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Keeping Your Living Room Furniture Clean and Looking New

Cleaning Tips For Your Living Room Furniture


Buying living room furniture is a big investment that requires a lot of search time and preparation. Daily use can have a great impact on the longevity and look of your furniture, and you want to make sure you properly care for it in order to extend its use for as long as possible. Here are some great cleaning tips to keep your furniture looking as fresh and beautiful as the day you bought it.


 
Avoid Harsh Chemicals

Stay clear of upholstery cleaners that use harsh chemicals or toxins to clean your furniture. These furniture cleaners may leave your furniture smelling and looking clean for some time, but there are risks associated with cleaning your furniture with them. For starters, these cleansers are typically full of harsh chemicals and toxins that can actually cause more harm than good to your furniture. Additionally, they are known to actually foster resoiling, resulting in more cleaning. These cleaners may also remove the protective layers of your furniture fabric, resulting in furniture that looks more worn, as well as causing harm to your upholstery.


Stay Clear of Steam

Steam cleaning initially sounds like a great idea when it comes to cleaning your furniture. However, it is important to consider what moisture can do to your furniture. Excessive moisture can cause odors, mold, and soil build-up. When steam cleaning is done the excess water must be sucked up, which can take days to fully dry. Even when the fabric appears dry on the surface, the moisture can still be present deep down. Steam cleaning may also strip your furniture’s upholstery, leaving it more prone than before to stains and soil.


Bring Out the Vacuum

Vacuuming your furniture regularly is a great way to clean debris and dirt off of your furniture before it has a chance to seep down and cause problems. Vacuuming will also allow you to prolong the need of more extensive and deep cleaning. Vacuuming should be done at least once a week. Make sure you not only do the visible parts of your furniture; you will also want to make sure you vacuum under the cushions and in the crevices of your furniture.


Spot Clean as Soon as Possible

Accidents happen frequently, and most likely your furniture will not be able to avoid them. Spills are likely to occur, and can lead to permanent stains if not taken care of quickly. Here are some ways to take care of these spills quickly and properly:


Always blot from the outside to the center of a spot. Doing so will control the spread of a spill

Test your fabric in a hidden area to make sure the color doesn not come off with the stain, or that a ring is not caused by the cleaning agent.

If the spot is liquid, use an absorbent white cloth or white paper towel to gently blot up the excess.

If the spot is solid material, remove the excess by lifting it off with a dull table knife or spoon.

Never rub, scrub, or brush a spill.

Never use strong chemicals such as bleach, solvents, or acids unless they are recommended by a specialist.

Never use sudsy detergents, as they leave a soapy residue that attracts dirt.

Avoid using tap water. Use distilled water or plain seltzer water. Minerals in common tap water can cause rings, even on treated fabrics.

Know Your Furniture Needs

There are a wide range of furniture fabrics and styles available. It is important to know which ones may or may not be best for your particular lifestyle. A leather sofa may not fair well with a home full of cats, but can work great with children because it is simple to clean and wipe spills. If you are decorating a room that will be low traffic and more for entertaining you can choose virtually any furniture fabric. You should also be aware that certain fabrics are more resistant to sunlight damage than others. If you need help finding out what fabrics fit your lifestyle, our trained associates will be happy to assist you at any store location.

 

The sofa and other various items that comprise the living room are often the center piece and the focal point for guests that you invite into your home. You want to make sure you are caring for them properly in order to keep them clean and increase their life. Following these tips will assure that your living room furniture is properly maintained and cared for.

Several Carpet Steam Cleaning Tips

If a homeowner has decided that it is time to clean their carpets, it is important to consider some specific measures to maximize the cleaning effort. Specifically, some of those efforts should include vacuuming the carpet on a regular basis, utilize runners in high traffic areas and steam cleaning the carpet on a regular basis.

When considering the steam cleaning process it is important to take into account a couple of methods in which this can be accomplished. One of those methods is to rent a carpet cleaner from a local retailer or consider the use of a professional steam cleaning company.

Additionally, a homeowner may wish to invest in a steam cleaning machine that can be utilized whenever there are small carpet cleaning jobs to be accomplished or to clean the carpets on a regular basis. Therefore, if considering the cleaning of the home carpet by the homeowner, it may be prudent to discuss some carpet steam cleaning tips that the homeowner can incorporate.

What is Carpet Steam Cleaning

First of all, before considering carpet steam cleaning tips it may prove beneficial to understand a little bit more about carpet steam cleaning. Therefore, carpet steam cleaning is that cleaning measure in which carpet shampoo is combined with water and generally administered to the carpet through the use of a steam cleaning machine.

Additionally, the steam cleaning machine has moderate to stiff brushes built within which allows for the loosening of any embedded soil that is in the carpet as well as soil that is in the threads of the carpet. Also, an important factor that helps carpet steam cleaning to be effective is through the use of water. Specifically this water should be very hot which better allows the dirt to be removed from the carpet.

Specific Carpet Steam Cleaning Tips

When it comes to specific carpet steam cleaning tips, it is important first of all to test the shampoo on an obscure part of the carpet. This testing will allow for the carpet cleaner to determine whether the shampoo that is to be used does not discolor or damage the carpet before it is used in a place that is more visible.

Another carpet steam cleaning tip that should be accomplished prior to the actual steam cleaning of the carpet is to treat stubborn stains that maybe on the rug. This pre-treatment product is one of the carpet cleaning supplies that the individual should purchase and is applied to the stain and left for a specific period of time, according to the instructions, to help remove the deep stain prior to the entire carpet being shampooed.

An additional carpet steam cleaning tip is to make sure that excessive water is not used. This is because excessive water may cause damage to the carpet. Specifically that damage can be the buckling of the carpet, browning of the carpet or excessive water may cause the adhesive used to keep the carpet in place to be compromised.

Pool Cleaning Tips

Do you know that a swimming pool is not as simple as having one?  Or do you know that having a swimming pool built is as easy as having a bathtub? Here are some pool cleaning tips I may want to share with you before you move on having one.  This is because most people having the thought of getting a pool built in their area have the perception that pool maintenance can be that easy.  See if you think you can handle it.  But I tell you, these are very easy.  If you want your pool to look great and be sparkling clean, I suggest you continue reading.

Some of the tips I want to share with you is making it a place for refreshment and fun.  How?  Make it clean.  First and foremost, clean the water and remove debris floating around and even those which have sunk to your swimming pool tile floor.  That debris can also be removed by the use of a pool skimmer.  Aside from the skimmer, you can make a net with a long handle which you can manually use to remove leaves and any floating objects, making sure they haven’t settled to your tile floor yet.

Also, getting a vacuum can be very helpful.  This is one among many pool cleaning tips that you dare not miss.  Vacuum can easily attract unwanted objects floating around your pool.  But not just that, it also absorbs those which have already settled on your tile floor.  Both your skimmer and your vacuum have filters and baskets which usually get covered by debris when not cleaned.  Thus, in addition to this pool cleaning tips is to clean your filters or strainers as well as the basket of your skimmer.

You will also have to decide how long you should replace the water.  Once you decide to, an addition to those pool cleaning tips mentioned above is to have all the walls and floor tiles brushed.  This way, your pool will be as clean as it can be before you fresh water back to it.  Brushing the floor and walls also helps the water to have a long term clean lifespan.

Also, one factor that helps your swimming pool water have a crystal clear water is for you to monitor its alkalinity level.  If you think the level has gone down, you can use baking soda by pouring it into your pool.  On the other hand, a dry acid can help you pull the level down if in case it has gone up.

No one can beat a swimming pool cleaned and maintained daily.  As you know that pool can be a lot of fun, then so you are called to invest for this fun.  I would also think that it isn’t that hard to clean the pool if you do clean it regularly.  So if I would summarize this by sharing you my pool cleaning tips, I would say that cleaning your pool daily would mean a little to less effort than cleaning it on a weekly or a monthly basis.

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Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Daniel_Lanback

 

10 Handy Carpet Cleaning Tips

Are you searching for a way to keep your carpet looking newer and lasting longer? A dirty carpet wears out faster, aggravates health problems and makes a home less attractive. Regular cleaning of a carpet helps preserve it and creates a fresher, healthier home. The following carpet cleaning tips will make certain that carpets beautify a home and last a long time so that you get every penny out of your new carpet.

Tip #1: For best results, ask for a free consultation and estimate from a professional cleaning company. They know what to use and how to make carpets look their best.

Do-it-yourself carpet cleaners should know about these handy carpet cleaning tips.

Tip#2: Choose a warm, dry day to clean the carpet. A humid or rainy day will cause to the carpet to take longer to dry. Move all the furniture off the carpet before cleaning it.

Tip#3: Have these supplies available: dish detergent; clean sponges or rags; two buckets, one for the cleaner and the other for the rinse water; lots of clean towels.

Tip#4: Don’t wear shoes while cleaning the carpet. Wear clean socks to keep dirt from getting tracked onto the carpet.

Tip#5: Always check for color smudging or lightening by putting a little of the cleaning solution on a small section of the carpet away from the heaviest traffic area.

Tip #6: Use a simple mixture of dish soap and warm water to clean a carpet — about a half cup of liquid soap to every gallon of water.

Tip #7: Apply the mixture with a clean rag and use a brush to reach all the fibers.

Tip #8: Rinse the soapy carpet with a sponge or rag dipped in warm water.

Tip#9: Use lots of clean towels to blot up the rinse water. Rubbing can smear colors and breakdown fibers. Turn on some happy music and dance on the towels to have fun blotting up the water.

Tip#10: When the carpet is dry, put in a clean vacuum bag and vacuum the carpet to pull out any leftover dirt and fluff up the carpet.

Stubborn stains like blood, pet urine or red wine are cleaning challenges and require special cleaning techniques. Blot all stains as soon as possible. Don’t use hot water on blood stains. Rinse them with cold water first. Then use a thin paste of baking soda and cold water to clean the stain. Peroxide can also be poured directly on the blood stain and then rinsed out after it stops foaming. Pet urine should be cleaned with an enzymatic cleaner made for that purpose. Pet supply stores can recommend a good product. Blot, don’t rub red wine stains with a mixture of a few drops of dish soap and a cup of hydrogen peroxide. Use lots of water to rinse the cleaners out of the carpet.

Using these carpet cleaning tips will help homeowners protect their carpets and get the full value and enjoyment from their carpets for many years.

Kitchen Cleaning Tips

The kitchen is where you prepare meals for your friends, family and yourself and it is vital that your kitchen represents a hygienic and healthy environment in which to cook and consume food. Keeping you kitchen spotless at all times, is important to keep away food-borne diseases and other health risks. Read on for a few helpful kitchen cleaning tips that will have your kitchen sparkling in no time.

Another reason to keep your kitchen neat at all times, is those pesky surprise guests who pop in without warning. We would all like our kitchen to look and smell fabulous for guests. Here are some kitchen cleaning tips that are effective as well as easy to follow. These kitchen cleaning tips will have your house guests complimenting your kitchen in no time!

General kitchen cleaning tips

Tidy up your kitchen counter frequently. A cluttered counter gives a very messy and disorganized look to your kitchen. The fewer things you keep on your counter top, the neater your kitchen looks. Keep only the most frequently required items on the counter top All other items must be stored in the cupboard. Not only does this reduce clutter, but it also makes things easier to find.

The best kitchen cleaning tips are usually the ones that are most overlooked. In this respect, the bet tip I can give you is to take the trash out without fail everyday. Piled up trash is unsightly and foul odor in no friend to good hygiene. Sprinkle the bottom of your garbage bag or pail liberally with baking soda. This will suppress foul odors and keep your kitchen smelling fresh.

Kitchen cleaning tips to clean dishes

When baking, keep a tub or sink of hot water handy. As soon as you are done with baking dishes, drop them in the hot water to prevent them from drying up. Dried up dishes are so much harder to clean. This is another great time saver while you are doing chores around the kitchen.

Dishes that have burnt food stuck on the inside can be a nightmare to clean. But there are some invaluable kitchen cleaning tips to make it easy to clean pots and pans with burnt food. For example, add a some dish washing liquid to the pot or pan and pour in some water. Bring it to a boil and then remove from the stove. When the water has cooled off to a lukewarm temperature, empty the dish and scrub well with a coarse scrubber.

Stainless steel cutlery is easy to clean. After all, they are not supposed to stain. But rubbing vinegar on stainless steal cutlery with a micro-fiber cloth is a great way to polish them and give them a shiny, brand new look.

Kitchen cleaning tips to clean appliances

We have all heard many kitchen cleaning tips to clean the refrigerator, but it is a task that most of us put off, probably because the mess in the refrigerator is hidden behind doors. But it is a good idea to clean it at least once a week. Remove all food items from the refrigerator and use some warm water and soap to wipe the shelves clean. This serves a dual purpose, as you can also toss out expired food products as you replace then in the refrigerator.

Blenders and food processors are usually designed to be easy to clean, so cleaning them is quite straightforward. If your blender or food processor has detachable parts, remove as many of them as you can, before cleaning. Simply fill the blender or food processor partly with warm soapy water and let it soak for a few minutes. Pour the water out and scrub.

The microwave is another appliance that can accumulate some very hard to clean burnt stains. In a microwave proof glass bowl, add equal parts of water, vinegar and lime juice. Place this in the microwave and cook for a few minutes at a high temperature. Remove the bowl and wipe the inside of the microwave clean with a paper towel.

Follow these kitchen cleaning tips to keep a fresh, hygienic and healthy kitchen. There are also many more kitchen cleaning tips to be found on the internet. If you have kitchen cleaning tips of your own, please share it online and with your friends.

House Cleaning Tips And Cleaning Various Kitchen Surfaces

When it comes to House Cleaning Tips maintaining your kitchen worktop surfaces is essential to a fabulous and stunning kitchen. But looking fabulous is not the only purpose it has, afterall, it has a an everyday essential use, and regular cleaning is a task that requires regular attention. So here are brilliant Home Cleaning Tips for a range of alternative surfaces one finds in the kitchen.

General Surfaces

It helps to clean as you go, using a mild cleaner (washing up detergent and water in a spray) or anti-bacterial substance. Remember that, this is where most of the food handling occurs.I think it is very important that you should wipe your kitchen work top surfaces on a regular basis.

Kitchen Tiles

Kitchen tiles also need cleaning, and sometimes can be the work surface in your kitchen, so, one should be cleaning, again either with mild cleaner as above or antibacterial spray. In addition, if there is grout, one will want to make up a cleaning substance consisting of water and bleach (a 1:4 ratio of bleach and water). Consider utilising an old toothbrush, as it is brilliant for getting into the narrow grout.

Laminate Surfaces

Laminate can be wiped down and cleaned as normal, with particular hard stains, it is my considered opinion that a cream cleaner works wonders. If you do not want to use a cream cleaner you can make up a paste of bicarbonate of soda and washing up liquid. 

Wood surfaces

Wooden surfaces require oiling on a regular basis. It is essential to halt the wood taking on too much water. Deal with any spills from food that stains, such as curry or tomato sauce with haste. Remember a mild cleaner, and antibacterial cleaner is fine for wood surfaces. You need to rub firmly, and you will have your wood kitchen worktops appearing beautiful.

Glazed Tiles

If you have opted for special tiles – such as glazed tiles, one must make sure to make sure one is not using anything that maybe abrasive or corrosive.

Stainless steel surfaces.

Stainless steel work surfaces can look brilliant, but one will find one having to deal with fingermarks everywhere. A good microfibre cloth is brilliant at eradicating the nightmare of finger prints. Some people find that all they need to do is use some baby oil (in very small dosages), then the fingermarks soon be eradicated in no time. With metal surfaces do not utilise any abrasive or harsh cleaners and cleaning material as you will only scratch and damage the your stainless steel pride and joy.

Granite surfaces

Most people view the granite kitchen worktop as the toughest of the kitchen surfaces. Granite surfaces mostly avoid staining, and can look fantastic. It is essential to maintain and you still need to clean on a regular basis as per the instructions above, and mild cleaner is all you need. Further, like surfaces made from stainless steel you must make sure that you are not opting for the use of cleaners and cloths that are likely to damage the surface as you do not want to create scratches the kitchen worktop.

For me, family life often evolves round the kitchen, and a clean kitchen is a healthy kitchen, and should be respected and enjoyed. Therefore, always keep the place looking lovely. Follow these great House Cleaning Tips and wipe and tidy regularly and one will find one has somewhere where you can have lots of fun and enjoy being in.