s an ardent runner; it isn’t really suitable if you take running seriously. But, for walkers like my self I think it works just great.

My review of the Sportcraft treadmill is a little short; I’ve just mentioned the things I liked most about it. The display console of the machine is just about right, the remote control makes operating the treadmill easy and I really like the safety cord. To date, I’ve had hassle free walking on this machine and am getting the workout I …

Interior Painting

October 25, 2019

| No Comments

| interior, kitchen

There's a lot more to interior painting that just rolling the colors you like onto the walls. You can, for example, create distinct spaces with the way you paint and the colors you use, or even indu sleeping in your bedrooms.

In most homes today, the living room is an open area that connects the kitchen with the dining area. In such cases, it is difficult to determine where to start and where to stop a particular color scheme, if you want to add a bit more color to your house. A simple technique you can follow is to paint a feature on the wall between two areas, which will serve as a break to distinguish between the two areas. You could even do a progress of colors and arrive at a center point in the living room, like the fireplace.

The paint you use in the kitchen will have to match the finish of your cabinets and table. If you are likely to spend a lot of time in the kitchen, then it's a good idea to choose bright and happy shades that perk your mood and keep you excited.

For the bathrooms, you can be adventurous. They are, after all, small areas where you can change the color easily if you do not like what you've done first. A safe bet, however, is to use light colors such as blue or green, as they give a feeling of more space, and also look and feel clean.

As for the bedrooms, designers prescribe light shades of blue to anesthesia sleeping. In such cases, add a touch of brightness in line with your vision when you wake up in the morning.

It's as simple as this to make your interiors look classy, without any extra work or money. …

My House is Worth What? Why?

October 23, 2019

| No Comments

| general

The housing debacle that started in late 2006 (and is continuing) had a substantial effect on lending. According to ml-implode, 355 lenders have disappeared since late 2006. At the beginning of August, Taylor Bean Whitaker, one of the largest lenders, abruptly folded their operations. Several larger players are on ml-implode's watch list. The reach of the troubled housing market continues to grow.

Because of the slumping real estate market, many areas have been designated "declining markets". That means the LTV's allowed will be lower, and comps used for valuation will be adjusted (lower) to make up for the declining price environment. That means the home owner may be shut out of refinancing and taking advantage of historic low rates, or not qualify to consolidate debt. This may lead to even more foreclosures, creating more downward pressure on home prices.

One of the newer regulations passed was the infamous HVCC, or Home Valuation Code of Conduct. It evolved because of a knee-jerk reaction to the housing market. The suspicion was that many appraisers were in bed with lenders and realtors, giving inflated valuations to properties so deals could get done. Unfortunately, there were some dark spots in this process, and now the entire real estate industry is paying the price for this. HVCC requires that appraisals now be ordered through an appraisal management company (AMC), instead of the lender dealing directly with the qualified appraiser that he or she already has a solid relationship with. In fact, the lender is not allowed in any way to contact or communicate with the appraiser. This may sound fine, but it has major negatives to it. First, the appraiser, chosen from a lottery, can travel as far as 100 miles away from the subject property. He or she may not be familiar with the area they were sent to report on. Second, appraisers are now being compensated less, because the AMC has to get their share of administration fees. The appraisers now have to travel further and get paid less. That is unfair to the appraiser, and everyone involved in the real estate transaction. I have already seen appraisals come back as much as 25% less that expected, even in areas that are not hard-hit. This has a substantial economic impact. Think of who is involved in a real estate transaction – appraiser, realtor, lender, title company, inspector, attorney. This has a ripple effect, no doubt.

Finally, foreclosures are not going away. With unemployment at 9.4% nationally, and in many areas over 10%, foreclosures will continue to rise. More than half the foreclosures are due to loss of employment. These foreclosures are beginning to find their way into appraisals, pushing prices even lower.

This is news everyone should be aware of – owner, buyers, sellers, realtors and lenders. Having this information in hand, and discussing it early and candidly with clients will avoid a lot of shock and awe when it comes to signing documents. Everyone will be better served if we, as professionals, …

Things to Know Before Beginning a Hydroponic Garden

October 22, 2019

| No Comments

| garden

It may seem like hydroponics is a bit confusing, especially if a person has never done much traditional gardening before. All of the talk about pH, oxygen, carbon dioxide, and the other facets of this method of growing plants could sound overwhelming. It’s like many other things that become so much easier once you try to do them. It is helpful to know something about the different growing mediums that can be used in this system.

A medium is the material that plants are grown in. The reason for using a medium, rather than just placing the roots in water alone is that the growing plant needs support, and a medium provides this. It also helps with aeration and channels nutrients and water. Various mediums often work better in different hydroponic systems.

Some of the popular mediums that are used with this method of gardening are perlite, vermiculite, and sand. They are inexpensive to buy, but there are others that work better, such as Hydroton which is a very fast draining material. It is made of expanded clay aggregate that allows oxygen to reach the root system of the plant. Expanded shale also works well in this type of system, and it can be reused just like Hydroton, but it may not last as long as Hydroton since it tends to easily break down.

Rockwool is probably the most often used medium for hydroponics. It was first used as insulation in buildings, but it is now possible to get a type that is made especially for gardening. This medium holds far more water than soil, and it also retains more air. The pH needs to be checked when using Rockwool since it tends to raise the pH of the nutrient solution.

It is also important to know a little about different hydroponics systems. One of them is the ebb and flow type system. The ebb and flow system uses a pump that is placed in the bottom part of the gardening apparatus. When the pump is turned on, the water with added nutrients in the bottom is pumped to the roots in the upper tray. This system replaces used oxygen with fresh oxygen so that the roots can absorb the required nutrients.

There are also three other systems that can be used. The wick system uses a candle wick that runs from the reservoir to the roots of the plant, transferring the water from the reservoir to the roots.An additional system that some gardeners use is the nutrient film technique. It flushes the solution over the roots 24 hours each day. This method does not use a medium, so baskets or collars may be used.The continuous drip system also uses a pump, and it has lines going to each plant so that nutrients can be adjusted plant by plant.

Hydroponics gardeners need to decide which system they will use, and they also need to choose a medium that works best with this system. Doing this ensures that the garden will …

October 2019
M	T	W	T	F	S	S
« Sep				Nov »
	1	2	3	4	5	6
7	8	9	10	11	12	13
14	15	16	17	18	19	20
21	22	23	24	25	26	27
28	29	30	31