i Home Improvement

The world of fabrics. A voyage into textures and colours that never ends.
My most pleasurable part of an interior design project!

As an interior designer I can spend hours sitting down at the fabric store going through infinite piles of fabric swatches. Looking at one and forgetting about the other. Placing dog ear marks on the favourite ones to go back to later and combine them with the rest of the colour of the room. One has to really and truly understand fabrics, know the way a fabric is going to respond to a certain treatment. Will it sag? Or will it stay stiff enough? Or maybe this particular fabric will not let in enough light through it!

I have just returned from Spain and Italy a couple of weeks ago, updating our fabric collections and bringing with me the very latest in styles and trends. Once again, my heart was doing pirouettes in my chest when all the new collections were being shown to me. Selecting the ones that would be ideal for use in our homes and having to sadly refuse others that are not suitable. The textures, the patterns, the weaves, their weight! It is like being at a restaurant where one serving of food just tastes better than the next, leaving the restaurant pleasantly full looking forward in returning soon.

This year most of the fabrics all reflect darker earth tones. Patterns are more daring than ever. Large woven patterns on a black background accompanied by metallic treads and shimmery sheers. It is all heading towards the glamorous and shabby chic direction. Rough linens embroidered in fine intricate designs or smooth silk crushed and creased to create a rougher look. In this period of French revival one also comes across the traditional patterns and colours. Damask as a matter of fact, woven onto an old gold or pewter colour. Used as panels on dining chairs or even as a tapestry on a Roman blind. 

Smoky charcoal grey tones super imposed over tans and coffee tones. They get as close as one may get in almost calling them monochromatic. It’s a game between textures, which one of them is getting the most attention or which pattern is screaming out the most from the lot? Gone are the days when a client matches three or four co-ordinates from the same sample book to play safe. It is an adventure and challenge of combining different types of fabrics, from different fabric houses even! It all boils down to the ability of doing so. A natural flair that comes with experience.

In our mediterranean countries we definitely can accommodate this latest trend in fabric as our houses are flooded with light. Using sheers behind a curtain is always what I suggest to my clients. It blocks off the rigidity of the door or window frame and filters the glare. It also gives privacy without having to sacrifice the light. 

When clients usually get to this stage, the stage of hanging their curtains and upholstering their sofas, finances would have started running low as the project would have endeavoured most of the bank account. However, one has to keep in mind that fabrics add the soul to the interiors. It is literally dressing up the finished interiors. It’s like going out one evening and having the perfect outfit to go with it! With the perfect shoes and the perfect accessories. It just seals off the space and makes it all just perfect.

Source - Kenneth Tanti 

Choosing environmentally friendly cleaning products— and removing toxic ones — goes a long way towards ensuring a home with fresh, clean air. Clean air renews and rejuvenates; it doesn’t pollute our lives or the environment. Living in a less toxic home, removed from neurotoxic chemicals, improves sleep and concentration, makes babies less fussy, and gives a sense of well-being. Your household’s toxic burden on the environment will be significantly reduced by following these steps, and this too can bring peace of mind.

1. LOOK UNDER YOUR KITCHEN SINK: Remove toxic products
WHY: Almost everyone in the world has a cupboard full of poisons under their kitchen sink. Wasp spray, oven cleaner, waxes and polishes the place is full of chemicals that display the words poison, danger, warning, or caution. Small amounts of the poisons drift from, and leak out of bottles and spray bottles, which then waft around the kitchen. Household poisonings are one of the highest threats to the health of children.
HOW: Place products with signal words in a locked cupboard in storage for your community’s next Household Hazardous Pickup Day (see next tip); replace all hazardous products with safer versions in the future.
HIGHLIGHTS: No chemicals wafting into your household; safer environment for kids.

2. ABOUT HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE PICKUPS: Take toxic products
WHY: Hazardous materials shouldn’t be poured down the drain or thrown away in the trash as they can cause serious pollution problems in the waste stream.
HOW: Call your local recycling center, town or city hall. Most communities have at least one Household Hazardous Waste Pickup Day a year.
HIGHLIGHTS: There will be fewer toxic materials leaching out of landfills, burning in incinerators, and being washed into the waste water stream.

3. REPLACE TOXIC PRODUCTS: Choose non-toxic, biodegradable substitutes
WHY: Help reduce the toxic burden of manufacturing, your home, and the waste stream.
HOW: Read “Signal Words” on labels. The signal words poison, danger, warning, or caution, found on the label of products such as pesticides and cleaning products, are placed there by order of the federal government and are primarily for your production. In some cases these signal words are on the label because of the potential impact the product can have on the environment. Poison/danger denotes a product of most concern, one that is highly toxic, and ingesting small amounts in some cases a few drops can be fatal. Warning means moderately toxic, as little as a teaspoonful can be fatal; and caution denotes a product that is less toxic, one in which it would be necessary to ingest between two tablespoons and two cups to be fatal. Corrosive products can damage skin and mucous membranes, and a strong sensitizer is a chemical that can increase allergies.
HIGHLIGHTS: Labels provide information by which you can protect yourself, your family, and the environment.

4. LEARN NON-TOXIC CLEANING BASICS:How to use kitchen cupboard
ingredients.
WHY: Save money, protect your health, reduce your use of valuable resources of the earth, avoid petroleum products and other non-renewable resources.
HOW: Learning to clean from scratch making homemade recipes can truly work if you take time to understand a bit about the chemistry behind how the materials work. Here are the five ingredients that Annie (the author of Clean & Green among other books, and Care2’s Healthy Living channel producer) finds to be the safest, most effective, and useful for cleaning. The Five Basics for Non-Toxic Cleaning. Make sure to keep all homemade formulas well-labeled, and out of the reach of children.
Note how to safely reduce four airborne allergens in the home with these simple steps.
HIGHLIGHTS: Establish a safe, cheap and simple lifestyle.
MORE: Visit Care2.com’s Healthy Home category for many non-toxic cleaning tips. Just scroll down to Non-Toxic Cleaning.

5. OF MOPS, SPONGES, RAGS, AND OTHER ACCESSORIES: Natural, reusable.
WHY: Reduce your use of non-renewable resources; avoid products with potentially harmful ingredients such as sponges with antibacterial ingredients; reuse old shirts as rags and more. Use cloth rags instead of paper towels to save trees. Save money!
HOW: Look at your purchase of mops, paper towels, sponges, buckets, vacuums, and more with an eye towards their durability, health and environmental impact. If you must use paper towels buy recycled, unbleached paper.
HIGHLIGHTS: Reusable mops, rags instead of paper, safe sponges, HEPA vacuums all work towards providing your home and environment with fresh, clean air, and reduce your consumption of nonrenewable resources.

6. LEARN ABOUT YOUR WATER: Is it hard or soft?
WHY: With hard water you will most likely need to clean with a detergent instead of a soap to avoid soap scum.
HOW: Read here about when and why to choose a detergent or a soap.
HIGHLIGHTS: Choosing the right product for the right job reduces time and resources.Here is more information about chlorine and the home.

7. DISINFECTANTS? CHLORINE BLEACH? Look for alternatives
WHY: Just as antibiotics are causing drug resistance, so too are disinfectants. Chlorine bleach can cause cancer causing chemicals to form in the waste water stream.
HOW: Make a safer antibacterial spray by using these suggestions. Read here about non-toxic sponges. Visit your natural food store and ask for their recommended chlorine beach alternative. Seventh Generation and other brands offer alternatives that work.
HIGHLIGHTS: A healthier home and healthier environment.

8. CONSERVE WATER
WHY: Clean water is one of our most precious and diminishing resources and we don’t want to waste it.
HOW: Don’t run the water unless you are using it or catching it in a bucket for use; sweep instead of wet mop when possible; put a tracking matt at the door to collect mud and dust so you will need to wash the floor less; etc. Use common sense.
HIGHLIGHTS: Do your part to preserve the earth’s precious resources.

9. CLEAN INDOOR AIR WITH PLANTS
WHY: Plants have been found to reduce indoor air pollution!
HOW: Here are the top 10 plants that clear indoor air.
HIGHLIGHTS: Plants clean the air and provide more oxygen too!

10. USE YOUR SENSES: Smell, feel, hear.
WHY: If you use your nose you will know when food is rotten, when dog beds need to be cleaned, when toxic chemicals may be leaking from old product bottles, and more. If you use your sense of touch you will know when doorknobs are sticky, the floor needs washing, etc. If you allow your senses to be your guide you will stay on top of cleaning jobs that need to be attended to.
HOW: Listen to what your senses are telling you.
HIGHLIGHTS: Cleaner indoor air, alert to potential toxic exposures.

Annie B. Bond

Everyone wants to feel safe and secure in their home, and when away from home on holiday, one wants to leave their possessions knowing that upon their return all will be intact. With that said, unless one lives on a farm in a rural shire, where doors need never be locked and neighbors watch over the home as if it were their own, home security is an important part of every home.

Home security can take many forms. It can be as simple as installation of deadbolt locks on all exterior doors. Home security can be as complex as an electronic alarm system that watches for break-ins on any window, senses motion on the property and automatically calls police if sensors indicate an intruder. Modern security systems include CCTV systems that allow your palace to be monitored day and night be off site cameras. Home security is not strictly as a protection for theft. Better systems are tied to fire alarms as well.

The first line of defense in regards to securing your house from intruders is proper locks on doors and windows. If you are a bit handy, you can secure the opening to your home as follows: Install a deadbolt lock on every outside door and replace cheap older locks with a quality brand. Sliding glass doors should be equipped with a bracing pole lain across the track of the door. Double hung windows can be braced in a similar manner.

Now, an intruder will need to bash in a door or break a glass to gain entry. At this point a simple security solution is to wire the window openings so that should someone break the glass and open the latch, the moment they open the window a quarter of an inch, an alarm will sound or police are summoned. This is accomplished by use of magnetic switches. Simple systems for the home which include switches, wiring and a blaring horn are available in any hardware or DIY store. A final step for the handy man or girl wishing to protect their home from unwanted guests is to install motion sensors. These devices can tell if there is any kind of creature either two legged or four on your grounds or in your premises. These are usually set up so as to turn on a barrage of intense light for the area under suspicion. Thieves, and wildlife do not care to work under close scrutiny. Motion sensors can of course be connected to alarms for interior protection that is especially effective when no one is at home.

All of these systems and many more such as wireless sensors, closed circuit cameras relaying pictures to a home computer or paid home security agency are easily installed and are reasonably priced. Barring the addition to your family of four large Doberman Pinchers, they are the most effective means of being certain your house and possesions are safe when you are at home or away.

There is a trend in home improvement that is intriguing, as it is a bit of a retro movement. Usually, home remodeling is focused upon the latest greatest structural innovations. Odd it is then that the past becomes the future. This back to other days following is in the area of paving for the home. Everyone wants to go green where ever it is possible. And nothing is greener than stone for paving. Natural stone used in paving is durable, (it’s made from rocks, they last for millions of years), attractive and has excellent heat relative properties. It is cool in the summer.

If you are considering tearing up the plastic floors in the kitchen and laying paving as a means of bringing the outdoors in and the indoors out, you should know that installation of paving is one of the easiest jobs to do. Of course, if your time does not permit it or the overall weight of the stones is beyond your strength, then by all means hire your favorite contractor - but, it never hurts to know a little about the process just to keep your workmen honest.
First let us discuss the basics of indoor installation. In laying indoor tile or paving, remember that the stone must adhere solidly to the previous floor. If your floor is concrete then simply rip away at the present cover until the slab is exposed. You will then spread a thin layer (3/8ths inch thick) of mortar evenly on a small portion (a couple of square metres) of the soon to be paved floor. Now, simply place the paving tiles on the mortar and give them a little press into the cement. There are plastic spacers available at the supply store that will, when pressed into the corners where four tile meet will, ensure that all are equally spaced. Now lay a 3-4 foot spirit level across the stones from one to the next and check that they are level from one to the next. If any corners or spots are high, just give that spot on the top of the level a little tap with your palm until the bubble in the tool is centered. Work your way from inside the room to out placing stones in the pattern you chose. The next day when the mortar has dried simply mix a grout and squeeze it into the cracks between the tile or stone. Anyone can do this.

Should your old floor be made of wood, the variations are as follows:

• You will use a mastic instead of mortar as a paving adhesive.
• The grout you use should be of the acrylic kind with sand blended in. These usually come premixed in plastic pails.

Onward to outdoor paving… Let us assume you have finished laying a beautiful slate floor in the kitchen and now would like to step down to the patio onto a similar surface. Regardless of the type of paving stone you choose, the process is still similar to your indoor project. Outdoor stones should be at least twice as thick but can be made of the exact same material. To begin with, the earth upon which the stone will be laid must be cleared of debris, graded and filled to a basic degree of level. This can be accomplished with standard garden tools. Once you have established the size of the projected patio drive stakes into the corners of the graded area. Tie a length of string from stake to stake mapping out the area of your project. At this point you should have a simple flat earthen rectangle mapped. You won’t use mortar as an adhesive for your patio, but you will want to make sure the substrata is level. You don’t want any tottering stones. In place of adhesive, shovel into your projected floor a one inch thickness of course grained sand or fine grained gravel. Rake this to an even grade. In much the same manner as our indoor flooring you simply place the tiles onto the gravel in the pattern you chose and tap them to level. The outdoor paving being a heavier process you will need to tap the stones level with a rubber mallet. Should a tile or two be low, simply pry it up and scatter a bit more sand or gravel beneath it.

You may or may not choose to space outdoor paving. Should you space the stones, say an inch apart, then those gaps must be filled. Fill them with soil if you intend them to be grassed, gravel should you desire quick drainage, or mortar if this patio will at times be used as a fabulous outdoor dance floor.
Paving inside and outside of the home is a superb way to add a taste of enduring luxury to your home. And whether you are placing marble tile in the foyer or bricks along the garden path, the process of laying tile and stone is always similar and fairly
simple.

As you must have guessed from the name,
Home Improvement Loan is a loan drawn in order to make repairs and changes to your existing house in the form of repairs, redecoration etc. This loan is generally drawn to increase the value of the house. Home Improvements can be many like landscape improvements, addition of extra rooms, construction of a new swimming pool, repairs, etc. Thus, all in all, the term Home Improvement means carrying out the necessary renovation of the house to increase its real value which will lead to an increase in the sales value thus increasing the profit margin.

Five varieties of home improvement loans are available in the market. They are- First Mortgage Loans, Second Mortgage Loans, Refinancing Solutions, Unsecured Personal Loans and Government Grants. So it is very important for you to have a clear picture of your home improvement before applying for a particular type of loan. Estimated costs of the repairs should be well estimated in advance. Also, be aware of the increase in the sales value of your house after the home redecoration process is complete. Also it is always advisable to get the estimates and quotes from the contractors so that they can be presented to the lender if the need arises.

There are other important points which need to be kept in mind before starting the home improvement project. They are tax implications and the possible tax deductions, amount of monthly payments and the ratio of increase in value of your house to the loan amount taken. In first mortgage loans, the loan amount is given to you by the lender against your first mortgage. You should clearly discuss the terms and conditions of the loan with the lender before signing on any agreement paper. Sometimes, the loan period is increased to the due date of the original mortgage. The payments of any home improvement loans are made proportionate to the amount of work completed in the renovation process. Sometimes, the lender directly makes the payment to the contractor. Such an action is already committed in the agreement. In the remaining cases, the borrower gets the loan only after proving the payments made to the contractor.

Second Mortgage Loans are possible only when you have a respectable amount of equity left in your house. But evaluate the alternate options before adopting this step.

Another option is refinancing. With the help of refinancing, one is able to lower his monthly payments. Due to this, he ends up with more cash in his hands which can then be used to make payment for the home improvements.

Home Improvement Loans also arrive in the form of personal loans which do not require you to keep any property or security on loan. But a good credit record is important for drawing such loans. These kind of loans are usually given by financial companies or banks.

Grants are basically offered by the Government to low-income families to repair their current homes. This is another option one can opt for if he is eligible for it.

Article written by: Jon Elton

Years ago, in the Victorian era, providing heating and air conditioning for your home was an astonishingly simply process. In summer months for a cooler inside temperature, you opened a window and let the cool breeze that had drifted through the green leaves of summer enter your room. In winter a few chunks of coal in the fireplace sent a volume of luscious warmth radiating through the room. And, if that proved insufficient to brace one to the rigors of winter, you could always put on a heavy coat.

But we live in “Modern Times”, and that cool breeze was long ago blocked by large buildings around us stenched by automobile exhaust. Of course most of the coal burning fire places burn natural gas now or compressed wooden pellets designed to be smokeless. Today, we are concerned with energy costs and air quality. These are the two primary factors when considering heating and air conditioning systems replacement.

Currently, there are three main types of heating and air conditioning systems available.

• First would be, the traditional boilers and chillers to send heated or cooled water to radiating air handlers.
• Second, are systems where forced air is sent directly over a heated or refrigerated coil. This is what is commonly used in small window placed air conditioning units.
• Third, are air source heat pumps. These could be considered a combination of the first two. And, these are the most energy efficient air conditioning and heating systems in use today.

Air Source Heat Pumps take advantage of the differential between outside air temperature and the temperature of a gas when expanded or compressed. When expanded, the gas evaporates inside a coil creating very cold temperatures. When compressed the gas in the coil becomes extremely hot. So the key to energy efficient heating and air conditioning is how well the heat in this coil can be utilized to climate control our homes.

Air source heat pumps can either transfer the heat and cold created to water filled pipes creating a simplified boiler and chiller system. Or, as is more commonly done, send the heated or cooled gases to an interior refrigerant coil where air is forced through it and sent to all the rooms of your home via ductwork.

When considering replacing an existing air conditioning and heating system in your home, you must balance the higher initial cost of modern systems with the fact that they cost only one fourth as much conventional heating and cooling systems to operate. If a new installation costs 3000 Pounds but saves 100 pounds a month in winter and 50 a month in summer, it won’t take long to pay for itself and in a sense at some point be turning a tidy profit.
Another tremendous advantage to installing a new air source heat pump system is that most are fitting with incredibly effective air quality filters. Even in the days when coal burning fireplaces created in London what was referred to as a “winter fog” people knew that smoke from burning fossil fuel was not good for the lungs. New air management systems will remove dust, dust mites, carbon particles and microscopic germs from the air inside your home.
Whether you are building a new house, remodeling your home, or simply ready to replace a tired boiler in your basement, installing a high tech air source heat pump system is a money saving, environment protecting option that everyone will want to choose.

An ancient Chinese art, Feng Shui teaches one how to harness positive energy from the environment through correct placement of objects to encourage harmony and balance. Plants and fresh flowers give the house a fresh and lively atmosphere and according to feng shui expert Manish Potdar, all plants have a positive effect on life

Although we may live in the city and are always trying to improve our homes, we can enjoy the countryside within our city homes and here are a few examples :

In Feng Shui artificial plants do share those same qualities, outcomes and significances of real plants and flowers.

Placing some green colour ornaments  such as flowers, floor mats or some indoor plants, at the east end of your dining room, living room, balcony, entrance hall or even the kitchen; promotes both growth and prosperity in life.  However, this is definitely NOT the case with the bedroom.

Although you can have as many plants as you like for your home decoration, you should pick only those where the leaves or stalks are not pointed or needle shape. These sharp pointed leaves (like pines or cactus) are not favorable when used in your homes.

If you are the mother, wife, or daughter of the home why not try some flowers in a beautiful vase positioned in the southwest end of the house or in a southwest crook of the living room which will not only promote the loving family atmosphere but also help to create a stable happy married life environment.

It is also believed by the Chinese that you should not have dried flowers in your house as dried flowers are dead flowers which can be translated as your wealth “dying”. However, it is perfectly acceptable to have artificial flowers.

Also, clear away clutter in your garden or yard by trimming those overgrown plants and getting rid of any cut down vegetation or cut down trees. A really helpful side benefit of this can be a vase filled with trimmings such as cherry or apple blossom branches which would be a beautiful enrichment to your living environment.

I have found the following table most useful:

Table borrowed from indiaflower blogspot

Anon

Pink Slime (and its “buddy” White water mold) is a newer problem facing swimming pool owners over the past 10 - 20 years. They are naturally occurring and are caused only by a lack of proper pool maintenance and water chemistry. In fact, even non-pool owners struggle with the pink slime in bathrooms, kitchens, and washrooms. Ever notice that pink ring around the basin? That’s pink slime.

Let’s define what pink slime is. Pink slime is a naturally occurring bacterium (of the newly formed genus Methylobacterium). Pink Lime is NOT a form of Algae, it is animal not vegetable. It is pink- or red-pigmented and forms a heavy, protective slime coating which provides the organism with an unusually high level of protection. Pink slime consumes methanol (a waste gas) and it is oftentimes found WITH White Water Mold. This organism is very resilient and resistant against halogen-based (chlorine or bromine) as well as non-halogen sanitizers or germicides and can remain a contaminant even after treatment.

Although initially found in swimming pools being treated with biguanides (Baquacil, Soft Swim, Polyclear, etc.), it is now seen in any and all swimming pool environments. This is NOT a biguanide problem ONLY nor is it CAUSED by the use of biguanides.

The pink slime bacterium has an affinity for the matrix that exists on the surface of PVC plastics; it will attach itself to & inside of the matrix, allowing it to re-contaminate long after it appears that it has been seemingly “destroyed” (includes pool toys, floats, ladders, steps, fountains, automatic pool cleaner parts, skimmer baskets, weirs, directional fittings, garden hoses, etc.). Small quantities of pink slime can lead to a re-establishment of the problem. It is caused by improper water & pool maintenance, environmental factors and poor circulation. Pink slime prefers areas that are “dark” (not exposed to direct sunlight) & with “slow moving” water. In another industry, medical technology, this bacterium occurs regularly in laboratory tubin.

Look for pink slime under ladder treads, behind the skimmer weir, on the undersides skimmer baskets, pool directional returns, underwater pool light niches and light housings. If you find that the pool just isn’t holding chlorine, bromine, or even hydrogen peroxide used in biguanide treated pools, look for pink slime.

After regular tracking of homeowners swimming pools affected by pink slime, here are some commonalities:

• Many, but not all, affected pools have “smaller (under) sized” cartridge filters. (i.e. using a 75 sq ft filter on a 24 ft Rnd aboveground pool or a 90 sq ft filter on a 15 x 30 inground pool).
• Affected pools get 6 hours or less of direct sunlight on the pool surfaces.
• Pool owners always leave the solar blanket on AND don’t chemically clean the blanket the recommended 2 times per year to remove the accumulated biofilm.
• “Shocking” or oxidizing of the pool water is not done with the recommended label instructions. For example, rather than shocking the pool every week or two, that task is neglected because the water “looks fine.”
• Rainy pool seasons see a dramatic rise in the cases of pink slime.
• Customers regularly add fresh water from their tap without letting the hose-water run for a couple of minutes (the pink slime is already present in the garden hose and is transferred to the pool).
• Pools with sand filters are not changing the sand every 2 to 3 years AND not chemically cleaning the filter sand 3 times a season (once every 6 to 8 weeks).
• Newer observation: Most of the affected seem to use publicly treated drinking water. Pools filled with well water appear to be not as severely affected.
• Affected pools are not as fastidiously maintained chemically (water balance, use of borate additives such as BioGuard Optimizer Plus or Proteam Supreme, regular shocking), as clean pools.

Another observation is that many water companies across the country, in partial response to “consumer calls” to “get rid of chlorine in the drinking water” are now using mono-chloramines to treat the water (over the past 15 to 20 years). Mono-chloramines do an essentially good job at treating pathogens in the drinking water, however, some of the non-pathogenic organisms may indeed be getting by. Unfortunately, there is only experiential or anecdotal evidence.

Prevention of “pink slime” is preferred over treatment.

Follow these steps to help prevent pink slime: 

• Physically brush & clean ALL Pool surfaces weekly, including ladder steps (especially underneath each step) & rails
• Expose ALL pool surfaces to as much sunlight as possible (sunlight & UV are natural oxidizers)
• Remove the lid from the skimmer to allow sunlight into the basket for several hours each day ** INGROUND POOLS MUST USE EXTREME CAUTION in doing this in order to avoid a person falling into or otherwise injuring themselves due to an open skimmer.
• Regularly add oxidizing chemicals into the skimmer to purge & clean the filtration lines of any bio-film (use extreme caution if doing this. Add chemicals slowly and remove ANY and ALL objects, including slow dissolving chlorine tablets or sticks, to avoid a potential chemical reaction such as explosion.
• When adding make-up water from the garden hose, allow the water to run for 2 to 3 minutes before putting the hose into the pool.
• Regularly clean pool toys & floats (use BioGuard Stow Away acting as a mildewcide)
• Regularly clean pool solar blanket (use BioGuard Stow Away)
• Chemically clean the pool filter every 4 to 6 weeks (use Strip Kwik, Kleen It or Soft Swim® Filter Cleaner). This is a very important step regardless of the filter type; sand, DE or Cartridge.
• Add regular Maintenance dosages of “Shock” & Algicide every 1 to 2 weeks as prescribed (3 to 4 weeks in bguanide pools).
• Use borate products such as BioGuard Optimizer Plus as a preventative measure (borates, when used properly at a rate of 50 - 80 ppm, allow the sanitizer to sanitize rather than sanitize and prevent algae growth).
• Run the filter a minimum of 12 hours daily to prevent “dead spots” in the pool.
• Remember to clean & rinse the brushes, hoses & vacuums that you use to clean the pool
• Leave as much of your pool equipment exposed to the sun (sunlight is a natural oxidizer)
• Keep the water balanced at all times. Recheck after heavy usage or rain or large “top-offs” of new water. Water balance refers to Free Available Sanitizer level, pH, Total Alkalinity, Calcium Hardness.

Treatment of “pink slime”
MUST BE QUICK AND TOTAL!    DON’T SKIMP!

1. Clean all pool & affected surfaces as prescribed above.
2. Physically clean & remove all visible “pink slime”
3. Add an initial dosage of algicide to the pool
4. “Shock” the pool with a triple or quadruple dose
5. Run filter 24 hours daily until water is clear & halogen or peroxide levels are maintained at a “higher” level
6. Chemically clean the filter. Simple rinsing or backwashing of the filter will not remove the greases, oils & other accumulated contaminant from the filter and filter tank.
7. Have the pool water professionally tested & analyzed. Look for a pool company that knows what they are talking about and isn’t afraid to tell you the truth about problem.
8. Maintain Optimizer Plus (or other borate product) levels
9. Maintain good water balance of pH, Total Alkalinity & Calcium Hardness

The longer that you allow the pink slime to remain, the more difficult it will be to cure.

Written By: Ronald Parrs    Article Source: EzineArticles.com

There is a humourous expression often said when one views a potential flat or cottage. Usually, in this instance, the future home is a bit decrepit and in need of major renovation.

Yet, the “hopeful to make a sale” agent reels off “A little paint, and a few flowers and you’ll never know the place“.

Of course, beautiful home decorating takes more than a splash of color and a vase full of Canna Lilies to transform a dodgy flat into stylish living quarters.

But a few simple renovations can make a world of difference and here’s how:

You can begin your home improvement with the flooring. If you currently have older wooden floors, either rent a machine and sand them to bare wood or have this done by the professionals. To turn dark aged wooden floors into a modern lighter look, simply stain the freshly sanded floors with a natural (clear) stain and have them coated with a light poly varnish.
For carpeted floors, replace the old rugs with a modern berber textured carpet or install a style from the new marble finish ceramic tiles. These 10″ by 10″ tiles are very inexpensive, easily installed and add quite the air of marble elegance at a cost of around 50 pence per square foot.

Now that you have found the perfect pair of shoes for your home improvement ensemble, move on to wall coverings.There are two thoughts to follow when choosing wall colours and texture… contrast and blend.

Do you want to paint your walls in a darker brilliant color to offset the lighter effect of the floors, or would you prefer to have the walls blend with the floor in a continuous visual line.

The answer to this depends on the lighting.

In large window lit rooms, at least one wall of the room should be done in an accent colour. This can be a medium to dark shade of paint, a floral print wallpaper, or even an exposed area of brick revealed beneath existing plaster.
A thought to remember is that large rooms, especially naturally lit ones, need accents. Exposed bricks, timbers, or a fireplace all are examples of such.
For smaller rooms you must continue the colour and visual line of the floor. Paint with a shade or two of difference. On darker floors lighten the walls by two degrees. In rooms with light coloured flooring, add but a shade of darkness to paints and wall papers. In using the latter remember that small prints are for small rooms and large prints are for large. No grand brocades for the pantry or breakfast nook. Always bear in mind that no one desires to live in a cave.
Always choose shades of colour two lighter than looks fine on the sample. When that shade is amplified by the size of a wall it will appear much darker.

• Small rooms must appear large and airy.
• Large rooms must lead the eye from point to point.

The hues that you select for your rooms are up to you, this is an area strictly defined by personal taste. Just as some might choose a blue blouse to match their eyes, you should choose floor and wall colours that match your personal style.

Home decorating when styled by small home improvements begin from the ground up. Lighten floors and connect the walls to the flooring visually.

Then, all you will need are the Canna Lilies.

Around half of all your heat can escape if your home is not properly insulated. Instead of turning up the thermostat, get insulated! This guide will show you how to insulate your home, saving you hundreds on your energy bills, as well as making a massive reduction to your carbon footprint.

Steps

• Stop energy loss via the doors. Fit draught excluders around all exterior doors, and interior if needs be. Sealant strips can be bought cheaply from DIY stores and are very easy to fit - just like applying sticky tape. Don’t forget to get a brush trim for letter boxes, bigger gaps and the bottom of doors.
• Ensure the windows are well insulated. Cracks and crevices around window frames are a popular escape point for warm air. To check for weak points in your window, run the palm of your hand around the edge of the frame. If you feel a breeze, you’ve got a hole. Patch the weak points up with a putty or sealer.
  • To make it really easy on yourself get the type that comes in a tube. Squirt it on, smooth it over, job done.
• Consider double glazing. It’s worth investing in double glazing if you don’t already have it. This could save you between up to hundreds of dollars or pounds on your annual heating bill.
• Use window dressings to assist. Closing curtains or blinds after dark also traps in the warm air and prevents draughts. And it looks cozier too! Use curtains and blinds with thermal backing for added warmth retention.
• Fill any floor gaps. Most homes have gaps between the skirting board and the floor, and if your have floorboards there’s likely to be a few gaps between them too. This is a job for the silicone sealer. If you have a wood floor and want to insulate thoroughly, you could get the experts in to fit floor insulation beneath the boards. Putting a rug down isn’t a bad idea either.
• Insulate the loft or attic. Laying loft insulation on the average home can save a whopping 1 tonne of carbon dioxide a year, and make a major dent in you bills.
• Wrap your hot water tank in a cosy 80 mm jacket. This will cut heat loss by 75 %, and you’ll recoup the cost of it in less than 6 months.

Tips

• Seek professional advice on insulation where you are not sure what to do; the money spent up front will be well paid back in a short space of time and you will definitely notice the positive difference in your living environment.

Things You’ll Need

• Insulation
• Sealant
• Double glazing
• Rug

Related wikiHows

• How to Save Energy in Four Easy Ways
• How to Choose an Energy Efficient Refrigerator
• How to Use Solar Energy to Heat a Pool
• How to Achieve Energy Independence

Sources and Citations

• VideoJug A video demonstration of article. Original source of article; shared with permission & appreciation.

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