Author: Nolan Grant

Many people think that it is okay for them to pressure wash their homes at any time. However, some times of the year are much better than others. You should pressure wash your home between  March and November. There are several reasons you should pressure wash your home between  March and November.

The Temperature

The ideal temperature for pressure washing is between 45 degrees and 95 degrees Fahrenheit.

Freezing temperatures make it dangerous to pressure wash your home during the winter. The cold weather can do a lot of damage to your pressure washing equipment. That is why you should pressure wash your home in the fall, summer, or spring.

In warmer climates, it might be beneficial to hire a pressure washing service in the winter months. There could be more availability of services and the company might offer discounts. For example, a  pressure washing service in Charlotte, NC can probably work year-round. 

Keep Allergens at Bay

Many people suffer from allergies all year long. Pressure washing your home will help keep the allergens at bay. Dust, pollen, and other irritants are rampant between March and November. These allergens can make your allergies worse by clinging to your home. Pressure washing will help remove those allergens.

Boost the Curb Appeal

A good pressure washing will boost the curb appeal. A home or property that is freshly clean will be more inviting. It will also make the entire yard look better.

Undo Damage Caused by Winter or Prepare for the Winter

A pressure washing in the spring or fall can either prepare your home for the winter or undo the damage that is caused by the winter. A spring pressure washing will remove the stains caused by snow and ice. Your home will look better after the winter grime is removed. Pressure washing your home before the winter can minimize the amount of damage that is done to you.

Protect Your Property

Pressure washing your home during the fall, spring, or summer will help protect your property. It will prevent dirt and grime from building up. It will also prevent mold from building up. This mold can do a lot of damage to your property.

How Often Do You Need to Pressure Wash Your Home?

Most homes only need to be pressure washed once or twice a year. However, several factors will determine this. For example, if you live near a dirt road, you will likely need to pressure wash your home more frequently. It is also a good idea to wash your home after a storm.

 

When using First Aid, rescue personnel focus on breathing as one of the most important steps in assisting an injured or ill person. This is because healthy breathing is an essential health issue. Why do many people live in unpleasant conditions that affect their breathing and overall health? They may not realize that help is available. They may not know that they can do something about their situation.

 

Allergy Sufferers
Allergies often run in families and so if the adults experience allergy symptoms, so do their children. If this is the situation in your home, then helping everyone experience easier breathing should be a top priority.

Nature Comes Calling
Many sources of allergens live right in our homes. Dogs and cats produce allergens, but many families love their animals. How do you deal with this? Here are some suggestions:

• Remove heavy curtains and carpeting
• Groom animals frequently
• Have a regular cleaning schedule to remove dander
• Consider animals with fewer allergen issues
• Rely on professional carpet cleaning

Pets aren’t the only source of allergens in your house. Pollen blows in through open windows and gets tracked in on shoes. If you’ve ever hung laundry outside or spent the evening enjoying a fire pit, you unintentionally collected pollen and other particles on your clothing. Practice laundering after outdoor events, and keep shoes near the door rather than wearing them throughout the house.

Children And Their Spills
If you have children in your home, then you have accidental spills. As a busy parent, you may not even know about some accidents, or you simply can’t clean them up right away. A spill can become more than just a stain on your carpet.

It can become a source of trapped moisture hidden beneath your carpeting. A professional cleaning will prevent these problem areas from becoming a source of mold or mildew.

You can take other steps as well:

• Restrict food and drinks to certain parts of the house
• Teach younger children to let you know if there’s been a spill
• Teach older children how to clean up little messes immediately
• Place smaller rugs over the carpeting in areas where children spend their time
• Use stain guard carpeting and furniture

Final Thoughts
In handling allergen issues in your home, develop a system where the entire family helps out. Remember to ask for professional help, too.

Once you’ve gotten used to the routine, preventing allergens in your home will be part of daily life. And so will healthy, easy breathing.

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If you are a current homeowner who has noticed that the carpet within your property’s premises doesn’t necessarily satisfy your own preferences or criteria for essential elements of interior designing, then you may want to consider looking into a vendor that provides you with an optimal selection of choices for high-quality grades of carpeting.

 

When it comes to shopping for carpeting, it is highly imperative for you as a homeowner to ensure that the quality of your choice(s) is of high grade. The manufacturing process should consist of ensuring that all threads are kept intact to a point where the fibers will not come apart or fray upon the slightest instances of contact. Unfortunately, there are a vast array of carpet types in today’s industries that aren’t made well. This can lead to one’s carpeting becoming damaged very easily. It will be beneficial for you as a prospective investor in carpeting to ensure that the manufacturing process has been proven as being legitimate and dependable. A home is often considered to be one of the highest-valued assets anyone can have ownership of. Therefore, it will only be an advantage for the said owner(s) to ensure that they are taking the proper steps towards not only retaining the value of their home property but also potentially increasing its value for the future. When choosing the carpet for your home property, you will want to ensure that the color and texture are compatible with your current styling of interior design. Why choose a type of carpeting that ends up mismatching your home’s current style? Not only is this unattractive, but it can also be detrimental to your property’s overall appraisal value. Prospective home buyers want to walk into a home that shows them that the previous owner(s) knew what they were doing when it comes to interior design. A great amount of a home’s value is derived from the interior design elements contained within it. Another aspect of one’s carpet buying experience should consist of looking into the fiber type. If you have children in your household, you may want to invest in a type of carpet that is easy to clean if there happen to be many instances of stain smudging onto it. Also, the toughness of your chosen carpet may be an important aspect of future decisions in hiring carpet cleaners for maintenance as well. Whichever option of carpeting you make, be assured that you will be happy with the outcome of your property’s final look!

 

Do you remember the first time you had to clean your air ducts? If not, then it’s probably because they don’t need cleaning. Air ducts are very efficient at catching dust and debris that might otherwise circulate throughout the house. However, if you have noticed that there is a lot of dust on your furniture or in corners of rooms where it doesn’t normally accumulate, this may be an indication that your air ducts need some attention. It’s not always easy to know when your air ducts need cleaning. However, close observation of the signs will be key to offering guidance on the appropriate time to handle the cleaning. Proper understanding of these signs will help in the making of informed decisions.

-Foul odors coming from vents – If you notice a strong or detectable odor coming from any air vents in your home, this could be an indication that there is particle build-up, humidity, or a lack of airflow due to insufficient ductwork.

-Dust and debris on furniture – If you see an increase in the amount of dust that accumulates on your furniture, especially near vents from heating/cooling systems, this may indicate poor airflow which is caused by particles blocking ventilation passages. A professional can inspect your system for any potential damage that might be leading to reduced airflow through the unit.

-Dirty coils – One common sign that there is a problem with your system’s coil (or evaporator coil) is when you notice dirt collecting around it. The collection only happens if the blower has been running while dirty air was passing over its surface. Dirt collects more easily on cool surfaces. If you notice this, it’s likely that the coil is dirty and needs to be cleaned.

-Poor heating – Poor airflow may lead to poor indoor air quality which can affect your health. Low air quality can cause stuffy noses, dry throats, or even sore chests. This happens because when there isn’t enough fresh air coming into a room, pollutants become concentrated in low areas of the room where they stagnate. Air duct cleaning will help reduce these symptoms for everyone living in the home including young children and infants who are more susceptible to respiratory problems from exposure to polluted indoor air.

-Corrosion on the metal components -Metal parts in the system are prone to corrosion over time due to exposure to inside walls and other areas where water can cause rusting. If these materials begin to look corroded it’s important not only for health reasons but also for the duct efficiency to handle the replacement if left unattended for too long.

-Frequent breakdowns -If you find yourself having frequent issues with appliances like heaters or cooling systems, even though all required maintenance was completed last season, then it might suggest that your ducts require cleaning as well. When particles accumulate within the HVAC system, it causes more strain on the equipment which leads to increased breakdowns.

Most of the time, the roof isn’t an element of a home that homeowners think about on a regular basis. In general, they don’t think about the roof until there’s a problem. By the time a problem becomes obvious, though, the damage could already be significant. For that reason, it’s important to know how to spot the signs that it’s time to replace your roof.

The Age of Your Roof
Roofs don’t last a lifetime. In fact, most of them only have a 20-year warranty depending on the materials with which they’re made. Consider how long that you’ve had your roof. If it’s 20 years or older, it might be time to think about replacing it.

Are you unsure how old your roof is? Pay attention to how it looks from the curb. Do you see a lot of streaking and large areas of disrepair? If so, these are signs that you should replace the shingles. If you feel comfortable enough to get on your roof, check the most problematic areas, such as the flashing around the chimney and other joints.

Loose Granules
As shingles age, the granular surface starts to break away. As a result, granules build up in your yard or in your gutters. If you notice this, your asphalt shingles will need replacing sooner rather than later.

Keep in mind that, if your house sits underneath the cover of large trees, you might notice granules breaking loose from the shingles faster than normal. That’s because the trees provide shade, which means that the shingles stay wet for longer than if they got more sunlight. This allows algae and other plant life to grow on the shingles, which breaks down their integrity.

Leaks in the Attic
Before you notice a leak in the living spaces of your house, it will start in the attic. Because of that, it’s a good idea to go up there after heavy rainstorms to look for wet spots along the roofing deck. Haven’t had rain in a while? You can still check for water stains. If you notice any, your roof needs repairs or possibly a replacement.

Rising Energy Bills
Did you know that your roof acts as an insulator against cold and heat invading your house? It does, which is why rising energy bills can be a sign that it’s time to replace your roof. At this point, consider investing in a roofing material that reflects sunlight, like a metal roof, to further lower your energy bill.

Using the information above, you can spot signs that it’s time to replace your roof before major damage occurs. The quicker that you notice these warning signs, the more damage that you can prevent. When it comes to fixing and maintaining your roof, don’t procrastinate. Be sure that you keep up with routine maintenance such as gutter cleaning and shingle replacement. 

 

Cleaning your home’s exterior is a simple and budget-friendly way to boost its curb appeal and keep it looking clean and fresh all year long. Not only does it improve your property’s appearance, but it also cuts down on hazards posed by mold, fungus, and mildew. Whether you’re planning to have your home professionally cleaned or do it yourself, you’ll need to decide between pressure washing and soft washing.

Most exterior cleaning companies offer both pressure washing and soft washing services. The cleaning experts can help you determine which option is best for your home, but as the property owner, it’s good to go into the conversation with a solid understanding of both options. Ultimately, the decision to use pressure washing or soft washing depends on which area of the property you plan to wash.

What is Pressure Washing?
A pressure washer is a specialized tool that shoots out a jet of highly pressurized water to clean surfaces. Water emerges from the washer’s hand wand at a pressure of up to 2,500 PSI (pounds per square inch). This makes pressure washing an excellent way to strip away built-up grime, dirt, and mildew that would otherwise be tough to remove with a regular hose.

Pressure washing is an extremely effective cleaning technique, but the powerful strength of the water can easily damage certain surfaces. It’s not unheard of for a pressure washer to strip away paint, damage shingles, dent siding, and destroy screens. That’s why pressure washing is only recommended for specific surfaces that are durable enough to withstand the highly pressurized water.

Use pressure washing for surfaces like:

1. Concrete driveways and sidewalks
2. Brick paver patios
3. Brick or stone siding

What is Soft Washing?
Soft washing is another popular cleaning method used on exterior surfaces. Instead of relying on highly pressurized water to get the job done, soft washing uses chemicals. Although the specific type of detergent formula varies between brands, they’re generally not considered hazardous to your property or the environment. The chemicals are sprayed out of the hand wand at a pressure of less than 1,000 PSI (pounds per square inch), which makes soft washing much safer for more delicate surfaces.

Soft washing should be used on surfaces like:

1. Wood siding
2. Window screens
3. Screened-in porches
4. Cedar shake siding or roofing

As you can see, both pressure washing and soft washing are excellent options for cleaning the exterior of your home. You should base your decision on planning ahead and choosing the right option for the surface you want to clean. If in doubt, your best bet is to consult with a pressure washing company in your area.

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The best way to budget for a home remodel is to work within the parameters of your finances. You should have an idea in mind for the overhead costs that will be incurred for the kitchen, bathrooms, and living areas.

The kitchen is probably going to be where you spend the most money because this is the focal point of the entire house. You should ideally consider investing a significant amount of money into nice countertops (ideally granite or some other very hard surface), as well as a backsplash behind the counter space. You should also budget for appliances like a new stove, a new refrigerator, a dishwasher, and a warming oven (if desired). Also, expect to spend a decent amount of money on cabinets if you want the kitchen to look really nice. You should also have some type of lighting. If you decide to get an island for the kitchen, that will also need hard countertop material. This will not be cheap, but at the end of the day, all the countertops will give the kitchen an overall great appearance that looks nice and polished. Additionally, you will need something in your budget for tiles in the kitchen.

For the bathrooms, you need to budget for a new tub, double vanities in the master bathroom, single vanities for the other bathrooms, and new fixtures like a new toilet, new sinks, and showerheads. You might also need fixtures like faucets, handles for the sinks, towel bars, and lighting. You’re also going to need new bath towels, a bath curtain, grout for the tub, and tile for the bathrooms.

For the various living spaces, you are going to need carpeting, and various kinds of furniture like couches, tables, chairs, armchairs, lamps, and other lighting fixtures. Shop for furniture in advance to be sure you get the best price. Consider investing in blinds or drapes for windows. You might want to have newer windows installed depending on how old your current windows are so that they will be more energy-efficient. This will save you lots of money on heating bills. If you need to replace any room doors or the front door in your house, this will definitely cost extra, so plan for that as well if it applies. As a side note, for bedrooms, you will need closet organizers, beds, dressers, tables, lamps, and chairs.
Also, budget for landscaping outside.

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Millennials and Professional Cleaning Assistance

Work-life balance is a concept that has been getting a lot of attention in recent years. Companies are realizing that they need to make the wellness of their employee’s top priorities. Employees themselves are realizing that they need to focus on well-being, too. This concept is particularly big among the younger crowd. Individuals who are part of the Millennial generation have schedules that are more action-packed than ever before. They juggle lifestyles that revolve around career, social obligations, errands, pastimes, and beyond. It can often be tough for millennials these days to attain the balance that’s necessary for optimal well-being.

Dealing with household tasks can often zap millennials who have busy lives of a lot of energy. It can be hard for an exhausted person to get home from work late at night only to have to think about cleaning the living room. The mere thought sometimes makes people cringe, and understandably so. Smart millennials, however, have terrific solutions for that major dilemma. What is the solution? The solution is to hire professionals to take on all of their residential cleaning requests. It doesn’t matter if a young professional resides in a compact apartment in the city. It doesn’t matter if he or she lives in a sprawling detached home out in the suburbs, either. Recruiting professional cleaners can do a lot for his or her work-life balance. The assistance of professional cleaners can be ideal for millennials who want to be able to take it easy after they get home in the evenings. It can be ideal for millennials who have rather chaotic and demanding social lives on their plates. Professional cleaning assistance empowers millennials who want to put able to put their thoughts into subjects that have nothing to do with household tasks.

Upholstery cleaning is a big household chore. Cleaning furniture items can often be time-consuming. It can often be difficult to rid furniture pieces of stains and persistently awful smells. That’s the reason that millennials frequently hire trained and seasoned professionals to take on all of their upholstery cleaning requirements. Regular cleaning sessions can help millennials keep their furniture items in tiptop condition for much longer, too.

Carpet cleaning is yet another big focal point for many millennials in this day and age. It can be a headache to have to keep up with carpet maintenance requirements. The carpet can feel cozy and pleasant against the feet. It can also be a haven for the collection of dirt, dust, debris, and allergens in general. Millennials who want to be able to clean their carpeting at home thoroughly frequently make the smart choice to hire professional carpet cleaners. In-depth carpet shampooing sessions can help millennials attain fresh and flawless living spaces.

It’s common to experience a bit of discomfort in your home during the summer months as the temperatures rise outside. This can make it difficult to feel at ease and also affects the quality of your space if you start to sweat. Fortunately, there are a few maintenance tips to follow to keep your home cool and comfortable this summer.

Make Use of Your Ceiling Fans
Ceiling fans are extremely useful when it comes to keeping each room in the house cool and don’t use a lot of energy, which will keep your electricity costs low during the warmer months. Change their direction and make them operate counterclockwise to ensure warm air circulates downward and warm air goes upward.

Use Your Curtains
Make use of your curtains to ensure you block any heat from transferring into the building through the windows. Use thick color-blocking curtains that add insulation to the building and keep the cool air inside the home. This will prevent your air conditioner from working harder than necessary to operate.

Close the curtains during the warmest parts of the day, and open them back up in the evening when the outdoor temperatures are cooler. You can also consider adding a UV-blocking film to the windows of your home, which will prevent natural light from filtering into your home and increasing the temperature.

Replace the AC Filters
Many people forget to replace their AC filters every two to three months, which can affect how hard the appliance works to operate. Replacing the AC filters can make it easier to maintain a low temperature in the building and can reduce the risk of excess wear and tear on the parts.

It’s also important to examine your thermostat to ensure it’s working correctly and the temperature is accurate. Wait until the evening to operate your dishwasher or washing machine, which can cause heat to be released into the interior setting.

Perform an Inspection
Hire a professional AC repair company to perform an inspection on the outside unit to determine if any issues are present and if everything is working correctly. A technician can diagnose any issues that are present and also identify if repairs are needed to ensure the appliance continues to operate well on warm days without the risk of it breaking down. The professional will also remove any leaves or twigs that are inside of the unit, which can affect its operation and lead to damage.

Following the right maintenance tips can allow you to maintain a specific temperature in your home when the summer season arrives. This can allow you to escape heat waves and relax indoors to ensure you enjoy the season more.

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The sense of smell is one of our strongest sensations. That is why people tend to notice any unwanted odors in a house. Avoid potential embarrassment by removing any bad odors that may be in your home. To do this, you may want to consider common causes of bad odor.

1 Trash
Although everyone knows that trash can have a stench. People often undermine the importance of the need for consistent trash removal. Letting the trash sit in your home for days ends with radiation of bad odor from the trash throughout the house. Certainly, you can spray scents to cover the smell, but that is an unnecessary process. Save yourself the hassle of needing to purchase costly house fragrances by simply removing trash from your home.

2 Shoes
Shoes can bring a bad odor into your home; so, allow the odor to dissipate by letting your shoes air outside after strenuous exercise.

3 Unwashed Dishes
When dishes sit they collect odor. That is why it is important to have a consistent cleaning schedule to remove any potential stench from unwashed dishes.

4 Pet Urine and Feces
Even though we love our fuzzy friends we must admit they can be the culprit of pretty bad odors in the home. Regularly cleaning litter boxes helps. However, more detailed methods of odor removal may be necessary if there are years of collected bad odor.

5 Diapers
Again some culprits of bad odor are obvious. Regularly removing diapers from the home and placing them in a separate sealed bag from other trash items helps decrease bad odor.

6 Tobacco
The smell of tobacco is a common complaint. Stores sell scent neutralizers to aid in suppressing the smell of tobacco. Smoking outside will also help decrease the bad odor from tobacco.

7 Expired Foods
Expired food is perhaps the worst scent you can smell. Yuck! Be mindful of expiration dates because you do not want to be left with the scent of old, rotten food. This is especially the case with old eggs and milk.

One will find that maintaining a fresh, clean smell in your home can easily be accomplished. For individuals needing to remove more intrusive odors seeking outside professional cleaning services is an option worth utilizing to remove any bad odors.

8 Carpets
Carpeting adds warmth and comfort to your home. However, carpets can retain dirt, allergens, and mold causing odors to linger in your house. It is important that you not only vacuum regularly but also regularly schedule a professional carpet cleaning.

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If you are wondering how carpet cleaning can improve air quality, it does so by taking out the microbes and dust that are trapped within the fibers.

You already know that carpets are a peculiar fixture within the house. Not only do they decorate the house, they also trap dust and dirt. This initially cleans the air, however, the dust and microbes accumulate to the point that they fly when you step on the carpet.

There are many carpet cleaners out there and if you don’t know of any, you should know that finding one is as simple as going to Google and typing carpet cleaners plus the name of your area.

You might be asking yourself why you should hire a carpet cleaner when you can clean your carpet yourself, however, the truth is that it takes a special type of vacuum and liquid to clean a carpet and improve the indoor air quality properly.

Carpet cleaning can improve the air quality by cleaning the trapped items in your carpet. To thoroughly clean your air, you need to regularly clean your carpet. How often? Well, that depends on several things, like the foot traffic in your home and your house’s distance from the road.

As we said before, there are many carpet cleaners in practically all major areas in the United States. And it’s important to note that not all of them are created alike. While some are honest professionals, some won’t hesitate to rip you off of your money.

To avoid getting scammed, it’s very important that you only hire people who are part of some carpet cleaner’s trade association.

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Everyone wants the exterior of their home or business to look nice. That’s a given. Now the problem is “How can I make my home or business look good without breaking the bank?” The answer to that question is by having your windows professionally cleaned. Clean windows shows that you care about the appearance of your building, which, when running a business, could give you an edge over your competitors. Let’s look at 5 reasons why you should have your windows professionally cleaned.

Appearance
First and foremost, having clean windows gives your home or business a nice appearance. Having a nice appearance makes your home or business look welcoming to visitors. Compared to cost of repainting your building or making other parts of the exterior look nice, getting professionally cleaned windows seems like a bargain.

Window Longevity
Professional window cleaners know how to make windows last. It’s their job! They can more easily identify and prevent buildup of environmental contaminants like acid rain residue. How easily can you identify acid rain residue? Probably not as well as someone who cleans windows for a living! The cost savings associated with increased window longevity make getting your windows professionally cleaned seem like a no-brainer.

Comfort
Comfort is a wide category in the world of windows, but we’ll define it as relaxation from needing to complete another task. This essentially means a job well done. Cleaning windows on your own is tough, especially when they’re in high places. You may not do as good of a job as a professional and you could leave smudge marks or streaks. By outsourcing this labor, you can rest and relax while certified window professionals make sure your windows are spotless.

Tricky Windows
Have you ever had to clean a window that was hard to reach? Ever been afraid of falling off a ladder? With a professional window cleaner you do not need to worry anymore. Window professionals know how to clean windows in hard-to-reach places.

Pest-related Window Pain
Similar to tricky windows, have you ever tried to clean a window and there is a beehive right next to it? If you have, it probably wasn’t a fun time. Professional window cleaners have experience with pest-related window issues and know how to deal with them. This saved headache is well worth the expense of a window cleaner.

There you have it! 5 reasons why you should have your windows professionally cleaned. Clean windows are a sign of a thriving business and a spectacular home. A professional window cleaner can save you from many window-related problems, all at a low cost to you.

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Eliminaationg Pet Ordors

I don’t know about you, but when I walk into a home that shares space with a pet or pets, I’m always on guard for dreaded pet odors. The odor is distinct and not easy to get rid of. To help solve the “pet odor” problem, here are some tips to follow.

1. Buy cleaners that are enzymatic, because the enzymes are great for eliminating and neutralizing the smell that accompanies pet waste. Let’s face it, accidents do happen! Just make sure if the “accident” occurs on a rug or hardwood floor, the cleaner doesn’t contain components that might damage the area. Bleach diluted in a pail of water also does wonders to neutralize and disinfect.

2. Any pet odors begin at the source, which clearly is the pet. Whether a cat or dog, it’s important to wipe the animal down often with baby wipes and shampoo regularly with a shampoo made for pets.

Special Tip: “Use old towels or dishcloths to wipe the pet dry.”

3. Get cleaning products designed for pets like spot scrubbers, vacuums, and hair removal brushes. Spend a few minutes each day cleaning areas that the pet frequently visits for food, play or rest. This routine will deter smells from permanently setting in and eliminate unwanted pet hair. Keep in mind, the longer a mess stays, the harder it is to eliminate that foul-smelling odor.

Take it from me, these simple tips, with keep your pet and your home smelling fresh as a daisy!

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