Cleaning the Toilet Bowl

If you hate cleaning the bathroom toilets, then you will absolutely love this Alka Seltzer trick! Drop in two Alka Seltzer tablets into the toilet bowl and allow it to sit until all the fizzing stops. Next, take a toilet bowl brush and begin scrubbing around the bowl. Your toilets will be shiny, spotless, and deodorized.

Cleaning a Clog

If you encounter a clog in your kitchen, using Alka Seltzer in combination with distilled white vinegar can help unclog your pipes. All you need to do is take three or four Alka Seltzer tablets and drop it down the drain, and then pour one cup of distilled white vinegar. Allow the 2 substances to sit for about ten to fifteen minutes. After you have allowed the vingear and Alka Seltzer to sit, pour a large pot of boiling water down the drain.

Brightening Your Laundry

If your white clothing items are looking a bit dingy, Alka Seltzer can help whiten and brighten them once again! Simply soak your white clothing items in a one gallon of warm water and drop in two Alka Seltzer tablets. Let your items sit for about twenty to thirty minutes, and then rinse in cool water. To help conserve energy, hang your clothing items on the shower rod, or outside to dry naturally.

Cleaning Your Kitchen Glassware

If you have caked-on or burned reminiscence of last night’s dinner on your baking dish, we all know it can be a hassle to completely remove. Alka Seltzer can make this job much easier on your hands. Soak your kitchen baking dishes in hot water and drop in three Alka Seltzer tablets. Allow the dishes to sit for ten to fifteen minutes and then scrub the dishes with a sponge. The old food should come off much easier.

If you find yourself out of household cleaning problems, or just want to try something different, grab a box of Alka Seltzer!

Recycled Cork Flooring

This type of material is harnessed from the oak cork tree and is a renewable and natural choice. This material has thermal insulating characteristics, and resilience. Many old wine corks and cork material waste is recycled into flooring, that is available in tiles or sheets.

Recycled Rubber Flooring

Recycled rubber can be shock resistant, and have non-slip capabilities making it a great choice for kitchen, bathroom, and athletic areas.  In fact, flooring is one of the most popular applications for recycled rubber. When tires are recycled, water and air pollution are greatly reduced because of the effects tire incineration.

Recycled Wood Flooring

This recycled material tends to be one of the pricier choices since it usually is old, and more difficult to get. Many companies find antique woods from barns, factories,  mills. Some of types of reclaimed wood flooring options include oak, hickory, heart pine, and chestnut.

Recycled Glass Flooring

Can you think of how many glass bottles you have thrown in the recycling bin? Chances are these bottles are being transformed into a renewable resource whether it’s more bottles, countertops, or flooring! For recycled glass floors. Recycled glass floors are usually mixed with cement, or epoxy- resins to help hold the glass together. The art of traditional terrazzo floors tends to be difficult and expensive, but new recycled techniques are making this flooring choice much easier.

Whatever decision you make for your new floors, recycled flooring can be just as beautiful as new flooring.

When comparing costs and materials, take your time. Do your research on the different styles of carpet and what will best suit your needs. Also, take careful consideration of the type of padding you choose. Thick padding may cost more, but it could make a big difference in the comfort of your floors and also make the carpet last longer. If you have pets, you may want to choose a padding with a waterproof surface that stops moisture from penetrating into the foam pad.

There are some basic things to ask when hiring a contractor.

1. Are they insured and bonded? This will give you peace of mind knowing that if something gets damaged or the job goes badly, the company will be able to take care of it.
2. How much experience do they have? Be sure the contractor has done this type of work before. Ask to see pictures of completed projects.
3. Can they provide references? Contact the references and find out if they were happy with the work. Was it finished on schedule? And would they recommend or use the same contractor again?
4. Also, make sure and find out what kind of guarantees are provided to protect you against failures in workmanship. Be sure and get all estimates and promises in writing. The last thing you want to do is pay for professional installation and then have ripples in the carpet, seams showing or other defects. Make sure the contractor or company has a policy in place that covers repairs in the event of poor installation.

During the bidding process be sure and ask how much for the entire project, not just the installation of the pad and carpet. Contractors will also charge you to remove old carpeting and padding. There is usually a fee involved for disposal of these materials.

Price is not always the most important thing to consider. Pinching pennies may cost you more in the long run. And choosing the most reputable contractor may be the most valuable because you can ensure the job will be done in a timely and professional manner, giving you the best results. Choosing the carpet retailer over an independent contractor may be a good option because if they mess up on the installation, the cost of new materials may be covered.

Poor carpet installation will give you headaches for a time to come, it will drag the process out. So be careful and make good choices. Correctly installed carpet will look smooth with no bumps or seams showing. If the installation goes well, you can just get on with your life or next project! And enjoy your new carpet!

First of all, you may want to try and figure out why your pet is misbehaving. Be sure he has easy access to the litter box and keep it as clean as possible. If you have more than one cat, be sure each has his or her own litter box. Cats can be fussy, they may not want to share, use a dirty box, or they may even dislike the particular brand of kitty litter you use. If your feline friend is feeling stressed, be sure and pay attention to him. Praise your pet and keep it entertained with cat toys and scratching posts. A bored, neglected or jealous cat may just act out by urinating on the floor or spraying.

Introducing a new pet to your home can cause anxiety for a territorial kitty. Even seeing other cats outside can cause a well-behaved cat to all of a sudden start spraying. You may want to limit the cat’s access to large windows or keep the shades drawn. All cats, especially males, should be neutered to cut back on the likelihood that spraying will become a problem.

When you come across a recent spot of cat urine on your carpet, the first thing to do is soak up as much as you can with paper towels. For a home-made solution, create a mixture of half white vinegar and half water. Vinegar will neutralize the odor. Spray this solution deep enough to penetrate, and cover all the affected area. Then use the blotting technique with paper towels again to absorb all the moisture. Once the carpet is dry, sprinkle some baking soda on the area. Baking soda is known to absorb odors naturally. Let that sit for at least 1 hour, then vacuum it up. This should remedy any recent cat urine spot! If you have old spots of cat urine, use a blacklight to find them, then start with the vinegar and water treatment.

Cat spray can be a little more difficult to treat, because the spray usually goes vertical onto walls, curtains, or furniture. You can make a spray bottle of the vinegar and water solution or purchase a good cleaner with enzymes to kill the odor. Always test any cleaner on a small spot to avoid damaging fabrics. But whatever you do, never use ammonia. It smells very similar to cat urine. Cats can detect the odor and may remark that spot to reclaim territory.

Never strike out at the cat or get angry, this may just stress him out even more. Just be vigilant and try and find out the reason why your kitty is acting out, this may be the only solution to your cat odor problem. If you suspect a physical ailment, please take your pet to a veterinarian to be sure there are underlying health issues.

Carpet: Hopefully you will come across a urine spot on your carpet quickly! The last thing you want is urine-soaked carpet to go uncleaned. The longer a spot sits or the more frequently a pet uses that spot the worse it can get. If the urine soaks down to the padding and sub-floor, you may end up needing serious remediation, such as pad replacement. So, when your dog does piddle on the carpet, be sure and soak it up right away. Lay down a good handful of absorbent paper towels down on the spot, then layer newspaper on top of that. Place a something heavy on the area or stand on it for a few minutes. The goal is to place pressure on the spot, so as much urine as possible will be absorbed. Blot and soak it up, but do not rub. Then you may want to use a small amount of clean, fresh water to rinse the carpet. Once again, use the absorption method as described with paper towels, until you see no more yellow stain coming out of the carpet. Finally, use a store bought cleaner with an enzyme or antimicrobial component to disinfect the carpet. Nature’s Miracle is a well-regarded product for this purpose.

 Upholstery and Mattresses: Furniture and mattresses are absorbent, just like carpet. Use the same process for soaking up the urine. Just be sure and follow the instructions on any product you use. Always buy the appropriate cleaner for your upholstery fabric type and test the solution in a small, inconspicuous spot first. Use fans if needed to help the item dry faster.

Rugs: Once you have soaked up urine and the rug is dry, you can sprinkle a small amount of baking soda. It is known to naturally absorb odors and it is safe to use. Once you let the baking soda sit on the rug for a while, vacuum it up.

 Clothes and Linens: If your precious pup happens to relieve his bladder on an article of clothing, bedsheets or any other machine-washable item, all you have to do is add a special ingredient to your wash. Launder your items as your normally would, with laundry detergent, but just add one quarter cup of apple cider vinegar.

 Linoleum or vinyl tile floors: The benefit of this flooring is that it is not very porous and wipes up easily. Should you come across dog urine on your linoleum floors, simply wipe up the excess liquid with whatever may be handy and disposable such as an old towel, rag or absorbent paper towels. Get a bucket and mix 3 parts water to 1 part white vinegar. Then mop your floor with this natural cleaning solution, your floors may smell a little pickled for a while! But it’s better than a musky urine stench.

There are many different styles of wall-to-wall carpeting available to today’s consumer. Here are some of the most popular choices:

•  Saxony – The most basic of cut piles, the fibers are all trimmed evenly across the surface. This type of carpet tends to show footprints and vacuum lines very easily. It is recommended for low-traffic areas since it shows wear more quickly than other styles.
• Carved Saxony – This carpet pile will have a high cut, then a low cut, alternating across the surface to create designs.
• Plush- Just as the name suggests, plush carpet has a velvety appearance. This style of carpet will lend formality to any room. The carpet fibers are densely woven and are subject to light reflection, thus allowing track marks and foot-prints to reveal themselves.
• Textured – This is similar to Saxony, except that the fibers are specially steamed so the yarn stays curled permanently. The benefit of this process is that textured carpet does not reflect as much light. It does not show footprints or sweep lines as much as the Saxony or Plush types.
• Frieze – What sets Frieze apart from textured carpet is that it uses a higher and tighter twist of yarn. This type of carpet tends to cost more due the expense of production, but it is considered to be a high end product that also boasts a foot-print free surface.
• Shag – Although it may bring flashbacks to the 70′s, Shag carpet still comes and goes out of style. It is a deep pile carpet, with long fibers, giving it a shaggy-haired look.
• Cable – Not to be mistaken for Shag, Cable carpet is made from thicker yarns that are longer than a regular cut pile. This type of carpet is considered luxurious and should be saved for  lightly traveled areas, because it can take on a crushed appearance with too much wear.
•  Berber – The alternative to cut pile is loop pile. When carpet is woven, the fiber is looped into the backing and with Berber, the loop never gets cut. It has a more textured and consistent appearance than cut pile. It is generally recommended for high-traffic areas.
•   Cut and Loop – This style of carpet uses cut and loop pile together to create patterns, hiding foot traffic lines very well.

Cut pile is the most common type of carpet used in residential dwellings. Berber is normally used in commercial settings because it very durable and works well for heavily traveled spaces. Carpet provides comfort and beauty to any home. When choosing a style of carpet, take into consideration the amount of traffic and the purpose of the room. Also consider the lighting and whether or not you want a very reflective surface.

But it is the day-to-day treatment that will prove to be the most important upkeep you can do to avoid damage and costly repairs. There are some definite do’s and don’ts when it comes to do it yourself marble care!

Do’s:

1. Make every effort to keep the marble clean on a daily basis. Clean any spill as soon as possible to avoid allowing stains to set into the grain of the stone.
2. Place mats at all doorways to minimize the amount of dirt that gets tracked into your home. Rugs or runners in entryways and high traffic areas will enhance your living space and protect the floors from degradation.
3. Use warm water only and a cotton mop for daily cleaning.
4. If that is not strong enough to get the job done, dilute a very small amount of Ammonia in water for a cleaning solution. Less is more when using cleaning agents, so only use this cleaning treatment as a last resort, rather than everyday
5. Use diluted, PH balanced dish-washing soap as an alternative cleaning solution. Please test any cleaners in a small spot before applying to the entire area!

Don’ts:

1. Never allow liquid, grease or oil to stay on the floor. Prompt attention is required for all spills and messes. Marble is very susceptible to rust, and discoloration even from smoke. Many common household items such as makeup, juice, or coffee can leave a stain if not lifted up immediately. .
2. Avoid acidic cleaners at all costs! Never use vinegar, lemon juice, or any product with even the smallest amount of acid, which will erode the marble surface.
3. Powder cleaners and abrasive scrubbing items should not be used. Keep scouring pads away from your floors. Stick with soft, microfiber towels for small wipe-ups and cotton mop-heads for overall cleanup.
4. Do not allow dirt, grime or sand to lay on the floor, these gritty substances can cause scratches on marble. The use of rugs and mats cannot be emphasized enough to keep these destructive materials off the floor to begin with.
5. Salt is also known to dissolve marble and cause a pitted surface. So be extra careful in winter-time when salt mixes are used on roads and sidewalks to dissolve ice.

Marble is a rare and expensive material which will instantly give your home a classy and timeless look. Avoid scratches, staining, cracking and dullness by treating marble with the care it deserves. Studious prevention and daily housekeeping will make all the difference!