Month: October 2017

Hardwood flooring can get dull, scratches, and dents with time, but unlike other floors, this can be corrected. A floor refinishing is all it needs. Hardwood flooring can take a number of complete sanding and refinishing jobs in its lifetime unlike other types of flooring.

If you want to save some money, you can decide to do the refinishing by yourself. However, caution must be taken with some of the tools and equipment used to avoid costly mistakes.

Here is a guide to some DIY floor refinishing practices;

• Wear a good dust mask or respirator
• Wear goggles and ear protectors
• Seal doorways
• Turn on HVAC to prevent dust circulation

Two methods are involved when refinishing hardwood floors; buffing and sanding.

Buffing

It is also called screening. It is most applicable when the scratches and wear are on the surface, and the wood found beneath the surface is in good condition. Here, the surface is restored by buffing the top coat. For this process, you will need a floor buffing tool and screen grits. The tool is easy to handle and use. Any dust between each grit should be swept or vacuumed.

Sanding

This process is most suitable for old damaged floors. It completely restores the floors and even changes the color using stain. It also has its special equipment for the process which involves a progression of grits and, a drum sander.

The problem for beginners is that a drum sander can gouge the floor if you aren’t careful. You might try an orbital sander instead. You will also need an edger for along the walls and in the corners.

Finishing

You need to vacuum and then carefully clean the floor with a tack cloth or something similar. Don’t wet it. Then you can leave it a natural color or put on a stain to change the color. Finally, you put on coats of polyurethane. For some other tips check out this article by clicking here.

Call in a professional floor refinisher, if you want to save time and energy. They are highly trained and skilled in using this equipment, and they will be efficient in their work. This way, the refinishing will be economical and will last for a couple of years.

The last thing anyone wants to come home to after a long day at work is a dirty house. And yet sometimes, this is the scene that often greets you when you get home. Families are getting lesser time to tend to house chores and this can become quite stressful if not taken care of. Piles of dirty laundry, dirty dishes in the sink, the musty smell in your living area, etc., should not overwhelm you.

Sometimes you are hosting a party or a special event and are pressed on time so you need special attention to your house. The good thing is that professionals in house cleaning services are just a call away. The best thing about hiring a professional is that the services are customized for your needs and those of your family. They are also more efficient and use the right products and equipment to get your home looking and smelling fresh.

General Maintenance Tips for a Clean House

• Clean the dishes daily and wipe off messes from the countertops
• Mop the kitchen floor at least weekly
• Dust the living area weekly
• De-clutter the living area on a daily basis
• Wipe tabletops
• Clean your bathtubs weekly
• Remove content from cabinets after every six months and wipe down the shelves. Get rid of all the unnecessary stuff in there
• Make your bed first thing in the morning
• Keep dirty clothes in the laundry basket immediately

Don’t forget to regularly clean these areas that are often overlooked;

• Doorknobs
• Telephones
• Ceiling cobwebs
• Baseboard dust
• Behind and under major appliances

Homemade Cleaning Solutions

Apart from the common tools that we mostly use for cleaning in the home like vacuums, mops, brushes, rags, gloves, etc., there are some efficient homemade solutions that can be used for effective cleaning.

• Hot water and lemon juice to remove garbage smell
• Water and lemon juice mix for mirrors
• Lemon juice and olive oil as furniture polish
• Salt into a fireplace to loosen soot
• Vinegar and baking soda for clogged pipes and drains
• Vinegar and baking soda for deodorizing the kitchen sink
• Vinegar and water for fresh floors
• Vinegar, salt, and flour as a polish for metal surfaces

Residential cleaning services are affordable and they can be a weekly or a monthly thing. Ensure that the company is licensed and insured. Trust is important since they mostly clean your house while you are at work. Don’t be afraid to ask questions on what their cleaning will entail. Different cleaners will have different methods and so consistency is important if the service was satisfactory.