Simple but Effective Tips for Cleaning Your Hardwood Floors

March 9th, 2010

Hardwood is one of the best materials for home flooring because of it’s elegance, beauty and durability. Homes with hardwood floors are often considered to have class and style that definitely create an impression of refinement and even affluence. Because of this a lot of people think that cleaning and maintaining hardwood floors is acomplicated matter. A lot of homeowners are afraid to touch their hardwood floors, fearing that they might cause damage on these classic beauties.

The opposite is actually true with hardwood floors as they are among the easiest floors to clean and maintain. While it is true that they can be more vulnerable to scratches and damages when compared to granite and marble, hardwood floors are actually very sturdy, being able to last for generations with proper care. Cleaning hardwood floors should not really be a difficult task to do if you know simple steps on caring for them.

Here are some tips for cleaning, and maintaining hardwood floors. The supplies and materials needed for cleaning are actually quite simple. The basic knowledge you should know about proper hardwood floor care is not really that complicated.

1. Maintain the hardwood floor’s cleanliness by sweeping it regularly with a broom with fine bristles.

2. Vacuum the floor at least twice every week to eliminate sand and dirt that may cause scratching. To avoid damage, use the vacuum cleaner’s soft brush nozzle.

3. Water is among your hardwood floor’s worst foes. Eliminate water and moisture as soon as you spot them. Wipe accidental spillage with soft dry cloth or chamois to dry the floor very well.

4. When mopping hardwood floors, use a dry mop dampened very lightly with clean water. If the mop is too wet, it can cause damage to the floor.

5. To prevent damage caused by footwear, put carpet runners on the hardwood-floored areas that often get high traffic.

6. Runners and rugs should be vacuumed regularly to eliminate dirt and sand that may go through the weave and may scratch the wood beneath.

7. Avoid wearing shoes with hard soles or pointy heels when walking on hardwood floors, they may cause dents and bumps.

8. By no means should you drag you furniture or heavy objects across the floor’s surface. If you need to transfer a heavy fixture from one place to another, clean the floor first of sand and dust, then place furniture pads under the piece being moved so that it can easily slide without scratching the floor.

9. Put floor mats by every entrance to clean shoes before stepping in the house.

10. Ask your floor manufacturer for their recommendations on how to treat dents and scratches on hardwood floors. Contact manufacturer if there is damage caused by water.

11. Install furniture pads underneath chairs, tables, closets, dressers and other pieces of furniture that can be moved. This way when you can easily slide them when cleaning the floor.

12. Ask your floor manufacture for their recommendations regarding the waxing or buffing requirements of the floor. Specific types of hardwood floors need specific care.

13. Ask the floor manufacturer about recommended cleaning agents for the hardwood floor.

14. To remove water spots, use a steel wool no. 2 and just reapply wax on the area to restore its finish.

15. To remove mild cigarette burns, rub the floor with steel wool dampened by soapy water.

16. To eliminate dark spots such as ink stains, you can rub the floor with a steel wool no. 2 moistened by a recommended floor cleaner. If the spot is stubborn, you may sand it carefully with very fine sand paper. After removing the stain, reapply wax and polish the floor. For extremely stained floor, the area might have to be replaced.

17. To remove chewing or bubble gum, apply ice to the gum deposit until it hardens and becomes brittle enough to chip off. Dry the floor immediately. If there are stains left, clean with a recommended cleaning agent.

Hardwood floors are considered to be investments, not only can they increase the real estate value of a house, they can make homes quite cozy and nice to live in. Cleaning and maintaining hardwood floors do not really have to be complicated. With these steps in mind, you can easily keep your hardwood floor to last for the generations to come.

Lee Dobbins
http://www.articlesbase.com/home-and-family-articles/simple-but-effective-tips-for-cleaning-your-hardwood-floors-77408.html

Murval “Kassandra” Waxed Canvas Tote. BLACK / WHITE

March 9th, 2010

Murval “Kassandra” Waxed Canvas Tote Add a touch of lighthearted style to any outfit, while maintaining a sophisticated edge. Featuring a novel red/white/black paisley print, this waxed canvas bag sets you apart from the crowd. Black lizard embossed trim decorates the bag for rich style. Imported. Designed to keep you organized, the tote can hold everything from office files to a compact umbrella to a thin sweater, and still have space for your wallet and other essentials. For important items, the exterior features one snap pocket on each side so it’s easy to get to your keys or phone when you need them. The interior also includes one zip pocket and one open pocket. The lightweight construction allows you to carry plenty of essentials, without weighing you down, while the water-resistant waxed canvas resists scuffs for long-lasting beauty. Finished with a decorative lock on the front and comfortable double rolled handles. Complete the look with the matching rolling tote and foldable tote . Additional Information: Snap closure. Brass hardware. Measures 14″L x 4″W x 15″H. Weighs 3 pounds. Made of 50% cotton/50% PVC with 100% polyester lining. Handle drop measures 9″. About Murval: Founded in Paris by two sisters, Muriel and Valerie, Murval offers affordable fashion for any occasion. Each season they combine trend-setting colors with stylish materials, for a fashion-forward look to update your wardrobe. And with their wallet-friendly prices, you can afford to pick a new look to suit every outfit and occasion.

Read the rest of this entry »

Home Body Waxing : How to Wax Upper Lip at Home

March 9th, 2010

Learn tips and techniques on how to wax the upper lip with an at home wax treatment for hair removal in this free beauty video clip from our home spa treatment expert.

Expert: Kara Shiery
Bio: Kara Shiery is a graduate of Empire Beauty school and is trained in waxing, nails, hair, and makeup.
Filmmaker: Devon Bartholomew

Duration : 0:2:48

Read the rest of this entry »

Technorati Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

KMS California Hair Stay Gel Wax 3oz

March 7th, 2010

KMS California Hair Stay Gel Wax 3oz

KMS California Hair Stay Gel Wax is a new gel wax that provides the hold of a gel and the pliability of a wax on any wet or dry style. Made in U.S.A ,

Read the rest of this entry »

Tips On Sanding Hardwood Floors

March 6th, 2010

Sanding hardwood floors is not always easy. In fact, some hardwood floor owners prefer to hire a professional to do the sanding for them.

Waxing and buffing the floor does not provide as good shine when the hardwood floor is sand instead. Regardless if your hardwood floors were just recently installed in your house, or has been there for years, they could regain back their original beauty and richness of the wood when you refinish them.

Sanding your hardwood floors can be time consuming and may be a bit expensive should you decide to hire a professional to do the job. If you can spare the time, you may also opt to do it yourself. Anyways, all of the necessary equipments are available at almost all rental home depot centers. Also, the steps you would have to do are straightforward so you shouldn’t find sanding very difficult.

However, before you start to set out on the task yourself, you may want to consult a professional to estimate the total costs of the project. It might be shock to learn that it could cost a thousand dollars just to have one room refinished. If you find the difference not wide enough, then you can just contract a professional to do the sanding.

Because of the high costs of sanding all of the floors of the house, some even decide to just cover old hardwood floors with carpets. But that would be such a waste, to put beautiful hardwood floors out of sight, right? That’s why most people just go through doing the messy sanding jobs themselves to cut on costs.

Sanding can also be scary for some. Who wouldn’t be afraid to ruin their hardwood floors, especially if they were quite expensive? If you’re not careful enough, you can easily damage your floor with the sander.

If you don’t have a sander, you can rent one from your nearest hardware supply store. You’ll be needing a drum sander or a belt sander, depending on your hardwood floor type. If you’re not sure about the type of sandpaper you need to use, you could always ask the hardware store salesman for advice. Of course, you may have to get yourselves some dust masks so you could still move around even if your room will be filled with saw dust.

The sander is not as difficult to operate as you may have believed. It is self propelling making it easy for the user to move it. However, you would have to keep a firm grip on its controls. It wouldn’t take a while when you get the hang of operating it. Some even think that operating a sander is fun.

However, you would still need to be cautious in using the sander. It is like a flat iron that when you keep it in one spot on your clothes, it could burn your clothes. You would have to keep the sander in constant motion to reduce the possibility of damaging the floors.

Also, expect your place to be a bit noisy whenever you turn on the sander. Aside from being noisy, it’ll also be creating a lot of saw dust. So you can also expect your room to be full of messy saw dust afterwards.

Sanding removes the old finish of your hardwood. Once you’re done with that you can start applying a stain on the floor. Some people though don’t apply stain and just prefer to leave the wood in its natural color. Then you would have to give the floor the finish to protect it.

There are two kinds of floor finish. There is an oil-based and water-based floor finishing. Under these major types, are a few subtypes. For example, there are semi-gloss, satin or gloss oil-based finishes.

Satin is a great choice for your hardwood floor. It provides a good cover for hardwood flaws while letting its natural beauty show without that bright shine. Though oil-based finish are good in giving the floor a natural amber glow, it doesn’t dry as soon as water based finishes. Water based finished also have the advantage of keeping the wood from yellowing.

Before you start applying the next coats, by the way, ensure that the previous coat is completely dry. Of course, it is as important to follow the instructions on the finish. Usually, you may not occupy the room within a ceratin amount time. Then when everything’s ok, and you’re satisfied with what you’ve done, you can move all your furniture back again.

Lee Dobbins
http://www.articlesbase.com/home-and-family-articles/tips-on-sanding-hardwood-floors-79089.html

Home Body Waxing : How to Wax the Chin at Home

March 6th, 2010

Learn tips and techniques on how to give a chin wax treatment at home for hair removal in this free beauty video clip from our home spa treatment expert.

Expert: Kara Shiery
Bio: Kara Shiery is a graduate of Empire Beauty school and is trained in waxing, nails, hair, and makeup.
Filmmaker: Devon Bartholomew

Duration : 0:2:28

Read the rest of this entry »

Technorati Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Is there any beauty saloon in Bangalore which does chest and legs waxing for boys?

March 3rd, 2010

Name the saloon and Place within blore

THere are so many unisex saloons in blore. But not all do waxing for men I believe

Dude, just get yourself a razor and shave it by u r self.

Glass Railings

March 3rd, 2010

EXplains the uses of glass railings. Talks about how pretty they are in malls, and how they reflect light and keep spaces brighter. Ease of care of glass railings

There are certain spaces where glass railings really bring out the best of the surroundings. Many beautiful modern shopping malls use glass railings to expand the space and make sure the shopper has a full view. Glass railings can add a special sparkle to many other spaces as well. The reflections from the glass will emphasize an interestingly lit area and add a wonderful touch.

A beautiful example of the artistic use of glass railings is in the Dubai Gold Market. As is befitting this elegant shopping center, with its stunning use of light and gold accents, the glass used in the railings reflects off all surfaces and creates a mesmerizing effect that further illuminates the beautiful gold. No one can imagine using wooden or metal railings in such a setting; the effect would be ruined.

Glass railings are a custom item, since glass railings cannot be precut and pieced together on site. This concept works well with glass railings since they should be customized to suit the area they are going to be a part of. Every nuance of the area, most especially the lighting, should be considered when installing glass railings. The whole look should be considered so that the beauty and reflective nature of the glass is not wasted.

One of the main advantages of glass railings is that they require absolutely no maintenance. They will not attract mold and mildew, as wood railings may, and they will not degrade as many other materials may. There is no varnishing or waxing or polishing. A quick spritz with window cleaner is all they need to stay perfect all the time. Unless a panel or piece breaks, there should never be a reason to replace a section of glass railing.

Most people avoid handing glass railings very much because they think they are fragile. In fact, the glass used for this purpose is very heavy and durable. However, you will alway see parents taking their children down off glass railings because they think the railings will break and hurt the child. They are not so careful about wood railings.

Glass railings create a beautiful, open space in any area where they are used. They are frequently used in shopping malls because of the open, welcoming atmosphere they create. This invites shoppers to linger, and hopefully shop some more.

Adam Peters
http://www.articlesbase.com/home-improvement-articles/glass-railings-113926.html

36″ Vanity – Hammered Copper Basin – 8″ Faucet Holes – 1-1/4″ Granite Top – White Beauty

March 3rd, 2010

36

A distinctive two-tone finish makes this country-inspired vanity a true masterpiece. Finished with hand-applied glazes, this piece is burnished to create the look of a well-loved family heirloom. Features a hand-hammered copper basin, open sides for storage, and carved stylized rosettes. Made from maple wood with a cherry veneer door panel. Vanity set includes the vanity base, granite or marble countertop with backsplash, and a hand-hammered copper sink with bowl clips. Solid 16-gauge copper construction. Sink has a hammered interior and Copper Antique finish. Patina is applied with fire using genuine French hot process. This means the color is engrained into the copper, not applied with wax. Each sink is handcrafted and is considered an individual work of art. Vanity only dimensions: 36″ L x 21″ W (front to back) x 34″ H (± 1/2″). Faucet sold separately. Available in

Read the rest of this entry »

The DIY Lip Wax

March 3rd, 2010

Remove hair safely and easily in the comfort of your own bathroom.

Duration : 0:1:33

Read the rest of this entry »

Technorati Tags: , , , , , , ,