Tag Archives: surfaces

Ask Anna: Only have a few minutes to clean? Here’s what to do

Posted on by

Q: if I only have five or 30 minutes, what housework should I focus on?

A: if you’re a mom, often all you have is five minutes, or, if you’re lucky, 30 minutes to clean the house. So where do you start?

Let’s begin with what you should clean if you only have five minutes. five minutes isn’t very much time, but if you’re efficient you’ll be surprised at what you can accomplish. here are a few examples:

In the kitchen: put dishes in the dishwasher, wipe down countertops, wipe up crumbs from the floor, wipe down appliances, cabinets, etc.

In the bathroom: Wipe down the toilet and the floor around it with a disinfectant wipe, rinse out the sink then wipe the sink, faucet and counters with a hand towel, toss the hand towel in the dirty clothes, grab a clean hand towel, make sure there is toilet paper on the roll.

In the living room: Pick up toys, clean off and wipe down any tables in the room, fluff pillows, put pillows and blankets back up on the couch, grab a lambs wool duster and dust all the surfaces in the living room.

These are just a few ideas of how you can easily spend five minutes cleaning around the house. if all you have is a few quick minutes, pick the zone (kitchen, bathroom, living room, etc.) that needs the most help in that moment and tackle as much as you can.

Thirty minutes is a lot of five minutes put together, and if you can accomplish that much in five minutes just imagine what you can do with 30. Here’s how to spend 30 minutes cleaning:

The kitchen is the heart of the home so start there. make sure the kitchen is clean, dishes are put away, etc. (see above list).

Clean all the bathrooms. if you live in an average size home, it should take you about 15 minutes to clean all the bathrooms. Start by cleaning all the toilets, after the toilets are clean, wash all the sinks, showers, countertops and mirrors.

Clean the floors. I don’t know about you but my house doesn’t feel clean unless the floors are clean. to clean the kitchen and bathrooms should take you about 20 minutes, which means you have about 10 minutes left to clean your floors. I can’t mop and vacuum the whole house in 10 minutes, so I would choose to vacuum all the main living spaces and then grab a rag and quickly wipe up any problem areas I see in the kitchen. however if you’d rather mop in your 10 minutes, then do that.

It’s pretty amazing how much you can accomplish in 30 minutes if you just set your mind to it!

These are just a few ideas of what you can do with just a little bit of time to clean. For daily, weekly, monthly and every six months printable cleaning checklists visit me here: http://askannamoseley.com/2012/01/day-14-get-on-a-cleaning-schedule-free-printable/

Anna Moseley is a Redding native, a wife and a mom who loves organization, decorating and cleaning. For answers to your cleaning, organizing, decorating questions and more, visit her website: www.askannamoseley.com. if you have any Ask Anna questions, email her at askannamoseley@hotmail.com.

Ask Anna: Only have a few minutes to clean? Here’s what to do

Our Team

Posted on by

With the increased interest in environmentally friendly bathroom décor and cleaning options, it can sometimes be hard to narrow them all down. In my work as a private contractor in the Hamptons, I have had the opportunity to see many of these elements put into action during bathroom makeovers. In order to help it all to make sense, I have gathered several of the best ideas for going green in the bathroom that will leave you with a beautiful bathroom that is also safe for the environment.

Begin with Surfaces

Using green materials in your bathroom helps to improve sustainability while also contributing to the aesthetics of the décor. Modern materials are also more hygienic and easier to clean than many other decorating options. several months ago, as I toured Brooklyn real estate, I discovered a new use for bamboo as a bathroom surface. Bamboo is anti-microbial, and when used as a bathroom countertop, offers a waterproof surface that is flexible enough to be used in a variety of settings. these same qualities make bamboo an attractive option for flooring as well.

If you prefer not to have wood in your bathroom, then natural linoleum can offer the same properties while also being biodegradable and free of unhealthy toxins. Natural linoleum is also durable and low-maintenance. it can be selected in a wide variety of patterns and colors that should also be able to last for many years.

Give your Vanity Some Style

If you would like to improve the look of your bathroom, the vanity is a great place to add some distinctive charm. Repurposed furniture is an environmentally -sound alternative to purchasing brand new cabinets and cupboards. Old chests and other quality vintage pieces can be found at estate sells and on eBay. Using these pieces can add a unique look to your bathroom and show off your one-of-a-kind style. Updating current furniture by using an organic compound paint or stain is another way to give a fresh look to old or outdated cabinets.

Water Conservation

Installing new, high-efficient fixtures in the bathroom can be one of the best green improvements you can make. by using less water, you will be helping the environment with each turn of the faucet. For maximum water savings, install a super-efficient showerhead. Moen offers several models that reduce water usage by twenty percent while still maintaining a high enough flow to provide for a great shower.

Installing a bathroom faucet that also meets WaterSense criteria is another way to increase water cost savings in Manhattan real estate. the EPA began the program WaterSense to decrease water usage by promoting water-efficient products. Moen’s new single-handle faucet meets the WaterSense guidelines and reduces water flow from the average of 2.2 gallons used by traditional faucets to only 1.5 gallons a minute. Moen’s products are also always stylish and perform well even with frequent use.

Eco-friendly Accessories

Accessories in the bathroom can also be transformed by using green options. Avoid rubber and plastic shower curtains, and instead use PVC-free plastics. This can improve the air quality in the small space of a bathroom. Natural fabrics such as bamboo, cotton and hemp are great options that are also naturally mold-resistant.

When choosing materials for your towels and rugs, you should choose to use organic cotton. Organic cotton is grown using methods that have less of an impact on the environment than other materials and is also hypoallergenic. This makes them a great option for individuals with skin that is sensitive to chemicals.

Our Team

Hotel chain using blacklights to clean rooms

Posted on by

PHOENIX — Research shows that consumers are not confident that the hotel room they’ve just rented is clean.

This is especially since media reports of bodily fluids being found on hotel surfaces such as telephones, bathroom fixtures, and light switches, causing the best Western hotel chain to roll out its “I Care Clean” program.

Best Western’s Ron Pohl said cleaning crews are now armed with two new tools to fight dirt: the black light and the ultraviolet wand.

“They use the black light to identify where additional cleaning might need to be,” he said. “Then, they do their normal clean over surfaces with disinfectants and antibacterial type of cleaning.

“The third element of that is going over that surface with the UV wand to kill any germs that have survived through the other methods of cleaning.”

The hotel chain is also dealing with dirty TV remotes.

“We’ve actually changed out the remote to what’s called a ‘clean remote,’ ” said Pohl. “It has no crevices in it. That allows you to spray it with a chemical to clean it. you can also go over it with the UV wand to make sure it is cleaned.”

Pohl said the remote and extra pillows, blankets and towels will also be wrapped in plastic to show that they’ve been cleaned. the policy will cost each hotel about $2,000 to $3,000 to implement.

It will be in place at all 2,200 best Western Hotels nationwide by the end of the year.

Hotel chain using blacklights to clean rooms

Food And Wine Network – Questions & Answers » Answers Archive » Home Remodeling: Make The Home More Beneficial With These Effortless Recommendations

Posted on by

Choosing to redo your house is an awesome expenditure. however, it may be a little bit difficult. If you want to boost value of your house or perhaps make it much more livable here are a few excellent recommendations.Any plumbing and wiring concerns must be resolved first when performing any home improvement assignments. Repairs of the form usually will have you tearing into the walls of your home, so you should do that before anything else. If you already have your surfaces opened up for other maintenance, why not deal with pipes and wiring at the same time?Make sure that you’re getting heard by the contractor. it is essential to get a contractor who listens to you personally and who you can rely on. Whenever a professional doesn’t listen to you, they are able to do a lot more hurt by performing something wrong. Make sure that they hear very well to you.Whilst redesigning your kitchen or bathroom, take into account replacing frequent wall surface table together with the h2o-proof variety. Experts often refer to the product through the brand “eco-friendly board”, and it is more appropriate to normal water than typical drywall products. For an added additional it offers normally been handled to face up to mold expansion.Maybe you have looked at a home and asked yourself about the amount of restrooms they have, and when which was adequate to get results for you. Existence or deficiency of bathrooms also has an important result on property ideals. You may significantly enhance your home’s value by setting up additional restrooms.Stucco is a superb choice for backyard exterior siding. Stucco might be long-lasting but it normally needs expert installing.Use a straight walls-installed coat carrier to get a bracelet and necklace screen. You must only display costume expensive jewelry, not nearly anything useful. Owning your nicer jewellery on display may be aesthetically pleasing and maintain the sections from getting tangled. Take out the components of precious jewelry you wear instead often and set individuals in a convenient location.Making your tiled flooring warmed up can be relatively easy and inexpensive. it really is specifically smart to speak to an expert about putting in glowing heat should you be presently planning to swap a floor with ceramic tile. Glowing warmth like this is extremely productive and cost successful. it will keep the toes comfortable in the winter months and it will surely feel good! some of the cost for this upgrade can be recaptured if you promote your own home.have you ever checked out a residence and thought about if the number of bathroom it offers is going to be okay for yourself and your family? Washrooms bring about house value. By adding yet another bath tub to your house, your home’s worth will significantly boost.Warming your tile surfaces is a straightforward and inexpensive update. Talk with a salesperson about floor tile and introducing this particular warming strategy to it. You will end up pleased that you moved forward and made it happen it can be amazing to your feet. it is possible to make an impression on future consumers with this particular addition.1 wonderful home improvement idea is to replace your luminescent lights with cost effective types. this could find yourself charging you less money in the long run in relation to your utility bill. move your aged, unproductive lights with more recent, far more energy efficient lights.these easy suggestions can make your home less difficult to live in. We hope you discovered this short article on home remodeling helpful.

There is more information available on neways jobs head over to Jackie E. Bein’s site there is a lot of information not detailed in this post, visit Author’s site to discover more details.

Food And Wine Network – Questions & Answers » Answers Archive » Home Remodeling: Make The Home More Beneficial With These Effortless Recommendations

Get On Track With Kitchen Track Lighting

Posted on by

So you have decided to go all out and prepare that signature dish to impress your friends. Cooking is fun and your kitchen is state of the art. You don’t want any mistakes so all the ingredients are set out ready. but – you can’t read the dial on the scales. It could all go horribly wrong. if you had an LED lighting track offering exceptional quality bright light, exactly where you need it, that scenario would never play out.

It is important to have clear, functional light when you are performing tasks – especially when food preparation is involved. There are plenty of advertisements on UK TV highlighting the dangers of lurking bacteria and if you choose to use one of the anti-bacterial cleaning products, you would need to be able to see that you have cleaned a surface completely. With pools of light directed where you’re working you won’t miss a millimetre, and that has to give you peace of mind.

Many of the designs for lighting tracks have easily wiped surfaces so that your kitchen remains hygienic and attractive. the fittings and fixtures in your kitchen can all coordinate if you take note of the finish. Handles on door and drawer fronts can be replaced to complement rails or bars on a cooker. Even if you cannot recreate the exact finish it is advisable to follow the same basic colour throughout. Silver finishes might be in aluminum, steel, zinc, chrome or nickel, golden finishes might be in brass or gilt. Copper and bronze can often work well together but if you can match the tone the effect is more streamlined.

The use of low voltage track lighting in the UK is becoming an increasingly popular choice with home makers. Areas that require light in order to tackle precision tasks can easily have bright, clear light pointed in exactly the right place from track lights with multiple lamps able to swivel to the desired position.

To complete a harmonious look, it might be worth the extra cost of fixing matching switch plates and sockets for clean lines that will marry all the elements together. Even if you change the colour of your cooker or the worktops and units the only consideration then might be to ensure that visible handles on doors and drawers also share the same look.

Pairs, trios, four and five lamp track lights are available. the more lamps there are on the track the more versatility you have in directing their illumination. You might wish to fit two sets of track lights at either end of a room rather than a single centrally fitted light to increase your lighting options and fulfill a practical consideration.

Get On Track With Kitchen Track Lighting

Candice Tells All: Bathroom renovation combines outdoors and luxury

Posted on by

Jon and Kris were fed up with their broken-down, dysfunctional ensuite bathroom. Just getting ready for work every morning was a big challenge. The bathroom was actually divided into three separate spaces –– each with its own door –– and the result was a choppy layout that had them tripping over each other in the race to get ready and get out of there.

this ensuite bath was so poorly laid out and had so many other issues –– bad lighting, no ventilation, tiny shower stall, broken tub –– that these homeowners didn't know where to begin. There was absolutely no saving grace to this space, so I got the ball rolling by sending in a wrecking crew. by the time it was done, we had a clean slate and were ready to get down to business.

A natural retreat

Jon and Kris love the outdoors, and they wanted their bathroom to be a warm, inviting retreat, and a place that reflected their own personal tastes. So I came up with a plan that makes the most of beautiful natural materials, all wrapped up in an ultra-modern package. it brings the outdoors inside by incorporating natural stone, reclaimed barn board and mother-of-pearl surfaces, alongside ultramodern faucets and lots of glass.

I redesigned the room to include contemporary wooden cabinetry, with lots of space for towels and toiletries underneath, and an additional wall-mounted storage column. The high-tech chrome faucets, with single-lever counter controls, perch over two elegant glass vessel sinks. Above each sink I placed large mirrors, each framed by two lovely sconces that pick up the mosaic motif of the mother-of-pearl tiles. these tiles run along part of the backsplash, and continue down in a wide strip across the floor, extending up the outer wall of the shower.

Bringing the outdoors in

To continue the outdoorsy theme, we installed a new toilet embossed with a floral pattern. but the piece de resistance is the gorgeous soaker tub, which I framed with a rustic barn-board wall and custom Caesarstone decking. Overhead, a whimsical antler-themed chandelier speaks to the homeowners' love of the great outdoors, as does the artwork we chose to hang beside the tub.

The Caesarstone decking extends into a spacious shower surrounded by all-glass seamless walls. Inside the enclosure, I incorporated a wonderful stone bench and a luxurious rain showerhead. Let's just say that showering in Jon and Kris' new bathroom is a spa-like experience about as far from the everyday as you can get!

Jon and Kris were fed up with their broken-down, dysfunctional ensuite bathroom. Just getting ready for work every morning was a big challenge. The bathroom was actually divided into three separate spaces –– each with its own door –– and the result was a choppy layout that had them tripping over each other in the race to get ready and get out of there.

this ensuite bath was so poorly laid out and had so many other issues –– bad lighting, no ventilation, tiny shower stall, broken tub –– that these homeowners didn't know where to begin. There was absolutely no saving grace to this space, so I got the ball rolling by sending in a wrecking crew. by the time it was done, we had a clean slate and were ready to get down to business.

A natural retreat

Jon and Kris love the outdoors, and they wanted their bathroom to be a warm, inviting retreat, and a place that reflected their own personal tastes. So I came up with a plan that makes the most of beautiful natural materials, all wrapped up in an ultra-modern package. it brings the outdoors inside by incorporating natural stone, reclaimed barn board and mother-of-pearl surfaces, alongside ultramodern faucets and lots of glass.

I redesigned the room to include contemporary wooden cabinetry, with lots of space for towels and toiletries underneath, and an additional wall-mounted storage column. The high-tech chrome faucets, with single-lever counter controls, perch over two elegant glass vessel sinks. Above each sink I placed large mirrors, each framed by two lovely sconces that pick up the mosaic motif of the mother-of-pearl tiles. these tiles run along part of the backsplash, and continue down in a wide strip across the floor, extending up the outer wall of the shower.

Bringing the outdoors in

To continue the outdoorsy theme, we installed a new toilet embossed with a floral pattern. but the piece de resistance is the gorgeous soaker tub, which I framed with a rustic barn-board wall and custom Caesarstone decking. Overhead, a whimsical antler-themed chandelier speaks to the homeowners' love of the great outdoors, as does the artwork we chose to hang beside the tub.

The Caesarstone decking extends into a spacious shower surrounded by all-glass seamless walls. Inside the enclosure, I incorporated a wonderful stone bench and a luxurious rain showerhead. Let's just say that showering in Jon and Kris' new bathroom is a spa-like experience about as far from the everyday as you can get!

A shiny finish

To access this restful and relaxing retreat, Jon and Kris only need to slide open their custom-designed barn-board door, and as soon as they step through, they'll be transported into their own personal space, where natural materials and modern finishes combine to create a perfect balance of function and elegance.

all the various finishes are key to making this bathroom work. The barn board is especially important because it introduces a lot of warmth, which counterbalances the coolness of glass and chrome used throughout this space, while natural-themed accessories help to pull it all together.

we sent Jon and Kris' choppy, poorly laid-out ensuite back to the 1980s, and we replaced it with a luxurious new space. instead of rushing through their morning routines in an effort to get out of the bathroom, their new problem could well be getting to work on time. with such a warm and inviting spalike experience right in their own home, they may find it difficult to leave.

Interior decorator Candice Olson is host of HGTV's ''Candice Tells all.'' For more ideas, information and show times visit http://www.hgtv.com/candice-tells-all/show/index.html.

Candice Tells All: Bathroom renovation combines outdoors and luxury

ADD PLANTS IN YOUR BATHROOM DECOR!

Posted on by

[Photo via Grains of Paradise]

Take advantage of the natural humidity found in the bathroom to introduce plants to your decor. whether your bathroom is bright or windowless, there are many varieties of houseplants that will thrive in the humid, tropical-like conditions of this room. Plants in the bathroom create a lush, spa look and a fresh feel.

In addition to cleaning the air, research has shown that green leafy plants evoke a sense of calm and comfort, while flowering plants lift our spirits and make us feel more cheerful. It therefore makes perfect sense to add a touch of green to the room where we begin and end each day!

Some plants to consider for a bathroom with plenty of natural light are ferns, azaleas, gardenias and orchids. For low-light bathrooms, go with aloes, bamboo, begonias, spider plants, dracaenas, ficus and philodendrons.

Plants can add height and drama to any space – even the bathroom!

A variety of plants make this bathroom feel like a lush escape.Plants can help soften the look of bathrooms with square-cut and linear surfaces.

Even in a tiny powder room, a small plant can add texture and interest

[Main photo via Grain of Paradise]

by RONAMAG on Friday, March 30, 2012

ADD PLANTS IN YOUR BATHROOM DECOR!

Better Bathrooms combat hard to reach cisterns with stylish and practical innovation

Posted on by

Consumer: Better Bathrooms combat hard to reach cisterns with stylish and practical innovation 

Better Bathrooms combat hard to reach cisterns with stylish and practical innovation

In addition to the fully modular TD furniture range launched in March, Better Bathrooms announce the arrival of their cutting edge TD WC Units.

[ClickPress, Thu Apr 05 2012] An ever popular item for the design conscious, WC Units create a clean streamlined look by concealing the clutter of visible toilet pipes and cisterns, with their main advantage helping aid in future cistern maintenance. many individuals opt for a behind the wall cistern only to discover that it cannot be accessed when an issue surfaces, with the majority of toilet faults caused by the cistern itself. a handy panel to the top of the unit enables ease of entry helping swiftly resolve further damage to this daily necessity. The TD WC Units are a contemporary solution adding elements of style and practicality. Manufactured from water resistant MDF, the units measure H840 x D225mm and are available in two width sizes of 505mm and 605mm, helping tailor to your bathroom space whether it

How to select appropriate Bathroom Lighting

Posted on by

Bathroom lighting is 1 of the most crucial issues you install in your bathroom, and when installed, it literally stays with you for years to come. Needless to say, not only ought to it be selected wisely, but it really should also be selected keeping in mind the needs of the future. to help you pick the right type of lighting, we have compiled a list of some of the important considerations that should not be missed. Read ahead…

To start off with, ask your self, how bright your bathroom lighting requirements to be. Ideally, the light should be bright enough to assist you locate the traces of water on the floor. Extremely bright light is not suggested because not only does it strain your eyes but also leads to unnecessary power wastage. Also preserve in mind the color of your bathroom interiors and the texture of the surfaces that could replace light and add far more brightness to your bathroom interiors.

Generally it is suggested that you acquire bathroom lighting soon after you have completed decorating and furnishing the interiors. This helps you location the lighting in the best position and also permits you to acquire some thing that perfectly matches with the bathroom theme. if the bathroom design is not based on any specific theme, then some of the safest alternatives for you would be wrought iron bathroom lighting, antique styled classic bathroom lighting, etc.

Bathroom lighting ought to also be selected according to the position in which you plan to spot the lights. This is in truth a really important consideration particularly if you do not have an specifically square or a rectangular shaped bathroom. For instance, if you are placing the light just above a mirror, the size, brightness, the external covering and so on, would differ greatly from what would have been suggested to you had you been placing the lighting correct over the windows.

Yet another critical factor to take care of whilst buying bathroom lighting is that it should be really well covered and the wires ought to be effectively tucked in to stop any possibility of electrical spurges and brief circuits. This is particularly essential if you are placing the lights close to your bathtub, shower, tap- or any other source of water. Nevertheless, it might be noted that placing the lights too close to any source of water is in no way recommended.

It is also advisable that while acquiring bathroom lighting you opt for some thing with a battery backup. This saves you from any scope of a complete blackout in case of power failure. the reason why battery backup is incredibly critical in case of bathroom lighting is due to the fact the danger of tripping down on wet floor is huge here.

Apart from the above mentioned points, you really should also take into account the obvious-though worth mentioning elements like durability and power saving capability in your bathroom lighting. these guarantee that you get finest out of the funds and continue to save a lot more in future.

How to select appropriate Bathroom Lighting

Why is My Water Brown and Do I Need a Plumber?

Posted on by

Have you recently found your water faucet is running with brown water? It can be frustrating to find this problem occur, especially when you were looking forward to a nice relaxing bath

Your water may be brown because it contains too much iron. Iron is rather common and occurs naturally as a metal in soil. as a result, it is normally present in your drinking water. under normal conditions, drinking water provides about 5% of the iron that you are supposed to drink or eat each day.

You need iron to survive, iron is used as part of the haemoglobin in your blood which transports oxygen in your blood. although this is of little comfort when you were simply looking for a refreshing drink or relaxing soak

Although not dangerous to drink, brown water is unappealing and annoying. Iron-containing water may have a funny, metallic taste. be careful when coming into contact with brown water in your home as it can stain your clothing, towels and surfaces such as bathtubs or toilets.

Iron can get into your water in several ways and one of the most common ways is when rust gets dislodged from water pipes which is why you may be wishing to avoid it. This can happen when pressure in the pipes changes, for example when water pipes are repaired or when water in the pipes is shut off and then turned back on again, thus finding its way into your water supply. if you get water from a well, it is also possible that more iron than normal entered your well water from the surrounding soil and dirt as opposed to it arriving from water works happening close by.

Try to clear your brown water by running the cold tap for about 15 minutes. if your water is still brown then it would be prudent to call the towns water board and inquire as to whether the brown water is from the city’s pipes, if not it may be derived from something more internal. if it is from the city pipes, the city should send someone out to flush the brown water out from a nearby fire hydrant.

If these methods are unsuccessful, you will need to try aeration, filtration, chlorination, water softeners, and/or ozonation. the right treatment method for you will depend on several factors, including the exact form of iron in your water, the temperature, acidity (pH), and pressure of your water, and how much you are willing to pay and maintain your system. Since it is fairly complicated to figure all of this out, you may wish to call a registered plumber to see how they can be of service to you.

Why is My Water Brown and Do I Need a Plumber?