7 Little-Known Hacks For Keeping Carpets Clean

The cleaning of carpets, just as every other cleaning task you can think of, has more than its fair share of secret hacks, tips, and tricks, many of which are well-known by those who work as professional carpet cleaners. That is not to say professional cleaning companies such as Perth Home Cleaners will always use these hacks, as they will more likely rely on tried and tested professional carpet cleaning methods.

However, for everyone else, the carpet cleaning hacks which exist can be handy because not only can they help you keep your carpets cleaner than otherwise, but they can also be the difference between a stain ruining a carpet and you being able to remove that stain, or at least minimising its effect until you can call in a professional carpet cleaner to obliterate it.

There are carpet cleaning hacks for all kinds of carpets, and many relate to specific stains. We will list several of them and note that we have not put them in any order of preference or effectiveness. Read through them, and report any that appeal to you.

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5 Tips For Choosing The Right Glass Balustrading For Your Home

5 Tips For Choosing The Right Glass Balustrading For Your Home

It is a fact that when you mention glass balustrading to some people their eyes glaze over because they have genuinely never heard of it being called by that name. That being said it is almost certain they will have seen it given that it is used a great deal in homes, offices, and commercial properties in every town and city you could name.

Glass balustrading might be seen often in public places, but its use in domestic properties is also widespread. It has many benefits such as enhancing both the appearance and the practical aspects of a home, but how you choose and select your glass balustrading can impact how much they are enhanced. If you have been considering glass balustrading but are not quite sure where to start, here are five excellent tips for choosing wisely.

Tip #1 – Carry Out Proper Research

No matter what significant changes you plan to make to a home, the outcome will always be all the better if you have done proper research to start with. That especially applies to installing glass balustrading. You should research what options for glass balustrading there are, where it can be used in and around your home, and what styles are available.

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A Beginner's Guide To How Solar Panels Work

A Beginner’s Guide To How Solar Panels Work

Solar systems to generate electricity in homes are becoming increasingly popular with homeowners, not just for the financial benefits but also as the focus intensifies on the desire for increased use of renewable energy sources. However, many people still need to learn how solar systems work, mainly how solar panels can transform light from the sun or any other source into usable domestic electricity.

In this beginner’s guide, we will discuss the basic principles behind solar panels and how they can be used to produce electricity for homes. Fear not; we will not make it so technical that you would need a solar energy or electrical engineering degree to understand it.

What Are Solar Panels?

Let us start with the absolute basics: answering the question, “What are solar panels?” just in case anyone reading is unaware of them. Solar panels are devices within a solar power system that convert sunlight into electricity and can be used for residential and commercial properties. They comprise numerous photovoltaic (PV) cells, composed mainly of silicon and some other materials.

When sunlight hits these PV cells, it causes electrons to move, creating an electrical current. At this stage, the electricity produced is direct current (DC), akin to the electricity supplied by the battery and alternator within your car, so it has to be converted into alternating current (AC) for use in domestic properties.

How Do Solar Panels Work?

The whole process of converting sunlight into electricity has three functions: collection, storage, and usage, and these require four components: solar panels, charge controllers, inverters, and storage batteries. Solar panels act as collectors, and they work by transforming sunlight into direct current (DC) electricity.

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3 Cat Behaviours That Suggest They Need A Cat Enclosure

3 Cat Behaviours That Suggest They Need A Cat Enclosure

If you have a cat we are sure you love them dearly, although if you are the same as any other pet owner, there will doubtless be times where your cat’s behaviour does not always please you. Cats may behave strangely for a number of reasons, and the point might come where you have to consider if it would best for them to have their own backyard cat enclosure.

Making that decision might be tough for some cat owners, and that is understandable. However, unless your cat’s behaviour improves, the risk is that it gets so bad that both you and your cat become distressed. Thereafter, the most likely outcome is that you may want to be rid of the cat, and is not the right solution for them, nor for you.

There are a number of signs that your cat’s well-being may be served by them having their own cat enclosure. This could be a cat enclosure that is permanently assembled in one spot or a portable cat enclosure that can be positioned wherever it seems best at the time.

Before you choose which one, you need to identify which behaviours are the ones that are leading you towards having to make a choice. We should point out that if any of these behaviours give you cause for concern with respect to your cat’s health, then you should certainly book an appointment for them to be examined by a vet.

As for those tell-tale signs and behaviours that suggest a cat enclosure might be a solution, here are the main ones.

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Pool Design

Best Pool Design When You Have Children and Pets

Every year for the last decade or more, an average of 30 Australian children have drowned. What’s more, swimming pools make up the most substantial proportion of drowning-related incidents. With these sobering statistics in mind, it’s essential to always factor your children’s and pets’ safety into your pool design. Their danger sensors are not as refined as yours.

Pools can be fun to enjoy family time, but they can also be deadly. Take note of these design ideas, and consult your local landscaping expert for more.

Invest in Fencing

Looking at your pool design options, you might think fencing will ruin your property’s appeal. Not all swimming pool fencing is the most attractive, but it’s a life-saving and legal requirement. What’s more, frameless pool fencing minimises the interruption of your landscape.

Before installing full fencing around your pool, determine your legal requirements. Any pool design expert should know them, but it doesn’t hurt to be aware of them yourself. Most states require up to 1200mm tall pool barriers, with a 1500mm self-closing and self-latching gate.

Try Splash Decks

If you want your children and pets to enjoy the water with you, ensure they feel comfortable by providing a shallow area to splash in. A splash deck could fit this bill. A splash deck is an external pool part that lets you sit at the edge and dangle your feet. It’s also an excellent starting point for children and pets with full supervision.

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Terrain against You

What to Do When Your Terrain is Against You

Those who find themselves with sloped and hilly sections will probably be in no hurry to undertake landscaping. Instead, they’ll be glaring at their neighbours with envy, wondering why their yard looks so dramatically different.

Dealing with elevated sections, slopes, and hills are no easy tasks. It can take even the most experienced landscape design expert a lot of pencil-chewing to work out the best approach for managing them. If you’re in the same boat, then read on. Here are a few of the many things you can do when your property’s elevation or terrain is against you.

Build a Retaining Wall

A retaining wall can solve many problems. It can strengthen your slope, add aesthetic appeal, and also allow you to plant in the various nooks and crannies surrounding it. A retaining wall can also help reduce the risk of mudslides and land erosion in heavy rainfall.

Try Terraces

If one, solid wall is not going to work for your terrain, then why not give terraces a try? If you have several short walls at various levels, you can create a tiered back yard that adds plenty of appeal and value to your property. One level could be for entertaining, while the others could contain an eclectic mix of plants and hardscapes for ultimate appeal.

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White Picket Fence

Dreams Come True with a White Picket Fence

For years now, generations in fact, people have imagined living in a beautiful home that has a garden surrounded by a white picket fencing. To some it’s the epitome of the trappings of success. If you already have your home, and the white picket fence is still in your mind’s eye, then you may want to work out how you will go about getting one done.

Proper Planning

Like anything that will cost you money, planning is the key. It prevents stress and usually prevents loss of money.

Your Boundaries

Survey of your boundary, that is exactly where it is, not going by existing fence and property lines, is important. Check your title and if necessary, if there is a slight doubt, then have the property surveyed. Another item on the ‘to do’ list is to chat with your neighbour about your plans for a fence. When it’s fence erection time, access will be needed to their property. Don’t assume that just because they are good neighbours that it will be okay.

Digging Holes and Permits

Digging holes? Check where the utility lines are – water, gas, power and communications. There is usually a sign, but if you are unsure, don’t risk it. The relevant companies are able to come out and mark exact locations for you. What are the local council rules about building a fence? Do you need a permit? Better to check and make sure that you have the right to go ahead. If you live on an estate, there might be some fencing rules regarding style and type. Check. Assumptions can cost money, so in all these aspects, do your planning and do the legwork so you can go ahead without worrying.

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Patio-floor

How to Floor It – the Patio That Is

Not all patios have floors, but you might want to floor yours so it can be used more like a room. Without a floor the base of the structure will eventually get wet, no matter how dry your climate is. This means that the furniture or anything else sitting under the patio will also get wet from the ground up.

Chair and table legs made of timber will end up rotting, while cupboards will the ruined, especially if they are clad with MDF, which absorbs moisture and expands, then falls to pieces. So what kind of floor will you have for your patio? Much depends on how you want to use it. If it is just to park the car under, there is no real need for any floor.

Patio-floor

But if you want to use it during rainy weather or put furniture in it, then a floor of some kind is advisable. Here are 7 suggestions for a patio floor.

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built-in-pool

What Kind of Pool do You Need?

Pool builders will tell you there are many different kinds of pools and different types of building materials for them. If you are considering adding a pool to your backyard it’s important to ensure it is suitable for your children and this will depend on their age. If your kids are still toddlers, they won’t get much use from a pool that is six feet deep.

You may think that installing a deep pool now will at least enable you to have a nice swim, but how many times can you get outside without those little ones toddling along after you? Mum in the deep pool while toddlers sit and watch is an unrealistic expectation. It is far better to have a small above ground wading pool for the little ones and you can sit in it with them while they have fun. It will be enough to cool you off on a hot day.

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