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How To Clean Ceramic Floor Tiles

Fanny — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 00:46:50 +0000

By changing the type of flooring that you have in a room you can completely change the feel of a room, not only by making it feel bigger but making it appear lighter and warmer. One type of flooring that has grown in popularity very quickly over the past few years is ceramic floor tiles. But do you know how to clean ceramic floor tiles? Here, we are telling you some tips for cleaning ceramic floor tiles.

Daily maintenance of your glazed ceramic floor tiles can be as simple as using a damp mop and warm water. Mop with a solution of mild detergent and water for heavier cleaning jobs. Rinse the tile thoroughly to remove any detergent residue. Unglazed tiles can be cleaned with a mildly abrasive scouring powder but glazed tiles may be scratched if cleaned with any abrasive cleanser.
If your ceramic floor tile is in the bathroom you may be dealing with a buildup of soap scum. Mix ½ c. packaged water softener with 2 tablespoons rottenstone and 1 cup of hot water. Sponge the solution onto the soap scum and it should come right off. If not, try a solution of 1-2 tablespoons of tri-sodium phosphate (TSP) mixed into 1 gallon of hot water. Rinse the tile thoroughly after cleaning.
A build-up of various stains may cause your ceramic floor tile to look dark. Cover the stain with a full strength liquid laundry detergent and let it soak on the stain for two to three hours. Sponge the detergent off with warm water. If this doesn’t completely remove the stain, scrub the stain with a scrub brush. Rinse thoroughly.
Mildew can be removed from ceramic tile with a solution of chlorine bleach and water. Use a soft bristled brush to agitate the bleach water solution into the grout joints. Rinse the tile thoroughly and treat it with a mildew retardant household spray to prevent further growth.
Chlorine bleach will also remove such stains as ink, blood, mustard, fruit juice and coffee. Apply a solution of bleach and water and let it stand on the stain for 5 to 10 minutes. Rinse with clean water. A solution of 10 percent sodium carbonate and water will remove grease from ceramic tile. Rust stains from unglazed ceramic floor tiles may be removed with a solution of 5 percent hydrochloric acid and water. Soak a paper towel with nail polish remover (acetone) and lay it on a nail polish spill. Let the soaked paper towel sit on the spill for a few minutes and then scrape off the softened polish. Steel wool can scour off a minor cigarette burn.
Felt pads on the feet of wooden table legs will help you avoid scratching the tile and will help to maintain the look and beauty of your ceramic floor. If you vacuum the ceramic tile, be careful of any metal or plastic attachments that could scratch the surface.

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Flat Roof Maintenance And Cleaning

Fanny — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 15:19:56 +0000

Flat roof has lots of advantages. For example, flat roof will costs you much lesser than the usual roofs that people get done for their homes. As compared to the usual types of roofs, flats roofs are easily accessible, as they do not have much of a slope. As the surface area of a flat roof is lesser than that of a slanting roof, it takes much lesser time to construct as compared to slanting roofs. It is very quick to construct.

Flat Roof Maintenance

Flat roofs require regular inspection and preventive maintenance to extend their life. Modern architecture would not be the same without flat roofs. Residential buildings are more suited for flat roofs as compared to industrial or commercial buildings. This is because flat roof becomes unstable with increase in size leading to higher maintenance expenses.

Life of a flat roof depends on the material used in its construction and the frequency of preventive maintenance. It is recommended that flat roofs be inspected once in a year. Cleaning and clearing of debris from the drains is carried out regularly to prevent water logging and easy draining. Roof coating, which is responsible for waterproofing, degrades due to the ultra violet rays and hence needs preservation. Poor maintenance of flashings material used around objects that protrude from a roof such as chimney is the main cause of leakages in flat roofs.

Flat Roof Cleaning

The biggest problem with flat roof is of stagnant water after rainfall. Though most of the flat roofs are slightly slanted, which is of course not noticeable, yet water stagnates and becomes the cause of growth of moss and algae on it. If the moss or algae infected parts of your roof do not receive sunlight early in the morning then this algae does not die, instead it grows with the help of morning dew that has settled on your roof, further aggravating your problem of an unclean roof. (By Kris Koonar)

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Kitchen Stainless Steel Sink Cleaning

Fanny — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 08:52:43 +0000

You should know your kitchen stainless steel sink has more germs than your toilet seat, and scrubbing won’t get rid of them.

When you tackle your kitchen, start by clearing off countertops and emptying the sink. Spray the sink and countertops first – then leave them wet while you move around the room to spray the appliances. By the time you get back to the sink, the cleaner will have killed the germs – and started to power the deep-seated grime loose. Wipe it down with a sponge, then wet it again – but this time, tackle it with a good scrubbing brush. Get in around the faucet fitting and behind the fixtures with the brush to loosen up the grime that hides household odors and germs. When you’re done, spray it with the sink spray, and wipe clean with a paper towel or soft cloth.

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Spring Clean Up And House Maintenance

Fanny — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 08:24:39 +0000

Spring is coming, the traditional time for home maintenance checks. Well as spring is on the way and you should give your home a good ”spring clean up” at least once a year as part of general home maintenance.
Cleaning the kitchen
Spray the oven with oven cleaner the night before (or according to the instructions on the pack).
Wipe shelves, the front of cupboards and drawers. Then wipe the splashback and range hood with window cleaner.
Clean the cook top with the all-purpose cleaner and a scratch-less scourer
Remove all trays and racks from the oven and place them in a tub or sink with hot water. Then use a scourer to clean. You can then remove the oven grime, which should wipe away easily after being sprayed with oven cleaner the night before.
The fridge is next. Get rid of all old food and jars you never use. Clean the inside of the fridge and freezer with all-purpose cleaner and the outside with window cleaner. If you have an older fridge you may need to defrost it. This takes a few hours so ensure that you store perishables in an esky to keep them from spoiling.
Wipe counters and all appliances with all-purpose cleaner.
Empty the garbage bin and clean it out with disinfectant.
Finally, sweep and then mop the floor.
Cleaning the bathroom
Start by vacuuming everything. This will remove all dust and hair, which is difficult to remove when wet.
Spray bleach and disinfectant in the toilet, leave for 10 minutes and then scrub with the toilet brush before wiping the rim.
Spray all-purpose cleaner on the shower screen and scrub with a bathroom brush. Then rinse with hot water. Repeat if necessary.
Clean bath, shower recess and sink with all-purpose cleaner.
Polish mirrors with window cleaner and a clean rag.
Scrub the floor with a strong cleanser. You might have to get on your hands and knees for this but you’ll be pleased with the result.
Finally mop the floor with soapy water. A string mop works best, as it will reach into awkward corners.
Cleaning living areas and bedrooms
Again, always start at the top and work your way down. Dust and vacuum all corners and surfaces.
Vacuum furniture, lampshades and pictures.
Take down the curtains and either vacuum them or wash them depending on the material.
Remove any rugs and plants. Beat the rugs outside and remove any dead leaves from the plants. You should also give them a light spray of water as they collect a lot of dust.
Vacuum the carpets. If there are permanent stains, now is a good time to get them steam cleaned.
The most efficient cleaning method is room by room. Don’t have a few rooms on the go at once, otherwise you won’t finish anything. As a general rule, always start cleaning from the top down, finishing with the floors.

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How To Clean Laminate Flooring

Fanny — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 05:06:47 +0000

When you want the natural beauty of wood or stone – but still need great durability and easy care – laminate flooring is a natural choice. Laminate is versatile, durable and inexpensive – making it a popular, contemporary choice. Laminate is made of bonded layers and uses several materials, including wood, resin and paper which are all compacted together and then carved into planks. The wood-like surface of a laminate floor is actually a picture that’s been printed onto the top layer. You can use Laminate Flooring in your kitchens, bathrooms, mud rooms and any other area, but do you know how to clean laminate flooring?

Laminate Flooring is easy to clean and very durable, if you have stains or a spill on your floor, You can only using a floor cleaner that was made specifically for laminate flooring. This is very important because the wrong chemical can damage or ruin your floor very easily. If you in short supply of laminate floor cleaner you can use some Windex or a mixture of vinegar and water diluted 4:1. Never use a wood polishing chemical like pledge to clean your flooring. Although these chemicals will leave a beautiful shine they will also make the floor as slick as ice and could lead to a dangerous slip and fall!

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How To Clean Your Carpets

Fanny — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 14:25:30 +0000

Here we will tell you some ways to clean your carpet. Professional carpet cleaning services.

Dry Cleaning Your Carpet

Carpet cleaning services that offer dry cleaning are certainly becoming popular alternatives. The serviceman will spread a powdery substance over your floors then use his carpet cleaning machine to work it through and then suck it out, along with any dirt or stains. Foam is another form of almost dry carpet cleaning where the carpet is shampooed with foam only, then vacuumed on drying. It is a common school of thought that carpet cleaning services who use wet, shampooing techniques actually damage the carpet over time, encouraging rotting and decay of underlay and contributing to future mold growth.

Shampooing

Some carpet cleaning services offer basic shampooing packages. This is where they come in and apply a chemical cleaning solution to your floor and then scrub the floor clean with a special floor cleaning machine or carpet shampooing machine which removes the solution and moisture from your carpet. This generally leaves your carpet looking nice and clean. This is a great temporary fix for carpet problems they do however tend to come back in time. You should take caution with this type of service to at least find out which chemicals they are using and any potential damage they may have to the fibers of your carpet.

The Bonnet Method For Carpet Cleaning

Most businesses and large industries choose a carpet cleaning service that offers the Bonnet method. The Bonnet method uses steam from highly heated water with specialized detergent to more thoroughly and deeply clean the carpet, followed by sucking up the moisture and product, as well as any dirt. The heat of the steam makes stains and grime dissolve more easily, and it also has a great sanitizing effect as well.

The intention when choosing a carpet cleaning service provider is to ensure the life of the carpet is prolonged as much as possible. Always ask what type of cleaning is being offered, and only go with a method that you have confidence in and trust for use on your carpet. The cheapest method is usually the nastiest, and even though the floors might look fantastic immediately afterwards, prolonged application of some products and machines that use water can cause real damage to the carpet you treasure in your home.

By Christopher Smith

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Vapor Steam Cleaner

Fanny — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 09:10:54 +0000

Home steam carpet cleaners are becoming more popular among homeowners because of their ease of use and they are environmentally friendly. People can do the work themselves and they do not need to hire a professional to do the work. However, if they would prefer not to do the work then hiring a professional carpet cleaner is fine too.

You can also find portable home steam carpet cleaners. They are smaller and less powerful than the regular size models. They are also a fair bit cheaper than the larger models. When researching on what type to purchase, it is important to know exactly what you will be using it to clean. If you are cleaning whole carpets then you will certainly need a full size machine as opposed to a portable unit.

One thing all home steam carpet cleaners all do is they heat water to create the steam that cleans. An upright machine is better for cleaning larger surfaces and the canister is better for smaller areas along with vehicles and furniture. The majority of the upright water tanks hold about one gallon of water. The canister style holds more than one gallon on average. Many models come with different attachments for cleaning automobiles, stairs and furniture.

A new type of home steam carpet cleaner is the vapor steam cleaner. It apparently is more efficient due to modifications to the design. Some of the features include:

• Self sufficient
• Has it’s own heater, tank and container
• Vapor particles are smaller than steam particles thus it dries faster
• Heats water to very high temperatures

Before making a purchase, it is recommended that you do plenty of research including using the internet. There are consumer reports available to provide all the necessary information needed to make an informed decision on which type of home steam carpet cleaners to purchase. These reports are available online or in trade magazines. It is important to be completely informed before making your purchase. A carpet cleaner should last you many years.

It is generally true that the more you spend on a home steam carpet cleaner then the more extras or accessories you will get. An example would be an extra tank so that water is constantly poured into the tank instead of water being added to the heating area. You do not want a machine that has features that you do not require or will not use.

A home steam carpet cleaner can also be used on upholstery as well as carpets and floors. If you do not have a large carpeted area in your home, you can still purchase a portable unit to clean and sanitize other areas of your home without the use of chemicals that are harmful to the environment. This is a purchase that all homeowners should seriously consider making.

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Building repairs

Fanny — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 06:44:22 +0000

Damp

The most common form of damp is rising damp. This occurs when moisture from the ground rises up by capillary action and rises up the walls of a property. This moisture will most likely carry salts, which are deposited on the face of the wall when the moisture evaporates. This leaves the walls of your property stained and damaged.

Structural

When it comes to structural problems you will most likely start to notice problems with your roof, walls or ceiling. With structural damage there are certain things that you should look out for which can indicate that damage has been caused to your property such as bulges, sways, leaning walls and sagging roof titles.

Your roof is the best indicator that possible structural damage has occurred. You should look at the ridge of your roof and determine whether it is straight. If you notice that your roof sags in the centre or at the ends then the load bearing walls may have shifted. From the exterior of your property you should check either visually of with a carpenter’s level that the walls are vertical/straight.

You also need to ensure that the structure meets its foundation to ensure the building hasn’t shifted on its foundation. Whilst you are doing this you should also check for cracks in walls, especially around your windows and doors.

Subsidence

Subsidence is the downwards movement of the bearing soil on which a building rests. It can cause cracks in brickwork, render and plaster as well as window/door frame distortions and leaking/blocked drains.

Subsidence can happen due to a number of different reasons such as:

• If previous mining activity has taken place

• When houses are built on clay soils, and either the water table drops due to a long, dry spell or water is sucked out of the soil

• By trees and bushes. As the clay contracts it pulls the foundations, triggering deflection which may cause structural damage to buildings. Different types of clay shrink and swell at different rates

• Water leaks into the soil from, for example, a broken drainpipe and washes soil away from the foundations. This happens to soils with a high sand or gravel content usually, or sometimes in chalk.

The main evidence that subsidence has occurred is new/expending cracks in plasterwork or in outside brickwork or if doors/windows are sticking for no particular reason or if any wallpaper in your property has started to ripple and hasn’t been caused by damp.

Most commonly, subsidence is due to shrinkage of clay soils beneath the foundations. Shrinkage is usually caused by roots from nearby vegetation drying out the soil. Other causes include softening of the foundation soil.

If you start to notice any differences to the structure of your property as well as any cracks appearing in your walls, whether it be in the plaster work or the brickwork of the property you should seek out a surveyor to find out the extent of the damage that could have potentially happened to your property.

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What Is The Best Way To Clean Carpet

Fanny — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 06:11:06 +0000

Its important to remember that keeping your carpet clean doesn’t start and stop with the stain. It actually starts well before the stain is created. It starts with vacuuming your carpets at least once a week, especially in heavy traffic areas. Remember, when you are trying to get a stain out, if you haven’t vacuumed, its not just the stain you are trying to combat, its also all of the dirt, dust and build up in your carpet. So what is the best way to clean carpet? Here I ‘ll teach you a method to clean the carpet.

The first step in carpet cleaning is to remove as much of the carpet load or dry soil from the carpet fibers as possible. What happens to dry dirt when you add water? It becomes mud and mud is a lot harder to get out than sand. A sq. yard of carpet may contain up to 8 lbs. of dry dirt. A thorough vacuum of the carpet is the best first step to cleaning the carpet yourself. If you need help in choosing a vacuum, see our free choosing a vacuum guide.

Now that the carpets are thoroughly vacuumed, we want to pre spray or precondition the carpet.

This may be the most important step in the carpet cleaning process and it is often overlooked by the “professional carpet cleaning company.” Many carpet cleaning companies will only precondition the spots they see and not the entire carpet. This is akin to taking very dirty jeans and placing detergent on the ketchup spot and ignoring the general grime that the jeans are covered in. After the jeans dried you would have very dirty jeans with a clean spot where the ketchup used to be. To insure that all the carpet gets as clean as possible we must prespray all the carpets before we clean them. We also want the Prespray to sit or dwell in the carpet fibers for at least two to twenty minutes before we clean them. It takes the soap bubbles time to pry the dirt off the carpet fiber. If we heat our Preconditioner before we apply it, the Preconditioner will be more powerful and effective. Once we reach 118 degrees every 18 degrees hotter will double the ability of the detergent to clean. Make sure that you are heating only detergent and non combustible chemicals. This is one reason why you can never get the carpets as clean with a portable cleaner compared to a high heat truck mount carpet cleaner.

After you pre spray a section of carpet you can agitate the carpet with a carpet rake and this will help the detergent break the dirt free from the carpet fiber. You don’t want the prespray to dry before you rinse the carpets with your home cleaner. You can use a fresh water rinse or a slightly acidic rinse to flush the detergent and dirt out of the carpet. If you can create airflow and warm air the carpets will dry faster. It is preferred for the carpets to dry within 24 hours. The faster the carpets dry the less wicking or traveling of dirt from the carpets backing will occur. A quick recap:

Vacuum carpet thoroughly.
Precondition all the carpet to be cleaned
Heat the Prespray if possible and agitate it into the carpet fibers.
Let the Preconditioner sit or dwell for 2- 20 minutes
Rinse the carpet with fresh water
Dry as fast as possible

By Keith Wroblewski

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Home Repair Checklist

Fanny — Sat, 09 Feb 2008 01:59:07 +0000

Here’s a handy home repair checklist for this fall. It includes some items most homeowners tend to overlook.
1.   Roof: Inspect the roof for loose shingles. Hint: If you have some extra roof shingles left over from your roofing job, immediately store a few in a not too noticeable area outside where they will be exposed to the elements. They will weather along with your roof shingles, and if you do need to replace an occasional shingle in the future, they will blend in very nicely with the rest of the roof.
2.   Fireplace: Clean the fireplace of ashes if you have not done this since last winter. A good New Years Resolution would be to always clean the ashes in a timely fashion.
3.   Attic: If there is no ridge vent, keep gable vents open year-round to ensure proper ventilation.
4.   Gutters: Clean gutters and drain pipes so leaves won’t clog them and be sure they drain away from the house. (Fall: In cold-climate areas) Drain outside faucets.
5.   Filters: Remember to clean or replace filters once a month, or as needed. Check and clean dryer vent, air conditioner, stove hood and room fans. Keep heating and cooling vents clean and free from furniture and draperies.
6.   Safety Equipment: Ensure that all smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors and fire extinguishers are in good working order. Replace batteries in appropriate devices as needed, or at least twice each year.
7.   Air Conditioner: (Fall: In cold-climate areas) Remove window air-conditioners, or put weatherproof covers on them.
8.   Windows and Doors: Seal drafty doors and windows. If you added up all of the small cracks where heating and cooling escapes from a home, it would be the same as having a window open. Replace seals as needed.
9.   Faucets: Check for leaky faucets in kitchen and bathroom(s). Replace washers as necessary.
10.   Refrigerator: Make sure your refrigerator door seals are airtight. Test them by closing the door over a dollar bill. If you can pull the bill out easily, the latch may need to be adjusted or the seal may need to be replaced. In addition, if you have a coil-back refrigerator, vacuum the coils at least twice each year. Your refrigerator will run more efficiently with clean coils. Also, stock up! A full refrigerator uses less energy than an empty one.

11. Storm Windows and Screens: (Fall) Take down screens (if removable type) and replace with storm windows. (Spring) Remove, clean, and store storm windows (if removable). Check and patch all door and window screens. Put screens up (if removable type).
12. Siding and Paint: Look for cracks and holes in house siding or paint. Replace caulk if necessary. A carpet knife can work well for cutting away old caulking from house siding. Slice down alongside it from both directions with the hook-like blade, then use the knife to lift out the old caulk bead intact.

13.   Heating System: (Fall) Have heating system serviced. Change filters.
14.   Hot Water Heater: (Fall) Drain hot water heater. Remove sediment from the bottom of the tank.
15.   Basement: Check basement walls and floor for dampness. Be sure to clean dehumidifier regularly, if you have one.
16.   Chimney: Clean the interior of the chimney. Don’t want to get covered with soot? Leave the dirty work to a chimneysweep. If you can’t get Mary Poppins, try the yellow pages.
17.   Patio Furniture: Protect outdoor items such as patio furniture, grills, and hoses. The best protection is inside storage in a basement, garage, or shed. If this is not possible, wrap or cover them securely. Remember to drain the hoses first.

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