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.

 

4 Quick Tips For Eco-Friendly Pest Control

1. Use Traps

For the majority of pests, including ants, roaches and rodents, there are traps that can get rid of them while being harmless to the environment. These devices are preferable to insecticide sprays and powders for many reasons. For one, they are scalable, meaning that you can purchase exactly the number that you need to control the problem without having leftover pesticide that you either have to store or properly dispose of. Also, they are reusable, and can be reset and replaced as many times as you need until the problem is under control. Lastly, they do not leave any toxic residue, unlike some pesticides, making these devices safe for children and pets as long as they are hidden, so that they are not accidentally triggered by anyone other than the targeted pests.

2. Consider Non-Toxic Bug Killing Powders

There are two main types of pest control powder that are non-toxic to humans and other mammals, but incredibly toxic to insects. The most popular of these is diatomaceous earth, which is made up of the fossilized remains of small plankton-like creatures called diatoms that lived many millions of years ago. Its chemical structure on a microscopic scale is such that it is highly abrasive to the protective exoskeleton of insects and will kill them through dehydration after they come into contact with the substance. The second type of organic pest control powder is known as boric acid, and it works in much the same way, by damaging the pests’ protective covering and leading to their dehydration and death. Both of these powders have a similar toxicity to table salt, that is to say they are completely harmless to mammals. So you can employ them wherever you need some extra pest control help.

3. Encourage Natural Pest Predators

This is something that escapes most people when they’re trying to think of how to deal with pest issues, but it can be one of the best, most eco-friendly, and lowest cost options for pest control that there is. For instance, if you’re dealing with a mouse or rat problem, having a cat around your property can do wonders for decreasing the population. And even leaving some bugs that you might think are pests, such as spiders, can drastically reduce the number of actual pest insects such as crickets and flies. Spiders in general are not a problem, as most of them do not bite and even fewer of them pose any threat to humans, so leaving them alone to eat more annoying insects is a good strategy for reducing the problems you might face.

4. Don’t Make Pests Feel At Home

The main reason people get infestations in the first place is that they have unknowingly rolled out the welcome mat for these bugs or rodents. Things as simple as garbage that hasn’t been taken out regularly enough or food that might have fallen under an appliance can be a huge attractant for pests of all kinds. Making sure to concentrate on keeping a very clean home will go further than most other pest control efforts, and what’s more it doesn’t cost anything. The most important measures that you can take are cleaning up messes right away, taking out trash every night and keeping it in sealed containers, and keeping food sealed away either in the fridge or in airtight canisters.

By following these 4 tips, you will have the upper hand over pests, all without the potentially harmful effects of pesticides and other products. Good luck!

About the Author

Sam Gerald is a writer specializing in pest control topics, particularly the greener options for getting rid of annoying bugs such as bed bugs. To learn more please visit Do My Own Pest Control.

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.

Tips On Cleaning Up Your House Exterior

Just as with the rooms inside your home, the exterior of your house can wind up becoming dull, messy or weathered. Since the exterior of a home is exposed to the elements and, perhaps, is seen less by its occupants, it can be easy to allow this area to stagnate and eventually result to the building appearing unattractive. Freshening up your home’s exterior may take some time but when you end up with a brighter, cleaner, more appealing property, it’ll be worth it.

The first step should be to clean away any rubbish and waste that has accumulated outside. Sometimes this is simply a case of picking up discarded packaging, cigarette butts and so on, and taking them to the bin, while in other cases, you’ll need to remove items such as rogue tree branches that are encroaching on your patio from your garden. Use a power washer to clean any paving slabs around the rubbish bins and pull up any weeds that are ruining the look of the place. Take a mop or vacuum cleaner and remove any cobwebs or other debris that have appeared on things such as your acrylic house signs or in corners near drain pipes. Also, consider changing your house sign if needed, or putting one up if you haven’t got one yet. House signs instantly add worth and uniformity to the aesthetics of your house.

If the weather is reasonable, you may want to get outside and give the exterior of your house a lick of fresh paint. You could just use a new coat of the same colour or you could opt, instead, for a new shade to help spice things up. Ensure that you’ve carefully considered the surrounding area, though, before you choose your new paint since you’ll want to fit in, to some extent, with what’s around you. For example, picking a really bright paint may make your house look brash if every house near you is painted in very low-key colours. Some climates also suit certain colours more, such as light colours and hot weather. Also, discuss the colours you’re choosing with others in the household and reach an agreement before you start to make any radical changes.

If you’re having trouble with foliage, try clearing leaves away before they turn and cut down any dead branches you come across. This will help you make room for new plants, which will present a brighter home exterior when they grow and blossom. Trim any shrubs or bushes down to size  near your house’s entrance to create a neat impression.

A big job will come in the form of cleaning your home‘s outside walls. Luckily, you only need to do this a few times eack year at most, but it does mean your home’s exterior will be free from the dirt and debris that has slowly built up and so will be much cleaner as a result. A power washer is useful for this task, so ask a friend to borrow one or else rent a unit. You can use this power washer to attack the dirt across the entire exterior of your property.

About the Author

Our guest blogger today is Zoe, an avid design blogger and freelance copywriter who loves to share her knowledge through content on the internet. Currently, Zoe is writing for house sign company House Name Plate. Tweet your thoughts on this article to @bloggingstyle.

Eco-Conscious Cleaning Options For Your Home

There is currently so much press about being eco-friendly and companies know that green products are bound to sell. Because of this, it’s getting harder and harder to trust labels marked with words like “natural” or “green”. Conflicting information and confusing chemical laden labels might find you feeling overwhelmed when it comes to cleaning products for your home. But the truth is that some very basic household products are really all that you need to keep your house clean and germ-free, without all the confusion.

Baking Soda

One of the most useful household items to clean and refresh your home is Baking Soda. Many people are surprised to learn that baking soda is a non-toxic, multi-purpose cleaner that is extremely inexpensive. While baking soda can’t clean everything, it’s been a reliable cleaning agent for an extremely long time. Before companies began to market high potency, dangerous household cleaners with huge warning labels on them, our grandmothers were using baking soda for more than just baking cookies. Use baking soda to clean out clogged drains or to get the muck off your good pots and pans without using a harsh agent. Adding baking soda to your wash can make your colours stay better and your whites brighter. You may already know that baking soda keeps your refrigerator from smelling, but you can also use it to remove stains and spills.

Vinegar

Another wonder substance for cleaning is vinegar. Also extremely reliable and effective, vinegar can clean nearly anything for mere pennies per use. Vinegar is again non-toxic, making it an excellent choice for families with young children. Use vinegar for countertops and tables, as it kills most bacteria and germs which can cause illness to your family. Vinegar and newspaper is well known for being a foolproof window cleaner that leaves an amazing streak free clean. You can even rely on vinegar to clean extremely dirty areas such as the bathroom, and you may find that your home stays cleaner for longer.

Lemons

Because of the acidity in lemons, they also make an excellent cleaning agent. Many people find lemons to be more refreshing a scent than vinegar, and therefore prefer it. These amazing fruits are antibacterial and antiseptic, and can be used to wipe down countertops, tables, or even as a substitute for bleach in your white linens. The oils from the rind can also be used to polish wooden furniture.

You do everything that you can to keep your family safe, including changing your cleaning routines to ensure their protection. With these natural cleaners, you never have to worry about accidental poisonings in your home. But remember that these cleaners alone aren’t enough to guarantee your safety, and that you should always have adequate rental insurance to protect your home from unexpected issues.

This guest post is from Allison with RentersInsurance.com.

Keeping Your Home Green from the Inside Out

After spending years planning and building the ecofriendly home of your dreams, the last thing you’d want to do is use toxic chemicals to keep your green home clean. Luckily, there are tried and true solutions you can use to keep your home but germ and fume free.

Dish Detergents
Chlorine is often included in several household cleaners, including dishwashing detergents, toilet bowl cleaners, and mildew removers. Breathing in these types of fumes can irritate the lungs and make it difficult for people who have heart conditions or chronic respiratory problems. These problems are made worse when the cleaning solutions are used in small areas such as bathrooms. Chlorine is also highly corrosive and capable of damaging the skin and eyes.

An alternative, homeowners can use liquid soaps and detergents to cut through grease. Liquid soap, which is made from fats and lye, is perfect for homeowners who have soft water and want to find an alternative to traditional cleaning detergents.

If you do have hard water, you can still reap some ecofriendly cleaning benefits by using a biodegradable dish detergent that is free of perfumes. Detergents are designed specifically not to react with hard water minerals and cause soap scum. You can find either of these products at health food stores or online at places such as True Foods Market.

Mold removers
Another problem homeowners face is mold. For serious mold problems, you might need to call consult with professional mold cleanup companies to see if you need a professional to handle your cleanup needs. If you have only a slight presence of mold you would like to eliminate, several essential oils have antiseptic properties that can be used to kill and disinfect mold.

Clove, lavender, grapefruit seed extract, and tea tree oil (which is an excellent natural fungicide) are naturally antiseptic, even though the might lack the EPA classification as such. For a natural mold remover, add 1 teaspoon of the essential oil of your choice to 2 cups of water into a spray bottle. (If you are using the grapefruit seed extract, add 20 drops of the oil to 1 quart of water.) Make sure to properly label any spray bottles and keep out of young hands.

Oven Cleaners
As an alternative to the traditional oven cleaners that use powerful chemicals and often have nasty fumes, there are some household remedies you can use to cut down on powerful grease. Sprinkle some baking soda on tough oven stains and add water until the area is very moist. Leave the mixture to sit on the area for at least 20 minutes or as long as overnight for tough stains. You can also purchase Arm & Hammer Oven Cleaner, which was declared nontoxic by Consumers Union.

Countertop and Window Cleaners
The glass and countertop cleaners you find in the grocery store often contain ammonia, which can irritate the nose and throat when inhaled. People often build up an immunity to ammonia to the point where lower concentrations of the chemical can go undetected, thus exposing people to its harmful side effects without realizing it. High concentrations of the chemical might cause skin burns, eye damage, or even permanent blindness.

For a safer surface cleaner, you can create a mixture of 4 parts water and 1 part vinegar and place into a spray bottle. It might be best to spray this mixture on a cotton rag when cleaning surfaces that might be damaged by excess water. When using this solution, be sure to avoid spraying directly on wood trim or unprotected surfaces.

If you are looking for something that is less likely to cause streaking, you can combine ¼ cup vinegar, ½ teaspoon liquid soap (the ecofriendly kind mentioned above is preferred) and 2 cups of water. This mixture is good for windows that might have product or wax buildup after using commercial products for several years.

Amy Moczynski works for web design and digital marketing firm 352 Media Group where she manages the marketing for their small business web design division. You can follow her on Twitter at @amymoczynski.

Rodents: Do Not Enter

When the weather gets colder in metropolitan Chicago and the surrounding neighborhoods, it would seem like there’s nothing more welcoming than a warm home. Unfortunately, to mice, rats, squirrels, and other rodents, your house will also look like a refuge of warmth. As temperatures go down, how do you keep them away? After all, you as a homeowner wouldn’t want to turn your house into a zoo, especially since possums and raccoons may also be crashing your shelter.

The National Pest Management Association (NPMA) reveals that 21 million homes are invaded by rodents every winter. Upon entering through the smallest cracks or openings, they chew wallboards, wood, electric wires, and cause possibly unimaginable damage to your house. There’s even a potential fire hazard once they start to take on wires as part of their diet. Of course, this is not to mention allergies and rodent-related disease.

How do you keep them out? Sure, they may go away once the weather starts to get better, but smart homeowners will not want to wait for the end of winter before they take action.

The most obvious signs of rodent invasion are the droppings and the food debris that these creatures will leave in parts of the house like the basement, attic, garage, the food storage, and the prep areas. You can also conduct a home inspection near the ground level of your house, and at the edges and eaves of your roof.

Since wood is one of the main targets of these pests, watch out for gnawed metal and wall materials. Softened wood is also prone to damage, as are roof edges, fascia, and soffits. So be on the lookout for holes and gnaw marks, which may all indicate rodent activity.

Other precautionary measures include sealing all holes, cracks, and voids on the structures of your house, and ensuring proper drainage at the foundation of your home. If you haven’t installed gutters yet, it’s recommended that you do. Furthermore, maintain plants and tree branches properly and keep them cut back from the house.

These are great prevention tips for letting rodents know that they cannot enter. If, however, you see signs that they’ve already invaded your home, you can call pest professionals and qualified specialists to help you with the problem.

Could Cleaning Air Ducts Be Worth It?

In keeping with the (NADCA), or the National Air Duct Cleaners Association, a professional organization located in Washington, D.C., air duct cleaning is a buyer-beware service. A number of businesses advertising and marketing duct cleaning might be either bait and change procedures, or agencies that carry out substandard jobs with less than professional service and supplies.

Any kind of specialized cleaner might doubt a company which employs solely shop-vac sized machines with a single 2-inch hose. To carry out a quality job, powerful machines secured in specially set up vehicles along with many different types of hoses and attachments will probably be required in most cases to effectively deal with all duct areas.

However, even when the technician is prepared, the above information begs the question: “Is air duct cleaning seriously necessary?” You can check a number of your own ducts using a mirror and a flashlight. Unscrew some your own walls or floor vents and, with your mirror, check out the ducts.

If there aren’t any huge deposits of dust, dirt or mildew, or if no one in your home is afflicted with allergic reactions or asthma, getting air ducts cleaned might be pointless, according to advice provided by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Additionally, just because you may have unclean return registers doesn’t mean your ducts are too dirty to have any value. It’s actually typical for dust-laden air flow to become pulled through the grates, leaving telltale dark streaks which really can be quickly vacuumed or cleaned. NADCA advises that ducts ought to be cleaned under these situations:

• The house is remodeled.

• Water has affected the property.

• There are four-legged domestic pets.

• Someone smokes.

• Your carpeting is old.

According to industry professionals and home inspectors, if there are truly dirty ducts within a 2,000-square foot house, duct cleaners may well occupy about three grocery store bags with dirt and debris. Expect to have to pay $250-500 for a standard house’s duct cleaning by a certified professional. Bigger homes with a more wide-ranging duct system will cost proportionately more.

If duct cleaning is performed incorrectly, or needlessly, the end result can do much more deterioration than good. Disturbing a basically intact and inert dust layer and then not removing the deposits creates air borne contaminants that might not really otherwise have been a problem. Home owners should try to get the recommendation and information on the advantages and disadvantages of duct cleaning before working with a service provider.
The EPA advises that a specialized cleaning should include:

• Opening access ports or doors to permit the entire system to be inspected as well as cleaned.

• Use of high-efficiency particle (HEPA) air vacuuming tools.

• Protection of the carpeting and household furnishings during cleaning.

• Use of well-controlled brushing equipment with efficient vacuum cleaners to dislodge dust and other particles.

• Taking care to protect ductwork such as sealing and re-insulating any access openings.
For more information on duct cleaning, visit the EPA website.