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How to Use a Pressure Washer Correctly Matters

Pressure washers are a very useful tool at home and in the industry but used or maintained incorrectly they can cause damage to the user and property. It is for this reason that keeping up to date with the top pressure washer news matters.

Pressure washer news is not easily found for the casual user, but if you come to pressurewashertoday.com we have an up-to-date Top Pressure Washers Newsfeed that we have researched and amalgamated the difficult-to-find news items into a feed that keeps you up-to-date on an ongoing basis.

It does not matter whether you are a DIY user at home or use a hot pressure washer user in the industry keeping up-to-date matters.

Do you know whether it is safe to use a pressure washer to clean the snow off your home roof? A browse of our newsfeed will help you find the information.

Heavy machinery often gets caked in mud, debris and grease. This is often not easily moved. Is it best to use a hot pressure washer with a detergent to cut through the grease? Top Pressure Washers Newsfeed will help you find the answers. 

Your Stories About Pressure Washers and DIY Home Projects Are Welcome

Did you know that others are interested in your stories, tips on usage, safety and projects that you have undertaken successfully or even unsuccessfully? If you want to share them with our readers, we are interested in helping to do this.

In our right-hand Nav Bar, you can see a list of Recent Posts, many of which are from guest contributors.



House Cleaning


Pest Control


Gardening


Finding the Remedy to Your Rodent Problem!

Rodent problem

The appearance of rats is revolting and troublesome in your house, but there are home remedies to yet address your rodent problem.

Getting rid of them is no simple task because they travel about easily, so it’s challenging to pin them down. Rats enter areas searching for heat, shelter, food, and warmth. If your house includes all four of them, then it is going to be a place to party for them.

Rodents are often harmful to your safety, as well as they are annoying. They are carriers of 20 + disease-germs, and as they come into contact with food, they contaminate it.


Why Are Rodents Dangerous?

Rats trigger a variety of complications, so they can’t last. Keeping rats in your home risks harm to your house.

  • The transmission of sickness, of which some may be catastrophic.
  • Contaminated areas where to store food and milk
  • Chewed wires can be a cause of explosions.

Though there is no set process for finding the remedy for your rodent problem, you can still look out for these quick ideas discussed in the article that are tested by professionals.

Rodents Dangerous

1. Mothballs

Mothballs are good repellents so that they can drive rodents away from your place. They’re easy to locate in markets and can be bought easily from general stores too. Just place a couple of them in your bathroom, attic, or other places you’re afraid of rat activity, and they’ll frighten them off effectively and possibly kill them.


2. Ammonia

Ammonia is an effective and realistic repellent to rats because they are unable to tolerate the pungent scent of ammonia and therefore leave the area. Create a mixture of ammonia in water for this. In a tub, add one-quarter of water; combine two tsp of detergent and 2 cups of standard ammonia in. So place this bowl in the rat-infested field, and let it do the job.


3. Peppermint Oil

Although we like the soothing fragrance of peppermint oil, it turns out to be a sour smell for rats that they cannot tolerate. Sprinkle some cotton balls in peppermint oil and spread them across your home, bathroom, attic, or another place that is vulnerable to rats.

This would dissuade the rats away from your house. Not only do this but also grow peppermint plants along the perimeter of your building so that it will shield your house from these irksome rodents. Citronella and castor oil can also be used as an essential replacement for peppermint oil.


4. Owl’s Feathers

It might be an unusual cure, but the truth is the feathers of owls are used for frightening rodents, so they flee away anticipating the sight of owls. Place the feathers of an owl in hideouts of rats and it will cause them to leave your house. It’s not convenient to locate owl feathers, so you can use fake snakes too. Place them in your backyard, yard, kitchen, and other areas, and they will keep rats away from you.

Rodent Dangerous

5. Pepper Flakes

Rats are prone to odours, so any pungent scent is adequate to scare them away. Not only is their spice scent unpleasant, but it also renders breathing impossible for them. Sprinkle pepper all around the exits, walls, and rodent hideouts. Test its efficacy, and, if appropriate, sprinkle it again in a few days.


6. Onions and Garlic

Human beings hate the scent of garlic and onions and it is also one of the best home remedies to get rid of rodents. Place the sliced onion outside its holes or entrances. That’ll be enough to deter them from infesting your house.

But when using onions, you have to be very careful because they can rot within two days, and you need to substitute them with fresh onions. Cut the rotting onions, because they can be poisonous to children and livestock.

You should either put garlic cloves at the rodents’ entry points with garlic or create a mixture of garlic in water.


7. Plaster of Paris Mixed with Cocoa Powder

To do so, you need to create a dry blend of plaster of Paris with some cocoa/chocolate powder, then spray it around its entrances and hideouts in the field infested with rats. If they pick it up, that will dehydrate rats, and they escape out of the building in search of water and finally perish.


8. Cat Litter

Rats’ worst threat are cats. You may also use dried snake litter rather than cat litter, as it should produce the exact desirable effects. You may purchase snake litter from zoo shops or pet stores. Be especially vigilant when working with the litter of livestock, and keep them away from babies.

Cat Litter

9. Instant Potatoes

Spread the potato powder instantly to and around the field. Potato powder is easily accessible on the market, and as the rats eat it, it inflames their intestines.


10. Rat Traps

Trapping is the most efficient and fastest way to get rid of rats from the premises. There are many styles of rat traps available on the market; you may select one depending on ease or design, although it is easier to pick a human trap that captures the rodent but does not kill it.

Using their preferred food as a lure such as milk, peanut butter, and likewise things to draw rodents. The food will attract the rodents, so they will find themselves stuck attempting to consume it. You should then free them from your house, and they won’t disturb your position again.


11. Cow Dung

This one is a disgusting and revolting cure, but the results given by this cure render it bearable. Place a few cakes of cow dung in and around your lawn, backyard, and attic. If they run across them, Rats will consume the cow dung, and the manure it inflames their stomachs and finally poisons them.

Both the above treatments are effective home treatments for getting rid of rodents. Keep your house and garden tidy for improved outcomes, and to avoid potential vermin invasions.

Do not spill food and alcohol, cover the available food, caulk the potential access points and rodent hideouts, get rid of trash and dirty water. Also, scrub your floor with a bleach and water solution to shield your family from the illnesses these rodents may carry with them.

Also Read: 5 Things You Need During Winter/Summer For Pest Control


Author Profile:

Vaishali Sonik is one of the passionate writers who have an interest in spreading the word across the web about different niches. With her being active as a pro writer, she found that it is a good idea to educate people about keeping their home, office and buildings healthier. If you are looking for more tips on how to keep your home pest-free and healthy you can also check this.

5 Things You Need During Winter/Summer For Pest Control

There are many worries that a homeowner has but one of the biggest and most common worries is how to address pest control. This can be such an important part of making the life of the homeowner easier however it is crucial that the proper steps are being taken.

It can become quite confusing trying to determine what the proper steps for pest control can be. To further add to the homeowner’s confusion, different steps need to be taken during the different times of the year.

The best way to protect a house during the warmer weather months is different than how to protect a house during the cooler months.

As one would expect, this can further complicate the matter as the homeowners will assume that they constantly must switch safety precautions and protection methods several times throughout the year as the weather shifts.

Thankfully there is an easier way to safeguard your house from any unwanted pests! Some pest control methods can be used in both winter seasons and summer seasons.

This is extremely helpful for the homeowner as they can just set up their pest control methods just once and then just be able to forget about them aside from the occasional maintenance.

Below there is an outline of the 5 things you need during both the winter and summer seasons to best protect your house against any unwanted pests.

Check Roofs And Gutters

roof


The roof and gutters are a part of the home that is used constantly throughout the year. Whether it is the snow from the wintertime, fallen leaves in the fall or to the rain from spring showers, the roof, and gutter of the house have been through all the seasons and have protected you and your house consistently.

It’s for these reasons that you will want to ensure that your roof and gutter can continue to protect you from any pests in all seasons.

One of the top ways to ensure that your house is protected from pests is to ensure that there are no cracks or holes in the gutter or roof. Not only will this prevent any debris from coming into the house it will also keep any pests out.

In the cooler or rainier months, pests will find any of the cracks and hide from any of the weather. By eliminating any of these cracks and holes, the pests will not be able to get into the home.


Rodent Access Points

Like checking the roofs and gutters for any cracks or holes, it is important to check for any other holes in the home. Rodents specifically can be especially tricky so being sure that you know where the rodents can burrow and ensuring that you exclude those access points.

Rodents can get into a house through even the smallest of cracks so ensure that all cracks around doors and windows are sealed as well as any gas pipes.


Keep Your Kitchen’s Clean

clean kitchen


One of the main reasons that rodents or pests are coming into the house is because they are looking for either warmth in the cooler seasons or for food- which is year-round! You can prevent any pests from coming in by keeping your kitchen and other living areas in tip-top shape.

Be sure to clear any crumbs or any other food spills as soon as they happen. Storing all food in airtight containers and keeping fruits and vegetables in the refrigerator will help prevent any pests from coming in and looking for food.

Maintain Your Lawn

Lawn maintenance is another keyway to prevent any pests from entering the house. Overgrown branches or vines that line up against the house are the perfect pathways for pests to get to the house. Also, fallen branches, overgrown grass, and weeds become the perfect area for other pests to make nests.

To combat any of this from happening, making sure that all plants and trees are contained and neatly trimmed back, and all lawns and weeds are maintained are crucial for keeping any unwanted visitor out of the home.

Keep The Outside

One of the top tips for keeping pests outdoors and out of your house is through keeping them outside. What does that mean? It means being extra cautious about what things you are bringing into your home, especially for any items that have been outside.

Any toys, shoes or outdoor furniture that lives or constantly remains outside should remain outside and not be brought into the house. The reason for this is that it can be unclear what outside pests or germs could be living in these items and when they are brought into the house, you are unknowingly bringing these pests into your home as well!

If you have no other choice but to bring these items into your home, make sure that you thoroughly wipe them down to avoid any type of pests coming as well.

It is also wise to store these items in the garage so there is still a small amount of separation from your home and these items that were once outdoors.

Conclusion

There you have 5 quick and easy tips to keep your home pest free regardless of the winter or summer season. While the approach to keeping your home pest-free year-round may vary slightly from season to season, these tips are a great general overview that will get the ball rolling on your pest control.

Regardless of the time of year, you will want to ensure that your home is pest free and these tips will help you get there!

This is a guest post from Pest control services.

Home Maintenance Tips To Give Your Property A Seasonal Tune-Up This Winter

Winter Home Maintenance

Your home is your biggest investment. The maintenance of your house should be your top priority. Proper maintenance is necessary to withstand seasonal changes. Weather changes play a significant role in the way we need to maintain our home both inside and outside. If you choose to stick to the same maintenance routine irrespective of the weather changes, the home maintenance tips for winter results will be less than satisfactory.

Home maintenance at the change of seasons is important. This article is about home maintenance tips to give your property a seasonal tune-up this winter.

Moreover, you may overlook some crucial task which helps in maintaining the quality of your home in a season. Seasons changes act as a perfect reminder to do some maintenance work that can protect your investment. Home maintenance can be a daunting task, but you don’t have to feel overwhelmed.

When you witness the changing color of leaves, it’s a great indication that winter temperatures are on the way. Hence, before you put on your favorite winter clothes or sweater, there are some important home maintenance tips you need to address inside and outside of your home for easy maintenance in winter.

Replace Batteries In Smoke Alarms & Carbon Monoxide Detectors

Smoke Alarms Batteries

Your first and foremost duty is to replace batteries in smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors. It’s important to do at least twice a year.

Clean & Maintain Your Barbeque & AC Unit

You need to check and make sure that there is no grease or food residue left on the grill track. This helps your barbeque to last long and protect it from insects and small animals. Finally, you need to cover up your barbeque to protect it from dust and extreme temperature. If you have outdoor AC, you should cover it up.

Clean & Cover Your Outdoor Furniture

Outdoor Furniture

The first thing you need to do is to take some warm soapy water and wipe down all cushions and covers. Set them up to dry and pack them away for the winter. If you have wooden or metal furniture, clean or dust them with the help of a brush. Making it dust-free will help in increasing the life of your furniture. Finally, you should cover your outdoor furniture.

Hose Down & Store (Outdoor Mats)

Outdoor Mats

If you have outdoor mats, hose them down. Let the mats dry and then roll them up to protect it from external weather.

Turn Off Water (Drain & Store Hose)

Don’t forget to turn off the water (drain and store hose). This may help in preventing your hose from freezing. Roll up the hose and pack it away.

Purge Your Fridge & Pantry For Maintaining Home In Winter

You may not realize but the sauce, dressings, fruit jam and other edibles have expiry dates. You need to check the expiry dates. If they expire, throw them away to clean your fridge from unwanted containers.

Do the same with your freezer cabinet. This is the best time to get rid of all those edibles, which you have frozen in the freezer with the intention of eating them later and never got to them.

Clean Your Windows

Clean Windows - home maintenance tips for winter

In the summer season, you keep your windows open most of the time. As a result, lots of dust particles come in. In the winter season, you prefer to keep your windows closed to prevent cold air from entering your rooms. You will like to keep the air inside your home as fresh as possible.

Your window blinds are dust traps. You can invest in a duster or use soapy cotton to wipe down each slide both top and bottom. Take a dryer sheet and rub each slide of the blinds. The properties of your dryer sheet help in repelling dust keeping them fresh, clean and maintained.

If you stand near the window in winter, you may physically feel the cool air coming in. You can use window shrink wrap. This insulating plastic easily adheres to your windows and helps in saving big bucks on those heating bills. When the warmer weather creeps back in, you can simply remove it.

Related Reading:

Clean Or Replace Your Furnace Filter

Replace Furnace Filter-home maintenance tips for winter

These days most of the furnaces have of filters. You should check them every month. You can wash them if you don’t want them to be replaced every three months.

The furnaces push in the air to your house, so, you need to be sure that the air is going to be clean. Not every furnace requires the same size of filters but if you look at the sides of your furnace, the size will be written there. Check yourself before you go to the store to replace it. If you are not sure of the size you can always use Filter King’s custom air filter tool.

Reduce The Temperature Of Your Water Heater

Reduce Temperature

You should reduce the temperature of your water heater. This simple task will help you in reducing the water heating costs by up to 10%.

Clean & Prep Your Fireplace For Your Home Maintainance In Winter

Fireplace

This is really a dirty job. You need to use a set of good quality gloves before cleaning it. Take a wire brush to brush down all the dust and residues starting from the top. Next, take a vacuum to suck up all the remaining dust.

Final Thoughts For Home Maintainance In Winter

The best way to tackle your cleaning task quickly is to fix a day from your calendar and get it all done. You can do this much for your family to keep them healthy and hygienic this winter. The maintenance quality of your home ensures that you and your family are living in a safe and sanitary environment. It’s a perfect time now to follow the home maintenance tips to keep your dream home running like a well-oiled machine this winter.

Author’s Bio: The author believes that your home is your largest investment and its maintenance quality reflects the health and hygiene of your family. Weather plays a crucial role in the ways we are required to maintain our houses. His day job is to handle digital marketing for commercial cleaning services in Melbourne. In his free time, he utilizes his in-depth knowledge to write compelling articles on handy, seasonal home maintenance tips to guide and educate his readers.

How Pressure Washers Can Be Safe And Environmentally Friendly

environmentally friendly pressure washer

The power of pressure washer for washing courts and walkways can make weathered block and pavement areas seem brand new look. However, pressure washer safety is an important issue. With the help of proper maintenance, sidewalks and driveways can last a long time. You need to follow some safety features of a pressure washer.

However, inappropriate or disruptive washing can damage concrete granules and reduce their lifespan, also damage you as well. Here some simple steps on how pressure washer can be safe and environmentally friendly.

In this blog, we will talk about how you can use the pressure washer with safety and, I have included some safety tips, pressure tips, and techniques.

What Is Pressure Washer?

cleaning with pressure washer

A pressure washer, also called a power washer, is an electric appliance that is powered by a motor. It is a device that runs water at a high pressure to remove dust, dirt stains from outdoor areas such as house windows, vehicles, decks, and other areas as well as to remove mud.

A typical garden pipeline delivers approximately 40 PSI. But a distinct pressure washer intended for a homeowner can generate anywhere from 1,500 to 4,000+ PSI.

A Few Important Things That Should Be Considered While Using The Pressure Washer

Environmental Pollution

If you are an environmental lover, then I am writing this for you. You must take special care of where the water used by you is going while washing the driveway. If you are removing chemicals and oil from your driveway, it can pollute the area around you; there is a high probability that you do not live in a muddy sewer area.

But it is more important to think that the water entering your storm drain is not going into your local stream. You should close the storm drain when you are clearing the driveway, then let the water evaporate, doing so will not pollute your environment.

Storing

As you all know, you can buy an inexpensive pressure washer – or even rent it at a home improvement shop locally. If you keep the pressure washer in your home backyard, you should plan steel buildings for extra storage space. These types of steel shades, storage buildings keep your belongings safe and also protect them from burglaries.

Take Guidance From The User Manual

If you are a beginner or using a pressure washer for the first time, then the user manual is essential for you; however, you should always use the user manual as you can know how to use the pressure washer correctly. You can also know from its help, which chemicals in the detergent tank will not be harmful to the environment.

Safety Is The Best Policy

It is sometimes risky to use a pressure washer when we do not use it with complete safety. As always, high-pressure water can be dangerous and unsafe for you. The use of a surface cleaner reduces the risk because it has a pressure controller inside the device unit that we call jet flow.

Make the people around you aware that do not hit its pressure directly on the eyes; it can cause eye injury. It is imperative to take care of some such safety parameters.

Why Do You Want Pressure Washer For Cleaning Area?

If you wanted to increase your home’s curb attraction without spending more money, then you can go with the pressure washer. It helps to remove the decay, soil, grime, and you should understand there is a proper way to pressure wash your concrete or brick driveway.

Pressure Washer Safety Tips

Pressure washers are one of the powerful machines which can wash large spaces efficiently and quickly. Nevertheless, the uncertainties linked with pressure washers can be catastrophic – up to and including the life-loss – pressure washer related injuries are a hundred percent preventable. Still, you need to ensure the safety of those nearby you.

Below are some critical safety features of pressure washer people should follow during machine use.

Never Point The Baton At Anyone

You should know that electricity from the pressure washer can cause internal tissue damage. As we know that pressure washer, not a toy, it can be dangerous for you; some people consider this machine to be like a squirt gun. But you shouldn’t.

Always Wear Protective Equipment When It Is Operating

As I have told you many times that a “0” degree red nozzle can damage concrete; also, it can damage when your eyes and ears easily. The risk of injury to your feet, hands, and eyes maybe not only from high-pressure water spray but also from the debris of the flying concrete during cleaning. If you use a pressure washer by wearing proper safety equipment, then the accident can be avoided, and a major accident can be prevented.

Select The Correct Nozzle For Pressure Washer

pressure washer nozzles

This spray is good for polishing, cleaning designs in timber or pavement, if you can overcome the injuries by the pressure washer, you should select the right nozzle for your respective jobs. But splash tip nozzles can be very risky. You have the most prominent point of the spray tip and you must adjust it according to the correct use.

What Best Technique You Can Apply

The first question in your mind should be is what the best techniques are you I should use for a pressure washer. I would like to help with this, by suggesting proper procedures that you can use to wash the various brick and concrete surfaces reasonably and quickly.

You can start by applying hardscape at one end. Hold the tip approximately 10-12 ” from the spot and use a uniform and consistent sweeping motion utilizing a pressure washer.

Conclusion

The use of a pressure washer is undoubtedly very effective in cleaning your paved areas. Hence, go through the valuable tips mentioned above how pressure washer is safe and environment-friendly while using for cleaning the driveways.

Author Bio:

Larson Simmons is the writer to create articles and blogs in the washing equipment, metal buildings, and other storage buildings domains. He writes the blogs and articles for the leader in climate controlled storage buildings and self-storage buildings market and shares his quality content.

10 Secret Techniques and Easy Tips For Window Cleaning

Window Cleaning Techniques

The most annoying part of any cleaning is window cleaning. They get dirty fast and it is hard to know exactly what you should use for getting a flawless shine on the glass. Though, over the years, there have been many experts that have come up with secret methods and techniques. These methods can be used to easily clean the windows without any hassle or problem.

You must keep in mind that this hectic cleaning is only required of you once or twice a year. You do not have to do it every month unless there’s a strong storm or something has spilled on the windows.

Here are the 10 tips you should try the following:

1. Choosing The Right Time

The outside temperature greatly affects the window cleaning process. If the day is too hot and the sun is giving too much heat, then the cleaner you apply to the windows would dry up before you even get a chance to wipe the area off. When this occurs, there are prominent streak marks that get even harder to remove.

So, you should pick out the right day where there is minimum heat. If you can’t do it in the morning, try doing it in the evening when the sun is setting.

2. Get Rid Of The Dust And Dirt Initially

Every day our windows get exposed to a lot of dust. Before you start cleaning them, make sure you remove the dust first. There are a lot of tools you can use for the task such as a brush or a vacuum cleaner. It’s important you remove the dust before you add on the cleaner to the windows because the cleaning would be easier this way.

Remember if there is too much dust affixed on your window and simple brushing doesn’t help get rid of it, use hot water with some soap in it. While you are doing this step, you can get clean the curtains and blinds too!

3. Choose The Right Cleaner For The Task

Choose The Right Cleaner

If the windows are looking excessively dirty, then you should be using a strong cleaning agent. Make sure the product is suited to cleaning glass areas. Some surface cleaners are only made for a material such as metal.

When you are buying a cleaning agent for the windows, it is mandatory that it’s a glass cleaner. Use as much of it as needed to remove the stains and streaks on the windows.

A good option is to use biodegradable liquid detergents on the outside of the windows because that will not harm the plants and greenery nearby.

4. Cloth Must Be Microfiber For Window Cleaning

Microfiber Cleaning Cloth

There is a common misconception that any cloth can be used for this cleaning task. On the contrary, only a cloth should be utilized. You need to get a microfiber cloth to clean the windows.

This is a better option than even old newspapers because the microfiber cloth is incredibly absorbent and even washable. If you want the glass looking shiny and spotless, this is the cloth that you should use. You can use paper towels as an alternative but make sure they don’t break down and leave behind lint on the glass.

5. Don’t Use A Squeegee On All Windows

Use Squeegee

People love to use a squeegee to clean their glass windows, but this is something you should leave to the professional cleaners. If you do it on every window, then it would be a problem. The water would drip down on the floor and be harder to clean up. Plus, not all windows need it. This is only required for huge windows.

6. Don’t Use The Same Cloth For Both Inside And Outside The Window

Cleaning Both Inside

If you are using the cloth or scrubbers, then take 2 different ones. The one you use for the outside should not be used to clean the inside of the window because the outside is exposed to more dangerous germs and a different kind of dirt. Stay safe and thus use a different cloth or scrubber for the inside portion.

7. Natural Cleaning Agent For Window Cleaning: Vinegar

Cleaning Agent Vinegar

It’s normal for people to not trust the harsh cleaning agents that come these days. There are other options you could use instead of that, for instance, a vinegar solution.

Make a solution that is half vinegar and half water. Use this solution to clean up the windows and you would see absolutely no grease or stain mark left behind. You can simply use a white vinegar solution for this task.

Read More: 10 Foods That Are Surprisingly Good Cleaners

8. Secret Hack To Opening Windows Screens

Sometimes the window screens can get stuck and it is hard to open them. Without you properly opening them, the cleaning would not be possible. There’s a simple lifehack to it. Just use a dual-purpose paint can opener. It would easily open the screen without any issues.

9. What To Do For Hard Stains

Window Stain

There are some stains on the outside of windows that can be hard to remove for instance tree sap. Or you might have used tape to stick something on the glass window and the adhesive stains are now left behind. Many of these hard stains may not be removed by simple cleaning methods. You would have to use steel wool.

Firstly, apply some window cleaner onto the glass and then use the steel wool to remove all the hard stains. If this fails to clean the windows properly, you should think about getting a professional window cleaning service.

10. Break Down The Window Cleaning

Do not attempt to clean all the windows in one go. There are so many in your house. You should do it slowly and go room by room. It’s recommended that you get some family members or friends to help you out in this as it will take less time this way.

You should also wipe one side of the glass window vertically and the other portion horizontally. This method would allow you to know where the streaks are forming, on the inside or outside.

Quick and Easy Window Cleaning Tips

When it comes to keeping your home clean, cleaning your windows is probably your least favorite job. However, with the right window cleaning tips, it is easy to keep your windows clean without much hassle or effort.

When you are doing it the right way, you are working to protect your windows and help to keep your home cleaner as a whole. Just make sure that you are using the right equipment and the right techniques so that the process goes smoothly.

Necessary Window Cleaning Equipment

Before you start cleaning your windows, you have to collect the right equipment. Use the following to best clean all of the windows on your home:

SqueegeeSqueegee

Toss those paper towels and purchase a basic squeegee for a professional window cleaning. Ideally, you want two different sizes so that you can easily clean the various windows on your home.
BucketBucket

You need a bucket for soap water that you can easily carry around as you get the job done.
ScraperScraper

There are times when things are stuck on the windows and you need to scrape them off.
Detergent
Detergent

Use a solution (if possible try for homemade) that is meant for your windows to get the best results.
Water hose
Water hose

For the outside side of your windows, you can hose off the detergent to save time.
MopMop

The mop is used to apply the detergent to the windows.

Easy Window Cleaning Tips

Window Cleaning

Now that you have the right supplies gathered, it is time to get the job done. You will do one window at a time for the best results.

Start by using the mop and detergent to scrub your window. Once you scrub well, rinse the window with water and use the squeegee to completely remove the water. This will prevent water spots from accumulating on your windows.

When you use a squeegee, you must start from the very top of the window and pull it downward using moderate pressure.

In between each squeegee pass, shake the water off so that you are not adding more water to the window. Some people find it helpful to wipe the squeegee with an absorbent cloth in between passes.

Use the following information to ensure that your windows are free of streaking after cleaning:

  1. To eliminate streaks, start by using your squeegee with horizontal strokes. Follow up with vertical strokes so that streaks cannot occur in either direction.
  2. If there are any scratches left after squeegeeing the windows, you can use a white toothpaste to fill any tiny scratches so that they are no longer visible.
    Just rub in the toothpaste using a soft cloth.
  3. Avoid cleaning your windows on a day when there is sunlight because this increases the risk of streaking.
    This is because the sun will cause the detergent to dry faster. Wait until it is cloudy outside so that you have time to rinse away the detergent before it dries.
  4. After you squeegee a window, you can polish it using and old cotton T-shirt. This will remove any residue and ensure that there is nothing left on the window to cause streaking or make the window less transparent.
    You can also use old newspaper crumpled into a ball if you do not have an old T-shirt.

The detergent that you use should be meant for windows. You also want to make sure that it is able to cut through oils and other environmental factors that build up on your windows.

Many people find dish washing liquid to be an effective window cleaner. This is because this type of soap is meant to cut through thick grease and grime, so it will not leave anything on the windows after a good scrubbing.

When you are applying your detergent with the mop, start at the top of the window and scrub in a circular motion to dislodge dirt and impurities.

Make sure that the mop head uses an absorbent sponge material so that you are getting enough detergent to transfer to the windows. When you are ready to rinse, start rinsing from the top to push the detergent and dirt down the window.

As you can see, the right window cleaning tips make a big difference when it comes to keeping your windows clean. The right window cleaning tools also help to ensure that the process goes easier.

Ideally, you want to clean your windows inside and out at least twice a year. It is important that one of these times be after the winter season since things like road salts and dry air can do a number to your windows.

Now that you know how to clean your own windows, you can do it yourself and save the money you would spend hiring a professional cleaning company.

Homemade window cleaning solution:

Related Articles:

This is a contributors’ post from Mark Person

Reasons Why Pressure Washer Cleaning For Concrete Drives Is Essential

Pressure Washer Cleaning

When we talk about house cleaning, not many people consider washing the driveways as part of the job. A few people believe washing driveways won’t make any difference. However, pressure washer cleaning for concrete drives as important as cleaning your home in Melbourne. 

It important for you to understand that pressure washer cleaning is critical to keep your driveway well maintained and to make it last long.

Here, we are looking at the reasons why pressure washer cleaning for concrete drives is essential.

Say Goodbye To Annoying Weeds

Annoying Weeds

Do you feel bad about your sidewalk or driveway each time you look at it? Has the outgrowth of weeds and small grass ruined the marvelous appearance of your concrete driveway? The space between the concrete sidewalks if left ignored it can be filled with debris and dirt.

This can further allow the weeds to grow on the drive’s surface which will not only spoil the beauty of driveways but also make the cracks or minor spaces in the surface grow larger. Proper cleaning can protect the dirt from settling down and weeds growing in it. 

Avoid Accidental Slips Or Fall

Accidental Slips

The collected debris on the sidewalk can make it’s surface quite smooth and slippery. Especially in rainy seasons, the risk of falling when stepping on a slippery surface can be high. Thus, to ensure safety and avoid any accidental falls you need to hire professional cleaning services in Melbourne.

Don’t Let Health Issues Arise

Health Issues

A dirty concrete surface can be a source of contamination and disease in your home. Unclean surroundings can attract bacteria, pests, and fungi.

To avoid health issues and disease entering your home then it’s important for you to not only to pay attention to the interior and exterior of your home. Keeping your driveway clean has major contributions in the process of making your property hygienic and safe.  

Add Value To Your Home

Value of Home

Do you wish to get the old lovely look of your home back? Start working with maintaining your driveway. An unclean driveway can potentially harm the overall exterior view of your house. Getting your exterior home power washed while ignoring the driveway will not add much value to your home. A sidewalk will still be a focal point of distraction and negativity.

So, ensure that you contact professional services to get your driveway spotless. A well-maintained driveway will add to your overall property value. 

Save Money

Save Money

The unnoticed cracks overlooked in a driveway can gradually lose its charm and efficiency. Over time the cracks can increase which can be a real pain to repair. The untreated stains can lead to discolouration and deterioration.

It might cost you a lot to fix and regain the good looks of your sidewalk. Opting for regular cleaning can increase the life of a concrete driveway and discourage the formation of cracks. 

Now, it might be quite clear why driveway cleaning is so significant. Yet, there are certain factors that you should consider before going for power washing of concrete driveways.

Washing your concrete without the complete knowledge or skills can make the concrete cracks bigger and might damage the upper layer of the surface. Just because the concrete driveways are rigid and invincible does not mean it can’t get damaged. Pressured washing applied in the wrong manner can make pits in the surface and cause slight pitting of the concrete.

Here, are a few tips that need to be remembered before pressure washing:

Use The Colour Tips Correctly

Pressure Washer Spray Tips

Too much high pressure like those coded red and yellow on the control tip can force the concrete to flack and come out. On the contrary, quite low pressure might not clean the dirt properly.

So, adjusting the pressure tip to the right colour is important. Using the widespread tips like black, white and green for washing the driveway can be a significant help.

Avoid Taking Off The Coating Or Seals

Taking Off Coating

As said above, high pressure can cause concrete to flack. If the upper layer of the concrete driveway is scratched it can weaken the strength of the surface and lead to more damage. The etch mark left by heavy pressure cleaning can make the driveway susceptible to discolouration and deterioration.

Use Detergent And Other Cleaning Agents

Simple Green Concrete and Driveway Cleaner Pressure Washer Soap and Detergent

If the driveway is quite dirty, pressure cleaning would not be enough to correct its condition. To take out the tough stains use detergent and a combination of our cleaning agent to get the desired result. Seeking professional help can prove to be more convenient if your sidewalk is too dirty. 

Get Your Concrete Sidewalk Covered

Sidewalk

Getting your concrete sidewalk will help in better maintenance and avoid the top layer getting stained or too dirty. The debris will not settle on the surface and cleaning become super easy.

Use 3000 PSI

To clean the driveway efficiently, using the 3000 Psi could be the most convenient range. While for cleaning the exterior roof, walls and other areas force more than 1500 Psi is appropriate. Force up to 3000 Psi can deliver the right amount of pressure and help in better cleaning. 

Hire Professional Cleaning Services In Melbourne

Hire Professional Cleaning Service

Washing the concrete driveway with a small pressure washer at home might not produce a good result. Furthermore, it can turn out to be daunting and hassle. To avoid the entire annoying job and get your driveway neat and clean quickly what could be better than hiring an expert team of cleaning service providers.

The professional can ensure you quick and defined services to make your driveway look like new. Ask your service provider to use a mild detergent to avoid discolouration. Ensure that they have an experienced team who can offer you proven quality services. Additionally, make sure they don’t apply any hidden charges.

Conclusion

Concrete driveways are an important part of your home exterior and landscape which is overlooked when it’s come to cleaning. Though, a well-washed driveway can offer multiple benefits to the property owner. While pressure cleaning is a popular and convenient method it can go completely wrong if done by an untrained operator.

However, asking for professional help for pressure washer cleaning or following certain precautions can avoid the risk of concrete damage.

This is a contributor’s guest post by Amelia Jee from shinenbright.com.au

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9 Top Reasons To Hire An End Of Lease Cleaner Adelaide

end of lease cleaner

As much as moving comes with the excitement of getting a new premise, maybe bigger, it also means that you need the security deposit on your former lease, back. Unfortunately, this will only be given to you, once your previous landlord is satisfied with the state of the property you are leaving behind.

Cleaning up an entire house when moving is not as easy as getting a room done on regular chores’ days. You will need all the help you could get. Here are nine reasons why hiring an end of lease-cleaner is the best way to go about it. Visit the cleaner’s website for more service information.

No Cleaning Stress

reasons-to-hire-end-of-lease-cleaner-adelaide

When preparing to move and during the moving process, you already have a lot to worry about. This is even harder when you have kids, as research shows that moving can affect your kids’ education and health. The challenge is not only for people moving homes but also for businesses moving to new premises.

During such a season, it is best to do everything possible to avoid any additional stress triggers. End of lease cleaners Adelaide makes it easy for you to do away with the cleaning responsibility. They handle all cleaning requirements in line with lease cleaning standards so that you can have time to deal with other moving obligations.

End of Lease Cleaning in Less Time

Doing something for years gives you a speed advantage. People who have been cleaning for a notable period know their way around premises and tricks to getting through work done in the shortest time possible. This is why a professional cleaner is able to clear a cleaning task within a day, while the same work size takes locals a couple of days to a week.

More so, end of lease cleaning companies will always send a team of professional personnel to handle the task. The more hands-on the job, the less time it takes to get it done.

Quality Work

quality work

Doing an end of lease cleaning for yourself will not give it the attention it deserves. One of the reasons is because you are probably only doing it to get your bond back and move on with your life.

However, for a professional cleaner, this is something they are paid to do; hence, they will make it their aim to give it their best. This thus produces quality cleaning.

Use of Improved Cleaning Equipment

You might be conversant with a few cleaning pieces of equipment from regular cleaning chores. However, when dealing with quality cleaning, you will need more than a pusher and a brush plus a few detergents.

Professional cleaners know which types of equipment are best for particular surfaces. This helps them get their job done professionally to give quality outputs.

If you do not want to do more damage in the name of cleaning, get certified personnel to do the work for you.

Save Your Energy

In a time when everyone is onto something, it is hard to come by any free time. Full-time jobs are on the rise and statistics show that Australians are becoming resistant to rest by the minute. As much as this not a healthy way of living, hard economic times dictate otherwise.

Given that you are spending most of your energy trying to make ends meet, running that start-up or taking care of your kids, why not leave the end of lease cleaning work to the experts? You will be glad you scheduled those hours for something else.

It Saves Money

saves money

You must be thinking how does paying someone to do work you can find time to clear, save you money? It is all a matter of how you calculate your expenses. Think of it this way; when buying equipment you will probably not need till you have to do an end of lease cleaning again, you are probably spending on unnecessary expenses.

When you hire a cleaning company, the company utilizes its best pieces of equipment to serve you. The team comes with all the needed items and no extra costs on your plate.

Support for Senior Citizens

Old-age residents may not be well equipped to tackle the cleaning responsibilities by themselves. Getting professionals to handle it is the best way to help them. They will do all the cleaning work, including dusting, mopping, disinfecting, among others.

A Happy Landlord

The aim of getting your former property spotless is to ensure that your former leaser is satisfied enough to give you back all your bond money. These landlords often look for the slightest mistake to reduce your security or to entirely withhold it.

To avoid giving them the satisfaction of not having to provide you with what they owe you, get professionals to handle the tough work.

A happy landlord will mean a peaceful departure for you and your family, which also leads to a new life with no past baggage.

Have an Easy Shifting Process

Easy Shifting Process

Shifting can be fun when you have few or nothing to worry about. One of the biggest mistakes people make when moving is wanting to do it all. They fail to understand that the less you have to do, the more the process will appear smoother.

Maybe you are thinking that looking for a new property and paying a deposit has already cost you too much and you do not want to spend an extra cent on unnecessary services.

Unfortunately, if you are doing too much, you will end up risking your health as well. A professional end of lease cleaner will comfortably serve you, allowing you to move with ease.

Conclusion

Unlike popular belief, end of lease cleaning is not another basic chore. If not planned for appropriately, it may drain your energy to levels you did not see coming. It could even lead to equipment breakages and unwanted repair costs. Take care of your health, your peace of mind, your former house and get your security money back only by hiring the best people in the cleaning business.

This is a promoted post by Luke Cameron

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Why You Need A Manual Tile Cutter For DIY Bathroom Renovations

manual tile cutter for diy

This is a contributor’s article from Shenaz Kadri
The tile cutter is a very useful tool when it comes to any indoor as well as outdoor projects for better furnishing and design manoeuvre with proper measurements. It is required for the users to use proper tile cutters to carry out the work in much finished glam of delivery. There is a number of manufacturers deal especially in the manufacturing of special tool cutters.

There is a good variety of tile cutters that come with a good dose of specialty considering the features and particulars. It can come in varied designs and patterns and models too which depend on the manufacturers’ ideas of delivering creatively with unique particulars of its own.

The tile cutter can be of the different models considering its portability, mobility and a lot more of the sort. According to its model and design, it has its own capacity of delivering work keeping in line with its manoeuvre of efficiency and power.

A tile cutter which is manual in its frame and design has its great advantage of delivering powerful manual cutting as per the wish and the requirement of the user and therefore this type of tile cutter with manual handling is preferred everywhere and by anyone and especially the DIY workers.

It is highly essential that the manufacturing companies now focus on manufacturing more of manual tile cutters since there is the advent of the popular trend of DIY projects everywhere.

The DIY projects have been receiving prominence and popularity since there is availability of required tools that are designed in a way that has been equipped with easy manoeuvre of handling that can be easily maneuvered or run by any amateur worker without any great professional knowledge of tile cutting but with simple and basic knowledge of DIY working that is learnt through casual video encounters or by reading the manual.

DIY bathroom renovations are one such DIY project that is growing popular nowadays since most of the bathroom renovations are done personally without making a call to the professional worker. This confidence is, therefore, a boon from the tile cutters that are manual and flexible and equipped with easy to use functionality.

Bathroom renovation is one of the basic DIY projects since this consists of simple implementation on the grounds of renovation that may sometime be of repairing while on the other hand sometimes can be of creative renovation.

Some of the striking conditions considering the need of the manual tile cutter when it comes to the delivery of DIY bathroom renovations are can be discussed.

manual tile cutter

1. Flexibility

Flexibility is one aspect that is expected from any tool by its users. This is way more important when it comes to DIY projects that require quite a good deal of flexibility in the tools to be used since it is to be handled by the amateurs.

It creates a good concern among the users regarding the tool flexibility and therefore the tile cutter for the DIY bathroom renovation is required to be flexible enough which would be easy to handle by any DIY worker and carry out the work fully with a good finish. And in this regard, there is the necessity of a manual tile cutter for DIY bathroom renovation.

This would facilitate the DIY workers to manoeuvred the manual tile cutter to avoid any doubt with the functioning. A manual functioning of the tile cutter would provide better and proficient handling of the tool with its manual flexibility that can be manoeuvred according to the users.

2. Better Extension

The DIY works require a good deal of extensive performance. It is meant to reach to the innumerable heights and lengths of a good dose of work delivery. DIY bathroom renovation is indeed in requirement of a good manual tile cutter that would facilitate high functioning in carving out tile or it’s cutting in a more extensive manner.

The manual tile cutter provides that manual extending of the tool with its well drawn technological clicks that facilitate the manual extension of the tool by extending it to the point wherever it is required

3. Easy and Direct Manoeuvre

The easy handling of any tool and its direct and crisp technological manoeuvre helps the amateur user to handle the tool nicely. It is, therefore, a manual tile cutter would always prove handy and easy to work with.

It is always easy for beginners or amateur workers to work with tools that are manual in its functioning. While working for projects involving bathroom renovations, it is required that the workers manoeuvre the tool manually which would be convenient for them to work with.

4. Manual Key Functioning

This aspect is in terms of the tool’s key functioning which refers to the tool’s special particulars to be in manual keys for activating the tool.

While carrying out the bathroom DIY projects it is advantageous if the tile cutter is articulated in practical manual functioning that has the particularities in a manual format which makes it very easy for the DIY workers to manually maneuver the tool and cut the tiles according to their wish when it comes to the size and the design of being carved out in the tile.

5. Miscellaneous Projects

Some other projects like fixing of pipes and other miscellaneous projects like that of placing a bathtub or a sink basin, it is important to have a manual tile cutter for better replacement handling with a manual tool like that of manual tile cutter to work on the tiles and other flooring decorations at ease by handling the tool manually

Conclusion

The use of manual tools and machineries is immense. Any DIY projects need a variety of tools and machineries for better functioning with clarity and ease of use. It is not always easy to handle an automated machine when the worker is an amateur one with beginners’ knowledge. Taking this into consideration it is highly advantageous for the beginners to use a manual tile cutter for DIY bathroom renovations since the workers would be facilitated with the freedom of maneuvering manually and to take good hold of the tool.

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Belt Sander Vs Orbital Sander Vs Palm Sander

belt vs orbital vs palm-sander

Finding the right sander to finish your work is always important when you love woodworking. Sanding is the final step when you are working on a product. When you sand it, you finish the surface to a smooth look. While you can always sand by hand with just a piece of sandpaper, it is much more efficient to use a sander.

Sanding can take quite a long time when you are doing it by hand. Remember, it is important to use the proper sander for the job. A sander is an investment on which it is worth you spending.

When you are looking for the right sander, it is important to know the difference between a belt sander vs orbital sander vs palm sander.

Belt Sander

Belt Sander

Belt sanders are most widely used to remove material aggressively and quickly. The belt is constantly moving between two to three pulley systems. Many belt sanders automatically adjust to keep the belt in the center of the pulley while it is working.

Typically belt sanders come in 18 inches, 21 inches and 24 inches, which are perfect for those who want to do it themselves. Both of these types of sanders hold a belt that is 3 inches wide.

A sanding belt wraps itself around two drums. The front drum moves freely and on its own, while the back drum is motorized. Belt sanders have a lever to release the tension allowing you to change the belt easily and quickly. A knob on the sander allows you to adjust the tracking.

Check the below to select the best one for you.

The smallest belt sander, which is 18 inches, is the easiest one for you to control and is best for beginners. It has the best balance with a great mix of balance, speed, and power. The larger belt sander at 24 inches is much harder for you to control but covers a much bigger surface area. They also tend to be less stable.

A belt sander is excellent for taking old finishes, like paint, off the wood. A belt sander is great for gang sanding when multiple boards are attached to each other to smooth all the edges.

Belt sanders are the best tool for making furniture and other bigger projects. One downside of which to be aware is using a belt sander could scratch the wood.

Check for Details

Orbital Sander

Orbital Sander

There are two types of orbital sanders. One a regular orbital sander and the other is a random orbit sander.

Random orbit sanders are similar to sheet sanders, except they have round discs of sandpaper and it spins at high speeds. Random orbit sanders use oscillation that is random along the rotation to reduce gouges and swirls which gives you a better finish overall.

Woodworkers prefer random orbit sanders because of the round discs spinning orbitally and in a rotation. Working together, these two motions eliminate the chances of swirl marks on your wood.

Check the below to select the best Orbital Sander

Random orbit sanders usually have a velcro or sticky back to them to which the sandpaper attaches. There are holes in the sander that help remove dust from the surface of the wood. One downside to a random orbit sander is the sandpaper sheets are more expensive than regular sand paper.

Regular orbit sanders are compact sanders that you can use with one hand and you still have wonderful control. They use 1/4 of a regular piece of sandpaper. There is a flat sanding surface on which the sandpaper sits and is held on by clamps that spring.

The sanding pad vibrates on circular orbits. Orbit sanders are intended for fine work like rounding edges and removing putty. The orbit sander is lightweight, uses gentle motion, and is not ideal for heavy-duty projects. The good news to that it is really difficult for you to ruin the surface of your work with this type of sander.

The pads are five or six inches in diameter and use pressure-sensitive adhesive discs. This is an excellent sander for all purposes. It removes stock as well as sands smoothly, but sometimes it is less efficient.

Check for Details

Palm Sander

palm sander

Palm sanders are often referred to as finish sander. As their name suggests, palm sanders fit in the palm of your hand. They are the most compact and lightest of all power sanders. They tend to have the weakest motor and use sandpaper with a grit of 160 to 220.

Check the below to select the best Palm Sander for you.

The palm sander moves the pad in orbit that are small and circular. Palm sanders have square pads on the bottom of the sander which held on with clamps. Palm sanders are incredibly easy to control. Palm sanders are great for light-duty jobs such as polishing finish wood that you do not plan to paint. Palm sanders are also the most affordable of power sanders.

There are some downsides to palm sander. One is you will not be able to remove paint or anything that has adhered to wood. Another downside is you must use the lightest touch when using a palm sander. If you push down too hard with it, you could potentially cause damage to your sander. You also go through a lot of pads when using a palm sander.

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Final Words

When determining if you should use a belt sander vs orbital sander vs palm sander, it is helpful to know all the information about all these different sanders. If you need more about woodworking sander, You can check out here at Toolsever for detailed tips and advice. More information about the differences between these sanders helps you decide which one to choose.

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