How to clean pet hair in the house

How to clean pet hair in the house

We all love our pet, and most of us consider our dogs and cats part of the family. Pets require affection, attention and care, but even with regular grooming and brushing they can leave hair on clothes, carpeting and floors, upholstery and other surfaces. To get rid of pet hair, regular cleaning is a must and there are some easy ways to remove it.:

1. A regular and thorough vacuuming is the best way to remove pet hair from your home. Start high and work low, using proper attachments to run the vacuum over walls, into corners and over draperies and window sills. Static electricity and low humidity in a home can help pet hair cling to surfaces. Running a humidifier is good for you and makes breathing easier, skin feel more hydratedand it helps keep tufts of loose pet hair from clinging to surfaces. If you have a pet, keep a schedule of regular vacuuming to maintain a home free of pet hair.

2.BEST

Robotic Vacuums Built for Pet Hair

Look for a robotic vacuum that’s been especially developed to pick up pet hair. Samsung’s NaviBot models use a patented technology designed to pick up pet hair better and prevent it from getting wrapped around the vacuum’s brushes. This minimises the need for manual maintenance—it ensures the efficiency of the vacuum without requiring you to untangle hair repeatedly.
Your vacuum should also have a HEPA filter, which helps trap fine particles of pet dander, other allergens, and dust so they aren’t redistributed into the air. This is especially important if you have allergic or asthmatic friends or family members. With a washable HEPA filter, you can make sure the filter is particle-free before or after a heavy cleaning.

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AC maintenance. Why to clean AC filters?

AC maintenance. Why to clean AC filters?

Cleaning AC filters its important!

An air conditioner's filters, coils, and fins require regular maintenance for the unit to function effectively and efficiently throughout its years of service. Neglecting necessary maintenance ensures a steady decline in air conditioning performance while energy use steadily increases.

AIR CONDITIONER FILTERS

The most important maintenance task that will ensure the efficiency of your air conditioner is to routinely replace or clean its filters. Clogged, dirty filters block normal airflow and reduce a system's efficiency significantly. And its not only about the maintenance but An air conditioning system needs regular cleaning if it's to perform at peak efficiency, clean AC will safe energy and you will breath cleaner air.

For more tips for home please visit our website www.reDecor.me or FB page.

Dirty microwave? Easy way to clean!

Dirty microwave? Easy way to clean!

You need a cheap and easy way to clean your overused greasy microwave oven? Then the answer to all your prayers is in a simple lemon. The days of struggle with removing grease and splatter are coming to an end. Grab a lemon and you’ll solve this issue fast.
First, mix a half squeezed lemon juice with a dish of water, approximately 300ml. Mix it well.
Then, place the solution in the oven, and turn to the maximum setting and heat for 5-10 minutes. By doing so, the steam will melt some of the grease on the walls and roof of the microwave.
Finally, wipe the freshly lemon-scented oven with a soft dishcloth. Your job is done and your microwave is clean.
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How to clean cooker tops

HOW to clean cooker tops

Very very often I am asked the same question - HOW to clean cooker tops. Here are a few easy tips on how to clean a stove cooktop!

Before cleaning, make sure the electricity or gas is turned off. It’s best to remove the elements and any other parts that come off (such as knobs, drip trays and racks) – these can be washed separately with dishwashing liquid or a bicarb soda and water paste. Wipe away any food (or other) debris with a damp cloth.

Ceramic/Glass/Induction Cooktops

Pour 2 cups of water, 2 cups of white distilled vinegar and 1/4 cup methylated spirits into a spray bottle. Spray onto the cooktop then leave for a few hours (especially if there is any grease or baked on food). Wipe off with a damp sponge. This can be used as a daily cleaner.

Stainless Steel Cooktops

You can use normal dishwashing liquid to clean a stainless steel cooktop – just fill a bucket or your sink with warm water and a couple of squirts dishwashing liquid, then use it to wash the cooktop with a sponge or cloth. Dry it off with a lint-free towel. To remove baked on food and grease, spray some white vinegar on and leave it for about 10 minutes, then sprinkle some bicarb soda on and wipe off with a damp sponge.

White Enamel Cooktops

Normal dishwashing liquid and water can be used to clean enamel cooktops also (as above). To remove baked on grease and food, make a paste by mixing 2 tablespoons of warm water with ¼ cup of bicarb soda. Rub the paste onto the baked on food and rub until the food has been removed. Wipe over with a clean damp sponge or cloth.

Gas Cooktops

Electric element coils don’t need to be cleaned as they are usually self-cleaning, but gas burners can accumulate layers of thick grease. Soak any removable parts (such as burner caps) in hot water and dishwashing liquid and give them a good scrub with a brush. You can use a bicarb soda paste for stubborn grease, but otherwise cleaning around the burners with soapy water should be enough. Use a straight metal pin to unclog any clogged burner ports (don’t use toothpicks or they could break inside the ports!)

Cooktop Grates/Racks

Depending on what these are made of, usually you can clean these with hot soapy water. If they need a deeper clean you can soak them in a tub of 2 cups of white vinegar and fill with hot water for an hour. Alternatively you can make a paste with bicarb soda and water, apply to the racks and leave for half an hour then scrub off and rinse in hot water.

Hopefully these tips will help you to keep your stove looking fresh and clean!!

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Smelly microwave

Smelly microwave?

In a microwave proof bowl – add 1 cup of white vinegar and 1 cup of water.  Microwave on HIGH for 10 minutes.  When it’s finished – leave for about 5 minutes to ‘steam’.  Then carefully remove the bowl and give your ‘Ding-Oven’ a quick wipe over.  The vinegar will get rid of any odours (it may smell strongly of vinegar for a few minutes – but this won’t last long!).
Thats it, your microwave will be as new!
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How to Clean Your Dishwasher

How to Clean Your Dishwasher

Dishwashers need a good clean now and again – it helps them run more efficiently.  As soon as your dishwasher gets ‘bad breath’ – you know it’s time for a good clean!  Filters especially should be cleaned every few runs. Here is some information on how to clean your dishwasher without the harsh chemicals or hefty price tag!!!

You will need:

• 2 tablespoons bicarbonate of soda
• 1 teaspoon essential oil (eg Eucalyptus Oil or Tea tree Oil)
• 1/2 cup white vinegar

Make sure you empty the dishwasher first and give the filters a good scrub with an old toothbrush and detergent and replace.  Add the bicarbonate of soda to the soap dispenser, and add the essential oils to the bicarb.  Fill the rinse aid with white vinegar until over flowing.  Run the dishwasher on the hottest setting (or the pots and pans setting which is usually the hottest).

Every few months or so it is a good idea to remove the spray arms and give them a good scrub with a toothbrush and detergent too.  Most are very easy to remove (check with your owners manual) and this gives your dishwasher greater ‘spraying’ power.

If your dishwasher continues to smell in the days afterwards, you are going to need something a bit more heavy duty (could mean you have scum and grease in your pipes) and this is when you will need to resort to the shop bought dishwasher cleaners.

More tips you can find on:
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Cleaning your washing machine is important!

Cleaning your washing machine is important!

To keep your washing machine clean and in top operating condition, it’s a good idea to clean it regularly to get rid of detergent residue and any other nasty bits...

To keep your washing machine clean and in top operating condition, it’s a good idea to clean it regularly to get rid of detergent residue and any other nasty bits and pieces that tend to come off your clothes. There is a cheap and simple way of doing this which won’t ruin your washing machine and is environmentally safe.

How to Clean a Top Loading Washing Machine

To clean a top loader, run a normal wash cycle (on hot) and place 1/2 cup bicarbonate of soda and 2 cups white vinegar in once the machine has filled with water. Let is run as usual.  The bicarb and vinegar break down any grease or dirt particles and keep the hoses nice and clean.

Use a damp cloth with a little washing up liquid to clean any stains on the outside and wipe away dust residue.

How to Clean a Front Loading Washing Machine

If you have a front loader, add 2 tablespoons of bicarbonate of soda into the detergent drawer and 1/2 cup white vinegar into the drum then run a normal wash (on hot). Just keep an eye on the machine while it’s washing as you may find it suds up a lot inside due to build-up of soap residue. The more often you clean your machine, the less often this will occur over time.

Also take the time to clean out the filter (follow the manufacturers instructions).  Clogged filters is the leading cause of problems in front loading machines.

To prevent mould build up on the seals of the machine, keep the door slightly ajar in between uses.  This allows air flow into the machine and allows any water or dampness to dry.  If any mould is present, use equal parts of hot water and vinegar to wipe it away.  Done regularly, mould will not build up on the seals.

Most front loading machines have removable soap and fabric softener dispensers and this is quite often an area loved by mould.  Most pull out quite easily (don’t force it!).  To clean, either place in the top basket of your dishwasher or rinse in hot soapy water and allow to dry in the sun.

How Often Does it Need to Be Done?

I clean my machine about once every two or three months, but you can do it really as often as you like.  If you are washing greasy clothing or heavily soiled children’s clothing – do it more often.I have used these methods with my own front loader machine many times and can attest to its effectiveness. I have owned my front loader machine now for seven years and it hasn’t missed a beat.

But My Machine is Still Stinky!:

Oh dear!  You’ve tried all the above and your machine still smells like a dried up muddy creek.  There’s mould lurking around in there.  There are two options – natural or chemical!

The Natural Way:

In the empty machine, place about 10 drops of Clove oil into the drum (either front loader or top loader).  Wash on the hottest setting.  Clove Oil is a great natural mould killer – but is very pungent so make sure your doors and windows are open!  Clove Oil is available from  most chemists or health food stores.

The Chemical Way:

For a top loading machine, fill the machine with hot water and add one cup of bleach.  Allow the water to agitate for 10 minutes, then discard the water.  Run another cycle on empty to get rid of any residue bleach (or you might ruin your clothing!).   For a front loading machine, add two tablespoons of bleach to the detergent dispenser and run empty on the hottest cycle.  Don’t use any more than that or it could over-sud and this can ruin the electrics in your machine.  You may need to repeat this a few times for particularly bad mould problems.

The Tip You Should Know:

• In Summer, hang your washing out right away or both your machine and your clothing will smell damp. If you want to put your machine on overnight, use the delayed timing settings so that i’s ready to hang out first thing in the morning.

More tips you can find on www.reDecor.me or visit FB pagehttps://www.facebook.com/redecor.me

How to take care of natural wood

Seems in the last decade, the trend is clearly heading toward a more organic approach.Lately I am asked about wood floorings and natural wood furniture, but a lot of my clients are concerned of how to take care of the natural wood. 

So here is a tip how to prepare the cleaning mix at home:
• water, 1 cup
• vinegar, 1 cup
• alcohol, 1 cup
• dish soap, 2-3 drops
• lavender essential oil, 5 drops
• orange essential oil, 5 drops
• tea tree essential oil, 3 drops
• a 24 oz fine-mist spray bottle

Instructions: Use the bottle like a cocktail mixer for all the ingredients mentioned above. Shake for a couple of minutes, until they are combined. Before using, vacuum or just sweep the area you want to clean. Spray your natural homemade cleaner on the floor, or on other surfaces for that matter. Finish by wiping up with a microfiber cloth. If you prefer using a mop and bucket, replace the measurements above with 1/2 cup of vinegar, and 1/3 cup of alcohol, plus a few drops of dish soap, for a gallon of water. for more tips for home visit www.reDecor.me

Choosing wall colours for your home

Choosing the colours can be another big headache for my clients, thought I find it fun and very creative process. Click for more..

Colours! If you need to choose the colour today.. which colours will you choose? (by Seeds) How to make a room look higher? larger? smaller?

If you want to use several colours in your room, it will appear larger if you choose hues of the same saturation (intensity), no matter if they're pale or bright. To determine similar intensity, look for colours similarly positioned on their individual colour swatch strips. This creates the illusion of space because similar levels of saturation seem to flatten out, with no distracting focal points to spoil the effect.

Warm colours, like red, orange and yellow, are the colours of sunshine and fire. These hues advance (come forward) so walls feel closer and rooms feel smaller. A better choice is to use cool colours, like the blue, green and violet of water and ice. These colours seem to recede or move away, making rooms seem larger and more open. However, if you have your heart set on a yellow (warm coloured) room, select a washed out tint.

Small, square rooms look larger if you paint two opposite walls the same colour, especially one that's deep and dark. Why? The intensity of colour will create depth in the room and visually open up its dimensions. And remember, every room will look larger if it's brightly lit (even artificial light does the trick). 

 Remember! We can always help you. Send us an email with the photo of your room and we will help to find a solution and the right colour www.reDecor.me 

Cleaning Heat and Air-Conditioning and Vents

                                              Cleaning Heat and Air-Conditioning      

Cleaning Heat and Air-Conditioning Vents it is very important!
Time it takes: 15 minutes per unit.

Why it matters: A buildup of dust anywhere harbours allergens. And when you’re dealing with vents, this dust is propelled into the room. Also, excessive dust makes your cooling and heating system work harder and therefore costs you money.

                                                               CLEANING VENTS                                                              

Step 1: Turn off the heat or the air-conditioning. Run the crevice tool of a vacuum over floor and baseboard vents. For ceiling vents, spread a sheet below and wear a baseball cap to shield your hair and eyes; if the crevice tool doesn’t reach, use a tool like the Unger duster, with an extension pole.

Step 2: Remove the vent covers (all you need is a screwdriver); you’ll have to use a stepladder for ceiling vents. Wash covers with dish soap, using a small sponge paintbrush to get into slats (plastic and unpainted aluminium or steel can go in the dishwasher). If you want to soak the covers to get them extra clean, use only hot water—prolonged exposure to soap may take the paint off. Clean inside ducts, as far as you can reach, with the crevice tool or a cobweb duster, which has stiff bristles and a rounded head that fits inside ducts. When they’re dry, replace the covers.

For radiators

Step 1: Dust between the radiator fins with a bottle brush. Don’t use water, which can cause rust.

Try to do this: Twice a year. For more tips for home visit www.redecor.me 

Renovating/Decorating your home

Renovating/Decorating your home might seem like an overwhelming task, but it doesn’t have to be. Make your renovations as easy as possible with some tips.

Firstly think about your budget.

Consider the living space you currently occupy. Do you own or rent? If you plan on living there for a long time, set your budget accordingly. If you’re not willing to commit to your home, stick to renovating a few key areas.

Invest money in the right rooms.

Renovating for resale is all about making a return on your investment. The smartest spaces to renovate are your kitchen and bathrooms. A fresh look in these rooms makes a world of difference.

Don’t underestimate the simple stuff.

Consider making some topical renovations, such as repainting rooms, installing light fixtures or adding trim around the ceilings. These improvements don’t cost a lot of money, but they can make rooms appear larger, brighter and more inviting.

How to rent or sell your property faster?

Little bit about the real estate now... Renting or selling, it applies for both. All based on many years of property management experience and it definitely works and speeds up the process, so worth every penny and time. If you need any help in organising your property, you can always contact me  trough www.erikapace.com  or for decor www.reDecor.me

FROM THIS                                          TO THIS

• Entrance: An inviting entrance creates an important first impression!
• Check that things such as roofing, guttering, paint, woodwork and paving are all in good condition. Spending money to fix these things can potentially earn you a better price and faster sales/rent.
• Clean windows or any glass balustrades you may have. Also consider having your house professionally cleaned, this way is an inexpensive way to instantly lift its appearance.
• Mow the lawn regularly, particularly before an open for inspection, trim hedges, rake up the leaves, if you have a pool make it sparkle and hide away any pool equipment.
• If you are selling a tenanted property, consider offering the tenant a cleaner to come before the inspection. It is money worth spending and a good way to keep your tenant on side.
• Bathrooms and kitchens are the most scrutinised by buyers, ensure they are pristine. Soap scum, mould, old shower curtains and dirty bathroom mirrors should be cleaned, removed or replaced!
• Make all the beds, fluff the cushions, vacuum floors, dust shelves and remove cobwebs that may be lurking inside and out.
• Ensure your home maximises light no matter what time of the day it is. Open the curtains and check all light bulbs are working. If you’re holding an evening inspection, light up cozy lights inside the house and switch on the garden/pool lights.
• Selling your home is a great time for a spring clean, less clutter creates an impression of space so remove anything you don’t want to take to your new home. Most local councils will come and collect your rubbish free of charge or for a small fee. Another option is to consider giving your unnecessary household items to a charity.
• Pets: sometimes it can be a big turn off for buyers so ensure there is no trace of your pet during inspections. This may mean steam cleaning carpet, hiding away their food and water bowl, toys and bedding. There are many people that are simply allergic to pets.....

GOOD LUCK! and remember if you need any assistance, please contact me:

www.erikapace.com  or for decor www.reDecor.me 

When moving to the new house...

Today I would like to point at one a very common issue /problem that we (Interior Designers) have when called out to meet new house owners...- "Moving in together" or "shared house with the family". Can't be more complicated for us to try to balance between all "advisers' that suddenly become experts in interior decorating. 

Moving in together certainly has its challenges, especially when it comes to merging your tastes in decor. You like floral prints, silver and he likes black and white, mum likes traditional wood and classic, sister psychedelic styles  … so how do you make it work???? Few tips:
When moving to YOUR house, where YOU are going to live, make a list of YOUR 'likes' or trust the designer. Your sisters, brothers, mum, neighbours, cousins, colleagues are not going to live there! Sadly and unfortunately, that I crossed such clients...and it wasn't the best moments of my carrier when I was put in a position of family counselor or be blamed for anything just because my clients couldn't agree on the colours and styles between them.. 

Moving in with the partner? Work with the oversized TV, don’t fight it. The chances of you getting your guy to downsize to a smaller TV are slim to none, my friend. So, don’t fight it. Work with it.
If she likes floral and prints and he likes black and white, there are tons of ways to make both parties happy. Consider making the backdrop of the room (like the sofa, the paint colour or the wall unit) a neutral colour like beige, or something soft and masculine, like olive green. Then, dress up the room with pillows, throws and candles to add a dash of femininity to the design scheme.
Strike a balance between warm and cool.
Guys tend to love colder textures like steel; women tend to go for warmer and softer textures. When it comes to living room or bedroom furniture, you’ve got to make sure you have pieces that make both parties feel at home. So, if your guy loves oversized leather furniture, consider making space for his own comfy leather chair, which can sit next to a plush, velvet sofa.
You’ve got a leather couch and he’s got a dog? The dog wins.
If you’ve got a leather couch or wall-to-wall carpeting, consider opting for the more pet-friendly option. Hardwood floors are easier to clean than carpet. Treated microfiber couches are more hassle-free than leather.
Remember - its all about compromising and cutting the list of 'advisers' and this is where and why you call the professional help - Interior Decorator/Designer! www.reDecor.me

About ReDecorMe

I‘m a design-loving decorator,  who is slightly obsessed with a lot of things . . . mirrors, lamps, rugs, colours. The usual. Launched reDecor.me as a place to share my finds, follow my passions and live a creative life. I love to design and create beautiful spaces on tight budgets. It seems like my mind is constantly spinning with ideas and I am passionate about mixing colour, pattern, and texture to create unified spaces.

As I’ve decorated, restored and rebuild my homes in Europe, also helped others with theirs over the years. My style has evolved and my “eye” has been trained to find some unique pieces that personalise our spaces. Combining estate sale and vintage finds with classic pieces makes all the difference . . . One style does not fit all. I started the website – reDécor.me - to help other people decorate , organise or just make their houses into cozy homes and find a personal style.