Category Home Maintenance

House cleaning is really a section of your essential domestic chores that you will never love to skip. The reasons can be obvious though – a clean house means a hygienic house. Moreover, once your house remains clean it also adds positive vive that you experienced and uplifts your mood.

Nevertheless, the negative effects in the process is that you may meet domestic accidents if you aren’t careful enough while cleaning your home. Even depressing is the power of these accidents may vary from mild to serious.

So, the experts working at Everett House Cleaning Service have come up with some precautionary measures you could follow while cleaning your own home. Check them out.

Check you do not fall down

You will have to climb heights while cleaning your home. For instance, you need to get to your lofty height for cleaning the ceiling fan or the lamp shades. You might also need to climb heights for cleaning the lofty shelves and cupboards.

Beware because climbing heights can be risky if you are not careful. You can even end up having fractures within the bones once you climb heights.

Therefore, it is best advised to use mops, dusters and vacuum cleaning suction pipes with telescopic handles whenever we can. If you have to climb heights in any respect, don’t climb over two feet. Moreover, always insist upon getting some assistance whenever you climb heights.

Check that there is no fire outbreak

Fire accidents occur quite commonly when folks clean their houses. Basically, people forget to hold flammable items like paper, cloth, plastics or inflammable liquids like kerosene and spirit from the way to obtain fire during the process of cleaning their apartment. Hence, slightest of carelessness contributes to most lethal of fire accidents.

The home cleaning professionals declare that you have to use caution about domestic fire accidents while cleaning. Your first and foremost duty is always to remove all the flammable gases and liquids in the safe place out of your vicinity if you initiate the project of cleaning your home.

Additionally, check places like chimney to check if it really is clogged must be clogged chimney often invites fire accident. Always keep a hearth extinguisher handy in your home so you could remain safe against fire attacks to some large extent.

 
Business Washing and dry-cleaning are two activities that nobody can ignore. For better quality services, you need professional services. In the metros and big cities, the services are quite structured, but smaller places like Mangalore are also not far behind. With the availability and popularity of the Internet, many service providers offer online Cloth washing in Mangalore. People are supposed to log on to the website for booking the services. Whether it is washing and ironing, or bleaching, dying or dry-cleaning; the aim is to offer services that delight the customers. If the door-to-door pickup and delivery option is there, then you are relieved from the hassles of managing the timings in your busy schedule. What is the need of dry-cleaning? Well, there is a lot of Gung-Ho about dry-cleaning nowadays, but you need to understand that there is nothing like ‘dry cleaning’ in reality.

The clothes you give are immersed in liquids (of course not in the water). These are dry-cleaning solutions that work in the similar fashion water and soap works. These solutions are more evaporative than water, and they are more capable of attracting dust and dirt than conventional solutions. Dry-cleaned clothes feel fresher and crispier than the normal wash. Hence, they are preferred irrespective of the high costs of dry-cleaning. Why should you choose a god quality washing service? The answer is simple; because you need excellent service. A mediocre service provider offers low-quality Cloth washing in Mangalore. Not only you remain unsatisfied with their services, but it harms your precious clothes also. When you hire quality services, they change the cleaning solutions frequently. They use industry-standard branded products. When pristine and pure distilled dry-cleaning solution is used, it results in 100% crisp and clean clothes that impress others with the luster and finish.

Hence, do not hire a mediocre company that doesn’t bother about quality and looks at the costs more. At the end of the day, your valuable clothes get spoiled. Professional dry-cleaners do not shorten the life of your garments It is quite a common misconception. Many people feel that sending clothes to professional cleaners frequently reduces the life and durability of the clothes. Since the clothes get cleaned in huge, industrial washing machine, there is damage to the delicate fibers and weaving. However, it is just a myth. These machines are safe for all types of clothes. Hence, just do not worry about it. Avail the best cleaning services and keep the clothes sparking, spotlessly clean. If you are worrying to remove stain on your apparels, go for the best cloth washing in mangalore who can offer free pickup and delivery service.

 
Business,Business Opportunities,Home Business A carpet is one of the essential components that hardly miss in a majority of modern homes. It’s mainly used to enhance the general comfort in a room and at the same time improve the general appearance of a house. The technology has come a long way in ensuring that homeowners not only have quality and beautiful carpets but also they are also able to acquire them at the local vendors at pocket-friendly prices. Luckily, there is a wide variety of carpets depending on the materials used, the size and the quality. However, not any carpet would be a perfect match for your home, therefore, a good idea for one to do thorough research before deciding which type of carpet to buy depending on the budget framework. The major problem that a majority of homeowners encounter today is carpet cleaning. The last thing any homeowner would want is to stay in a room with a dirty or stained carpet; it’s not only unpleasant but also very unhygienic.

The good news is that carpet cleaning is a natural process provided it’s done using the right tools and ingredients by a professional cleaner. Apart from that, there is a need to follow the proper method to make sure that everything is done in the right manner. For those who may have the right tools for cleaning, you can use the internet to learn more about the cleaning procedure as well as the right ingredients that will guarantee a quality job. However, if you neither have the required tools nor have the needed tools, then you have nothing to worry as we have a lot of companies that specialize in carpet cleaning. These companies are all over even within our localities, and more of them are still emerging. Unfortunately, not all of them can be trusted to do an outstanding carpet cleaning service, it’s there essential that one does extensive background research about these companies before approaching them for their services. Luckily, most of these companies have their profile of the internet for any interested individual to go through and verify with the legal authorities. Alternatively, you may choose to consult with friends, family members and neighbours who may have hired the service recently. So what are some of the factors that one need to consider in their search for the best carpet cleaning agency? Affordability: Although the primary objective when searching for a carpet washing company is quality, you still need to consider your budgeted amount.

Different companies charge differently depending on various factors. Regardless of how good a company is, if the cost of their services is not within your ability, then it’s not the right company for you. Go to a company which will provide you with quality carpet cleaning services and not go beyond your budget limit. High-Pressure Carpet Cleaning. This is a carpet cleaning technique that mainly uses high-pressure air or water to clean your carpet. Usually, a lot of dirt particles accumulate in the carpet fibres making it extremely difficult to eliminate them using normal cleaning method. With high water/air pressure, it’s much easier to remove such particles within the shortest time possible effectively. Unfortunately, not everybody can afford the high-pressure cleaning machine. It’s therefore important that one considers a cleaning agency that has quality and modern high-pressure carpet cleaning machines for you to be assured of thorough cleaning job. Note that you can either choose to call the cleaning agency to your home which may be a bit convenient but expensive or you can also take your carpet to them.

Carpet cleaning agency location: As earlier mentioned, the advancing technology has made it possible for more cleaning agencies to come up. As a homeowner, you need that company which is located within your area for more convenience in accessing this vital service as well as a place where you can easily go should you decide to take your carpet for cleaning. However, before approaching your local carpet cleaning agency, make sure that they’ve got all it takes to provide you with nothing but the best services. Apart from that, it’s much easier to work with a carpet cleaning agency that is located near you as you already know a lot of basic things about its operations. The Reputation and Experience of a cleaning specialist; Just because a company has a wide range of cleaning facilities does not necessarily mean that they have all it takes to offer an outstanding service. First of all, you need an individual who has adequate experience in carpet cleaning; only such an individual can guarantee effective and reliable carpet cleaning. Besides, the reputation of a company may come a long way in helping you decide on whether you can trust a company to do a fantastic job. Ideally, carpet cleaning is not just about washing but doing a thorough job. You may, therefore, need some of the essential carpet cleaning tools like hard brushes meant for cleaning carpets as well as the right detergent. However, that does not mean that you do not need professional carpet cleaning, you need to budget for it at least once a month. You also need to understand the basic carpet cleaning process which is mainly done in three stages starting with the pretreatment, cleaning process itself and the last process which prepares the carpet for use.

In conclusion, it’s crucial to understand that washing the carpet is not something that you can decide not to do. Once you’ve purchased a carpet for your home, then you need to ready to ensure that it’s well taken of and adequately cleaned. Besides, if the carpet is worn out, then you need to dispose it of and buy a new one. That will not only save you more money in the long run, but it will ensure that your home looks more beautiful at all times and also more hygienic. Most importantly, make sure that you only hire a professional cleaner near you who is well-equipped with the necessary facilities. Carpet Cleaning Dublin

Home is the place that every person looks to go when he finishes his daily work. It is the biggest investment of a person in their life. Choosing the right kind of home at a reasonable price is a difficult task. So, it is recommended to look out for some good professionals to help you in making the correct decisions regarding the purchase of a home. Home inspection services and home inspectors with tools are the right professionals to hire.
Before making any decision regarding the right home inspection service provider, just consult your real estate dealer, as he can guide you in a better way regarding the good and reputed home inspector. After choosing the right service provider, ask for the set of tools they have for doing inspection. Home inspection tools are very important for good and detailed inspection of the home. Firstly, the inspection company should have a reliable inspection vehicle. The vehicle should be in clean and good condition. The most common tools used for home inspection are the flashlights, measuring tapes, ladders, electrical circuit tester, gas detectors and digital cameras. You can ask for all these tools and the service provider must not be embarrassed to show them. Measuring tapes and ladders are always carried along while doing inspection.
You can even borrow measuring tape from the home inspector to have the exact size of the windows for curtains and the furniture so as to check whether it will fit or not. Ladders are useful in getting to the roof. An electrical circuit tester has its application in checking out loose wires and other electrical faults in the home. Gas detectors are important as they help in detecting some poisonous gases that can be harmful to the health of the members residing in the home. Therefore, these tools are very essential for choosing the best home inspection service provider and a dream home too.

Well, the inspector is subject to laws regarding home inspection and should have the proper certifications and/or licenses through the state. But what purpose does a home inspection serve?
The home inspection is a visual assessment of the condition of a house. Inspections are frequently performed when an individual is going to buy a home, but can be done at any time to see what is wrong with a home in order to ensure it stays in satisfactory condition. However, this is a service that is utilized mostly when an individual is buying a home.
What a home inspector does
All you have to do is call the home inspector of your choice and have them meet you at the home. A home inspection can take a couple of hours, while the inspector walks through the home and looks at certain areas. An inspector knows exactly what to look at and, although he or she cannot see within the walls, can sometimes spot telltale signs that something is wrong inside the structure itself.
The home inspector will:
• Assess the outside and inside of the home
• Look for cracks, holes, and any other signs of structural damage such as water damage
• Look for any creaks and cracks in floors
• Evaluate any evidence of electrical issues
• Look at basements for signs of leakage and will look at piping if it is visible
• Look at an attic to ensure it is properly insulated and if any other issues exist
There are so many areas that a home inspector can observe. Once the observation period is over, a report is generated.
Who uses home inspection?
A homeowner getting ready to sell their home may use a home inspector. They do this so that they can make necessary repairs before placing the home on the market. Banks will provide a list of inspectors to potential buyers and the report may be provided to the bank so that the bank knows the property is not an extreme liability. And sometimes buyers will call on an inspector on their own to ensure they are making a good buy.
This is a necessary service as a homeowner and as a home buyer. It provides protection for all parties involved and also helps a buyer reduce the amount they pay on a home based on the flaws that are found.

Weeds in your garden are a problem because they’re where you don’t want them. Likewise, in your home, water around your foundation and in your basement is a problem because that water is where you don’t want it to be, and it’s a far worse problem than weeds.
If you could find a major cause of water getting into your foundation, you’d want to solve the problem. That would mean you could head off more serious problems. Your house would be more livable for you and for the person who you want to sell it to. Plus, you’d get a better report from your home inspector when it comes time to sell.
Thankfully, there is something you can do, and it’s not difficult. Get control of the gutters and downspouts.
Gutter downspouts are a major cause of water virtually pouring into your home’s basement. That’s because the water goes right alongside your foundation and into your basement. All downspouts should pour that water at least five feet away from your home’s foundation. If that’s not happening, you need to get downspout extensions.
Granted, the downspout isn’t the only source of water coming into your foundation and basement, but it’s one of the worst problems. Simply getting that pouring water out away from your foundation will help tremendously. Try to take care of this problem yourself before you call a waterproofing contractor. Installing downspout extensions could really make the difference for you.
Here’s something else to think about. If your downspout runs into an underground discharge pipe, but you’re still getting water where it shouldn’t be around your downspout, you might have a damaged underground discharge pipe. It could be letting out water right along the foundation, just where you don’t want it.
There’s an easy way to check to see if the underground pipe is part of the problem. Disconnect the downspout from the pipe and add a five foot extension to your downspout to get running water out farther from the house and above ground. Naturally, if the water stops running into your basement, you’ve solved the problem.
If your underground discharge pipe proves to be part of the problem, dig it up and repair it, or leave things as they are with the extension to the downspout in place.
Now let’s take this another step back for a minute. How clean are your gutters and downspouts to begin with? We all hate to do it, but cleaning those gutters is part of life’s little chores when you own a home. If you want water to go where it should and keep it from going where it shouldn’t be, make sure the gutters and downspouts are working as they were meant to.
When cleaning your gutters, you can use a trowel or garden spade to scoop out the junk that has collected there. Then you want to be sure the downspouts are cleared out.
Before you rinse the gutters, put a hose into the downspout and have someone turn it on so you can check the downspout’s flow. If it’s clogged, pack rags around the hose inside the downspout opening to seal in the hose. Turn on the hose full blast. Hopefully that knocks out the clog. If not, you’ll need to clear it out with a plumbing snake, then recheck the flow with the hose.
Next, flush out the gutter and downspout with the hose. Run the hose at the farthest section of the gutter from the downspout. Do this with each of your gutters and downspouts.
In summary, you could eliminate a major source of water into your home’s basement by having a clean gutter system and downspout extensions that release water at least five feet away from your home’s foundation.

When a home inspection contingency is part of a real estate purchase agreement, the buyer often requests certain repairs (called out in the inspection report) to be completed by the seller prior to closing. A home re-inspection is a way for him to verify that the repairs have been done properly. He calls back the same home inspector he hired originally, who then examines, either for free or for an additional fee, the specific defects thus identified, and he excludes everything else.
This verification home inspection is often confused with what is known as the “verification of property condition,” but the two are actually different. The latter term refers to a final walk-through the buyer takes through the property to make sure that the house is in the same condition as he expects. It is not a tool for further negotiations, nor does it in any affect the binding terms of the contract. In other words, it doesn’t remove any obligation the seller has to complete repairs to which he has agreed, but it also doesn’t permit the buyer to tack on additional demands. All the walk-through really does is absolve the real estate agent(s) of liability.
It is also important to distinguish between the original home inspection, which is the work of a generalist, and follow-up work or “further evaluation” recommended in the inspection report and performed by specialists. Some clients object to having to shell out additional money for more inspection fees, but the home inspector is not licensed to make repairs or to render an expert judgment in areas that require special qualifications, such as pests, chimneys, electrical, plumbing, HVAC, foundation, soil, septic/sewer, and hazardous materials such as radon, lead-based paint, asbestos, and measuring air quality. Many inspectors do acquire additional, special licensing, but even then they need to be careful to avoid conflicts of interest. Washington State permits inspectors to repair defects they inspected only after a year has passed.
Use the same home inspector hired originally to conduct the verification inspection. Otherwise, you are really paying for another complete home inspection. The first inspector is already familiar with the house and can immediately tend to the specific defects highlighted by the client.
Some home inspectors charge a re-inspection fee (typically about a third of the original fee). Others provide this service free of charge for a limited period of time, typically up to a year after the original inspection. Members of each school of thought justify their position with sound philosophical and ethical reasoning, differing primarily in how strongly one feels it is necessary to stay above all suspicion of taking kickbacks, despite having vowed to adhere to ethical Standards of Practice.
Some inspectors shy away from doing a verification home inspection. There are certain liability dangers that arise when the seller hires a layperson, without financial protection or license, to make repairs. The layperson may, intentionally or unwittingly, make only cosmetic repairs, and the inspector may be unable to tell that the real problem remains unaddressed. In this case, the only recourse the client has is to come after the person conducting the inspection. Because of this, many inspectors will not agree to do a home re-inspection without proof (e.g., invoice) that the contractor was a licensed professional.

Unfortunately, as everyone knows, house cleaning is a never-ending job. If you get behind, it can soon become an enormous seeming-task, so the obvious answer is to do a little every day to stay on top of things. However, many people’s busy lives make daily cleaning difficult, but if you develop good cleaning habits you can keep your home clean with a minimum of daily effort. The key is to prevent messes from building up and doing a little easy daily maintenance that need only take a few minutes of your valuable time. Here are 5 tips to help you develop better cleaning habits that will save time and effort in the long run.
Clean as you go – While you’re walking from room to room, pick up things that need to be put away or organized. Keep an eye out for simple tasks that can be accomplished while you’re on the phone, for example.
Take your shoes off – When possible, take your shoes off at the door. Shoes carry and deposit a lot of dirt around the house. If you don’t have a lot of time for sweeping or vacuuming, this simple practice can make a big difference. Don’t be shy about making family and guests do the same – tell them you’re turning Japanese.
Develop a routine – Make a schedule for the week and stick to it. Designate a day for different chores, one day for the kitchen, one for the bathroom, etc. – if you stick to it you’ll be surprised at how little time you actually need to spend each week on each chore!
Throw things away – If it’s not really needed, throw it out! It’s easy to allow clutter to take over. That broken toy, those old dog-eared magazines – get rid of them. If you can, recycle or donate anything that might be useful to someone else.
Delegate – Get your family involved in daily cleaning. Use some subtle psychology on the kids and give them fun assignments and rewards for work done. Have each family member be responsible for a different task and use your creativity to make it a successful team effort.
It’s a fact that many people simply don’t have the time to do it all on their own these days. Cleaning services are becoming increasingly necessary for a lot of London families. 2 income families and single parent households are the norm these days, and for those seeking a bit of help it’s good to know that when it comes to cleaning services London offers choices for every budget. Reputable cleaning services are to be found in every neighborhood and it should be easy to find one that meets your family’s needs.

Product: Antibacterials
Used for: Disinfecting everything you can think of, ranging from kids’ toys to toilets.
Nasty inside: Tricoslan, an endocrine (hormone) disrupter that doesn’t break down easily (it kills bacteria and bacteria are often the agents of biodegrading). Excessive use of potent chemical disinfectants to sterilise everything in the home is probably associated with asthma and other autoimmune problems, as an over-clean home leads to a bored, restless immune system that starts reacting to non-threats.
Natural cleaning alternative: Soap and water will do most of the cleaning and kill most of the germs you need to worry about. Vinegar, salt, ultraviolet light (sunshine), boiling water and strong alcohol are other natural disinfectants.
Product: Detergents
Used for: Nearly every sort of cleaner imaginable, mostly because it can work up a grease and grime busting lather in all sorts of water – even hard water – without getting gunky white scum all over everything.
Nasty inside: Phosphate. This is more of a nuisance in the water system, as it breaks down very slowly and allows too much algae to grow in the waterways, leading to environmental problems. Also, detergent in general is harsher on the skin and hair, leading to dry hair (the least of your problems) and cracking, flaking itchy skin.
Natural cleaning alternative: Soap won’t form that ghastly scum if it is used alongside a water softener such as washing soda. Alternatively, look out for reduced phosphate or phosphate-free cleaning products such as laundry powder.
Product: Synthetic fragrances
Used for: Air fresheners. Also used in a range of other cleaning products such as those spray on kitchen cleaners and bathroom cleaners because the active ingredients in these products pong. Baby products. Cheap perfumes and cosmetics.
Nasty inside: Toluene, which is a probable asthma and allergy trigger. Synthetic musk, which does all sorts of peculiar things to the hormones if you are exposed to too much of it.
Natural cleaning alternative: Make your own natural cleaners and add essential oils. Open windows to remove pongs. Use essential oils, pot pourri and fresh flowers to scent the air delicately. Don’t overuse perfume – just a few dabs on the pulse points will be adequate.
Product: Solvents
Used for: Dry cleaning fluid, spot cleaning treatments. Found in all sorts of common household products.
Nasty inside: This really depends on the solvent in question. There are half a dozen different types (or more) and each has its problems. The chlorinated ones are the worst – one of these can cause permanent brain damage if too much is inhaled.
Natural cleaning alternative: Oddly, mineral turpentine – which isn’t exactly natural – is one of the least harmful solvent. Strong alcohol also makes a decent solvent for everyday household cleaning. Don’t dry clean clothes or toys unless it is absolutely essential. Eucalyptus oil makes a good spot treatment.
Product: Ammonium compounds
Used for: Floor cleaners, glass cleaners and bathroom cleaners.
Nasty inside: Ammonia gas in itself is pretty awful if inhaled. It is positively lethal if mixed with chlorine. Avoid if you have chlorinated water and never mix ammonia-based cleaners with chlorine based cleaners. However, ammonia breaks down easily and doesn’t last long in the environment.
Natural cleaning alternative: For window cleaning, use dilute vinegar. For cleaning floors, use warm soapy water. For cleaning the bathroom, either use baking soda or use vinegar. If you have to use ammonia based products, make sure that the area you are cleaning is well ventilated.

With so many home cleaning businesses to select from, how can you decide on a cleaning firm that offers honest, reliable, affordable cleaners and ironers? Are they insured? Do not just ask that question, but enquire exactly what the insurance covers. Does it encompass potential theft, key and lock replacement, damage to your property and personal injury to the cleaning lady? Many do not have theft insurance and you may wish to reconsider retaining a professional house cleaning service that does not provide this. These incidents are rare (and in the case of theft, extremely rare), but why expose yourself to the risk if you are hiring a cleaning company that is supposed to take the hassle and problems away from you in comparison to you finding a private cleaner or ironer yourself?
In relation to the price, some people are fixated on the absolute cheapest which is not really a good idea! Do they drive a Lada?! Unlikely! So, why should a domestic cleaner be the cheapest of the cheapest? In reality, if you pay peanuts, you will get monkeys, as the saying goes, so avoiding the absolute cheapest is a good idea. A cleaner paid the minimum wage by her novice employer who only wants to compete on the basis of (the lowest) price because he does not have any other skills is not a good idea. The cleaning lady will just be using this as a temporary option en route to a job paying a bit more, so the staff turnover will be horrendous. I would imagine you would prefer a stable, reliable cleaner, not a different person every month. On the other hand, some home help services could be considered really expensive, such as Molly Maid, often providing leased cars for their staff which you have to pay for! A price in the middle is probably the best option. Rates will also differ from area to area, depending on local labour costs, so for example Crawley, Croydon and Brighton are cheaper than Reigate, Redhill, Haywards Heath, Horsham and Burgess Hill.
Vetting a domestic worker is essential. She needs to have her proof of identification, address and right to work in the U.K. checked. It is best to have the same person every cleaning session, as some companies substitute different cleaners which would necessitate you explaining repeatedly what you require and also is a potential security risk having so many people in your house. Meeting the lady first is preferable, so that you can ensure you are comfortable with her. Beware of hidden extras in the price, such as vat.