Regular vacuuming will extend the life of your carpeting, in which you may have a considerable sum invested.Whenever carpets and rugs are not vacuum-cleaned on a regular basis, dirt, dust, dead dust mites and other allergens could get so implanted in the carpet fibers that even industrial vacuum cleaners can have difficulty withdrawing it.

In the past, vacuum cleaners presented the problem of taking up closet space, being too heavy for elderly or people with back problems to use, noise, and tendency to render a large quantity of dust airborne while cleaning.  Today, the designers of best vacuum cleaners in the world have solved many of those problems. Beyond the basic Hoover or Electrolux mom pushed around as we played with dolls or trucks, today high end vacuum cleaners are available from manufacturers such as Dyson vacuum cleaners, Eureka vacuum, Kirby vacuum cleaners, Miele vacuum cleaners.

Just 10 years ago, vacuum cleaners ratings or reviews were only available in specialty publications such as Consumer Reports, while today a list of the top 10 vacuum cleaners with detailed reviews can be pulled up via an Internet search in seconds.

Before the advent of the vacuum cleaner, rugs had to be beaten outdoors.  While various carpet-sweeping devices had been developed as far back as the 1840s, in 1876, Herbert Melville Bissell created the first hand-pushed carpet sweeper with rotary brushes.  Bissell attained immortality as the founder of a still-prominent vacuum cleaner manufacturer. In England in 1901, Hubert Cecil Booth formulated a gasoline-powered piston-pump vacuum which was carried on a horse-drawn van, and extended into windows.

The electric vacuum cleaner was developed in Canton, Ohio in 1907 by James Murray Spangler an inventor who suffered dust allergies and asthma. Spangler’s vacuum cleaner comprised of a box of wood and tin with a broomstick and a pillow case for a debris bag. Spangler combined the suction principle (via a fan) with a rotating brush, integrating the best attribute of Booth and Bissell’s inventions.

Spangler sold his patent to a relative, William H. “Boss” Hoover, who put the Hoover Model 0 on the market in 1908.

Technorati Tags: Best Vacuum Cleaners, best vacuum cleaners in the world, Broomstick, Carpet Fibers, Carpet Sweeper, Closet Space, Consumer Reports, Dust Allergies, Dust Mites, Dyson Vacuum Cleaners, Electric Vacuum, Hubert Cecil Booth, Industrial Vacuum Cleaners, James Murray, Kirby Vacuum Cleaners, Miele Vacuum, miele vacuum cleaners, Pillow Case, Piston Pump, Rotary Brushes, Specialty Publications, top 10 vacuum cleaners, Vacuum Cleaner, vacuum cleaners ratings

In order to prevent water damage, you must first learn what causes it. This article will cover the visible causes of water damage, the ones that are easy to self-detect. Be sure to look for the second part of this article and learn all about the invisible causes of water damage as well. A good understanding of the subject will not only provide you with better tools to prevent water damage but also will help saving money by simple day to day maintenance tips that will keep your house in good shape and preserve its value. While some of the causes for damage are controllable and can be prevented if you pay enough attention, others cannot be predicted and therefore cannot be prevented.

Rain water:

Rain water will accumulate along the foundations or beneath the floor during rainy seasons unless directed away by proper drainage. It is very hard to control damage caused by rain water but it is possible to reduce its effects

Gutter & Drain:

Clogged gutters will push rainwater under shingles, or will cause water to travel down the walls internally. A lack of drains can cause an overflow. Gutters must empty far enough away from foundation walls or else water will accumulate, leading to damage and a wet basement and even to foundation problems.

Windows and Doors:

Unprofessionally installed windows and doors will allow water to penetrate into the wall. Damaged seals around windows or doors can cause windblown moisture penetration. Check your doors and windows thoroughly especially during wet seasons.

Leaking Roofs:

Old roofing materials can expose the roof deck to water intrusion and damage especially around chimneys and exhaust fans. Old shingles will curl and crack, allowing moisture intrusion. Cracked chimney caps allow water into interior areas of the chimney. Flat roof drains can clog and hold water on the roof, increasing the risks of a leak and a possible collapse of the entire roof under the weight of the water.

Attics:

Improper attic insulation and ventilation allows heat to escape, turning rooftop snow into an ice-dam. Ice dams will force moisture under roof shingles where it can drip into the attic or walls.

Technorati Tags: Better Tools, Cause Water, causes, Chimney Caps, Doors And Windows, Flat Roof Drains, Foundation Problems, Foundation Walls, Good Shape, Interior Areas, Moisture Intrusion, Moisture Penetration, Proper Drainage, Rain Water, Rainy Seasons, Roof Deck, Roofing Materials, visible, water damage, Water Intrusion, Wet Basement, Wet Seasons, Windows And Doors

Water damage happens a lot of different ways.  Ways such as toilet overflow, sink overflow, dishwasher leak, washing machine overflow, or from a busted pipe.  You never expect it to happen, but when it does, you have to take some immediate steps to prevent further damage.  Eventually you will want to call a water damage cleanup company, but before they get there, do these important steps.  This is coming from years of experience as a water damage San Diego company.

First off, you have to prevent any possibility of electrocution.  You need to shut off all power to any flooded areas.  The water damage service company should be able to walk you through how to do that.

Second, the water you want to stop.You can do this by cutting off the source of water that caused the flooding.

Third, you have to protect your furnishings from any more damage.Leaving any furnishings in water will turn something that can easily repaired into a costly item that needs to be replaced.Get them out of the flooded area as soon as you can.

Those are the steps you want to do as soon as possible before you call any water damage company.But once those things are done and you have called a water damage restoration company, here are some more things you need to do.

You will want to start soaking up as much water as possible with a mop or a large towel to soak up as much of the water as possible.  Remember, the longer any wall or furniture or flooring is exposed to water, the greater the damage can be including mold damage.

Next, you have to wipe off all the moisture from any furniture.Once again you are trying to minimize the costs of the damage as much as possible

Also you need to remove any wet area rugs, or anything else you find on the floor of the flooded area.

Finally any closet doors or dresser drawers or whatever else that can be opened to allow air to circulate you want to open.

Doing these things will allow you to minimize as much damage as possible prior to calling the water damage repair company.This will reduce the costs and save you money in the long run.

Technorati Tags: Area Rugs, Cleanup, Closet Doors, Different Ways, Dishwasher, Dresser Drawers, Electrocution, Flood, Floods, Flooring, Furniture, general, home repair, Mold, Mop, Restoration Company, San Diego Company, Source Of Water, Toilet Overflow, Washing Machine, water damage, Water Damage Restoration, Wet Area

Locating the best professional carpet cleaner is very important since it will depend on the type of service that you will be given since the service you get is only as good as the people who provide it. Before hiring a professional carpet cleaner, you need to take into account a few things such as obtaining references from friends and the industry Trade Organizations, and also checking out recommendations from the firm’s previous customers.

Having done that, one can also check if there are any complaints against the professional carpet cleaners and this information is available in the local Government Consumers Office or the Bureau of Better Business. Once you have located the professional carpet cleaner, the next thing to do is to ascertain that the written guarantees and forms will specify the stains that may not be cleanable and once these terms are defined to your satisfaction you may proceed to get your carpet cleaned.

But, before doing so you may also need to ascertain the cleaning methods used, including whether they offer truck-mounted Hot Water Extraction, a mixture of Hot Water Extraction and Shampoo or is it done through some other agitating device when needing to clean very extremely soiled carpets? Do they also offer carpet protector treatment, especially after the cleaning process?

More to Think About

A final sticking point that may need to be resolved at the outset is the pricing by the professional carpet cleaners. Don’t get taken in by some too-good-to-be-true deals, and find out if there is some standardized pricing that the firm sets for its customers. In any case, the pricing usually depends on type of carpet, amount of soiling, cleaning method, amount of area that needs cleaning, and whether there are any add-ons requested. Is there moving of custom made furniture involved as well as pick-up and delivery required, or will it be in-plant cleaning? Anther thing you should find out is whether the professional carpet cleaner is affiliated with a professional organization which may be offering technical training or support.

When dealing with a professional carpet cleaner, you should always accord him or her all the respect due to a professional and should ensure that one removes/raises hangings, curtains, valuables and chandeliers. Vacuum the carpet since the carpet cleaner may not do so. It is also necessary to point out in certain terms about any special services like truck-mounted Hot Water Extraction treatment that is required and this should be done in advance. Once the work has been done by the professional carpet cleaner, one should thoroughly inspect the finished product and pay only when satisfied.

Technorati Tags: Better Business, Carpet Cleaner, carpet cleaning, Carpet Information, Carpet Protector, Carpet Treatment, Carpets, Cleaning Services, Consumers, Custom Made Furniture, Friends, Guarantees, Hot Water Extraction, Industry Trade Organizations, Local Government, Mixture, Outset, Professional Carpet Cleaners, Satisfaction, Shampoo, Stains, Sticking Point

Normal 0

Now that you have your new countertop, you’ll want to keep it locking as great as it did when it was first installed. Fortunately, granite is a strong product, second only to diamonds in strength, and needs just a few pointers for care.

Prevention is the best first step in maintaining your counter. Always use coasters for liquids. Use trivets or hot mats for hot plates or pans. Use a cutting board. If you are going to put used dishes on the counter, make sure they have been rinsed off first. Avoid putting foods directly on the counter. Stains occur when a liquid cannot leave the granite without the help of chemicals. So, take care the oils from food are not likely to be absorbed into the counter. – That pizza box could even be a problem if there is oil seeping through it.

When you do have spills, wipe them up immediately. Granite is most prone to stains from liquids containing oil or acid. So be as thorough as you can with cleaning up spills from those kinds of liquids.

Always use a soft rag or regular (non-abrasive) sponge. Most of the time all you’ll need is hot water. You can also use dishwashing liquid but be sure to rinse thoroughly to prevent a soapy build up.

Weekly, you can use a stone cleaner. Never use scouring pads or cleansers that have abrasives or bleach. Also, avoid “all purpose” cleaners with disinfectants unless they state they are made especially for granite. Also, avoid products with lemon, orange, vinegar, or citrus since the acid can dull the finish. With the popularity of granite it should not be difficult to find a stone cleaner especially designed for granite cleansing.

If you do have a stain, don’t despair; most can be eliminated easily.

For regular kitchen stains: Mix one cup of flour with two tablespoons of dishwashing liquid and apply the paste to the stain. Cover it with plastic wrap and leave overnight. The next day, gently scrape off the paste, using a wooden spoon or other (non-sharp) wooden utensil. Then rinse thoroughly.

For stains from oil, grease, or milk: Follow the same steps but substitute hydrogen peroxide for the dishwashing liquid.

For stains from coffee, tea, fruit, or fruit juice: rub gently with a mixture of 12% hydrogen peroxide and ammonia.

For marker stains: acetone or lacquer thinner will work well on dark granite and hydrogen peroxide will work for light granite.

Eventually, your countertop will need to be resealed. The sealant is what protects granite from stains and discoloration. Like all rocks, it is naturally porous and needs the sealer to prevent it from absorbing liquids. No matter how gently you handle your counter, sooner or later the sealant will begin to wear off. This could be anytime between one and five years, depending on the type of granite and its usage. Your installation company will be able to give you details about your particular product and recommendations about when to schedule resealing.

In the unlikely event you do end up with a chip or scratch to your counter, do not make this a DIY project. Contact your installation company for repairs or for a referral for a source for repairs.

With very little effort, you will be able to maintain your countertop’s like new condition for its lifetime.

Technorati Tags: Abrasives, Bleach, Coasters, Countertop, Cutting Board, Disinfectants, Flour, granite, granite care, granite cleaning, Hot Plates, Hot Water, kitchen countertop care, Liquids, Pizza Box, Purpose Cleaners, Scouring Pads, Soft Rag, Sponge, Stains, Vinegar, Wooden Spoon, Wooden Utensil