How to Determine Carpet Quality

Are you looking at buying new carpet for your home or replacing your old one? Here are some factors to consider when choosing which type will suit your needs:

Density

Density describes the amount of pile in the carpet and how close the tufts are to one another. In general, the more dense the carpet the better the quality. Check density by pressing your fingers on the carpet and trying to reach the backing. It will be difficult to reach the backing of a very dense carpet. With the tufts facing outward, bend the carpet into a U shape to see how much of the carpet backing shows. The less backing you see, the more dense the carpet. Source: HGTV

Fiber

The type of fiber the carpet is made of is a huge factor in the carpet’s quality. Different fibers have different characteristics, and some fiber types work better in certain situations than others.

Common synthetic carpet fibers include nylon, polyester, olefin (polypropylene) and triexta. Natural carpet fibers such as wool and sisal are used less often, but still, play a role in the carpet industry.

Style

The style of the carpet can influence its performance. The most common residential carpet styles include Saxony, Berber, frieze, and cut-and-loop. Of course, each style of carpet is available in a range of qualities, but some styles are better suited for high traffic areas than others. Source: TheSpruce

Twist

The twist of the fiber is the way the fiber filaments are spun into yarn, and how the yarn is in turn twisted upon itself. Twist is usually locked into the fiber with a steam or heat-setting. The tighter the twist, the more the carpet will resist changes in appearance and texture.  Source: DIYNetwork

Do you need help replacing your old carpet? Give us a call and we’ll help you out!

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Tips on Keeping Your Home Safe from COVID-19

Every country is on high alert as coronavirus spreads across the world. But don’t let fear and panic hold you down because you can do something to stop the virus. Simply follow these easy steps: 

Don’t take your shoes inside

Keep a designated shoe rack for the kicks you used outside of the home.  The soles of your shoes collect all the germs that they have touched throughout the day.  It is best to keep a shoe rack where you can leave the shoes you used outside.  Keep another slipper rack near it so you can change into your home slippers immediately before going into your living areas.  Next to this, keep a bottle of disinfectant handy so you can spray the soles of your shoes with disinfectant. Source: Metro.Style

Disinfect common touch points

Cleaning experts say it’s wise to first tackle common touch points, such as tables, doorknobs, light switches, handles, desks, toilets, faucets and sinks.

“That’s where you’re going to find most of the contaminants, and that’s where you’re going to have a recurring problem,” said Warren Jacobs, the CEO of MCL Green, a cleaning product supplier in Toronto. Source: Toronto.CTVNews

Don’t touch dirty clothes directly

Wear disposable gloves to handle dirty clothes, towels, linens and other items that go in the laundry. Do not shake dirty laundry. Use the warmest water setting and dry items completely. Clean and disinfect clothes hampers. Source: Local10

Use strong household cleansers

For disinfection, use diluted household bleach solutions, alcoholic solutions with at least 70% alcohol or common EPA-registered household disinfectants. Follow manufacturer’s instructions for application and ventilation. Make sure the product is not past its expiration date. Never mix household bleach with ammonia or any other cleanser. Prepare a bleach solution by mixing 5 tablespoons or 1/3 cup of bleach per gallon of water or 4 teaspoons of bleach per quart of water. Source: SeattleTimes

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5 Deep Cleaning Tips Even the Laziest Person Can Pull Off

Spring cleaning is only an annual activity, but for some, it’s still so difficult to get it over with. That’s why we created a list that will help you thoroughly clean the most annoying places in your home. Check it out below:

Put anti-microbial doormats at the entrance

Take a cue from infomercials everywhere, and invest in an anti-microbial doormat. This wondrous invention will trap any dirt coming from outside before it even enters your home. Better yet, enforce a no-shoes policy to avoid having muck tracked across your carpets and tile floors. The less dirt, the less cleaning you’ll have to do later. Source: RD

Clean the bathroom without effort

After you are done showering, take a plastic bag and fill it with vinegar. Wrap the bag over your shower head and secure it. Make sure the shower head is soaked in the vinegar solution. By the time you wake up, most of the work will be already finished. Wipe with a cloth, and you’re done! Source: DIYEverywhere

Let your microwave clean itself

The microwave will almost clean itself when you boil one cup of water and one cup vinegar inside. Once the water and vinegar create a grease and grime busting steam, all the iciness wipes away easily with a rag. Source: DenGarden

Don’t let moisture in

Fight mildew growth by understanding why it forms in the first place: consistent moisture. This is an issue particularly in bathrooms. Make a point of drying out bath mats, tub liners, and shower curtains thoroughly. Leave your washing machine’s door ajar. Hang damp kitchen and cleaning rags to dry if you’re not laundering immediately. It helps to crack open a window in the bathroom or run a fan when showering to prevent moisture accumulating.

Source: TreeHugger

Use refrigerator liners

Spills are going to happen in the fridge. It’s best to take precautionary measures. Simply line your shelves with liners or plastic wrap. Then, you can clean them as needed and not worry about pulling whole shelves out of the refrigerator. Source: HomeHacks

Or you can have us deep clean your carpet so you won’t need to worry about any build-up of dirt. Give us a call so we can reserve a cleaning for you!

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3 Tips to Make Spring Cleaning More Effective This Year

Springtime means a time of change. And it is the perfect time to reinvent your space by tidying up. Drive away any remaining hint of the winter blues by following this easy guide:

Deep-clean your carpet and upholstery

Fabrics that have absorbed a winter’s worth of dirt, body oil, and germs will need a deep spring cleaning to get them ready for another year of wear—and for that close inspection by your relaxing guests. When you’re shampooing carpets or cleaning upholstery with a rented carpet cleaner, practice first in an unobtrusive area to make sure you have the knack of the machine and that the treatment won’t discolor fabrics or cause dyes to run. Move furniture just slightly—not out of the room or against the wall, as the old rules dictated—and place the legs of each piece back on top of small wax paper squares after shampooing. The wax paper will protect your carpet and keep the furniture legs from getting wet as the carpet dries. Open the windows to speed the drying process, which can take a day or more. Source: RD

Disinfect the cleaning tools you’ll use

Before you get started, consider giving your cleaning supplies an overhaul. Tossing the toxins is the first step to creating a cleaner, healthier, and safer home, says Marilee Nelson, co-founder of Branch Basics. According to the American Lung Association, it’s particularly important to avoid air fresheners and choose products that do not contain (or have reduced amounts of) VOCs, fragrances, irritants, and flammable ingredients. Source: OprahMag

Don’t forget the hidden areas

Spring cleaning is all about giving yourself a fresh start. It’s the perfect opportunity to go above and beyond your usual cleaning regimen, taking care of all the hard-to-reach, rarely thought-of areas that normally don’t receive much attention.

Some of these areas include:

• Between refrigerator coils
• Over ceiling fan blades
• Inside the washing machine
• Around your HV/AC vents
• Inside light fixtures
• On and around the windows
• Around door frames and crown molding
• Inside light fixtures and track lighting
• Behind the toilet Source: Freshome

Keeping your carpet clean and looking pristine all year-round takes so much effort, right? So why don’t you just sit back, and let us take care of it? Call us today!

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3 Best Soft Flooring Options

When there’s a child or elderly at home, ensuring their safety is the number one priority. And since millions of people suffer from injuries caused by fall hazards every year, choosing a flooring type that will keep your family out of danger is a must. Try checking out the following:

Carpet

Carpet is a widely used soft floor covering made of wool, nylon, and polyester. It is available in a broad range of colors and patterns. It can also be purchased in different depths of pile — the length of the material used to create the texture. Because carpet is laid on top of a soft pad about half an inch thick, it is flat and even, regardless of whether the subflooring is level or not. Source: Hunker

Cork

Cork is attractive, natural, and surprisingly soft. It doesn’t feel the same as walking on carpet, of course, but it yields beneath your feet and feels quite neat against your naked toes. As you know if you’ve ever opened a bottle of wine, cork has a pleasing texture, one that lends itself well to flooring. Depending on the thickness of the cork you choose, the softness is even more unbelievable.

The good news is that, for a porous material, it’s easy to maintain and clean cork floors. That being said, you do have to exercise some caution. Cork works better in low-traffic areas, or at least in spaces where no one typically wears shoes. Regretfully, it’s not a good pick if you have pets. Source: BuildDirect

Natural Fiber

Natural fibre flooring includes sisal, which is made from the leaves of the agave plant; coir, made from coconut husks; and seagrass. These materials are durable and very stain-resistant (if spills are cleaned properly and quickly), but colours and styles are limited and on the whole they feel rougher than regular carpet. Jute, which is extracted from the inner bark of a plant grown in Asia, is a finer floor covering and softer to walk on, but it’s generally not recommended for high traffic areas. Natural fibre coverings such as these should not be used near wet areas. Source: Choice

Carpet is really safe and comfortable. However, if you start noticing bumps on the surface, you should have it re-stretched right away to avoid anyone tripping on it! Let us help you keep everyone in the family free from harm. Call us today!

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Should we paint? Asking and listening to owners

If you’re like most strata corporations, building maintenance is a divisive issue. And if you’re reading this, it’s because you care, perhaps more than most.

Proactive councils understand building life cycles and depreciation reports and are knowledgeable about various project costs.  In contrast, other groups seem to oppose any proposal to spend money except for regular operations. Or worse, they are indifferent (or oblivious) to the need to regularly maintain their strata property. Welcome to strata living.

But there is hope. Major painting projects are a valuable investment of time and money. Done well, they immediately improve property values, reduce future maintenance expenses, increase community pride of ownership and make people feel better about their homes.

So, walking into an AGM, owners will be thinking of all of these things as they decide whether to give approval. But they are also weighing these benefits against the joy of buying a new car, taking a vacation, building their savings, or just keeping up with their regular bill payments. Everyone’s situation is different.

Our advice? Here are four ways to build the momentum needed to get your painting project approved:

• Engage the owners early on, survey with options, gauge interest
• Hold an information meeting, invite input, summarize and distribute findings
• Form a non-council advisory group
• Invite a credible industry spokesperson to the AGM for questions

These are ideas for wider consultation and can allow the process to gain energy. They will also provide insight into what is most important to owners since its unlikely to be the same for everyone.

Once you have this information, you are in a better position to decide if there is enough support to move forward. If it’s close you may see opportunities to provide more information, answer concerns, or simply work to persuade the swing group.

For example, do they need to know that the resale value will increase? Are they more interested in improving community pride? Is there concern that if we don’t paint now, then it will cost us much more in the long run. Perhaps they need someone to share their enthusiasm about the project results or a past experience that proved worthwhile.

We’re quite certain; your best success will come from a mix of practical information and emotional convincing. And, if you are aware of what’s important to owners, then you’ll be better equipped to get your approval.

We hope this helps. If you’re in a situation like above and curious for more ideas, please call or email us to discuss.

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4 Decorating Tips You Should Try This Valentine’s

Some people feel like celebrating Valentine’s Day is too cliché, but wouldn’t it be a good reason to rekindle the fire in your relationship? Make your home more romantic using these simple design tips:

Amp up the sweetness with chocolates

Using seasonal chocolates or other candy is an inexpensive {and tasty!!} way to add some color to your Valentine’s Day decor.  Use wrapped chocolates or place candies in covered glass containers.  One of the good things about decorating with chocolate is that you don’t have to store it at the end of the season. Just a warning that it may need to be replenished frequently. Source: CleanAndScentsible

Feel the love with you wall art

Spread the love at your Valentine’s Day party with wall art that sends the right message. If you can do it with a neon pink sign, even better. Source: HouseBeautiful

Let nostalgia hit

Memorialize a romantic location—like where you met your significant other or the spot of your first kiss—with this DIY Valentine’s Day decoration. Apply rubber cement to both the map and a foam-core board, then press the pieces together. Let dry. Trim away any excess map with a crafts knife and ruler. Print out the LOVE template. Using tracing paper, trace the word in reverse onto watercolor paper. Cut out the letters. Line up the watercolor paper and board edges and glue the watercolor paper over the map. Trim any excess on edges with a crafts knife and ruler. Source: BHG

Make it floral

In the middle of February, we can all use a dose of spring. Bypass the expensive (and admittedly cliché) dozen roses in lieu of a soft pink arrangement from your local florist.

Pick up a mix of your favorite flowers; we love carnations, peonies and gardenias for a billowy, delicate-looking arrangement. Bits of greenery add to the organic, simple look of a bouquet. A metallic or cut-crystal vase completes the look and adds simple, modern detail. Source: Freshome

With all the wine and chocolates you’ll enjoy with your partner this Valentine’s, it’s inevitable for some to fall on your carpet and leave a stain. Don’t let this dampen your mood. Call us and we’ll take care of it!

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