Which Carpet Flooring Is The Best For The Kitchen

Best Timeline On Proper Carpets Cleaning Care

Your home carpet is probably the largest décor item in your living space, as such its condition has the biggest impact on the appearance of your interior. Naturally, you would want to keep it looking pristine and free of dust, odor and other forms of allergens. In addition, your carpet is a considerable investment, so you want to make sure it lasts as long as possible.

If you want to keep your carpet looking clean and performing at its best, you need to maintain a regular cleaning schedule. Having your carpet professionally deep-cleaned is a perfect way to get rid of particles of dirt, dust, residues and allergens that accumulate on/in your carpet over time.

But how often should you clean your carpet? Well, this varies depending on a number of factors.  Some homes will need carpet cleaning every 3 to 6 months, some 6 to 12 months and yet others will only need professional deep cleaning every 12 to 18 months. So if you’re wondering how often you should have your carpets professionally cleaned, here are some factors to consider.

If you do regular vacuuming

Regular vacuuming –about once per week –will increase your carpet’s durability. Vacuuming removes particles that settle loosely on the surface of your carpet before they settle deeper and start abrading the carpet fibers. Regular vacuuming can allow you to go longer before needing professional cleaning.

However, no matter how often you vacuum, you will still need professional deep carpet cleaning sooner or later. So if it’s been long since you hired a professional to clean your carpet, now is probably the best time to do so.

If someone in your household has allergies

In many ways, your home carpet acts as a filter, so it ends up collecting allergens and dust that float around your living space. Over time, the dust and allergens built-up in your carpet fibers and will become airborne again anytime someone walks across the carpet. So if your household has someone with allergies, you will need regular professional carpet cleaning to restore a healthy living environment and minimize the reaction symptoms–every 4 to 6 months should do.

If You Allow Pets on the Carpet

If your home has pets, you already probably know that regular cleaning is a wise move. Other than bringing dirt from outside, pets can also distribute feces, vomit or urine on your carpet. Even the best-trained pets can occasionally make a mess. Sooner or later, your carpet will start showing unsightly stains and producing unbearable odors. Thankfully, frequent carpet cleaning will help neutralize the odor and get rid of the stains.

Do You Have Children?

Kids are cute, and we all love them, but to be honest, they can make quite a mess on your carpet. How often you should clean your carpet when you have kids all depends on how strict you’re when it comes to allowing them to take food and beverages on the carpet. Additionally, according to Service Master Carpet Cleaning, if you allow your kids to wear shoes or color and paint in the house, you might need to have your carpet professionally cleaned every after 6 months.

What color is your carpet?

If you have a light-colored carpet, you probably already know how notorious they’re at revealing stains and dirt. Keeping your bright-colored carpet looking clean will require more frequent cleaning than does their darker counterparts. You, however, don’t have to necessarily avoid dark light-colored carpets, after all, they’re really great at brightening up living spaces and revealing an increasing level of dirt before it really builds up.

Do you allow shoes on your carpet?

Shoes bring in dirt and small particle of grit that can cause your carpet fibers to wear much faster. The more people you have in your home, the more traffic and dirt your carpet will have to endure. So to prevent permanent wear patterns, these grit and dirt should be removed periodically –and professional washing every 6 months is recommended. 

How Often Should Your Rugs Be Cleaned?

Rugs are often one of the first things people notice in our homes and can be a significant investment. Everyone enjoys a soft plush carpet and rugs can be wonderful for a home’s aesthetic appeal. However, regular cleaning and deep cleaning is required to maintain a fresh and cleaning looking rug and to extend its lifetime.

Springtime is generally considered a great time for rug cleaning, especially if you live in a place with heavy winters where snow and dirt might get tracked in. However, the frequency and timing of your rug cleaning also depend on where you stay and your lifestyle. While an annual cleaning is definitely recommended, a professional rug cleaner could help you determine if you might need more frequent rug cleaning,

Certain factors that could determine the frequency of rug cleaning are:

Small Children

Anyone who’s ever lived with small children knows they can create quite a mess. From food crumbs to toys and playing clay, there are ample ways that they can create a mess. Also, it is important to have a clean home for the health and wellbeing for your children.

Pets

A home with pets can always do with some deep cleaning. Pets tend to shed hair as well as can have toilet-related accidents making regularly scheduled rug cleaning important.

Allergies

If any member of your family is allergy-prone you do understand the importance of a regular deep clean. A regular rug clean gets rid of dust mites, dirt and any other allergens which could adversely affect your health.

A regular carpet deep clean is not only helpful in keeping your rugs looking clean and fresh but is also important for the health and wellbeing of your family. Instead of planning to get your rugs cleaned only once a year, plan to keep your favorite investment pieces clean and new-looking for as long as possible.

The Benefits of Regular Rug Cleanings

Many people find that getting their rugs deep cleaned on a regular basis is beneficial for their home, health, and peace of mind. Even if you’re generally pretty tidy, you might be surprised at the difference a professional cleaning can make.

The main benefits are:

  • A longer-lasting rug. No matter what material they’re made of, clean, well-cared-for rugs last longer.
  • A fresher smelling home. A clean rug doesn’t smell like anything, but a dirty one can stink up the whole house over time.
  • A more beautiful rug. You’d be amazed at the difference we see in many of the rugs we clean at our Portland facility. Many people don’t even know how dirty their rug is until they see it clean!
  • A healthier environment. Allergens, microorganisms, and bacteria live in dirty rugs. A good professional cleaning can remove them, contributing to a more hygienic home.
  • Less stress. Are you the kind of person who gets stressed out when you’re stuck in a cluttered or unclean environment? Do yourself a favor and get those rugs freshened up.

How Professional Rug Cleaning Works

No two rugs are alike. A very sturdy, very dirty rug needs to be treated differently than an extremely delicate rug that’s only a little bit dirty. That’s why we carefully inspect and hand wash every rug that’s brought to our facility here in Portland. High-quality rug cleaning is a multi-step process:

Pre-Cleaning Inspection: We closely examine your rug to identify stains, odors, heavy traffic areas, and the specific dyes and fibers your rug is made of. We also see if there’s damage that needs repair or any other special issues. Then we give you an exact quote for the cleaning.

Dust Removal: Dust can really settle into a rug over time. Often you can’t even see it! We thoroughly dust your rug to remove dust, dirt, and other sediments that regular vacuuming and cleaning products can’t.

Washing: We create a customized cleaning formula for each rug, taking special precautions to protect your rug’s delicate fibers and avoid dye bleeding and dye transfer problems. We do this for two reasons:

Acustomized formula can target specific types of soiling, stains, microorganisms, and odors.

Different rug fibers (like synthetics and wool) need to be cleaned differently. We know how to get your rug clean without damaging it.

Pet Urine Removal: Pet urine accidents happen, but they don’t have to ruin your rug! For badly saturated rugs, we submerge your rug in our enzyme pond to remove stains and neutralize odors. An enzyme spot treatment may work just as well for small stains. Learn more about urine removal.

Drying: Our environmentally controlled drying room keeps your rug safe and uncontaminated as it dries naturally. Controlled drying is especially important for rugs with odor issues or fast-moving dye sets.

Post-Cleaning Inspection: We do another inspection after the cleaning process to ensure that we send you home with a beautiful, clean rug you’ll be proud to display in your home.

Now you know how the cleaning process works, and you know that most rugs should be cleaned about every 12-18 months, but it’s more complicated than that. Let’s look at what types of rugs need to be cleaned more or less often than the traditional 12-18 months.

Event Videographer In HD

Before you hire a video production team, answer these important questions

There are many questions to discuss with your team first that will help with overall expectation and experience. From high-level strategy issues like messaging and branding to more tactical details like timely logistics and important visual components.

Whether you’re trying to raise funds, attract the right customers, recruit new talent or educate consumers, here are a few things, in order of importance, you should know before you hire a video production company.

Who is your audience?

One of the first questions to discuss and decide is, who is the main audience is for your video? Answering this question first will help in the analysis of other considerations. If you’re producing a video targeting expecting mothers, that information helps to set the tone for messaging, visuals, and music selection. But a B2B audience would be totally different. If you’re producing a video targeting mechanical engineers looking for tools and gadgets, the creative direction of the video will purposely take a 180-degree turn. Know who you want to be watching your video and make that your starting point.

How do you want people to feel?

This is a biggie. When that specific audience is watching your video on your website, through an email campaign, or at an event, what do you want their action to be after the video fades to black? Whether you want someone digging into their pockets for a tissue and checkbook or feeling motivated to click the “buy now” button, that overriding feeling you want to create needs to be reflected in the messaging, the visuals, and the overall tone.

What are the key messages you want to communicate?

Behind every good video is a strategy. Showing up one day with a camera in one hand and microphone in the other probably won’t set you up to produce an amazing video. After establishing that overall goal of the video, identify the key messages you want to communicate that will help viewers inch closer to that goal. Our human brains can only process so many items of information at one time. With that in mind, hone in on those messages and make sure they’re clear, concise, and conducive to educating, inspiring, or influencing your audience.

When and what specific visuals should be captured?

Though identifying shots and visuals to capture comes a bit later in the pre-production process, it’s important to consider any specific events, scenarios, or people that would need to be scheduled during the video shoot. For instance, if your manufacturing facility is busiest right before the holidays, it may be wise to schedule the video shoot during that time to show the breadth of your work. Likewise, if you’re producing a video that has a hard deadline, make sure to plan more time than you think is needed. Remember, producing a video often comes with more planning, logistics, time budgeting, and reviewing than anticipated.

What is your budget?

Yes, producing a video can be expensive. However, not all video is created equal. The important thing to remember is time, people, and production gear tend to drive production costs. If you want to produce that underwater, high-flying, five different locations video, it can be done, just be prepared to spend more. Likewise, maybe a few, shorter, high-level videos on your landing pages are the perfect use of video for you. Lowering use of those resources helps to keep costs down.

What is your distribution strategy?

By this point, you’re probably starting to see a vision for how your video will come together. Don’t stop at the production phase, but think ahead to how you plan to distribute the video. When a video is produced specifically for an event, you have a captured and interested audience. When a video is produced specifically for social media, your goal is to capture and pique interest in your audience. Take full advantage of the video and use it for both platforms, but make sure you’re ready to think through the strategy of how they’ll be produced and edited differently. Try producing and publishing a shorter, high-energy “teaser” of the full video on social media to link to the full video on your website.

How will you know if the video is a success?

As with so many of our marketing efforts, we need ROI and analytics to help defend and enforce the tools we’re using to drive business and awareness. Get your whole team to think through what it would take to make the video a success. Maybe it’s leads generated, views on YouTube or dollars donated. Or all of the above! Not only does clarification on this help your video production team aim to meet that same goal, it also gets buy-in from your internal team when it works. Plus, it makes you look good.

Reasons to Invest in Wedding Videography

1. Relive the story

Your wedding is a once in a lifetime event.

All the time you’ve devoted to planning the look and feel of this day culminates into one glorious, but fleeting, celebration. You slip into your spectacularly classy wedding attire for roughly 12 hours and then you launch off into the adventure of marriage, giddy and excited.

Still photos, while an important element for a wedding, are only able to convey one instance of a memory at a time. A wedding video, on the other hand, brings the story of your wedding to life and allows you to relive it in sound and motion.

Choosing to hire a videographer is a way to capture all those details and timelessly preserve them in a way that a photograph alone cannot.

2. cinematography + professional editing 

Traditionally weddings were most often filmed on a camcorder with unsteady and continuous footage. Only the best of friends or most gracious of family members would be willing to sit through hours of uncut footage with you.

Times have changed.Technology has ushered in a new era of wedding films.

We are all about handcrafting cinematic wedding films. We are storytellers and we work tirelessly to capture the emotions and beautiful details of your day so that when we edit together a highlight video it is meaningful, timeless and enjoyable to watch.

The equipment we use allows us to smoothly and artfully enhance the moments we document throughout your day, providing you with beautiful footage and quality audio.

3. Sentimental Keepsake

Weddings bring together loved ones from near and far and represent the joining together of two families.

In essence your wedding film is a digital family heirloom. It preserves this special day for you to share with future generations, allowing you to remember loved ones at their best who will not be around forever.

Your film will be able to capture their voices, their laughter, tender conversations and the joy they felt on that day watching you take such a significant step in your life.

Your wedding film will be a time capsule and an important keepsake to revisit on anniversaries when you want to hear your vows again and the promises you made to each other.

4. See What You Missed

Your wedding day goes by in the blink of an eye, we love to capture the sweet and entertaining moments you may miss while you were busy getting married. A wedding film or video allows you to see all of those little things that you may have really wanted to, but didn’t get an opportunity to on the day. We’ve got it covered!

5. Share your big day

We live in an increasingly transient world with friendships spanning across the globe. A wedding highlight film is an perfect way to share your day with family and friends who may not have been able to attend.

How To Choose The Right Video Production Company

A video promoting your Maryland business is often the first chance you have to make a good impression on your target audience. It is important that when your company makes the decision to release a video commercial, product tutorial, or corporate commercial that it reflect your brand as you intend and is engaging for viewers.

Here are some of the top things you should do while choosing a video production company

View Their Portfolio

A worthwhile production company will always have previous work available for anyone interested in hiring them to view.

Many times, the video portfolio will be accessible on the production company’s official website.  By viewing previous work, you can ensure the videos they produce meet your standards.  These samples will give insight into the quality of video this company is willing to place their name on.

Is it attractive, engaging, and professional?  These are the types of questions you should ask yourself when looking at a production company’s previous work.

Testimonials from previous clients or a client list detailing other customers that they have worked with are also helpful.  Happy clients are a sign that you have found a quality video production company.

Compare Their Portfolio to Your Concept

The video production company you are interested in has an extensive portfolio and nothing but excellent testimonials.  So what?  There is more to a production company than rave  reviews and a nice portfolio.

You have a specific vision when it comes to promoting your business.  You need to make sure that the production company you hire can produce something similar to that concept you have in mind.  It does you no good if all the company can produce is 30-second commercials clips with voiceovers when what you are really looking for is a 60-second on location commercial with real actors.

If you have checked out their portfolio, you will have a good idea of whether their style is in tune with what you are looking for in your own video.  This will make the hiring decision a lot easier.

Know How Your Project Will be Managed

If you are outsourcing to a video production company in Maryland, chances are it is because you have no idea how to produce a video yourself or you are simply too busy to hire and manage an in-house videographer.  Regardless of the reason, it is crucial you hire a production company that can handle every aspect of the production process.

  • Can they brainstorm ideas with you that will match your vision for the video?
  • Do they have professional script writer on staff?
  • Do they provide actors or have a casting company they can refer you to?
  • What type of equipment do they provide?
  • What about set locations, staffing numbers, and cost?
  • Is editing included?

How is the production quality?

Above all, your candidates should at least meet a certain standard for production value. If you’re new to the field, what does this mean? Here are some tips that will help you get the best video services:

  • Compare the look/feel of the corporate videos in the company’s portfolio to what you’d see in TV/film. Does it look like a low-budget ad you’d see in late-night TV? Does it look like a statewide TV show? Does it look like something you’d see in the high-end cinema? What do you want your video to look like?
  • Does the b-roll (an industry word for supporting video that is shown when someone is talking but you’re not seeing the person actually talking) match what they’re talking about? For example, if the person is talking about a forklift, are you seeing a forklift or are you seeing a shot of people in a conference room? More experience video producers and editors use the “say it, see it” rule, meaning that the video should match what the person is talking about.
  • If there are interviews, does it sound like a professional recording, or does it sound like the microphone is 10 feet away from the person? Sometimes, an inexperienced videographer might use the mic mounted on a camera instead of getting the mic close to the interviewee’s mouth, which makes it sound similar to when someone is on speakerphone. You need professional video production, so hire the best.
  • How is the lighting? Does the video content look overly dark or overly bright? Does the lighting look flattering when it falls on someone’s face?

Questions to Ask When Hiring a Corporate Videographer

Hiring a good, quality videographer is crucial for your next marketing strategy or corporate project.  It takes skill, experience, and talent to make a good corporate videographer, not just fancy equipment.  High quality photos or well edited video clips will make your project stand out instead of just stand up.  The first thing you need to do is ask yourself what you need out of your project.  How many photos?  How long does the video need to be?  When does it need to be done by?  Once you know all the details about your project, start interviewing potential videographers.  Here are some important questions you should ask your potential candidates.

How long have you been working as a videographer?  You want to make sure that your videographer has experience in their craft.

When will the final product to be finished?  Every project needs a timetable so make sure your videographer will fit within your deadline.  Make sure to get a solid deadline date before committing to your final choice.

Have you worked for a corporate client before?  Many videographers have experience with weddings instead of corporate video production.

Can I see your portfolio?  You will be able to see examples of their work and you can weed out the ones who don’t have a portfolio.  It is common to have digital portfolios in this particular industry, so you might want to have a computer or mobile device on hand if you want to view their work right away.

What editing software/lighting/camera do you use?  Asking questions about their equipment gives you an idea about the quality of the finished product.  If you don’t know the first thing about equipment, just take notes and look it up later.  You should also judge the quality of their response, a quick answer said with confidence means they probably know their trade while a mumbled answer or “I don’t know” means they might lack experience.

Be A Responsible Dog Bite Lawyer

My dog bit someone. What should I do?

If your animal bites someone, you could be sued in both civil and criminal court. The injured person can sue you for any money they paid for their injuries. If you knew your dog was vicious or dangerous, and you failed to keep it locked up, you might also be guilty of a felony.

An animal owner is anyone who owns, keeps, or cares for an animal. Animal owners are also people who let an animal stay on their property.

If you knew that your animal was vicious or dangerous, you have to pay for the injuries no matter what. The injured person would not have to prove anything except that they were injured by your animal.

Law enforcement officers can enter your land to get a dangerous or vicious dog or a dog that might be infected with rabies.

Vicious dogs

A dog is “vicious” when the state decides it’s especially dangerous. A dog which has been trained for guard or police duties is not vicious. Your dog is not vicious if one of the following is true:

  • The injured person was doing something to cause the dog to attack them;
  • The injured person was committing a crime against you or your property; or
  • Your dog was responding to pain or injury or was protecting itself, its offspring, you, or a member of your household.

If the state decides your dog is vicious, it must be spayed or neutered within 10 days. You must pay a $100 public safety fine, and keep the dog locked up at all times. The dog must be kept behind a fence that is at least 6 feet tall. The only times a vicious dog can leave are:

  • To go to the vet,
  • If there is an emergency or natural disaster that threatens the dog’s life, or
  • To follow a court order.

When you take the dog out, you must put a muzzle on it, and keep it on a leash no longer than 6 feet. You must keep it under your control and supervision at all times.

If you let out a vicious dog, it will be impounded. If a court issues an order to impound the dog, you must appeal the order in circuit court within 15 working days. Once you file the notice of appeal, animal control cannot euthanize the dog. But you must tell animal control in writing that you’ve filed an appeal.

If you do not appeal within 15 days, the dog may be euthanized. You may have to pay the animal control agency for the time spent caring for your dog.

Here are the basics:

The law varies from jurisdiction to jurisdiction:

There is no federal dangerous dog law. States will have their own dangerous dog law. Some counties and cities also have dangerous dog laws.

These laws will vary as to what behavior is deemed dangerous. In some, one bite can lead to a dangerous dog determination; in others, the dog must have bitten more than once. Similarly, some jurisdictions may consider a dog dangerous if that dog has killed another animal, in others not.

The procedures also vary between jurisdictions:

If your dog is accused of an attack, he or she may be seized and put on “bite hold” at a local shelter. You will then generally be entitled to a hearing before your dog is declared dangerous. This hearing may be before an administrative hearing officer or before a judge.

The party seeking to have your dog declared dangerous — an animal control agency or an injured party — will present evidence showing why they believe this designation is appropriate. If you are contesting the dangerous dog designation, you may present evidence showing why your dog should not be declared dangerous.

Some examples include:

  • Evidence relating to identity. Was it your dog who attacked, or could it have been another dog?
  • Evidence relating to the severity of the attack. Was the bite not as severe as contended?
  • Evidence relating to why the dog attacked. Was your dog defending you? Was the person bitten provoking your dog?

The law in your jurisdiction will determine if you, or another party, may appeal the determination.

If your dog is declared dangerous:

There are a number of things that might happen. You might be required to muzzle your dog in public or to affix a “vicious dog” sign to your front door. You may be ordered to remove your dog to a different jurisdiction — in other words, to find your dog a new home in another community.

There is also the chance that your dog will be ordered to be euthanized. Because of these serious stakes, we urge anyone whose dog may be declared dangerous to consult a lawyer.

When Strict Liability Applies to Tennessee Dog Bite Case

In a strict liability case, the dog’s owner can be held responsible even if he had no knowledge of a dog’s previous behavior or tendency to bite. Since knowledge of a dog’s aggressive tendencies is irrelevant in cases of strict liability, the outcome is typically more predictable than in a “one bite” situation.

A dog owner may be strictly liable for injury or damage to personal property in Tennessee if:

  • The person who was injured was in a public place, or
  • The person was injured while he or she was lawfully in a private place

Although a dog owner cannot claim ignorance of a dog’s prior behavior, there may be other defenses in a strict liability situation. State law protects dog owners from injury claims if the injured person provoked the dog, or if the dog was confined in a kennel or cage when the injury occurred. In addition, the injured person cannot sue a dog owner if he or she was trespassing or committing another infraction when the injury occurred.

Protect yourself—and your assets

Homeowners and renters insurance policies typically cover dog bite liability. Most policies provide $100,000 to $300,000 in liability coverage. If the claim exceeds the limit, the dog owner is personally responsible for all damages above that amount, including legal expenses.

Most insurance companies will insure homeowners with dogs. However, once a dog has bitten someone, it poses an increased risk. In such a case, the insurance company may charge a higher premium or exclude the dog from coverage altogether. Some companies will require dog owners to sign liability waivers for dog bites. Some will cover a pet if the owner takes the dog to classes aimed at modifying its behavior.

A single lawsuit—even if won—can end up costing hundreds of thousands of dollars. And the greater a person’s assets, the more potentially is at risk. The personal liability coverage available through a standard homeowners or automobile policy simply may not be enough, so you may want to consider purchasing a personal excess liability policy. Also known as an umbrella liability policy, it protects you against personal liabilities—such as dog bites—that could impact a substantial portion of your assets.

The amount of umbrella liability coverage usually ranges from $1 million to $10 million, and covers broad types of liability. Most insurance companies have required minimum amounts of underlying coverage—typically at least $250,000 of protection from your auto policy and $300,000 of protection from your homeowners policy. If you own a boat, then you must also have boat insurance with a specified minimum amount of coverage. Personal excess liability insurance is relatively inexpensive. The first $1 million of coverage costs about $150 to $300 per year, the second million about $75, and subsequent increments of $1 million cost about $50 per year.

Be A Responsible Dog Owner

Ultimately, the responsibility for properly training and controlling a dog rests with the owner. The most dangerous dogs are those that fall victims to human shortcomings such as poor training, irresponsible ownership and breeding practices that foster viciousness or neglect and abuse. To reduce the chances of a dog biting, the following steps are recommended by the CDC when getting a dog:

  • Consult with a professional (e.g., veterinarian, animal behaviorist, or responsible breeder) to learn about suitable breeds of dogs for your household and neighborhood.
  • Spend time with a dog before buying or adopting it. Use caution when bringing a dog into a home of with an infant or toddler. Dogs with histories of aggression are inappropriate in households with children.
  • Be sensitive to cues that a child is fearful or apprehensive about a dog and, if so, delay acquiring a dog. Never leave infants or young children alone with any dog.
  • Have your dog spayed or neutered. Studies show that dogs are three times more likely to bite if they are NOT neutered.
  • Socialize your dog so that it knows how to act with other people and animals.
  • Discourage children from disturbing a dog that is eating or sleeping.
  • Play non-aggressive games with your dog, such as “go fetch.” Playing aggressive games like “tug-of-war” can encourage inappropriate behavior.
  • Avoid exposing your dog to new situations in which you are unsure of its response.
  • Never approach a strange dog and always avoid eye contact with a dog that appears threatening.
  • Immediately seek professional advice from veterinarians, animal behaviorists, or responsible breeders if the dog develops aggressive or undesirable behaviors.

Residential Electrical Remodel Practices

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RESIDENTIAL REMODEL

Electrical systems that are properly functioning in your home are crucial, for a number of reasons. Electrical issues are not only inconvenient, but they can also be a serious safety issue. Embarking on a residential remodel, can seem nerve wracking

Residential remodels and renovations are one of our main specialties. It is very important to us to work closely with homeowners, no matter how specific and unique the requests/job may be. A key factor to any renovation or remodel is the electrical system, no matter if just one room is getting remodeled, or the entire house. There are numerous aspects to consider throughout this process, such as local code compliance, power requirements, and permitting

Whenever you plan a remodel for your home, your investing not only money into the project, but also time and effort to design and custom tailor the project to your exact liking. That being said, its important to protect your investment by updating the electrical systems and wiring. Doing so will not only ensure the efficiency and safety of your new electrical systems, it will protect your newly remodeled space and the upgrades to the lighting fixtures and design can add value to your home.

When it comes to home remodels, bathroom and kitchen renovations can be especially complex, it’s a must to hire and rely on experienced electricians ill make sure that all newly installed electrical components are up-to-date with safety requirements and code compliance. Our team is happy to assist with a number of items that are a part of a remodel, such as light fixture installation, rewiring, and lighting upgrades, to name a few.

If your home is older and depending on how much of the home you are remodeling, one of the first things to consider is if the electrical panel is large enough for the proposed electrical loads that will result from added square footage, lighting, and new appliances, etc. will guide you to understand your projects electrical needs and will work closely with you to formulate an electrical installation plan that will meet your specific needs, including design expectations and budget. Sometimes, an electrical system upgrade can be an unanticipated cost during the renovation, however, it is best to take care of any electrical issues, during the process of remodeling, as opposed to after. Money and frustration will be saved in the long run.

Expert Electrical Remodeling Contractor

Electric Solutions offers top-notch electrical remodeling contractor services to home and business owners you can count on our highly trained and knowledgeable team to deliver on any project large or small. We’re always eager to hear your unique design ideas, and we work hard to achieve 100% customer satisfaction every time.

Truly Expert Electrical Remodeling Contractor

As a full-service electrical contractor, we specialize in electrical remodeling projects of all kinds from small to large. Serving both residential and commercial clients, we’re passionate about making your vision a reality. Almost no idea is impossible, and you can rely on us to complete work as quickly and efficiently as possible with minimal impact on your business or daily routine.

Skilled Electrical Work on Older Homes & Buildings

Is your home or commercial building more than 10 years old? Much older than that? Completing electrical work in older structures requires specific skills and equipment, and our expert electricians have extensive experience in such conditions. We provide a wide variety of electrical remodeling contractor services to improve the functionality and increase the value of your older home or building, and we’re happy to provide a free consultation to discuss your needs and goals.

Electric Solutions always puts customers first, and that means we’re never satisfied until you are. We’re known for our business integrity, and we highly value the relationships we build with home and business owners alike. We want to be the first and only company you call when you need help with any electrical issue or project

New/Remodel Construction

Whether you are building a multi-million dollar home or remodeling a bathroom a licensed electrician will get the job done properly, on time, and under budget.

The relationships that are built during the construction process can last a lifetime. We value those relationships more than anything. We want to do the job the way you want it done … RIGHT THE FIRST TIME!

Residential:

From single-family homes to high-rise condominium complexes, we are the area’s most trusted master electricians

Have experience include new construction and turn-of-the-century estates, and our full menu of residential electrician services include:

Solar panel installation

Interior wiring, rewiring and consulting

Outlet and switch fitting and retrofitting

Amp service upgrades

Exterior lighting

Emergency services

Electrical testing

also specializes in interior rewiring for today’s technologically advanced homes, with consultation and installation of home computer networks, security systems and energy-saving devices.

Electrician

If you have been thinking about remodeling your home, you will need the help of a remodel electrician to handle the task at hand. Residential remodel involves rewiring, adding new appliances, and upgrading the panel box to accommodate the new electrical modalities.

As an established company offering electricity related services for many years, we are well versed with all requirements of commercial and residential remodel projects. As an experienced electrician, we can provide services like:

Basement wiring

Accent and track lighting

Adding new circuits

qualified and trained remodel electrician to cater to all requirements of your remodeling project. Our electrician will discuss the new electrical changes to be made during the remodeling process. Based on the requirements, our electrician will bring the material and complete the work.

Residential Remodel

A residential remodel project can be a good idea if you are facing a space crunch and want to make your home more functional. With any residential remodel project, electrical changes are imminent. You might require new wiring, shifting of panel boxes, and upgrading of the circuit board to support the additional electrical appliances.

Having the required equipment and the knowledge of remodeling, our electrician will complete the work:

Within the scheduled time

Following the building codes

As preferred and required

Remodel Electrician

Not all electricians are well adept at handling electrical requirements during a remodeling project, commercial or residential. Therefore, when you think of remodeling your home, select a qualified electrician prior to beginning work. This will help you get the electrical changes as required and in the right manner.

Drinking Water Testing Safety Facts Revealed

Air Quality and Water Testing

Mold isn’t a bad word.Every home has mold and without it the world wouldn’t be habitable for humans or animals. Mold only becomes a problem when there is too much of it,when it causes problems for your health,or when it is unsightly and causing damage to property.

This is where mold testing comes in.Take a look at this simple guide to mold testing to determine if you need mold testing,and what kind of testing best suits your needs

Residential inspection offers Air quality testing and water testing. is a full service environmental analytical laboratory, specializing in mold analysis, servicing home inspectors and mold testing professionals nationwide

unique and distinguished by offering the Mold|Safe Accuracy Guarantee, the only mold warranty in the country. The Accuracy Guarantee covers up to $3,000 for remediation of any visible mold for 90 days after an inspection when the inspection report indicates no visible mold or problematic mold counts in the air.

offers the long-sought after assurance by home and mold inspectors that home buyers, home sellers, and real estate agents can rely on to ensure they are getting a problem free property.

Well Water Testing

Prior to purchasing a home with a well, it’s important to have the well tested to make sure it’s in good condition. It’s also important to test the water that comes from the well to ensure it’s safe for human consumption

Home Inspections can provide you with well inspection services, including water quality testing services. We’ve been providing people throughout the state with well water inspections for more than a decade, and we have the experience it takes to spot potential problems during well water testing and inspection.

The water well inspectors from Home Inspections typically begin by performing load tests on a well. This helps us determine if a well is experiencing any issues with regard to water pressure, water flow or recovery. We’ll also examine the individual components within the well to ensure they’re operating properly. Following the inspection, we can provide suggestions for any repairs that might need to be made to the well, either now or at some point in the future.

Water Quality Testing

If your family gets drinking water from a private well, do you know if your water is safe to drink? What health risks could you and your family face? Where can you go for help or advice? The EPA regulates public water systems; it does not have the authority to regulate private drinking water wells

Approximately 15% of Americans rely on their own private drinking water supplies, and these supplies are not subject to EPA standards, although some state and local governments do set rules to protect users of these wells. Unlike public drinking water systems serving many people, they do not have experts regularly checking the water’s source and its quality before it is sent to the tap. These households must take special precautions to ensure the protection and maintenance of their drinking water supplies.

What does the testing cover?

Arsenic

Uranium

Coliform

E.Coli

Nitrates

Nitrites

pH

Chloride

Hardness

Copper

Iron

Manganese

Source Lead

Fluoride.

WATER ANALYSES INTERPRETATION GUIDE

Arsenic, Uranium, Coliform, E.Coli, Nitrates, Nitrites, pH, Chloride, Hardness, Copper, Iron, Manganese, Source Lead, Fluoride Water Testing.

Should I test my water quality?

When you make an offer to purchase a house with a private well, perform a test to analyze water quality. Make your contract contingent on obtaining the desired test results. Use a state-certified laboratory, and if you are allowed to draw water samples yourself, be sure to follow the instructions carefully.

The EPA recommends that you test well water annually for nitrates and coliform bacteria, but the lab may suggest additional tests important for your specific property or region

Such as:

Testing for pesticides if the home is built on the site of an old orchard or farm.

Testing for volatile organic chemicals if an oil tank is buried on the property, or if commercial storage tanks are buried nearby.

Testing for lead if the home has lead pipes.

Lead tests are important for homes with public water, too, since contamination occurs after the water enters the plumbing.

The results of your water tests might show contaminants that are offensive, but not health risks. The lab can advise you about the differences between that type of contaminant and dangerous contaminants, and their possible sources. Don’t hesitate to ask as many questions as it takes to answer all of your concerns.

Water Testing for Private Wells and Springs

Homes in different areas obtain water from different sources: a home within the city limits may draw water from a municipal source, while homes in rural areas often obtain water from a well or spring. Water taken from a municipal system is usually monitored closely by the municipality for various bacteria and contaminants. If the bacteria count reaches a certain level due to spring runoff, heavy rains or a heat wave that explodes the bacteria count, a “boil water advisory” is issued.

People in rural areas do not have the luxury of continuous monitoring of their water source. Their water may be contaminated in a number of ways: agricultural runoff can deliver pesticides, nitrogen and coliform bacteria to their well, rodents may find their way into the well or spring, or colonies of insects may set up camp in their water source.

That depends upon several factors.

If the home will be financed with an FHA or VA loan, the lender will most likely require a Standard Scan or an FHA Scan at the very least. The FHA Scan tests for coliform, lead, nitrates and nitrites. However, it may be best to order a more complete water test if you have any concerns about nearby sources of water contamination

Ask yourself if you have any concerns about the water source as it relates to it’s proximity to agricultural areas, major highways that are heavily salted in winter, gas stations, industrial facilities, landfills, and the home’s septic system. Water can become contaminated with bacteria, e coli, and any number of heavy metals and industrial pollutants if the water source is near any of these influences.

Another concern may be the material used in the plumbing system of the home: some of the water distribution piping in the home may be made of lead, which could contribute to elevated levels of lead in the drinking water. Ask your home inspector to identify the plumbing materials in the home, including the main water inlet, to determine if lead contamination may be a concern.

Principles Of Accounting And Accountant Assumptions

Discovering the 4 Types of Accounting

Multiple types of accounting careers exist within the financial industry, with each performing a differing range of functions. Branches of accounting vary based on the employment setting, range of responsibilities and daily activities, types of available advancement, and other factors. This article will break down various types of accounting and their careers into four broad categories. Though different professional accounting sources may divide accounting careers into different categories, the four types listed here reflect the accounting roles commonly available throughout the profession. These four branches include corporate, public, government, and forensic accounting. An undergraduate degree is most often required for any accounting career, while previous master’s work, especially in the accounting field, is often strongly preferred. Below, we’ll explore the nuances of each common area of accounting.

Corporate Accounting

Overview: According to a summary published by AccountingTools.com, corporate accounting involves the use, handling, and filing of a company’s financial data often for the purpose of external reporting and tax compliance. To accomplish their role, corporate accountants must be well apprised of certain widely held accounting methodologies to maintain accurate records and to keep their financial and tax submissions in compliance with appropriate rules, regulations, and standards. A few of these common types of accounting principles, standards, and procedures include Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), and International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) and the Internal Revenue Code (IRC).

Jobs Possible: The types of jobs in which someone might be involved in corporate accounting often involve external reporting. This could include working with the financial statements a corporation or preparing their tax filings. Executive positions such as financial controllers, analysts, and Chief Financial Officers (CFO’s) are also considered financial accounting roles. Many traditional financial accounting positions include managerial responsibilities.

Public Accounting

Overview: Public accountants work with external clients, most often companies, corporations, or individuals. Their responsibility to clients is to help ensure their financial statements, records, and filings are accurate. Public accountants often work closely with tax regulations and financial reporting and must maintain an up-to-date knowledge of both GAAP and the tax code. They must also understand, and be able to apply, industry-standard accounting frameworks and best practices. Public accountants must possess strong problem-solving skills and attention to detail. Excellent people skills are also key, to effectively interact with clients.

Jobs Possible: Public accounting positions are found in public accounting firms that serve external clients. Clientele could range from small local firms that serve individuals and small businesses to international corporate conglomerates that serve multi-billion-dollar companies. Public accountants can advance into management positions at a team or company-wide level, depending on the nature of the firm. Public accounting work can also often lead to leadership positions within their firms.

Government Accounting

Overview: Government accountants work within the context of local, state, or federal government entities. They often work within frameworks that differ from those employed by public accountants. Government accountants are also often more strictly vetted, and in some positions will be responsible for keeping privileged or confidential information.

Jobs Possible: Government financial professionals perform a wide range of duties. They might audit private documentation or tax submissions, maintain the financial records of government branches or bodies, or manage government resources. OneWire Resources, a resource for financial professionals, warns that government positions may not be as highly compensated as comparable positions in the private sector. However, government positions offer certain perks and advantages that can offset lower earning power. According to a comparison by Monster.com, government jobs often offer substantially better educational, insurance, healthcare, and retirement benefits than many civilian jobs.

Forensic Accounting

Overview: Forensic accounting refers to a branch of accounting that collects, recovers, and reconstructs financial data when it is difficult or impossible to obtain. In addition to understanding accounting principles and practices, forensic accountants must be resourceful, creative, and able to solve often-complex problems. A sample job listing for a forensic accountant from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) stresses the importance of collaboration, communication, and investigative skills. Previous coursework in law, or related experience, is also often attractive to potential employers in this field.

Jobs Possible: Forensic accounting positions can vary widely. Some forensic accountants are employed by larger law firms while others are employed by legislative entities. Government agencies including the FBI, the IRS, and beyond also employ forensic accountants. Still, other forensic accounting professionals prefer to be self-employed and work on a contract basis for corporations, insurance companies, and other private entities.

An accounting professional may choose from a wide range of employment scenarios and desired amenities to match their ideal career situation. Options include fast-paced positions that change often and may feature significant travel, to more standard positions that provide stable working conditions and responsibilities. Career choices may include roles that require significant teamwork and interpersonal interaction to positions that are primarily data-oriented which might require minimal outside personal contact.

Industry & commerce

The success of an industrial or commercial concern is very much tied up with economics, i.e. budgeting, cash flow, cost control and accounting systems.

Director, company secretary, chief accountant, chief executive, financial adviser, management accountant and internal auditor are just a few of the possible job titles for accountants in industry or commerce.

Accountants in industry form an important part of the management team. Sophisticated computer systems are widely used to store and analyse financial information quickly and accurately.

FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING

This area is concerned with keeping records of monetary transactions. Tasks include the setting up and supervision of a firm’s internal audit, preparing the accounts and reports for directors, protecting the firm’s assets and investments, and preparing share prospectuses in order to raise new capital. Wages, salaries, taxation, expenditure and invoices are also handled in this section.

MANAGEMENT & COST ACCOUNTING

Budgetary control, forecasting needs and expenditure monitoring are the main tasks. The work may also include analysing and comparing costs, explaining financial information to non-financial managers and preparing management reports.

To cost a job, service or operation, calculations must include a price element covering labour, materials, machinery, buildings and fuel.

OTHER SPECIALISATIONS

Treasury management involves sophisticated financial housekeeping; for instance, ensuring the best borrowing rates, keeping stock-piling and debts to a minimum, streamlining invoicing procedures and investing the firm’s money. Tax management and pension fund management can also be separate jobs.

Accountants trained in industry and commerce can do similar work in public services (e.g. local or national government) or move sideways into fields such as management consultancy.

How Financial Accounting Differs From Managerial Accounting

Financial accounting and managerial accounting are two of the four largest branches of the accounting discipline (tax accounting and auditing are the others). Despite many similarities in approach and usage, there are significant differences between the two. These differences center around compliance, accounting standards, and target audiences.

Main Objectives of Both Accounting Practices

The main objective of managerial accounting is to produce useful information for a company’s internal use. Business managers collect information that encourages strategic planning, helps them set realistic goals, and encourages an efficient directing of company resources.

Financial accounting has some internal uses as well, but it is much more concerned with informing those outside of a company. The final accounts or financial statements produced through financial accounting are designed to disclose the firm’s business performance and financial health. If managerial accounting is created for a company’s management, financial accounting is created for its investors, creditors, and industry regulators.

Past and Present Use

The information created through financial accounting is entirely historical; financial statements contain data for a defined period of time. Managerial accounting looks at past performance and creates business forecasts. Business decisions should be informed by this type of accounting.

Investors and creditors often use financial statements to create forecasts of their own. In this way, financial accounting is not entirely backward-looking. Nevertheless, no future forecasting is allowed in the statements.

Understanding an Accounting Method

All businesses need to keep accounting records. Public companies are required to do so. Accounting allows a business to monitor every aspect of its finances, from revenues to costs to taxes and more. Without accurate accounting, a business would not know where it stood financially, most likely resulting in its demise.

Accounting is also needed to pay accurate taxes to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). If the IRS ever conducts an audit on a company, it looks at a company’s accounting records and methods. Furthermore, the IRS requires taxpayers to choose an accounting method that accurately reflects their income and to be consistent in their choice of accounting method from year to year.

This is because switching between methods would potentially allow a company to manipulate revenue to minimize their tax burdens. As such, IRS approval is required to change methods. Companies may use a hybrid of the two methods, which is allowable under IRS rules if specified requirements are met.

Cash Accounting

If you’re a business owner, adopting the cash accounting enables you to focus only on corporate transactions involving cash. Other economic events — those with no monetary input — don’t matter because they don’t make it into financial statements. Under the cash accounting method, a corporate bookkeeper always debits or credits the cash account in each journal entry, depending on the transaction. To record customer remittances, for example, the bookkeeper debits the cash account and credits the sales revenue account. Don’t mistake an accounting cash debit for a banking debit. The former means an increase in company money, whereas the latter reduces funds in a client’s account.

Accrual Accounting

Under the accrual method of accounting, a company records all transactional data, regardless of monetary inflows or outflows. In other words, this accounting type incorporates the cash accounting method, but goes beyond it to take into account all transactions making up a corporation’s operating activities. In a financial dictionary, “accruing” means accumulating an item and recording it as legally binding even though no cash payment takes place. The phrases “accounts payable” and “accounts receivable” perfectly illustrate the concept of accrual. Accounts payable — also known as vendor payables — represent money a business owes vendors at a given point in time. The entity accrues the payables until it settles the underlying debts. The same analysis applies to customer receivables — the other name for accounts receivable — which represents money clients owe a business.

Upholstery Cleaning Before The Holiday Season

Steam Cleaning Upholstered Furniture

Steam cleaners remove stains, imbedded dirt and odors from most upholstered furniture, and at the right temperature, they can also disinfect sofas, chairs and ottomans. A steam cleaner relies on hot water rather than chemicals or scented shampoos, making it ideal for a wide range of fabrics and for people sensitive to fragrance. Don’t steam-clean upholstery that is sensitive to water, including leather, and always check the furniture’s care tag for specific cleaning recommendations.

Get the Right Equipment

A subpar steam cleaner makes little difference in the cleanliness and appearance of upholstery, but a unit with an upholstery attachment with stiff bristles gently scrubs the upholstery, loosening dirt and stains quickly. A medium- to large-size tank reduces refill trips, saving time; a 48-ounce tank lasts approximately 45 minutes with continuous steaming, while a small 6-ounce tank runs out in as few as 10 minutes. If a smaller unit is your only option, choose a steam cleaner that heats quickly. The temperature achieved by the device is also important: A cheap steam cleaner that only heats water to a relatively tepid temperature won’t loosen dirt as effectively or disinfect the upholstery. A steam cleaner should reach at least 158 degrees Fahrenheit to sanitize upholstery and 212 degrees to disinfect.

Vacuuming and Pretreating

Vacuum the furniture thoroughly with a soft-bristle attachment before cleaning to give the steam cleaner a head start. Pretreating stains also leads to the best results. Plain vodka removes many food stains as well as grass and ink spots, while mild detergent and water remove coffee and some fatty stains, such as those caused by cheese. Use a dry cleaning solvent on more stubborn stains. Test your chosen spot treatment in a hidden area before tackling the actual stain; not all fabrics stand up well to stain removers, and certain products may cause lightening or discoloration.

Steam Cleaning Tips

Read the directions provided by the steam cleaner manufacturer thoroughly before starting. Work your way from the top of the furniture down and spend ample time on each section. A quick once-over won’t remove dirt and stains effectively, nor disinfect the upholstery. Spend at least 1 minute per section for the best results, and up to 5 minutes per section if your steam cleaner only reaches a lower heat. Don’t add shampoo or upholstery cleaner to the tank. A traditional steam cleaner isn’t outfitted with a rinsing tank, and any shampoo will remain in the upholstery. When you’re finished, refrain from sitting on or using the furniture until it’s completely dry. Speed up the process by opening windows or setting up a box fan in the room.

Benefits of Professional Steam Cleaners

When faced with excessively dirty upholstery, hiring a professional is in the best interest of your furniture. Professional steam-cleaning companies utilize industrial-strength equipment that remove even the toughest of stains, and the technician’s experience ensures that he or she doesn’t damage the upholstery in the process. Keep your upholstery clean by steam-cleaning on your own annually, and hire a professional every other year for a deep cleaning. Depending on your lifestyle and the condition of your furniture, you may be able to do this less often or invest in yearly professional cleanings. While steam-cleaning is one of the best ways to make your furniture last for several years, over-cleaning breaks down the fabric and the dyes, wearing the upholstery out quickly. Steam-clean only when it’s necessary and keep furniture in top shape by vacuuming once a week and cleaning stains immediately with a spot remover.

THE STEPS OF CLEANING AND MAINTAINING YOUR UPHOLSTERY

Furniture stains are very unsightly and can take away from the aesthetic of even the most well designed room. Although spills are inevitable and sometimes unavoidable, they don’t always have to stain. With proper spot cleaning and routine maintenance, you can prevent unsightly stains and keep your upholstery looking and feeling like new for years to come. This brief guide will help you clean and maintain your upholstery to maintain its fresh new appearance.

Clean Spills Quickly

When someone spills coffee, soda, or red wine on your upholstered furniture, blot the spill immediately with a clean folded towel. Rubbing the spill will only cause the staining liquids to penetrate the fabric, so remember to blot gently. Before you use a mild cleaning product, test in an inconspicuous area to see if the cleaner has a negative reaction with the fabric

Vacuum Regularly

One important aspect of upholstery cleaning and maintenance is regular vacuuming. Vacuum your upholstered furniture weekly to remove surface soil and prevent dirt from becoming embedded into the fibers. If using a brush attachment, always use a soft bristled brush so you don’t snag and tear the fabric.

Turn Over Loose Cushions

You can greatly extend the life of your upholstered furniture by periodically turning over loose cushions. This easy maintenance step allows for an even distribution of wear and tear which helps the cushions maintain their shape and avoid looking dirty and worn.

Call a Professional

The Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification recommends having your upholstered furniture professional cleaned every one or two years. An upholstery cleaning company can remove stains and restore fabric so your furniture looks and feels like new.

Furniture Upholstery

The only downside to upholstery is what can happen when it comes into contact with liquids. Unlike solid surfaces, upholstery fabrics are vulnerable to spills and stains and, therefore, will inevitably require occasional cleaning and care. Savvy homeowners know that not all fabrics are alike. And even more importantly, they also know that this means not all fabrics can be treated the same.

To make it easier for our customers to care for their upholstered Gabby furniture, we classify all of our fabrics under one of four categories. These four cleaning codes explain the exact methods for achieving the best results when cleaning and caring for fabrics. Every one of our fabrics and samples are labeled with one of these four codes, so referencing care and cleaning instructions is a breeze.

Here is a quick look at our four cleaning codes for fabric care.

W: Standing for “water-based only,” this cleaning code is found on fabrics that should not be cleaned with solvents. Rather, these fabrics should be cleaned, but not over wet, with water-based shampoos or foam upholstery cleaners.

S: Fabrics labeled with this cleaning code are to be treated with dry-cleaning solvents. The most important thing to remember with this code is to not use water. You do not want to saturate or get these fabrics wet.

SW: This cleaning code is more lenient. Fabrics marked “SW” can be treated with shampoo or dry-cleaning solvents as you desire.

X: Certain fabrics should not be cleaned with water, solvents, or any other cleaners. Rather, it’s only recommended that these fabrics are vacuumed and brushed lightly.

All of our Choice Fabrics and Finishes, for instance, are cleaning code “S.” This collection features some of our most popular imported designs, now available with over 17 fabrics and 5 unique wood finishes to choose from for customized transitional-style seating. Homeowners and designers love using this collection to turn visions into fabulous designs with fabrics that enhance interiors and express personal style

There are a couple of other additional tips we always offer our customers. First, we recommend keeping all covers on cushions. They may have zippers, but we urge you never remove cushion covers to be separately laundered or dry-cleaned. We also carefully instruct customers to refrain from using bleach or any tumble method cleaning service. This may damage, shrink, or destroy the backing of upholstery fabrics. Finally, most of our pile fabrics – no matter the cleaning code – can be brushed to restore their original appearance.

Care & Cleaning

Spot cleaning

Treat spills and stains as soon as possible. Test on hidden area to ensure fabric and colour are not removed. Gently scrape any soil or mop any liquid from the surface of the fabric. Use of soap or detergent with water should be approached with caution since overzealous rinsing to remove soap residue may result in over-wetting, water marking and possible wetting of substructure (this may create other stains or damage products).

For non-oil-based stains use warm water and non-toilet soaps which do not contain optical brighteners (consider Velvet soap, Lux Flakes, Softly). Mix a small amount of soap and warm water solution and apply to the stain, rubbing gently. Blot dry with a clean towel. Apply cool water (preferably filtered or distilled water) and blot dry again. Then with a hair dryer, working out from the centre of the stain, dry quickly to prevent rings forming. It is generally preferable to clean whole panels of fabric in this way rather than trying to spot clean specific areas.

For oil-based stains following the same basic guidelines as above, apply a proprietary brand solvent based cleaner and try to clean generally in panels rather than spot cleaning specific areas. A helpful industry ‘secret’ for spot removal of oil based biro marks is by the application of conventional hair spray or Glen 20.

A First Aid Kit for Fabrics

To further enhance spot cleaning results, have introduced the Halo Fabric Care Kit which includes Halo spot cleaner for most household stains, Halo fabric deodoriser to help neutralise pet and general odours and Halo fabric protector to restore liquid repellency on fabric sections that have been spot cleaned

Professional fabric servicing

Fabrics recommend that water-based ‘Fluro chemical’ type fabric protectors be applied by licensed applicators only. Check your care label first to see if a mill-applied protection was incorporated during fabric manufacture. Fabric protectors do not eliminate the need for vacuuming, routine cleaning or proper care. They will, however, make spot cleaning and vacuuming quicker, easier and more efficient between professional cleans and keep your fabric looking cleaner longer, as well as extending its life. Professionals applying fabric protectors must always pre-test to qualify fabric suitability.

Warning

Extreme caution should be taken if considering treatment of velvets and pocket weaves with stain repellent products. Some high pile velvet and pocket weave jacquards may change in surface character if stain repellent treatments are incorrectly applied. Extra care should be taken to pre-test for these fabrics.

Upholstery Cleaning for All Furniture Types

Try as you may to protect your furniture, whether you have a house full of kids and animals or it’s just you alone, spills and stains are inevitable. And even if you are careful and manage to avoid big disasters and small spills, cleaning furniture thoroughly is an important task that many people forget about. In fact, you may not even realize how much bacteria and allergens have built up in your upholstery — and which could even be contributing negatively toward your health.

Because of all this, it’s crucial that you make sure to clean your couches and other furniture thoroughly and regularly. Professional upholstery cleanings are the best way to eradicate bacteria and allergens, but proper maintenance in between cleanings is also essential. Here is a guide to everything you need to know about furniture and upholstery cleaning for each type of furniture.

What is the Best Way to Clean a Fabric Sofa?

There are a few different ways to tackle a fabric sofa, some are things that you should do regularly, and some at larger intervals or when a spill occurs:

Dry brush

Sometimes removing dirt and crumbs can be as simple as using a dry brush to loosen and sweep it off. Be sure to lay down something to catch the debris, or vacuum after.

Vacuum

A vacuum also works wonders on a fabric couch. Without having to get into water and water-based solutions, you can utilize a hand-held vacuum to clean and get into the nooks and crannies.

Wash covers

The benefit of some fabric furniture is that it has covers that you can simply unzip and wash in a regular machine. If yours has these covers, be sure to check for the specific washing instructions for that material.

Use baking soda

Sprinkling baking soda over a fabric couch can be a great way to remove odors and loosen stains, before vacuuming it up. You can also create a solution for a deeper clean or spot clean, with equal parts baking soda and water. Take care using baking soda on some upholstered surfaces like microfiber and leather.

How to Maintain Leather Furniture

Many people love the durability of leather furniture, as well as the perception that it is easy to clean. However, a great deal of attention is required when you have leather furniture, as many of the most common upholstery cleaning products will break down leather finishes and could cause permanent damage.

Here are some tips for maintaining leather furniture:

Wipe up spills as quickly as possible

Be sure to use towels or cloths that are soft and absorbent to lessen the potential for scratching the leather.

Keep it away from sunlight and ventilation

Placement of your leather furniture is more important than you think. Things such as sunlight or being placed directly next to an air-conditioning vent can age the leather much quicker.

Things That Veterinarian Say That Drive Pet Owners Crazy

Questions to Ask Before Finding a New Veterinarian

Getting a new pet, or your first pet, is an exciting time. Getting to know your pet is one of the most enjoyable stages of the process of raising a pet. Especially with cats, as their natural curiosity and sudden feats of athleticism and energy are constant entertainment. Whether you’re adopting an adult cat or bringing home a kitten, you’re going to want to establish a relationship with a veterinarian.

Before you start to canvas your area for available pet hospitals and start asking questions to determine if they’re a fit, you first need to decide whether you want to choose a small practice or a large practice. The answer to this question will help you qualify the pet hospitals into a smaller groups. If you want your new kitten to see the same vet each-and-every visit, you’re going to want to select a smaller practice. With a big practice, you’re most likely going to see a handful of different vets during your various visits as your your kitten grows into a cat.

Never had a pet and don’t know which to pick? Think about your personal preference when you see your doctor. Do you like to see the same doctor every time that knows your personally or do you enjoy the technology and speed of a large clinic? You’ll likely want the same for your pet.

Once you’ve decided, you’ll be able to glean from the different pet hospitals websites whether or not they qualify as a small practices or a large one. Also, quickly factor in location. Decide how far you’re willing to travel in order to see the vet. Make a list of three or four that are the right size and distance for you and prepare to ask them the following questions.

What is the average wait time for appointments?

If earlier you decided to go with a smaller practice, you should expect the wait time to be a bit longer than if you went with a larger practice. It’s always advisable to take your cat into the vet for regular visits, which in those cases you’re be able to comfortably set those appointments well in advance.  But, unfortunately, more than likely your cat will have something come up that requires your vet’s attention. In those cases, it’s nice to have the peace of mind that your pet will get in front of an experienced vet within a couple days of calling for an appointment.

If your job makes it difficult to get away during standard hours, a related question you might want to ask is how difficult is it to obtain a weekend appointment. Some cat appointments will take you no longer than 15 minutes, in which a quick lunch-hour appointment will be doable. Others, however, can take close to an hour, which puts a strain on a cat owner with a strict working schedule.

How far is the office from your Home?

How far are you willing to go?  Many people will drive an hour or more to see a specific vet, but the majority of people want a veterinarian to be nearby, especially in the case of an emergency.

Did you know that the majority of dog owners will find a vet within 5 miles of their home? In fact, many people choose a vet solely on the basis of proximity to their home.

How much do they charge?

This is tricky and often a delicate topic, but it is important to you if finances are a priority.

You should also feel comfortable with the fee schedule.  Is it reasonable or do you feel the veterinarian is more interested in money than your dog.

When your dog will need a surgery or other procedure, it is worthwhile to ask for an itemized quote of charges so you can be prepared.  If you are given a set fee, be sure that it covers everything.

What is your AAHA accreditation?

The American Animal Hospital Association has standards of excellence, such as separate areas for quarantine, that offer an additional level of trust. Learn about a potential vet’s level of accreditation to decide if it meets your standards.

What about emergency and referral services?

If the worst happens, you need access to life-saving care. Practices often partner with other veterinary clinics to offer rotating 24-hour emergency services.

Do you have separate waiting areas for dogs and cats (or other critters)?

That can ease the stress level of your pet, and it might be a very important consideration for some owners.

Are they familiar with your particular breed?

It doesn’t mean that you won’t let them take care of your dog if they aren’t familiar with the breed; however, it does help to know if they’ve worked with other dogs of the same breed. Many pet owners actually look for this in a veterinarian. It’ll give you a lot of comfort in a way that your vet may have already encountered problems with the breed and may be able to anticipate issues or handle issues swiftly if they do come about. You can ask this question, but don’t hold it against your potential vet if they say no. It might be an opportunity for them to get to know your dog better, and in return, be able to provide better care for your pet.

How long have they been in practice?

The length of a veterinarian’s practice doesn’t necessarily reflect expertise, but in majority of cases, it just might. New practices will have many other things to get around to in order to get established, and in some ways, it might compromise the quality of care provided to your dog. Practices that have already been established for a long time are used to the back work required in running a clinic, and can therefore focus more on the animals themselves. Finding a practice that has been around for at least a couple of years should be fine, unless you’re confident and willing to work with a completely new veterinarian. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with supporting a new clinic, as long as you check credentials and make sure everything else is legit.

Do they specialize in large or small animals?

Specialization is quite important. You might not want to take your dog to a clinic that only specializes in smaller reptiles or the like. A good veterinarian will refer you to another vet that can handle your dog’s issues if they can’t, but that’s not always a guarantee. Most of the time, you’re better off finding a vet on your own that typically works with the type of animal you have. This will eliminate issues later on when your dog gets sick and you can’t figure out what’s wrong with him or her. Time is always sensitive matter when dealing with any type of dog sickness, so it’s imperative to have a veterinarian that’s used to the type of animal you may have.

How many doctors are in the practice?

It is important to not only know how many Veterinarians are in the practice, but also who they are. There may be times when your Veterinarian is out of the office and you will need to see another Veterinarian within the practice.

In addition to knowing who the other staff Veterinarians in the practice are, it is a good idea to inquire about any services they may or may not perform and if they see emergency cases when your Veterinarian is out of the office.

What are your payment options/package deals?

It’s good to know if your Veterinarian’s office offers any type of payment plans or if payment is due up front. This can help you to prepare for unexpected Vet bills.

And while most practices require payment at the time of service, many practices offer puppy and/or senior packages. Puppies require frequent veterinary care, which leads to higher than normal veterinary bills. To offset this expense, many practices offer puppy packages, which give you discounts on exams during your puppies vaccination series and/or bundled vaccine pricing.

As for our “young at heart” senior dogs, many practices will offer discounts on certain days for senior dogs or offer a senior package that mimics the puppy discount package with discounts on annual exams and testing. It’s just as important for your senior dog to have routine blood work tests as it is for a young dog.

Some Shocking Suggestions For Possums Control

Possums

Possums are protected wildlife under the Nature Conservation Act 2014 and it is illegal for an unauthorised person to trap or harm them. If you have tried to exclude a possum from your house but have had no success, contact a licensed pest control company to trap the possum, complete the exclusion work and re-release the possum on site.

Normally possums make their homes in tree hollows but if there aren’t any they will use any suitable dark place – and the space between the ceiling and roof of a house is a great spot. This is when possums can create havoc and many sleepless nights in your home.

Blocking the entry is the only way to guarantee that the possum will not return. If the possum is removed by trapping, its home site becomes vacant, ready for another possum to move in and the problem continues. Also, possums are strongly attached to their home site and will return to it over distances of up to five kilometres.

The Environment website provides information on living with possums, including:

their habits;

determining if possums have moved into your house – and how to block them out;

their removal by licensed pest control companies.

How To Get Rid of Possums

Many homeowners have found possums taking up residence in their attic, basement, garage or outbuilding much to their displeasure. The strong scent, urine and feces left behind by possums make them undesirable house guests. Often mistaken for “large, white rats” possums are generally harmless, preferring to runaway if possible or “playing possum” if need be.

How do I prevent possums from becoming a pest on my property?

Possums are always searching for a free meal. To prevent possums from getting a free meal from you, all outdoor trash cans should have tight fitting lids and outdoor pet food dishes should be removed at the end of every meal. Make sure all pet doors are secured each night, as possums have been known to enter homes to eat from indoor pet dishes.

Make sure possible entry points on the outside of your home have been secured. Check attic vents, chimney caps, loose fitting basement doors and broken windows. Use Stuf-Fit Copper mesh and Pur Black Foam to help seal any holes or gaps that could allow access. (Please read the Rodent Exclusion article for detailed tips and products to help make your home pest proof).

Possum-proof your yard. Get rid of any unnecessary debris such as fallen trees, deep leaf litter, unused cars or lawn equipment. Keep grass cut short and trim bushes up away from the soil to get rid of possible harborages. Trim tree branches that touch or hang over your home. Eliminate any accessible areas under sheds, outbuildings or porches by filling it in with rocks or blocking entry with hardware cloth.

Repellent products seem to have little to no effect on possums and must be applied in high concentrations, often. The smell from these repellents usually is very strong and the repellents themselves can be quite expensive.

How can I live happily with the possums on my property?

Brushtail and ringtail possums are both native marsupial species that have adapted well to urbanisation and are commonly found dwelling in Australian gardens.  Ringtail possums are a social species that build nests of bark and leaves called ‘drays’ in which they usually dwell as a family.  Brushtail possums are larger, more territorial possums that usually reside in tree hollows.  Both species of possum may occasionally take shelter in the roofs of houses.

Many households are fortunate to share their property with one or more possums however they can become a nuisance if they nest in roof spaces.  If you have possums residing in your roof you should provide them with an alternative home before attempting to evict them

The key steps are:

Place a nest box in a sheltered area of your property

If possible, locate the possum’s nest inside your roof and place this in the new possum-house to encourage the possum to move in. You can also put fruit near the house (half an apple or banana) to encourage investigation of the possum-house.

Take action to make the roof space unattractive to the possum. This can be done by spreading quassia chips in the roof space (alternatively place blocks of camphor in the roof cavity). Place a light in the roof cavity and keep it switched on.

When the possum has relocated to its new home, locate their entry point to your roof space and block off access.  Make sure none of the possums or any of their babies are in your roof before blocking off access.

Prune any tree branches that give the possums access to your roof

If these steps are unsuccessful and you need further assistance to remove and relocate the possums you will need to check the legal requirements for possum trapping with your state or territory government (see below). In some states and territories a license or permit is required.

Should I Get Rid of That Possum Carcass Myself, or No?

Q: What is the proper course of action for a young Texan of questionable self-reliance when a possum decides to crawl under her house, depart the earthly realm, and begin stinking to high heaven? Do you recommend the DIY method or calling in the professionals? The favor of a timely response would be greatly appreciated.

A: is not short on scrabbling critters. In addition to plentiful possums, there are also raccoons, rabbits, badgers, armadillos, skunks, squirrels, beavers, and porcupines, among many, many others. But it’s always the possums, and sometimes the raccoons, and occasionally the skunks, that seem to choose crawl spaces beneath the homes of undeserving Texans in which to expire.

No matter the specific creature, once this happens and the decomposition process ensues, it doesn’t take long for it to become pungently evident that there is a real problem at hand. At first, there is just a slight whiff of trouble. A hint. A homeowner might arrive from a hard day’s work, open the front door, and then, on the way to the fridge for the customary end-of-the-workday libation, pass through a faint odor that was not there when she left the house that morning

It’s dismissed as the stink of a full trashcan or, perhaps, flatulence from old Spot. But then, while the coffee is brewing the next morning, it hits you again. “Where is that smell coming from” you ask yourself? “Oh, well,” you say on the way out the door.

Very soon, though, within a day or so of that first trace of stench, the smell becomes unmistakable. When death comes a knocking, it does so with a fairly rapid crescendo. Tap-tap. Knock-knock-knock. Pound. Pound. Pound. Pound. Bam! Once the unsettling realization is made that something in your very immediate vicinity has croaked, and that the godawful smell shows no signs of dissipation, the harried race to find the source is on

Cluttered closets are checked. So are crowded cabinets, seldom used guest bedrooms, and the attic. Everywhere. “Could it be under the house,” you wonder? And then, as you approach the access point, it hits you like a carcass-filled dump truck. Sound familiar?

Backyard trapping

Trapping in your backyard has loads of benefits. It can help get rid of rats from your compost bin, save your roses and fruit trees from possums, but most importantly it can make your garden a safe place for our unique native wildlife to live and feed.

We have roughly estimated that having a trap in every 5th urban backyard is enough to create a safe environment for our native wildlife to flourish. Whatever your reason for getting involved, we want to help you get started in the most efficient, effective and humane way possible.

Identify what predators you have

It’s important to know what predators you’re targeting to ensure you use the right bait and trap. There are three easy ways to find out

1. Look for any signs of predator activity eg poo or teeth marks on fruit. is a great website for identifying pest poo if you aren’t too sure!

2. Teeth marks left on chew cards can help identify exactly which predators are paying you a visit. They also tell you where in your backyard the predators are visiting and good places to put a trap. You can buy packs of chew cards from our shop.

3. Tracking tunnels are another great way to identify predators. The predator walks through ink on a pad, leaving clear footprints you can use for identification.

Get a suitable trap

Once you know which predator you’re dealing with, it’s time to select your trap. Follow our best practice guide to find out what trap you’ll need. All the traps we sell are humane and meet NAWAC (National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee) standards.

Engine Rebuilding Salvage Title Cars

How to Increase Your Horsepower

Squeeze extra power from your vehicle’s engine.

Modern cars are quite fast right off the showroom floor, but that doesn’t stop many enthusiasts from trying to squeeze every bit of performance out of them. From mild to wild, there are a variety of ways to add some extra power to your vehicle. Here are some popular methods to increase your engine’s horsepower.

Cold Air Intake

Upgrading your vehicle’s intake is one of the easier methods for unlocking some extra horsepower. In fairness, factory intake setups are generally quite effective, but there are some cases where an engine will benefit from an aftermarket intake. These setups utilize a free-flowing air filter, allowing the engine to breathe easier. In order to function properly, an aftermarket air intake needs a proper heat shield; otherwise, it will suck hot air from the engine compartment, negating any performance gains.

Performance Exhaust

A performance exhaust is one of the most popular modifications for enthusiasts. Just like a performance intake, a performance exhaust is designed to flow better than a stock setup. Aftermarket exhausts are usually louder than stock but may also save a few pounds. Depending on your vehicle application, additional exhaust components (such as a downpipe or a set of headers) can maximize any exhaust system gains.

Software

This is probably the most cost-effective way to add power to a modern car. When a manufacturer produces a vehicle, the ECU (engine control unit) is often tuned conservatively to allow for lower grade fuels and to minimize some of the stress on internal engine components.

Aftermarket software (also referred to as a “flash”) is designed to take full advantage of your engine by adjusting the ignition timing to smooth out power delivery (often requiring premium gasoline). Many turbocharged vehicles see considerable power gains from ECU tuning, as it also allows the turbocharger to produce more boost pressure, which equates to more power.

If you choose to go the software route, be sure to purchase from a reputable tuner, as engines are very sensitive to changes. Tunes are often available in “stages,” meaning you’ll need to select the tune that best suits your engine’s current configuration (stock vs. supporting modifications).

Forced Induction

If your vehicle’s engine is naturally aspirated, forced induction will provide some hefty power gains. Forced induction can come in the form of a turbocharger or a supercharger. Turbochargers generate power by using leftover exhaust gases to spin a turbine wheel, which forces more air into the engine. With more air, the engine can burn extra fuel to produce more power.

A supercharger works similarly to a turbocharger in that it forces more air into the engine. However, a supercharger is belt driven, so it requires some engine power to operate. The benefit of a supercharger is that it has an instantaneous response, whereas a turbocharger may have a bit of lag while it builds boost.

Since adding forced induction puts more strain on your vehicle’s engine and drivetrain, you may need supporting modifications, such as a heavier duty clutch or cooling system. This will vary by vehicle application, but it’s worth keeping in mind.

Performance Engine Build

If you’re dead set on getting the most performance out of your existing engine, then you’ll need to deep dive into a performance engine build. This requires rebuilding the engine with performance parts such as beefed up cylinder heads, upgraded pistons, and a stroker crankshaft to name a few. If you’re not comfortable disassembling an engine, then this is best left to an experienced engine builder.

Engine Conversion

If you’ve run out of bolt-on power upgrades and don’t want to tear your existing engine apart to modify the internals, then an engine conversion may be the next logical step. This is not for the faint of heart, but swapping in a more powerful motor can be an effective way to increase your vehicle’s horsepower. Some engine swaps are fairly plug-and-play, while others may require extensive fabrication. It’s best to do some research or talk to someone who has performed a similar engine swap to get a sense of what’s truly involved with an engine conversion.

Ways To Increase Engine Power

This post is in response to Ian Wright’s guide to car modifying. He covered a lot of bases, but engine performance wasn’t really one of them. So I decided I would do that, because an engine is arguably the most significant/important part of a car.

Engine Rebuild

If you have a high mileage engine and want it to make more power, you should consider rebuilding it before you throw speed parts at it. Replacing bearings, piston rings, machining the crankshaft and cylinder walls can really make a difference. A freshly rebuilt engine will be making more power than the same engine that’s been chugging along for hundreds of thousands of miles without any major work done to it.

Free Flowing Exhaust System

An internal combustion engine may be one of the mechanical objects that comes closest to resembling a human body/organ system. One big reason being is that an ICE needs an efficient way to breath in order to maximize it’s performance; that’s where a good exhaust system comes in. Uncorking your engine’s exhaust system will make it louder, more powerful and some believe more fuel efficient.

Increased Bore And Stroke

If you want an engine with more displacement but don’t want to do an engine swap, increasing the bore and stroke of the engine is a good option. What it does is increase the distance the pistons travel up and down in the cylinder walls and the size of the cylinder walls and pistons. Long story short your engine can intake and detonate a lot more fuel. How it’s done is by changing the crankshaft and connecting rods for stroking and increased bore and piston diameter for boring.

Improved Air Intake System

A good percent of factory air intake systems are built with production cost in mind, not performance. Whether or not an aftermarket air intake system will improve your engine’s power is dependent on the car that you are modifying. Some stock air intake systems are hard to improve on where an aftermarket one might actually decrease power instead of increasing it. A third possibility is that the system will have very little to no gains in power.

Better Fuel Delivery

If you have more than enough air going into your engine, try looking at increasing your fuel flow. You can increase it with a swanky Holley carburetor, a racing fuel pump or fuel injectors from HKS.

Aftermarket Camshafts

Camshafts control how much the intake and exhaust valves lift off the cylinder head and how long they are lifted off the cylinder heads. By putting an aftermarket camshaft in your engine, you can see some big power increases because camshafts play a big role in engine breathing.

Tuning

Sometimes, you can make power with a stock engine just by tweaking it a little. Whether it’s upping the boost of a turbocharged engine, tuning for race gas or E85 or advancing ignition timing, most factory engines have some room to grow power wise. Tuning has more significant gains with boosted engines compared with naturally aspirated engines.

Boost And Nitrous

While this engine modification can yield the most results, it can also be the most expensive and dangerous. You can increase your engine power drastically, but supercharger and turbocharger kits can easily cost 4 figures. Another potential cost is fortifying your engine to take the boost/nitrous. It’s big risk, big reward with boost and nitrous, the question is, do you want to take it?

How to Rebuild 4 Cylinder Engines for More Horsepower

When rebuilding an engine, you can opt to have additional work done to improve engine performance over stock levels. Your upgrade path will differ based on whether you want a naturally aspirated or turbocharged engine. In either case, more horsepower is developed by machining work on the head, replacement of valves and valve springs, raising or lowering engine compression, and replacement of bottom-end components such as rods and crank. The exacting nature of detailed head work is challenging and best left to a professional shop, but bottom-end and basic head-work can be accomplished by the dedicated home mechanic.

Step 1

Port and polish the intake runners, and gasket match the exhaust ports. An engine head is nothing moire than a series of gas channels, directing air in and out of the engine. Modern engines feature cast components, and these often come with small blemishes and rough areas embedded in the metal. Using a die grinder with a carbide tip, you can clean up the intake ports, polishing them to a smooth shine. On the exhaust side, bolt up the exhaust manifold gasket and use the die grinder to make sure the exhaust ports fully match the gasket shape and size, as these ports are typically slightly smaller.

Step 2

Replace the valves and valve springs with aftermarket units, or have a shop perform a valve job. The shape of the valves affects performance, and by removing material at the top of the valve’s cap, you can improve airflow since you are reducing obstruction in the air channel. In addition to the valves, using titanium or high-strength valve springs will allow you to increase the redline on your engine, increasing your power band.

Step 3

Installer a thicker or thinner head gasket. This is an easy way to make more power depending upon whether you are naturally aspirated, or turbocharged. For a naturally aspirated engine, a thinner head gasket — or having a professional shop shave the head — will increase compression, and thus increase power. On a turbocharged engine, a thicker head gasket will lower compression, which allows the engine to safely handle more boost.

Replace the crankshaft, rods and pistons with forged aftermarket units. Most engines come with cast internal components, by swapping to forge internals, the rods and pistons become far more heat resistant, which allows you to increase compression and timing in a naturally aspirated engine, or increase boost and timing in a turbocharged engine. In addition to more heat resistance, the forged pieces may be lighter than stock allowing for better throttle response. Some aftermarket companies produce stroker kits, which are complete bottom-end assemblies that allow you to increase the displacement of your engine via a revised crankshaft, rods and pistons. Stroker kits might allow you to turn a 1.8 liter engine into a 2.0 liter engine, which will generate more power.