Tiling your bathroom yourself canhelp cut costs but also takes a lot of care. To begin, you need to remove any old tile. To do this you can use a hammer and chisel, or rent a small jackhammer if the tile does not come up easily. After removing the old tile and scraping off the old adhesive, use a trowel to lay down a thin coat of self-leveling cement to level out the floor.
When you begin laying the new tiles start from a corner and work across the room. Use a thin layer(about an 1/8 in) of adhesive and put it down in small patches at a time to prevent it from drying out. Now that the tiles are down and the adhesive is dry it is time to apply the grout.
Press the grout between the tiles until the grout line is fill. Then clear off any excess grout and continue until all tiles are complete. After the grout sets for about 20 minutes, use a sponge to clean off the dirty tiles. Wait about 3 hours and repeat this step, making sure the floor is completey clean. In the morning there may be some remaining dust just wipe the floor with a dry towel and sweep up any remaining dirt.
Well many are with the Garden Wall. It really is stunning and vibrant.
Inspiration for your Bathroom. Plants love living in bathrooms, so why not create a vertical garden in yours? You can buy modular vertical garden pots that will help you nuture happy, healthy plants in an arrangement that suits your wall.
The bathroom is one of the most feminine, transformative, healing and surreal spaces in the home where we can destress. So incorporating nature into your oasis is the perfect solution to a peaceful environment where all your worries fade away.
And if your bathroom doesn't have windows and therefore, no fresh air. You can still add live and bring in the outdoors with plants that blossom in the bathroom. There are plants that love moisture and that keep air circulating. Plants for Low-Light Bathrooms: Aloe Vera, Bamboo, Begonia, Boston Fern, Cast Iron Plant, Chinese Evergreen, Ficus Benjamina, Heart-Leafed Philodendron, Orchid, Peace Lily, Spider Plant, Dieffenbachia, Snake Plant. Plants for Bright and Sunny Bathrooms: Asparagus Fern, Azalea, Gardenia, Kimberly Fern, Orchid.
This is the perfect way to bring the outdoors in your bathroom.
Cabinetry is the heart and soul of a beautiful kitchen. Well-constructed cabinets are warm and inviting and pull the entire kitchen design together. Making the right choice in terms of material, finishes and placement of the cabinets can make a small kitchen appear open and fresh. My advice is to always invest in high end, strong cabinetry that will last the wear and tear of everyday use.
Top 5 kitchen cabinet trends:
1. Natural finishes –
Cherry wood cabinets have been in fashion for the past couple of years. But the trend is now wearing off and moving towards more natural finishes and lesser used woods. There is growing appreciation for natural textures and grains. Exotic woods like alder and earth – friendly bamboo are gaining momentum and the year 2014 will be all about going natural and sustainable. Light colored stains like whites, off-whites and natural finishes will also help your kitchen appear larger and open.
2. Concealed appliances –
Built in cabinets that conceal the appliances are a huge trend slated to peak in 2014. Concealed appliances blend in seamlessly without breaking the visual appeal of the kitchen. Large stainless steel appliances that were once the shining jewel of the kitchen are now being hidden behind the cabinets to make the kitchen appear well balanced and not overpowered by appliances.
3. Ornate Details –
Shaker style cabinets have always been a timeless classic but for 2014 the trend is moving towards more decorative, embellished details on the cabinets that add interest to plain, boring ones. I believe in paying great attention to details and for me an easy way to update simple cabinets is by adding crown moldings and cut – outs. Look out for ornamental details inspired by French country styles.
4. Glass door cabinets with colorful accents –
There is a growing interest in country- style look for kitchen cabinets in 2014. Instead of shutting the cabinets entirely, see through glass-front cabinet doors in white and off-white are gaining momentum. The glass reflects light making the kitchen appear fresh and airy. These are great for displaying your collection of vintage china. To add further interest pops of color are being introduced by simply painting the inside of the cabinet in a cheery color. These bold accents set off by the white exteriors of the cabinets are high on impact and great to match the color scheme of your house.
5. Floor to ceiling cabinets –
Instead of filling the entire kitchen with cabinets and leaving no space to breathe, designers are opting for floor to ceiling cabinets instead. Full height cabinets create adequate storage space improving the aesthetic and balance of the kitchen. These floor to ceiling cabinets can be a mix of drawers and glass doors and can house everything from utensils, small appliances, cook books and linens in the same place. A floor to ceiling cabinet placed against a blank wall makes good use of the otherwise dead space.
All modern TVs come from the factory preset to look great in the store which means the brightness is usually turned much higher than it needs to be for home viewing.
Average Television life span: 10 to 20 years
And when the brightness or contrast is set too high, the backlight has to work harder to maintain it. To sidestep the extra strain this puts on your TV, go to the menu and lowering the brightness, contrast and (if possible) backlight settings as much as you can while maintaining a clear picture.
Why not Add 3 to 6 years to the life of your TV?
ALSO TRY: Regularly dusting the back of the television as well as the screen. Obstructed vents can lead to life-shortening overheating. It is recommended to keep the TV out of direct sunlight for the same reason.
Save Money by Adding up to 4 Years on your Refrigerator? Average life span of your refrigerator: 14 years
Add 4 more years to your refrigerator?
The refrigerator’s condensor coils are responsible for releasing the heat that the machine generates, but these coils can easily become covered with dust, pet hair and other debris. “The dirtier the coils the harder the frige has to work to stay cool, and the sooner it will diet. Beat advice:
Twice a year (three to four times for pet owners) turn off the frige, remove the grate protecting the coils (behind the fridge on older models; at the bottom on newer models) and use a vacuum brush attachment to remove dust and grime.
ALSO TRY: Relubricating the rubber door seal, which can be weakened by food buildup. Just wash it with warm soapy water, let dry and buff on a thin layer of petroleum jelly to soften the rubber and repel future food splashes.
Save time & Energy on the Baseboard Miracle Cleaning Product
Who knows cleaning and laundry better than the professional who do it for a living? Well here is a great easy to use product for cleaning your baseboards.
Do you need a great product to Wash or Dust those hard to reach spots?
Gotta have it tool: Baseboard Buddy
Created by a women who had it with crawling around her own baseboards, the baseboard buddy has a telescoping handle that allows you to adjust the height and angle of its removable, washable microfiber cleaning pad. It’s an amazing timesaver. Spray the pad with your favorite cleaner and go – no bending or stooping required.
Summer is right around the corner and a great way to cool a room on those hot summer days is by using a window air conditioner. If you are looking for a unit that is easy to assemble and install, check out The Arctic King MWK-06CRN 6,000 BTU Window Mounted Air Conditioner. This unit is getting great reviews and works perfectly. It is light weight, but powerful and quiet to use. It cools the room really well, and includes a remote with a convenient timer that comes in handy to help save on energy.
The remote features are very reliable and make it much easier to control. Not only does the remote display room temp & 24 hour clock but it has a ‘follow me’ feature which allows the remote to act as a thermostat. You can place the remote anywhere in the room and it will cool the room evenly until it has reached the specified pre-set temperature.
Pain in the neck cleaning tasks tips for heater vents, lamp shades, flat screens and more
Home Cleaning Made Simple:
Iron:
Solution whitish or brownish mineral deposits from tap water and residue from detergent and fabric softener can clog the iron’s steam holes and cause it to drag. To restore the surface, wipe the metal plate with a cloth dampened with warm water and a little dish soap. Use a toothbrush to scrub inside vents, then wipe with a cloth dampened with plain water.
Iron a clean towel with steam to remove any soap inside the holds. If this doesn’t work or if something has melted on the plate, try a hot iron cleaner, available in tubes at hardware and craft stores put a dab on an old towel and Rub the hot iron over it. Iron a clean towel to remove residue.
Solution studies have shown that the average keyboard has more germs than a public toilet seat so this is something you don’t want to leave off your list of cleaning tasks. It is recommended that you use the de-crumbling and sanitizing regimen.
Disconnect the keyboard or power down your laptop and use a hair dryer set on cool or a can of compressed air (try Dust Destroyer Max Professional Blow Off 8 Oz 6 Pack Kit at amazon.com only $19.44) to lift dust and debris from between the keys. Turn the panel over, gently shake and apply air again.
Next, wring out the excess moisture from a bleach-free disinfecting wipe like seventh generation drugstore.com only $4 dollars and rub that over and around the keys. While you’re at it wipe down the mouse and mouse pad. Another option, great for getting kids to clean their own keyboards (plus cell phones, video game controller and more), is a slime-colored Silly Putty like substance known as Cyber Clean (cyberclean.tv, from $6). Press the gob, which is treated with germ killing chemicals and can be reused, over keys to pick up dirt and bacteria.
Solution vacuum vents and filters regularly with a brush or crevice tool. They tend to collect a lot of dust and can blow it around the room. A lambswool duster works well too; opt for one on extension pole if you need to reach the ceiling registers (try the Unger Total Reach Microfiber Duster Plus$7.50). A couple of times a year unscrew the vent covers and wash them with dish soap. You can also pop plastic or unpainted aluminum or steel covers in the dishwasher. Clean inside ducts, as far as you can reach, with the vacuum or lambswool duster (a regular 12-inch handle is fine) covered with an old, inside and out cotton tube sock this helps trap dirt and keeps the duster from getting gummed up.
Tip: Next time you are using self-clean on the oven, put crusty grill grates inside and take care of two dirty jobs at once.
Lamp Shades
Solution remove dust on sturdy fabric shades with a tape lint roller. Brush paper or delicate fabric pieces, such as silks or antique, with a clean paintbrush, or aim a blow dryer, set on a low, full setting, down over the shade. For spots, rub on stain remover and lightly blot with a barely damp cloth.
Grill Grates:
Solution regular maintenance with an end of this season thorough cleaning is the solution here. Every time you cook, pre-the grill for 10 to 15 min. (with gas, turn it up to high) to sterilize the grates and loosen any baked on debris. Then brush vigorously with a steel or brass bristle grill brush. Before you start cooking, oil the grates: Fold a paper towel into a small pad, and, using tongs, dip it in a bowl of vegetable oil and rub it over the entire surface. When you’re done, keep the grill going for about 10 minutes (turn gas burners back up to high) and brush the grates again. Once a year, run stainless steel grates through the dishwasher.
LCD Screens:
Solution while glass cleaners are fine for shining up old school TV screens and computer monitors, the alcohol and ammonia in these products can, over time, etch and cloud the delicate plastic coating on high definition panels. To remove streaks and smudges, gently rub a barely damp microfiber cloth across the surface; followed with a damp cloth (Ty the Unger Microfiber Cleaning Cloths 10-pk. at amazon.com).
Never spray anything directly on to the screen. If this doesn’t bring desired results, try a cloth moistened with stilled white vinegar and water, which works just as well as specialty screen cleaners sold at electronic stores. Dust screens and casings regularly again, microfiber cloth is best. To reduce static that tracks dust in the first place, swift a use dryer sheet (a fresh one will leave residue) over the screen every month or so.
Tip: Microfiber cloths work great on LCD screens-they’re lint free and less abrasive than cotton or paper towels. (Ty the Unger Microfiber Cleaning Cloths 10-pk. at amazon.com).
House Plants
Solution a feather duster is good for getting dust off leaves without doing any damage. You can also set the plan in the tub and gently hose it down with room temperature water – cold water can leave spots on the foliage. Use a cotton cloth or damp microfiber dust mitt (Quickie, Amazon.com save on Quickie Microfiber Dust Mitt & Polishing Cloths
) to wipe leaves on larger plants and trees; this makes it easy to target each frond quickly and precisely. Mix water with a little dish soap for leaves that have been exposed to kitchen grease. Clean dusty fabric plants by holding them upside down if possible and blasting with a hair dryer set on cool or a can of compressed air. If needed, spray on a silk flower cleaner like silks splendor which is dissolved dust and grease, no wiping required.
Portable AC units are most appropriate for individual rooms and include portable, window, and through-the-wall configurations.
You may be surprised to discover that there is not a lot of overlap between top central AC brands and top portable AC brands.
In fact, the only brands to make both lists were Amana, Airwell, and Kenmore, with none of these in the top five. Our final ranking is based on a careful and highly detailed analysis, as explained more fully in the paragraph below.
Our results for the top ten portable AC brands are presented for your consideration in the list to the left.
Before we get into specific information about each of our top ten brands, a few words about our approach and methodology are in order. We have collected data from a variety of expert sources, including the Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA), Home & Garden, Consumer Reports, Sensible Home, Green Guide, Consumer Search, Popular Mechanics, Galt Tech, Factoidz, and Consumer Guide. We have also collected information from a large number of consumer review sites, including MySears, Epinions, Amazon, Buzzle, Viewpoints, GardenWeb, Buzzillions, DoItYourself, CompareTheBrands, Web Informer, Hub Pages, Shopping.com, Reviews Ahoy, Associated Content, Shopzilla, BuyerZone, MetaEfficient, RateItAll, Wize, FurnaceCompare, Consumerist, and Recommended Buys. We then took all of the information and processed it to arrive at a consumer score for each brand, taking into consideration such factors as selection, quality, price, performance, availability, experience, durability, and customer support. These scores then served as the basis for our top ten ranking.
We give first place to Friedrich, a company that traces its roots to the 1800s and which has been manufacturing room air conditioners since the 1950s. For many years, Friedrich has produced market leading products which set the standard in terms of technology and effectiveness. Today, Friedrich offers a broad range of portable, window, and through-the-wall units for all possible cooling needs.
Second place goes to LG, the international electronics conglomerate which is perhaps even better known for its mobile phones and televisions. However, LG also manufactures a range of home appliances and its air conditioners are among the most highly rated of all the portable AC products out there. LG offers a variety of AC systems and units which are appreciated by consumers for their user-friendly controls, sleek design, quiet operation, and effective cooling.
Third place goes to GE, a global industrial leader with a storied history that traces its roots back to the transformative inventions of Thomas Edison. One of the company’s numerous brands is GE Appliances, which manufactures everything from refrigerators and ranges to water heaters and washing machines. The company makes portable and room air conditioners that are arguably the most powerful on the market today. In fact, the only reason that GE is not rated even higher is because their AC products tend to be more expensive than comparable brands.
Fourth place goes to Haier, a multinational home appliance and consumers electronics giant headquartered in China. Even though Haier has only been around since the 1980s, it has rapidly become a global brand and a leader in the production of quality home products. Haier makes excellent portable AC products which are widely available throughout the North American market.
Rounding out our top five is Frigidaire, which is owned by Electrolux, the Swedish appliance manufacturing conglomerate that has grown since its founding in the early 1900s to become one of the largest makers of consumer durable goods in the world. Frigidaire is traditionally known for its refrigerators, but has expanded to other cooling products and appliance types and today manufactures a number ofl excellent portable air conditioning products.
In sixth place is Kenmore, the home appliance megabrand started by Sears. The Kenmore brand contains a broad range of products, including everything from washers and dryers to stoves and refrigerators to heat pumps and furnaces to air purifiers and vacuum cleaners. Kenmore makes a line of solid portable air conditioners. While these may not be the most powerful or highest quality AC products, they receive high points for affordability, durability, and reliability.
In seventh and eighth are Amana and Sharp. Amana is a traditional HVAC manufacturer which is owned by Goodman. In addition to central heating and cooling products, Amana manufacturers several models of portable air conditioners which receive high marks from consumers. By contrast, Sharp is a multinational electronics manufacturer based in Japan. Over time, Sharp has grown its home appliance manufacturing operation and today makes a number of high quality products, including several models of affordable air conditioners.
Finally, in ninth and tenth are Airwell and DeLonghi. Airwell owns the Fedders brand and manufactures both central cooling systems and portable AC products. DeLonghi is an Italian appliance manufacturer and makes both portable heaters and air conditioners. The reviews of both companies’ portable AC products have been mixed. Many consumers enjoy their products, but a number have suggested that it is possible to find better value and enhanced quality for a similar price.
at amazon.com only $19.44) to lift dust and debris from between the keys. Turn the panel over, gently shake and apply air again.
$7.50). A couple of times a year unscrew the vent covers and wash them with dish soap. You can also pop plastic or unpainted aluminum or steel covers in the dishwasher. Clean inside ducts, as far as you can reach, with the vacuum or lambswool duster (a regular 12-inch handle is fine) covered with an old, inside and out cotton tube sock this helps trap dirt and keeps the duster from getting gummed up.
at amazon.com).
