Happy & Healthy Home Newsletter

“Words You Should Know…”

“Cleaning Up Spills”

Spills are part of life.

Whether it’s one of your kids who tips over a glass of juice, or an adult who spills a cup of coffee during a get-together, spills happen. You can’t get through life without experiencing a spill every now and then. So it’s a good idea if you know how to handle them when they do occur.

Spills that aren’t handled correctly can ruin your floors and carpet, and can sometimes cost you lots of money in replacement fees.

Spills that are handled correctly, on the other hand, can quite often disappear without a trace!

So what’s the best way to handle a spill? Well, that depends upon the surface that’s been spilled upon, as well as what’s been spilled.

Tile and Grout Cleaning

Cleaning up spills on ceramic tile or vinyl flooring usually just requires a sponge or mop and a little bit of water. Soak up the liquid with the mop or sponge.

Once the liquid is completely removed, it’s okay to add a little multipurpose household cleaner to the area to remove any stickiness or residue.

If you spill something on your wood floor, treatment is similar to that of ceramic tile or vinyl.

You can remove the liquid with a paper towel, sponge, or damp mop. Be sure the mop isn’t too wet, as wood floors don’t react well to being soaked with water.

Once the liquid is removed, you can clean the area with a solution made specifically for wood floors.

It’s a good idea to keep some of this cleaner around at all times! Most wood floors are covered with a protective coating of polyurethane that keeps spills from seeping into the grain. However, older wood floors that haven’t been refurbished or sealed in a while may not be protected as well.

To prevent your wood floors from taking on stains as a result of spills, it’s a good idea to have them refurbished every five years or so. If your floor does soak up a spill that stains, it can be sanded out.

What if you have carpets?

Well, dealing with spills on carpets is a little trickier. The first thing you must do is take paper towels or cotton cloths and soak up the liquid. Don’t rub!

Rubbing the stain will only cause it to seep deeper down into the carpet fibers. Once the liquid is completely soaked up and no color is visible, it’s okay to add a little bit of water to the area. Not too much, otherwise you risk having the water seep down into your carpet and through the padding, where it can cause mold and mildew.

If the liquid you’ve spilled is highly staining, like coffee or sauce, sprinkle as much salt as is needed to absorb the liquid, and then vacuum it up.

Once you’ve done the above damage control,give our office a call as soon as possible to set up a cleaning appointment.

We’ll come out to your home an insure your carpets don’t suffer and needless long-term damage. And that means you really won’t have to cry over spilled milk!

“Cool Website Of The Month!”

Do you like surprises?

Then check out SomethingStore.com.

The idea is simple, you pay SomethingStore $10—shipping is included—and then they send you something.

The something can be anything—jewelry, clothing, a knick-knack, an antique book. The item can be old or new, but it will definitely be a surprise!

www.somethingstore.com

“Give Your Rooms Some Life”

We all want a home that speaks to our personality. One that is interesting and unique. Look around your home. Do you think it represents you, or is it a bit on the plain side?

If you are like many people, your home is comprised of lots of neutrally decorated rooms that don’t really reflect your personality. Chances are, you could go into any home on your block and find similar decor. Why is this?

Well, for most of us, the idea of decorating can be quite scary. Often, we know what we like, but we’re afraid to take a chance and have our homes reflect our taste. So instead we often play it safe.

Unfortunately, “safe” decor can be uninspiring, plain, and even boring at times. And who wants to live in a boring home?

Now, I know what you may be thinking…

Mistakes in home décor can be quite costly. For example, you may love the lime green furniture in the show room, but what if it isn’t quite right in your home? And what if you get it home and love it today, but hate it a year from now?

Most budget-conscious homeowners want to know that they’ll love and be able to use the furniture they invest in for many years.

Luckily, there are many ways to punch up your rooms and add a little flair without breaking the bank. Go ahead and buy that neutral furniture, then give your rooms some real liveliness and originality by trying the following ideas:

• Choose fun paint colors. Nothing gives a room a new look like a fresh, new color. Say goodbye to boring neutrals on your walls and instead pick colors that will give your rooms the feel you’re looking for. How do you know which color to choose?

Begin by looking in home decorating magazines to find examples of rooms you like. Going for a rich look? Try deep reds, greens, and golds. Do you want a cooler, airier feel to your rooms? Try pastel greens or blues.

The best thing about paint is that if you hate the color—immediately after putting it on the wall or a year from now—it’s inexpensive to replace. Fixing your mistake is as easy as buying new paint!

• Coordinate your accessories. Instead of having a mish-mash of accessories cluttering your rooms, minimize and coordinate them.

For example, you can change a neutral room into a Japanese Zen retreat simply by painting the walls red and accessorizing with bamboo plants, simple Japanese prints, and a couple of clean-lined and simple vases and bowls.

• Keep your rooms sparkling. Nothing takes away from home décor like dirty or dingy rooms. Be sure to clean your windows regularly, so that your rooms receive as much light as possible, and dust and clean your furniture regularly, including your upholstered furniture.

• Clean those carpets. Finally, be sure to have your carpets professionally cleaned at least once per year,  carpet cleaning twice per year if you have pets or small children. Carpets that aren’t professionally cleaned regularly lose their luster, and can quickly make a room appear dull and dirty. Clean your carpets and watch your rooms come to life!