How To Remove Carpet Stains

Removing carpet stains can be a bit tricky. For different kinds of stain, there are various ways of getting rid of them.

Here are a few tips on how to remove carpet stains:

• Treat the stain with table salt. One of the most effective ways of treating stains caused by fruits, juices, and wine is to treat the stain with table salt. Spread a small amount of salt on the stain because this will absorb the moisture and coloring on the carpet.
• Use a cleaning solution. The next step is to saturate the stain using a cleaning solution. After letting the salt stay for several minutes, spray the cleaning solution on the carpet and leave it on for several minutes. Use a brush to remove the stain from the carpet. Apply the spray again if necessary. Remove excess moisture with a rag or towel. Use a vacuum cleaner to dry the carpet.
• For water-soluble stains, use a cleaning solution. Simply mix ¼ teaspoon of nonbleach detergent with 32 ounces of water. You can also use white vinegar instead of the detergent. For other water-soluble stains which are hard to remove such as blood, mix one tablespoon of ammonia and one cup of water. However, this is not applicable for carpets made of wool.
• Use a paper towel to remove stains caused by oil, fat, and wax. Just put the paper towel above the carpet stain and then iron it. The stain from fat, wax, or oil would easily stick to the paper towel.
• Use rubbing alcohol to remove stains caused by paste or glue. For stains caused by glue, simply moisten a towel or cloth with rubbing alcohol and then press this on the stained portion of the carpet. Then, gently wipe this off and repeat the process until the stain is removed.
• Use ice to remove stains caused by chewing gum or wax. Get some ice cubes to cool the gum or wax. Once the stain is frozen, use a spoon or knife to remove the stain. You can blot the carpet with a towel or vacuum the broken pieces before they soften.
• Use a vinegar solution to remove stains caused by urine. First, use a damp cloth to absorb the urine. Then, mix one part of white vinegar with one part of water. Spray the mixture or blot it on the portion stained with urine. Then, put on a mixture of nonbleach detergent and water to clean the area.

So next time your carpet gets stained, there’s no need to worry. Using these tips, you can have them removed in no time.

For more tips, visit MyGetRidOfGuide.com, a website that can offer several solutions to your most unwanted problems.

 

How to Design Your Dream Green Kitchen

You might be hesitant to completely overhaul your kitchen for a number of reasons. For one thing, it will put the most popular room in your house out of commission for at least several weeks (more likely months). And in this economy it seems a bit ill-advised to undertake such an expensive project in home renovation (especially considering the state of the housing market and the poor odds of recouping costs on a sale in the near future). But even beyond that there are all kinds of environmental considerations to take into account. What happens to all the materials that get hauled away? Do they get recycled or receive a one-way ticket to the city dump? And no matter how you look at it, the materials you purchase to replace cabinets, counters, flooring, fixtures, and so on are going to have an impact. So how can you create the kitchen you’ve been dreaming of while still reducing your carbon footprint? Here are just a few design tips to help you out.

1. Hire a green designer. With the demand for environmentally sound products and services increasing every day, the green building industry has grown accordingly over the past several years. Eco-minded consumers like yourself now have many options when it comes to selecting contractors and designers that specialize in creating interior spaces that are geared towards greener living in every aspect of their inception. So rather than hiring a company that will do whatever they have to in order to cut their own costs (at the expense of the Earth) look for alternative service providers that share your sensibilities where the preservation of the planet is concerned.
2. Skip natural stone and wood. There is almost nothing worse you can do during the building process than choose newly manufactured wood and stone. Not only are you doing serious harm to our atmosphere by denuding the forests that supply our oxygen and reduce our carbon debt, but the mining and lumber industries are notorious for the massive pollution, waste, and overall damage to the landscape that is left in their wake. So take advantage of the many incredible faux options that are on the market these days or at least select sustainable materials like bamboo if you have to have everything new.
3. Look for reclaimed and recycled options. For the homeowner that is looking to go to green extremes during a kitchen remodel, reclaimed and recycled materials are a great option. You can find gorgeous hardwoods (complete with the luster of age) for flooring and cabinetry, natural stone like granite and marble for your counters, and even antique fixtures for your kitchen when you seek out vendors that deal in reclaimed items (and many offer refurbishing). You may also want to look into recycled glass counters or recycled wood cabinets, as well.
4. Reuse whenever possible. If your cabinets are in good condition (no sagging or structural issues) and they’re extremely functional, there’s no reason to replace them. You can easily upgrade through re-facing or adding paint, stain, or hardware. And if you already have energy-star appliances that are running efficiently, think about keeping them and possibly replacing just the panels to match your new kitchen décor.
5. Recycle your old kitchen. Everything from the fridge and freezer, to the cabinets and hardware, to the Venetian blinds can be donated to charitable organizations or sold off to vendors that specialize in refurbishing. So don’t hesitate to look into options that keep discarded items out of the landfill and help someone else to create their own dream green kitchen.

About the Author

Sarah Danielson is a freelance writer and part time student. In her spare time she likes to go hiking and help with an animal rescue out of Los Angeles, California.

Great Ideas For Creating A Family-and-Entertainment-Friendly Backyard

As the summer months approach, many families and outdoor lovers alike have turned their thoughts towards imagining and creating the ideal family-friendly and entertainment-centric backyard space. While ideas on this subject are plentiful, it is also important to consider your budget when thinking of what your ideal backyard would encompass. After all, while creative ideas abound, so do their price tags.

Here are some great tips for making an entertainment-and-family-friendly backyard space a reality this summer:

• First, start with a plan. Your backyard is an extension of your home and as such, should be treated the same way as any other home improvement project. If you don’t do this, not only can your project become disorganized, but it can quickly get out of control and out of your budget. For help with organizing a plan, consider the following questions:
  • How often do you entertain?
  • How many people regularly use your backyard?
  • What are your “must-haves”?  (Outdoor kitchen, pool, landscaping, fireplace)
  • Do you want a place that accommodates eating outside?
  • Do children use the backyard?  If so, what are their ages and what would entertain them?
  • How much space do you have to work with?

• When considering a family-centric space that is kid-friendly, think about play options that also compliment your house. Instead of automatically buying a plastic playhouse for your children to play in which will become bleached by the sun, price out how much it would cost to actually build a playhouse from scratch. Not only would this be a great project to engage in with your children –provided they are old enough to help you– but a well-built playhouse could also add to the property value of your home should you decide to move.
• Another great tip if you want to have a kid-friendly backyard, but don’t want to have a slew of toys all over the place, is to consider installing a raised sandbox that can be converted to a vegetable garden once your children outgrow it.
• Next, when thinking about the “adult-centric” space of your entertainment-friendly backyard, it is easy to turn your thoughts to food and drinks. In recent years, the concept of an outdoor kitchen and fire pit has grown in popularity as must-haves in an entertainment-conscious backyard. What’s more is that an outdoor kitchen, while certainly an investment in your home, is a huge draw when it comes to resale price. The installation of an outdoor kitchen not only provides countless hours of enjoyment while you are still living in your house, but will also up the sale price of your property should you choose to move.

• When you start researching on outdoor kitchen or BBQ area, consider these items:
  • Do you want to promote a certain view in your backyard? For instance, do you live by a lake?
  • Where are your neighbors associated in terms of your house? Remember, grill smoke blows downwind.  Make sure you work to be a good neighbor to those who live around you.
  • Where is the existing shade in your backyard? Remember, outdoor cooking and entertaining usually takes place during the hot months of summer. You don’t want to be miserable and you don’t want your guests to roast, so make sure you plan for sun and shade.
  • How can your new outdoor kitchen benefit from your existing home utilities? Remember, you need electric and gas access to power your outdoor kitchen or grill island, therefore, work to keep the space close to your house and your existing utility lines. Doing this will also control the cost of the installation.

Finally, as you begin to design your family- and entertainment-friendly backyard, always remember to consider the same design principles in its creation as you would with your house.  The backyard is an extension of your home and therefore, should reflect your unique lifestyle choices.

This guest post is presented by Amande E. Clark, CEO and Editor-in-Chief of Grammar Chic.

Considerations When Selecting Eco-Friendly Appliances

There are a lot of steps you can take to make your household a little greener and reduce your carbon footprint on the home front. Many homeowners these days have set up recycling bins (even if their state does not require it), switched to energy-saving compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs), and started purchasing eco-friendly home goods in an effort to curb personal pollution and waste. Some have even opted to drive electric vehicles and utilize solar panels or other forms of alternative energy in their homes. But when it comes to the many appliances you use on a day-to-day basis you might not really know how you can go about greening up the works. So here are just a few things to consider.

Anyone who has bought an appliance within the last decade has probably heard of Energy Star, the government-funded program geared towards helping homeowners to reduce their utility bills and their impact on the environment at the same time. You may be most familiar with the kitchen appliances that they rate, such as refrigerators, dishwashers, and microwaves, just to name a few. Washer/dryer sets are also popular in the energy-star arena. But you may not know that they also deal in smaller appliances (coffee makers, toasters, etc.), electronics (computers, televisions, and telephones), lighting (the CFLs discussed earlier), HVAC systems, and even plumbing. Of course, we’re talking about appliances here, but it’s important to realize that conservation can occur in all areas of your home, and Energy Star may provide the solution.

As for appliances, there’s really no reason not to opt for energy-saving models if you’re looking to clean up your act. According to Energy Star reports, most homes can thank their appliances for about 13% of their total energy consumption. And considering that the average fridge eats up more than twice as much electricity as any other appliance, you may want to look at replacing it first, especially if you can only afford to upgrade one at a time.

But you may be hesitant to swap out your old appliances at all if they’re still working just fine. After all, are you really doing a good turn for the environment by sending your old appliances to the landfill? Will the amount of energy you save make up for this additional trash? There is probably a scientific way to determine whether the extra energy your old appliance uses is causing more or less damage than said fridge or toaster will in the landfill, but the average layperson probably has neither the time nor the inclination to figure it out. Instead, consider that your old appliance may be eligible for some amount of recycling. Any metal parts, in particular, can likely be recycled, while appliances that are still working can be donated for use by those less fortunate (at least it will keep them out of the landfill for a few more years).

And of course, you should look into the content of any new appliances you purchase to ensure that it will be easier to recycle down the road; seek out items made primarily from steel, which is always in high demand. Although you’ll have trouble finding appliances that were made with green materials or manufacturing processes (nothing like composite wood blinds or flooring in this industry), you can still take steps to ensure that you do less harm to the environment through the household items you use every day. And your best bet when it comes to appliances is to seek energy-efficient models that are made from recyclable materials.

About the Author

Sarah Danielson is a freelance writer and part time student. In her spare time she likes to go hiking and help with an animal rescue out of Los Angeles, California.

Color Design for 2012

Any Texas Longhorn fan would be excited to see more orange in their life, even if that orange shade happens to be called Tangerine Tango instead of Burnt Orange. Interior design color trends for 2012 are an intriguing combination of classic neutral colors (shades of gray, white, and tan), vibrant shades of orange (a la Tangerine Tango), and various shades of precious stones (turquoise, for example).

Owners of downtown Austin condos or home owners in any other city where trends reign supreme, have levels of options regarding how much remodeling and redecorating they want to do in order to remain trendy. From simple basic changes to changing everything about an entire room, these new colors are the key to a trendy look.

Basic Changes

Homeowners who follow trends are well aware that the trends change as often as teenage girls change clothes. Those choosing to remain trendy with the least amount of effort (and cost) should create a neutral base and accent with trendy colors. For example: a living room with eggshell walls, khaki seating, and black tables could be accented with Tangerine Tango lampshades, throw pillows, and candles; a bedroom with black and white designed walls and silvery fixtures might accent with turquoise linens. You can create a new look with just a few items and very little work simply by changing out your accent pieces.

Intermediate Changes

Other homeowners may desire a bit more change than just accents. They could look into purchasing some chairs or a rug that boasts the warm, vibrant colors of 2012. New artworks for the walls that contain the new colors of choice ties in the walls without requiring you to paint an entire room.

Change It All

And, there are always those who choose to go big or go home. In this case, they go big at home. They will gut a room and start from scratch: new paint, new rugs, new furniture, and new accents. Texasfans, get excited! This is when burnt orange comes into play for condos in downtown Austin. While Tangerine Tango may be the top color of 2012, all shades of orange are considered trendy. For an all out trendy room, consider using a variety of shades of orange rather than an overdose of one shade. Another option is to use a combination of the color trends for the new room. Flip the Basic Changes plan on its head. Make the furniture and the walls the bright warm colors, and the accents the classic white and khaki shades.

Looking to redecorate the kitchen instead of a living room? The same ideas apply. Accent with a bowl of tangerines or some ruby colored plums, change the dish towels, placemats, and napkins. Find a modern light fixture that has all the latest colors: neutrals, precious stones, and of course, oranges. Or if you’re feeling bold, trade out your appliances for those displaying the colors of 2012.

5 Ways To Save Money When Remodeling Your Kitchen

It’s time to make some improvements in your kitchen. However, you’re thinking about the costs of remodelling it. Remodelling can be a bit expensive, especially if you’re having a tight budget at home. But there are ways you can save money when you decide to have your kitchen improved. Sounds too good to be true? Here are five ways you can do it:

1. Plan ahead. Before you begin anything else, try to think of a plan on how you want to have your kitchen improved. Evaluate your current situation and think of the things which need to be improved. Ask yourself, “what are the most important aspects that I have to prioritize for remodelling my kitchen?” Then, make a list of the things you need to repair or remodel. This will keep you on the right track. When you plan, think of the items you need to buy and those you can simply reuse or get from other sources.
2. Set a budget and stick to it. After planning how you want your kitchen done, set a budget and be sure that you stick to it. Refer to the list of items that you made earlier and try to make a budget estimate for your expenses. If you think you don’t have enough money, try to think of alternative ways or simply disregard the items which are not really necessary. This will enable you to keep track of your money and avoid spending on things which are not really needed for your kitchen remodelling project. Remember, you don’t need to buy everything.
3. Do it yourself. If you really want to save more money in remodelling your kitchen, you can actually do it yourself instead of hiring people to do the work for you. Labor costs can be expensive but if you do it yourself and ask the help of some friends, you can definitely save more money. Just be prepared with the materials and supplies you need beforehand.
4. Re-use old furniture and materials. Instead of buying new furniture and materials for your kitchen, why not look around your home and simply reuse your existing furniture and supplies? This will make you save more money instead of buying everything new.
5. Buy cheaper supplies and materials. Another way you can save money when remodelling your kitchen is to purchase materials at a lower cost. You can avail of coupons and discounts on items or simply buy second hand furniture and materials which are still in good condition.

Remodelling your kitchen can be done at an affordable cost. You don’t need to use up your money for that alone. Invest wisely.

This is a guest post written by HowtoGetFinanced.com. Here, you will find all sorts of advice when it comes to your finances.

Basic Feng Shui Tips for Decorating a Condo

You just moved in to your Austin condo, and now you want to decorate the space. You want the feng shui of your new home to be calm and relaxing when you return after a hard day at the office. At its most basic, feng shui is what makes you feel good about being in a room. It will vary from person to person and home to home, but there are a few specific elements to consider as you begin.

Go With the Flow

If you were on the phone with an interior designer who asked you about the flow of your condo, how would you respond? When you think of the flow, think of standing at the entry and releasing gallons of water throughout the space. Would the water flow through the condo, or would it stop and pool before reaching every room? Would a piece of furniture hinder its path in any way? Think like water and then go with the flow when you position your furniture.

Intangibles

When you walk into a room, you most likely see the room in its entirety first. Are you overwhelmed by all that you see, or are you simply drawn in to the environment? A clutter free space is more relaxing for residents as well as their guests. Resist thinking that clutter is limited to items that need to be put away. Clutter may also consist of excessive, small decorations that cause observers’ eyes to bounce distractedly around the room.

Lighting

Do your rooms have natural light coming from a window or sky light, or will certain spaces require you to provide the lighting? Will this room be somewhere you want the energy from sunlight to flood in or the calm of mood lighting? How will the light impact you in various locations in the room? For example, will you have to squint while talking to someone across the space, or will certain spaces be too dim for entertaining guests? Use a combination of natural and artificial lighting to create the ambiance you desire.

Colors

Most people are familiar with the institutional feel associated with walking into a building with white walls, light tile, and bright fluorescent lights. It creates a hard, cold feeling. What colors are soothing to you? When you sit in a room that feels “homey”, what do you notice about the room? Are the walls tan or pale blue? Or are the colors primarily provided by art on the wall and furniture? What colors make you happy? What colors make you feel closed in or depressed? Perhaps you want a sleepier color in your bedroom and a happier color in your kitchen in order to represent the energy of each location. Don’t be afraid to try something new or observe elements in the homes of others.

Feng shui will vary among different condos Austin. However, it is a great place for condo owners to find any kind of creative décor they might desire in order to create the flow and ambiance most suitable for them.

Creating A Budget For Your Kitchen Remodel

Kitchen remodeling can be quite a confusing process when you first get started. You know what needs to get done but you have no idea how to price it out. The first thing that you need to do is figure out exactly how much you can afford to pay to remodel the kitchen. Set a price first that you’re not willing to go over no matter what.

During the kitchen remodeling process you’re going to fall in love with some things that you really can’t afford. If you don’t have a firm price set in mind, you’ll definitely end up going over what you can truly afford to pay. Then, you may not be able to enjoy your kitchen as much due to the guilt. Establish a firm maximum price and then decide to stick to it.

Establishing A Budget

Where does this price come from? Definitely not from the quotes and estimates that you’re going to gather up. It’s going to be determined according to how much of a loan you can afford to take out, how much money in savings you have set aside, or how much you can pay in installments if you find a company that is willing to take payments this way. This is how you first determine your final costs.

Collecting Quotes

After this, you’re going to be looking for quotes. At this time, you may find that you simply cannot afford to remodel your kitchen right now. That is fine. Simply put the project on the back burner and then get back to it when you can really afford to do something with your kitchen. If you go ahead with your plans anyway, you’ll end up spending too much money or you’ll settle for second best for your kitchen and won’t be truly happy with the result.

If you do see that you can go ahead with the project once you start gathering quotes together, then carry on with it. Get quotes from at least three different companies for different areas of the kitchen. For example, if you’re planning on doing a full kitchen renovation, get three quotes for flooring, three quotes for kitchen cabinets, three quotes for plumbing, etc. You’ll find a big difference between all of these three quotes and you’ll have to compare them to find out which one gives you the most value for your money. It’s not always the cheapest one that will give you that.

Using A General Contractor

You should also get three separate quotes from general contracting companies that can handle the whole job. Again, there will be a wide variation from one estimate to the next and you’ll have to compare these.

Next, you’ll want to compare prices between the separate quotes and the general contracting quotes. Is it going to cost you more to get everything done separately using different companies or more?

Once you have done everything above, you’ll have to look at the estimates and compare them to your budget. If the estimates that offer the best value fit within your budget, then everything is good to go. If not, you’ll have to see if you can rearrange things so that you don’t end up breaking your budget. At this point, you’ll know with full certainty whether this kitchen renovation project can be accomplished now or whether it’s something that you may need to put on hold for a little while longer.

Lucas Jenkins, webmaster for www.affordablehomeremodelingideas.com, wrote this article. He has many more home improvement related articles such as this one about small electric kitchen appliances at his website.

Green Home Improvement Tips

Green home improvements can help make your house look great and green home improvements can save you money. There are all types of green home improvement projects that can be undertaken from simple, inexpensive changes to elaborate, stylish green renovations.

Start your green home improvements with energy star appliances because they can save so much energy and help pay for themselves. Additionally, new appliances in the kitchen and laundry room really update the look and appeal of the home. The energy star label makes it easy to select energy-efficient products that offer savings on energy bills without sacrificing performance, or features. The energy star label is also very important in appliances that aren’t normally seen such as the home cooling and heating unit and the water heater. An energy efficient option for a water heater is the tankless water heater which is not only extremely energy efficient but also offers several favorable unique features such as never running out of hot water.

Insulating your home properly is another very effective green home improvement. Sealing you home against the elements helps keep you cool in the summer and warm in the winter.  Insulating your home can begin with easy chores such as calking and insulating your pipes. Insulating can extend to such areas as energy efficient double paned windows, chimney pillow, attic bladders, and of course, checking insulation levels in the attic and walls.

Green home improvements would not be complete without a programmable home thermostat so that you ensure energy isn’t being wasted on heating and cooling when you are not even home. Low VOC or no VOC paints are also a must for eco- friendly home improvements. Another no brainer green home improvement is choosing light colored roof tiles to reflect light and absorb less heat.

There are many more green home improvements that can be made to save energy and release less carbon emissions. Be the first in your neighborhood to have eco-friendly bamboo flooring. Have fun exploring your options for native plant landscaping and solar panels. Green Home Improvements will help you make your home more comfortable and save you money. Start small and go big!

About the Author

Guest post by Scarlet of Family Focus Blog which covers everything from family room decorating ideas to an easy soft pretzel recipe that your kids will love. Family Focus Blog has been a featured guest on Nashville NBC and has provided behind the scenes coverage for 20th Century Fox.

 

How Much Does A Professional Organizer Cost

Are you tired of all the clutter and mess in your office or home? Do you hardly have time to fix everything up? Well, if you badly need to have your office or home organized as fast as possible, then you will definitely need a professional organizer to help you accomplish it. Professional organizers aren’t just lifesavers. They can assist you in making a personalized plan and create strategies on how to organize and fix your space minus the hassle and effort on your part. Professional organizers can handle just about anything you need- from time management to organizing your things and keeping control of your belongings.

Highly trained and highly skilled organizers can effectively assess your organizational style so that they can suggest strategies and techniques on how you can cope with everything. How much do professional organizers cost? Actually, there are some professional organizers who charge by the hour, depending on the tasks they’re set to do. The rate would vary of course depending on the qualifications of the organizer, the difficulty of the task, the risks involved in the work (if any), the time frame set for accomplishing the task, and so forth. There are a lot of factors to consider.

More experienced organizers charge higher rates than first timers or new ones. The range for hiring a professional organizer by the hour is between $35- $150. Some would include packages like a whole day of organizing which could cost as much as $500. On the other hand, there are professional organizers who cater to clients through phone or face to face conversation. They offer services by teaching or instructing clients on how to effectively organize. This type of service runs between $55- $100.

Other professional organizers may also charge a fee by the task instead of per hour. The rate for on the job organizing varies as well. Take note that aside from the fees charged by hour or by the task, professional organizers may also charge extra costs for organization products and resources. For example, they may buy items for your home or office such as trash cans, garbage bags, etc.

Also keep in mind that some professional organizers would end up deviating from the estimated cost. That of course would depend on the factors such as longer working hours. If you want to make life easier for you and if you have the money to spare, the best thing is to hire a professional organizer to help you. This way, you can spare yourself from all the burden of organizing.

About the Author

This is a guest post written by the writer of HowMuchIsIt, a website that states the price of just about anything.