Tuesday, December 16, 2008

How To Clean Marble Tile

More and more people are using marble tiles for home applications, but since marbles are considered soft stone, you need to take good care of it to maintain its spark and shine. It can be damaged by dirt and some acidic materials such as fruit juice, colas, wines, coffees and so on, but it doesn't made people to unused these materials for their homes. How To clean marble tiles and keep your marble sparkling?

To keep your marble sparkling, be sure to keep it free from routine dust and dirt. Cleaning marble tiles by sweeping the floor often with a soft bristled broom or vacuuming to pick up any loose dirt. If this can't be done every day, settle for two or three times a week.

Since there are plenty of people using marble tiles, the demand of products in cleaning it is increasing. It is best to keep a marble tile cleaner at hand so in case of accidental spillage of acidic materials or dirt, you can easily clean up right away. There are cases that your family and friends will walk around your home with dirt or sand in their shoes, so your marble tiles can gain dirt and scratches, so you have to clean them.

Occasionally wash marble surfaces with lukewarm water and wipe dry with a clean cloth. Wiping surface with a damp chamois will not leave streaks. Once or twice a year, depending on soil, wash with a mild detergent solution (hand dish-washing detergent and warm water), rinse and wipe dry.

A light coat of wax will protect the surface of marble but is not considered essential. Use colorless wax. Don't wax white marble as it may tend to yellow it. A marble sealer can be applied to clean marble, which will protect from staining and allow soil to be wiped off with a damp cloth.

Oil stains may include butter, hand cream or lotion. As soon as possible, spread surface with an absorbent fine powder such as whiting or even corn starch. After short time brush to remove and reapply more powder. Let stand 24 hours. To remove: Scrub with hot, sudsy (detergent) solution and stiff brush. Or wipe with ammonia-dampened cloth. In either case, then rinse and wipe dry. If these alkaline solutions don't remove all the oil, you can try a solvent. Make a poultice dampened with acetone or amyl acetate (available at drug stores), or with home dry cleaning fluid. Use good ventilation with windows open to remove fumes, do not use near spark or flame, and do not leave on too long.

Vinegar is helpful in cleaning lots of materials at home but not marble tiles. Vinegar can damage these types of tiles, so you have to put vinegar away from it. Do not use any type of detergents or soaps, it would be better to use warm water if you do not have cleaner.

One can install marble tiles over the existing floor provided that it is level, smooth and cleaned properly, if not, you have to remove the existing floor. Marble tiles should be cut properly to fit before you glue it to the floor. If you think you can't make this work done, you can hire a professional to do the work for you.

Seal and polish the tiles every few months is a good idea. The polish will help your floor to shine, while the sealant will protect the floors from everyday dirt and grime and make it easier for you to clean marble tiles on a regular basis. Your local home improvement emporium is sure to have plenty of options for marble tile cleaners, sealants and polishing agents.

Tuesday, December 2, 2008

Vacuum Cleaners: a Brief History

These days, vacuum cleaners are a familiar tool in any household cleaning arsenal, but this has not always been the case. In days gone by, cleaning was a job performed by using more primitive tools, like the trusty sweeping brush or broom. And while these tools were undoubtedly of enormous value to the house cleaner who had little else to work with, we have come a long way since then, and, in some ways, have come full circle.

It was the Industrial Revolution that set the cleaning world alight. Before that time, the sweeping brush was king, and really, it was probably quite adequate. But though the presence of heavy dust and grime increased during the revolution, as the cities in which many people lived became covered in soot and other industrial by-products, the dirt that was created was really not sufficient reason for housewives to become the queens of cleanliness they did. Around this time, though, a huge propaganda campaign was born that alarmed people with its prophecies. Health and lives were in mortal danger if dirt was not tamed, and cleaning products of all sorts witnessed an enormous jump in sales.

It was against this backdrop that the first vacuum cleaner came into being. Invented in Chicago in 1865, this hand pumped device lead the way in vacuum cleaner development. Followed by a range of similar devices, the design became more and more intricate as the years progressed, with the cleaners growing ever more ornate and multifunctional, being used as sideboards, among other things. However, requiring two people to operate it, this type of machine was less than user friendly.

The democratization of electricity availability opened new door in vacuum cleaner development. Emerging just after the turn of the twentieth century, the electric vacuum cleaner, made by brands such as Hoover, made housework easier for millions. Using a fan motor and a pillowcase as a dust collector, a man named Spangler began a trend. Soon after, William H. Hoover came aboard, and the rest, as they say, is history.

Today we are eager to eliminate dirt from our lives as were our Industrial Revolution forefathers, and the choice of vacuum cleaners available today reflects this trend. And while housework can be a tiresome chore, it was this enthusiasm for cleanliness that brought the vacuum cleaner into our world, so that now, after a hundred years or so of technological development, we can rid our homes of dust and dirt in minutes.



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About this Article Author:


Dave is the owner of online-vacuum-cleaner-reviews.info a website providing information on vacuum cleaners.

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Tips for cleaning and preserving silver & gold jewelry-00-705 By : giliav

When you're not wearing your jewelry we recommend that you store it carefully in a jewelry box or in a drawer, ideally in a separate bag or pouch or even box for each piece.

This will prevent scratches or contact with other jewelry items.(Although gold does not tarnish, it is very soft and may easily be scratched).
We recommend cleaning silver jewelry with a cloth specially made for cleaning silver and with a household cream or liquid silver polish.
When you're applying perfume, be careful to avoid direct contact with jewelry.

Make sure you remember to remove rings and bracelets when washing dishes, because cleaning products can contain ingredients that will cause an undesirable chemical reaction and tarnishing of your jewelry. Similarly, do not wear silver jewelry when swimming, whether in the sea or in a pool.
To clean silver jewelry made with semi-precious stones, follow the same instructions as for regular silver jewelry, except jewelry that contain druzy quartz and turquoise stones that may turn slightly green. For this types of jewelry, wipe the silver areas with a damp cloth, taking care to avoid contact with water and chemicals.

Contrary to popular belief, it is actually desirable to wear your jewelry while showering. The water prevents the silver from tarnishing and in fact cleans it.

Sterling silver jewelry is stamped 925, meaning that it is made from 92.5 percent pure silver.

Article Source: http://articlestoreprint.com


Information about the Author: handmade art jewelry

I highly recommend visiting here for more info about handmade art jewelry

Sunday, November 9, 2008

Home cleaning products - Remove Black mold Once and for all

Recently there has been a rising number of children that have been getting sick at local schools in the Midwest. The problem is that officials can't seem to find out what is causing the problem. Now the school has closed so that there can be an answer to this problem. The schools representatives are claiming that there is sever black mold in the school which started in the bathroom areas and then migrated to classrooms. This rise in black toxic mold has caused mold allergy and various other black mold health issues and black mold health effects.

The problem started when a pipe in the boys bathroom ruptured without notice. The inner walls of the bathroom were soaked and provided a breeding ground for all different mold types including black toxic mold. No one was aware of the dangers of black mold until 20% of the schools teachers and students started to experience fatigue, skin irritations, and coughing. All of these mold symptoms are classic black mold health issues.

For months now this mold growth problem has been getting worse because no one that that the easy solution would be cleaning mold before it got out of hand. Now, black mold removal is the topic of discussion and how to approach this cleaning mold situation without having to destroy the school because the mold types have spread uncontrollably throughout the whole school. If you have ever seen pictures of black mold it will make you cringe.

Just imagine a whole school, with white walls at one time are now green and black from all the black toxic mold. Since the black mold health effects has attacked every inch of the school, there is growing concern that the school may be closed permanently because the dangers of black mold may be too risky even after the schools remediation process has been completed.

This is one of the best examples of how mold allergy can invade a building. Although this was not your home, if you have children going to school that had a severe amount of dangers of black mold, then the children would be a carrier of these mold types. What I mean is that the children could bring the dangers of black mold with them when they enter your home because the mold spores attach themselves to their skin and clothes. This is one of the reasons how black mold spreads so fast and also the reason why some clean homes are now seeing black mold health effects from black mold exposure.

One of the best things to keep in mind is to make sure that you have some natural mold cleaners available to you so that you can prevent these dangers of black mold from causing you any of these common black mold health issues. Cleaning mold is not that hard only if you stay on top of it and not let it reproduce uncontrollably.

By protecting you from mold growth in your home before it literally takes over your home you will already be ahead of the black mold removal game. If black mold removal is done on a regular basis you will be assured that you and your family will not experience any black mold health issues and never have to worry about the dangers of black mold.


Author:
Do you experience mold symptoms due to black mold exposure? Find out how to clean black mold and learn the proper technique of black mold removal.



Terms: Articles may be reprinted provided content is not edited and links are kept live

Source: http://www.articledepot.co.uk/

A New Broom Always Sweeps Clean

A New Broom Always Sweeps Clean



By: Shaun Parker

With the plethora of products on the market today, it should be relatively easy for everyone to do their own cleaning. However, it's not having the right product that is the issue, it's normally the time that is needed to put in the elbow grease. In fact, we are increasingly being encouraged not to use all these new-fangled cleaning products as they can be damaging to our health and to the environment.



For these reasons, many people like to employ the use of cleaning services, particularly if they have a big job on. Of course, there are some people that will want a cleaning service just to come in and do their house once in a while but for the purpose of this article, we will just discuss sensible reasons.



Sometimes cleaning services are brought in for a domestic house if it is a large one and a new owner is due to move in. Moving house is stressful enough without getting there and finding you have to scrub it from top to bottom. This is why a leaning service will be employed and they can then make much shorter work of it by getting several dedicated cleaners to spend as long as it needs to bring it up to scratch. This is so much quicker than trying to clean whilst moving furniture and boxes and can be done before you actually move.



For those who run commercial kitchens, cleaning services are worth a great deal in that they can come in while the kitchen is shut to the public and carry out a thorough deep clean, usually by steaming, and remove a build up of grease that would otherwise take days and days of hard work, if it came off at all. This will bring a kitchen into line with health and safety requirements and also makes for a much nicer working environment for the staff. It also makes for a better eating establishment with less chance of food poisoning!



For places like hospitals, cleaning services are now brought in, instead of being carried out 'in house' as they would of under matrons rule. Again, steam cleaning is an excellent idea in hospitals as it avoids the need for harsh chemicals and leaves no chance of residue.

When a garage is due for a re-fit or to be changed into a different business they will definitely need cleaning services to remove grease, dirt and smells that would linger with this type of industry.



A more gruesome, but essential, use of cleaning services are those that are called in to clean up behind a murder scene. This is vital as bodily fluids can spread disease if left behind and if a murder has taken place in a residential place, someone has to clean it off. The naked eye will not see all the residue from this type of incident so special gadgets are used to show up blood spots so that they can all be dealt with.



Families of deceased people, whether murdered or not, will not like to clean up after the death of a loved one. Many times there have been reports of bodies being found where the people have been dead for quite some time. Sadly, it is a sign of our times that people lose touch with families, or contact is sparse. Sometimes, this means that people die and are not found for some time. By the time they are found, bodily fluids will have leaked into surrounding materials causing unpleasant smells and stains. These need to be removed by specialist cleaning services and these companies will normally deal with only this type of cleaning.



Sometimes it can take a strong constitution to deal with cleaning and a murder scene has to be the most difficult of all.

Author Resource:-> Shaun Parker is a leading environmental expert with many years of experience in the cleaning industry. Find out more about cleaning services at http://www.productclean.co.uk

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Saturday, November 8, 2008

Chlorine Bleach Is the Best Way To Kill Mold – Right? Wrong!

So there is some black mold in your basement, laundry room, bathroom or around that pesky damp spot in your ceiling. No problem, just grab some of that mold killer you bought at the local grocery store, spray the black stuff and in a few minutes it turns brown, then vanishes – voila! You have killed the mold and have nothing more to worry about – right?

No, you bleached it you didn’t kill it. Chances are it is still there and growing like crazy. Don’t get me wrong, bleach kills mold just fine on hard surfaces like counter tops, shower tiles, etc. But on porous surfaces like walls, ceilings, concrete and wood, the chlorine gets the top of the mold, but the roots (called, “hyphae”) just go happily on, reproducing at a furious rate.

The chlorine you use around the house is only 6% chemical, the rest is water, and guess what mold roots like best? Yup, the 94% water you just fed them!

I know it sounds totally counterintuitive to everything you have learned (or seen), but even the EPA (who rates the chemicals and processes that kill mold) won’t give chlorine bleach products their seal of approval as a mold killer.

The mold remediation pros have known about this for a long time and they avoid the stuff (except sometimes as a biocide – bacteria killer).

And worse, chlorine eats everything it touches, skin, nasal membranes, it discolors many metals, fabrics and carpets. You already know what happens when you spill bleach on your favorite pair of slacks or antique area rug, but some folks think they might be able to use it on furniture. Unfortunately, much of our modern wood furniture is made of a nice veneer over particle board. Particle board swells when it is exposed to water – the same water that makes mold so happy.

One restoration professional told us about a home owner who decided to mix ammonia with bleach to really give black mold a run for its money. The mold didn’t seem to mind much, but the home owner ended up being the one on the run. In World War II they mixed ammonia with chlorine to make a deadly, eye burning, throat searing gas that drove the enemy out of the trenches!

In other articles we tell you more about what you can do to prevent mold, treat mold and avoid turning wet mold into clouds of airborne particles (like what happened in a government building when workers created a “sick building syndrome” from what started out as a simple case of black mold that got dried out and “fed” into the building’s air system!) But for now, just keep in mind that chlorine bleach is okay for hard surfaces only, and only when it is used by itself (no chemical cocktails!)

About the author:
Mr. Mark Decherd is a husband, father and CEO of a small business, born in Montreal Canada. He grew up in the states. Water Damage

Article Source: http://www.Free-Articles-Zone.com

Saturday, October 25, 2008

Betty Boop French Maid Stand Up





Betty Boop : French Maid Lifesize Stand Up

Betty Boop : French Maid Lifesize Stand Up


Lifesize Stand Up weighs 4 lbs.













Thursday, October 23, 2008

"Just Rent a Rug Doctor and Clean it Yourself" - A True Story

Reputable professional carpet cleaners really work hard to provide the finest possible service for their clients. They spare no expense when it comes to the cleaning agents purchased or the equipment that is used. It’s not uncommon to pull up to a client’s home in a rig that costs over $60,000. Some even bring 100 gallons of softened water with them to each job to provide a more thorough rinse that assures no residue is left behind to attract soil. I mention these facts for a particular a reason. It was prompted by a conversation I overheard one beautiful late summer day last year. We occasionally clean apartments for an apartment complex.

The property manager normally cleans the apartment after a tenant leaves, including the carpeting. However, she knew that in this instance, she knew that there was no way she would even come close to getting the carpeting clean again using her little machine.
The apartment was a wreck. I’ve been in the cleaning industry for many years.
And it never ceases to amaze me how inconsiderate and downright destructive people can be with property that doesn’t belong to them. In this apartment, the previous tenants had really outdone themselves: Spills and stains abounded. In some places, you couldn’t even tell what color the carpet was. It was so bad, the property manager had called the owners to say that the carpet would most likely have to be replaced... it was that bad.

So, we get there and begin to set up; getting out hoses, sprayers and a multitude of cleaning agents to remove the myriads of spots and stains. While we were busy getting ready, a curious tenant wandered up and started to talk with the property manager who had just let us into the apartment. It was during the course of their talking that we heard the above-mentioned phrase by this well-meaning neighbor: "Just rent a Rug Doctor, clean it yourself and save the money".

And it got me to thinking. Why do people think they can do the same quality job with a machine that has a fraction of the cleaning power we use? Here’s my theory: Because most people think, "Anyone can clean carpet - what’s so complicated about it?" You go to the store, rent a machine and... ’Poof’... you’re a carpet cleaner. Because you CAN do it yourself, many feel they can also get the SAME RESULTS that we do. Ah... if only it were that easy.

Can you wire an entire house? Can you repair or install plumbing? Can you build a pole barn? Then, by golly, you can clean carpet, too! NOT! Even the largest carpet manufacturer in the world (Shaw) will tell you: Don’t do it yourself! They tell you to hire a certified professional cleaner. In fact, beginning in 2008, they will INSIST that you hire only certified carpet cleaners to clean their product or you will void part of your warranty. By the way, the carpet was saved and it cleaned up beautifully... but, hey, that’s what pros do.


About the Author
David Gruttadaurio is the president of UBS Clean Care, a residential carpet cleaning and janitorial company serving the southwest Indiana cities of Newburgh 47630, Evansville 47725 and Princeton 47670. You can find more valuable information about carpet care by going to http://MyCleanCarpet.net






A Perfect Vacuum

A Perfect Vacuum


A Perfect Vacuum