Friday 13 June 2008

How to Remove Cat Urine

There are a number of reasons that cats, who are fastidious creatures, may choose to urinate outside their litterbox. The primary causes are a box that is dirty, and hasn't been kept scooped or cleaned, and urinary tract infection. If your cat's litterbox is pristine, then you may want to take them to the vet for a urinalysis, and then a discussion of possible behavioral causes.

But when a cat urinates indoors, particularly if they have done it more than once in the same spot, the smell can be pretty pervasive. The worst is from unaltered tom cats, whose hormones are announcing that he's ready for romance. Neutering will not only cure the odor, but the behavior as well. However, you'll still need to find a cure for the smells and/ or stains.

If you can smell it, but not locate the stains, get a blacklight at the hardware store. These are the "special effect" lights used for Halloween and stage productions. When turned on in total darkness, they have a purple glow, and make certain things like white articles, fluoresce and glow in the dark. It will also make urine glow. Put the bulb in an automobile "trouble lamp" receptacle and make a hood to go over the usual metal cage. This will help direct the light, making it more intensive and the stains easier to find.


Urine stains that have dried, can be treated the same way as fresh spots, with the exception that they should be sprayed with warm water first, to soften the fibers and allow for easier removal of the odor and urine.

Take several folded paper towels and place them over the urine spot. Step on it with your shoe and press down. Do not "work" it in, just lend your weight to blotting. Take away the wet towel and put down dry ones. Repeat until no more liquid comes up.

Apply a stain and odor remover that has an enzyme base. Remember that cat urine is a biological product, and chemical based solutions are not usually the answer, because odor can remain afterwards, which will attract the cat back to the same spot. Use the remover as directed on the container. When done, shampoo that section of carpet, and dry. Ideally, a steam clean is best, in order to bring out any remover and urine that is deep into the nap or pile.

by Brenda H. Murphy

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Bathroom Floor Plan Remodel - Help Is At Hand

A bathroom floor Plan remodel project can be a daunting task --not generally a task for the do-it-yourselfer. There are some amenities that you see in the bathrooms for multi-million dollar homes that can be incorporated into your master bath for between $400 and $8,000. One of the easiest jobs to tackle is the lighting. The recessed bathroom lighting is so popular with contractors will cause shadows over your bathroom vanity unless you have some additional light source.

Remodel a bathroom floor plan by having a floor heating system installed under your bathroom floor. Imagine stepping out of the shower onto a warm custom heated floor. The floor heating will help to warm up the bath with floor to ceiling warmth. Another inexpensive element that can be included when you remodel your bathroom is an chromo- therapy system. Streams of color can be shown through either standing or running water. This helps to relax you. You can buy bath, shower, and sink systems with chromo-therapy options.

Multiple shower heads with differing sprays and jets to massage and relax you can bre installed in your bathroom. The cost of this shower systems can run between $3,200 and $5,500 depending on the kinds and number of heads you choose.

Another interesting bathroom option when you are remodeling your master bath is a stream shower. This system provides a mist of steam that makes your skin feel refreshed and rejuvenated. Most of these projects require someone very knowledgeable in plumbing and laying of pipe. Before you remodel your bathroom, check to see if your local building codes allow you to make these changes.

by Martin Smith

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Home Floor Plan Designing for your future Home

Designing Your Own Dream Home for the New Home Builder: What is your dream home? Do you have an idea of what it will look like? Defining a dream home is very difficult, especially if you have a spouse or significant other that has tastes different than your own. Although you might be able to agree on a floor plan, do you both agree on what the purposes for each of the rooms? My solution to this matter is simple. Brain storm together. Make it fun! After all it's your dream that you are talking about. Privately each of you collect floor plan ideas from other sources, and prioritize what you like.
List the top 10 bedroom floor plans, bathroom floor plans, kitchen floor plans and of course the floor plan layout styles. You can do this by researching these topics: Log Home Floor Plans, Model Home Floor Plans (which, by the way, utilize small spaces very efficiently), Kitchen Floor Plans, Apartment Floor Plans (another very good space effective plan), and various architectural floor plans. Collect your "top ten" sources from each of these plans and then select your top ten out of those. You will have a very comprehensible top ten list to discuss with your spouse or significant other. Keep in mind that you can make any room the size you desire from these plans, but it's the concept and ideas of the plans that you should be collecting.


You both then get together with your top ten lists and discuss why you really like the plans you choose. Make it fun! Make it a party if you want with friends and family, but you need to remember to be open minded and listen to the each other since you both have your own pro's and con's with each of the plans. Surprising enough, eventually you will agree on a top ten between you. In fact you probably will have extremely similar plans picked out! I did this with my wife and found that in a few hours we agreed completely on our dream home! This was the hardest part! (This method also works in determining baby names and other life critical significant other issues.)

Factors to Consider: Probably the hardest factor to consider is financing availability and budget. You need to review your own current budget and evaluate how the new budget will affect your current life style. If you check your credit report and it is not what was anticipated, you might have to adjust your budget or take the necessary steps to clean it up. Since I am not a financial specialist, I would ask you to consult with the credit personnel at your local bank. Once your credit is cleaned up as much as possible, apply for a loan. Apply for the maximum amount you can get. Find out what the monthly payments would be and see if that works in your budget. Make sure your monthly payments do not affect your ability to landscape and buy some interior design items and new furniture. A common mistake most people make is that they put everything in their home but leave out the funds and budget for interior design and landscaping. Always have available financing reserved for future emergencies. Do not put everything in your home and become house poor.

Location of your new dream home is also a factor. Does the neighborhood have houses similar to your style? Is there a variety of home styles? Do research on what type of neighborhood it is. Are there neighborhood, city or county ordinances that might affect your lifestyle? Make a list of all the pro's and con's of each of your choices of sites, narrow it down to your top 3 to 5 and seriously think about all the factors that might influence your decision. You don't always want the perfect size or shaped lot if there are ordinances that will effect how you use it. Be careful.

Make sure you have no surprises. Ask your real estate agent for a list of permits necessary to build your dream home on the lot you chose. If they will not provide this, then go to your city and county and get the list. Make sure your construction contactor provides all of these permits in their contract with you.

Local codes can also surprise a lot of dream home builders. Ask the architect that does the signed blue print on your floor plans to research local codes that may or may not affect your floor plan and dream home design. Homework pays. You can save yourself a lot of money and time if you do your homework up front.

by Robert Kempe

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Monday 9 June 2008

DIY - Upgrade Your Old Deck

Is your deck looking like it is past its prime? Does it even have the odd softer spot here and there? Is it faded and looks more the color of gray concrete than of red cedar? If you have already priced out the cost of a replacement and decided that you haven't got a spare $8,000 at the moment - think whether or not you have a spare weekend or two. If you 'con' the family or friends to join in and help, it may even be a fun and memorable weekend.

The number of tools you will need is minimal and they can be rented. Apart from the usual household tools, you will need a small saw to remove and replace the small damaged sections of deck boards (and some two-by-fours for replacement boards if you need them), an electric sprayer to apply the cleaners, etc, a (long handled) painting pad and a stiff deck broom to use as a scrubbing brush. Some people recommend a power washer, but if you do use one, be careful with the pressure. Some of the pressure washers are so fierce that they can actually force dents into your woodwork!

A normal household water pressure when applied through a garden hose is around 60 to 80 pounds per square inch pressure, and you can buy pressure washers that can multiply this by about 15 times and zoom it up to 1,000 pounds per square inch. Ouch!

If you use a fierce power washer you will have to keep the wand a good eighteen inches away from the deck surface and also do not let it remain stationary on any one area, i.e., keep it moving. However, before you get to that part, check your deck for loose nails, twisted boards, softer areas that must be cut out and replaced, etc.

If you have nails popping up, you can hammer them below the surface using a drift punch, or lever them out and replace with screws or a slightly larger nail. If some of your planks are twisted, they will need to be screwed down while someone stands on them! If this is not working, the boards will have to be replaced.

Once you have your deck ready to work on, the first thing to do is to apply 'deck wash'. Wet your deck down and apply the wash directly onto the deck; spray on only the amount that you can scrub in in about a ten minute period. Use your broom to scrub in the wash and also to distribute it evenly.

After leaving the wash for about fifteen minutes, you can hose or power wash it off. You will be amazed at the difference that just a wash can make to your deck. If some spots still remain dull or dark, they may be helped by the wood brightener.

The procedure for the brightener is similar. Wet the deck down, spray on the brightener BUT this time wait a few minutes, scrub it into the surface and after about ten minutes you can rinse it off. Work on a strip about ten boards wide.

Once this is done you must wait a few days to let it thoroughly dry out. If it has not rained for a couple of days, then you can seal it on the second weekend.

After all the hard work, you can now apply the part that really makes a difference: the sealer/stain which will waterproof your deck. Whichever finish you choose, remember to paint the railings first; use a three inch brush for this and work down from the top, to catch the drips!

If you've had to add many new pieces of wood in your deck, and you wish to keep it looking uniform, then you may wish to paint it. Use proper deck paint and get the best one that you can afford. Some manufacturers recommend two coats of primer and one of top coat, whereas others recommend two of top coat and one of primer! A quick drying self priming alkyd paint is ideal if you want less work.

If you are going to stain it, notice that there is a heavy stain and a light stain. This refers to the way that it looks on your wood, not to the durability. A heavy bodied stain will show up the grain but not the texture, whereas lighter bodied will still show the texture as well as the grain. If you feel that your wood is somewhat 'weathered' and overly textured, you may wish to choose the heavier stain to smooth it out a little. If your stain is not a stain/sealer, you can coat the stain with a sealer once it is dry; use one that says it is 'non chalking' to avoid your finish being rubbed off with wear.

Apply the deck stain with a painting pad (like a long broom handle with a flat board on the end of it.) A painting pad has a slightly rough finish so that it will rub the liquid into the surface of the wood. Apply your sealing coat along the grain of the wood.

Wait 24 hours, pull out your sun chairs, stretch out and congratulate yourself; you have just saved thousands of dollars!

By: Justin Havre

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Natural Cleaning Products - The Truth Is Out There

Your home is a wonderful investment and it should be taken care of properly to enhance the long term value. I know in my household each and every person has a set chore that has to be completed to help everyones job get done faster. Since there are so many different tasks you need to do to you should always have your cleaning products ready when ever you need them. Finding the right cleaning products for each different task is a mission all in itself.

How many of you have a weekly cleaning ritual where you may clean your house every saturday or any day that you have off during the week? Then there are people who just clean up their living areas only when they are expecting visitors? It doesn't matter whether you clean your house every day or once a month, in order to keep it clean you need to have sufficient cleaning products that are designed to be strong enough to get the job done for you. You may also want to check out an all purpose cleaner that is specially formulated to clean up all areas in your home that will save you some money. Some of these multi purpose cleaners should be used with caution so you do not damage some types of materials such as marble and leather.

Many acids in some of these cleaning products are not designed to clean some surfaces and could be too strong and cause damage to them. One way to find out is to read the labels and see what the products main function is and what it can be used for. Spending a little bit of time to research the product can save you more time in the future dealing with repairing these materials if they get damage b. If you are not sure of a product there are always more ways to get your home cleaned using natural cleaning products.

If you look online you can see that going green is the #1 topic of discussion for many business and home owners. Most products that were created as to remove rust from metals had a significant amount of acids in them in order to work properly. Now there is a fuel tank rust remover which is created with an all natural organic formula that has no trace of acid in it. One of the main reasons why people are jumping on the going green band wagon and getting these organic cleaning products is the true fact that these products are 10 times more powerful than some acidic brands and the price is a heck of a lot more reasonable as well. Another reason is people are becoming more caring of mother earth and want their children to enjoy the resources that the earth provides us.

One advantage that these natural cleaning products have is that you can get a wide variety of fragrances with them. Some scents smell so good that some people use them not only to clean but as an air refreshener as well. Many of these cleaning products are great for removing pet odor and more importantly black mold.

As you may know, the black mold can threaten the health of all your family members if you do not get rid of this mold with a natural mold cleaner. If you search you will find that there are some natural mold removal products that actually remove the mold but place a coating around the effected ar. Most people in the past would just use bleach and the mold would be back within days and they would have to repeat the mold removal process.

The advantages of these natural pet cleaning products are a blessing in disguise. Another reason why more home owners are going green with these cleaning products is because they are finding that they can use these products to clean. some people need a little more influence to make them go green but the time will come when they use these natural cleaning products once and then they?

By: Drago Marx

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Using Room Color To Sell Your Home

As soon as they walk in the door, potential buyers are going to be subtly influenced by the colors of the rooms. These influences can be positive or they can be negative, and they're more important than you might think. Some people even claim that complex colors attract wealthy and educated people, while simple colors attract people of less education and income. I don't know about that last part, but I do know that giving some thought to your decorating scheme will make your home more attractive to home buyers. You want people to imagine themselves living in your place when they walk through that door. You can do this by co-ordinating your color scheme to guide them to your home's best selling points.

Exterior: Take note of your exterior color. If you can match the color and repeat it throughout the house, it creates an atmosphere of harmony. (It helps if the exterior is an attractive color!)

Kitchen and Dining Room:

Think food. Eating areas feel most natural when painted with "food" colors. Think the brown of coffee, the yellow of egg yolks and the greens of vegetables. Try darker shades, as we associate rich colors with healthful foods. There are many colors that food has lent their names to, like plum, lime green, orange, banana yellow, grapefruit pink, cherry red, blueberries that can help you choose a color scheme.

Living Room:

It really depends on the size of the room and where you want to guide the buyer's eyes. A lighter color (perhaps a lighter version of the exterior color) helps make a smaller living room more spacious. A darker color can make it seem smaller or deemphasize awkward angles. A warmer hue can make a living room seem more cozy and inviting.

Bathrooms:

White is always a popular choice, but since it is most likely already present in the fixtures, too much of it can create a sterile atmosphere. A light shade of blue or green is good here, as it adds color while still imparting an image of cleanliness.

Bedrooms: Rich, muted blues, greens and some reds can make a bedroom seem intimate and relaxing. However, for selling, neutral colors are excellent choices. They are soothing and understated, which helps potential buyers easily see how the room could suit their tastes.

It has been noted that warm colors help sell houses in cooler climates, and vice versa. This may help you if you are having difficulty choosing between colors.

Colors can help bring the house together and de-emphasize aspects of the house that could be off-putting to a potential buyer. However, the effective application of color is up to the seller, to figure out the best color to show off their house's interior.

By: Quinn Kiet

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Black Mold - A Nightmare That Can't Be Avoided

molds getting inside of you.. Yup!! it's common nowadays since we are very much exposed to it each and everyday, we just dont see its effects.. Not satisfied? read more..
Molds are created from exposure to damp and moldy environments and may cause a variety of health effects. Immune-compromised people are much affected by inhaling molds to their lungs, making it fatal for them. Affected area is mainly the respiratory system, the nose, mouth and lung areas, which we know are very important for breathing.

Reactions to mold sensitivity can be sudden or delayed, it may take action asap but most of the time delayed. Single or frequent mold exposure causes non-sensitive individuals becoming to be sensitive to mold and frequent exposure thus increase sensitivity. See my point?

What if you belonged to the immune-suppressed people and not the ones leading a healthy life? The ones having chronic and long term diseases mainly lung diseases, what will happen to them if exposed? Keeping the are clean and dry should be the most important action since that molds grow in surfaces that are damp.

Molds can be found almost anywhere, they grow on surfaces, as long as moisture and oxygen are present.They are airborne and can be inhaled and be in our lungs that easy. When in buildings there's moisture untreated, growth of molds or molds spores spur fast over time. These untreated molds and moldspores and fragments, damages the building big time, it rots woods, damage drywall and the like.

Furniture stains are caused by molds, they cause cosmetic damage. The growing of molds inside th homes has raised health concerns, so ensuring that your house is a mold-free environment is essential. Molds are likely to be present in the home, its impossible to always keep it out, but you can control its growth by controlling the moisture indoors.

Mold removers are sold in the market at various prices, and vary from the chemicals and compunds they're made of. better also check ingredients of the product you're using, it may again affect your health if there's too much chemical in it..

Products that are organic are safe, safe to the health and effective.i just thought you ought to know, its health-friendly and as i would always say better safe than sorry..

Organic Mold Removers are suggested to be the ones used when treating molds, they're safe, no acid contents, no chemicals.. plain organic.. Wish you luck!

By: Drago Marx

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Why Roof Replacement Is Better Option than Repairs

Roof is the most important part of the building. A proper quality made roof is always a desired thing for the building owner. But still some roofs have time limit and after that they need some repairs and maintenance. The time to time maintenance of the roof can avoid the major loss of the other things. And, there is also a time comes when the roof need replacement. Replacement of roof is quite an easy task than repairing the damages.

The roof contractors usually prefer to take the contracts of roof replacement and not the roof repairs. Repairing takes comparatively much time for detecting the damages and repairing the same. Additionally, the home owners also do not understand the situation and ask the contractor to do the task in few minutes; which makes the roofer to rush the work without giving the proper diagnosis to the roof. It is always recommended to the house makers to give the sufficient time to the contractors to do the task with quality. And, also choose the contractor which is known for the quality work in the field.

The quality roof contractors performs their work with expertise and professionally. They accumulate a team of experienced professionals who are well known for their work in the area. The roof contractors also provide the suggestions of maintaining the roof in better condition. The team will diagnose the condition of the roof and will let you know how long it will last and when it will need replacement? The roof replacement is the better option if the condition of the roof is bad. Even after a regular work of repairing the roof is still generating some or the other problems from time to time. So, you are spending a huge amount in repairing the roof. In that condition, it is better to opt for roof replacement.

The decision of roof replacement is a deliberate one; certain measures need to be considered while deciding on factors and components of the roof. The material used in construction, the method of installing and choosing the roof contractor are needed to be decided after sufficient research. There are some more points also that can influence the decision making of roof replacement, such as budget, weather condition and the other alternate option of living during the work in progress etc. Therefore, it is recommended to take the advice a professional roofer and make a proper careful contract.

A roof is the most important part of the house. Maintaining the roof in good condition becomes the first requirement of having a building in better state. Give proper maintenance and repairs from time to time to preserve the roof.

By: smith john

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Selling? Make The Right First Impression!

If you are getting ready to sell, be prepared to make your home stand out in this market. If you look at real estate listings, it seems that almost everything's for sale. That's an exaggeration, but there are certainly a lot of homes and condos on the market. Also, because a lot of them are foreclosures, they're priced quite low. So what's an honest seller to do to make their home stand out, and be worth its asking price, in a glutted market? The answer lies in curb appeal, and beyond.

Curb appeal refers to making your home look good at first sight. Usually this involves getting your pruning and landscaping up to date. It could mean power washing driveways or front walks. It may even mean you need to wash or paint your home. But while this seems like a bit of effort, trust me, it makes a difference. Research shows that a buyer makes a decision about whether or not they could live in a home within the first few seconds of seeing the outside. Of course, if they like it that's no guarantee that a sale will go through. There are still an awful lot of factors, and places on the inside that might make them change their minds. But if the outside doesn't appeal to them, they won't have open eyes for the rest of the home.

Speaking of the rest of the home, there are a few key areas that will make or break how your home appears to buyers. Kitchens and bathrooms are of big importance to buyers, as is closet space and bedroom size. Let's tackle each of these one at a time.

Kitchens: these need to be cleaned to a level most people don't normally do every week. Search everywhere for dust. Make appliances shine. Clear out cupboards and clean them thoroughly. Get rid of any old food containers to help create a feeling of spaciousness in your cupboards. If you have extra appliances you barely use sitting on your counters, put them away or get rid of them. You want to enhance how much space their is, not cramp it with all your stuff.

In the bathrooms, be sure there's no mildew anywhere. Clear and clean medicine cabinets and closets. Make sure the toilet works perfectly, and cabinets close properly. Get them fixed if they need it. Nobody wants to buy a house that needs immediate repairs. During showings, hang out your best towels, clean and neatly folded. Have personal items put away out of sight.

In bedrooms, get everything off the floor that doesn't have to be there. This is a great opportunity to get rid of all the clothes you have but will never wear again. If you have kids, there are probably a lot of toys that can be donated to charity. This alone should create more space in the rooms. Remember to have beds made and everything dusted and tidy for showings.

Whatever you do, don't stuff everything you are clearing out of the other rooms into the closets. As I stated, these are also important to buyers. Donate your extras to charity, or, if you must keep them, find somewhere else to store them until your home sells. Organize all your closets so that, even if they are full, they look orderly.

These tips could be the difference between your home idling on the market for months, or selling promptly. Don't underestimate the power of the first impression!

By: Carolyn Capalbo

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