Whether you get blood stains on clothes, furniture, carpets, or another area of your home, it can be distressing to see a continual reminder of an accident. Depending on the amount of blood and how long it had to soak in, you may be able to remove it with one or more of the tips that we outline below.
Removing Blood Stains From Clothes
The first thing to do when blood has splattered onto clothes is to remove them and soak them in cold water. Next, you can pre-treat the garment by placing liquid detergent into the cold water and allowing it to sit for up to five minutes. You may need to push down on the item of clothing with one hand to ensure that it remains fully under water.
You are ready at this point to wash the blood-stained clothing with other clothing items or sheets and towels. The other items you wash with the pre-treated clothing should be as close to its color as possible. There is no need to rinse the water or detergent off the piece of clothing with the blood stain before you put it in the wash machine with the rest of the items.
Run a load of clothes through the wash machine as you normally would but make sure the dial is set to cold water. Unfortunately, using warm or hot water will cause the stain to set into the clothing rather than remove it. If the bloodstain does not come out completely when the load has gone through a drying cycle, you can try to repeat the same process. You may need to hire a maid service if you do not want to do this yourself.
Removing Blood Stains From Furniture
If your child had a nose bleed while sitting on the sofa or your cat got a claw stuck and left a little blood behind, you might think the stains are impossible to remove. While some will be difficult to get rid of entirely, others will come up with the right combination of elbow grease and cleaning product. Keep in mind that blood is always easier to clean up when it is fresh and has not yet had the opportunity to dry and harden on the surface of your furniture.
Many home goods, discount, and online stores sell cleaning products designed only for removing blood stains. These products work by making the properties of the stain water-soluble so you can simply wipe it up. At Companion Maids, we encourage you to research several blood removal cleaning products and to read the reviews about each product. With so many options available, it really becomes a matter of preference as to which one you will buy. You can even use a magic eraser.
You also have the option of trying to remove the blood stain without special cleaning products. Here are some tips that can help:
Pour hydrogen peroxide on the blood stain. This is a common trick in the medical and veterinary fields.
Spray window cleaner on the blood stain before you attempt to wash the fabric. You will need a cloth to rub the window cleaner gently into the stain.
If the fabrics of your furniture are washable, try pouring salt water on the blood-stained area.
For removable pieces of furniture such as couch cushions, place several inches of water in the bathtub and then add a denture cleaning tablet. The blood-stained item can remain in the bucket for up to one hour before you remove it and wash it by hand.
Try rubbing lava soap on the stain and then return in three hours to see if the stain is gone.
Tips For Removing Blood Stains From Carpets
The first step in getting blood out of carpet is to saturate the area with cold water. After allowing the cold water to sit for several minutes, try to blot out the stain with a clean rag. Be sure not to use a wiping motion since this will spread the stain rather than remove it. A wet/dry vacuum cleaner can also work on a blood stain that has not set in yet. As an alternative to water, you can try using a tablespoon of ammonia and the same blotting process.
You may need to buy a carpet cleaner if neither of the above methods is effective at removing a blood stain. Be sure to follow the instructions on the back of the can, which will likely call for you to sprinkle some cleaning product onto your carpet, allow it to sit for a specified time, and vacuum the area.
Hiring A Maid Service
What each of the above tips have in common is that they may or may not be effective while still costing you time and money. It could be a better use of both resources to contact Companion Maids for a one-time cleaning session. We use strong, professional-grade cleaning supplies that you probably don’t have access to as a consumer. We have also made a significant investment in heavy-duty cleaning equipment such as wet/dry vacuum cleaners.
The likelihood of getting a blood stain out of your furniture or carpet is much higher when you work with us. Companion Maids also offers laundry services as an add-on to regular cleaning sessions. Whether you have concerns about set-in stains or not, the best way to prevent your home from becoming dirty and cluttered is to arrange for regular maid service. For your convenience, we offer cleaning packages every seven, 14, or 28 days.
We welcome you to call our office in Chicago at 773-346-6714 to learn more about how we can clean your home and reduce the stress in your life. You can also request services by completing this form.
For a person who hates ironing, jeans are God sent to me. I’m always on the quest to find the best pair, and no wonder it’s a never-ending job for me. I can’t seem to get enough of them –I’m what they call a total jeans addict. It’s probably because I not only love how relaxing they are but also the fact that you can manipulate them to match the occasion at hand. You know how you feel when you are in the right flattering pair of jeans, perfect, right? Most importantly, they come in different style, color, and design. Whichever your taste might be, you will be well taken care of. Jeans lovers can back me when I say, for a long time I’ve struggled maintaining my jeans.
They just seem to fade quicker than they should and I couldn’t place what I was doing wrong. Trust me, I’m a believer of buying quality, therefore cheap was out of reason (though to some people, this might be the reason. You get what you pay for. Nevertheless, you can still maintain them). Regardless, after I invested so much on a designer pair, only for it to fade so fast before I could even say ‘goodness’. I felt so betrayed (I don’t know by whom exactly…. I think the jeans) and I knew I had to do something before heartbreak. Unless you are down for the faded and stretched look, you will thank me for sharing what I’ve learned since then.
Keep them clean
It goes without saying; the cleaner the garment the better and newer it looks. Although when it comes to jeans, you don’t need to wash as frequently as other clothing. Spot washing will also help lengthen the period before the next wash. But personally, I think it’s harder for ladies to adhere to this tradition than guys. Remember the dreaded sag at the knee or bum after wearing your jeans without washing? Ladies know what I’m talking about. Washing your jeans helps them get their shape back as well as keep them looking fresh. I can’t seem to bring myself to wear my jeans more than twice if you are like me, you should take more care in the cleaning process. With just a little extra care, they will always look good even after that frequent wash. Here are some tips while washing.
Turn the jeans inside out prior to washing
Turn the jeans inside out to help reduce the detergent from wearing out its dye. Additionally, a lot of friction is involved while tossing and it will be much easier on the appearance of the jeans when washed inside out. This should become a standard habit because jeans washed inside out will maintain more of their color.
Use vinegar while washing
If you see that your jeans have started to fade with each wash, start dying. It will brighten or darken your jeans more. You can also opt to use vinegar, which will not add color to your cloth but will preserve the remaining one. You might also consider using vinegar as your detergent. While detergents are harsh in order to eliminate stains and may not be able to differentiate between a stain and dye, vinegar is milder while getting the same results.
Hugely avoid bleaching
While bleaching does very well with white clothes, it severely damages other colors. If you are using bleach on your white clothes, be good to change the water. Simple thing to do but hugely saves your jeans. You should not use any bleaching agent when washing your colored jeans. The worst thing about bleach stained clothes, Is the fact that they can’t be easily reversed. In fact, most victims I know just wholly count them as a loss.
This doesn’t mean you wholly give up on using any detergent. There are literally dozens of laundry detergents that are color-safe for your jeans. It might be overwhelming settling on one since each of them claims to be the best. Therefore, the best way to shop for the detergent you need is to understand what you need for your cloth. Choose the one that will preserve the color of your jeans or that which has an additive that prevents or reduces bleeding.
Wash with similar color
It sounds like a no-brainer but it is still worth mentioning. You should always clean jeans of similar color together. I learned this lesson the hard way. Since I had only a handful of clothes to wash, I thought why not throw them all in the washer, mark you, none was bleeding as far as I was concerned. You can imagine the shock I got when I saw the big navy blue patch on my peach silk blouse. I actually think it’s more painful to lose a cloth on a discoloring stain than on a tear. It’s because it feels so careless plus there’s nothing you can do about it and chances are, you’ll never get to wear the cloth again. Therefore, save yourself a headache by sorting out your laundry first.
Don’t use the dryer
While there are great benefits of using the dryer than line drying especially during winter, it is not so friendly to your jeans. Since you want your jeans looking new and fresh after every wash, it is best if you consider line drying them. The heat and tumbling from the dryer only weakens and reshapes your cloth gradually. Besides, line drying also has an added advantage of making clothes smell so fresh that a dryer can’t achieve in the absence of a detergent. You also need to know that the ultra-violet rays of the sun don’t go smoothly on dark colored clothes when exposed to it for long. Either hang them under a shade or remove them as soon as they are dry. If you lack a line dryer because they are literally banned in some neighborhood, either use low heat in a dryer. Or a shower curtain rod can suffice as your line dryer.
When you use these tips on your good set of jeans, you will wear them longer than before. It is also essential when it comes to jeans; you adopt the mantra of quality over quantity.
The idea of pest invasion in a home doesn’t go too well with so many homeowners. Terming pests as annoying and frustrating is actually more of an understatement. Pests such as rats and cockroaches cause so much damage leaving you feeling so disappointed and agitated. The presence of pests in your home only means one thing, your home is dirty. Pests, for instance, rats dwell in a filthy area where they can easily get food.
Your kitchen cleanliness shouldn’t be anything short of spectacular cleanliness. The kitchen is sensitive because this is where you are likely to find many cockroaches and rodents coming out of there hiding places in search of food. So how do you deal with a pest infestation? This is a question that occupies the mind of many homeowners who have no clue on how to tame these menace-causing creatures. However, here are some great ways of dealing with a pest infestation.
The Cause Of The Infestation.
The first step of dealing with a pest infestation is finding out what caused it. Cockroaches, flies, and rodents are some common pests that infest so many houses. These three pests are attracted by a rather filthy surrounding. Flies are dangerous since they can easily spread diseases. Rodents on the other hand feast on so many things including garments, wood, and even rubber. However, having a cluttered and an unhygienic set up has to be the leading reason as to why pests will come knocking at your door.
Your house, in particular, the kitchen area has to have top-notch tidiness and sanity. This will greatly help keep rodents and cockroaches at bay. After cooking your meals, ensure all the utensils are cleaned especially at night since that’s when rodents and cockroaches crawl out of their hiding to look for food. Any leftover food and all water jerrycans should always remain tightly closed.
Determine the kind of pests that have invaded your house.
In some cases, you may only have one type of pest that has infested your home while in other cases you may have several pests playing around in your home. The remedy of dealing with pests vary depending on the pests, in a nutshell, the approach of eradicating pests is different for every pest. This will help you determine which action steps you shall take. For instance, if you are dealing with rodents’ infestation, you will be able to know whether to buy traps or buy poison that will kill the rodents or call in a professional exterminator. However, choose a course of action that will bear you positive results. While at it, also find out how far the infestation has extended so that you can come up with an effective method.
Have all entries points properly sealed.
Pests don’t just find a way to your house miraculously. Rats squeeze their way to your home in any tiny hole they will find. One or two rats that will invade your house will start multiplying and within no time you have an empire of rats to deal with. The same applies to cockroaches. Flies will use even the tiniest of holes to gain access to your home meaning that you have to ensure all openings are tightly sealed. It will be very prudent for you to pay great attention when sealing your door frames and window frames. This is to ensure there isn’t any space for any pest to use to gain access to your home. If you have pipes that run in and out of your house, you should ensure that they are properly closed. This helps trap the pests in your house giving you a better shot at dealing with them.
Embrace a clean environment.
When dealing with a pest infestation, one of the remedies include ensuring your environment looks nothing less than tidy and clean. First and foremost, ensure your litter bins are emptied and remain clean. Essentially, this ensures that the rodents have no food hence they will starve or forced to move to another environment. Nevertheless, ensure that the grass in your yard remains short and that any stagnant water is immediately drained. The essence of doing this is that you are eliminating the breeding ground for mosquitoes which can be very detrimental to your health especially during rainy season. A clean surrounding keeps many pests at bay.
Don’t allow fruits to overripe.
Fruits that are overripe tend to attract a lot of flies most of the times. Fruits such as bananas easily ripen when placed in the fruit basket for such a long time. This means you will have many flies to deal with. To add on that, cockroaches will love to take a bite of your fruits so it would be prudent for you to keep your fruits in a safe place that no rat or cockroach will reach.
Call an exterminator.
If the pest infestation is too difficult for you to handle there’s always an option for you to call in a professional pest exterminator. If you had employed your own techniques and they aren’t really bearing any results, then it’s high time you seek help from pests control department in your area. These guys will not only help you eradicate the pests but will also teach you on measures to prevent pest infestation in your house.
The above method will come in handy as you try to deal with these destructive creatures. Pests such as termites are very destructive as they eat away wood. Dealing with pest infestation is very tasking and involves a lot of patience. Rodents can be clever and sometimes they can’t easily walk into a trap as easily as you might think, so patience is very important. However, ensure you have employed preventive measures so as to ensure that you don’t deal with another pest infestation in your house. These pests can really deny you peace and joy in your home if they aren’t dealt with in a proper manner. Conclusively, prevention is always better than cure.
A sponge is such a simple item that most people just use for washing dishes. In as much as they are primarily meant for dish-washing, sponges can be used for so many other purposes. These water-absorbent squares can be re-purposed to do various other activities. Sponge hacks are very interesting and the fact that sponges are relatively affordable means that you should really try these hacks out. The beauty of repurposing an item is that you get to save some coins at the end of the day. Some of these sponge hacks may seem pretty unfamiliar to many people but once you get to know them they will thrill and fascinate you so much. So, what are these sponge hacks? Here are some great and amazing ways a kitchen sponge can be reused.
Cleaning Your Microwave
Who could ever have thought that your dirty microwave can be given a touch of sparkling cleanliness by using a sponge? The food particles that get stuck in your microwave can really make you avoid using it to warm up your food. However, someone came up with a hack to ensure these food particles don’t in any way prevent you from enjoying the services of your electronic device. Dip the sponge in water then place it in the microwave and let it sit there for approximately three minutes. Remember to switch it on. After three minutes, don’t take the sponge out yet. Let it sit there for a few more minutes. The steam in your microwave will help loosen up the food particles that had stuck. From there you can easily remove the food particles thus your microwave becomes spectacularly clean.
Cleaning Glass Blades or Shutter
There are surfaces that are tricky to clean, such surfaces may include shutter, blinds and even fan blades. There are expensive methods of cleaning these surfaces but when you have a kitchen sponge you can clean such surfaces and save yourself a lot of money. All you need is two sponges and a pair of tongs. Right below the scrubber of your sponge, make a deep but slightly narrow cut. The cut shouldn’t be too narrow neither should it be too wide, just the right size to fit the edge of the tong. Make a cut on both the sponge. On the edge of the tongs, place the sponge such that the scrubbing side of the sponge faces outside. Hold the glass surface or the fan blade between the two sponges and move the tong vertically such that it picks any dust present.
Cleaning Oven Racks or Grill Grates
Cleaning grill grates is not a joke especially when you don’t have the right tools thus this process becomes hard and time-consuming. However, someone discovered an easy and fast way of cleaning cooking grills and oven by using a kitchen sponge. Using a paper cut, cut your sponge vertically and horizontally to create several squares. But don’t make deep cuts. You can then use the slit sponge to effectively clean your oily grill grates and even oven racks. This method is very effective as you are able to remove dirt even in corners that seem unreachable.
Use as a Nail Polish Remover
As a lady, if the process of removing nail polish doesn’t intrigue you maybe because you have to buy a nail polish every other time then you should try this hack and just see how efficient it will work for you. Take a sponge that doesn’t have the scrubbing surface and fold it then put it in an airtight glass jar. Pour all the contents of the nail polish bottle into the container with the sponge. Afterward, stick your fingers into the sponge one by one. Remember to swirl your fingers so as to completely remove all the nail polish from your nails. When you are done, tightly close the glass jar and put it safely until the next time you will need to remove nail polish from your nails.
Great as Ice Packs
This sponge hack is very creative and definitely helps you save some money. If you are a gym person or a sportsperson, then you can definitely agree that ice packs are something that you regularly use. Kitchen sponges can be used to make some reliable and efficient ice packs. Dip the sponge in a roughly large bowl that has water. Let the sponge absorb water for some time before taking it out. Squeeze it lightly before putting it in a ziplock bag and putting it in a freezer. After three hours, you will have yourself an ice pack that you can use to relieve painful muscles, aching joints or even swells on your body. What a hack.
Dryer Sheets DIY
Knowing how to turn kitchen sponge into dryer sheets will make you ditch all those dryer sheets sold in the stores which are actually expensive compared to this method. All you need is water, thin sponges and fabric softener, it looks simple already, doesn’t it? Into an airtight container, pour one cup of water and half a cup of fabric softener. Gently stir them together to get a dissolved mixture. Dip the thin kitchen sponge into the container with the solution, then close the container tightly and store it in the laundry room. When doing your laundry, take one sponge and throw it in the dryer together with the wet clothes and run the dryer machine. When you are done with the laundry, put the sponge back into the container and you can use it again.
Kitchen sponges have these and more other functions. Other ways include the curling of hair, seed germination, and others. You can go online and learn the various ways you can turn a simple kitchen sponge into a tool that can be used and re-used. However, always ensure that your kitchen sponge remains in very clean conditions since a dirty sponge can easily be a breeding ground for bacteria. Try these great and fun tips today.
Every home appliance was manufactured to serve a certain distinct purpose. These appliances have really come in handy as they have made work so easier. For instance, a coffee maker has made the process of preparing coffee take less time, washing the dishes has become easier and fun thanks to the dishwasher. These appliances have become a necessity amongst most modern homeowners. Do you know one appliance can perform another task other than the intended one? The essence of these hacks is that you don’t have to buy one too many appliances whereas you can have a reduced number of appliances since one device can perform several functions. Here are some great hacks about home appliances.
Coffee maker.
It goes without saying that a coffee maker is a home appliance with a very distinct function, which is obviously making coffee. An intelligent and creative chef can attest that with access to only a coffee maker, he can prepare some great meals. A coffee maker can be used to boil eggs or even rice thus eliminating the need of having a rice cooker. Other than that, it can also be used to cook complex dishes. Isn’t it fascinating knowing how much a coffee maker can do other than making coffee?
Cleaning of jeans.
Most people don’t often wash their favorite pair of jeans as they tend to fade away with time. Well, freezer, yes freezer, is ultimately your best solution. All you need to do is put your pair of jeans in an impervious bag and store it in this home appliance for some time. Bacteria don’t tend to survive very well in cold surroundings so the cold temperatures in the freezer will kill any bacteria present in your pair of jeans. This method not only eliminates bacteria but also the smell of dirty jeans leaving your jeans smelling new. Nevertheless, if you have a computer hard disk that has crushed you can put it into the freezer and it will get revived, for a short time though, but you should be able to retrieve important files. Also, you can use your freezer to recharge NiMh and NiCd batteries when they are dead.
The dishwasher is your best solution.
A dishwasher is an appliance that was designed to perform a number of duties but most people only relate dishwasher with dishes. This appliance can clean just about anything. It has the capability of killing bacteria while ensuring that original shape of items remains to be so. This appliance is designed to be gentle thus you can clean items that can easily lose their shape when put in the washing machine. Dishwashing machine is your best bet when it comes to cleaning not only dishes but also other items.
Rice cooker.
This is an appliance with the potential of doing a number of activities, but don’t let its name restrict you. Steamed towels are very popular with high-end restaurants or even spa. These towels are used to relax the body prior to a body massage. Also, these towels can be used to wipe hands as they are capable of killing bacteria. However, cabinets used to warm these towels are rather expensive. There won’t be any need to buy a towel-warming cabinet while you have a rice cooker. You can easily warm and steam your towels using a rice cooker. Furthermore, there is a wide range of food that you can prepare using a rice cooker.
Use the oven to dehydrate food.
The expensive cost of commercial dehydrators should not deny you the chance to enjoy the pleasant taste of dried food and fruits. If you have an oven then you can easily enjoy your dried meals round the clock. All you need to do is stack numerous cooling racks above each other. These racks are separated by balls of aluminum foil which are placed on the corners. You will probably need to remove the oven racks so that you can place the racks with the fruits on the bottom. Then remember to set the temperatures to 200 degrees then leave the fruits there for approximately six hours. From there you will be able to enjoy the sweet taste of dried fruits.
Disinfecting your sponges.
Sponges are a very useful tool in the kitchen. Sponges are used to clean dishes and in the process, they can get bacteria if they are not properly maintained. It wouldn’t be such a good idea to clean your dishes with a dirty sponge that is host to numerous bacteria. To ensure your kitchen sponge is clean and bacteria free, dip in water then lightly squeeze it. Put it in the microwave and let it sit there for two minutes. To have clean utensils you will have to use a kill sponge and your microwave will help you sanitize your kitchen sponge.
Dying of fabric.
Turns out that the microwave cannot only be used warm cold food but can also be used to speed up the process of dying fabric. This is a rather interesting hack. A microwave impressively accelerates the dying reaction from hours to just minutes making it so convenient and reliable so much. Interestingly, a microwave is the recommended way of dying fabric.
Washing brushes.
Besides keeping your dishes in a sparkling mode, you can also use your dishwasher to clean your brushes which include paint brushes as well as makeup brushes. A dishwasher can also be used to clean computer keyboard, but you will need to be careful about how you go about it. Place it facing downwards and remember to skip the drying cycle. It should stay there for a few days before you attach it back to your computer.
Without any doubt, these hacks are very interesting and fun to implement. When purchasing a home appliance be sure to opt for an appliance that will serve you in various ways so that the appliance becomes more efficient. The survivability of these appliances entirely depends on how you maintain and use them. Always ensure you give top-notch maintenance.
The clean state of your roof and gutter is an aspect that any homeowner can never afford to overlook. Gutters are very useful as they are used to drain water from the roof whenever it rains. During this process, a lot of tree leaves and other objects may find their way into the gutter thus compromising the efficiency of your gutter. If debris continues to accumulate in the gutter, this will lead to clogged gutters that will lead to the creation of ice dams on the roof that will force water to drip into your house through the roof.
Having a clean roof is essential too since a clean roof speaks volumes about the beauty of your house. Algae, moss, and lichen are very common on many roofs and they gradually reduce the beauty of your roof. Here are some helpful tips that can help you keep your roof and gutters in very good conditions.
How to clean gutters.
Before even cleaning your gutters, you need to set aside a day that is favorable in terms of weather, preferably choose a calm day with fewer winds and less sunny. Gutter cleaning process requires several tools which include:
Ladder
Gloves
Safety goggles
Brush
Garbage bag
Hosepipe
The best place to start your gutter cleaning process is the drain outlets this is because all the leaves and dirt will accumulate there. The ladder will give you a very good access to the gutters whereby you will have an easy way of eliminating the dirt. Using a ladder can be a risky affair sometimes so always have someone to hold it as you step on it.
The trowel is useful since it’s used to scoop up all the dirt and dumped into the garbage bag. Alternatively, you can use your hands to scoop up the debris, however, be careful not to get harmed by nails and other objects even if you have gloves on. With the help of a brush, you will be able to remove any silt or debris that seems stubborn.
The hosepipe has pressure attachment that will help you remove all the loose debris making your gutter clean. You should repeat this process for every gutter length and at the end of it all, you gutter should be debris free. If your gutter is not properly slanted, there will be a problem when it comes to drainage of water. This means that you will have stagnant water and debris in your gutters to worry about. Stagnated water in your gutter is a good breeding ground for mosquitoes, also it promotes the creation of ice dams that destroy your rooftop. You can call a plumber and have it fixed or you can do it yourself.
How to clean a roof.
Ways of cleaning a roof may vary depending on the type of roof you have. However, the process is basically similar, also, the tools required are all but the same. Weather is an aspect that you need to factor in before choosing a day to give your roof some cleaning services. The tools required are:
Safety glasses.
Non-slippery shoes.
Protective gloves.
Brush with hard bristles.
Garbage bag
Bleaching chemicals.
With the help of the ladder, you will be able to access the top of your roof from where you will be able to sweep off twigs and leaves or you can pick them up using your hand and putting them in a garbage bag. Moss creates an appealing visual effect when it grows on a roof but it can be very hazardous.
The process of removing moss can be laborious, a trowel and a brush will come in handy during this process. You should never let moss grow extensively on your roof so you should remove it as soon as it appears. If your roof is tiled, you will have to remove each tile and remove the moss using a brush. Remember to properly fix the tiles after cleaning so as to avoid having leakage when it rains.
Moss can be disposed of anywhere but for environment cleanliness purpose, dispose of it in a litter bin. Algae are fond of building up in shingle roofs. Algae are harmful as they make shingles lose their strength with time thus making them absorb a lot of heat. So how do you deal with this? A mixture of water and bleach is your best bet. As a precaution, avoid using bleach made of chlorine as they are detrimental to your shingles. Spray the solution on a small segment of your roof and thoroughly scrub to remove the algae on your shingles.
However, always stand on a dry path since the bleach solution can be very harmful to you. After a thorough scrubbing, remember to rinse the roof using clean water. The bleach solution is also harmful to your plants, so if by any chance it will get to your flowers it will be advisable if you water your plants before and after washing your roof. This will reduce the negative impact of bleach chemicals on plants.
Roof cleaning is very paramount as it can make your roof look appealing and attractive from a distance away. This process increases the survivability of your roof as it eliminates the possibility of leakages. Cases of leakage can make your roof get damaged very easily. If by any means, the process of cleaning gutter and roof seems very laborious to you, you can seek professional help at a pocket-friendly cost.
Whenever you want to undertake the process of cleaning your gutters and roof, always ensure you have protective gear on. A very clean and well-maintained rooftop will have you admiring it always as you drive or walk towards your home. In a nutshell, if your accord your gutters and roof the best maintenance, they will remain in good shape for many years hence you won’t have the bear the cost of replacing gutters every now and then. Bear in mind that maintenance is key.
It is very difficult for one to get their kids to do some chores or simple cleaning around the house without some frowning involved. The thought of entering your kid’s rooms is just tiring. Having to take a peek at their bathroom is another nightmare all by itself. However hard you think it is, it may turn out to be a walk in the park for you. No age is too young for them to start cleaning as long as you can communicate with them. Here are some very simple ways to help your kids learn how to clean your home.
It doesn’t have to be a serious ordeal.
Scolding your kids for them to do chores around the house will not help them at all. Punishing them using chores will make them hate those chores even more and in turn become rebellious. Explain to them why they have to do their chores and give them a hand as well. A good leader does not just sit around pointing out what is to be done, instead, he helps out to show that he is part of the team too.
Start your kids early.
Do not wait until your kids are teenagers so that they can start handling chores. Start with them when they are toddlers but with minimal work, as they are not strong enough to handle complicated work. You could even come up with a song for them as they are sweeping those crumbs into the dustpan. This will be fun to them and it will act as bonding time between you and them. It is not advisable that you let them work for long, as they will get bored and hate the whole experience.
Get some reward cards.
You don’t have to give tips every time your kids do chores but you could make it fun by leaving behind reward cards two to three times when they finish with their chores. Place the cards where they are visible and at the point of the end of the chore. For instance, you could hang one on your trash can outside for them to site it as they are throwing out the trash or sneak up on them as they are doing the dishes and place the card on the kitchen table. This will act as a form of encouragement for them.
Come up with a duty roster.
Just as you may have a menu for your meals, come up with a duty schedule for your whole family. Distribute the chores and divide them into daily activities. Do not overwhelm them with chores as they also have their schoolwork and playtime of their own. You could secure thirty minutes or one hour of their time for chores. Be sure to make that hour fun. As you assign the chores, make sure you don’t give the younger kids dangerous chores like cleaning the kitchen area and if you do, it should be under strict supervision to prevent accidents.
Do not be bossy about it.
There are many ways to kill a rat. Cleaning doesn’t have to be done your way. If your kid is to vacuum then wash the dishes later, do not insist on him to vacuum first then wash dishes later. Let him feel independent and choose what to begin with first. Agitating him in that way will lower his confidence or even get him angry. Assign the chores and only help if asked to since kids are different. Some children prefer doing the chores alone so give them their space to do it.
Set an example as a parent.
You cannot tell your kids to do chores whereas the same chores are difficult for you to do. Kids look up to their parents or guardians. If you are lazy, they will also be lazy. Imitation starts from when they are toddlers. You may be folding laundry and notice your daughter trying to hold her own too as she carefully observes what you are doing. Start with yourself and teach them the tradition of always cleaning after themselves. By doing so, you will not even have to assign them chores or force them to clean their rooms.
Appreciate their work.
Always have time to check on them as they work and give a cheer here and there. If at all you could be at work and come home an intact house with everything clean, show them some appreciation by praising their efforts. Make them their favorite meal or take them out for pizza. Do not do that frequently as it may imply that they will only be appreciated once they do chores. Even if you find a messy house, ask why before jumping on their necks to scold them for it
They don’t have to be perfect.
It takes time before perfecting something. You wouldn’t expect the dishes to be entirely clean after the first few washes from your child. Accept the fact that your dishes will have traces of grease, your bathroom will not be spotless and their beds will be halfway made. Kids learn as they grow and perfection is a learning process for them. Encourage them and you will notice them trying harder and harder. Encouragement acts as a motivator.
Start small.
Start your kids with chores that do not require too many steps as they may get distracted along the way. Vacuuming sounds easy but for you to teach your kid how to put it on the vacuum and afterward put it off and dispose of the dirt from the vacuum bag would be very complicated for them. Switch the vacuum on for them and after they are done, help them get rid of the dirtbag. You can teach them the other steps after they get used to the first step and that is vacuuming.
All of us learned about chores from our parents or relatives and we are perfect because of their long patience. Study your child’s ability before handing them the chore. Do not assign the same chore to one of your children but instead interchange them after some time. Be sure to make it fun and accept mistakes. No one is perfect after all.
Unlike some other fly species, fruit flies seem to be very harmless. Their size and the fact that they can’t bite is a good cover. Frankly, most people get rid of them just because they are a nuisance. They seem to materialize out of thin air and beat you to the fruit bowl. But that is just considering their numbers, their association with rotten food exposes them to various bacteria and viruses. In return, they can spread them throughout your home. Additionally, they are extremely fertile and breed so fast by laying many eggs that eliminating them might seem impossible. Fruit flies fly and land on any surface in your home—including things that get into your mouth. Consequently, these places become a possible site for bacteria to breed, hence increasing your chances of infection. Therefore, it is important to know how to get rid of the little devils.
On the other hand, it is one thing to know how to kill fruit flies, yet what is more important is knowing how to prevent them in the first place. Honestly, fruit flies are not things you’d like spending your time dealing with. Save yourself the trouble by cleaning your counter to prevent them from turning into a snack bar for the pests. You should also cover up or store your fruits and food properly. Dealing with odor immediately by cleaning drains and garbage bin will play a big role in cutting the crap. Otherwise, if they have already infested your home, there are various ways you can eliminate them. But before that, it is worth mentioning that a lazy approach to their control will not help. Consistency is key in pest control. Here are clever ways you can use to totally eliminate fruit flies from your home.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple cider vinegar is a great household product to have around the house. It works miracles in your home, including killing fruit flies. Simply take a bowl and pour some apple cider vinegar in it. Next, wrap the bowl tightly with a plastic cover. Using fork tines make holes on it, you want to make a way for them to come in and not get out. Therefore, do not make them too big. Then set the trap where the flies gather and when you come back, you’ll find some of them trapped. Apple cider vinegar is irresistible to fruit flies. Apparently, they love the smell of fermentation and the vinegar imitates that.
Use Traps
There are several traps you can easily make with things you already have at home. One of the traps is using a bottle with a funnel on top. You can use your kitchen funnel, or if the thought doesn’t sit well with you, roll out a piece of paper. If you don’t know how to make a funnel, you can easily check for tutorials. Fruit flies will have a hard time getting out of the bottle since it is half empty. You can either have vinegar or spoilt fruit that you already have in the bottle. Better still, if you are near the end of your balsamic vinegar you can use too. Balsamic vinegar can be expensive, therefore, just a bit of it would do.
Clean The Drain
If you’ve been wondering where fruit flies appear from, one of the places is your drain. They like congregating and breeding there. What better way to deal with them than destroying their breeding site? Not that it’s the only place but the war is won by half. However you can’t just go round it blindly, you need to be sure the eggs are destroyed. Therefore, boil a mixture of equal parts of vinegar and water. Then slowly pour the mixture down the drain ensuring it passes through the sides. Repeat the same process for a week to ensure you destroy them completely. Unlike what most people think, fruit flies have a longer lifespan. They can exist for over a week.
Dishwashing Soap and Vinegar
A mixture of vinegar and soap also gets the job done. Vinegar is what attracts them. Then the soap breaks the surface tension of the vinegar in which the flies might use to get out of the trap. Therefore, making them drown in the solution. If you lack vinegar for whatever reason, you can also use beer. When the soap dish is added, the flies won’t be able to detect it. Then place the trap where flies are dominant.
Use Wine
If you think you are the only one who loves wine, try forgetting your bottle open. Fruit flies love wine too. To be specific, red wine cuts the deal. It only gets better; you don’t have to add anything else to it. You will, of course, have to make a trap. The bottle funnel trap will work perfectly.
Spray Essential Oil
There are various natural essential oils that are offensive to fruit flies. They will not lead them to their death but will keep them away. Plus you will be killing two birds with one stone since some of these essential oils have a pleasant scent. Some of the essential oil to try is lavender, cinnamon, or lemongrass. Simply fill a spray bottle with hot water and around ten drops essential oil of your choice. Shake the bottle well and spray in areas infested by the pests. If the spray bottle doesn’t cut it for you, you can use a diffuser. Use it to waft the fragrance in your home and instantly drive away the flies.
Sugar, Milk, and Pepper
You can also get rid of the annoying flies by making a concoction of milk, sugar, and pepper. Simply combine some milk, with 2 ounces of ground pepper and 4 ounces of raw sugar, and then stir for a few minutes. Cover it with a plastic bag and punch some holes on it.
With these clever tips, you can take back control of your kitchen. Remember to be patient and consistent since it may take more than one try to eradicate them completely.
Almost everyone has a certain garment that they truly adore and not a single weekend goes without them wearing it. Having favorite clothes is a practice that has been in existence since time immemorial. The beauty of having favorite clothes is that it boosts your self-esteem as you step out because it makes you feel attractive and smartly dressed. Clothes, however, are prone to wear and tear when worn for a certain period of time.
Saying goodbye to your favorite clothing is never an easy thing and replacing it isn’t easy either. However, the key to ensuring your favorite garment gives you service for a long time is maintenance, truly maintenance is of the essence. It goes without saying, how you wash and care for your clothes determines how long it will serve you. Have no worries though, here are some great tips that will help you preserve your favorite clothing guarantying it lasts for a longer period.
How do you wash your clothes?
In all honesty, the leading cause of wear and tear of clothes is regular washing. At the same time, you can’t forsake washing your clothes. Different clothes are made from different materials thus they should be washed differently. There’s always a tag on clothes that have precise instructions on how to wash that garment, strictly adhere to these instructions.
Always be careful when using bleach lest it ruins the color of your favorite cloth, use an alternative that will be safe on your fabric. Jackets and jeans should be zipped up before putting them in a washer thus preventing the garment from flailing around. Jeans and blouses that are dark tend to fade when washed; it’s thus advisable to wash these garments inside-out to ensure they retain their color even after being washed. To top on that, avoid washing your favorite cloth too often as these will reduce the effects of wear and tear brought about by frequent laundering.
Mending skills are very crucial.
Simple mending skills will not only help you keep your favorite clothes in order but they will also help you avoid repair costs. Buttons of your favorite shirt or the zipper of your jeans could come off and if there are not properly fixed your cloth could be ruined. All you need is a sewing kit that contains threads and a variety of needles. As you stitch your clothe remember to use a thread that matches the color of your clothing. When you notice a small patch on your cloth act immediately and stitch it up. Sewing is simple and has been simplified further by the easy access to tutorials found online. A stitch in time will help you prolong the life of your favorite clothes.
Handle that iron box with care.
There’s nothing frustrating like burning your favorite shirt or blouse during ironing. If you aren’t careful with the amount of heat you are using there’s a good chance you will end up ruining your favorite garment. Different fabrics have different levels of heat degree required during ironing. Always be aware of the level of heat required to iron your cloth lest you’ll destroy your best garment. It would also be great if you leant some basic ironing tips to help you iron the right way.
Don’t wear it too often.
Wearing your favorite outfit so often means you will have to wash it frequently thus increasing the effects of wear and tear, eventually, you will have to say goodbye to your favorite cloth sooner than you had anticipated. Rotate your outfits such that there’s adequate time between when an outfit is worn and when it will be worn next. Arrange all your clothes in your closet in a manner that washed clothes are arranged at the back ensuring other clothes get a chance to be worn as well. Rotating your clothes reduces frequent washing hence your favorite cloth lasts longer.
Proper storage is key.
How your store your cloth largely determines how long your cloth will serve you. As stated earlier, maintenance is very paramount and it should never be underestimated in the quest to ensure your favorite cloth serves you for long. There are clothes such as woolen sweaters that don’t need hangers as it will make them stretch out. Woolen sweaters need to be folded and put on a shelf, this helps maintain their original shape. For clothes that need hangers, ensure you use a hanger of the correct size and shape.
Use the dryer sparingly.
The dryer is definitely your worst enemy when it comes to maintaining clothes. Dryers do a lot of damage but still offer some good services. The heat produced by a dryer burns the cloth making it shrink and fade with time. Alternatively, embrace the technique of line drying, this ensures your clothes don’t shrink due to the heat that causes the elastic fiber to break. However, if you can’t do without a dryer you can alter its settings so that it doesn’t adversely affect your clothes. You can reduce the temperature or reduce the time such that you take your clothes out of the dryer while they are still damp and then hang them on a line. This minimizes shrinking meaning your clothes stay in good shape for a longer period.
Seek dry cleaning services.
For some people, maintaining certain garments require a lot of specialized attention and they are afraid they will mess up the cloth if they wash it themselves. In such an instance, seek professional dry-cleaning services as they know how to handle different fabrics.
At one point you will have to retire your favorite clothing but before then a lot of emphases has to be put on how you maintain it so as to experience a lot of benefits. You can save yourself the hassle of buying clothes every now and then by simply putting these tips into place. As you wash your cloth remember to check the instructions written by the manufacturer. So, the next time you adorn your favorite cloth, bear in mind that its lifespan entirely depends on how you handle it.
Roof cleaning is not something to do regularly; considering the risks associated and the city’s hustle and bustle. Chances are there are countless things you are supposed or would rather do. However, you can’t wholly ignore the fact that there’s a roof on your home that obviously gets dirty over time. And unless you clean it, the dirt is going nowhere. As a result of dirt and paint pilled off, your whole house will look dingy. Who wants to own a house that neighbors and passers-by take a double take for the wrong reasons? By now, you ought to know that you never get a second chance to make a first impression.
But if you are not doing it for the looks, think about the expenses involved in repairing your roof. Mostly, natural rainfall is enough to wash off the appearance of dirt. But there’s a catch; your rooftop makes a perfect environment for the growth of algae, fungus, and moss. Now those are trickier to get rid off by rain. Additionally, letting your roof get overridden by moss and algae goes much deeper than appearance.
They actually damage your roof by eating up and rooting your shingles and wood; shortening its life. Also, when your roof is covered up with mold, it is unable to reflect the sun’s ray off of it. Therefore, your home reflects more heat than it should. So cleaning your roof is more economical than having it repaired. With that, if you are planning to clean your roof, it’s only reasonable to know your way around it. To increase your curb appeal and home value, here are some dos and don’ts to consider while you are at it.
Take proper precaution
Do: Since roof washing is not in your top 10 things to do on a Sunday afternoon, it’s only fair to take the necessary precautions. Most people think washing the roof is simple. What can it take? Just taking soap and throwing it up there, and then rinse it with water. If you have the same mentality, don’t even think of washing it. There are precautions you should take to ensure you are safe while cleaning. Consequently, you will need more than a ladder to get it done. If you can do the job on top of the roof while maintaining three points of contact, then do it—it can be quite a sight.
Don’t: if you notice it is too risky for you, at no point should you take the chance. The fall might not claim your life but there can be dire consequences. You safety takes preeminence. Majorly, know what you are doing or get someone who does.
Check the roof
Do: check your roof first for any damage before you start the cleaning process. If you have a helper it would be great. An extra set of eyes cut the work by half. If the shingles are damaged or there is leakage, consult a professional to prevent further damage.
Don’t: do not ignore repairing any damage on your roof. Importantly, don’t even begin washing if there’s one. A single, small damage is cheaper to repair than when it’s bigger.
High volume, low pressure
Do: As much as you want to have a clean roof, you don’t want to damage it. Soft cleaning is very essential. As mentioned earlier, rain does a good job of cleaning your roof. Nevertheless, if you don’t do maintenance, you might have stains to deal with too. The unattractive, dark stains on your roof are caused by algae. As a result, you might be tempted to wrongly scrub it away. Or you might blissfully use a pressure washer. It gets the work done but problem is, it doesn’t know the difference between the algae and loose shingles. It can tear, uplift, or dislodge your shingles. With that said, now the job looks overwhelming but it doesn’t have to be. You can get suppliers that will do the work for you really. And all you’ll have to do is use high volume water with low pressure.
Don’t: never use a pressure washer on your shingles. When damaged, they are expensive to repair.
Assess the surrounding area
Do: It is important to assess the surrounding area of your roof. It sounds like a no-brainer but you’ll be surprised by how many people ignore to do this. It’s vital for endless reasons. With houses so close to each other, the dirty water can find its way into your neighbor’s compound. Worse still, if you are using products that are harmful to plants, you will destroy them. Assessing the area also helps you get round cleaning easier because you’ll have an idea of where you’ll start and end. Meanwhile, be sure to cut off any extra limb tree from your roof for easy cleaning. You will also be able to take notice of potential dangerous area in your site. For instance power lines and unsafe roof access areas.
Don’t: never ignore your landscape and the surrounding areas to prevent accidents and damage.
When to clean
Do: No doubt it’s not every day you wake up thinking of cleaning your roof. In fact, if it was just for aesthetic purposes, most would have just left it to be the mess it’s supposed to be. Unlike vacuuming your house, roof cleaning is more efficient under certain conditions. Try to clean your roof on a calm cloudy day. When there is no threat of rain and no wind is blowing.
Don’t: Avoid working in extremely cold or hot weather. Extreme weather conditions might damage the shingles or prevent them from sealing properly. When you work on a sunny day, when using bleach, it is quickly evaporated. This will, therefore, limit its cleaning effect.
Prevent growth
Do: When it comes to your roof, you should embrace the cliché, prevention is better than cure. Use the necessary chemicals to keep algae at bay. Also, trim the tree branches overlying on your roof, and keep your gutter clean to allow proper drainage.
Don’t: avoid letting dirt accumulate and cause damage for you to take control.
Be sure to take the necessary precautions while you are at it. If you are unsure about something concerning your roof, you can consult with a professional.
