Category Archives: Home and Garden

Types of Carpet

The carpet market is a vast market, with many types to choose from. Below, you’ll find the several different types of carpet and what they will offer you and your home.

Woven
Woven carpet is produced on a loom that is very similar to woven cloth, being cut pile. There are many different colored yarns being used and the entire process is capable of producing very intricate patterns from designs that are pre-determined. Normally, woven is the highest quality of carpet on the market.

Tufted
This type of carpet is produced on a tufting machine by using either a single colored or sometimes a non colored yarn. If non colored is being used, then the carpet will be dyed or printed with a design as a separate process. Carpets that are tufted can either be cut pile, loop pile, or a combination of both. Machines can produce a lot more meters of carpet than weaving, and they are normally at the lower end of the market.

Needlefelt
The needlefelt type of carpet is a bit more technologically advanced. They are produced by electrostatic attraction of individual fibers that form a unique carpet with extremely high durability. You can normally find needlefelt carpet in the contract market such as in hotels or other places where there is always going to be a lot of traffic.

Flatweave
The flatweave carpet is created by interlocking warp and weft threads. The types of oriental flatwoven carpet include soumak, plain weave, and tapestry weave. This type is not well known in the North American region, although it is very popular in the orient and Japan.

Hooked rug
This is a simple construction of rug that is handmade by pulling strips of cloth such as wool or cotton through the meshes of a very sturdy fabric. Now, this type of rug is generally known as a handicraft.

Knotted pile
With knotted pile carpets, the structural weft threads will alternate with a supplementary weft that will rise from the surface of the weave at a perpendicular angle.

Cut and loop piles
The cut and loop pile combines both looped and cut fibers. They provide a variety of surface textures for medium durability. Cut and loop carpets are available in either solid or different colors. The several different layers in this carpet can hide dirt and footprints in formal and informal areas.

Saxony
Saxony consists of tightly twisted cut piles that are heat set straight. They consist of two or more fibers that have been twisted together in a yarn, and they provide a very soft texture for informal as well as formal areas. They will show each and every footprint and even marks from vacuum cleaners.

Textured saxony
Textured carpet is the best selling and it works well in informal areas due to the very soft feel. They are tightly twisted and texture headset for medium durability. They also offer a multi colored look that will hide tracks and footprints.

Plush/velvet
Both plush and velvet are lightly twisted and offer a uniform color. They are very soft and offer more level than textures. This type of carpet is ideal for formal areas due to it’s luxurious appearance.

Frieze
Frieze is a highly twisted cut pile type of carpet that is suited for high traffic areas. It has short fibers that will tend to curl in different directions at the surface to hide footprints and vacuum marks.

Level loop pile
The level loop pile is constructed by weaving even loops of yarn into carpet backing at both ends. This type of carpet is durable as well as track resistant, due to the strong loops. Higher loops in the carpet will create a more luxurious look. They are also great because they will prevent dirt from filtering on into the carpet.

Selecting A Carpet To Suit Your Lifestyle

Whenever you select carpet, you have to consider many aesthetic as well as technical areas. With well over a hundred thousands styles and colors being released every year, selecting the right carpet to match your needs can be a very challenging task indeed.

Carpet is available in several different textures, constructions, colors, and designs – which will open the doors to virtually any interior design that you can imagine. The combination of texture and color will complement the look of both formal and casual environments, while helping to bring continuity to the overall room designs.

The most important thing to consider when you shop for carpet is the amount of traffic that will be on the carpet that is going to be installed as well as the area you hope to use it in. The construction and the texture are both key aspects when you select a carpet for a specified area and use.

Nylon, polyester, and olefin are the mosty widely used fibers with carpet manufacturing, with each one displaying qualities that make themselves great with specific applications and uses. Even though nylon is the most expensive type of fiber, it is also the softest and most resilient, which makes t great for any room in your home, including those areas that have a high level of traffic.

Polyester fabric is less resilient than nylon, although it more cost efficient and offers a high level of resistance to stains, which makes it a great choice for areas such as bedrooms or dining rooms that are not subjet to a lot of traffic.

The fiber olefin is solution dyed, which results in a highly resistant stain carpet that can be cleaned easily using a water and beach solution – without any loss to the color.

Unlike the other types of fibers, olefin is fade, mildew, and mold resistant, which results in a carpet that performs well indoors and outdoors. Keep in mind however, that olefin isn’t very resilient and as a result, it should only be considered with berber construction.

You can get carpets in either plush or berber construction. The berber type of carpets are well constructed with a continuous level loop, while plush carpets are constructed of loops that have been sheared, which results in the strands standing upright.

Berber construction carpets don’t crush or matt, due to their high level loops. They are however harder underfoot, uncomfortable to sit on or lay down on, and they can easily become damaged by pets with long nails. Berber carpets are well suited for high traffic areas, which include walk ways, living rooms, and entrance areas. They aren’t popular with bedrooms, as their hard texture makes them a less than attractive option.

The plush type carpets are much softer to walk or lay on and they offer better sound and thermal insulation. They tend to crush and matt though when they are subjected to high levels of foot traffic.

The use of nylon fiber paired with a tight low pile construction will help to limit the amount of pile and matt crushing, due to the high resilient nature of the nylon fiber and the added support that is gained from tight construction.

The warranties for carpet ranges from 5 – 30 years, with the general rule being that you don’t cover the stairs. Most carpet warranties will require the installation of new carpet padding as well at the time of installation in order for the warranty to become valid.

The Benefits of Owning an Air Purifier For Seniors

Are you considered a senior citizen? If not, do you know someone who is? Whether you are increasing in age or you are close to someone who is, you may be a little bit worried about health. It is no secret that most people’s health begins to deteriorate as they age. Despite being a normal occurrence, there are many individuals who take a number of steps to try and remain as healthy as they can.

When it comes to staying healthy, there are a number of different steps that are taken. Of course, the elderly, like all other individuals, can benefit from healthy foods, as well as a regular amount of exercise. In addition to a healthy diet and regular exercise, elderly individuals could also benefit from the use of an air purifier.

Air purifiers are electronic machines that are used to eliminate, and sometimes even destroy, harmful air particles and bacteria. Essentially, air purifiers make indoor air cleaner and healthier to breathe. This is good for just about anyone, but it is especially good for those who are considered senior citizens. As previously mentioned, senior citizens are more likely to develop health complications, such as the common cold. An air purifier can help to reduce the chances of that happening.

If you are a senior citizen and you are looking to purchase an air purifier for yourself, you may want to think about speaking to your healthcare provider. While most healthcare providers are not experts on air purifiers, they should be able to let you know what you want or need to get out of an air purifier. For instance, they may recommend that you purchase an air purifier that not only traps, but also destroys harmful bacteria. This information, as well as any other information that your healthcare provider may give you, will come in handy when choosing the right air purifier, especially one that best fits your needs.

If you are not a senior citizen, but you are interested in purchasing an air purifier for a senior citizen that you know or are related to, you may want to do a little bit of research, before making that purchase. When doing a little bit of research, it is important to keep a couple of important points in mind. These points should include the size of the room in which the air purifier would be used, the overall cost of the air purifier, including filters, and the overall quality of the air purifier that you are interested in purchasing. As mentioned above, it may be a good idea for you to seek help or tips from a professional healthcare provider.

When it comes to purchasing an air purifier, if you are a senior citizen, you may want to think about shopping at a retail store that offers discounts for senor citizens. These discounts are not available at all retail locations, but a wide number of stores still offer them. These stores may include home improvement stores or pharmacies. Even if you must pay full price for an air purifier, you will still want to think about purchasing one. Despite having to pay full price, you will likely find that the purchase is worth it, in more ways than one.

As previously mentioned, if you are concerned with the health of yourself or someone that you know, especially someone who is considered a senior citizen, you may want to get an air purifier. Whether you make that purchase yourself, ask for it as a gift, or give it as a gift, you and anyone else that enters the residence will likely be pleased with the purchase.

Removing Carpet Stains

There are many different products available on the market that will help you to remove almost all types of stains. The ideal solution in minimizing or totally
removing stains is by simply cleaning the spills and dirt the moment they crop up. Cleaning them up won’t even require you to leave your home just to
rush out and buy the expensive types of cleaning products.

There are several ways to clean up stains simply by using products already available in your home which you use on a regular basis, such as detergents, rubbing alcohol, vinegar, lemon juice, etc. Its
simply a matter of knowing how to use these common household products and the procedures involved to clean up stains. Below, you’ll find some tips on how to clean up pet stains and some other types of common carpet stains.

Pet stain
For your first option you can use one teaspoon of clear, household type ammonia to a half cup of cold water. You can use this solution in a spray
bottle or apply it to the carpet directly. It is very important not to wet the carpets backing when you apply the solution. After you have applied
the solution, use paper towels to blot then allow it to dry completely.

For a second option, you can use detergent solution made of hand soap or dish soap. The combination is one quarter of a teaspoon detergent to one quart of water. You should always make sure the soap doesn’t contain bleach or lanolin.

The third and best option, is to use water, it can re-hydrate the stain to help with removal. Most types of pet stains can be cleaned up by using a steam cleaner. Once you have finished, be sure to dry the area as thoroughly as possible.

Ink stains
1. You can purchase isopropyl rubbing alcohol at your local department or grocery store.
2. You can apply it by pouring some onto a clean white towel or cloth. You can use paper towels as well, as long as they are white.
3. Blot the stain as much as possible until it is removed.
4. Make sure you be careful, because if the stain is small, you need to blot in one direction only so you don’t spread the stain.

Beer and wine stains
1. Mix a solution with one part white vinegar and one part water.
2. Apply the mixture to the stain using a spray bottle to saturate.
3. You should allow the stain to sit around ten to fifteen minutes.
4. Use a sponge and clean in a rubbing motion.
5. Rinse the area with warm water.
6. Brush the carpet pile back into the natural direction it has.
7. By using layers of white paper towels, place paper towels on top of the area, then something with weight on the paper towels. Allow everything time to sit like this until the area has dried.

Cleaning Kitchen Carpet Spills

A spill on the kitchen carpet can be anything from a child’s cup falling off the table to muddy footprints around the room. Properly dealing with the kitchen spill is what seperates the professionals from everyone lse.

With a little bit of common knowledge, many of the spills that occur can be cleaned up and corrected fast and easily. Knowing how to react to spills in the kitchen are what makes things easier than ever.

The first thing to do, is use a bit of common sense. Its important for you to take very quick action and be smart about the first steps you take in cleaning up your kitchen carpet spill. To put it in other terms – don’t let the spill sit.

The longer the spill or product sits on your carpet, the deeper in it will go. A larger spill that has time to seep into the carpet and into the padding and reaches the floor boards is one type of spill that will need extensive cleaning. Therefore, you’ll need to move quickly and effectively.

You can take different steps to remove spills from your kitchen carpet. One thing that remains the same throughout every spill you encounter is that you shouldn’t rub them. Most often, rubbing the spill will rub them into the fibers of the carpet. This will make them less likely to come off. Instead of rubbing, you should consider blotting. Blotting puts small amounts of pressure on the stain to allow the cloth or paper towels to soak it up. This doesn’t work the stain deeper into the carpet.

As far as getting the spill out of the carpet, you can use several methods. First, you should try and remove as much debris from the floor as possible, wiping as much as you can up. Then, there are several routes that you can take.

If you own a carpet cleaner, this will be your best option. Last, there are several products on the market that you can use. This will help when it comes to difficult spills. Unless you have them on hand, waiting isn’t an option. Spills in the kitchen needs to be handled in a quick and timely manner.

Since the kitchen spill happens in one of the most used rooms of the home, you’ll need to make sure that you do a great job in cleaning it up. Because spills can happen frequently, it is important that you do a complete cleaning of the carpet on a regular basis.

Even though kitchen carpet spills are nearly mpossible to prevent, you can protect yourself and your carpet by knowing what to do. If you keep your carpet clean, you’ll have no problems cleaning up spills as they occur.

The Benefits of Reading Consumer Reports or Customer Feedback For Air Purifiers

Are you looking to purchase a new air purifier for your home? If so, have you purchased one before? If you have never purchased an air purifier before, you may not know exactly what you should be looking for or which type of air purifier is considered the best. If this is the case, you are advised to do a little bit of research, before making your final purchase. This research should involve consumer reports or customer feedback.

We have all heard of consumer reports before. In fact, these reports are regularly featured on the news, on the radio, and on television. Consumer reports are often generated by a group of trained individuals or traditional consumers, either one or the other. These individuals will test and review a particular product. Many times these products include cars computer equipment, and televisions. But, did you know there are also consumer reports done on air purifiers. If you are able to find these reports, which you should easily be able to do online, you should be able to obtain valuable information on some of the most popular and well-known air purifiers on the market.

In addition to using consumer reports, you can also obtain customer feedback online. Customer feedback is feedback that is left by a customer who recently purchased or used the particular product in question. Many of these reviews or product ratings are done for a number of different popular and well-known air purifier makes and models. If you are able to find these reviews, you could very well stay up-to-date on the latest products to hit the market. A customer feedback will likely not only include the price of an air purifier, but also the quality of its performance.

As previously mentioned, it is easiest to read consumer reports or view customer feedback online. When searching for consumer reports, you will likely want to perform a standard internet search. You may want to search using the words consumer reports, air purifiers. Combining the words air purifiers and consumer reports, will likely provide you with more accurate results. Consumer reports, as stated above, are performed on a wide variety of different products. Tailoring your search specifically to air purifiers is the best way to do the research, without wasting your time.

If you are looking for customer feedback, from previously air purifier buyers, you will also want to use the internet. If you know the name of a particular air purifier, you may want to perform a standard internet search with that name. Your results should include product information, as well as customer feedback or customer ratings. In addition to a standard internet search, you may also want to visit the website of an online retailer, particularly one that sells air purifiers. Many online retail stores allow their customers to review the products in which they purchased from their store.

Although the internet is a great way to learn more about air purifiers, you can also speak to those that you know. Over the past few years, the use of air purifiers in homes has skyrocketed. This means that there is a good chance that you know someone who has used an air purifier in the past or who still does. If you do know someone, you are advised to inquire about the product they have or had. Those that you know are more likely to provide you with honest answers, when compared to strangers over the internet.

As you should be able to see, there are a number of different ways that you can go about searching for customer feedback or consumer reports, for air purifiers. The benefits to doing so are unlimited. Not only can you be altered to well performing air purifiers, but you can also familiarize yourself with air purifiers that you are advised to stay away from. This valuable piece of information may help you have hundred of dollars, if not thousands, overtime.

Alarm Monitoring System – How It Works

Burglar alarms are in electronic form. A simple set-up of an alarm system includes a sensor that is connected to one or more control units. When the sensor is triggered, the control unit seeks for a way to announce the alarm.

Basically, alarm systems can either be hardwired or wireless. The wired systems are usually used with sensors, smoke detectors for example, which demand power for reliable operation. Wired types come with the advantage of detecting tampering. However, wired systems are expensive to install. On the other hand, wireless alarm systems are easier to set-up. Instead of wires, they utilize transmitters. Wireless systems require constant supervision and maintenance to ensure efficient operation. If for example, the sensors or batteries have not been constantly checked, the system may not perform at its peak.

Alarm monitoring is employed in systems with a remote alarm output. In such systems, the control panels are connected to predetermined monitors, and they are configured in various methods. One includes a direct connection of the system to a responder, or a central station, such as a police quarters. However, this kind of configuration is becoming less popular because it is expensive. Direct monitoring connections can usually be found only in Local Government institutions, State, or school campuses where there is a dedicated security.

More conventional alarm systems make use of Public Switched Telephone Network, or PSTN. This configuration features a digital phone dialer unit which will dial the central station, which in turn will announce the alarm. The monitoring system can identify the physical location of the sensor that has been triggered with the use of certain programmed encoders. Most alarm control panels are designed with backup dialer ability that can be used when the primary PSTN route is not functioning well. The secondary dialer can be connected to a separate phone line (or an encoded radio, mobile phone, or internet interface gadgets) to entirely evade the PSTN. This is because if the primary lines have been tampered, alarms could still be raised via the redundant dialers and early warnings of pending problems can be advised.

In situations where the building is remotely located, PSTN service may not be feasible and channeling a direct line may be too expensive, there is still a way so your security can be monitored. And that is by using wireless phones or radio networks as the principal communication line. The use of the Internet as a main communication method is still very controversial within the alarm monitoring business. This is because an alarm signaling method needs to observe urgency and immediacy, and the authorities are doubtful of the quality of service of public internet.

When monitored, the alarms and speaker phones permit the central station to communicate with the owner, or even with the intruder. For monitored burglaries, the speaker phones let the central stations to convince the prowler to back off and give up as police units have been sent off.

Considering some factors, such as the location of the zone triggered and time of the day, the alarm monitoring center may perform various actions automatically. Some instructions they may initiate include calling the police stations, fire department or ambulance. They may also choose to check if the alarm is true. Some systems come with video surveillance to capture the actual acts of intrusion or other emergency cases on tape.

Air Purifiers: Worth The Investment?

Do you own an air purifier, if not, there is a good chance that you would be interested in owning one in the future, if you aren’t already interested. That is because air purifiers are rapidly increasing in popularity. Why you may ask? Air purifiers are rapidly increasing in popularity because they make indoor air healthier and cleaner. This means that by owning an air purifier, your home or your office space could become a pleasant place to be, instead of an unhealthy or an unpleasant place.

When it comes to air purifiers, despite the fact that they are popular, there are still many individuals who wonder whether or not they should get one. This is because many individuals wonder whether or not air purifiers are actually worth the buy. Are you one of those individuals? If so, you may be in for the surprise of your life. That is because, in most cases, air purifiers are not only a good buy, but they could also be considered quite a deal.

Quite a deal, you wonder? When it comes to air purifiers, there are many individuals who feel that they are expensive to purchase. While air purifiers can be expensive to purchase, you need to remember one thing. They result in clean air, which is easier to breathe. Can you put a price tag on that? That is why, when you think about, air purifiers are a great deal; thus making them definitely worth the buy. However, as great as air purifiers are, you need to remember that they are not all the same. That is why it is important that you know what you are buying.

When buying an air purifier, you need to examine the overall cost of an air purifier. The overall cost of owning an air purifier isn’t just the price that you pay at the store; it is the price overtime. With many air purifiers, you are required to change the filter every few months. This ups the cost of an air purifier. For that reason, you are advised to examine the cost of a replacement filter, before making your purchase. If you are concerned with the cost of a replacement filter, you will want to examine air purifiers that do not use filters, just collection grids. These types of air purifiers may cost more money, up front, but they could end up saving you money, in the long run.

It is also important to examine what you will be using your air purifier for. A large number of individuals use air purifiers if they have pets or if they have a smoker inside the house. Unfortunately, not all air purifiers are designed to remove these types of particles from the air. Therefore, if you plan on using an air purifier for smoke or for pets, you are advised to thoroughly read the descriptions of each air purifier that you are interested in buying. Buying the wrong type of air purifier can turn an otherwise good purchase into one that is definitely not worth the buy.

By keeping the above mentioned points in mind, you should be able to find and purchase the air purifier that best fits your needs and the needs of your household. This is, in turn, will make your next air purifier purchase definitely worth the buy.

Repairing Your Carpets

How often you need to repair your carpet depends on you. There are instances such as burns, crushing, fading, furniture, bleeding, sprouting, and carpet beetles where you’ll want to take action. Most of the time, you can finish a repair job without needing a professional, although there will be times when you will need professional assistance.

Burns
Burns occur when a cigarette butt or flame comes in contact with the carpet. If the burn is small, the burnt fibers of the carpet can be cut out with scissors. If the burn is large, you’ll need to replace the area with a new piece of carpet. You can do this yourself if you know how, or have an installer do it.

Fuzzing
This occurs when loose fibers come out on the edges of the carpet. To fix this, simply cut the fibers that are sticking out.

Furniture marks
Heavy furniture can result in indentations being left on the carpet. To get rid of these nasty marks, you should sprinkle your carpet with some club soda, place a towel over the area, then iron it. Do this a couple of times and you will see your carpet begin to re-fluff.

Shading, crushing, and matting
A lot of traffic on the surface of the carpet will cause it to flatten, which may give some types of carpet a shaded appearance. If this happens, you should brush and vacuum the area. If you can’t fix the problem, you may need to hire a professional, as this can sometimes be very tricky.

Shedding and snagging
Shedding is a problem of usage, as the fibers will surface on the carpet. This isn’t a defect in manufacturing, but a normal problem. To fix it, you’ll need to vacuum the area. The snags on the other hand are tufts that have pulled out of the surface of the carpet. They will occur more often with loop pile than cut pile carpets. You should never pull them off, but instead cut them off neatly with a pair of scissors.

Sprouting
A carpet is known to have sprouts only when there are tufts on it, which are longer than the rest. As pulling on them will only damage the carpet more, you should trim them off with scissors and level them down to the rest of the pile.

Static electricity
This depends on the carpet material, construction, and padding. Humidity will play an important role as the moisture in the air is absorbed by the carpet fibers. A humidifier will help to retain moisture, and you can also spray the surface of the carpet with an anti static agent.

Carpet beetles
The best way to deal with carpet beetles is with a strong vacuum suction. You should always avoid spillage and keep the surface of the carpet clean of food. The carpet beetles are quite annoying, as they feed on wool, hair, hides, fur, grain, seeds, and flour. If the carpet is infested bad, you professional cleaner is the way to go.

Bleeding or crocking
Bleeding of the carpet is the loss or transfer of the color from one section to another. Good underlayments can help to prevent bleeding to a certain degree. Crocking on the other hand is the loss of the carpets color when it is rubbed. To avoid this, simply avoid getting your carpet wet.

A carpet installation job that is one right can help you reduce your repair worries to quite an amazing degree. You can always call a pro as well, as their services will often end up being much cheaper than if you were to go ahead and replace the entire carpet.

Alarm System For Your Vehicle

When you purchase a vehicle, you will want other electronic gadgets such as a stereo. This means that aside from the net cost of the car, you spend some more dollars for extra equipment. The equipment that you install in it is often more vulnerable and appealing to burglars because they can easily be sold compared to the automobile.

And sad to say, it has already become a profession for some. You never know who among the people are burglars, and you cannot also change the fact that they live through this means. And they are just waiting for the right moment to attack. Their precious moment is when you least expect them, when you are most occupied and your car is sitting helpless.

The least thing that you can do is secure your automobile and lower the chances of your car being a target. But unlike the yard sign that you post in your house to deceive burglars, it may not quite work with your car. And the best thing that you can do is to actually install an automotive alarm system.

Another expenditure? Yes. But will you compromise your valuables and even your own safety just for a little amount? Consider this, at times, you will be rushing to work and it will not be impossible to accidentally leave your handy gadgets in the car. It’s when the day is already over that you realize what you’ve left. If the car is not secured, your mind will not be either.

But if you have installed a security system, you will have less to worry about. There will surely be authorities to take care of your automobile’s intruders when they set off alarm of your vehicle. The security system will take charge when it is impossible for you to do so.

When installing a security system, ask the company agent first on how the structure functions. This way, you can maximize the purpose of the burglar alarm. It is important that you know the details of its system. The automobile has comparatively less openings than a house, so it is less complex to mount the sensors in its windows and doors. The magnetic contacts mounted on these openings sets of the alarm when any of the doors and windows is forcedly unlocked. With the remote control in your pocket, it is easy for you to activate and deactivate the system.

For vehicle owners, the automobile burglar alarm system is a primary consideration. Although the system will cost you, your safety and the security of your belongings is something you cannot put a price into.