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14 Apr 09 Carpet Cleaning : Sure-Fire Tips

There’s no question that your daily or weekly vacuuming makes your carpet look fresh and newer but it’s not enough to protect your carpet from dirt, debris, and oily film deposits that go with this debris. You can’t avoid the oily debris. It comes from cooking vapor, the air, the bottoms of your feet, your pets, and a host of other places. So you’ll need to clean your carpets regularly. Follow these carpet cleaning tips to get the best job done.

Clean Frequently

Carpets should be cleaned every 12 months. This ensures that the oil film doesn’t get so thick it discolors your carpets. If you live by yourself or there’s just two of you then every 18 months will probably be suffice. If there is more than 5 of you then you’ll probably need to do your carpets every 6 months.

Hiring A Professional

You should consider hiring a professional to clean your carpets. A professional cleaner is trained, that’s why he or she is a professional and they will know which type of cleaning is best for your carpet. The professional will come with a heavy duty hot water extraction system which will be used to spray your carpets with water and detergent and then to suck back the water and oil into a tank in their vehicle.

Do It Yourself

If you decide to rent a steam cleaning machine and do your own carpets you need to realize that the rental equipment is not nearly as powerful as the pro’s equipment so you won’t get as deep a clean. You also need to realize that some of these machines can damage your carpet so be sure you know what you are renting.

Powerless Retail Rentals

Choose your retail rental carpet cleaner carefully because many of these lack power meaning you might land up with a carpet that’s too wet and not enough power to suck the water up. This could end up damaging your carpet. Make sure you do your research and that you know what you are renting

Easy On The Water

Pretend like there’s a water shortage and use water sparingly. If you use too much water and your carpets are wet for more than 24 hours you can develop mold and mildew growth which is bad for your health. Never mind those interesting odors that seep out of the carpet.

Leave No Trace

Choose a solution that leaves no or little residue behind. The PH of the cleaning solution should be around 9 and it should always be less than 10. If you are left with that sticky residue your carpets will pick up more residue and pick it up quicker.

Wool Carpets

Wool carpets are different than the synthetic blends. They require a special solution that is designed for wool and the natural fibers. Make sure the solutions PH is no higher than 8 and no lower than 5.

Stop The Stains

If your carpets are already treated with a stain resistant treatment you need you use a cleaner that’s designed to work with this treatment. Any other cleaner will destroy the stainguard treatment already on the carpets which could cause discoloration and void the warranty.

Less Dry Time

After you’ve cleaned your carpet places fans around the room to push air across the carpet. This will reduce the time it takes to dry the carpets and the risk of mold and mildew. If you have a dehumidifier use it to pull the moisture out. An air conditioner will also pull moisture out. Your carpet should be dry in 12 hours or less.

Following these carpet cleaning tips will have your carpets looking fresh and clean and it will extend their life. Carpets are expensive so the longer you can make them last the better!

John Murray makes it easy to go through the carpet buying process and provides tips to keep your carpet lasting long. To learn more and receive your free mini-course visit the carpet rugs website.

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19 Jan 09 Like Fall Flowers – A Tip To Care For Your Winter Garden Pond

Just like caring for your fall flowers it is just as important to beware of what the needs are of your garden pond. Most garden ponds are built to give additional beauty to the area. Yes, these are becoming more common.

Some of these have fish which adds another dimension They are relatively easy to care for. In the colder climates there are some important tips I have for you. If you are susceptible to the water freezing you need to read on.

The debris that collects in the garden ponds can give off toxic waste including gases. Like fall flowers these toxic chemicals need a place to go. This is into the atmosphere.

If they can’t escape they become trapped under the ice and can raise havoc with more bacteria being formed. If you have fish in your garden pond their internal systems will begin to suffer and could fail.

Part of fishes protection against disease is a slime protection over the fish including the gills. Toxins and bacteria break this down. You will notice the brilliant colors become dulled. Protecting Your Garden Pond.

In the late fall you should partially remove debris that collects in the bottom of your pond. Removing this will diminish any toxins that will be given off. And the pond will do better over the winter and any fish will survive it.

Does this remind you of what you need to due with your fall flowers?

Do You Have Fish?

You should consider doing several things. First fish will do well if the pond freezes over providing there is a depth of 1 1/2 to 2 feet deep section. They will survive very well.

It will even be better if there is about 2 foot area that doesn’t freeze over. You could use an aquarium oxygenator to help with this. If you have a pump that creates a small fountain it will keep a space ice free.

Don’t over-feed your fish. They don’t need as much food during the winter and the end of fall. Even early spring there no need to feed as much as during the summer months.

Some Experts Say…

…using some natural salt, that is, salt obtained by drying ocean water is good for your garden pond. It seems to help with the slime coating and also get rid of some of the bacteria and fungus that begin in garden ponds. Check with your garden expert to see about the dose of natural salt. This may be a bit controversial but I would err on the side of doing it.

Although the onset of fall flowers should remind you about also taking care of your garden pond. This doesn’t mean there is a great deal of work.

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18 Jan 09 Pool Covers

Pool covers, in my opinion, should be required on any and all pools. Some areas have already started requiring pools be covered. In general, they are only required for in ground pools because of the easy access provided to them. However, it is just as important to have pool covers on small pools and above ground pools as it is on in ground pools.

Pool covers offer a few different uses. First, they provide an excellent way of keeping debris and dirt out of your pool water. Pool covers catch debris and leave your pool clean and healthy. They will also block the sun from the pool and keep rain or snow from entering the pool, which will mean less maintenance on your part.

In addition to keeping the pool clean, pool covers offer a form of security. Pool covers help in keeping children out of your pool when there is no supervision. Pool covers come in a variety of shapes and sizes, you will want to get a pool cover that will provide the type of safety you want for your swimming pool.

Some pool covers are grounded in concrete, which will ensure that animals and children cannot enter the pool. When I say grounded in concrete, I am meaning that it is weighted by concrete. You are ensuring a safe atmosphere around your pool.

Pool covers can be made of mesh of vinyl, although in my personal opinion vinyl is sturdier and doubles in keeping pool clean as well as safety. Mesh covers still allow water to flow through, meaning debris, and dirt can still get through to your pool water.

Pool covers come with a variety of different measures of removal. Some require removal by hand and some come with a reel system feature allowing for easy placement and removal. Others are automated and some have to be hooked by anchors. Regardless of the type, a pool cover is designed to be a barrier between the pool and a person that resists unwanted entry of any kind. These together with other security features such as removable stairs for above ground pools, enclosed pools with security fences, and locked gates will help in keeping your swimming pool area an enjoyable and safe area for everyone.

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