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Decorating Tips for Any Home

Wed, 22 Mar 2017 15:38:02 GMT

Are you looking for a new look for spring? A little change in home décor can be a mood booster and a great way to kick off a season that's all about freshness and change. Finding little things to change here and there is a quick way to freshen your decorating without spending a lot of money, time, or energy!

When you finish your spring house cleaning , try one of these tips to liven up any room !

Patterns. Don't be afraid to use a bold pattern as a main feature or an accent. You can use bold patterns on furniture, rugs, accessories, an accent wall, or art in the room. The chevron is a really popular pattern right now, but big floral prints and other geometric patterns are also still very much in play, so find the one you like!

Accent Colors. Accent colors are a great way to bring something new to a room, especially since they are usually small items or areas that can be quickly handled. It starts with a bright color that complements your existing palette, put this color on one wall, an interior door, or incorporate it into small items around the room.

Decorative Metal. From brass to bronze, metal is showing up in more and more decorating. Distressed or beaten metal surfaces, metallic colors, reflective surfaces—all of these are bringing a new look to homes. If you can find some metal items that suit you and your home, it's definitely worth trying.

Wood. Wood is extremely popular, as it has usually been. Blending wood and metals together is an especially great tactic, and if you haven't yet, you'll begin to see this reflected in furniture very soon. Don't be afraid to jump on that bandwagon!

Ideas for Weeknight Relaxation

Fri, 12 Dec 2014 10:24:51 GMT

Relaxing can be really difficult, especially on week nights when you know that you have things to do the next day. Don't stress out about everything you have to do! Check out these ideas to learn how to have some fun and de-stress on those weeknights when you're at a loss for what to do.

Have A Game Show Night

Watching game shows can actually be surprisingly fun. It doesn't matter what show you watch, they're all game shows. You can watch classic dating game shows or go with Jeopardy! or Wheel of Fortune. Even watch a new show like Baggage. Watch on regular channels or on the Game Show Network for a fun way to kick back and relax, and maybe even learn something while testing your knowledge and game skills.

Have A Glass of Red Wine

Red wine has been shown to be healthy for the heart and reduce stress when consumed in small amounts. With that kind of logic, who could refuse? If you have kids and they're off to bed or don't have kids but have had a long day, uncork a bottle of red. Let it breathe for at least 20 minutes and enjoy. If you can share it with a friend or a partner, all the better

Draw A Bath

Remember that episode of Friends where Monica draws a nice bath and offers it up to Chandler? He becomes so hooked on the relaxing experience, the music, the candle, the bubbles, that he steals the next bath that Monica draws up for herself! Unabashedly, Chandler was pursuing the path of peace. Drawing a bath up for yourself is a great way to take the stress out of a long day and help your body and mind just relax the way they need to. Whether it's putting in some scented bath salts, dropping in a bath bomb, or lighting some candles(or all three), a bath is the perfect way to unwind on a weeknight.

Hire A Maid

Nothing says 'relax' like coming home to an already clean house . Let The Maids of Cape Cod give you Monday night off.

Cleaning Shoe Marks from Ceramic Tile Floors

Fri, 05 Dec 2014 10:16:20 GMT

There are a lot of ways out there to triumph over those resistant shoe marks in tiled floors. Most of these floors are treated with finishes and lacquer such as polyurethane, which helps in protecting them and creates a shiny gleam. Abrasives and cleaners can dull these protective coatings, so make sure if you are cleaning show marks that you use the gentlest methods available that will remove the marks. If you own a ceramic tile floor, the following step by step guide will help you get rid of shoe marks that may mar your floor without destroying its elegance:

STEP 1

Rub the shoe mark with a dry piece of cloth or a paper towel. Rub the cloth over the mark in back and forth motion. Run a clear pencil eraser gently over the shoe marks and then wipe off the residue with a damp cloth.

STEP 2

For stubborn shoe marks, you may need a different approach. Make a cleaning paste by adding just enough water to powdered baking soda to make a paste-like substance. Apply some of this paste to the marks on the floor. Soak a cloth in this solution and use it to rub off the scuff marks. You should be able to remove all these unsightly marks by using this method.

STEP 3

You can also dip a soft, clean brush into the paste. Rub the wet brush over the shoe mark. Wipe the paste off the tile using a cloth or paper towel dipped into pure warm water.

STEP 4

Dry your tile using a cloth. Ensure that there is no water or any cleaner left on your tile because it can make the floor very slippery. Also, water compromises the longevity of tiled floors.

During the scrubbing process, make sure to use gentle and even pressure so that you don’t scour the floor. Also, before shoe marks become a great problem to your flooring, consider covering high traffic areas with rugs. And if you would like assistance with your cleaning tasks then contact The Maids of Cape Cod in Hyannis, Massachusetts.

Tips for Storing Seasonal Clothing

Fri, 28 Nov 2014 10:09:12 GMT

The choices of clothing we wear depends on the season: wool for winter and tees for summer. These distinct seasons give us an excuse to change our wardrobe a couple of times a year, but the downside is that we require more storage for off-season clothes. Depending on a person’s creativity, budget and space, there are a number of tips for storing seasonal clothing. Let’s discuss some of the best tips:

Vacuum Seal

Vacuum sealed storage is very useful as it reduces size of clothing, towels, blankets etc. It stacks them evenly together. This option keeps clothes in an air-tight and water free environment, thus reducing the chances of clothes being damaged. There are a number of vacuum seals on the market to choose from or one can opt to make their own vacuum seals by watching DIY videos.

Suitcases or Boxes

Properly folding clothes and stacking them in boxes is one of the simplest and cheapest ways to store clothes. A couple of boxes with labels to indicate the type of clothing stored are all that is needed. This method has a drawback as it uses a lot of space in the house, but one can get creative on where to stack the boxes, like on top of the wardrobe or under the stairs.

Storage Bed

Various pieces of furniture are now available that offer more storage options such as a storage bed. Drawers on the sides of the bed or hollow space under the mattress section offer quite a bit of room for storage.

Storage options are not limited to only the above options. An individual should find an option they are most comfortable with and stick with it. A worthwhile point to note is that clothes should be cleaned properly before being stored, and to store similar styles and seasons together for easier unpacking.

The Maids of Cape Cod know how important having a clutter free home is, and are available to help with this and any other chores !

Organizing Toddler Toys

Fri, 21 Nov 2014 10:03:18 GMT

The typical mom usually encounters problems related to organizing her toddler's toys. Maintaining an organized set of toys can be a daunting task, especially if your child is constantly playing with his or her toys. Try to relax because there are some practical ways how you can arrange your child's toys and maintain a well-organized room.

4 Clever Ways to Organize Your Toddler's Toys

Buckets

Storing toys in a bucket is a stylish way of organizing everything. Buckets are available in various sizes and colors. So, you have a great selection to choose from. Don't forget to label each, so that your child will know what kind of toy should be placed inside a particular bucket.

Wall Racks

Using wall racks in organizing story books is a cheap yet efficient way to do it. Aside from story books, you can also include photo albums and coloring books.

Clear Bins

When storing your child's toys, opt for clear bins so that he or she can easily locate what they're looking for. It's also good idea to label each bin based on the type of toys stored inside.

Wall Baskets

This is a stylish way of organizing the toys for your child. You may opt for colorful baskets or calming Earth tones. The baskets on your wall could be small or large, depending on your personal choice.

Opting For A Better Solution

Indeed, there are various ways of organizing the toys of your toddler. However, you should also realize the importance of bringing him or her into the process of organizing their toys. This means that you need to teach your child some organization skills and maintenance methods. Be your child's organizational consultant. If you are involved in organizing the toys of your toddler, he or she will be able to have a better understanding of maintaining an organized set of toys.

For those days when you and your toddler just can't find the time , call The Maids of Cape Cod for help with cleanup.

Easy Methods for Tidying Up Your Concrete Floor

Fri, 14 Nov 2014 09:19:03 GMT

Concrete floors are durable but hard to clean. Employing normal cleaning methods to tidy up a concrete floor may just do a shoddy job. Cleaning a concrete floor may be easier than you can even imagine. Learn various ways below that can help you clean your concrete floor with ease.

Clearing Dirt and Debris

In fact, this is the first and a very important step that you should start whenever you want to clean your concrete floor. You can either vacuum or sweep it, and bear in mind that both wet and dry vacuum cleaners can be effectivefor your concrete floor. In case you don’t have a vacuum cleaner, a broom can accomplish the task.

Cleaning With a Pressure Washer

Using a pressure washer can ensure that your floor is clean and free of stains. If necessary, you can also apply a cleaning agent to the stains prior to cleaning with the pressure washer.

Cleaning Oil, Grease and Tire Marks

Oil can be cleaned with ease by first applying kitty litter to soak up the oil and then removing it once the oil is soaked up. Then apply a bleaching agent to remove the stain left by the oil. Tire marks and grease stains can be removed by just wetting the area affected and using any off-the-shelf degreasers to completely remove them. In all of these processes, the cleaning agent should be left for some minutes before it is scrubbed off.

Cleaning your concrete floor regularly is one of the cheapest ways of maintaining and fostering its longevity. And if you would like assistance with your house cleaning needs, The Maids of Cape Cod, in West Hyannis, Massachusetts would be happy to help!

Keep Your Home Safe by Getting Rid of Yellow Jackets

Fri, 07 Nov 2014 09:11:37 GMT

Yellow jackets are a very common species of wasps that like building nests in homes, especially during summer. Just like other wasps, they are very aggressive and can sting if disturbed. However, you need to get rid of them in order to protect yourself from stings. Here are some crucial tips that you can use to get rid of them:

Purchase yellow jacket killer

There are synthetic wasp nest killer formulations that are specifically tailored for killing these pests in their nest. Research studies show that one nest can hold up to 3,000 individual wasps. However, these pesticides usually contain toxic chemicals, so make sure you adhere to the stipulated application instructions to avoid contaminating food and water in your home. Also, to promote environmental wellness, you can use an organic pesticide that is made from non-toxic plant oils and other biodegradable elements. A quick look at the ingredients and an online research on the same can help you determine if the solution is organic or synthetic.

Spray at the right time

Yellow jackets are less active when temperatures fall below 50 degrees Fahrenheit, so this is the best time to attack their nest. If possible, do it at night when their visibility is limited.

Cover flashlight with red cello tape

Research studies shows that these pests cannot see in red lighted areas and using covering your flashlight with a red cello tape will make it impossible for them to notice your movements.

Wear long sleeves

Wearing long sleeve will help protect you from their stings as you spray the pesticide.

Remove the nest

To hinder them from reoccupying the nest in future, you should remove the nest once you have made sure the yellow jackets are dead. You might have to apply the pesticide several types to eliminate the entire colony.

And while you are taking care of the pests in your home, let The Maids of Cape Cod, in West Hyannis, Massachusetts help you with all your housekeeping needs.

Ways To Keep Your Basement Smelling Fresh

Fri, 24 Oct 2014 08:30:19 GMT

Knowing how to get rid of unpleasant basement odor and keep it smelling fresh can save you a fortune. Read on and find out how you can eliminate basement odor and maintain a fresh-smelling basement.

Top 3 Ways To Eliminate Basement Odor And Keep It Smelling Fresh

Installing A Dehumidifier

This can help a lot. A dehumidifier is a useful household appliance that is efficient in reducing the level of humidity in the air. A lot of homeowners install a dehumidifier in their basement due to health and comfort reasons. By placing a dehumidifier in your basement, it will control the level of humidity and moisture in the area.

Get Rid of Unnecessary Items and Clean Your Basement

Most of the time, the items you have been keeping in your basement are the source of the smelly odor. Check your basement and get rid of the different items that contribute to the odor. On the other hand, you might need to conduct a general cleaning process to get rid of any mold and mildew. The Maids of Cape Cod can help you get this done. Do not forget to clean all upholstery including the carpets, rugs and furniture.

Employ Charcoal Or Baking Soda

Another effective way of keeping your basement odor-free and smelling fresh is by placing a container of baking soda or a piece of charcoal in the basement. Baking soda and charcoal are effective in absorbing the odor in a natural way.

What Homeowners Need To Remember

There are many causes of basement smell. The musty odor you can smell can be caused by several sources. Remember that if there is a water leak in your basement, it may result in a nasty smell. This coupled with poor ventilation may lead to a damp, smelly basement. Moreover, you also need to remember that there are various microorganisms living in the soil beneath the basement of your house. These microorganisms tend to emit volatile organic chemicals that cause foul odor. The main point here is that before you choose a particular method of eliminating basement odor, you need to figure out what causes it in the first place.

How to Prevent A Burglary in Your Home

Fri, 17 Oct 2014 08:01:14 GMT

The safety of your family and assets is a very important. Acquisition of assets requires resources and it will be improper to let the resources go down the drain due to preventable break-ins and theft. There are measures that you can take to cushion yourself from break-ins and damage to personal and family property. Below are a few ideas for keeping your home safe:

Make an Impression That There Is Someone in the House

Most break-ins occur when thieves know that there is no one in the house. To prevent such attempts at accessing your premises, you have to set your house in such a way that it gives an impression that someone is home. For instance, you can leave the lights on along with television and music. This will make a thief think twice before choosing your home as a target.

Secure Your Access Points

Thieves will certainly use doors and windows to enter your premises. By securing your doors with padlocks and ensuring that your windows are locked properly, you can either prevent the thief from coming in or delay their break-in thereby giving you sufficient time to alert the police. You can bolster your security by using steel bars to your windows.

Secure Your Yard

Overgrown trees and tall shrubs can be perfect hide outs for criminals to monitor the activities around the house. Even though you do not have to cut down the trees, ensure that your yard is well manicured so that you are able to see the activities going on in the yard even from a distance. Trees with branches that reach out to your windows should be trimmed.

Alarm Systems

Installing an alarm system can also help in aborting a planned robbery. Ensure that the alarm system is in a place where the thieves will not be able to access it the moment they step into your compound. A wireless alarm system is a great option also.

And while you are busy making sure your home is safe, let The Maids of Cape Cod, in West Hyannis, Massachusetts, take care of your cleaning needs.

Crucial Sanitation Strategies to Keep Your Premises Safe

Fri, 10 Oct 2014 07:51:36 GMT

Sanitation is crucial in homes as it helps to prevent various health complications, which are caused by pathogens that thrive in poorly sanitized premises. While The Maids of Cape Cod, in West Hyannis, Massachusetts, can help you with everyday home cleaning tasks, below are some important strategies that you can use to keep your home safe and devoid of viruses and bacteria:

Proper Sewer Drainage

Your toilet will backup without showing any warning if you do not check its condition regularly. Foul smell is one of the symptoms that you can use to determine functioning of your sewerage system. There are a number of experts who can inspect the entire system and unlock it if need be. You should contact the company in advance to avoid secondary problems that could arise from delayed service delivery. For example, flow of sewer on floors will not only tamper with air quality, but also damage your home.

Get a Water Treatment System

There are different types of appliances that you can use to treat water. Despite the fact that most states have water treatment facilities, there is no guarantee that it will not be contaminated in the pipeline. Protect your family from various waterborne illnesses by investing in a water treatment system.

Finally, ensure that all plumbing connections in your house are in a perfect condition to prevent leakages. Avoid disposing solid waste through the sink as this can block the kitchen drainage system.

4 Tips to Get More Space of Your Closet without Renovating

Fri, 03 Oct 2014 14:36:25 GMT

Closets tend to pile up with unorganized messes. They also become a place to hide things so to speak such as presents, electronic parts, unused tools, ruined clothes that you plan to fix, etc. Eventually, it flows out into the bedroom if it hasn’t already. This means it is time to take actions, whether you do the housekeeping yourself or hire a service like the Maids of Cape Cod in Massachusetts. Regardless of your decision, here’s what needs to be done.

1. Use Hangers Effectively

Buy the right kind of hanger according to the clothes that you want to hang. Items that have delicate fabrics are best hung using padded hangers.
Plastic hangers, on the other hand, should be used to hang button-down shirts.
If you have suit jackets, the best hangers are the sturdy wood hangers since these help in retaining the original shapes of items.
Get rid of all wire hangers because they do not properly support clothes. The same also applies to plastic dry-cleaner bags which should be removed because they do not let fabrics breathe, and thus keep the chemicals that are used for dry cleaning in the clothes.
Coordinate your wardrobe as this will help you save your precious time every morning. Hang similar clothes together and sort by color.

2. Proper Storage of Sweaters

The sweaters, T-shirts as well as other folded clothing need also to be sorted by color. Remove sweaters from the hangers and then fold them. Hangers tend to ruin shape of your sweaters with time.

Keep sweaters on shelves and they should be in manageable stacks. Also use sweater dividers to prevent them appearing like the leaning tower of Pisa. It is even better to keep your sweaters in sweater boxes that have well marked labels.

3. Eye Level is Crucial

Items that you use frequently should be kept at an eye level while the items that you rarely use can be kept higher up. Things such as turtlenecks or bathing suits are best kept in labeled boxes as you can rotate these lower or higher in the closet according to the season.

Tip

Have any rain boots, snow boots or any outdoor gear moved to the front hall closet. Alternatively you can move them to mudroom if you happen to have one.

4. Have Small Items Put Where They Belong

Set aside a container. It could be a bin on the shelf or a bowl where you can always put things like receipts, loose change or any other items that can pile in your pocket.

How to Store and Discard of Hazardous Chemicals Away From Children

Fri, 26 Sep 2014 07:44:32 GMT

Hazardous chemicals can be fatal if kids are exposed to them. You should avoid storing these chemicals in places where children can reach them easily or simply placing them in household trash when discarding them, because children are fond of putting things in their mouths and drinking anything they find. Below are essential ideas that you may consider when storing and keeping these chemicals away from children:

Store Hazardous Chemicals in Hard-to-Reach Places

Hazardous household chemicals should always be kept out of reach and sight of kids. Statistics show that in many of the emergency room visits involving chemical poisoning in children, that the child got to the chemicals because of they were stored in places where children can easily reach them. Remove all the hazardous chemicals from any easy-to-reach places and store them safely in higher places. If this is not an option, or you want to store them in a location that would possibly be accessible for children, you need to make sure that there are safety locks on the cabinets and drawers where they are stored.

Disposes Off Hazardous Chemicals Carefully

Avoid throwing chemicals in the trash because kids can easily dig them out. Make sure to go ahead and dispose of these items directly into outside garbage storage to avoid a poisoning accident.

Above are just a couple of ideas to keep your kids safe from hazardous material. Another option is to have a maid service like The Maids of Cape Cod come and handle your cleaning for you, leaving no need to store these hazardous materials in your home.

How to Properly Care for Your Wooden Furniture and Make them Last Generations

Fri, 19 Sep 2014 07:37:32 GMT

Furniture, if taken proper care of, can last a generation or more. Maintain yours in great condition by keeping it protected from common household mishaps. The following are some useful tips to keep your furniture looking at its prime.

Ditch all cleaners that contain ammonia. Ammonia tends to damage wooden furniture.
Dust frequently using a soft, clean and dry cloth
The furniture polish you use should not contain too much of alcohol as this damages wood finishes.
Protect your wooden furniture from hot serving dishes using natural fiber tablecloth. Alternatively, you can use trivet or oven mitt.
In order to minimize water rings, use coasters with cork bottoms or felt.
Do not let moisture get trapped between a wood surface and glass. Ensure that wood surfaces are totally dry before replacing the glass.
Do not place your furniture in direct contact with sunlight as sunlight dries and fades wood surfaces.
To protect your wooden furniture from being damaged by your pets, cover their surfaces with a natural fiber tablecloth, protective pad or chair cover.

Striking the Right Moisture/Dryness Balance

Excess dryness or moisture can be counterproductive to your furniture. When the furniture contains too much moisture, it may result in mildew. On the other hand, too much dryness is the number one cause for loss of natural luster as well as weakened joints. It is important that you strike the delicate balance between moisture level and dryness. This will ensure that your furniture looks nice for many years to come. Below are tips on how you can prevent dryness or moisture from damaging your wooden furniture.

Avoid putting your wood furniture in laundry areas or steamy bathrooms, as these expose the furniture to excess moisture.
Maintain a steady temperature in the home. Dramatic changes in temperature will have an effect on humidity levels and this will cause more moisture in the air.
Avoid letting the environment of your home to be too dry. Too much dryness causes your furniture to not only shrink but also become split or brittle.
Ensure that wood surfaces do not come into direct contact with water. Have a glass placed all over the table top. You may also use trivets, coasters as well as natural fiber tablecloths. These will protect your furniture from both moisture and dryness.

If you are interested in having a professional cleaning service come to help you take care of your wood furniture as well as the rest of your home, The Maids of Cape Cod would be happy to assist you.

How to Clean Your Microwave

Fri, 12 Sep 2014 07:31:24 GMT

The stubborn smell inside your microwave can be very irritating and uncomfortable, along with all the stuck-on food grime. Cleaning the microwave frequently can help to prevent stuck-on stains and keep them from causing a foul smell inside your microwave. Below are some good step-by-step cleaning tips you can use to easily clean and deodorize your microwave.

Cleaning Process

Take a microwave safe bowl and pour in 2 cups of water
Slice 2 to 3 pieces of lemons into halves and squeeze the juice from the lemons into the bowls.
Place bowl in microwave and heat the mixer until boiling point.The amount of time the microwave will take to heat the mixer will vary depending on the manufacturer.
Let the bowl stay in the microwave for about 3 to 5 minutes so that the steam can easily accumulate inside the microwave, loosening the stuck-on food particles.
Open the microwave and carefully remove the bowl. Remove the rotating glass tray and wash in the sink with dish detergent and water.
Use warm water mixed with a few drops of dish detergent to clean the whole inside of the microwave and use a paper towel or cloth to dry the interior when done.
Wash the tray and wipe it with a paper towel. Make sure the tray is completely dry when putting it back to the microwave.

Very Important Note

DO NOT pour water inside the microwave. The openings that direct heat to the microwave should only be wiped with a dry towel.

These simple steps will help you keep your microwave clean and functioning optimally. And if you are looking to hire a maid service to help you with your cleaning needs, don’t hesitate to contact The Maids of Cape Cod, in West Hyannis, Massachusetts.

Getting Rid of Mold on Baby Bath Toys

Fri, 05 Sep 2014 07:23:47 GMT

If you have a baby or small child, you will probably have tons of little squirty bath toys and rubber ducks for them to play with at bath time. What you are probably not aware of is that these seemingly innocent toys can be a haven for mold and mildew that can affect your baby’s health. Warm bath water gets into the little holes that are normally used for squirting and it doesn’t properly dry out. After a while this damp, warm, dark little hole becomes a paradise for bacteria and mold growth. So, how do you get rid of this mold on your baby’s bath toys? Well, there are a few methods, but obviously when it comes to mold and baby toys, prevention is best.

How to Prevent Mold Growth

Well, if you have a close look at your baby’s bath toys, you will see all the little holes where mold can start to grow, so what you can do is seal up these holes with a glue gun. Of course, this will eliminate the toy’s ability to squirt, but it will eliminate the risk of mold growth.

Another way to prevent mold from growing in the first place is to make sure that the bath toys are properly aired and dried after bath time. Make sure that all the water has been squeezed out and set the toys out apart from each other. You can also use a hair dryer or put them out in the sun every day.

How to Get Rid of Mold on Bath Toys

You can normally salvage your baby toys by soaking the toys in a strong bleach solution, making sure that you suck the solution into the toys and swirling it around. You can also do this once every few weeks as preventative maintenance.You can boil the toys which will kill the mold and release it from the small crevasses. Another option is to wash them in the dishwasher which will sanitize them.

If none of these methods work and you still find that the toys are dark inside or have areas of mold, then it is probably safest and best to throw them away and get new toys. And while you are busy taking care of your little ones, let The Maids of Cape Cod, in West Hyannis, Massachusetts assist you with all your housekeeping needs.

How to Get Rid of Stubborn Stains

Fri, 15 Aug 2014 14:19:01 GMT

Almost every person is troubled by some tough stains on their clothes. These stains can be quite difficult to remove, and often ruin clothing.

Common Stain and Their Solutions

Just because there are stains on your clothes doesn’t mean you have to throw them away. There are some simple things you can do to remove stains:

Grass Stains

For grass stains you should use vinegar and water. Pigment in grass can adhere to the fabric, but vinegar can easily remove it. You should mix vinegar and water, and apply it to the stain, then scrub and rinse.

Blood Stains

These can be the most stubborn stains. Always rinse in cold water first, and then let the garment soak. Adding salt and hydrogen peroxide will remove the remaining part of the stain. Vinegar and club soda can also work well.

Grease Stains

These can be the most difficult to remove. You should first use basic dishwashing detergent to treat the stain. In most cases, it will be sufficient to get rid of the stain.

These tips can definitely help you save your clothes from having to be discarded. It may take about one or two cycles before you are able to get rid of the stain. If you’re unsuccessful, you should call a professional cleaning service. The Maids would be happy to assist you with your stubborn stains as well as all your cleaning needs.

How to Get More Comfort from Your Beds

Fri, 08 Aug 2014 13:57:55 GMT

The most popular place people enjoy relieving themselves from work, school, or housekeeping exhaustion is the bedroom, but it can be a problem when your bed is not comfortable at all. You may spend a better part of your sleeping time turning from one side to the other if the bed is not made to be cozy and warm. Even if you have a high quality bed and mattress, there are always other things that you can do to make it comfy and cozy:

Layering

Your bed will never be as comfy as it could be if you just use one foam pad above the mattress. To make your bed luxurious, why not add several extra layers to create an auspicious bedding experience?

Using Bed Warmers

The ideal way of warming your bed is using bed warmers to up your comfort level and directly get you sleeping within no time, no matter the situation.

Replace Mattress

There comes a time when the only solution to make your bed truly enjoyable is to replace it. Old mattresses are no longer as comfortable when compared to those that embrace new technologies. If yours does not have additional cushioning but just single foam, it is high time you should do away with it.

Happy Memory

Today, you can get memory foam pads for your mattress. The best size thickness for extra pleasure is 1-1/2- to 2-inch thickness. It gives enough room for near endless padding and cushioning.

Going Down

When you are not allergic to products made from feather, down padding is the best option for you. Luxurious comforters, pillows, and mattress toppers will be the best additions to down filled bed experience.

Use High Quality Sheets

The best sheets are those that gently touch on your skin offering quick comfort and the right amount of warmth, and you can only get that from cotton as the main fabric.

Your bed will never be the same again if you employ some of the preferred suggestions above. You should always choose whatever goes hand in hand with your needs.

There’s nothing better, too, then climbing into a freshly made bed in a clean bedroom. If your schedule is too busy to keep everything clean, a call to The Maids could put you in real comfort!

Gain More Free Time through Better Organization

Fri, 01 Aug 2014 13:44:43 GMT

Getting organized at home is a great idea. In your daily life there are some house cleaning chores which you will be required to carry out on a daily basis. When cleaning the house, you will need to arrange different items in the places that make the most sense for functionality in your life. The best way for you to arrange the items in your home is putting them in places where you can easily locate them whenever you would like to make use of them. This will reduce the time that you would waste in trying to locate certain items in your home. The following are ideas that you can employ for you to get organized easily:

Personal Electronic Accessories

There are several home accessories available in a home. For instance, you will often have the following electronics in your home: phone chargers, game console controllers, TV cables, USB portable storage units, power adapters, headphones, video cables, Wi-Fi dongles, remotes, Ethernet cables, watches, watch batteries, standard batteries, electronic parts, tiny screws and other gadgets with their accessories. To have an easier time when cleaning your house, you can design a drawer where you can place all the electronic gadgets so that when you need them it will be easy for you to retrieve them.

Dirty Clothes

To arrange dirty clothes so you can easily gather them when you are ready to wash them, buy laundry hampers and place one in each bedroom in your home so that your family members can put their dirty clothes in them every day. This will make it easier on laundry day because when you’re ready to start cleaning your clothes you will go straight to the hamper rather than wasting time looking for the clothes all over the house.

For a little extra help in keeping the house clean and organized, a maid service like The Maids can do the job.

Eliminating Pet Hair on Your Couch

Fri, 25 Jul 2014 13:35:03 GMT

In a home, pets help family members enjoy life, especially those who love their pets very much. They also tend to add more work to your home when you’re trying to maintain high level of cleanliness. This is especially noticeable when you have to try and remove pet hairs during house cleaning that settle on places in your home such as on your couch or other furniture.

The pet hair can settle on the couches if your pets sleep on your furniture, but they can also float on the air where they will finally land on random areas in your home. It’s bothersome to remove the hair from the couch each day, so it’s necessary to try and look for ways through which you can make the work of removing hairs from the couch very easy. There are various vacuum pumps available that can easily help you in getting rid of the hairs.

Using Attachments for Vacuums

The vacuum pump sometimes have attachments which you can use to get rid of the pet hairs. Pumps with brushes or wide floor attachments tend to make the work of removing the pet hairs a bit harder because they are not designed for the work.

Vacuums Designed for Pet Hair

There are vacuum pumps that are designed with a particular attachment that makes the work of removing pet hair very easy. You can order an attachment that will enable you to remove the pet hairs from your couch, but buying the one that has the attachments already is preferable.

The Types and Styles of Attachments

The attachments available on vacuum pumps differ according to the manufacturers. There are those that provide the attachments with rubber on the edges which form grips that help in removing the hairs before the pump sucks them. Other features on the vacuum pumps include rubber bristles which help in brushing up the pet hairs from your couch with great ease.

Of course, to keep a house really clean takes consistency, and if your time is stretched thin, The Maidscan help.

Best Garage Organization Ideas That Work

Fri, 18 Jul 2014 13:23:51 GMT

Are you forced to leave your car out on the street because your garage doesn’t have enough room for it? If so then its time you started thinking of how to get your garage organized. Listed below are a few tips to help you make that happen. Read on!

1. Sort

It is best to group similar items together to make them easy to find. Shelving units, a few coats of paint and some cute decals for the garage door will transform the space without spending a lot of money. Put frequently used items, such as paper towel, cleaning materials, toilet paper and drinks, on the shelf units.

2. Keep dangerous chemical in their original containers

Most people often keep paints, pesticides and auto fluids in old food containers making them very dangerous as these containers may leak and cause respiratory problems, fumes, burns and even fire hazards. Besides being stored in their original containers, they should also be kept out of reach of children or pets. This can be inside locked cabinets or on high shelves.

3. Lean the ladders horizontally

Ladders when left leaning against the wall can be a hazard. This style often seems to be the correct storage position, but what if it tips over? It can injure a loved one or damage your car. So the best position is to lean it horizontally along the wall. You can also store it on hooks, which is the better option.

4. Assign each area of the garage a specific purpose

Take your time and think carefully about what you want the garage to be used for. Also, think about the best possible way it can be divided up. Divide the space into zones to help you create a setup that does not only make sense, but also leaves the room neat and well-organized.

Ig you need help with cleaning and organizing your garage or anything else, The Maids cover it all, from one –room cleaning to whole house cleaning, as well as emergency cleanups.

Brighten Your Cabinet’s Appeal with New Handles

Wed, 16 Jul 2014 11:13:50 GMT

Drawer pulls/handles are needed to open drawers and doors in every home. They enhance the beauty of cabinetry, while also making it easier to open. Nevertheless, damaged, cracked, chipped, scratched, faded, or loose handles/pulls can affect the overall appeal of the cabinets and the room. Housekeeping helps make a room look good, but crappy handles take away from that like waxing a heavily rusted truck. It hinders appeal. If this sounds like it applies to your situation, you may want to give your cabinets a facelift with brand new drawer pulls/handles.

Wide Handles

Drawer pulls with wide handles are available in many materials, including:

Satin-nickel finishes
Chrome finishes
Brass finishes
Solid brass material
Solid plastic material
Solid vinyl material
Solid wood material
Etc.

Some of the wide handles are manufactured with solid materials, while others that are less expensive are made from something else and plated with a finish. That is where brass finish verse solid brass comes into play. It can be the same for nickel finishes and stainless steel finishes.

Shaped Drawer Handles

Drawer pulls/handles that are shaped in design often have the same materials as the wide handles. They can be a metal, plastic, or wood. They can also be plated or solid. In addition, these types of handles can have an etched design when it comes to metal materials or a painted design for wood, vinyl, or plastic. When it comes to wooden handles specifically, they can be untreated or treated with a stain and/or water protectant. Shaped handles include the following:

Round Knobs: The round drawer handles mount by 1 screw and typically have a round diameter of 1-2.5 inches. With these handles, the entire knob is not round. They usually have a cylindrical leg to them that mounts onto the drawer.
Square Knobs: The square drawer pulls have the same description as the round in most cases. However, they are sometimes square all the way down to the drawer surface.
Oval Knobs: The knobs that are oval in design are similar to the round knobs. They just have a different shape. Oval knobs allow you to have that roundish look, but with more to grip onto.
Rectangular Knobs: The knobs that have a rectangular look to them usually still only mount with 1 screw, depending on design. You can find a wide drawer pull that is rectangular in shape, but the rectangular knobs discussed here mount with 1 screw.

No matter what drawers you need handles for or what material you desire, you can easily find a good match because of all the options and products available today.

Using Additional Shelves For More Storage Space

Fri, 11 Jul 2014 13:07:35 GMT

A home is a home, filled with your things—and the clutter that comes with them. However much you try, it is rather difficult keeping your home in tip-top condition all the time. You will find your cabinets filling up, drawers getting loaded, and closets carrying too many things.

The best way to overcome all this clutter is to think of innovative ideas for your shelves. Use your creativity to make more space so that all your housekeeping efforts keep your home looking great. The first thing to do is revamp and reorganize all your shelves so that they give you more space to store your belongings.

Purpose

The purpose of the shelf is very important in helping you decide what you want, and how much you want to expand your shelving units. Decide if you need shelves for storing your music and movies, for your kids’ activity coloring books and games, or other types of items.

Once you determine how much you need to store on shelves, you can decide if you need to expand with more shelving units. If you find you don’t have sufficient room for games, movies, and music on one shelf, it’s the best time to add another shelf for all of these things.

Organization

You can start organizing your things once you decide what you want in a shelving unit. You need not buy additional shelves all the time; if required, shelf systems can be compacted and restricted to fit more of your belongings.

This is because many shelf systems today have peg holes to use for self-adjustment purposes. You can thus place items on the shelves based on size, so that you have a shelf that snugly fits to the next one.

With the extra room you have, you can start adding shelves. Just go to the local hardware store to find out what they offer for shelf boards, and then cut them to the required size. If your existing shelf system is painted, just paint the new boards with a matching color.

On adding new shelves to the unit, and having pegs holding them up, you can now install a new shelf on the remaining space you have once all the new shelves are added to your existing shelf system.

Keep clutter at bay regardless of your schedule with a hand from The Maids, who will not only straighten the clutter, but also make sure your home is truly clean.

Top 5 Garage-Organizing Tips

Fri, 04 Jul 2014 12:52:27 GMT

Apart from being the place where you keep your car, a garage is also ideal for a range of other items. These items, if not well organized, may make your garage look like a jumbled hodgepodge leaving no room for your car. The tips listed below can help you organize, maintain your garage, do away with the chaos and spare enough room for your car. Read on!

· Sort everything into categories. For example, devote a specific area to all hand tools, nails, screws and other hardware. Roller, tape and paint brushes need to be kept together with the paints and drop clothes. Fertilizers, seeds, and gardening gloves placed near hoes, rakes and small trowels…and so on.

· There are only three storage options in a garage. You can store either with shelving units, or on hooks, or in bins. Hooks work well with larger items such as rakes. Medium-sized items such as power tools and paint cans should be arranged on shelves while smaller ones such as toys and gardening gloves placed in the appropriate bins, or boxes.

· Create labels on bins containing smaller items of the same category. This will save you from rooting through one box to another searching for an item. You can use a clear packing tape that covers the whole sheet of paper to make the label stay strong. However, you don’t have to label large, obvious items such as bicycles and lawn mower.

· Make use of the ceiling and vertical spaces. This will create enough room on the floor for your car to fit in comfortably without having to run over – or into – things when pulling the car in.

· Clear out all the clutter. Decide on what you want to keep in the garage, what to throw away, and what to toss or donate. Get rid of as much items as possible that you feel you really won’t miss. Hazardous wastes and paint should be disposed of safely.

If you need help cleaning and organizing your garage or anywhere else in the home, The Maids of Cape Cod in Massachusetts can help, whether you need whole house cleaning services , emergency cleanups, or one-room housekeeping.

Get Organized to Save Time

Fri, 27 Jun 2014 12:44:45 GMT

There are a lot of belongings in every household, and it is not uncommon to find a lot of different items in some odd locations in the house. One result of having everything scattered in a haphazard way throughout the house is that you will never be able to find an item when you need it the most.

When the clutter takes over, you will spend a lot of time in locating lost items. Therefore, if you choose to designate specific locations to store you belongings, it will not only help you in getting organized but will also save you a lot of time

House cleaning will also get easier as you will know instinctively where to put everything. Also, getting organized will provide you with a lot more time for more important things in your life.

The Dirty Laundry

Scattered dirty clothes or dirty laundry is a reality every household has to face. Most of the time, one can find dirty clothes scattered throughout the house. These scattered dirty clothes make cleaning up a much bigger chore than it needs to be.

It is very time consuming to collect all the dirty clothes lying around the house. To keep the dirty laundry organized, it is recommended to buy some laundry hampers and place them at appropriate places in each bedroom. This will help you in gathering up the dirty clothes from only one place as everybody will put in their dirty laundry in the laundry hampers.

Make it a rule to wash the laundry only if it is in the hamper. You will see that you no longer have the problem of dirty clothes lying all around the house.

Gadget Accessories

Technology has overtaken our homes, and since technology is changing at such a fast pace, every house has a collection of a big variety of electronic accessories and associated parts.

If one starts to look, one can easily find a number of USB portable storage units, power adapters, phone chargers, TV cables, video cables, Ethernet cables, watches, tiny screws, electronic parts, headphones, game console controllers, Wi-Fi dongles, watch batteries, standard batteries and some other gadgets and accessories lying around the house.

It will help if you can designate a particular drawer for such items. It will save you a ton of time as you will always know where to put such items discovered during cleaning, and you will always know where to find them when you need them.

Keeping the house clutter free, healthy, and clean is practically a full-time job! If your schedule is too full to stay on top of everything, don’t hesitate to check with The Maids Cape Cod for some help!

Gain Maximum Space from Your Refrigerator Today

Fri, 20 Jun 2014 12:34:45 GMT

Your refrigerator is one of the most important appliances in your home. It helps to keep drinks and foods like your favorite snacks and vegetables fresh. When carrying out housekeeping chores, it is a good idea to include your refrigerator on the to-do list. By simply arranging it, you will enjoy fast access to various items when you need them. This will, in turn, save you time for other income-generating activities.

Also, you will be able keep track of food stocks and save money that would have been spent buying things that you already have. No more second guessing: preparing meals will be much easier and enjoyable as you will be able to make informed decisions by looking at the foodstuffs available

Here are some proven tips on how to expand your fridge space:

Make Maximum Use of the Fridge Bins

Refrigerator bins have varying sizes that largely depend on their intended purpose. Can dispensers can comfortably be used to house sodas in a one- or two-row style as the cans be placed on top of one another to form stacks to economize on available space. There are other bins that are designed for storing big bottled beverages such as 2.5 liter drinks. Some designs allow one to stack the bottles on top of each other in one row or two depending on the size of the refrigerator.

Consider Rearranging the Shelves

Most of the modern refrigerators allow users to adjust and rearrange the shelves to suit their needs. Take advantage of this feature by reviewing all items that you normally store in your fridge and organizing them in shelves based on their sizes. That is, smaller items can occupy small shelves while large, bulkier items can be placed on a separate shelf. For example, pickle jars, loaves of bread, butter tubs, and 2- liter drinks can be stored at one of the high shelves. On the other hand, salsa, cheese slices, meat slices, and other similar foods can be placed on shelf with the lower height.

Apply these organization ideas to keep your refrigerator tidy and looking great. If you need an exceptional kitchen cleaning, The Maids Cape Cod is standing by to help organize, clean, and sanitize!

How You Can Save Money by Using Fluorescent Bulbs

Fri, 13 Jun 2014 12:24:16 GMT

Replacing your home lighting with fluorescent lighting can help you save a lot of money in energy costs. According to a report by the Environmental Protection Agency in the US, the country would save around $600 million in power costs if every household replaced just a single incandescent bulb with a fluorescent bulb.

Fluorescent bulbs are more energy efficient and last longer than incandescent bulbs. They might be more expensive but they use less energy and last longer, so they are this cost effective in the long run. Fluorescent lamps continue to gain popularity as homeowners discover their benefits over the incandescent bulbs. You probably already use the energy saving bulbs in your home.

The money you save in your energy costs will give you more room in your budget for anything from maid services from The Maids of Cape Cod to saving enough for a vacation—definitely worth considering a change.

Fluorescent lamps continue to advance and are now available in a variety of styles and products. You can replace your entire lighting with fluorescent bulbs, as they are now available in night light lamps, room ceiling lamps, table lighting lamps, etc.

Fluorescent Lamp Styles and Their Uses

The lamps come in different styles to suit different users. Some of the popular styles and their common uses include:

Circular lamps- Ideal for ceiling lights with a circular design. Circular lamps come in a variety of sizes. The lamps were created to provide level lighting in a circular way. Circular lamps are commonly used in round styled ceilings lights and for ornamental round ceilings lights for various rooms in the house
Elongated lamps- Shoots out and return to the base to create a slim rectangular look. Elongated lamps are commonly used in standard bulb sockets and ceiling fittings with covers.
Double elongated lamps- These provide more lighting than the single elongated lamp
Standard spiral lamps- Ideal for ordinary bulb Type “A” sockets. Spiral lamps replace the standard lamp bulbs
Mini Candelabra bulbs- With mini spiral lamps under the glass
Globe Lamps- Come with a spiral beneath but appear as a sphere bulb. Glove lamps are ideal for vanity lighting. They also come in a regular bulb globe design to replace the outdated incandescence bulbs
Tube lamps- Come in different lengths ranging from one foot to twelve feet. Tube lamps are ideal for use in workshops or garages.

Types of Fluorescent Bulbs

The major difference in fluorescence bulbs is the socket types. Most bulbs replace standard ceiling and table light’s Type “A” socket. Others replace Type 7 sockets. There is also Type PAR XXX for spot and flood lighting. There are many socket types and styles, consider your needs, what you can do to save energy costs. For starters, you can start with the regular bulb socket lamps and candelabra lamps.

Getting a Higher Comfort Level from Your Bed

Fri, 06 Jun 2014 12:15:36 GMT

In your daily life there are many things you need to do in your home. if you are too busy in your daily work, you can consider hiring a maid from The Maids of Cape Cod who will help you with house work, reducing the amount of work that you will have to do in your home so you have more time to relax. You need sleep and rest to stay happy, focused, and achieve healthy living. Remember, at least eight hours of sleep per day is best for your health. If your bed is not in good condition, you won’t sleep well, so it’s important to start by preparing your bed well so that you can achieve better sleep. Here are tips for you to achieve better sleep.

Decide on the Best Mattress

The choice of the mattress makes a big difference to your comfort when sleeping. There are different types of mattresses available, such as dual spring systems, extra soft cushioning, and memory foam top layers. You need to decide on a mattress that will make you enjoy sleeping on your bed and provide maximum cushioning while sleeping on the bed.

Adding Layers

You should ensure you have a good layer of blankets on your bed. If you have thinner and thicker blankets, then you need to have thicker blankets on top of thinner ones. This will make you sleep comfortably during the cold seasons.

Utilizing Memory Foam Materials

This is very important for you to have on top of your mattress. It will help you in making the bed more comfortable, enabling you achieve good sleep. You should also have bed warmers, especially during cold seasons for maximum comfort.

Removing Pet Hair from Your Couch

Fri, 30 May 2014 10:55:26 GMT

Your pets are an important part of your family, but they tend to keep you busy with house cleaning . Cats and dogs shed and you find yourself always trying to control the hair in the home. Your couch is especially prone to pet hair if the dogs or cats lay on it. Even if they don’t, pet hair can float around in the home and land on items like the couch. In any case, how do you get rid of the hair efficiently or at least control it? There are several ways to do this with various vacuums so that you can get the job done without spending a lot of time on it.

Vacuum Attachments for Pet Hair

Your vacuum may or may not have attachments available for use when needed. If it does, it is probably a brush attachment or a wide floor attachment, but neither works effectively for hair on your couch. It can be done, but will take a lot of time.

Pet Hair Vacuums

Many vacuums are available with an attachment designed specifically for pet hair. It is probably a better idea to just purchase a new vacuum designed for pet hair or get one that contains a pet hair attachment. You could possibly special order an attachment for your existing vacuum, but the ones that include the attachment are designed to handle hair effectively and are designed for use with that particular accessory.

Attachment Styles and Types

Pet hair attachments vary in type and style, depending on the vacuum model and the manufacturer. You can find many with a rubber edge that grips pet hair for easy vacuum pickup. Others may just have a rotating brush system that scoops up the hair and sends it into the vacuum.

There are many variations with the rubber pickup style attachment. For instance, some vacuums have a 1/4-1/2 inch wide rubber component with bumps on it while others may have thicker rubber with flexible stem bristles for better pickup. In other cases, they’ll have both a rubber part and the rotating brush in one attachment.

Rubber Bristles

You may have heard of those fur removers that are constructed of rubber material and look similar to a hair brush, but have rubber bristles. That same concept has been applied to vacuum attachments. The static cling and the flexible bristles sweep up the pet hair with ease. The pet hair attachments follow the same concept. They grab the hair and then use the vacuum suction to draw the hair in.

The bottom line is that a vacuum designed for pet hair will perform better at picking up the hair. In addition, it will provide efficient cleaning that doesn’t take a lot of your time. When you decide it is time for a new vacuum, consider one designed for pet hair. It will work perfectly fine for everything else too!

How to Effectively Take Care of Your Outdoor Furniture

Fri, 23 May 2014 12:07:19 GMT

Your outdoor furniture is designed to handle considerable abuse by environmental elements, but winds and rain can still leave a demand for cleaning. Aside from that, if you have children; you’re already familiar with the mess that their sticky fingers can cause to your patio set. No matter what kind of furniture you own, you will need to learn the best way of cleaning it.

The Effects of Weather on Patio Furniture

You porch furniture is always under the effects of weather, which includes:

Heavy rains together with strong winds thatwork hard to destroy your furniture by causing damage.
Hot temperatures during the summer season, which melt or soften some furniture materials and cause them to reshape if left unattended.
Cold weather during the winter season, which can cause freezing snow and ice on the furniture, making it crack or become brittle. Additionally, the cold can gather snow on the surfaces and cause damage.
Wind during the Fall season, which causes leaves to drop onto your patio, creating algae and ugly stains on the surfaces.

There are a lot of things that outdoor furniture withstands. That is why you need to take special care of your patio furniture. The following tips will help keep them clean and maintain the best possible condition.

Cleaning the Surfaces

There are lots of household chemicals and cleaners on the market for cleaning patio items. Some are multipurpose, while others can be used on plastic, metal, brass, vinyl, stainless steel, bronze or a combination of any of these materials. There are also special cleaning products for wooden materials. The most common porch and patio furniture products are made of vinyl or plastic. This is basically because of their affordable production costs, so theyare considered throwaway items. Nevertheless, there are a variety of vinyl and/or plastic surface cleaners that work great, but you may find products labeled specifically as vinyl or plastic patio furniture cleaner.

Another very effective cleaning method involves lemon juice and vinegar. Mix a cup of each product to a cup of hot water. The resulting solution should be used on outdoor furniture fabrics that have really tough stains to get out. It also works for patio furniture that has mold and mildew build-up or other dark/tough stains.

If everything else fails, you can try other cleaning agents like magic erasers, bleach solutions, stain guard solutions, and so on. You can also try various tools to clean the surfaces, such as toothbrushes, soft wire brushes, scrubbing sponges, etc.

If none of the above methods work, you can just paint it! You will findspecific paintsdesigned for plastic and vinyl surfaces at your local paint or hardware store. Some may be labeled as patio furniture paint, but most are just designed for general materials. Irrespective of the product description, a vinyl or plastic paint will work fine given that you follow the directions listed on the container. Study the adhesion properties to determine how sticky the paint is and then choose your gloss, prep the patio, and start painting your new look!

If you have a need for other cleaning tasks like room cleanups, emergency cleanups, scheduled house cleaning, or simply just general cleaning; The Maids of Cape Cod in Massachusetts can help.

Caring for Wood Floors

Fri, 23 May 2014 10:45:33 GMT

The look of hardwood floors is undeniably elegant. They are a great investment for your home and can also add value to your house. In order to maintain this great look it becomes important that you take care of your wooden floor. I can be a bit difficult task if you have kids or pets but there are some things you can do to keep your floors looking elegant all through. Below are 17 tips for Caring for Wood Floors

1. Clean your floors daily. It may sound like a lot but you should do it. To get the best results use a soft bristle broom. This obviously cleans the floor, but also helps from scratching it.

2. Use a soft cloth to wipe up spills immediately. Minimize water spills as much as you possibly can.

3. Take some time and research how to care for your floors properly. This brings us to our next tip.

4. If your floors have a urethane finish you should never wax them or use a cleaner that will leave any residue.

5. Clean up any solid or grainy materials like dirt or sand, they can really scratch your floors finish.

6. Wood expands naturally when it is wet so never use a wet mop or large amounts of water to clean your floors. This could cause the wood to crack.

7. Never use cleaners that contain ammonia on your hardwood floors they will make them dull. Same advice goes for oily soaps too.

8. If you feel like doing some rearrangements, never drag furniture across the floor. Lift them instead. Use protectors on the feet of tables and other furniture.

9. Be careful with high heels or work shoes as they can damage your floors. If possible use bedroom or soft slippers to walk around and when you are ready to leave wear your other shoes.

10. Pet's claws can wreak havoc on your floors so make sure they are trimmed regularly.

11. Do not let the kids play with their toys on your floors, as they can scratch them.

12. The sun also has an effect on your floor. Over time exposure to sunlight may fade or darken the wood. A good idea is to use curtains or window treatments to help protect your investment.

Also rotate furniture or rugs from time to time so that the wood ages evenly.

13. Make good use of area rugs, especially in high traffic areas.

14. Only use professional wood cleaning products that are recommended by the manufacturer to clean floors. They clean better and keep the finish intact.

15. Only use cleaners that are made for your type of floor.

16. Always hire an experienced professional when doing any work on your floor. Never try to handle it yourself, unless you are an experienced professional.

17. If you find that normal cleaning is not getting the results you want you may have to screen and recoat your floor.

Dealing with Pet Hair inside Your Home

Fri, 16 May 2014 12:00:18 GMT

When you have pets in your home, it is very difficult to avoid hair. Your pets tend to get it on everything they sit on, including the bed, tables, seats, and many other places. Getting all this mess cleared up can take time since you want your house to be in good order when guests come over to visit. In any case, here are some of the ways you can deal with pet hair in the home so that you don’t spend a lot of your precious time battling pet messes.

1. Air Purifiers

Air purifiers are very effective in reducing pet hair as they capture debris and dust that resides in the air. Most air purifiers capture pet hair too, which greatly reduces the work that you have to do.

2. Pet Hair Vacuums

A pet hair vacuum is a special kind of vacuum cleaner that has been optimized to deal with pet hair. These cleaners are built to pick up hair more easily than regular models and designed to save you time. There are varied types of pet vacuum cleaners, but the best models usually have a rubber section that has bumps. These bumps grip the hair and leave your home clean.

3. Covering the Furniture

Covers on the furniture play a very important role, as they aid in pet hair protection. You can have these covers on the couch, on your television, on chairs, and on other fixtures or furniture that commonly get exposed to the hair. This way, you get to spend less time cleaning up pet hairs that land all over the house.

With the tips provided above, you will be in a better position to maintain your home properly and keep it clean, even with pets around. You can also hire a maid service like The Maids of Cape Cod in Massachusetts to handle those issues for you and give you more free time. Regardless of how you go about the issue, you will be able to enjoy having pets and giving your guests a good impression at the same time.

5 Ways to Remove Blood Stains from Carpets

Fri, 16 May 2014 10:33:14 GMT

With a little patience, you can use any of the 5 ways shown below to completely wipe out the blood stains from your carpet:

Method 1: Using cold water

You can remove fresh blood from your carpet using cold water. In this method, you'll be required to fill a spray bottle with water (cold water to be precise). You can then use it to spray the water on the stained area before wiping it out using a dry towel or a wet vac. Repeat this procedure until the stain is completely wiped out.

Method 2: Using water and detergent

For a dry blood stain, you can mix liquid-dish-washing detergent with cold water to clean your carpet. To be clear, soak a clean, white piece of cloth in the solution, and then use it to apply the solution on your stained carpet. After that, you can gently scrub the stained area using a tooth brush before using a wet cloth to rinse and blot the area.

Method 3: Using water and ammonia

Another effective way of removing blood stains from your carpet is by using a water and ammonia solution. But hey, never attempt to use this method on a woolen carpet. To get started, mix two tablespoons of ammonia with a glass of water. You can now use a spray bottle to apply the solution on your stained carpet, and then allow it to sit for 5 minutes. Next, use a clean piece of cloth to blot the spot.

Method 4: Using salt paste

If you don't have any stain removal products to clean your blood-stained carpet, don't worry; just pour some cold water in a bowl, and then add in enough salt to create a thin paste. After that, you can apply the paste on the stained spot and then let it sit for at least 5 minutes. Now without rubbing, blot the stain until it's completely gone.

Method 5: Using hydrogen peroxide

Lastly, you can use hydrogen peroxide to clean your blood-stained carpet and leave it spotless. For this method, just moisten the stained spot using hydrogen peroxide before allowing it to stand for about an hour. Afterwards, blot the area and repeat the procedure until you are fully satisfied with the final results.

Budgeting Wisely for Food

Fri, 09 May 2014 11:55:34 GMT

When we think of monthly expenses, the first things that come to mind tend to be bills that we can't avoid: rent, phone bills, electric bills, and other utilities. However, the most important part of your monthly budget is the money spent on food. While everyone needs to eat, you can save a surprising amount of money on food with a few easy tips and a bit of planning.

Eating frozen dinners or fast food meals can pile up to a lot of money very quickly. By doing your own grocery shopping and spending some time preparing meals at home, you'll find that you have a lot more money free to spend on a day at the spa, a vacation with your kids, or even on a maid service like The Maids of Charleston in Massachusetts. That will give you more free time for other important things, while eliminating the worries of a messy home.

Getting the Best Bang for Your Buck

One of the easiest ways to save money is to check what coupons and sales are available at your local grocery stores. If you have a newspaper delivered to your home; there will be a collection of ads from neighboring stores each week. They will contain super low sale prices, as well as coupons you can cut out and take with you. If you don't want to bother with a physical newspaper, you can always go to each store’s website and print coupons. You can also stop by and pick up an in-store flyer with the same information.

Planning Your Week

Once you have a list of what's on sale for the week, make a note of what you and your family like the best and what has the best prices. Try to plan at least two meals each day—the more sale items you include, the more money you'll save! If you can afford to buy in bulk, you can save even more money. However, make sure you'll actually eat what you buy before it goes bad. There's nothing worse than wasting money on rotten or stale food.

Price Matching

Many stores will honor competitor prices. Take advantage of this and save time by only going to one grocery store: as long as you bring the ads and coupons from other stores with you, you can get those same low prices in one place. Because all of the grocery stores want your business, they would rather sell you food at a cheaper price than have you go buy it from their competitors.

The Slow Cooker: Your Secret Weapon

Oftentimes, when you want convenient food (like drive-thru meals or frozen dinners); you end up paying a lot more to save a little bit of time. Avoid this trap! You can make healthy meals in just a few minutes for far less than the amount you spend on other “convenient” foods. The internet is full of recipes for quick meals that take five or fewer ingredients and less than fifteen minutes of preparation. Just fix a few thingsand get on with your life! There's no mess, no fuss, and no added expense. While it may seem pricy at first, stocking up on meals is definitely one of the best investments you can make for your kitchen because it saves you money in the long run.

Allergen-Proof Indoor Air-4 Tips for Clearing Your Air

Fri, 09 May 2014 10:24:36 GMT

Air that is free of allergens is one of the best ways to manage allergies because you are minimizing your contact with allergens that can cause flare-ups. Here are 5 easy things to do that will help make your air healthier.

Make Your Bedding Dust Mite Proof ---You can have this done 15 minutes after you get home from buying them at the store. Most specialty bath and bedding shops have these as well as many of the superstores.

These covers for mattresses and pillows usually zip close. They are impenetrable by mites so your bedding does not become a haven for these bugs. Just this step alone drastically reduces the number of mites in the bedroom which is a good thing.

If you are allergic to these little critters, you will know they are there because of the congestion and other symptoms that keep you awake each night. It is actually the protein in the feces that is the allergen. They are indiscriminate about where they deposit feces. Lovely thought isn't it?

Reduce Moisture--- Dripping faucets, leaking pipes from the dishwasher, icemaker, or washing machine can all result in moisture that attracts mold. Mold is always in the air, but it only becomes a problem when it finds water.

And when it finds water it grows and produces more spores. It is a vicious cycle unless you eliminate the water.

Check all pipes that carry water. Make sure the joints are tight and are not allowing water to accumulate. And check the basement to make sure that there is proper drainage and water does not stand after a heavy rain.

Removing the water source reduces the amount of mold that can grow, that reduces the number of spores available to go airborne.

Trap The Most Particles--- Water has the best chance of preventing particles from returning to the air. Using water on the mop and dust cloth will trap more allergens than anything that is dry such as a broom or feather duster.

Many vacuum cleaners have the best intentions, but wind up sending many of the particles collected back into the air. A vacuum has a HEPA or high efficiency particle arresting (HEPA) filter is more likely to trap particles for good.

24 Hour Filtration--- Unfortunately, many indoor allergy triggers have been around since cave man times, and have very little to do with how clean you keep your home.. And it's true that by taking the suggestions above you can reduce the airborne allergen count.

But indoor allergens such as household dust, and dust mites often work in concert with other seasonal irritants to keep allergy symptoms brewing all the time, and you continually feeling less that 100%.

By using an air purifier with a high efficiency particle arresting (HEPA) filter, you can eliminate 99,997 out of every 10,000 airborne allergens that are.3 microns in size or larger.

No home or indoor space is ever going to be 100 percent allergen-free. But following these suggestions will produce air that comes pretty close to being just that.

Battling Rust Stains through a Few Easy, Yet Convenient Steps

Fri, 02 May 2014 11:49:03 GMT

Are you spending a lot of time trying to get rid of rust stains from hard surfaces? We all have spent endless moments trying to fight the persistent battle, especially when it comes to dealing with rust stains on hard surfaces. The biggest point of housekeeping is to ensure that the house is kept clean, from all possible aspects. In order to achieve best results, you can hire a maid service like The Maids of Cape Cod in Massachusetts or try your luck with numerous types of cleaners, so that you can have positive results.

Check out some of the situations below, along with the possible ways of getting rid of those rust stains.

Rust in the Sinks:

No matter what kind of a sink you have, after a certain period of time; it’s bound to show signs of rust stains. The constant withering leads to rust, making it almost impossible to clean. However, in order to get rid of the stains, you can try using a kitchen cleaner or a degreaser. If this does not work, then you can also try using a solution specifically designed for rust like Barkeepers Friend®.

Rust Stains in Your Toilet and Tub:

Toilets and tubs are yet another source of constant misery for people who are trying to keep their house clean. Just like the sink;your toilet and your tub can be difficult to clean, given the amount of rust and stains that reside there. Many people have suggested the use of Iron Out® and sometimes, you can even make use of Barkeepers Friend®. Both the solutions work well for stains like this, often helping you get rid of these nasty stains in an effortless, convenient manner.

Rust Stains on the Countertops:

Rust on countertops is another painful problem for people who work regularly in the kitchen. If you are fed up with trying to scratch the rust stains off, then you have to invest in products like the Magic Eraser®. While this solution works wonders for counter tops, you might want to keep its use limited in order to avoid any issues related to colorfastness.

Keeping Dust Mites Allergies at Bay

Fri, 02 May 2014 10:18:00 GMT

Dust mites are microscopic creatures found in most homes. This is unfortunate since most humans are allergic to them. Symptoms include runny nose, stuffy ears, eczema, watery eyes, and respiratory issues. It can even lead to asthma. Like their name implies dust mites thrive on dust. House dust is composed mainly by dead human skin cells. Other components are animal dander, salt, cigarette ashes, sugar, glass, pollen, etc.

The best way to avoid suffering from allergies caused by dust mites is to keep the house dust-free. This might prove difficult if the house is full of wall-to-wall carpeting, heavy curtains, baroque couches, and the like. Vacuuming becomes the secret weapon in these cases. But take note: Vacuuming for 5 minutes might not do the trick.

To vacuum these kinds of fabrics it might be necessary to vacuum for up to 20 minutes. It's better to vacuum deeply and less often, than very lightly every day. Another important factor is that dust mites can't live in very dry environments, this is because they extract the water they need to survive directly from the air. Therefore using air conditioning instead of opening the windows to cool off a room is better for avoiding dust mite allergies.

Because dust mites love dead human skin cells and warm cozy environments one of their favorite places to live is inside our mattresses and pillows. The use of a special anti-dust mites mattress cover is essential for people that have allergy problems, as is the use of pillows elaborated with synthetic stuffing. Talking of which, pet hair and feathers can also attract dust mites.

Try to keep the place where your pets sleep away from your bed and the beds of your children, and use surfaces that are easy to clean for those areas. Wash bedding with hot water. If you can't do this, let them sit on the fridge overnight inside a plastic bag; the cold temperature will take care of those dust mites.

Deep vacuuming, as mentioned, is the first defense, but of you need a deeper cleaning method that doesn't aggravate allergies use steam: a cleaning method that is ruthless with dust mites and other unwanted house visitors yet contains no chemicals; perfect for the allergy prone folks.

Cleaning Your Microwave

Fri, 18 Apr 2014 10:13:48 GMT

Microwaves are in almost every home in this tech n digital world that requires getting things done in seconds. These devices need to be handled with care if one wants to save time and energy. Every home uses microwave many times a day to heat food, liquids and other eatables plus cooking as well. This makes the oven filthy, dirty and loathsome with splashes of food, sauces, tea and coffee. A regular cleanup of oven is required, may it be weekly, fortnightly or monthly. Cleaning your microwave includes both inner and outer surfaces of the oven.

Cleaning the inside:

The inside of the oven requires more cleaning than the outer surface as the walls get stuffed with hard and crusty food that flies off while boiling, heating or cooking. To clean up the inside follow these steps:

Fill a bowl with half water and half lemon juice and place it inside the oven, and set time to 60 seconds. The steam of water and lemon juice softens the remains and makes it easy to wipe off them with a towel or soft cloth.
The glass plate of oven can be easily removed and washed with a detergent and dried off.
If the stains are harder or leave stains that cannot be removed with lemon or vinegar, make a paste of baking soda and water and make the inside flash and shine.
To deodorize the inside while cleaning your microwave, lemon and vinegar easily serve the purpose; coffee beans can be used to make the oven odor free. Coffee is a fanciful odor remover. Leave the coffee beans overnight in the oven to get rid of the toughest odors.

Cleaning the outside:

The outside of the oven can be cleaned with the mixture of vinegar, water and any good cleansing liquid available in the market. You can use a soft cotton cloth dipped in the mixture and wipe the outer surface.

Whenever cleaning your microwave, use safe and natural cleaners like lemon, table salt, vinegar and baking soda that will not harm the outer and inner surface and are free from harsh chemicals.

Cleaning Tips That Will Save You Money

Fri, 11 Apr 2014 10:09:24 GMT

Cleaning is an extremely important component of everyone's life. A clean environment is a source of peace of mind and tranquility and for this reason; most of us find ourselves completely emptying our pockets just to achieve this. Have you ever asked yourself if it is worth going broke for the sake of a spotlessly clean house? Well, this article will answer your question by equipping you with simple but very useful cleaning tips to save you money. Keep reading to know how you can go low on your budget without compromising the cleanliness of your home.

1. Set up a strategy. Plan when, how and where in particular you want to clean. The more organized you are, the less time and money you will spend.

2. Make your own cleaning products. Mild soap and water can be effective in removal of most stains within the house thus no need to buy expensive cleaning supplies. Baking soda, vinegar, bleach and water can be used to for your cleaning. For instance, mixing bleach and water in the ratio 1:10, will work well in getting rid of mold and mildew and vinegar or lemon works very well in cleaning of sinks. The best part of it is that these mild natural cleansers are good for your health as they neither produce unhealthy fumes and smells nor damage your skin.

3. Sell or donate unused stuff. This helps to control the clutter in your house. Holding a garage sale with friends and family will also bring in an extra dollar for you as well as create more space within your house.

4. Recycle and reuse. This can be done by turning empty jars, bottles and containers into pen-holders, jewelry holders and containers for kitchen ingredients and turning old T-shirts and towels into floor mops and rags that can be used to wipe tables, counters, windows and mirrors. Also consider investing in reusable mops rather than disposable mopping pads for you floors and lint-free microfiber fabric instead of paper towels for your windows and mirrors.

5. Clean regularly. Cleaning regularly reduces the build-up of dirt and grime that will require tougher cleaning products. Clean up messes with soap and water right away to avoid stains and reduce the formation of clutter within your house by correctly using waste bins, laundry baskets and embracing proper storage techniques.

The list above will enlighten you on great cleaning tips to save you money.

Do You Really Need an Anti-bacterial Cleaner?

Fri, 04 Apr 2014 09:52:31 GMT

So you might be wondering, do I need an anti-bacteria cleaner for general cleaning in my home? Well the answer simply lies in the fact that there are a lot of anti-bacterial cleaners. Use of regular detergents and soaps and just water is not effective in getting rid of harmful bacteria and viruses that may cause a variety of diseases like typhoid.

You can help or totally remove the risks of food contamination and such by regular use of antibacterial cleaners for your home. The antibacterial cleaners will help eliminate viruses and all kinds’ harmful bacteria. However for effectiveness these cleaners must be left on the surface a few minutes prior the actual cleaning takes place thus you must exercise a lot of patience for the best results.

It should be noted also that antibacterial home cleaners do not kill viruses which are mostly the cause of common illnesses. In addition to which it is proven that some bacteria are beneficial to one’s body health thus the total wipe out of the same by antibacterial cleaners might be at the expense of our health in extension cause an imbalance of bacteria in our bodies.

Even though there is the presence of the aforementioned grey areas there is no tangible evidence their use causes antibiotic resistant strains of bacteria of which health officials attribute to misuse of antibiotics rather than the use of antibacterial cleaners.

While the general washing with just water and soap works fairly well the appropriate use of anti-bacteria cleaners reduces the bacteria population extensively for a short span period. Conclusively by use of proper hand washing and food handling techniques as well as practice of regular cleaning with antibacterial cleaners and water is guaranteed to keep the family healthy without worry of any effects.

Encourage Your Children to Clean Up For Developing an Essential Life Skill

Fri, 28 Mar 2014 10:48:32 GMT

Children are so energetic; they just can’t have enough of playtime. After enjoying one activity, they run towards the next and no matter the number of times you repeat your instructions or warnings for cleaning up, they just don’t lend an ear. So, let’s find a solution to the problem that most of the mothers face and learn some simple ways to get your children to clean up.

Make cleaning a part of their routine, e.g. - everyday 15 minutes before their favorite TV show would help them turn it into a habit of tidying up.

Organization and order is important to tidying up. Having places designated for their belongings such as racks for shoes, shelves for books and toy boxes for toys makes up for easy sorting and easy storage.

Set an example yourself. Do not indulge in complaining or griping while you do household chores because children imitate their elders, so make clean up time a fun time with music so that they associate the regular chores with fun. You can use a timer to motivate them as to who gets to put the toys away before the timer goes off. Encouragement by hugs, kisses, praises and timely rewards are important for maintaining the habit.

Discipline is important, so set some rules. Explain that after they have finished playing with a toy, they have to put it away. If not taken care of after one reminder, the toy can be taken away for a month or be given away. You are the one to make rules, so decide your level of harshness but be practical otherwise you won’t be taken seriously.

Initial suggestions and a little supervision are fine but do not step in and clean for them after you establish rules. It is surely easier and less time consuming to clean up on your own but this would give them an excuse to drag their feet and contribute to lack of motivation. So, it works against you.

Do remember that you are preparing your children for playing an independent role in their adult life and as a parent you are equipping them with essential life skills. There is no set age for adopting good habits; the formative years are instrumental in habit forming. So, don’t wait for the right age or time, start early and see them grow up into responsible adults.

Aromatherapy - Turn Your Home into an Oasis

Fri, 14 Mar 2014 10:43:50 GMT

Aromatherapy is a form of alternative medicine that uses essential oils (oil from the plant from which it's extracted) and similar aromatic compounds for different and highly beneficial medical purposes. Inhalation of essential oils causes different chemicals to be released in one's brain, which make the person feel relaxed and calm.

In this day and age, most people lead stressful lives and have difficult, time consuming jobs; therefor it's hard to find a peace of mind, even at home. Because of that absolutely everyone should try their best to turn their home into an oasis, a place where there is no anxiety, stress or bad feelings. Aromatherapy can greatly help in achieving that.

How Does It Work?

Aromatherapy is generally applied in three ways:

• Direct inhalation (the person breaths in the evaporating oils)
• Topical application (applied directly on the skin and most commonly used baths, massage and skin care in general )
• Aerial diffusion (essential oils evaporate into the air

Aerial Diffusion - Home Aromatherapy

For turning your home into an anxiety and stress free place Aerial diffusion is the best choice. Aerial diffusion is a way of applying aroma therapy in your home that will eliminate many different issues one may have, all at once, such as: anxiety, stress, insomnia, body aches, muscular aches and even psychological problems such as depression. For example, if you have a home office it will definitely benefit from a nice dose of peppermint or lemongrass. On the other hand, soothing scents of rose or jasmine are perfect for your bedroom and lavender oils are perfect for introducing a calming energy into your living room.

Basic ways of using essential oils and aromatherapy in your home include electric or candle diffusers, air sprays, candles and incense. It's up to you which way to choose, but it would be best to try them all out and find out what works best for you. To make full use of aromatherapy in your home make sure to add oils such as pine, eucalyptus and orange into your home cleaning or bath products. It's never too late to introduce healthy habits into your life and aromatherapy is a great start.

Household Cleaning Tips: Using Vinegar

Fri, 07 Mar 2014 10:32:44 GMT

Vinegar: it’s probably sitting on your pantry shelf right now; waiting for you to make your next batch of Italian salad dressing or whatever other culinary uses you have for it. However, have you ever thought to use it for household cleaning? It literally has over 100 simple uses, but this article will review some of the most simple and clever uses for Vinegar as a cleaning agent.

Have you ever noticed the stench coming from your garbage disposal? I know I have, and eventually, it becomes overwhelming. The natural buildup of bacteria from decaying food within your garbage disposal causes an odor to emit, gradually getting worse and worse. Don’t put up with that smell. Get rid of it by simply taking 1/2 cup of warm Vinegar and 1/2 cup of Baking Soda and put it down the sink and run it through the disposal for a couple seconds. Then, let it sit for 5 to 10 minutes. After the short wait, run hot water through your garbage disposal to completely clean it out. The Vinegar smell will go away after a few minutes.

Have you ever noticed your microwave getting dirty? Clean it up! Get a microwave-safe bowl and add 1/2 cup of Vinegar and 1/2 cup of water into the bowl. Bring the water/Vinegar mix to a boil inside of the microwave for a few minutes. Once complete, simply wipe down the loosened junk on the walls of your microwave and have a clean and deodorized microwave.

Lime buildup can destroy your chrome sinks and appliances. Get that lime off quick and easy by mixing together 2 tablespoons of salt and 1 teaspoon distilled Vinegar which will form a paste. Apply that paste to the lime buildup, let sit for 1 minute, then scrub off the lime buildup to reveal your shiny lime-free chrome fixtures.

This trick is probably one of the simplest. Get rid of the food stains and stuck food on your Tupperware and plastic bowls by simply adding vinegar to the bowl and scrubbing off the stains and stuck food.

Overtime your counter-tops will get dirty and start to emit an odor. To get rid of it, simply soak a cloth in Vinegar, and wipe down the counter-tops. They will smell fresh and look much cleaner.

You may notice your refrigerator smelling odd with stains all over the shelves. Even with the baking soda inside the refrigerator, this can happen. Clean it quickly and simply by 1 cup of water and 1 cup of Vinegar to a bowl and soaking a cloth in it. Then, wipe down the shelves and walls of your refrigerator for a clean and fresh-smelling fridge.

These are just a few of the many quick and simple tricks you can use with Vinegar for household cleaning. So, don’t just leave it sitting on your pantry shelf, make use of it!

First Aid for Carpet Stains

Fri, 28 Feb 2014 10:28:32 GMT

Stain - the bane of every of every homemaker's existence. While most carpets these are treated to make them stain resistant, a completely stain-proof carpet has not been invented (yet). The best way to get rid of stain is to wipe them off as soon as they are spilled. The longer you leave it on, the harder it will be to remove them. But you can't live your life watching out for every spill in the house. Here are 10 ways to remove stains from your carpet:

1 . Always have a clean, white cloth that is highly-absorbent ready. You want to use white cloth so that you can avoid the transfer of dye and make it easier to monitor your progress.

2. For caffeinated liquids, milk, juice and ketchup, dilute some detergent in water and then dab (not wipe) on the stain. Let it stand for 15 minutes, then use a white cloth to soak up the remaining liquid.

3. You can also use baby wipes to wipe away coffee spills on your rug.

4. If you would rather use natural ingredients, use white vinegar for stains. Vinegar breaks down the dirt quickly. If the stain is too dark or big, add borax a salt and vinegar mixture. For hard-to-remove stains, use a cornstarch and vinegar mixture.

5. Spilled some red wine on your carpet? Dilute the color by pouring white wine, then wipe it off with a sponge. Put salt on the stain and let it stand for 10 minutes, then vacuum.

6. When the stain has been left for too long and have dried out, you can use a spoon or a blunt spatula to scrape it off. Once the dirt has been removed, use a tough-acting stain removal.

7. If your little one left chewing gum on the carpet, freeze it with an ice cube and then scrape. If there are remaining residues, use a vacuum cleaner to scoop it off.

8. You can buy a WD-40 from any home improvement center for those ink stains. After spraying it on the stain, clean the area with soap and water.

9. For dirt and mud, vacuum the dirtied first, then pour some detergent on the spot. Wipe off with lukewarm water.

10. When the stain has become insidious and penetrated deep in the carpet, you might need to hire a professional cleaner. Removing it yourself might just exacerbate the problem, so leave it to the experts.

Most of the time, a timely action on your part will solve your stain problems. Whether you prefer buying cleaners from the grocery or mixing your own, always have one ready so that you can immediately act and remove them.

Great Reasons for Getting a Maid Service

Fri, 21 Feb 2014 10:22:25 GMT

In case you are undecided on whether or not to get a maid service, it is important to note these five great reasons why you should consider hiring a maid service to clean your house for you.

First and foremost, a maid ensures regular cleaning to keep your house looking positively smelling fresh and sweet, shining and always ready for visitors. Usually, maid services uses professional cleaning tools which are likely more superior compared to the ones you have. With maid service, definitely your house will benefit from thorough and regular cleaning hence you will have more time to spend in productive ways other than engaging in repetitive cleaning chores.

Secondly, it is important to note that hiring a maid service is actually an excellent way of increasing both your creativity and energy. For instance, when your house is clean and smelling sweet, it gives you a sense of order and serenity that is conducive to creativity. You may develop a new hobby, reinvest in an old one or start a new career.

With a maid service it means that the burden of cleaning your house is lifted hence you will have an abundant amount of time to invest in many other ways including both activities and your family. For example, you will have enough time to volunteer for worthy causes, socialize with friends and be there both physically and mentally for your family.

Furthermore, a maid helps in improving the value of your home. Remember that tough stains can turn to permanent scar while as unattended furniture wears and loses value very fast, and it can be very expensive or impossible to undo the damage once it is done. Therefore, with a maid service, it gives you surety of maintaining the value and cleanliness of your home.

Last but not least, with a maid service there will be peace to the family in the sense that, more cleaning tasks will be taken off individual family members hence less fights and quarrels over who does what and spend more time together as an entire family.

Clearing the Clutter

Wed, 01 Jan 2014 10:18:51 GMT

There is hardly anything that's more frustrating than the daily clutter of life. Over the course of a year, more and more stuff accompanies each milestone. Suddenly, your home feels cramped and you are in a constant battle to keep your space in order. In the battle against clutter, organization can be a sanity saver. This may be a time to call in the housekeeping professionals , but there is some things you can try too!

Whether you rent or own your home, chances are you are going to be there a while. You can either keep struggling with the ever-growing disorganization, or get creative with some custom storage options.

TV and Entertainment Frames – Tired of that bulky entertainment center taking up half of your living room? With the new slimmer and lighter televisions, speakers and other audio/video components, a world of possibilities is open to the creative carpenter. Consider enclosing each part of the system in interconnected shelving units. Not only does it open floor space, it adds a unique decorative touch all your own.

Custom Shelving – Old style closets with nothing but a bar across the top are inefficient for storage. Shoes get jumbled, clothes get lost, and there’s nowhere to put all your odds and ends. Consider custom shelving units for your closet space that can be designed to meet your individual needs. They can even be made into stand alone and modular styles so they don’t change the structure of the closet itself.

Custom Kitchen Island – Kitchens are the heart of most homes, and everything seems to wind up there eventually. On top of the day to day clutter; microwaves, food processors, coffee makers and other kitchen appliances take up valuable counter space. Consider adding a custom kitchen island to increase your storage and your workspace.

These are just some of the great possibilities good organization can help you structure. Use your imagination to clear your clutter and take control of your space today.

Growing an Indoor Herb Garden

Mon, 30 Dec 2013 13:49:15 GMT

One of the best benefits of using maid services is the freedom and time to explore your craftier side. If you like to garden or cook, growing your own herbs inside is a great project.

Even those who have had problems with growing things in the past might find this a lot easier. Before you set it up, though; cover your workspace with newspaper or wax paper to keep the house cleaning looking beautiful.

1. Plant herbs you’re likely to use. If you like to cook, which herbs do you find yourself using the most? Which ones appear repeatedly in your favorite recipes? Those should definitely go at the top of the list. Some common herbs are: basil, oregano, parsley, and thyme, so if you don’t know where to start, they’re a good choice.

2. Use a good pot or container. The best pots for growing your herbs are going to be big enough to allow growth and have holes on the bottom for draining. You can over water plants, so you don’t want to leave them in a pool of water.

3. Leave plenty of room between plants. If you plant several plants in the same container, remember to leave room between them so they can grow without crowding.

4. Find the most well-lit place in your house. Herbs need a lot of light, so find a window that faces the sunlight and position them so the light hits them for most of the day. Every once in a while, turn the pot around—plants will grow towards sunlight, and turning them will help them grow evenly.

5. Water when the soil gets dry. Watering more than necessary can be just as dangerous to a plant as not watering enough, so check the soil before you water, and if it’s not dry, skip that day.

Fresh herbs are the perfect addition to any cook’s toolkit.

How to Get Those Tough Stains Out!

Fri, 27 Dec 2013 10:15:03 GMT

If you have tough stains in your clothes, never fear! You do not have to toss them out. There are some things you can do on your own to get them out before having to call in housecleaning services that offer laundry cleaning.

Here are some tips, depending upon your stains:

For grass stains, use water and vinegar first. The pigment in grass does like to adhere to your fabric, but vinegar is a great way to remove it. Simply mix a bit of each, dot it into the stain, and wash in cold water. You can also use rubbing alcohol rather than water, to mix with the vinegar.
Another tough stain is a grease stain. If someone in your family has dropped fried food on their clothes or perhaps gotten grease on their pants from a bike chain, use simple dishwashing detergent first! Squirt dishwashing detergent onto the stain and then wash as usual.
For ink stains, the first step is hairspray! Spray it on as soon as possible and then wash regularly. Or, use rubbing alcohol on the stain. Either one should take it out in one or two wash cycles
For one of the toughest stains of all--blood--make sure to always wash in cold. First, soak the stain in cold water. Add hydrogen peroxide and salt to your water. Next, remove the article of clothing from the cold water bath. Wring it out and add more peroxide and salt right onto the stain. Wash in cold water, never hot! Club soda and vinegar are also a good pretreater for blood stains.

No matter what type of stain you have, it is always important to use these solutions first, before washing. Remember it may take one or two cycles (using the above methods) before the stain is completely removed.

Of course, you can always take those stained items to a professional drycleaner, or contact housecleaning services that include laundry. The professionals always know how to get those tough stains out!

Double Duty: Make the Best Cookies Ever & Keep Your Kitchen Clean

Mon, 23 Dec 2013 14:01:20 GMT

When you think of baking, do you picture warmth and cookies and a family gathered around the kitchen, smiling? You probably do, but there’s another picture that might be far more common in your kitchen: a loose stack of cookies teetering on the table, a burned dozen in the trash can, and flour on every possible surface—and some you thought were impossible.

What if you knew how to not only make some of the best cookies you’ve ever made, but keep your kitchen clean while you’re doing it, with or without a maid service ? Too good to be true? Read on to find out!

The Cookie Tips

A quick look online will net you roughly a million cookie tips, give or take a couple, but a few are on every list, and these are the ones that will help you have the best cookies ever!

1. Use the right pan. For cookies, shiny aluminum is the best at evenly browning your cookies. This pan will give you more uniform color across both the top and bottom.

2. Use butter at room temperature. Unless the recipe calls for cold or softened butter, get it to room temperature to make it mix into your batters and dough more consistently.

3. Care for your cookie cutters. If your cookie cutters accumulate dough, the last few are going to look like they had a bit of a rough day. Prevent cookie cutters from sticking by dipping them in flour or confectioner’s sugar between cutting.

4. Store properly in an airtight container for long-lasting freshness.

The Cleaning Tips

1. Cover your space. Use wax paper, parchment paper, or aluminum foil to cover the space you work on. Then, when everything cooked, house cleaning your kitchen is as easy as folding up the covering and throwing it in the trash.

2. Clean as you go. The minute you finish with something, put it where it goes. If it’s a dish, put it in a sink full of warm, soapy water.

3. Enlist some help. The crew helping you make—and eat!—the cookies can certainly lend a hand by helping you clean when you’re done.

Best cookies in a kitchen that assures everyone you've been doing the house cleaning ? That’s a goal worth working toward!

Making Time to Get Your House Clean

Sun, 15 Dec 2013 10:11:31 GMT

For the working family, time doesn't stop when you clock out for the day. You have children to care for, sports functions or practices to attend, and even dinner to make and a house to clean. It seems like there is never enough time in the day to get everything done. It's okay; here are a few tips to help make house cleaning chores easier.

Clean up as you go

If everyone cleans up after themselves, the cleaning workload won't be so bad. Wipe off counters, put dishes away, and remove any trash when you’re done in the kitchen. And before you leave the bathroom, wipe the counter and rinse the shower.

Pick a time for chores

Make time before bed for small cleaning tasks. Save bathroom cleaning for the evenings, once everyone has retired. It's the smallest area in the house and it will be quickly done. When you wake up, make the bed since it only takes minutes and really helps the bedroom look tidy.

Eliminate clutter

Time to let go of those unwanted, forgotten, and broken items you have been holding on to. Donate items that are still good but unwanted and toss those anything that is torn or broken. Don't let the laundry pile up. This is the one chore that tends to get overlooked. When it comes to clothing, place them in hampers, hang them up, or fold them and put them away.

Enlist the help of your family

Having your kids start chores when they are old enough will really help you out, as well as teach them responsibility. Remember to praise their efforts and award them when appropriate. Ask your partner to help with yard work. It not only reduces your workload, but also provides some bonding time. If you plan to host a party and need a fast solution, look into maid services .

Now you don't have to worry about that dirty living room or that cluttered bedroom. You will have plenty of time for the things you want to do. If you really just can't find the time or need a special cleaning service done, contact your local maid services for help.

Getting Organized at Home

Fri, 22 Nov 2013 10:02:44 GMT

Organization is the key in any home to create a fast, efficient way to get tasks done. Besides housekeeping efforts; If you have a system, you know where to go for the tools, the supplies, the products, or even the parts that you need at any given time. Room by room, you can organize the area to maximize space and reduce clutter. It may even make for a more comfortable living space. The advantages of organization can go on and on, but the key is getting there. So what can you do in each of your rooms to be more organized? Here are some insightful ideas to get those rooms looking spacious and comforting.

Bedrooms have a lot of products in them, such as a bed or two beds if it is a kid’s room, a dresser, a closet, and many have televisions. Therefore, a TV stand is often present. This can take up a lot of room in itself. Use your closets as a seasonal change. During the summer, use the space to hang summer clothes and place your winter clothes in totes on the floor or in totes under the bed, which are often available in slim design for such a purpose. If you have a dresser, consider using it for miscellaneous items like watches, necklaces, notepads, old cell phones, etc. to get rid of that clutter. Along with that, use some of the drawers to store unused clothes during seasonal changes or use them to place items like socks, underwear, sleep clothes, exercise clothes, or even pants.

Kitchens usually have a wide assortment of things stored that really don’t relate to the kitchen. It becomes a dumping ground. You can use a small drawer to store pieces and parts or small tools that are commonly used like a hammer, a screwdriver, pliers, scissors, rulers, etc. Add wall shelves or cabinets for things like spices, thimbles, ceramic collectables, or pictures. If you stock up on soda or juices, consider placing them in the garage by the door or on a shelf there. Shoes can be placed on a shoe rack or in totes side by side near the door if you have tons of shoes in which some don’t get worn as much. Aside from those possibilities, grab the cups with parts in them or the medicines lying around and place them in containers. Medicines can go in a kitchen cabinet too so that you have more counter space.

Figuring Out Curtain and Drapery Materials and Fabrics

Thu, 31 Oct 2013 09:58:56 GMT

Have you ever given thought to the difference between fabrics and materials? Confusion is often the answer without an answer. In truth, understanding it is not as difficult as it sounds. In actuality, you are looking at the results from spinning and weaving materials together. Your blankets at home were made from fabric, even with different fibered materials like cotton, nylon, or both. The materials within a fabric can be just about any fiber or fibers, such as cotton, polyester, leather, silk, wool, etc. The amount of different fabrics available is never-ending. In the way of window curtains, they often get described either by materials or by fabric.

When you interpret fabrics, some can be labeled from the materials, while others are named based off of a particular, distinct design. To put it into perspective, burn-out fabrics get made from chemical destruction to the fabric to form a burned out design right in the fabric. A canvas fabric is named by the materials used, which are linen and cotton.

A huge amount of fabrics used in curtains have more than one material. Softness and elegance are added by using velvet. On top of that, velvet has crease resistant properties and is made from cotton, silk, rayon, or a mixture of any of these. Other examples include canvas that is derived from cotton and polyester, and taffeta that is composed of either silk or synthetic fibers. The list of fabrics is never-ending. Most curtains are based off of the fabric, not off of materials. Nevertheless, many can be made directly from a material and not from any fabric. To increase confusion, a manufacturer may label the material as a fabric.

Curtains have a huge impact on both the appearance of a room and the tone, along with house cleaning . Furthermore, curtains also carry strength, dependability, durability, and design based on fabrics and materials it is constructed of. Deciphering each one's characteristics can make it easier to find the best match for your home.

The Major Advantages of Hiring a Maids Service

Wed, 30 Oct 2013 09:55:41 GMT

Everyone loves a clean home. You too desire a nice looking environment for guests and family. You also strive to keep it healthy and dedicate a lot of time cleaning it to keep it up. But have you ever thought about hiring maids services ? Many have not, mainly because they think they can handle it and that a cleaning service could not get it to satisfaction. In fact, many believe a cleaning company will miss a lot of detail. For the most part, that is not the case. In fact, most of the time, the maids have a checklist to ensure nothing is forgotten. Therefore, these concerns can be turned into advantages, simply by reversing the thought.

Maid cleaning services can give you more benefits than you may have ever even considered. Aside from checklists and detail oriented results as previously mentioned, it is their job. This alone is very advantageous. That means they have plenty of time in a day to focus on cleaning and sanitizing your home. This allows you to spend your time with other things that you need to tend to every day like work, kids, meetings, events, and many other activities.

Without a maids service, you can easily get distracted in your home while trying to accomplish such tasks. Phone calls, crying or fighting kids, dog wanting out, unexpected visitors, etc. can interfere with time management, as well as your results. If you work, that alone can reduce the time you’d have to maintain your home. This leads to stress and possibly an overwhelmed, burnt-out feeling. Can you see it yet? It can surely make a difference in your life!

Decorate Your Rooms with New Moulding and Trim

Thu, 17 Oct 2013 08:48:54 GMT

A room’s overall look is fantastic because of your dedicated housekeeping efforts, but moulding trim can be difficult to keep new and looking fresh. This can often put a damper on your efforts in making a room look great.

Moulding, also known as trim, is usually placed around windows, doors, entryways, and wall corners, ceiling corners, as well as along edges and many other areas needing protection. Types like corner moulding, base moulding, door and casing trim, etc. help protect select areas from kicking, hitting, scratching, and denting. Corners are an easy target, as well as the floor to wall areas. Base moulding prevents damage to the drywall area alongside the floor. Aside from that, moulding works as a concealer to enhance the look of those areas.

Your floor to wall area does not look pretty, nor does the drywall alongside a window. Moulding covers that up and enhances the room dramatically. It is available in various sizes, lengths, widths, and shapes. Usually, you can purchase moulding by the foot or by a certain length. This allows you to get what you need without purchasing long lengths with excess material.

Moulding is available in various materials, like pine, poplar, oak, etc. They have various coatings, like stain, paint, and primed surfaces. Each type of material creates a certain look and some are more dependable than others. Oak is perhaps alongside cedar in strength and both have different grain looks. Pine is more affordable and carries its own unique grain look. Poplar also has its own grain look, but is easier to dent or scar since it is a softer wood material.

Aside from wood materials, moulding and trim are also available in materials like vinyl, composite, fiberboard, etc. In addition, moulding and trim are often routed or engraved with designs.

With this information, you will have the know-how and power to find moulding and trim that best suits your room, as well as you!

Environment Pollutants Together with Your Property

Thu, 26 Sep 2013 08:44:30 GMT

The air in any house carries many contaminants and allergens that affect everyone around it. House cleaning helps, but reducing air pollution is essential to a healthier home for everyone to enjoy.

In taking steps to reduce the contaminants in the air, you will feel better and possibly may even obtain more energy.

As you grace upon the beautiful ray of sunlight entering your home, you notice a stream of dust dancing across the room. That dust is always present and can carry numerous contaminants and allergens that lead to sickness or allergic reactions. For periods where window ventilation is not possible, the pollutants cannot escape the home.

Using air purifiers is a big way to help cut back on those air pollutants and irritants. Choose from floor models and table models with many features like fan speed, oscillation, etc. The more expensive the model, the more filtration and cleaner air you usually get.

An additional technique involves placing window fans in some of the windows. By doing this, you will have that irritating air exhausted to the outside, but make sure to have other windows open to draw in the fresh air. You may have to clean your screens periodically, but the positives outweigh the negatives by far!

In addition, something else to consider when refreshing the air is your vacuum. Cheap models tend to stir up the contaminants while still picking up dirt and debris well. Sure, they clean up the dirt, but kick around the tiny, unfiltered particles. A HEPA filtered vacuum cleaner helps more, but cheaper models tend to let most air escape through openings and ineffectively sealed containers.

A good vacuum will direct most suction straight to the HEPA filter and send out cleaner air.

Air pollutants in your home will never disappear, but at least you can reduce them to a healthier level that most immune systems can handle.

Discover Room Brightening Savings

Wed, 25 Sep 2013 08:40:33 GMT

Finding the right tone of light in any room of your home can be an adventure. In some cases, you need a lot of light to see in detail. In other cases, minimal light is just fine for any task in that area or room.

This helps save the homeowner money in electrical use . It all just depends on what you need and what you want for your home. Nonetheless, most activities require lighting in the dark when the sun sets. House cleaning , computer typing, note taking all need light at night. So does many other everyday living tasks.

No matter what kind of light bulb you had to have in your lighting fixture, there was an easy selection to match. 60-watt bulbs have been used the most over the years and lighting companies have mass produced them for a long time. However, the usage of watts really adds up and your electric bill reflects that.

Conveniently, L.E.D. bulbs and fluorescent lighting have evolved to replace those incandescents. This is a great way to save on your electric bill by using energy efficient lighting.

Are you pondering the decision to replace the incandescent bulbs? That would be a wise decision.

Fluorescent bulbs may cost more money up front to purchase, but the savings outweigh the cost significantly. They use 1/3 of the wattage that an incandescent bulb does and they last for years. In addition, you can pick from several color options like you can for the incandescent bulbs, such as a daylight bulb. Choose from other color tones like bright white and cool white too. The descriptions can vary from one manufacturer to the next, but many are the same or very similar.

Choosing to run L.E.D. lamps will also save money on energy use. They actually use very little amounts of energy too and also last for years. There are many options with L.E.D. bulbs, but light levels are still evolving.

Find out how to Eradicate Bathroom Towel Odors

Wed, 28 Aug 2013 08:30:37 GMT

Of course, your bath towels seem fresh , but why do they have a funny mold-like or sour-like smell? Laundry detergent typically cleans away odors and most smells, though not continuously. In some cases, a smell can be difficult to take out, regardless of repeat laundering. It is a substantial serious pain to expend your time cleaning and drying your linens, only to discover a unique odor resides within them. You merely lack time and energy to fool around, correct? You already have a lot on your plate with all the housekeeping tasks. What else can you do in order to repair the problem? It can become an uncomfortable situation for you and your house guests.

You may have attempted to wash them more than once before tossing in the dryer, but it didn't seem to eliminate the problem, right? Regardless of how many times you wash those towels, no matter what type they are; the residues that get left behind build up. Every time they get washed, regardless of getting dried or not, the residue continues to build up. This buildup leads to missed areas that do not get cleaned, due to the wash water not being able to penetrate deep inside the towels.

You can easily push this problem aside. There exists an approach to the challenge that literally brings your restroom towels straight back to being almost new.

Step #1 begins with hot water and 1 cup of vinegar in your clothes washer. Only place vinegar inside the machine and leave the laundry soap alone, simply because it can impact the final results.

Upon completion of round 1, repeat that step, but use a half cup of baking soda instead of vinegar. Just as before, don't use laundry detergent or fabric softener. After that cycle completes, put the linens in the dryer and the process will be completed. After the dryer finishes, you should have towels that smell great!

If the odor problem in your towels does not go away, then the washer is probably causing the problem. Try using washing machine freshener to clear away the odors belonging to the washing machine.

Typically, washer fresheners are in tablet form and widely available at washing machine retailers. Be sure to follow the instructions completely. Check your manufacturer's guidelines or instructions to ensure proper use. If instructions are not available, check the manufacturer's website for a user guide.

Renew Your Patio with Less Cash

Sun, 25 Aug 2013 08:25:31 GMT

It will always be said that there's room for growth, so why not construct the comfortable location you want. With plenty of safe spending plan, affordable improvements, you have the possibility to design your artistic thing of beauty without having to spend a plethora of funds. You work so hard to have a welcoming home from all your house cleaning efforts. Why not make the exterior space your place of relaxation, as well as your escape.

If what is around your outdoor living space is non-appealing in a visual way, it can have a damper on your calming escape. Walkways are great for areas like this with a lot of traffic. This helps prevent mud areas, brown areas, flattened areas, and unsightly views.

Your walkways, your patio areas, and even your walls can be enhanced with planted pots . This provides for an easy opportunity to color up your outdoor area. It provides you the potential to choose your flower pots and come up with some neat variations in design and color. Decisions on plants can be a way to invent your own color combinations and beautiful living space. Overall, potted plants allow for an ever-changing environment, both in color and design.

In addition to color advantages, they are excellent choices for disguising unappealing items or areas, such as wall outlets, drain pipes, watering systems, and even gutters.

Furniture can make a world of difference, especially if rusted, faded, or stained by beverages. Fresh Paint will save you dough and also make your fixtures look great. There are numerous types of paint on the market for virtually every function. On top of that, you can switch those aged cushions to help make your pieces of furniture look and feel new for a second time.

Cleaning for Allergy Season

Thu, 22 Aug 2013 07:36:14 GMT

As springtime moves into summer time, allergy sufferers are often at the height of their discomfort. Sneezing, itchy, water eyes, sinus headaches are all unfortunately present and will be for a while.

When you’re already suffering, house cleaning can seem like a monumental chore, especially when you consider all the dust and other allergens you’ll be forced to face while you’re cleaning!

How can you avoid doubly suffering? Make your cleaning count by eliminating allergens from your home to make for less discomfort :

The Bedroom

Bedrooms are notorious for holding onto allergens. Dust on the cabinets and mites in the mattress make for an uncomfortable sleep. Here are some tips for making your nights a little easier:

Use bed casings to lock out dirt, moisture, and mites out of your bed. You may have seen the plastic versions, but they have come a long way since then! Now they’re created with extremely tight weaving that help keep gross stuff out. Once every month or two, take the covers and wash them: voila!
Sanitize stuffed animals and decorative pillows which are less frequently washed and trap dust. If they can’t easily be washed, throw them in the dryer on the hottest setting for 20 minutes—the heat kills dust mites.

Throughout the House

While you spend your nights in the bedroom, you still have to function in the rest of the house, too! How can you minimize dust and allergens in every room? Try these tips:

Switch to a HEPA filter in your vacuum cleaner to remove 99% of allergens.
Run a dehumidifier. Mold and mildew thrive on moisture, so if you can remove excess moisture from the air you can inhibit their growth.
Dust with static! Microfiber cloths particularly create a static charge on dust that causes it to stick. When you just wipe the dust with a cloth, it spreads up into the air. Using static to clean dust will keep it contained.

Don’t let allergies get you down this season—hit them where it hurts!

Bring Back Your Bath Room with Color

Thu, 15 Aug 2013 08:22:32 GMT

During a bathroom renovation, color styles and design are important, producing good results. This brings amazing impressions into your restroom and fits together with personality and lifestyle. Room cleaning can be one thing that has an impact on your bathroom, but color is another factor that represents your image. Color selecting has to be one of many introductory steps, given that it will not only result in a quicker project, but also sets the overall tone on your finished bathing room. Opting for an earthy- tone environment? Maybe select from browns, grays, darkish blues, dark greens, or any other deep color choice selections. Are you enthusiastic about modern- style shades and tones? Have you considered light blues with splashes of light brown and gray? Thinking of a truly completely unique layout with numerous shades or trendy wall space variations? Moreover, your accessories also play a big role in your overall tone of the room, particularly as they quite simply use a lot of space. In short; tones are important to any room.

When searching for your coloring assortment, the sky is the limit . You have an opportunity to pick out designs that excite you and discover your likes and dislikes, while also blending within your restroom fashion. Obtain that glamorous pattern you wanted or maybe an earthy- tone environment.

Research ideas and design with the help of more than one color selection for your walls. This helps harmonize everything together with the area and all things in it.

Bathroom sinks are widely available in several colors, as well as in various styles and materials. Opt for a style and color that matches your bathroom's individuality, while also adding life in the living space. Pedestal sinks, wall-mount sinks, and cabinet sinks are widely available at your local hardware stores. Style availability can vary from one supplier to the next. For areas with less room, think about using a pedestal sink or a wall-mount sink, which will allow for more real estate in the room or make it look larger.

The existing shower and/or bathtub you possess can still be in good condition. When opting to keep the current tub or shower, simply design the room around it. If that doesn't suit your needs, consider a new tub/shower surround. If replacing the shower or tub is a necessity, shop for a color that will blend to your bathroom color plans. You also have options to develop a color plan around the tub or shower. It just depends on your particular situation

Affordable Decorating through DIY

Sun, 30 Jun 2013 08:16:40 GMT

Decorating a space can get pretty expensive, but there are ways around the cost. Many times, the piece you need may already be in your house or can be picked up inexpensively at a thrift store or yard sale.

Of course, the piece you get might not always look like exactly what you need, but with a creative eye and a little time, you can often see the potential in a piece you wouldn’t expect!

The number one way to update a piece of furniture is with a simple coat of paint. A new color—especially something bold and bright—can take a boring, worn-out dresser or bookshelf and turn it into a perfect piece for a kid’s room or a bright addition to your home office.

Don’t be afraid to go bold, the outcome will be worth it!

Glance through your remodeling debris before you throw it all away, you might find something there you can use. For instance, one homeowner took a cabinet door from her kitchen remodel, painted it to match her living room décor, then added it to her mantle as extra decorating and a back drop for other accessories.

What imperfections? Hide what you don’t want to see by doing something creative with it. That scratched up table top? Sand it down, cover it with wallpaper, then add a high gloss protective seal over the top of it. Or, decoupage an old set of drawers with an interesting, eye catching paper or pattern.

Things naturally begin to show wear and tear, but before you dismiss a piece as too worn, test its structural soundness. If you can shake it, push it, and use it as expected without problems, the surface can always be fixed to look better!

Tricks for Last-Minute Company

Sun, 30 Jun 2013 08:12:51 GMT

Of course, if you have time, a clean house is the best way to greet guests. Some housekeeping services even offer same-day service for events to take the stress of cleaning away.

But sometimes, there’s no time to go from messy to fabulous—how can you take your messy house and make your unexpected company believe your house is as clean as you wish it was ? These tricks will get you there!

#1: The Smell. If there is an odor in your house, it will be the first thing people notice—the nose will react before the eyes! Thankfully, there are easy fixes. If you have 20 minutes, spray some vinegar into the air. When the vinegar evaporates, you will be left with fresh air.

If there’s no time for that, try this sneaky trick: spray a generous amount of air freshener onto your outdoor welcome mat. When your friends step on the mat, they will unknowingly kick up a pleasant smell to greet them when they walk in.

#2: Your Floors. A carpet covered in crumbs or a stick kitchen floor will be immediately noticeable, so make sure a quick vacuuming and mopping are on your list—this doesn’t have to be a perfect job, just a quick hit in the rooms that matter. A clean floor gives an impression that the rest of the house is also clean.

#3: The Garbage. It’s such a simple step, but one that makes an impression even if it doesn’t occur to the person visiting—take out the garbage. A fresh, clean garbage bag in the can is another subtle way to indicate cleanliness on a level that might not even register!

#4: Clutter. If you don’t need it, put it out of sight. It’s just like when a child is cleaning their room and shoves all of the clutter under their bed or in a closet—only you will need to go back at some point and deal with the clutter you’ve hidden!

#5: Light. If you do all of those things, open up the curtains, blinds, and windows. Natural light and fresh air trick the eyes and senses into believing the space is fresher than it might actually be. It’s a sneaky trick, but it works.

Creating a Memory Jar

Tue, 25 Jun 2013 08:07:48 GMT

When you bring home souvenirs from your vacations, what happens to them? A lot of times, they may end up in a box, book, or just sitting somewhere without a home, waiting for maid services to dust.

You can make a memory jar including a photo and souvenirs from your vacation, and even make a collection of them by making one for each vacation. It couldn’t be easier to make, either!

Here are some examples of memory jars you can make:

The Beach Jar. Create a beach jar from your beach vacation with a few simple pieces. Add sand to the bottom of your jar, and then add souvenirs like seashells, sand dollars, and drift wood. Finally, add a picture to the jar, then put a lid on it and tie it with a ribbon or twine.

The Mountain Jar. If you’ve taken a trip to the mountains, you probably wanted to take some of the fresh air home with you. Do the next best thing by creating a jar to memorialize your trip. A little bit of rich soil in the bottom of the jar with a couple of sticks and some pine will set the stage for your favorite vacation picture.

The Wedding Jar. Everyone has items left over from their wedding, and you can create a jar to display commemorating the event. To the bottom of your jar, add some ribbon or tulle in one of your wedding colors, then add a candle and dried flowers from the wedding. Top it off with your picture and you’ve created a unique way to display your wedding memories.

How to Banish Mildew Smells in Clothes

Thu, 20 Jun 2013 07:59:54 GMT

You likely have lots of clothes in your house that are constantly cycling through your house cleaning to do list: wash, dry, fold. Unfortunately, the truth about fabric is that it gets wet easily and holds onto moisture.

For clothes that are frequently wet, like towels, mildew can be a problem. If you notice your towels are smelling musty or just not clean, there’s a quick way to target that smell and make your clothes more fresh .

Vinegar, Laundry Detergent, & Time

These three things will get your towels smelling fresh, clean, and mildew free without much effort. Here’s how:

Wash towels on hot with a cup of vinegar. When you wash the towels, don’t use detergent or fabric softener—just the vinegar. This way, it can break down the mildew causing the smells without interference.
Wash the towels on hot again, this time with laundry detergent. Do this just as your normally do, but without fabric softener as fabric softener can leave residue on the clothes, locking in mildew. Keep the water hot to kill germs and odors.
Dry on the hottest setting. You’ll want to leave them in the dryer as long as it takes to get completely dry (or hang them outside). You don’t want any moisture left in the towels when you put them away.

This method works for other clothes, too—kids' t-shirts got too wet outside and smell musty? Clothes accidentally got left in the washing machine too long? This will do the trick every time—vinegar kills the mildew which eliminates the smell!

Don’t Throw Those Orange Peels Away

Fri, 31 May 2013 07:53:48 GMT

What do you do with your orange peels? Chances are you throw them away or put them in compost. You might be able to get a little more life out of those orange peels before they hit the compost, though; in everything from kitchen use to house cleaning.

Of course, turning orange peels into zest for recipes is a great way to use them, but there are a few other less conventional things to do with them, as well!

For even more tricks, check out the original article .

Brown Sugar. An orange peel can prevent brown sugar from clumping and hardening over time. Tear off a piece of the peel, put it in the brown sugar bag or box, and seal it. The orange peel will harden and leave the sugar soft.

The Garage Disposal. In less than 30 minutes, you can have a clean garbage disposal that smells great and works better. How? Pour baking soda in the disposal, add vinegar, and let sit for 15 minutes. Flush with hot water, then run orange peels and ice through the disposal. This will kill germs, remove clogs, sharpen your disposal blades, and leave a fresh citrus scent behind!

The Air. This works anytime of the year beautifully, but it’s especially great in the fall when warm, rich aromas create nostalgia and comfort. Hot water, orange peels, cinnamon sticks, and cloves simmering in a pot on a stove can fill the entire house with the rich smell of baking and create a natural air freshener. You might have to explain to your family why there’s no pie or cookies to sample, though.

Bugs. Orange oil naturally turns bugs away and kills others, especially ants—even fire ants—and it’s easy to make yourself. Orange peels and a little bit of water or olive oil blended until smooth can kill an anthill in a single application. Just pour the mixture into the anthill!

Fire! If you have a fireplace, fire pit, or host bonfires, you’ve probably used newspaper or pre-packaged kindling before. Orange peels are actually extremely flammable, great fire starters, and are rumored to help clear your chimney of creosote.

Did you realize your orange peels held so much power? What have you used orange peels for?

Eye-Catching Light Fixtures

Thu, 30 May 2013 07:48:32 GMT

If you’re looking for a way to add some new atmosphere to your home, light fixtures might do the trick . Changing the lighting in a room can instantly change the mood of the room, and you can further control this mood-altering light with dimmer switches and adjustable lamps.

Of course, a light fixture can do more than provide light, it can also be an attention-getting element of your design. Here are three ideas to try:

1. Beaded Chandelier. These are extremely popular for girl’s rooms and sometimes come in different colors or with flowers, ribbons, and other adornments. However, a plain white or clear one can fit into a lot of different spaces in your house and look elegant and interesting.

To try: Use one of these in a bathroom for a more spa-like feel or in a bedroom for that finishing touch you’re looking for.

2. Textured Lampshades. Anytime you can appeal to two senses at the same time, you’re creating a memorable experience. Lampshades can come with all sorts of textures, but try some of the more pronounced ones like heavy boning, curled ribbons, or woven.

To try: Textured lampshades will fit in any room in your home, but are especially effective in living rooms and bedrooms.

3. Sconces. Most homes don’t come with wall sconces anymore, and that’s a shame, because they are a great source of light and instant mood-setters. The greatest thing about sconces is the many colors and textures from which to choose. Basically, if you like a certain design or color, you can probably find it in a sconce!

To try: put these on the walls beside your entryway, in your hallway—anywhere where a pair of sconces can create a frame or a path will serve you well.

Spend Less on Cleaning

Wed, 29 May 2013 14:50:05 GMT

You might be drawn by advertisements that promise amazing results in your house if you'll buy this spray, that bucket, or a special multi-tasking sponge. Unfortunately, all of these tools and materials aren't necessary to get your house maid-service clean.

In fact, you can save a lot of money in cleaning products with just a little bit of planning. Check out these tips from MommyKat and Kids :

Make Your Own Cleaners

It might sound like a science experiment, but the truth is you can make cleaners that will function for almost every job from inexpensive, everyday items. Next time you need to clean, try these:

All-Purpose Cleaner. To make your own all-purpose, multi-surface cleaning solution, mix equal parts water and vinegar in a spray bottle. If you're worried about the smell of vinegar, you can offset it by adding a few drops of essential oil. Even if you don't add the oil, though; once the vinegar dries it will leave only fresh air behind!

Heavy-Duty Paste. Stubborn stains, stuck on food, grime that just won't come lose requires something a little more concentrated, but you can get that easily by making a paste of baking soda and water. Apply it to the mess and let it sit before wiping it clean. It's amazing what a little innovation can do.

Reuse and Repurpose Tools As Often As Possible

Skip the paper towels and go for reusable rags, microfiber cloths, or even old t-shirts to serve as your scrubbing tools. Need small trash bags for your bedroom garbage cans? Use small plastic grocery bags.

You can also give a grocery bag to your school-aged son or daughter and ask them to walk around the house collecting trash. Praise them for filling the bag.

Clean As You Go

Cleaning products cost the most when you have a huge mess to clean, so the most effective way to save money on cleaning is to keep the house clean so that no cleaning project becomes too big. This way, you're using and cleaning just a little bit at a time—anytime you see a mess, clean it up, and that will save you money (and effort!) in the long run.

Pool Cleaning Tips for Summer

Sat, 25 May 2013 07:43:12 GMT

Slowly but surely, summer is coming! Are you ready? If you haven’t finished your spring cleaning yet, call in maid services so you can focus on what’s ahead in the next few months.

With summer comes water everywhere: swimming pools in every yard, sprinklers, pool parties. Is your pool ready?

The Plastic Pool

If you have a small plastic kids’ pool in the backyard, you might not even think about cleaning it. After all, you fill it up, dump it out, then put away until you’re ready to use it again.

However, mold and mildew love the moisture from these swimming pools, and if you fold them up, you’ll need to tackle that before your kids can use it. According to The Queen of Clean at DIY Network , here’s how to clean mildew or mold off of a plastic kiddie pool:

Combine 1 quart of warm water, 2 tablespoons of bleach, and a squirt of your favorite dishsoap.
Using gloves and a sponge, wipe down the plastic surfaces, even if you don’t see any mildew.
Rinse the pool off completely before the kids use it!

You can also leave the pool out to dry in the sunlight before filling it as sunlight is naturally anti-bacterial.

The Deep End

Whether above ground or in-ground, a big swimming pool requires a little more maintenance. Always check with your pool manufacturer for maintenance requirements, but there are some things that are common and will help you keep the pool clean all season:

Keep the pH balances correct. It can be a chore to check the levels every day, but it’s the number one way to keep your pool clean and healthy.
Skim the surface. At least once a week, skim the surface with the pool net. No one likes getting into a pool full of leaves, dirt, and bugs!
Cover it. If you don’t use it every day, keep it covered when you aren’t using it. Prevention is the best way to keep the pool clean!

Are you ready for summer?

A Designer's Pick for Must-Have Decorating Elements

Wed, 01 May 2013 14:53:55 GMT

Have you ever wondered if you could talk to a designer for 5 minutes, what handful of things they would recommend? There are always those items that work across several different types of rooms and colors, but it's sometimes hard to recognize what those items are without a trained eye.

Erin Gates from Elements of Style sat down and wrote her list for Better Homes & Gardens , so if you're looking for those last few stand out accessories for your space, this might be exactly what you're looking for!

A Gold Sculptural Element. Erin says that gold adds “spunk and glamour,” and the great thing about gold is that it goes perfectly with practically anything.

This element is anything with strong lines and definition, and if your budget doesn't allow for grabbing a new sculpture, try taking something you already have and adding the spunk—almost anything looks good with a coat of gold spray pain.

Maybe not the garden gnome, though.

Colorful, Curvy Lamps. The specific lamps she references are ceramic gourd-shaped lamps, but any style like this will fit nicely into your space. Because they come in so many colors, you can find one that's going to fit into any palette. Their clean lines and smooth colors suit many styles, too; from modern to contemporary to cottage.

Sunburst Mirrors. Despite their prevalence, Erin says these mirrors are a great addition to a room. It's a modern classic that suits any color combination, goes well over patterns, and makes a statement. If you've got some wall space that's missing some pizzazz, a sunburst mirror might be your best bet!

Two For One: Get Organized & Help Others

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 14:28:37 GMT

If you plan on going through your winter and spring clothes to make the transition, you'll probably have some to throw away. Instead of trashing the clothes you don't want anymore, put them in a large garbage box or bag and take them to charities.

Salvation Army & Goodwill both are looking for a lot of donations this spring . One Salvation Army spokesman said that he'd like to see bags “busting at the seams” so they can boost their inventory.

Follow That Shirt

When you donate a piece of clothing, it's placed in a store and then sold. All proceeds from those sales goes back into programs that help those in the community who need a hand.

When you donate a shirt, it gets sold. The money from the selling of your shirt goes back into one of the charities programs and is then used to provide food, water, counseling, or whatever that particular program requires.

Getting Rid of Things

Ah, but getting rid of things is the hard part, isn't it? You aren't alone if you struggle with it, but there are ways to combat it. When you're looking at your clothes as you work through, ask yourself these questions:

Can I still wear this?
Will I ever wear this?
Do I love this or hate it?
Why do I want to keep it?

When you answer those questions, you'll find out a lot more about your reasons for keeping things than you realize!

What Can You Do With a Lemon?

Fri, 26 Apr 2013 14:43:44 GMT

Other than adding some flavor to your tea or the right touch to your fish, what can a lemon do? According to Bargain Babe, a lot! Some of our favorite housekeeping uses made the list, so check out these ideas next time you've got a few extra lemons sitting around:

Cleaning Copper. Grungy copper looks worn out and dirty, but cleaning it can be such a pain, right? Not so much with lemons! A little bit of salt and lemon juice gently scrubbed on your copper items can make them look as good as new. Definitely worth trying!

Getting Rid of the Garbage Disposal Smell. With all of the stuff that goes down the disposal, it's no wonder it sometimes smells a bit dreadful! Thankfully, lemons can come to the rescue: cut them into wedges or slices and run them through the dish disposal. Bonus tip: if you run ice through the disposal at the same time, you can also sharpen the blades.

Soak Weeds in Lemon Juice. This one is one we hadn't heard before, but it's a genius idea! If you soak a weedy area with lemon juice, it will kill the weeds. Much cheaper than weed killer, that's for sure!

Bonus Use: While this one didn't make the list, it's another great way to use a lemon. If you have hard water stains, cut a lemon in half and scrub the stain with the lemon. Not only does the lemon dissolve the mineral deposits that cause the stain, it will also leave your bathroom smelling fresh and clean!

A Truly Enormous Cleaning Job

Sat, 30 Mar 2013 09:27:24 GMT

If you think your house seems a little too big for house cleaning sometimes, you haven't met Omega! Omega is a finback whale skeleton in the National Aquarium . In life, he weighted around 50 tons and was about 58 feet long—now that's big!

Unfortunately, Omega's size and position has made it virtually impossible for staff at the aquarium to get close to him to really clean the skeleton, so in the 30 years he's been in the museum, the best bath he's ever gotten came from a vacuum cleaner.

Unique Opportunity

Working on some other projects brought a scaffold into the museum and Omega's team realized its usefulness. Now there are two professional conservators carefully looking at the whale's amazing bones, cleaning them and checking for damage. Everyone at the aquarium is looking forward to a clean, safer Omega!

How He Got to the Aquarium

Omega was caught by a whaler and harvested in 1883. The whaler took what he needed and let the rest go, but conservetor for P.T. Barnum and Bufflo Bill, a man by the name of Henry Ward, restored the skeleton, a huge feat.

Finally, in 1981, Omega ended up at the National Aquarium, attracting sea-lovers everywhere. And now, for the first time in his 30 years with the aquarium, Omega is getting a great clean. Conservators will also be looking for any damage, discoloration, or destabilization in the structure to see if they can keep it at its peak for as long as possible.

Spring Cleaning: The Secret is in the Preparation

Tue, 26 Mar 2013 15:15:48 GMT

Despite the weather's reluctance to agree, it is almost springtime, and with spring comes spring cleaning. It's great to clean out and air out your house when the temperatures really do start to warm up.

The problem a lot of people face is taking on a little too much work and getting overwhelmed by it. With the right strategies and planning , though; you can get your house just as clean as you want it without getting burnt out.

How to Get the Most From Your Schedule

Whether it's spring baseball games, extra work, or important family events and holidays, time is always stretched extremely thin. How can you get it all done and still prioritize cleaning? Sometimes you can't—if you have to choose between spending time with people you love and cleaning your house, that's not really a choice.

Thankfully, maid services can help. Modern maid services exist to benefit those with a busy schedule, and can certainly take a load of stress off your mind!

Here are some other important tips:

Make a plan. If you make a list of goals before you get started, it will be much easier to stay focused. Also, as you finish each task, you'll be able to see that you are progressively making a change, and that's more motivating.

Recruit! Whether it's your spouse, your, kids, or even a good friend, share the task with someone else. Not only is it easier to do housework when you do it with someone, it's also less boring or overwhelming.

Use the right tools and techniques. Planning will help with this one—know what you'll need before you get started. You'll almost always need a vacuum cleaner, broom, spray cleaner, and a microfiber cloth or sponge—what else do you need? Make a list for yourself and make sure you know how to clean everything you want to clean.

Spring cleaning really is for everyone—go ahead and jump in!

Setting Up Your Home Office

Sat, 23 Mar 2013 15:05:28 GMT

Whether you work from home or just spend a lot of time on your computer for various things, you deserve a place to work comfortably. The calmer and happier you are, the more productive you will be, so it's okay to make a good home office a priority .

The most important thing about your home office is this: make it personal. Make it fit your personality, your way of working, and the things you like most. You might not love your work, but you can love your desk!

Organization

People are calmer and enjoy what they're doing more in uncluttered environments, and that's definitely true of working! You probably clean your desk when you do your normal house cleaning , but is it clean, straight, and organized enough to make you really comfortable while you work?

If not, consider decluttering. Throw out things you don't need anymore and put away things you don't use often. A clear desk will help you focus and make you feel better about what you're doing.

Comfort

Don't be afraid to move a little outside the box for this one! The fact is, many desk chairs just aren't comfortable. Don't suffer unnecessarily—find a chair that fits your desk but is comfortable for you to spend time in.

When you're buying a chair, spend at least 5 minutes in it before agreeing to a purchase. How is it going to feel if you have to sit there for 30 minutes? An hour? You deserve to be comfortable at your desk, so the effort is definitely worth it.

Light

Light is actually a personal choice for a lot of people. Some prefer the room in which they work to be a little dimmer, others want bright light. Some want natural light, others prefer their favorite lamp or overhead light.

Think carefully about what kind of light you want for your office. Are you into natural light? Can you position your desk so that you can work without glare? If you're using a lamp, is it enough light to keep you from straining your eyes while you work? Finding the right light can help a lot!

Shine On: How to Clean Your Light Fixtures

Thu, 28 Feb 2013 14:58:52 GMT

Light fixtures have a tendency to attract dust and small insects, not something anyone wants for their house, but they can also be a hassle to clean. Step stools, ladders, awkward shapes, dust falling everywhere—yikes!

Some of those things can't be avoided when it comes to cleaning your light fixtures, but by knowing the most effective way to clean each type of light fixture, you can make cleaning them a lot easier.

Chandeliers look intimidating, but if you know what to do, they aren't so scary after all. "The Accidental Housewife" recommends this easy method : hang an umbrella upside down from the chandelier and blow off dust with a blow dryer. Then take a small brush and get anything left behind. Finally, polish the light bulbs and crystals for a beautiful shine without too much work!

Lamps are pretty straightforward: dust the base with a cloth dampened with vinegar and water. If your lampshade is sturdy enough, you can dust it with the same cloth; otherwise, very gently hold your vacuum cleaner with the smallest attachment against it to pull away the dust.

Globes & Sconces can be made extremely simple if you have a dishwasher: just put them on the top rack. Leave some space to they don't bump into each other, then run the wash as you normally would. If no dishwasher is available, wash them by hand in warm, soapy water, just like doing dishes. Whichever method you use, give them time to dry before reattaching them.

Light Bulbs are easy, but it's important to make sure you let them cool first, since light bulbs can hold onto heat for several minutes after being turned off. Just wipe them down with a cloth to remove dust.

Ceiling Fans are often part of light fixtures, so they need to be addressed, too. The easiest way to tackle a ceiling fan is with a pillow case. Slide a pillow case onto a fan blade and slowly wipe down the blade on both sides. The dust will fall into the pillow case—no mess!

More Than Cleaning: How to Make House Cleaning a Workout

Tue, 26 Feb 2013 14:53:22 GMT

Schedules are tight—work, family, friends, other responsibilities—so the more you can fit into one span of time, the better! You have to get the house cleaned up anyway, and house cleaning can actually become a fantastic workout with a little bit of speed, motivation, and of course, music.

Here are 5 of our favorite ways to turn your housework into a workout :

Race the Clock (or Each Other!) . Set a timer for 30 minutes and see how much you can clean before time is up. You can also set a stopwatch and see how long it takes you to clean a room, then repeatedly try to break that record every day or week. If you want to get the whole family (especially the kids) involved, turn it into a race—who can get their assigned room clean the fastest?

Moving quickly through your tasks not only burns more calories, it also means you get done cleaning faster!

Run up the Stairs. If running's difficult, walk as quickly as you comfortably can. Instead of looking for ways to avoid going upstairs, look for excuses to go up and down. Left your scrub brush up there? Your cleaning gloves are under the bathroom sink? Up you go! Stairs are a fantastic way to burn calories—you get a lot of burn for a little effort.

Squat to Pick Up. You're likely do to a lot of bending over while you're cleaning, but you can get a much better workout by squatting instead. Squat slowly, reach down and pick up the toy or trash, then slowly stand back up. You'll definitely feel this one in your legs!

Speedy Vacuum. Vacuum's can be fairly heavy, and pushing one around takes a bit of effort. Speed it up and it takes even more effort. Speed it up while still doing a good job, and you've got workout material! Take the time to hit every area, overlapping, and pushing in different directions, but do it as quickly as possible

Dance! There's a saying, “Dance like no one's watching.” Crank up your music, get into it, and dance around the house while you clean. Step in place as you wash dishes, twirl when you're picking up clutter in the living room, or headbang while you make your bed—whatever your style, dance while you clean for a great workout and a much more fun house cleaning experience.

Three Decorating Trends to Watch in 2013

Fri, 15 Feb 2013 12:52:16 GMT

A month into the new year, everyone's getting everything organized. Maid services have been called, clutter has been thrown out, and the house is getting back to normal.

As this happens, everyone is also beginning to make predictions on everything from weather to fashion to the economy, and design is no different. Elle Decor discussed the trends expected in the months to come , and three of them stood out. Here's how to get three favorite trends for yourself without too much effort!

Beige

In an interesting contrast to green's sudden popularity, beige is also becoming popular. For many, beige is going to seem too plain and uninteresting, but there are ways to make it not only great, but downright designer.

The trick? Work within the color. Combine several different shades of off white from cream to caramel, add some darker elements in deep, rich woods and accessories, and add several different textures. Beige as a dynamic color choice: who knew?

Embellished Walls

If your wall feels boring, it might just be. Thankfully, there's a trend to address just that: embellished walls. These are walls with ornate designs, modern art built right into the wall, and may include texture, as well.

The simplest way to recreate this look is to create an accent wall with a bold or ornate wallpaper. If you're a little more on the artistic side, you can embellish you walls yourself with anything from fabric to wood to beading.

Lace

From tablecloths to curtains to beds to dresses, lace looks to be making a comeback this year. If you aren't sure where to get started with lace, there are a few easy DIY lace projects.

For instance, find a thicker lace fabric at your grocery store and hot glue it to a solid-color pillow case to create a quick, beautiful lace pillow. You can do the same thing on a lamp shade!

Three Problems Vinegar Can Solve

Mon, 11 Feb 2013 14:47:04 GMT

It doesn't seem to matter how well you plan or time, there's always something that goes wrong when you're in the middle of your house cleaning , and it seems like trouble you have to go through to fix the problem makes it not worth doing at all!

You can't prevent all sudden cleaning problems (how did those broom bristles get bent at that angle, anyway?), but there are a few that vinegar can solve for you:

Problem #1: Clothes Left in the Washing Machine

Whoops, that load of laundry you started late last night never made it to the dryer, and now they smell a little less than fresh. Nony at A Slob Comes Clean discovered that vinegar takes the smell out in one load —wash the clothes like normal, but add vinegar to the wash.

Bonus? Vinegar also kills germs and softens clothes!

Problem #2: Dishwasher Leaves Spots on Your Glasses

Everything comes out of your dishwasher looking great until you get to the clear glasses. Suddenly, it looks like your dishwasher has given them a bad case of hard-water-soap-residue pox. Sometimes, even a rinse agent isn't enough to combat the spots, but vinegar always is.

If you have the soap-residue pox running rampant, pour in a half cup of vinegar into the bottom of your dishwasher, then wash like normal. The glasses will come out spotless.

Problem #3: The Shower Head is Clogged

Of all the things, you're ready to rinse off the shower walls and turn on the water, but it dribbles out in a stream down or shoots in random directions all over the bathroom. The culprit is likely clogged holes in your shower head, and it's not as hard to clean as you might think.

Mix some vinegar and water together in a bowl, then unscrew the shower head and let it soak for 10 minutes. Rinse it off, reattach, and run water through it. It should work like new.

Clean Up Fast: The Art of the 5 Minute Room

Thu, 31 Jan 2013 14:31:24 GMT

Ever have a day when you look around your house and think, “Yeah, that’s not getting cleaned today.” Everyone has had one of those moments, and that’s okay! That’s what maid services are for, after all.

If you want to get a quick clean in without spending a bunch of time on it, though; there are ways to get a room cleaner in five minutes or less—set your timer and test your 5 minute clean!

1. Pick a Room. Focus is important for a five-minute clean. Don’t let yourself get distracted by other rooms that also need work—concentrate on one at a time. You’ll be amazed what that focus can do for you in such a short amount of time.

2. Throw everything away. Okay, not everything, but certainly any trash. Grab a small trash can and walk around the room, picking up every bit of trash you see. This should take less than 3 minutes.

3. Make a pile of things that don’t belong. Look around the room—what doesn’t belong in this room? Put everything that doesn’t belong in its own pile so you can carry it all out and put it where it belongs.

4. Straighten what’s left. The things that do belong in the room should be placed back in their spots and straightened out to look neat.

That’s it! Grab your doesn’t-belong pile and distribute items to their appropriate places. For a standard room, this will take 5 minutes, but even for a really messy room, it’s 10 minutes or less!

If you have a little extra house cleaning time, choose a cabinet or drawer and clean it out, organize a corner, or vacuum for an extra lift.

More Multitasking in Your Home

Tue, 29 Jan 2013 14:36:38 GMT

Everyone’s multitasking something these days; smartphones alone do roughly fifteen million things! What about your decorating? Have you thought about how you can decorate in a way that makes things multi-purpose? It’s a great trick, especially for small spaces or rooms (or large families!).

The Playhouse Tablecloth. It wouldn’t be right not to start with this clever, gorgeous idea. Children love to play under tables anyway, so why not turn your table into more than a makeshift fort? With a tablecloth that includes a flap for a door and a couple of windows, everyone will think you are the cleverest of housekeepers—especially your children!

While you can purchase one online, if you’re the handy type you should check out the homemade one from Centsational Girl’s blog as featured by Apartment Therapy (in the picture on the left).

Storage & Design. From ottomans to trunks to lift-top coffee tables, there are many ways to turn decorative furniture into functional storage. It’s one of the most common—and wonderful—ways to multitask in a home

The key to using the storage in furniture is to choose the right things to store in the space. Pick based on the size of the space and the location. For instance, if the ottoman is compact and easy to open and close, it might be a great place to store extra DVDs or video games. If you have a big trunk in your dining room, tablecloths, napkins, and seasonal decorations are probably a good choice.

Kitchen Table Desk? Whether it’s your children’s homework spot or your favorite place to answer emails, sometimes the kitchen table feels more like a desk than your actual desk.

You can make this work to your advantage! Grab a bag or briefcase and put in a few pens, a collapsible, battery-operated desk lamp, and a legal pad. If your kids are the primary users, include crayons, paper, and homework essentials. When you decorate, keep your kitchen table clean—no plates or dishes, and keep your centerpiece small.

When you’re ready to use your table as a desk, it’s as simple as pulling out your desk-in-a-bag.

Multitasking: A Trunk for Storage, Seating, And Design

Tue, 15 Jan 2013 14:10:44 GMT

In your housekeeping endeavors, do you ever find yourself running out of places to put things? It always seems like there’s more stuff than places to put it all. Between your work and that of your cleaning services , the house may look great—except for that one thing that never has a home.

You aren’t alone, and this has led to a lot of creative storage ideas like this one from Apartment Therapy, which involves using a trunk for three purposes and is a great trick, especially for smaller spaces.

The Storage Part

A trunk is incredibly useful for storage, that’s one of the reasons it’s managed to remain a classic for so long. All that open space helps hold items you might otherwise have a hard time finding enough room for. Thick comforters, winter sweaters, stuffed animals, larger craft items—these things can store well in a trunk.

When your linen closet is about to burst from the blankets and comforters crammed into it or your drawers are looking out of shape from the sweaters you need more space for, a trunk is the answer.

The Seating Part

When a trunk is closed, it’s nothing more than a strong box with fixtures, and remarkably like a bench, and here’s the great part: it’s okay to use it for that purpose! Put your trunk under a window or next to a table to use as a bench (you can even attach removable cushions to it with Velcro). Use it as a coffee table in your living room, an extra seat in your bedroom, or an unexpected ottoman in your family room.

The Stylish Part

Trunks often look like a piece out of history, which already lends itself to a bunch of interior design types. If the rugged, dark trunk isn’t your thing, though; there are plenty of stylish modern versions. Either way, a trunk is a unique piece to use as furniture, and is, in its own way, both trendy and classic. It’s hard to beat that!

A Different Kind of House Cleaning: Organizing Your Computer Files

Thu, 10 Jan 2013 14:24:19 GMT

If your house is looking nice thanks to some decluttering and your favorite maid service , you might have some time to look at other things in your life that could use some organizing. One area people often neglect in their lives is “digital house cleaning .”

Sorting and deleting old e-mails or computer files can seem daunting, but if you’re using your computer often, it’s worth the effort, making it easier to find what you need and helping your computer run more smoothly.

If you just opened your My Documents folder and gasped at all of the random files within, don’t panic! Continue reading for some tips to get you started.

Keep Your File Types Separate

It’s easier to find what you’re looking for if you know what type of file it is. Keeping your documents, photos, and program files separate can help make that an easier distinction. If you have a lot of different file types sitting in your primary folders, try sorting them first.

Delete & Categorize

Just like anytime you remove clutter and try to bring order, the junk has to go. As you sort your files, delete anything you don’t need or use any more. For things you want to keep, start categorizing them and create themed folders.

For instance, you might have one folder entitled “Work Documents,” another called “Vacation Photos,” and a different one named “Online Receipts.” Categorize in a way that makes sense to you and how you use your computer.

Create a Naming System

A consistent naming system makes it much, much easier to find any file on your computer. It might be a hard habit to form, but once you have, you will be glad you did. Just like your categories, your naming system needs to make sense to you. For your online receipts, you might use the name of the company or purpose of the payment and the date. If you have an online receipt for the electric company for January 2013, you might name it “Electric0113.”

For more casual files, tell yourself something about the file, but keep it short. If you have photos from your beach vacation, you might name them Beach12 Sandy’s Run or Beach12 Park.

Use These Two Tricks to Find Files

If you can’t find a file even once you’ve organized, there are a couple of great, fast ways to find files:

Find (or Search) allows you to look for a file in any folder. On a PC, the shortcut is Ctrl + F, on a Mac it’s Cmd + F. This is where your brand new naming system shines. If you know you’re looking for a phone receipt, you already know what to search for! Just type in the name you would have used (using the format above, it would be Phone0113) and if it’s there, the computer will find it.
Sort automatically changes the positions of the folders based on a filter. To do this, right click in the file you want to sort, mouse over sort, and choose your filter. If you just uploaded a picture and you’re trying to find it, you might sort your Downloads folder by “Modified” to find the most recent file.

There are plenty of ways to keep your computer more organized—and don’t forget to backup your files from time to time!

Tips for Hard to Clean Places in the Bathroom

Mon, 31 Dec 2012 14:00:08 GMT

Not too many people look forward to cleaning the bathroom. When you throw in things that are hard to clean, you’re more likely to procrastinate than ever actually get to the house cleaning .

To help you get through some of the harder stuff, here are three tips. If you are swamped with other priorities, don’t hesitate to get a maid service to help in the bathroom and everywhere else, too!

Hard Water

Lemons are the key to hard water stains. Cut a lemon in half and rub it directly on the stain or soak a cloth in lemon juice and scrub. The stains caused by hard water are actually mineral deposits, and the acidity of the lemon juice cuts breaks up the deposits and makes them easy to wipe away without strong chemicals.

Clogged Shower Head

A by product of hard water or other water issues is clogged shower heads. If you turn your shower on and some of the sprayers aren’t working or go off at odd angles, chances are you’ve got some clogs.

Just like using the lemon, the acidity of vinegar breaks down build-up effectively. Use pure vinegar and soak the shower head for at least an hour or two (overnight is preferred for bad clogs). In the morning, wipe off the shower head and test it out.

Soap Scum

Over time, the soap you use might start to build up on the surfaces in your bath and shower, making everything look dingy and streaked. Once again, vinegar comes to the rescue, dissolving the soap. Spray a mixture of vinegar and water on the soap scum, let soak for 10 minutes, then wipe away.

When the hard stuff is out of the way, cleaning the bathroom really isn’t so bad!

First Impressions: Your Walk & Entryway

Fri, 21 Dec 2012 13:34:03 GMT

Are holiday guests on their way? You’ve probably got house cleaning on the list already, but does that include your entryway and the walk up to your house? These are the very first areas your guests will see, so to make the proper first impression, make sure these areas have been cleaned.

Good maid services will do some of the work for you: the entryway floor will get vacuumed, surfaces in the area will be dusted, and the window in your door will be cleaned, streak-free. There are a few things you have to do yourself, though. Read on for some tips that will help the front of your house be holiday ready!

The Walk

The best way to determine what needs to be done in your front yard is to pretend to be a guest. Go out to the side of the road and walk up to your door the way you imagine your friends will as they enter your home.

While walking, let your eyes drift to the area in front of the door. Is there any trash? Toys? Clutter? Now is the time to get rid of those things, long before guests come. Then take a look at the porch and the door: does the porch need to have old leaves swept off of it? Does the outside of the door need washing?

Taking care of these things will leave an impression of cleanliness and charm on every person who comes to the door.

The Entryway

With the help of your maid service, this is a little easier. The main thing you want to be on the lookout for is clutter, shoes (kids are notorious for leaving their shoes in front of the door!), and dirt on the floor. Keep it picked up before your guests arrive, and they will feel more than welcome in your home.

Don’t forget, though: in the rush of getting everything cleaned, baked, and bought, don’t forget to spend time with the people you care enough about to invite to your home!