How to Choose Mold Removal Products

Different kinds of mold removal products are available in the market for the elimination of those ugly mold stains and even that familiar but nasty odor in your home. Mold, which is a type of fungi that loves warm and damp places, can be found in those areas that have these characteristics, such as the laundry room, based, closet, attic, kitchen, bathroom and shower. Mold colonies have a tendency to form on organic surfaces like leather, natural fibers, wood, paper and surfaces that often have a film of organic matter. Thus, before going out to purchase mold removal products, you may need to take note of the kinds of surfaces that you have in your home and the kinds of materials used to ensure that the cleaner chosen is compatible with them.

Moreover, you may also want to read reviews online for certain mold removal products. And before you go out to purchase a commercial mold and mildew remover, you may want to check if you have household products like vinegar, bleach, baking soda or hydrogen peroxide at your disposal. These materials can also be used for getting rid of mold. Distilled white vinegar is a relatively safe chemical to use. It is placed inside a spray bottle and it is sprayed onto the affected areas. You leave the vinegar on the surface for about an hour and then wipe it off with water. Another household product that can be used for mould removal is hydrogen peroxide. It is also a relatively safe chemical to use because it does not give out toxic fumes. It is also sprayed onto the surface like vinegar.

Meanwhile, commercial products for mold and mildew removal are often sold in spray bottles for the convenience of the user. Some of them have the unique capability of completely surrounding the spores so that they are unable to get into contact with water and food sources and will therefore die. The spores will also be unable to stick to the surfaces. Then after performing these particular tasks, these chemicals usually remain as shields to protect against the return of the molds.

The next step to take after using mold removal products is to prevent the regrowth of mold colonies. If there are leaks in some of the water pipes or cracks in the insulation, ceilings, walls and other places of the home, moisture could get in and provide a favorable environment for the rapid growth of molds. It is also necessary to make sure that the relative humidity inside the home falls within the 30 to 50 percent range. If the humidity is too high, mold colonies find it easier to grow. Thus, it would be advisable to get a dehumidifier or to ensure that the air conditioner can bring down the humidity to within that range. You can also use exhaust fans to minimize the humidity in bathrooms and kitchens. You only need to make sure that the air from these places do not accumulate in the attic but go directly to the outside.

Autor: Gavin Cruise

Gavin Cruise was born in New York, his mother encouraged him to write and read and his father was a wealthy business man in real estate. Gavin had the privilege of traveling extensively with his father learning about a wide variety of subjects. He attended Harvard where he majored in English and from the age of 26 Gavin supported himself by freelance writing through all the knowledge gained from traveling. If you would like to read more articles about Gavin Cruise, please visit http://www.basementmoldcleaning.com

Added: February 27, 2010
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

How Often is Carpet Cleaning Required?

Carpet cleaning in your home:

The average four person family home will require professional carpet cleaning twice a year, once in the spring and once in the fall. Once a year might be adequate for single persons or senior couples; additional cleanings may be needed in crowded homes or those with multiple indoor pets.

A few warning signs that let you know when you are in need of professional carpet cleaning services include:

The carpet is matted and flattened, and no amount of vacuuming with a standard cleaner will restore the carpet to fluffiness.

There are multiple stains which are proving resistant to stain removal products and multiple attempts at cleaning.

You notice dust puffing up out of the carpet even after vacuuming, or the carpet feels grimy or tacky.

There is a stale or musty odor emanating from the carpet, or indoor pets have had several 'accidents' on the carpet.

In some cases only a certain room or hallway may need extensive cleaning; for example, a carpeted entry may need to be professionally cleaned several times a year, particularly after wet or muddy seasons. Homes where several rooms sit empty most of the time may not need a full house cleaning more often than once every 12-18 months.

Many carpet cleaning services offer rates based on how many rooms you have done, meaning you can save money by doing main living areas and hallways twice a year, and bedrooms annually. If you know the warning signs to look for, you can concentrate on keeping rooms with heavier traffic cleaned on a more regular basis, and clean other rooms as needed. Check with your local carpet cleaning company and see if they offer annual rates that include return visits for one year if you need your carpets cleaned more often.

Autor: Miklos Roth

Fore more information on carpet leaning please visit our carpet cleaning website.

Added: February 26, 2010
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

Kitchen Cleaning in a Flash

Today's generation is the one full of deadlines and timetables. Everyone is in a hurry whether to meet a deadline or a client or to go home and prepare dinner. The busy homeowner may not have too much time to do household work. The kitchen is one of the areas that need constant cleaning and organizing. To declutter the kitchen every now and then is important to maintain its neatness. To help the busy body to clean the kitchen appliances and items in a flash, here are some tips:

• Use a toothbrush to take away what is stuck on the grater before you wash it
• Rub baking soda on coffee stains, rinse then dry.
• Clean the kitchen sink by placing paper towels across the bottom of the sink then place ordinary bleach. Leave this for an hour, scrub then rinse. Spots on stainless steel sinks can be removed by methylated spirit or white vinegar. You can also use club soda to let your stainless steel sparkle.
• Eliminate odor from your microwave by heating 4 tablespoons of vanilla for a minute and leave overnight. The vanilla will absorb any odor from your microwave.
• Clean copper and brassware by splitting a lemon into half and dipping them into salt. Rub the lemon on the copper or brassware. A solution of vinegar and salt will also be effective to clean copper and brassware.
• To eliminate yellow stains from white appliance surfaces, mix together ½ cup bleach, ½ cup baking soda and 4 cups of warm water. With a cleaning sponge, wipe the area with the solution then leave it for 15 minutes. Rinse the area and dry.
• Fish and garlic odor in the kitchen can be eradicated by placing a bowl of vinegar by the stove to absorb the odor.
• Clean the kitchen drain by placing denture tablets or pouring salt and a cup of baking soda to the drain followed by a kettle of boiling water. This should unclog the drain especially grease.
• Glass stove burners can be soaked in water and ammonia. Clean the holes with a wire brush. Rinse and dry the stove burners.
• If your blender is greasy, pour water then detergent and let it run for a few seconds. Rinse and dry.
• When plastic containers have an odor, place crumpled newspapers and leave overnight. Wash the plastic containers in the morning.

Declutter the kitchen and organize your things in a flash with these easy steps:

• Clear the refrigerator and pantry of any food or product that has been there for ages. While you are clearing, wipe the area with a cleaning sponge and get rid of any stain by following what was mentioned above.
• Try to decide which plastic containers really need to be in the kitchen cupboard or shelf. You may have containers that are no longer usable and yet they are still on the shelves to gather dust.
• Go through your utensils and get rid of those that are bent, rusty or not matched with the rest of what you have. Rusty utensils may be a health hazard to you and your family.
• Inspect your kitchen cabinets and eliminate what is already out of date. Do not give away expired food. If the food item is about to expire, decide whether you will use it as an ingredient or just throw it away.
• Look at your glassware and cookware; retain only those that you need every day to avoid a cluttered look in your kitchen.

Once you know how to go about cleaning and decluttering the kitchen, work will be faster for you.

Autor: Martin C Johnson

Martin Johnson is an organization expert. For more great information on declutter kitchen visit, http://www.clutterbustercenter.com

Added: February 24, 2010
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

How to Care For Your Clothes?

The basic thing you should practice is:

Do not fling your clothes on to any old chair, or crush them into the wardrobe.
Always hang up dresses, coats and jackets.
Fold jumpers and blouses
Keep hankies, scarves and tights together

This way you will be able to find things with the minimum of fuss and bother. Have neat and tidy drawers.
Keep small things like handkerchief, tights, gloves, and socks in an old gift or shoe boxes.

Use the deeper drawers for bulky items such as sweaters
Use the narrow drawers for keep things that can get crushed easily
Put a perfumed sachet amongst your clothes to give them a delicate fragrance
Divide your drawers up with pieces of thick cardboard or plywood
Put all jeweler into a jewel box - tiny items can so easily get lost

How to keep your clothes clean

As soon as you get in from work or college, change into older or casual clothe because lots of accident s can happen to your clothes such as spilling nail polish or remover, coffee or food. If you do get stains on your clothes - always remove them at once. Of course, some stains can only be removed by experts, a dry clean.

Here are some solutions for removing common stains:

Black coffee - Stretch the stained area over a bowl. Pour boiling water through and wash thoroughly.
Milk, white coffee, cocoa - Make a paste with borax and water - spread on the soiled areas and leave overnight. Wash thoroughly the next day.

Grease and oil - Place the spot on blotting paper. Make a ring around it with cleaning fluid such as carbon tetrachloride on cotton wool. Rub the area gently with the cleaning fluid. Keep moving the spot to a clean place on the blotter, and repeat until the spot is removed. Dry thoroughly with clean cotton wool.

Rust - Stretch the stained area over boiling water, and rub lemon juice over the stain. Rinse well.

Fruit Stains - Soak in cold water then stretch the stained area over an empty bowl, and pour boiling water through it from above.

Blood - Soak immediately in cold salty water; then wash in warm soapy water - rinse and dry.

Wine Stains - Hold the soiled area in a little boiled milk until the stain has almost vanished. Now wash in the normal way. Or use a mixture of salt and lemon juice and rub into the area and then wash thoroughly.
Tea - Soak overnight in borax and water. Then wash in the normal way.

For cotton and linen fabric, rub the affected area with raw lemon and allow drying under the direct glare of the sun. Otherwise, place the garment in a warm place until dry.

Remember to remove wet clothing as soon as possible. Shake it and place it on a hanger to dry in a warm place. Stuff wet shoes with newspaper and dry them away from heat or they may crack and go out of shape.

Autor: Carole Sowe

I am an Image Consultant and have been providing advise on image to individuals as well as Corporates. I find many individuals are very concern about their appearance and would like to enhance their image but not sure how to do it. Visit for tips.

Added: February 23, 2010
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

Environmentally Friendly Floor Cleaning

Cleaning your floors is an essential part of household hygiene. However, the conventional cleaning products available might be harmful to the health of your family. You might be constantly polluting your house without being aware of it. You should start using the following green floor cleaning techniques before it gets too late.

Studies have shown the level of indoor pollution to be significantly higher than outside. This is primarily due to the presence of ingredients like formaldehyde and chloroform. The first step in indoor cleanliness is eliminating dust. Use mats near the front door to clean off shoes. Use a good vacuum cleaner regularly to remove dust. Green floor cleaning techniques vary based on the floor type.

Ceramic floors need to have the tiles cleaned with water before using any kind of cleaner. This stops the toxic chemicals from getting deposited. Apply some detergent with a low pH value and warm water to wipe up the surface. Strong cleaning agents could destroy the smooth finish of ceramic floors. Stay away from cleaners with high acidic content that can corrode the surface. Make sure to clear out all traces of the chemical cleaners after every round of cleaning.

Laminated floors have printed paper covering a layer of melamine. Avoid cleaners with soapy or alkaline content. Cleaners, which scour the surface too much, can permanently damage the floor. Using a mop to remove the layers of dust is recommended before applying anything. Linoleum or Vinyl based floors are generally soft. A baking powder paste should be used to remove blemishes on the floor instead of scouring agents. A mild dish cleaner solution or a mix of vinegar and water are recommended for wiping away stains or enhance the surface glaze.

Wooden floors can be of different kinds. Mixing a quarter cup of dish washing liquid to warm water, which can be applied using a moist mop, can clean the ones with a lustrous finish. It should be made sure that puddles do not form around the floor as it can spoil the quality of the floor. Wooden floors with penetrating finish are different with their texture varying based on embedded oils or resins. Use citrus based solvents instead of spirits or turpentine. Never use water on such floors. Water drops can leave marks on the floor. Natural citrus solvents and fine steel wool followed by jojoba oil can remove this. Green floor cleaning techniques are easy to incorporate in your daily lives. All you need is the knowledge and the desire to follow the methods.

Autor: Thomas Lape

Added: February 21, 2010
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

Home Organization Closets

Anytime you're looking to organize your home, the closet is a great place to start. There are a lot of options when it comes to closet organization. Depending on the space that you have and your budget, you could make great use of hooks, shelves, drawers, additional hanging bars, and cabinets. Additionally, you can create extra space or spruce up the look of your closet by investing a little in high quality hangers.

You may be surprised about what all you can do with your space, even if it is small. Closets can get crammed full and make you feel like the space is inadequate. However, if you take a few steps towards getting the junk cleared and installing some helpful additions, your closet could become a space that you are thankful to have.

Closet organization specialists strive to make the most of the available space. Vertical space is often ignored or wasted in traditional closets. You will need to empty your closet to assess the area and decide which closet arrangement will work best for you.

First you need to remove clutter and go through storage boxes. We usually need our closets to store our out of season clothing, but end up using them to store everything from tax paperwork to extra light bulbs. By clearing everything out, you'll be able to determine just what you want to keep in the closet and what you can afford to get rid of. Finding new spaces for these extra items can be challenging, but don't worry.

You can store out of season clothing elsewhere if you really don't have anywhere else to keep your extra household supplies. Most people utilize the space underneath the bed to store their extra clothes. You can buy shallow, yet large, containers that fit this space perfectly. You can use bed risers to make even more hidden space in your bedroom. Other options include rolling garment racks or armories to store extra clothing.

To utilize wasted space, consider adding another shelf up high in the closet for rarely used items. If you move your shelves upward, you might make room for an extra hanging bar. Extra bars or shelves can be installed on either side of the closet as well. Moving the bars back closer to the back wall can reveal hidden space at the front of the closet.

When you get the arrangement that you want, be selective about what you put back in. Give as much as possible to charity. If you still need to save space, invest in hangers that help you to do so. Slim or flat hangers work great. Other specialty hangers will give you special places to keep ties, belts, skirts, and lingerie. Your clothes hangers may be your greatest closet investment. A nice wood hanger makes your closet look sophisticated while adding style and longevity to your investment. Remember to use a coat hanger for your coats and suits so that they don't get misshapen at the shoulders.

When your closet is updated to accommodate the things that you use most, you'll be on your way to a more organized and efficient home.

Autor: Joe Granville

About the Author: Joe Granville is on the staff of Only Hangers, a leading online resource for wood hangers, coat hangers and all types of clothes hangers which is recognized for the excellent quality and value of its wood hanger and coat hanger offerings.

Added: February 20, 2010
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

How to Protect Clothes in the Closet

You may think that your clothes will stay clean and protected in the closet, but there are many things that can damage your clothing. Use these tips and preparations to make sure that your clothes don't smell musty, sustain insect damage, get molded or mildewed, or get misshapen by below-par hangers. Don't risk one of your biggest investments by leaving your wardrobe's protection up to chance. Follow these steps to ensure their safe storage.

1) Most people will notice a musty smell on their clothes if they sit in storage for too long. This smell is actually mold growing on the clothes. Fabrics can absorb moisture from the air. When we seal them up, the moisture can grow into mold and mildew. To sidestep this problem, you should store your clothes with cedar hangers or cedar accessories. Cedar absorbs moisture and keeps clothes smelling fresh. You can use dryer sheets for freshness. Just make sure that they don't actually touch your clothes because they can leave a waxy deposit.

2) Insect damage to clothing is more common than you might think. Most people associate moth damage with old closet full of wool clothing. However, there are many fabrics that moths can eat. It is actually your body oil that they are attracted to. If you wear a suit, sweater, dress or coat and then hang it back on the hanger, moths will be attracted to the smell. They will lay their eggs there and disappear. So, even though you may not see any moths, the larvae will be there, feeding on your clothes. Cedar helps repel moths. Having clothing cleaned before you put it back in the closet is a good idea too.

3) Many people use those old wire hangers because it's what they got at the cleaners, or they're trying to save space and money. However, those old hangers have edges and points that snag and tear clothes. They get all crossed up on the bar and even bend to let your heavier items end up on the floor. They also cause the shoulders of your coats and suits to lose their shape and look shabby. Investing in some nicer clothes hangers will save you money in the long run. A nice wood hanger or coat hanger will help your clothes to keep their shape. They will also help your clothes to stay slightly separated on the bar so that they don't get wrinkled or crossed up. Sturdy clothes hangers also make your closet look spectacular. You can save space by using suit hangers or other specialty clothes hangers that allow you to hang more than one item on each hanger.

Autor: Joe Granville

About the Author: Joe Granville is on the staff of Only Hangers, a leading online resource for wood hangers, coat hangers and all types of clothes hangers which is recognized for the excellent quality and value of its wood hanger and coat hanger offerings.

Added: February 19, 2010
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

Cleaning Up After a Fire Should Be Left For Professionals

Fires can be very devastating. If you're unlucky enough to be a victim of a fire, you're faced with the reality that your home is damaged. You feel as if you're down and you can't wait to go back up. Because of this, you can't wait to clean up the damage and try to restore things back to normal. You just want to go on with your life.

So what do some people do? They try to clean up after the fire themselves. They enter their house and try to restore it. But some people don't realize that this can be very dangerous. Why should cleaning up a fire should be left for professionals? Here are some reasons:

1. Cleaning up a fire is very dangerous

This should be pretty obvious. Fires damage your house. There are damages that you can and cannot see. Sure, you can probably see the burnt wall and you can avoid it. But there are damages that you can't see. There are damages to the foundation of the house itself. One wrong step can lead to part of the house falling down. After property damage, the least thing that you need is loss of life or limb. There's also the issue of fumes and smoke that are unsafe to you and your family.

2. Risk of doing more damage

If you don't know what you're doing, you can actually do more harm than good. Cleaning up a fire should be left for professionals because they have the expertise in dealing with it. They know what they can and cannot do. If you try to do it yourself, you can damage things that could have been restored in the first place.

3. Emotional and physical instability

The devastation that fire brings can make anyone emotionally and physically unstable. This can slow you down or even put you in danger. You're emotionally and physically tired and there's a very big chance that you're not up to the job. By hiring a professional, you're assured that it will be handled accordingly. They have the training needed to restore your things to its original state.

They have the equipment that can help you restore your properties instead of throwing it away. There can also remove any smoke residue that is harmful to you and your properties. They can also help you clean and sanitize your home so that you don't have to suffer anymore with the after-effects of a fire. If you can't wait to go on with your life, hiring a professional company is the way to go. They'll do it right and that's the most important thing aside from your safety.

Autor: Clint Steiner

Clint Steiner - Get more water and fire restoration tips on our website. Download read ebook on "Emergency Steps to Save You and Your Family."

http://www.purocleandisasterrecovery.com

Added: February 17, 2010
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

Declutter Your Home and Live Like Royalty

Remember what a disaster it was when you moved to another house? You take an educated guess of how much work it will take. Well take that educated guess and multiply it by at least 3 and you will be in the ballpark. And it's like that every time you move.

It's unbelievable how the stuff keeps coming out of the woodwork. Cabinets, drawers, closets, the stuff just keeps on coming out. You never realize how much stuff you have stored away until you have to move it all.

While I was in college and moving out of my place I had a lady friend coming in from out of town in a couple of days but no problem I don't have much and I will be finished moving today. Well today came and went but no problem I had all the next day. But then came the day of her arrival and I was still taking things out and some of our "quality time together" was spent with me getting the last of my stuff out. And even then it didn't get completed and that was the day I was supposed to be out. The landlord realized my situation, and saw that I had a lady with me and bless his heart big time because he allowed me to stay another night.

It was slightly awkward and it was caused by an extreme under estimation of what was required. The stuff just keeps coming out of the woodwork non stop.

The point is you have mountains of stuff stored away, and most of it has never been used or touched since it was stored making it unnecessary clutter and if it all suddenly disappeared you would never miss it.

This is amazing but take a look in your closet, look in a drawer, a cabinet or a bookcase and each time pick out the items you've actually touched recently and when I say recently I mean in the last 12 months. Go ahead do it you will be shocked. It's usually less then ten percent. The vast majority of your stuff you will never ever even touch again and if it was gone you would never miss it. Isn't that amazing?

Did you go do it, did you check it out? Go do it. You don't want to get up? Oh, you can't rip yourself away from this incredible article, I can understand that. Okay well at least turn and look at a bookcase. Can you see all the books you haven't touched in years and you most likely will never ever look at again? What's left over (the stuff you have touched in the last 12 months) won't even fill one shelf. Now are you amazed? Well that's how it is with all of your storage areas.

Have you figured out where I'm going with this? Right, how about getting rid of some of this stuff and declutter your home a little bit.

Let's start with a bedroom because that's where people store a lot of things. Pick an area of your room like a corner. Go through drawers or shelves and start tossing. Now move in a clockwise direction to the next target and do the same and keep moving in a clockwise direction until you've made a complete circle around your room and tossed lots of unnecessary clutter out.

Remember we said you only need ten percent. Does that mean you are supposed to throw out ninety percent? No it doesn't, there is going to be lots of stuff you are going to want to hang on to "just in case you may need it some day" and that's totally okay. But you should have a goal of tossing out a good chunk, what ever that means to you, but not 10% don't be a wimp about it you can do better then that.

Throw out what you are comfortable with and keep the rest. If you keep a lot of unnecessary stuff that's fine because in six months you do the same procedure. Go clockwise around the room tossing out more stuff until you make it all the way around the room, and don't be leaving out the closet.

You still have clutter you are hanging on to but the spaces are opening up fine. Your closet even has a lot of room in it now. In six months...same thing but now it's been a year. You know all those things you've been hanging onto "just in case you may need it some day?" Well it's been a year now, have you even touched any of it. No? Well let's be realistic about it, it's now a year later do you really think you will touch it next year or ever for that matter? If no, it's time to toss it. If by some off chance later on you find you need it then just buy another, you'll be fine, it's far better then hanging onto lots of useless clutter for years when the odds are you will never need any of it. Make sense? Good.

Since this article is called declutter your home obviously you do this with each room of the house, including the garage. Have you ever moved your office to another location? Same thing at the office the clutter just pours out of the woodwork nonstop so use this declutter tool at the office too.

The great thing about this declutter method is there is no urgency because you are dealing with clutter that is out of sight and it's been there for ages so you can do it at your own pace with no pressure about it.

You could legitimately ask the question, "why bother to declutter your home of stuff that is out of sight out of mind if it's not causing a problem?" That's a tough question but a fair question and I think I can answer it.

First of all when something is out of sight it is NOT out of mind. Your mind knows every piece of clutter that you have stored away even if it is out of sight and unfortunately this is a burden for you and has the effect of cluttering up your mind as well. How do you know this? It's proven by how much better you feel and how much clearer your mind is when you just start this decluttering. Isn't that enough reason to continue the process until it is finished? Yes, absolutely it is because when you actually finish decluttering your home using this method you feel like a million bucks. You feel liberated, you feel unburdened like a weight has been lifted off your shoulders. And that's why you need to declutter your home. Plus when the day comes that you have to move look how much easier it will be and how much less you will have to pay the movers.

Doesn't it just sound like decluttering your home on a deep level like this is the correct thing to do? Sure it does and you like doing the correct thing so go ahead just start the process and see for yourself how much better you feel by doing the right thing for your home and go from there.

Autor: Russ Cooper

Declutter Your Home is just one of a number of very powerful decluttering tools that you can get for free of charge at http://clutter-bugger.com/ go there now and grab a few tools and change your living conditions and your life for the better.

Added: February 15, 2010
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

Is Duct Cleaning a Necessity?

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the jury is still out on the effectiveness of duct cleaning. However, many allergy sufferers claim that the procedure cuts their allergy symptoms. If you are interested in having the procedure in your home, there are some things that you consider.

When you have your ducts cleaned by professionals, it may cost several hundred dollars. Before scheduling the service, you may want to open a few of the registers and take a look to see if you find buildup in the vents.

In addition to checking in the registers, you should also shut off the power to the system and open the service panel to the heat exchanger. It is a good idea to check the exchanger at least at the beginning of heating and air conditioning season. It is possible that the coils here need to be cleaned.

If it is time to have the system cleaned, the service should also clean the heat exchanger. If it is not yet time to have the system cleaned but you find a buildup here, you can use a whisk broom to gently loosen any contaminants that have collected in the exchanger and then use a shop vacuum to remove them.

If the coils need to be cleaned, but you do not want to pay to have the entire duct system cleaned, many heating and air conditioning companies can do the cleaning as a part of the normal servicing of your system. This may be a less expensive way to get all the cleaning that is needed. It will also help your system to operate more efficiently and at a lower cost.

There are a few services that may pop up in various cities that will offer a cleaning service at a very low price. As the old adage goes, you get what you pay for. If you schedule services with one of these companies, be sure that they have the professional machinery to clean your ducts properly. They should have more than just a shop vacuum or their service may actually stir up more allergens to be released into your home than they remove from the system. If addition, many homeowners have found that they end up paying just as much for the cut rate service as the one done properly after all the additional fees are calculated.

Both advocates and adversaries of having duct cleaning agree that keeping the best quality air filter in the system that you can afford and changing that filter on a regular basis is the key to keeping a system free of dust and allergens.

If you do opt to pay for cleaning, you will want to install a high quality filter after the cleaning is completed. Avoid the least expensive filters. One professional describes these as bowling ball filters, meaning the anything smaller or lighter in weight than a bowling ball could pass through them. If you do stay with disposable filters, the best ones are made of filter paper and are a z-fold in design.

Autor: Adriana A Noton

Professional home comfort consultants can help with all of your home air quality concerns regarding duct cleaning Toronto. To improve the efficiency of your overall home management, please contact gas companies Toronto for additional assistance.

Added: February 14, 2010
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

Clean Houses For Busy People

Working in a line of work that requires me to be outside the house almost all the time makes it essentially important for me to have a reliable made service to help me. I work in the Ukrainian region and working with a maid is something I'm quite familiar with. I always enjoy a clean apartment, and the quality maid service I am using does a superb job in keeping my apartment clean and me happy.

If you are working in the Kiev region -- or in any other big cities around the world -- and you are working outside your house or apartment on a regular basis, you can have maid services helping you with daily chores and the task of maintaining cleanliness of your place. To tell you the truth, such service packages are usually very affordable and they are worth every penny. It would be best to set a certain amount of budget you can allocate for getting the right maid service package and simply search for the right package that is priced within your budget.

Comparing different service packages that are available within your budget range can also be a good way to find the best possible package that suits your needs. You should compare included services and the kind of added benefits you will be getting from different packages to spot the best one. Finding the best package shouldn't be hard at all with the help of internet; there are several maid service sites available and you can simply browse through their available services and start comparing the ones within your budget range.

If possible, you can also ask for references and testimonials from colleagues. If you are working at a big company, you will surely find other employees and professionals using maid services to help them; don't hesitate to ask around and get recommendations of available maid services near you. Most expatriates and foreign professionals live in certain districts; look around for available maid service provider near the area. These service providers are setting up their businesses near the clients, so the best services can be found easily.

Autor: Alice Douglas

Maid in Kiev provides laundry, dry cleaning and household cleaning to households in Kiev. Established in 2005 MaidinKiev is the only English speaking service. We provide one of the most economical services for laundry Kiev has to offer. We also have a team of maids who can provide once off or regular household cleaning.

Added: February 13, 2010
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

How to Handle Toxic Mold in Your Home

Mold is a common and dangerous substance in your household. It may lead to serious health problems and the worst thing is even death on sensitive individuals. It poses a serious threat to the structure of your house as well and cause serious damage as that of termite infestation. A fungus reproduces by making small pores that work like seeds.

Controlling mold should be on every homeowners and parents' mind. The first thing you have to do is to understand its nature and appearance. It is a fungus, a living organism whose nature is to break down dead tissues. Since this is an essential role, we would not really want to hinder it from doing what nature meant it to do. It reproduces in damp and moist areas. If left unchecked, this will spread into neighboring habitable materials. It needs moisture, food and air. The food is any dead organic material. It grows on grass, rotting wood, compost piles, damp basements, bathrooms, carpets, inside your walls and any place where it is comfortable.

Exposure to mold can lead to respiratory, skin and eye irritation or much serious effects. You can cleap it up yourself, but it is recommended to have a professional do it for you. For small areas such as nine to 10 feet square feet or even less, you can manage to clean it up yourself. First, you have to make sure it is indeed mold. Spray a bit of hydrogen peroxide on the suspected area and watch for the reaction. It if foams, it is mold. Find a product approved by the EPA in your local hardware to kill it. Some will recommend using water and detergent but this is good only for small areas.

If the area is bigger than ten square feet, it is better to seek professional help to clean it away since there is always a chance that you might spread it. Spores could get in your ventilation/heating ducts and spread throughout the house. Make sure to get references or search the internet about the type of mold you suspected and the removal procedures before talking to a professional.

To prevent or minimize infestation, here is what you should do:

1. Ensure that indoor humidity levels are between 40 to 60 percent. During humid weather, run a dehumidifier, an air conditioner or both. Make sure your home is well ventilated.
2. Add a mold-inhibiting agent on the paint before painting a room.
3. Regularly scrub your bathrooms with cleaning products designed to kill it.
4. Do not put carpets on damp areas like the bathroom and the basement.

Although its spores are originally unseen through the human eye, once it starts growing, it usually becomes visible. It is easy to spot if you know what to look for. If you notice discoloration or a bunch of spots that can be green, black, grey, brown or other colors in nature. Some are invisible and cannot be recognized until structural damage happens or health problems occur. When on the lookout, do not depend on visual inspections alone. Use your nose as well. A musty smell is a sign of mold.

The key to handle the mold in your household is to keep the inside clean and dry. You may not be able eradicate it, but at least you would be able to clean it right away and prevent it from spreading and making more damage not just to your property but also your family's health.

Autor: Sonia C Llesol

Find a prestigious community in Scottsdale Country Club Homes and find a desert beauty in Legend Trail Condos.

Added: February 11, 2010
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

How to Create Efficient Closet Space

If you're like most people, the closet is the biggest challenge when it comes to staying organized. The closet can be so frustrating, especially if you are limited on space. Use these expert tips for getting your closet organized, developing efficient ways to save space, and getting your closet to where you can keep it organized.

1) Get rid of the excess! This can actually be the hardest step. Our clothes remind us of people, events, or times in our lives. It's hard to let go of the memories and part with the pieces of our wardrobe that harbor them. But, there is a solution. If you're having trouble getting rid of clothing because of sentimental value, take photos. You can create an album that you keep in your closet. You can even cut a piece of material, save a ribbon, or decorate the page with the buttons from the article of clothing. This album will take up a fraction of the space and the memory of the clothing will be preserved.

2) Your goal should be to plan a space for everything. Belts should be on a belt rack or belt hanger. Ties should be rolled neatly in a shallow drawer, hung on the wall or on a tie hanger. Even scarves and stockings can be hung on a scarf hanger, which is a wooden hanger with smoothly bored holes that won't snag delicate fabrics.

3) Separate items into different containers. Don't put all of your small items in one drawer unless you have a drawer organizer. This just junks up the little space that you have. Everything gets mixed up, buried underneath each other, and becomes unusable. Utilize buckets, bins, baskets, dividers, whatever you need to make a place for each thing. Buckets are great for socks, underwear, pajamas, and more. Most people can find a foot of space to build or install a cubby system to hold all of these buckets and baskets, keeping their closet organized.

4) Utilize door space by purchasing an over-the-door organizer that helps you tackle problem articles. For most people, it's shoes. But for you, it may be hats that are the problem, hair accessories, or other small items that take up space in the closet.

5) Make use of space saving hangers. Many specialty hangers will allow you to hang multiple items on one hanger. Sometimes these are called cascading hangers, or you can buy cascading hooks to add to your space saving hangers. Retailers use this trick all the time and it is equally as effective in your home. You can double the space in your closet instantly. Other space saving hangers are velvet hangers with a flat design. They grip clothes, fit very closely together, are super thin, but are very strong and attractive. Long gone are the days when we have to use wire hangers to save space.

Autor: Ricky Miller

About the Author: Rick Miller is on the staff of Only Slimline Hangers, a leading online resource for velvet hangers which are space saving hangers, non slip hangers and slim line hangers.

Added: February 10, 2010
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

Picture Perfect Housecleaning

When you're cleaning a room, it pays to take a few extra minutes to add some finishing touches, to improve the quality of the visual impression that the room makes. Attention to detail will make a big difference in the overall appearance of a room.

After you've finished cleaning, stop and check the picture that the room presents. The following is a list of the type of things to look for and correct. If these items have not been done, take time to make these adjustments, and then take another look at the room. You might be surprised by how much these details improve how clean and orderly the room feels. To be sure you don't miss anything, run your eyes clockwise (or counter-clockwise) around the room, then look into the center of the room.

• In carpeted rooms, do your final check before you run the vacuum cleaner.
• Curtains are hanging straight, are lined up properly (without gaps) and are evenly spaced. If the curtains are so long that the bottom is bunched up, tuck the ends back and under, and arrange the folds nicely.
• Blinds all match -- all of the blinds are open the same amount and are pointed at the same angle. If the blinds are shut, all of the blinds have the slats pointing in the same direction.
• Pictures on the wall are straightened.
• Books on shelves are tidied.
• If there is shaped paneling on the walls, the contours are wiped clear of dust.
• No fingerprints on light switches, door jams, or on windowsills and edgings.
• TV screen is clean (on non-glass screens, use a product for cleaning computer screens).
• Look high and look low, to check for cobwebs and dust on the baseboards and in corners.
• The seams of the couch cushions are aligned, and the pillows are neatly arranged. Throw blankets are folded and attractively placed.
• Magazines and papers left on tables are straightened, or fanned, in an attractive manner.
• Knick-knacks aren't crowded together and are attractively placed.
• Lampshades are straightened (if they have seams, turn those away from the living area).
• Electrical cords are tidied and tucked away, as much as possible.
• All drawers are closed, with no pieces of the contents sticking out and visible.
• Doors of furniture are closed, with handles pointing in same direction.
• Bedspreads and tablecloths are straight and evenly distributed.
• Chairs at a table and bar stools are lined up and evenly spaced (swivel bases matching).
• Throw rugs are straightened, with tags tucked out of sight. Fringe has all been pulled out from under the rugs and tangles have been removed.

Does anything in the room appear out of place, or bother you visually? If so, see if you can make an adjustment, so that that the room "feels" more comfortable. Little extra touches, such as making sure that the first Kleenex is fanned out, can complete a "house beautiful" picture. The room will look like a Realtor prepared it before showing a quality home.

When you have finished your overview and have made any changes, vacuum your way backwards out of the room, so that you don't leave footprints on top of the vacuum lines. (Plug in the vacuum close to the doorway, so you don't have to walk back over the carpet to unplug it.) Start with using the edging tool, working either clockwise or counter-clockwise around the room. Finish by vacuuming the entire room, starting at the farthest point from where you will exit. Run the vacuum in straight parallel lines, or in a fan shape back to where you are standing, as you exit.

There are some additional things to check in kitchens and bathrooms.

• Towels are tri-folded and hanging at the same length, with tags tucked out of sight.
• Counter appliances and products have been wiped clean, are lined up and neatly arranged. Faucets are centered.
• Check that there is no mold visible in the drain hole of the bathroom sink. This is an area that faces away from you, but you can see it when you look in the mirror.
• The cracks where faucets and drains are attached to the porcelain might need to be cleaned with a toothbrush.
• Around the hinges and base of the toilet are also areas that might need detail work with a toothbrush.
• Check the mirrors for streaks, both with the light on and without direct lighting. Because your peripheral vision can catch things that you miss when you are looking straight at them, move your head slowly from side to side while checking the mirror. The most common places to miss spots are the top (especially underneath the lights) and bottom edges of the mirror. Get on the same level to check these areas.
• Tops of lights over mirror are clean.

With practice, your final review and correction process will only take a little time, and the results will be noticeable. If you don't have time to detail every room of the house during the same cleaning session, focus on those rooms which are used more often and/or rotate which rooms you detail each time you clean.

As you register what types of attention to detail make a difference, and incorporate those extras into your standard cleaning routine, fewer of these last minute adjustments will be necessary. After a while, when you turn to do your final review of the rooms you have cleaned, you will say to yourself "Wow, this looks beautiful!"

I clean houses for a living, and some of my clients have made comments like "I don't know what all you clean, but somehow my home always feels cleaner after you've been here, than when I clean it myself." I feel more comfortable entertaining guests in my home after I've done this type of quality cleaning. It's satisfying to finish a cleaning job knowing that people will feel good the moment they walk into the room.

Autor: Alyssa B Bentley

Alyssa is a house cleaner for Maid Services NW, and this article was written and submitted with the express permission of her employer.

Added: February 8, 2010
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

The Search For a Maids Agency - The Ultimate Reliability Check

Recruiting a maid through the help of an agency is not like grocery shopping. It's not an easy come-and-go business. In fact, the reason employers go through a medium is to save time, ensure convenience, and, above all, trust and reliability. In dealing with a maids agency, expect a high level of efficiency by confirming the following.

Willing to be explored
This means the agency can be checked and is socially functioning. Check its legality by inquiring its registration to conduct business, ask the employees around and search for a sign of hesitation. Demand to collect information on their system, how they recruit maids, where they recruit maids and how they display the information.

The number one sign to prove the reliability of a maids agency is through the previous pool of customers. Ask about the latest successful case they have handled, if possible get real addresses or numbers of these satisfied customers and do a brief research. If the agency is really honest and open to its dealings, they will probably initiate this action themselves.

Full Pledge Assistance
If the agency manages to have positive feedback on the previous condition, then determining their willingness to help will seal their expertise. Being knowledgeable in assisting customers is by giving them honest opinions. The agency will not just simply push a maid to an employer without studying both their needs. The reliable agency will go far than that by recommending people and explaining their choices. If they have indeed done their job they shall be willing to be held accountable should something go wrong in the expectations of the employer from the maid.

It is hard to find the right people for the job nowadays that's why there are professionals who have been trained to do that. But employers also need to do their part by ensuring the reliability of the maids agency they will depend of for their helper. For if anything goes wrong, this is one mess that no one wants to clean up.

Autor: Alice Sy

Visit the top domestic helper agency to see the free profiles and photos of Filipina maid, nanny, housekeeper, caregiver, gardener, driver and much more.

Added: February 6, 2010
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

How to Clean and Care For a Mattress

If you can only visibly see the horrors lurking in your mattress, you will probably feel repulsed enough not to sleep on it ever again. But since we normally don't, we are led to believe that our mattress is as clean as the day we purchased it.

There are actually mattresses that are not prone to the development of molds, mildew, bacteria and all types of allergens. However, if you are not using latex mattress, your mattress is probably breeding these micro organisms by now.

Method 1: Ever after 6 months, you should sanitize your bed. Take advantage of a warm and sunny day and drag your bed outside so the sun can fry up the micro organisms breeding in it. A warm day can also reduce any mattress smell. If you want to make sure that you are really getting rid of unwanted creatures, you can try mixing one cup of lemon juice and then one cup of water, place it in a spray bottle and spray both sides of the mattress. Afterwards, leave it in a nice sunny place to dry.

Method 2: If it has stains on it, you might want to remove it. For ordinary stains, you can always use w mixture of one cup of vinegar and one cup of water and apply it on the stained area. Leave it there for about an hour or so. Wipe the stained area with damp towel until the stains come off. If the stains are blood or dye, you can put a bit of hydrogen peroxide and then sprinkle table salt on top of it to somehow extract the color and make it appear on the surface. This way, you can wipe it off easily.

Method 3: Flip the mattress or rotate it twice a year. I know there are a lot of mattress brands that have no-flip features but it will still help your bed if it wears out evenly. Plus, there is nothing wrong with flipping it over. This will ensure that one side does not sag.

Method 4: Purchase protective covers. A mattress protector is a kind of plastic cover with zipper that can protect the mattress from liquid spillage. You might also want to purchase toppers as this will lessen wears and tears on your primary bed.

These methods can ensure that the life of your mattress is prolonged. These sleep gears do not come cheap so it is better to keep them in top shape for as long as you can.

Autor: Zach Smith

For more millbrook mattress reviews, tips and advice on choosing a mattress for you and your family, please visit http://www.bestmattressreviews.com now.

Added: February 5, 2010
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

How to Clean Washing Machine Filters in Easy Steps

When you clean your washing machine, make sure that you clean not just the exterior but also the internal parts. Because this machine is often used with water, it can lead to mold and mildew formation. In addition to that, tap water can cause mineral build-ups on its filters.

If you notice that your washing machine does not clean as efficiently as it once did and that water is taking forever to fill the tub, it might because of the debris clogged up in its water filter.

Some filters come out easily. It depends on what particular brand of washer you are using. You can refer to the manual of your washing machine to find out where exactly it is located.

Afterwards, you can follow these steps:

Step 1: Plug your washer and run a hot water cycle but only with low clothes washing settings so you are not wasting a lot of water. When it is already filled completely, get one cup of white vinegar and mix it with half a cup of baking soda. Mix these two completely and then dump them in the washer together with the filled up hot water. Now allow the machine to churn the way it normally does when washing clothes. Using baking soda and vinegar can actually remove impurities and gunk inside your washer especially the pumps and the hoses.

Step 2: When the previous step finishes, you can remove the cord supplying water to the hose or just turn off the switch for water supply. Remove the plug from the machine and gently remove it from the wall if it is propped against the wall. Now remove the back panel of the machine where you can find the hose for hot and cold water. Detach the hose and make sure you know where to place it back again. Now get a soft bristled brush or a small test tube cleaner. Clean the hoses.

Step 3: If you have a shop vacuum available, you can use it to vacuum out the debris in the filters and the hoses. Do not use ordinary vacuum. If you can't find shop vacuums, just do the previous step rigorously until you removed the impurities inside the hoses and the filters.

Step 4: Now attach the hoses back again, and turn the water supply on. Make sure you have attached tightly so water will not leak. If your filter is detachable, reattach it before plugging it back on.

Autor: Zach Smith

For more calypos washing machine reviews, tips and advice on choosing a washer and dryer for you and your family, please visit http://www.washingmachineadvisor.com now.

Added: February 3, 2010
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

How to Rid Home of Pet Odor Permanently

Does pet odor rule your life? Are you too embarrassed to have people over for the house smells awful? Has all social activity stopped for the odor is overpowering and it is not pleasant to sit at home anymore? What about the smell sticking to your clothes and emitting an unwanted smell everywhere you go? You have to take control of your house and pet odor. You need to gain your life back. Stake your claim via ridding odors. If you do, then you shall be able to entertain friends and family inside your home, once again.

Pet odor is one of the most recognizable smell guests detect when entering a house. If your guests are able to tell that there is a pet living in the house, then you need to fix this problem immediately. Try cleaning out the litter boxes. Spray it down with What Odor?, which is an odor eliminator product that guarantees to rid odors, not mask it.

Clean all pet bedding items. Wash it with hot water and laundry detergent or toss it if is severely damaged. Before placing back in the house, use an odor eliminator product on it. You need to rid the smell not cover it up. Check the dog food. Is it expired? Is the pet, food bag sealed properly? Does the container have a hole causing the smell to seep out? If so, fix it. Some dog and cat food have a distinct smell that stinks up the entire house. You need to fix this before moving on to cleaning other parts of the house.

Check the closets. Do your clothes have an odor? Are the closet walls filled with unwanted smells? If so, the first step is to remove the clothes, shoes, everything from the closet to start cleaning. Wash down the walls with a mixture of water and soapy clear soap. Start scrubbing. It is the best way to mask odors. Once completed, let the walls air dry and spray a product eliminator that is safe, non-toxic, and safe with pets. Then before placing the clothes back into the closet, check the clothes. Do the clothes stink? If so, do not put them back until the clothes are aired out, clean, and smell fresh. If you put them back then it defeats the purpose of cleaning the closet to begin with.

Next, move on to the living room, and inspect the living room furniture. Examine the sofa cushions. Do the upholstery, cushions, and/or pillow smell like pet odor? If you answered yes to all three, then you need to do a clean sweep and start the cleaning process with the living room furniture too. Rent a steam cleaner and begin on the upholstery. If it is not a fabric compatible with steam cleaning, wipe it down with a clean, water damp cloth only. Use a safe on fabric, odor eliminator product and get rid of these awful smells for the last time. Make your house welcoming, invite friends over, and engage in hosting social events at your house.

Autor: Tony Mandarich

Check out how to remove kennel odor with What-Odor? an odor eliminator product today.

Added: February 1, 2010
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/