Don't Overlook Downspouts and Gutters

Don't Overlook Downspouts and Gutters
When the rain starts to fall, the downspouts are there to whisk away the threat of leaks and damage to your home. They provide a fundamental service to your home that can minimize the risk of damage to basements, crawl spaces and even foundation shifts. Faulty gutter and drainage systems can also damage your roof and erode your landscaping. By regularly maintaining and inspecting your gutters, however, you can minimize the risks of damage.

The best place to start is with a simple cleaning to make sure your gutters and downspouts are operating properly. It is a good idea to have your gutters cleaned near the end of each spring and fall, when debris such as limbs and leaves are at their heaviest amounts. Obviously, the extent and frequency of cleaning can be adjusted based upon the proximity of large trees to your home and property.

While cleaning them out yourself is a viable option, hiring a professional can help in making sure the gutters and spouts and completely clear and operating smoothly. The cost of having gutters cleaned professional varies based upon the size of your home, ease of access to the roof and number of trees nearby. Periodic checks are also an important element of routine maintenance, such as tightening the screws that attach gutters to your home. You may also find that your downspouts can get periodically clogged, which can be remedied by running a garden hose down the length of the spout to clear the obstruction. As a general rule, if you can keep the entrance holes of the downspouts free of ice and debris, they will function extremely well.

No matter how well you maintain your gutters and downspouts the day will eventually come when they need to be replaced. The investment is worth it when you consider the consequences of a faulty system. As an added advantage, installing new gutters can also enhance the appearance of your home. Homeowners often try to install the gutters themselves, but a professional typically handles this project the best. If the gutters are not installed properly, it can lead to overflow back into the overhang and cause serious damage to your home. Hiring a professional may also allow you to take advantage of seamless gutter offerings, which minimize leaks that can drip down onto your landscape and foundation. Instead of hanging ten foot sections of guttering on your home, a seamless gutter is produced by a machine in a solid piece up to 100 feet long.

In addition, while popular opinion regarding their performance may vary, a variety of gutter covers are available to keep leaves and other debris from falling into your gutters. While some gutter covers do not prevent all debris from getting into the gutters, they do prevent larger debris and leaves from making their way into the gutters.

About the Author: Ki's lives, and works, in Austin, Texas. His website focuses on Austin real estate. It includes a search of Austin MLS listings and has information and statistics on Davenport Ranch Austin Texas.
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Saving the environment by using eco-friendly cleaning products

Saving the environment by using eco-friendly cleaning products
It is hard to imagine this however most of us often use very toxic chemicals to clean our homes. I bet if you were to look under your sink there would be a couple of hazardous cleaning products that you use in your day-to-day cleaning routine. Now let?s take a moment to think about this; we are polluting our homes with toxins-cleaning our children?s toys, the floors that our children and pets play on, the sinks our children use to wash in, the bathtubs we bath them in, all toxic. Not to mention the pollution that these toxins send into our environment. If we were to look at it that way, maybe we could put a stop to the use of those toxic chemicals.

There are a lot of eco-friendly cleaning products out there in the market. Even Canada has been promoting eco-friendly cleaning products that can improve energy efficiency, can also reduce hazardous by-products, and use recycled materials. Simple chemical free cleaning solutions can be found in your cupboards. You can use baking soda and vinegar, lemons, and even a little elbow of grease.

Because baking soda is a rough cleanser, it can dissolve dirt, mildew, grease, and wax. There are a lot of uses for baking soda that we don?t even know about. For example: you can turn it into a paste and it can remove dirt and grime. Mix 4 tablespoons of baking soda with 1-quart water and this can be used as a multi purpose cleaner; it can even remove odor from clothes, carpets, and refrigerators.

Vinegar is also a great disinfect and deodorizer. It can also be used as a multi- purpose cleaner and even as a fabric softener. Just mix equal parts vinegar and water in a spray bottle and you can clean anything and deodorize everything you wish.

Since lemons are acidic, they can actually work as a bleaching agent and has antibacterial properties to clean brass, copper, and even white clothes with stains. They are also a good deodorizer for sinks and clothes.

Steam is another great way to clean without chemicals. There are many great steamers on the market that are simple to use. You just add water, plug-in the steamer, let it heat-up and push the button. The steam will do all the work to clean and disinfect. Steam also kills germs such as salmonella and other bacteria. It?s safe and cost effective. The only investment is the actual steamer which can run you anywhere from $30-$150.

Choosing the right tools in cleaning your house is easy if you give importance to the environment you live in-both inside and outside of your home. If you still find that using these traditional methods don?t pass your standards, there are still a lot eco-friendly cleaning products out there that were made without chemicals. Just make sure you read the labels to ensure that the eco-friendly products you buy are in fact chemical free. Some companies can be sneaky! However, in the end natural is safer and will even let you save more money than the usual toxic products.


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About the Author: Sabrina Rocca
Author: "The Ultimate House Cleaning Checklist Book"
For more great cleaning tips, visit http://www.housecleaningchecklist.ca and sign up for your FREE speed-cleaning course.
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Cleaning Shower Walls

Cleaning Shower Walls
Cleaning Stone Showerwalls: (Daily to Weekly)


Dry/Dust mop the floor at least twice per week.
Pour 2 ounces of Marbalex into a clean bucket of water.
(Be sure that the bucket has been thoroughly cleaned out if it has been used before with another cleaner.)
Using a clean rayon sponge, gently apply the Marbalex on to the surface without making large puddles.
Let the surface dry. There is no rinsing required.


Cleaning Tile & Grout Showerwalls: (Daily-Weekly)


Remove all abrasive debris from the floor surface.
Mix 1-2 ounces of Ceramiclean per gallon of warm water.
With a clean bucket and clean rayon or sponge mop, apply the Ceramiclean to the surface.
Let the solution dry.
Rinsing is only required for heavily soiled surfaces


Sealing: (Every 1-2 years)


Surface must be dry for 6-12 Hours.
Cover surrounding areas that are not intended to be sealed.
Liberally spray the surface until it is wet.
When the surface begins to dry within 3-5 minutes, wet the surface again with the sealer.
After 30 minutes, wipe off any excess sealer with a clean and dry white terry cloth or towel.


Polishing & Enriching Color: (Monthly)


Shake the bottle before using and apply the polish to the stone surface with a clean, dry and white terry cloth towel.
Let the polish dry to a haze for 2 minutes.
Wipe off the haze with a clean, dry and white terry cloth towel.
* Do not use on floors.


Disinfecting: (Weekly)


Simply spray Counterrific on to the surface and let it stay wet for five minutes.
Wipe off with a clean and dry paper towel.
If any streaks appear, simply spray again and wipe off immediately.


Restoring the Color of Grout: (As Needed)


Ensure surface is free from grease, dirt and other contaminants.
Shake well with cap on before use. Remove cap, and then press pen down vertically for a minute until you see the ink starting to flow.
Apply two (2) coats an hour apart.
Replace cap when not in use. * If grout is dirty, clean with SCI's Ceramiclean before using the Grout Ink.
* 4. Note: Ink colors may appear slightly different from the color of the pen caps.

About the Author: yuxiang granite tile,quartz stone and marble tile
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How to Clean Wood Burning Fireplaces

How to Clean Wood Burning Fireplaces
You should clean your wood burning fireplace at least once a year to get the most out of it and ensure your safety. If fireplaces aren't cleaned, the built-up soot and creosote inside the firebox and the chimney can release carbon monoxide or start a fire in your chimney. If possible, hire a professional chimney sweep to clean and inspect your chimney and fireplace once a year. If this isn't possible, you can perform the annual maintenance yourself, but it's wise to have the chimney professionally inspected at least every few years. A cracked chimney is a dangerous chimney.

Cleaning Wood Burning Fireplaces

To clean your fireplace and chimney, you'll need:

* Flue brush
* Ladder
* Rubber gloves
* Goggles
* Dust mask
* Stiff nylon brush
* Drop cloth
* Newspaper
* Vacuum
* Trash can and bags
* Ash can
* Glass cleaner and soft cloth
*

1. Lay down a drop cloth in front of the fireplace. Put on the gloves, goggles, and dust mask, and then sweep any ash into an ash can and dispose of it outside.

2. If you have a gas starter, turn it off.

3. Remove glass doors and clean with glass cleaner or vacuum metal screens.

4. Remove the andirons or grate. Take them outside to clean them with a vacuum, wire brush, and de-greaser, if necessary.

5. Vacuum the inside of the firebox.

6. Lay a drop cloth down inside the fireplace, and then cover the drop cloth with newspapers. Set up the trash can within easy reach.

7. Open the damper.

8. Go outside. Inspect the chimney's mortar and bricks or stones for cracks as you climb the ladder.

9. Remove the chimney cap. Scrub the flue with a flue brush.

10. Go back inside. Bundle the debris in a layer of newspaper and throw out.

11. Kneel inside the fire box. With the stiff nylon brush, gently scrub the inside of the fire box from the top down to remove soot, creosote, and grime. Only go up as far as the lintel.

12. Scrub the damper and the lower part of the flue to remove additional soot and creosote.

13. Bundle the debris in newspaper and throw it out.

14. Remove the drop cloth and vacuum the fire box again.

15. Re-install the doors and andirons. If you have a gas starter, turn it back on.

Cleaning a chimney is a difficult task and can be very time-consuming if you aren't properly trained. Save yourself time and hassle by hiring a professional to clean your chimney. If you have asthma or other breathing disorders, don't attempt this yourself. If your fireplace is very dirty, please call a professional who knows how to properly maintain your fireplace.


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About the Author: Lisa Becker is an avid home decorator and writes for Fireplace Mantels 123: Shop For Your Perfect Fireplace Mantel and Surround. Her expertise regarding fireplace mantels and surrounds provides insight into the world of interior design and home decorating.

For the rest of the article, check out Fireplace Mantel Ideas and Buying Guide.
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