Home Improvement Editorial

Posts Tagged ‘cleaner’

We have all heard the global warming warnings and there is no better time to go green than right now.

The following are 10 tips to help you clean in a more greener and environment friendly way.

1. Buy versatile cleaners
You do not need to buy a cleaner for every single cleaning task – this is a myth perpetuated by the manufacturers to get you to buy more of their products. Go for multi-purpose cleaners – they really can tackle the majority of your cleaning chores!

2. Read Your Labels
You may not realize this but you can find plenty information pertaining to the products you buy. Products branded with a “caution” or “warning” has less impact on the environment than those branded with “danger”.

3. Watch those temperatures!
Use cold water where convenient, for example when washing decking or drive ways. You don’t always need to clean with hot water.

4. Avoid Disposables
Try cleaning with reusable products – such as clothes and sponges. The new trend for disposable cleaning cloths may seem quick and convenient but give a thought for the polar bears in the North Pole whose homes continue to melt away.

5. Go for Concentrates
They use less packaging and work out cheaper too!

6. No your grade
Most cleaning products use plastic packaging. What you may not know is that plastics come in different grades. You can normally find the grade of the product you are buying at the bottom of its packaging. As a general rule, grade 1 and 2 are good, other grades not so good!

7. Clean as you go
Don’t let the dirt pile up before you clean. That curry stain on the worktop would be easier to clean sooner rather than later. You end up using more energy and more products if you allow your dirt to accumulate.

8. Pick up clutter
Try to pick up as much clutter as possible before turning on the vacuum. Again you use more energy if you are picking up clutter while vacuuming and the vacuum is left on for much longer.

9. Use greener alternatives
Try using lemon juice for removing stains, vinegar for your windows, white wine to tackle red wine stains, cola to descale your toilet and baking soda for degreasing.

10. (Drum roll please…) Recycle! Recycle! Recycle!
All your hard work will go to waste if you simply dispose of your packaging in the refuse. When you have finished your products, simply rinse and recycle.

There are many different types of swimming pools that one can choose from, and one of those is to go with the fiberglass swimming pool. Fiberglass pools are manufactured (and installed) as large molded structures that are then placed in the ground. The large “bucket” is then surrounded by a strong reinforcement, like the more conventional concrete, which will then help it keep its place.

Fiberglass swimming pools don’t have a liner because the shell is sprayed with a specially designed coating. A wide range of models with different sizes, colors and shapes are available in pools made out of fiberglass, and allow the type of variety that many consumers love. One of the great benefits that is credited to fiberglass pools is that that are very easy and quick to install, even with the need for heavy equipment. Maintenance is also a relatively simple process, since there will never be a liner replacement, and in general, fiberglass swimming pools will need less chemicals to keep clean than other models.

While fiberglass swimming pools require less maintenance, they do require certain maintenance to ensure that they are not damaged or in need of greater repairs and upkeep down the line. Unlike other swimming pools, fiberglass swimming pools MUST be filled with water at all times to avoid causing structural damage through cracking or buckling. This is due to ground pressure that occurs because of improper drainage. If for some reason the pool absolutely needs to be drained, do not do it on your own! Make absolutely sure to contact the pool manufacturer and qualified professionals. You don’t want to damage such a large investment!

Other factors to keep in mind is to avoid the “bathtub ring” effect of grime. Not only does this look bad, but this could damage the coatings. Most pool supply stores should sell pool tile cleaner that can take care of that in a jiffy. As an important side note, never use abrasive cleaners or harsh tools like steel wool or metal scrapers to clean fiberglass. This type of treatment will permanently damage the gel coating in the pool.

While the fiberglass pool may seem to develop hairline cracks over time, this is not a major concern since this is only indicative of the surface gel, and not actual structural damage. Dirt is always a concern, and should be brushed towards the main drain and the vacuumed out with the appropriate tool.

The fiberglass swimming pool has its advantages and disadvantages like many other swimming pools. For some this may not be a good choice, while for others the fiberglass swimming pool may be exactly what they have been looking for.

Small changes can make a big difference to the look and feel of your kitchen. In fact you can modernize your kitchen for very little outlay in expense. Here are 5 quick and easy ideas…

1 Ultra Mixer

Get rid of your tiny hand mixer and get an ultimate machine. A stand mixer has a lot more capacity and power if you are a faithful baker or cook. The price has lowered tremendously in recent years making them affordable. You can justify the price by how much that speed up your activities in the kitchen. Ultra-mixers have multiple speeds, attachments, and controls to mix virtually anything. The mixers are available in a rainbow of hues to coordinate with new paint or wallpaper too.

2 Microwave

The big, boxy and expensive microwaves that first came out are gone! Or they should be. If you have a large, bulky microwave, it is time to upgrade. Microwaves now come in all sizes and colors, not to mention power levels. If you only need one to warm up food occasionally, a small one is for you. If you do a lot of cooking with the microwave as the source, you will need a sturdier one. Microwaves can be purchased at any department store, appliance store or even a grocery store. They can be plastic, metal or stainless steel.

3 Cooking Gadgets

Every modern cook needs the newest cooking gadgets. Whether you use them or not is up to you, but displaying them may make you seem like more of a modern cook. One such tool is the corn husker. It is a square brush that fits in the palm of your hand with small bristles. The bristles are soft as to not damage the kernels of corn on a cob, but they grab the corn silk from between the rows before it can get stuck in your teeth. Cool, huh?

4 Flooring

Does your floor seem dingy and gray, even after you just mopped? It may not just be the cleaner or water in the bucket. It may be that your linoleum floor is out of date. The linoleum or laminate floors hold up to wear and tear, but do need replacement after several years go by. Find replacement flooring that matches your colors to brighten the room. There are many styles to choose from, including laminate, laminate wood, wood, vinyl and linoleum. The price can vary to, so make sure you have a budget in mind before shopping.

5 Table

If there is a Formica topped table in your kitchen, it is time to modernize. There are many more new, family friendly tables on the market that look pretty. Wood tables have a protective covering you can have applied on the wood, which is clear, so you can still see the beauty of the wood underneath. The covering is waterproof, so any spills will not harm it and they can be wiped right off. There are also coverings that prevent nicks, dings and scratches from showing on the surface.

If you want to save shopping from home with the best alternative is to create your own cleaning products. Then we will give you a number of tricks to be able to clean in an original way and with the elements already have at home.

Instead of buying expensive cleaners for the floor and the window you can use a mild dishwashing detergent. Mix two tablespoons of detergent in 3.75 liters of water. Then use this preparation to clean windows and dirty floors.

Instead of buying cleaning products for the bathroom four cups of thyme mixed with one gallon of water. This solution is used to clean mold off the tiles, toilets and bathtubs. Apply this mixture and rub the area. You can also use toothpaste to clean the toilet. It will look impeccable.

Do you have elements of chromium in your home? There are different ways of cleaning. For example, you can use a cloth dipped in vinegar. To clean chrome furnaces can clean them with a mixture of water and baking soda. Let it sit overnight and clean the next day.

Spread toothpaste in the sink and leave overnight. Scrub the next day. The effect is greater if you leave work for several hours. It also adds three capsules of vitamin C.

To create a sachet of environment takes a piece of cotton with your favorite fragrance. Put it in an open container and leave it in the room. You can also rub scented oils on your bulbs and flood warming fragrance throughout the room.

Finally, we will teach you to create your own furniture polish. This will not only keep our furniture more polished but also be better protected. Mix one teaspoon of olive oil and half cup of lemon juice. You can also mix a tablespoon of lemon oil with four cups of mineral oil. Passes these mixtures by the furniture and leave it on.