Carpet is a great flooring but can be affected by a number of different things. Things that can cause it harm and even permanently damage it. One of those things is bleeding dye. This can come from a number of different sources and is serious problem Read this article to learn a little about this problem and what you can do about it.

The first thing you need to do is discover the source of bleeding dye. It can be caused by several different common things in your home. One source is area rugs. Dyes from area rugs can easily transfer to the carpet with moisture. There might even be enough moisture in the air on a humid day to cause it . The most common types of rugs that bleed are expensive oriental rugs. To prevent this type of damage you should be sure to place a rug mat underneath the area rug. This will keep it form transferring dye in case the rug were to get wet. Another source of dye transfer is from labels on the bottom of furniture. To prevent this from happening always check the bottom of anything you place on your carpe for labels and tags. If they are present, remove them. The last source of dye transfer that I will talk about is furniture. Some furniture can bleed dye. This is usually the case with fabric furniture that has no legs or with skirts that touch the ground. To prevent this type of damage try to use furniture with legs that keep it a little distance above the carpet.

Carpet dye transfer is usually a permanent problem. Unfortunately the dye can seldom be completely removed so the best thing to do is preen the damage. Take a little care and put a little thought into your carpet though and you should be just fine. Good luck.

Learn about thecarpetcleanerlist.com/norfolk.htm Norfolk, VA carpet cleaning at the authors carpet cleaning website.

Slipcovers not only help you to protect your furniture, but they can also help you to make old furniture look brand new again.

Over time our furniture can start to look a little tatty and old. This can in turn cause the living room to look less inviting and it can be embarrassing when friends come around to visit. The solution however is quite simple and by using slipcovers you can easily transform the look of your sofa in no time.
Using Slipcovers to Liven Your Furniture

Slipcovers can be used for a number of reasons including if you have mismatched furniture, if your furniture looks old or if your furniture is damaged in some way. It could even be that you have recently painted and changed the theme of the whole rooms and now your furniture does not fit in? If so a slipcover can help to blend the furniture back in with the room and it is fairly inexpensive too.

The good news about semi fitted slipcovers is that they are extremely easy to place onto the furniture. There is nothing worse than struggling for hours trying to get a cover to fit over the sofa so it is great to be able to just slip the cover on and have it finished within minutes.

Another great advantage of slip covers is that they can be easily washed. This is excellent news for busy parents and homes with animals in them as it does not take long for the covers to become dirty. Also by being able to remove and clean the slipcover easily, it gives you the chance to change the covers frequently. For example, you may want to change the color and so purchasing a few slipcovers could be an ideal option for you. Perhaps you like to change the theme of your home to suit the holiday seasons? If so you get the chance to do that with slipcovers.

Of course slipcovers are designed to help to protect your sofa and so they need to be quite strong. Most slipcovers are incredibly durable and they come in a variety of different materials too which gives you a good selection when it comes to choosing one to suit your home. Even if you have a section sofa you will find section slipcovers to suit it.

Overall slipcovers can be used for all furniture whether it is a sofa, a loveseat or even a recliner. So if your furniture is looking a little dull then why not brighten it up with a slipcover?

Andrew Caxton is the editor of different articles published at home-decorating-reviews.com home-decorating-reviews.com, with reference to bed cover and sofas. You can find more information and resources on home-decorating-reviews.com/SlipcoverFurniture.html slipcover furniture at his website.

The once beautiful stone is covered under dust, dirt, leaves, moss. It’s been a while since this patio has received a thorough cleaning. Does this sound familiar? Years go by and we hardly notice the change and then one spring day we step out on the patio on the first warm day, look around and realize that the patio needs attention. This might be a huge task, and it does not have to be done in one day. Do it one step at a time, as outlined below.

Move all your furniture off the patio. As you do this, you might want to sort the furniture out into those pieces that are still in good shape and those that have reached the end of their useful life. Be aware that solid hardwood patio furniture can be refinished and restored. So don’t be too quick about disposing of it. Maybe it is time for a complete make over and all new patio furniture.

A good sweeping with a strong broom, one that is especially made for sweeping outdoor patios, driveways, etc, is next. You can find a good broom at your local hardware store. While you are there, you might want to pick up some heavy duty-garden trash bags, and any tools you don’t already have that can help you pull weeds. Thoroughly sweep the patio, including any dirt and leaves that have accumulated in corners or around planters. You don’t want to leave any dirt for weeds to get started in.

Next, it’s time to get down on your hands and knees and weed. If you have a couple of teenagers hanging around being bored, hire them! It is important to remove all weeds from cracks and crevices. As weeds grow and spread, they can cause heaving of your patio tiles, which in turn can cause additional damage when water gets under the tiles and starts eroding the sandy soil which supports the patio tiles.

Take stock of your plants and planters. Pull out last year’s annuals, trim the perennials. Do you want to eliminate some plants that are not doing well, or that did not look as nice as you wanted them to? Pull out those you don’t want on your patio anymore. Maybe they can be replanted elsewhere in your garden, or given to a friend.

The patio has been swept, weeded and the furniture moved off the patio. How do the stones look? Could they use a good scrubbing to remove built-up grime and to bring back the beauty of the stone work? Maybe this patio is 20 years old, has many broken plates and is uneven. Is it time to tear it up and put down new stones?

Ok, looks like a good cleaning is in order. What now? You can either hire professionals or do it yourself. If you hire someone, get 2-3 estimates and ask for references. You might want to go to your local hardware store and see if they have a bulletin board with a patio cleaning company’s business card. Or check with a landscaping business. Maybe they do that type of work or they can recommend someone.

If you want to do it yourself, you can rent a power hose or power scrubber at a hardware store. Be careful with what chemicals, if any, you use. Some will kill off plants, so any run-off into your yard will damage your lawn. Some might bleach your stones more than you want. The folks at the local hardware store might be able to help you find the appropriate soap.

You now have a clean patio, ready for the season.

Ch. Perrin enjoys creating beautiful spaces in and around her home. At this time of year, the outdoors calls. She also likes to pass on tips and tricks she has learned. ILoveMyPatio.blogspot.com ILoveMyPatio.blogspot.com

Price : $5.98

Features

• Chuck allows quick and easy accessory changes without changing collets
• Accepts accessories with 1/32" to 1/8" shanks
• For use with DREMEL rotary tool models 275, 285, 395, 398, 750, 770 and 781

Product Description

Multipro, Chuck For Use With Corded Rotary Tools.

Customer Reviews

Review date : 2008-01-26
In 1994 I purchased a Dremel kit and a version of this chuck was included. I was quite excited as those who have worked with the fixed-size collets know how pesky they are, especially for small drill bits.

ohmi Vibration. I contacted Dremel Manufacturing and they, in 1995, had withdrawn this chuck as it was "too heavy" and "did not run true." They were glad to send me a package of fixed collets (but, having about fifteen different Dremels — AC and battery), I have enough collets, thank you.

Several years passed and then I saw that the adjustable chuck was again provided. I have one and will get more … Dremel has solved the ‘balance’ issues which, are mighty, given the mass of this steel and speeds of 30K RPM.

Also, I am a fan of the 50-bit box sets of carbide drills. When Harbor Freight sold these at half price, $4, I bought eight boxes. However, if you’ve tried these, you know that using such bits on metals, even ’soft’ metals, they break easily.

Using the variable chuck I devised a solution. If you have ever tried to deal with a carbide drill, broken off in a drill hole that is critical, you will mightily appreciate this … so … for $9.95, check or Paypal, I’ll provide instructions and 2 additional components that virtually eliminate breakage.

And, if you haven’t tried such a drill, for $12.95 I will send the instructions, kit, and 3 carbide drills for you to try. Quite honestly, if you have not had the delight of using a carbide to drill, say, medium-hard steel, or even a printed circuit board, you will be very pleased.

W. Curtiss Priest, Ph.D.
Engineer
email: bmslib@mit.edu

Review date : 2007-08-28
it may vary, but mine is nicely centered, no wobble. doesn’t hold quite as snug as a collet.

Review date : 2007-08-23
This item works great. My only question is why doesn’t the manufacturer provide it as a stock item with all its tools?

Review date : 2007-08-21
I began using the Multipro Chuck as soon as I got it! No need to switch collets and it will hold the tiniest bit. It is just what I needed to interchange brand accessories.
Love it, love it!

Review date : 2007-07-16
This is a really nice idea from Dremel that is supposed to make changing bits a lot faster. And that it does. Plus it is very well made. However, I stopped using it as no matter how hard you tighten it, it loosens up and the bit begins to wobble (not a good thing at 5000 rpm). Then you have to stop and retighten. So it’s too much of a bother. I do not recommend this item.

If you’re house is like most, the rec room can get cold in the winter, especially at the floor level. You’ve got a sub-floor, and maybe you’ve got underlayment, some carpet and a couple of space heaters - and it’s still cool down there! Chances are, that most of your heat is collecting at the ceiling, and warming the floors above, quite nicely!

A Couple of Suggestions

If you have electric heat, and enough head-space, you could install a ceiling fan to help re-distribute this stratified air - or you could install a fan upstairs to draw air up from the basement, which would be replaced by warmer air from upstairs. If you have a forced-air system, you can direct your supply ducts from the ceiling to the floor level. You might install a small to medium-sized grille in a return duct, to help redirect some warm air from the ceilings back to the floor. (You can’t give a furnace too much return air… although you might affect the cold air circulation in another part of the house.)

CAUTION: With a gas/oil or other combusting furnace, the return grille should be no less than 10 feet from the furnace, and not within the furnace room, to avoid drawing combustion air from the furnace.

DID YOU KNOW?

Wood was Canada’s original heating fuel, used by its indigenous people and earliest settlers to stay warm in this cold northern climate. Although the number of homes heated with wood declined dramatically in the middle part of this century, many homeowners turned to wood heating in the 1970’s when there were concerns about the price and security of supply of conventional heating fuels. Now, more than 400,000 or 6 percent of all single family dwellings in Canada use wood as the primary fuel for heating; in addition, over 950,000, or 14 percent use it as a supplementary heating fuel. These households have found wood burning to be an effective and economical way to heat their homes.

Copyright Gil Strachan - All rights reserved.

Gil Strachan is a professional home inspector, representing Electrospec Home Inspection Services in east-central Ontario, Canada since 1994. Visit http://www.allaroundthehouse.com to learn more about home inspections.

The Home Reference Book
You can probably find a home inspection for a little less than what we ask, but you probably won’t find the Home Reference Book. A $60 value, this solutions-oriented reference tool comes free with every inspection we perform.
It’s the first tool you should have around the house!

Carpet has in some ways been given a bad rap. It has been blamed for many problems that are not the fault of this great flooring. Because of this many people have chosen to replace their carpet. If you are considering replacing your carpet you should read this short article and learn about some of the benefits of carpet. Things you might not have though about.

One great benefit of carpet is that it provides the room with a great deal of warmth. There is nothing worse than stepping on a cold floor in the morning. On a cold winter morning you want to step out of bed onto a nice and warm carpet. Another benefit of carpet is that it insulates a room from sound. You have probably heard the echo in a room that has all hard flooring. Carpet will stop the echo and make for a much quieter room. Yet another benefit of carpet is that it cushions falls and prevents slips. This is especially important if you have kids. Kids are always running through your home and with hard surfaces they are much more likely to slip and fall. Carpet provides their feet with grip so that they will not fall. If they do fall however what would you like them to land on, a hard tile floor or a nice and soft carpet. It can make the difference between a bruise and a broken arm. The last benefit that I will address is that of beauty. Carpet can beautify a room and is available in a style and color to mach any decor. It is also affordable enough that you can replace it every five or so years and change your room. Try that with hard surfaces and you will pay a fortune.

As you can probably see, there are a number of different reasons to keep your carpet versus changing to hard surfaces. So before you make the decision to rip it out, think it over. You might change your mind.

Learn about thecarpetcleanerlist.com/neworleans.htm New Orleans LA carpet cleaners and carpet cleaning at the authors website.

Be sure to consider comfort and ergonomics. The wrong office desk and office chair can make you and your employees susceptible to ergonomic disorders such as backache, headaches, eyestrain and other irritations and inconveniences. Fatigue, loss of concentration, and irritability can also be attributed to the use of the wrong office furniture.

To help you set up your office here you’ll find some helpful tips and useful advice about what you need to consider, how to make the most of the space, and what office supplies you will need to make your office complete.

Before you buy any furniture you need to consider how much space you have and how much spare space you will need. If you are going to be spending a lot of time in your office then you don’t want it to be too cluttered because it may feel claustrophobic. For those who have a very small office or have a home office, you might want to buy a work station rather than a desk as these generally include space for a PC, monitor, printer, scanner, set of drawers and shelves. Another important consideration is how much paperwork you are going to have lying around because if you are working full-time from home and are probably going to need to invest in a filing cabinet and suspension files to keep your paperwork tidy and organised.

Other purchases you must make for your home office include a comfortable office chair, a computer, printer, fax machine, telephone, scanner and if necessary drawers, a bookcase, and shelves. There are many different types of office chairs to choose from, such as large black leather executive chairs, office chairs on wheels, and ergonomic office chairs, while the choice of computers and printers can be just as overwhelming. If your work involves a lot of traveling then it may be best to buy a laptop computer or if you are purely office based a standard PC would perhaps be best. You may also consider investing in a monitor stand or even a laptop riser to make working more comfortable. Also if you mainly print colour charts, photos and illustrations you may want to invest in a colour laser print, while if you mainly print text documents an inkjet printer may be best.

Once you have got your workstation set up then there are a few desktop accessories you may want to buy to make your home office complete. The main extras you’ll need are stationery items such as paper clips, paper, notepads, Post-it notes, pens, pencil, correction fluid, stapler and staples, files, and a hole-punch. But there are other things you may want to buy to make your home office feel more comfortable, and these include a cushion, foot rest, wrist rest, a visor and a desk lamp to improve posture and visibility while sitting at your home office desk all day.

written by Amy Rodda

For more information officeshopping.co.uk/online-catalogue/Furniture_seating/index.asp office furniture and officeshopping.co.uk/online-catalogue/Furniture_seating/index.asp home office furniture

ABOUT OfficeShopping.co.uk

Officeshopping.co.uk is an internet-based office supply and stationery store based in the United Kingdom. Shoppers are able to purchase items from a very large inventory of products for home offices, home use, students, and small businesses in the comfort of their own home.

Officeshopping.co.uk was created to provide an efficient and affordable way for consumers to purchase everything they need for their home office. Fast and reliable delivery makes Officeshopping.co.uk a must for your office needs.

officeshopping.co.uk www.officeshopping.co.uk

Just because you are looking for a home theater does not mean you have to spend a small fortune to get it. A home theater can still work for those of us on tight budgets that still want to make the most of our viewing pleasure. With more people being interested in television on a regular basis, a great home theater setup is a must in many homes.

Home theater surrounds can vary from home to home. In many parts of the country, the homes have the ever popular basement. If you remember back to when you were a kid, the basement was used for storing things like the Christmas tree and that old couch that no one has sat on in ten years. Make sure that the basement is suitable for a living area such as a home theater with its many electronic devices. If your basement tends to hold water in heavy rains, you may reconsider placing your 52″ plasma screen television in those conditions. The basement can actually be one of the best places for a home theater. By placing the theater in the basement, you are able to utilize two or more walls that are already soundproofed because they are typically concrete walls with an earthen barrier on the opposite side. The only need for soundproofing will be in the ceiling and the fourth wall. By being able to skimp by only having to soundproof those two areas, you may be able splurge on a better home theater system.

Setting up your home theater to resemble the real theater can add to the experience of having a home theater. Start by adding the correct lighting to the room. Don’t have big bulky overhead lighting, concentrate on rope lighting in the floors along with tiered seating and comfortable chairs for relaxing. Make sure that the seats that you choose are equipped with cup holders, or that there is a convenient place nearby each seat for each family member to place their popcorn and soda. Use dark, sound proofing drapes on the walls for sound absorption as well as appearance. All of these suggestions for dŽcor can really cost a ton of money. But you should be frugal when shopping for decor, after all, you want to spend the bulk of your money on the viewing and listening details of the theater, right? Here are some suggestions for decorating your home theater on a budget.

Flea markets are a great source for bargains. You may be able to find old movie posters, popcorn machines, fabrics for the walls, etc. Most towns have a regular flea market, but if you are willing to take some time for travel to other nearby towns, you will likely be able to find more options for your decor.

The internet has everything. Auction sites such as ebay sell everything you could ever need or want for your home theater. If you know what you are looking for, type it into a search engine and just sit back and look at all the results you find. Bargain sites and auction sites usually offer the best prices on these types of items, but check around before committing to anything.

Your local classified section is always a good place to start. Most towns and cities have classified sections of their newspaper where people are trying to get rid their old items or items that they just no longer need. You can usually find a great deal on many items by searching the classified section.

Shopping at outlet stores can be a great way to find bargains. The problem with shopping at the outlets is that many people binge shop at these type places and usually don’t come home with what they went for.

In short, when you actually go to set up your home theater system, check the prices on items and try to be frugal. Home theaters do not have to be expensive as long as you understand how to set them up correctly.

YourHomeTheaterSystem.com YourHomeTheaterSystem.com brings you real information on how to easily and affordably setup your very own home theater system just like the rich and famous. There’s nothing to buy, just real information for real people. Be sure to check out our YourHomeTheaterSystem.com home theater receiver pages.

Have you ever thought about growing your own Bonsai tree but changed your mind because you thought it was either too costly, or maybe too difficult? Well that’s what I thought anyway. However, when I looked into it I discovered that growing a Bonsai tree is not really different from growing any other tree.

If you like gardening and are on the lookout for a new and fascinating hobby then the art of Bonsai tree growing may just be what you are looking for. However, before you rush down to the local garden centre there a few helpful pointers that you should be aware of before you embark on this exciting hobby.

A Bonsai tree meaning “potted plant” is no different to any other type of tree, that is, it’s not some sort of special hybrid that is naturally dwarfed in appearance. Therefore to achieve the Bonsai effect careful pruning of branches and roots will result in a dwarf like miniature tree.

Any tree can therefore become a bonsai tree. However, as you would expect some are better suited than others. When thinking about growing your own Bonsai tree you need to choose one that is generally slow growing and one with small leaves.

A good example would be a Hawthorn tree and would make an ideal choice for anybody wishing to get involved with the art of Bonsai.

So, rather than purchasing an already established Bonsai Tree why not try growing your own? It will certainly be a lot cheaper, and it will give you the opportunity to experiment without costing a cent. All you need to start is a young sapling that you think would make a good Bonsai tree. Remember, a tree with small leaves will generally make a better Bonsai. Try to find a sapling that already has a few shoots and therefore is likely to better accept it’s new surroundings.

You now need to replant your sapling into your garden until it’s reasonably well established and actively growing. Once you are happy that your sapling has accepted it’s new environment it’s time to carefully place your Bonsai to be in a Bonsai container or pot where it will spend the rest of it’s life.

Your miniature tree will grow better the closer you can replicate it’s natural living environment. Therefore it’s advisable, initially anyway, to leave your Bonsai tree outside.

A Bonsai tree should never be left to dry out. Likewise it should never be waterlogged either. The ideal situation is too ensure the soil is kept moist. This generally means you need to water your Bonsai tree a little every day…

If you’re really serious about growing-a-bonsai-tree.co.uk growing a Bonsai tree you need to visit growing-a-bonsai-tree.co.uk for essential help and advice. There you’ll discover the art of growing-a-bonsai-tree.co.uk/bonsai-tree-care.html Bonsai tree care and top tips on growing-a-bonsai-tree.co.uk/bonsai-tree-pruning.html pruning a Bonsai tree

Price : $12.00

Features

• Reel mower sharpening kit keeps reel blades in top cutting form
• Cuts down on mowing time; environmentally-friendly
• Do-it-yourself kit allows users to sharpen their own mowers at home
• Includes grinding compound, application brush, and back-lapping crank
• Designed for use with 1705-16 and 1815-18 push mowers

Amazon.com Product Description

The American Lawn Mower Company reel mower sharpening kit is an easy way to keep reel blades in top cutting form. This do-it-yourself kit allows users to sharpen their own mowers at home. The kit contains everything you need for safe and effective sharpening, including a detailed instruction manual, grinding compound, application brush, and a special back-lapping crank. The kits is designed for use with 1705-16 and 1815-18 push mowers. Cutting down on mowing time, this sharpening kits gives you an environmentally-friendly, perfectly cut lawn.

Customer Reviews

Review date : 2008-09-10
This is a simple low teck product that does exactly what it is supposed to do. It sharpens the blades on a reel type mower. My mower’s blades were not in horrible condition and I cannot comment on how this product would perform on severly damaged blades. I was satisfied with the product, the instructions and the price.

Review date : 2008-08-28
This kit is essentially what anyone can do on their own but it is conveniently packaged. The goop everyone is referring to is essentially the same as automotive valve grinding compound (which you can get at most auto parts stores). I like the idea of using a power drill to turn the reel while it sharpens - so here’s an alternative for anyone who feels like taking a DIY approach:

1. Prop up the lawn mower so you can turn the reel by twirling the wheels.

2. Check the blades for nicks and burrs. If you find any, remove them with a file (hold file flat against blade and push away from spindle). I use a sharpening stone that fits my power drill but that’s b/c I’m lazy.

3. Check your bar alignment, it’ll be obvious if it’s off - it will hit the guide bar. If alignment is off, you need to fix the alignment with the screws at the end of the bar but hopefully it’s fine (if it turns with that cool whispy sound, then you’re fine).

4. Spread a thin & even coat of auto valve-grinding compound.

5. Take off a wheel and affix your power drill so that the blade turns and the grinding compound squeezes between the blades and the cutting bar. Go a few dozen times.

6. I reapply the grinding compound and do it again.

7. Check out the blades, which should be sharper then rinse the valve compound off the blades.

This is EASY and quick. I really like how the kit makes it a no brainer exercise and if you’re going to use a reel mower, use one with sharp blades.

Review date : 2008-08-23
I only gave it three stars and perhaps I’m not being fair but here’s why I’m not pleased with it: I bought the Gilmour 20" reel mower from Amazon.com and at the time of my purchase, they suggested I buy the sharpening kit too. Well, the hand crank from the sharpening kit does not fit the Gilmour mower. I’m sure it fits all the rest and probably works fine but I’m a bit ticked off at Amazon suggesting that I buy it. PS: The Gilmour did a great job for 15 - 20 cuts and then since then it seems like it needs to be sharpened because it’s missing too much of the grass.

Review date : 2008-07-22
did what it was suppose to mdo really worked well on sharping the blades on out reel mower

Review date : 2008-07-22
Go to your auto parts store and get some grinding compound for a fraction of the cost.

Also, for a much quicker sharpening session, remove both wheels, swap the gears so that the reel turns backwards, apply the compound, and walk the mower up and down the driveway. The backwards operation provides the backlapping to sharpen the reel and blade. Clean up the excess, and swap the gears back. Total time: less than 10 minutes.