Aqualux Carpet Cleaning

Painting Your Home & the Meaning of Colors

mmccord — Wed, 16 May 2012 02:33:58 +0000

You might not think, but color has a great affect over you. Colors can change your mood, and bring forth different emotions. When you are choosing what color to paint your bedroom, living room, kitchen, or whichever room, make sure you give some thought before you decide on one permanently.

Every person has a different reaction to each color. A person’s response towards a color is based on physiology, psychological, and society and culture. For physiology, this matters if a person is colorblind. Obviously, if a person is colorblind they will see colors differently from someone who is not colorblind. Psychological effects deal with events or memories that a person has experienced and they associate that color with the event. For example, if a person was in a car accident as a child, and the car was blue, that color can trigger emotions of fear and anxiety. Different cultures associate colors with different meanings. In Chinese culture white is associated with mourning, whereas in Western culture white is a sign of innocence and purity.

Cool colors are often associated with a serenity, and calmness. Cool colors can slow down your perception of time, and can sometimes establish an environment that is distant and cold. But, for the calming effects, cool colors can help with concentration levels and produce tranquility.

On the other hand, warm colors tend to speed up the perception of time. If you notice at fast food restaurants, a lot of the colors used inside are warm, bold, and bright colors. These color schemes are used to get customers in and out faster, therefore making more money off more customers. Warm colors can create emotions of coziness and happiness.

Red: Gives warmth, and provides a stimulating effect. Recommended rooms for using red are kitchens, stairways, and hallways. Avoid red if calming is needed, it is not a good idea to paint a babies’ room red.

Blue: Is a great color for rooms where you need a sense of relaxation or concentration, like bedrooms, nurseries, office, or bathrooms. If the color blue is too dark it can create feelings of depression and loneliness.

Yellow: Bright yellow is too busy and gives excessive stimulation for your eyes. If you find the right shade of yellow it can create brightness, joyful feelings, and stimulate the learning process. Good rooms for using the correct shade of yellow could be a family room, kitchen, or living room.

Easy DIY Home Improvements

mmccord — Wed, 09 May 2012 02:35:25 +0000

If you’re trying to find some new and innovative ways to spruce up your house, there are plenty of options that are simple and affordable. Whether you are getting ready to place your home on the real estate market, or just wanting to update your house, check out some of these nifty do it yourself ideas.

Easy Exterior Painting

An easy way to transform the appearance of your humble abode is to paint the front door, shutters, and trim. Some exterior paint can be expensive, especially if you have a very large house. But, if you choose to paint the front door, trim, or shutters, it usually won’t break the bank. Picking a bright and bold color, can help revive the overall tone of your house and make it stand out. Just make sure that the color you decide on matches with the rest of the house.

Upgrading the Mailbox

Choosing to upgrade your mailbox is an easy way to boost your home’s curb appeal. There are many great looking mailboxes you can choose from that cost anywhere from $20-$100. When you are installing your brand new mailbox you need to make sure you are following your cities’ regulations.

Planting a Tree

It’s relatively easy to plant a new, young tree. The smaller the tree is the cheaper it will be, when you start looking at very large sized trees that’s when it becomes pricey. This is an easy home improvement project, and you need to consider how you are going to transport the tree. Also, you need to consider adequate spacing for the tree, since it will gradually grow.

Installing New Address Numbers

Sometimes the address numbers on your house will become faded or fall off, try putting up new numbers to update the look of your house. Try to match the numbers with your exterior light fixtures. The standard style numbers start anywhere from about $2 a number, and then customized plaques can range anywhere from $50-$200.

Bug-proofing Your Home

mmccord — Thu, 03 May 2012 03:47:53 +0000

In states with warmer and more humid climates, bugs tend to flock to these particular regions. Texas is notorious for having a big mosquito problem during the summer months. Some people enjoy looking at bugs, and for others they can become quite pesky. If you enjoy having parties at your house, you may want to consider bug-proofing your backyard to avoid any disruptions.

Wasps, bees, hornets, scorpions can cause some painful stings. On the other hand, mosquitos, fleas, and ticks can carry diseases that are transported from pets and humans. According to the Smithsonian Institute there are 10 quintillion bugs… that’s a gigantic number. But, there are some basic steps you can take in order to eliminate the number of bugs in your yard. Insects are similar in a way to humans, because they need shelter, food, and water to survive.

Seal your doors, cracks, & holes

To keep insects from crawling under your door, try installing an aluminum or steel threshold underneath your door. If you have any cracks or seals in your home, you need to seal them completely up to stop the nuisances from finding their way into your house. It’s also advised to look for holes in the roof, or cracks in the foundation. Holes in the roof are commonly found around the chimney or roof vents.

Maintain your yard

It’s very crucial to keep your yard maintained to cut down on bug infestations. Mosquitos need a water supply in order to breed, so eliminating pools of water in your yard is one of the best ways to reduce mosquito populations.

Keep your house clutter free
- To keep bugs from entering your home, you need to get rid of their favorite amenities. A dirty and cluttered home is an easy breeding ground for bugs. If you have a lot of things lying around your house, this creates an easy hiding or nesting place for insects. Bugs also need a food source to survive. Limiting your food consumption to one room will help keep pesky bugs away, and be sure to clean up any spills or crumbs right away. Make sure to store all your food in airtight containers, and keep your unsealed food in the refrigerator. Wash your dishes immediately or put them into the dishwasher.
- Store your trash properly

Your trash can become a heaven for insects, especially cockroaches. Keep your food garbage in the kitchen and not into wastebaskets in other rooms. The trash needs to be placed in a container with a lid, and it’s best to empty the trash out every night. All inside and outdoor trash cans should be cleaned and disinfected routinely.

DIY Rug Cleaning

mmccord — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 01:22:26 +0000

Rugs can give warmth and depth for practically any space. If you have any rugs in high-traffic areas (living room, foyer, or bedrooms), dirt is more prone to become embedded into the carpet fibers. The more foot traffic that walks over your rug, the more dingy and dirty your beautiful rug will become. It’s not impossible to clean your rug, but it may take some time and elbow grease to get it thoroughly cleaned. If your rugs are in critical condition, or very expensive, the best solution is to hire a professional carpet cleaning company to clean your rug the proper way.

The Easy Cleaning Process

Begin the cleaning process by vacuuming both the front and back side of the rug.

Next, you will combine cold water and mild dish washing liquid soap in a bucket. To brush the carpet fibers you can either use a soft brush or a sponge.

Now, you will brush in a linear motion that is in the same direction as the nap. Make sure you scrub enough over the especially dirty spots, in order to loosen up the dirt particles that may be lodged towards the bottom layer.

After you are done scrubbing the rug, you will want to rinse it thoroughly with cool water. If your rug is small enough, you can rinse it in the bathtub or outside with the garden hose. Once you’ve finished rinsing, make sure to squeeze as much excess water out as you possibly can. To let your rug dry properly, it needs to be stretched out completely to efficiently air dry. Check the rug periodically for dryness, when the entire rug is finally dry you will want to flip it over so the opposite side can dry.

Now, if you have pretty large size rugs, they will have to be cleaned outside. But, the cleaning process is essentially the same, it will only require more time and effort to clean the larger areas.

Cleaning Up Spills…Quickly!

If you spill water on your rug, you need to get it dry as soon as possible. You can use a clean cloth to blot up the water, or you can use a hairdryer (Tip: Do not set it on the highest heat setting) to dry the area. Do not concentrate the hairdryer on just one spot, move it back and forth over the wet area.

For any spills which consist of a colored liquid (soda, wine, beer, juices, alcohol), sprinkle baking soda over the spill and allow it to sit for 3-5 minutes. The longer you allow the baking soda to sit on the stain, the better the color of the liquid will be absorbed by the baking soda. After you allow the baking soda and the liquid to sit, vacuum up all the powder. Wet a clean white cloth and wipe the area gently in the same direction as the nap. It’s important to not harshly scrub over the stain, since this can potentially push the stain further into the carpet fibers.

If maintained and kept properly, your beautiful rugs can last longer than you expected!

Simple Green Tips

mmccord — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 03:39:51 +0000

It’s very simple to start making the effort of “going green”. There are many easy and effortless everyday tasks that you can adjust, and there are also some bigger changes you can make in your household. Whether you are looking for a quick adjustment, or wanting to invest more time and money into the transition, the lists are endless!

- Instead of using new bags every time at the grocery store, buy reusable bags or even reuse plastics ones from home.

- Instead of purchasing new magazines, share a subscription with a friend. Also, you can purchase used magazines from your local bookstore.

- Switch the usage of harsh chemical cleaners to a homemade baking soda and vinegar cleaner. You can also purchase green or organic household cleaners. In a ½ gallon bucket of water, mix ¼ cup of baking soda and a ½ cup of vinegar.

- Reuse & recycle as much as possible! “Of the 251 million tons of trash, or solid waste, generated in the United States, about 81.8 million tons or 32.5% was either recycled or composted.” (Source: EPA)

- How to recycle glass: dump out any food residue and rinse lightly. You can leave on paper and plastic labels since they will be burned or blown off in the recycling process. Remove lids and caps!

- Identify hazardous waste, and make sure you know the proper disposal for these materials. Many automotive materials are classified as hazardous waste: batteries, used oil, antifreeze, brake fluid, and transmission fluid. Many pesticides and household products can classify as hazardous material as well.

- If you bring your lunch to work or school, always use reusable containers and utensils.

- To reduce wasted electricity, unplug all your electronics and appliances when they are not in use.

- Help save more trees and cut down on unwanted junk mail by visiting the website catalogchoice.org

- When you purchase computer printing paper, make sure to buy 100% post-consumer recycled paper.

- For your bills, sign up for the “paperless” billing or e-statements to cut down on use of paper.

- Try to conserve more water: Check your pipes and faucets for leaks, install water conserving showerheads and low-flow faucet aerators, don’t leave the water running the entire time your brush your teeth, use the dishwasher and clothes washing machine for full loads only.

As you can see going green can be simple, help sustain our earth for a better tomorrow!

Tips for a Better Outdoor Kitchen

mmccord — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 01:57:21 +0000

Whether you have a pool, enjoy grilling, or just love being outside during warmer seasons, having an outdoor kitchen is becoming an increasingly popular demand.

Pretty much the same basic features you have in an indoor kitchen can be applied to an outdoor kitchen. These features can include refrigerators, grills, cabinets, and sinks, but all of these need to be waterproofed. The barbeque grill is the main feature of your outdoor kitchen, since this is how you will be preparing your food. There are many different choices when it comes to picking a BBQ grill, and you can have custom ones made that can get pretty expensive. But, you can get an already built basic BBQ grill for a pretty reasonable price. Some grills have the handy option of coming with a built in rotisserie, or skewers.

You need to consider the best flooring option; you will want to eliminate any choices that are too slick. Both marble and tile are not the best choices for your outdoor kitchen. Also, similar to your indoor kitchen, your outdoor kitchen will need will need storage cabinets and countertop space. The most common choices for countertops are brick and stone. The storage cabinets need to be waterproofed to withstand extreme weather conditions. Stainless steel is a great choice since it will match your grill. If you want to use wood for the cabinets, make sure to use a wood that will not rot. Concrete and stucco are also popular choices for outdoor kitchens. It’s also beneficial to have your outdoor kitchen covered from the outdoor elements. The best idea would be some sort of overhead covering, but it’s not recommended to have a cover over your grill because of all the smoke. Another great feature for your outdoor kitchen is a sink. The best choices for outdoor sinks include stainless steel and ceramic. Your home water supply will either be connected to the outdoor sink, or a fed with a hose.

Once you have the perfect outdoor kitchen, you are set to entertain your friends and family!

How to Remove Wallpaper

mmccord — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 01:55:49 +0000

The task of removing wallpaper is not always a simple task, but there are a few pointers for a more efficient and less painstaking duty.

Prepare Your Room

Before beginning, make sure to remove all outlet covers and switch plates from the walls. Also, you might want to place a drop cloth on the floor.

Score Wallpaper

You can purchase a wallpaper scorer at your local home improvement store. When you score the wallpaper, this will create tiny little holes in the wallpaper, which will make the solution infiltrate deeper into the adhesive base.

Mixing the Solution & Applying

You don’t have to spend money to buy a commercial solution; all you need is hot water and fabric softener. It’s best to use a large size spray bottle for combining the 2 ingredients, mix the solutions on a one to one ratio. Also, you want the water to be as hot as possible! Now, use the spray to saturate a section of the wallpaper. Spray as much area of the wall as you can for about 15 minutes, and then allow the solution to sit for a few minutes.

Stripping the Wallpaper

Starting at the bottom corners, pull the wallpaper upwards strip by strip. You can use a dull butter knife or a wide putty knife to help pry up stubborn wallpaper corners. Continue repeating this procedure until all the wallpaper has been removed.

Clean Your Walls

For cleaning your freshly stripped walls, in a large bowl combine a tablespoon of dishwashing liquid detergent and very hot water. Use a sponge to scrub the walls and any remaining wallpaper adhesive. Once this task is finished, wipe the walls with clean water and wipe with a towel.

Growing An Easy Herb Garden

mmccord — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 04:04:56 +0000

If you are into gardening or creating easy at home DIY’s, then making an indoor herb garden is so simple and really beneficial to your kitchen. There are a few very easy herbs you can grow inside that require very little maintenance and extremely durable. Also, these herbs are commonly found in many recipes. Cilantro, Basil, and Mint are super easy herbs to start growing!

Cilantro

Cilantro or also referred to as “Coriander”, is a strong herb that is also related to Parsley. For the warmer seasons, Cilantro will require plenty of watering and warmth for adequate growth. Place your Cilantro somewhere in the kitchen where it can get plenty of sun. If you live in a region where summers are very hot, keep the plant shaded during the hottest time of the day. Growing Cilantro plants get very thirsty, so make sure to water it thoroughly and regularly. A harvesting tip for Cilantro is to use Cilantro leaves often because it grows quickly and moves to seed quickly.

Basil

Basil is a summer growing annual and can be frost sensitive when grown outside. It has a tendency to prefer rich, moist soil conditions. Basil will need full sunlight, so place your indoor pots somewhere in the kitchen where it is sunniest. Basil is well known for Italian dishes, but surprisingly it is used in pesto sauces, Thai stir fry, and even cheesecake. Many people do not know that if you grow Basil next to a tomato plant, it will actually enhance the flavor of the tomatoes! Also, Basil can help protect tomatoes and various plants from certain bugs. Be careful not to let your plant bud or flower! This means that the Basil is ready to go to seed and the leaves will taste bitter. Clip the buds as soon as you see them.

Mint

Mint is a flavoring herb that can have an abundance of aromas, varieties, and tastes. When growing Mint, make sure to keep the plant contained since this plant tends to grow profusely. Some of the more popular varieties of this herb include spearmint, peppermint, and apple. A good harvesting tip is to pick Mint early in the morning, since this is when it has the best flavor and fragrance. You will want to pinch the growing tips to help control the herb’s height, and to encourage the stems to branch. Make sure to keep soil evenly moist, but not soggy. Yellow leaves are a sign of over-watering.

Tips for a Better Paint Job

mmccord — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 03:45:42 +0000

If you want a simple change that can drastically change the atmosphere of the rooms in your house, painting will do the job! It’s such an easy change to make to your household and can be pretty inexpensive. Although it’s a relatively easy thing to do, there are measures you can take in order to make the turn out look even more perfect.

Tip #1: Wear latex gloves or lotion

It’ easy to get paint splattered or dripped onto your hands while painting. Once this paint dries, it can be even harder to get it to immediately rub off. Wearing latex gloves or applying a thick layer of hand lotion can help to the trick. If you apply hand lotion, make sure to allow the lotion to set into your skin to create the protective barrier.

Tip #2: Slosh your paintbrush

Before you start the task of painting, you want to have the paintbrush bristles conditioned so they are more effective. Also, having the bristles conditioned will make cleaning your brushes much easier at the end of the day.

Tip #3: Keep a wet edge

It’s crucial when painting to keep a wet edge of paint and continue to paint away from the edge. When you paint over already dried areas, this can create overlap marks.

Tip #4: Blue Tape

This tape is great for keeping pristine paint lines, and is also great for using for designs. The blue tape comes off much easier than regular masking tape, and does not peel off existing paint or primer.

Tip #5: Invest in better quality brushes & rollers

This is a very important tip, and even though the cheaper brushes might look enticing, don’t fall for it. Many cheap rollers will leave fuzz residue onto the walls, and cheap brushes can leave streaky marks on the walls. In the end you will get what you pay for, so spend the extra dollar and get better quality brushes.

Tip #6: Painting Procedure

It’s best to stick to these painting steps… 1) Ceiling 2) Walls 3) Trim 4) Cabinets 5) Doors

Tip #7: Allow sufficient dry time

Make sure to read the painting instructions to see what time is specified for ample drying time. Do not peel away the blue tape until the paint is fully dried. When peeling away the tape, peel away at an angle.

Gardening Tips for spring

mmccord — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 20:17:20 +0000

For every changing season, this always means there is a different set of chores to do in your garden. During spring time it is an exciting time of year because of the beautiful and fragrant gardens. In order to keep your gardens in tip top shape, here are some tips that are beneficial for anyone with a green thumb.

Tools

Since spring time can keep you eventful in the garden, plan ahead and make a check list of all the necessary garden and yard tools you will need for upcoming spring.

Weeding

You will want to always make sure to pick out any sprouting weeds before they begin to multiply and take over your garden. You need to make sure to pull the entire weed out of the ground (the roots!).

Pruning

For many early blooming plants and shrubs, be sure to prune them as soon as blooms have passed. For roses, the early spring time is the ideal time to prune them.

Fertilization and Mulch

Spring is a great time to fertilize fruit trees. In preparation for spring, you will need to fertilize and mulch your flower beds and borders. During winter if you previously applied a hefty winter mulch, you will need to clean it up.

Composting

Composting is a great way to help recycle food and products, but is extremely good for your garden. You can create a composting bin, or purchase one at your local home improvement store. Spring is a great time to start a composting bin if you do not already have one!

Deadheading

Remove any spent flowers from the bulbs, but you can leave the rest of the plant for the time being.

Staking

For any delicate plant and flowers, you will want to stake them in order to protect them from wind damage.

Planting

Spring is a great time to bring a fresh set of flowers. Make sure that all threats of frost are over and done with. There are plenty of easy to grow perennials you can choose for your garden. Coral bells, Daylilies, Butterfly flowers, Cranesbill, and Peonies (single-flowered variety) are only a few out of many easy care perennials.

Lawn care

Spring is absolutely the best time to create a new and fresh lawn from seed. For the established lawns, begin to mow your grass in the spring time, but it’s beneficial to not cut the grass very short for the first couple times.

Whether you love planting flowers and plants, or you like the simplicity of having a well-kept lawn, gardening is a great way to add a sense of character to your home.