Sharing is Caring, Especially When It Comes to Cleaning

Carpet vs Area Rug, Which do you prefer?

February 13 by

When decorating a home, a lot of different choices need to be made. Some people prefer the look of hard wood floors, while others want plush carpeting. Some prefer the simplicity of wall to wall carpeting, but others enjoy the beauty of an area rug. So how do you decide which way to go?

Wall to wall carpeting is the type of fabric that is attached to your floors. It is extremely comfortable in cold weather, and creates insulation that can reduce heating costs. Carpeting is often very affordable, durable, and softer, which is great for small children. Wall to wall carpeting is a long term commitment, which can be a problem. A spill, stain, or worn out high traffic area could be an eyesore for years. On the other hand, if you really like the carpeting you can’t take it with you. If you move out in a few years you’ll have to say goodbye to your investment.

Area rugs vary from inexpensive throw rugs to fine oriental rugs that stay in the family for generations. They are a great way to show off hardwood flooring, with the comfort and softness of a rug. Although area rugs are wonderful design pieces for a room, they can also be a tripping hazard.. Also, rugs only cover a small space, so if you are protecting your floor from small children, or keeping your feet warm in the winter, you are limited.

In the end it’s all a matter of personal preference, but knowing the advantages of each type of flooring will help you make the right choice for your home.

Remember, both area rugs and wall to wall carpeting are long term investments. Take your time, and make sure it’s the right choice for your family.

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How to Make a Cleaning Schedule

February 8 by

Sometimes it feels like it’s impossible to keep up with the house cleaning. The minute you finish the laundry the hamper is full again. You swear you just washed the floors yesterday but they are a mess again, and dirty dishes fill the sink faster than you can wash them.

If you want to reduce the over all stress of keeping a clean house, making a cleaning schedule is the way to go. By dividing up chores by times of the day, and days of the week (and if you’re lucky, by members of the family) you will never again be overwhelmed by the sight of a laundry pile or dusty shelf.

Start by dividing tasks into once a week tasks such as dusting and floor cleaning, biweekly chores such as laundry, and chores that need to be done multiple times a day like dish washing. This way when you notice that the laundry hamper is getting full, you can feel calm knowing that you’ll take care of it on Monday, Wednesday or Friday. Doing dishes three times a day, after meal times, means that you won’t feel like you’re do nothing but dishes all day long!

Keeping a house clean can sometimes feel like a never ending battle, but a cleaning schedule will make even the messiest house manageable.

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Beat the Winter Blues

January 26 by

It’s that time of year again when it’s too cold, too dark and it feels like Spring is still just out of reach. A few small tips will help you perk up your emotional well being, and help keep you smiling till Spring.

Start off by staying well rested. It’s hard to be bright and cheery when all you want to do it crawl back into bed. By making sure that you get at least 7 to 8 hours of sleep a night, you can ward off feeling sluggish all day long.

Eating right isn’t just about staying thin, a healthy diet is a natural mood booster as well. Exercise is also an important element in staying cheerful. Exercise increases natural occurring mood boosting hormones, as well as relieves stress and tension. Getting at least 30 minutes of mild to moderate  exercise a few time a week will help you look better, feel better and even sleep better!

Plants aren’t the only things that need sunlight to live, humans need natural sun light too. By getting as little as 15 minutes of sun light each day, you’ll get a big boost of happiness.

And remember, Spring is just around the corner!

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How Anything Can Wreck Your Body

January 23 by

A recent NY Times article has all of New York buzzing about the new found dangers of yoga. As a long time yoga practitioner, all I can say to this article is, “Duh.” Running can wreck your body if you don’t stretch right, cycling destroys your hamstrings and aerobics classes leave my knees aching for days.

The fact is that any physically challenging sport carries with it the risk of injury, and that is no surprise. Yoga gained it’s safe and easy reputation years ago, before it entered into the mainstream. It’s true that yoga has a gentle side, but even the most relaxing yoga classes carry with it the risk of injury. When you add in a type A personality trying to fit in a workout during lunch, you are asking for it.

The most important thing to remember when practicing any activity, is to listen to your own body. Yoga philosophy stresses the importance of working within your own limits, and embracing your body’s abilities. Whether you are practicing yoga, basketball or long distance running, the only way to avoid injury is to be aware of the line between pushing yourself in a healthy way, and pushing yourself over the edge.

Namaste.

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Amanda & the Blue Christmas Dream

January 11 by

carpet cleaning new york

Winter Break Whimsy

At Amanda’s house, winter break normally means a trip up north to visit Grammy and Pop. But, this year, the beloved grandparents came down south to spend the holidays with Amanda and family.

Wanting to make this holiday even more special, the kids, crouched together in Marty’s infamous work space, designed a colorful spectacle for the whole family.

Inspired by a favorite carol, “Dreaming of a White Christmas” along with a couple of twists of their own, Marty constructed a slotted-bottom bucket to hang from the living room ceiling fan. Rubie concocted a mix of bright blue food coloring, water and extra-shaken soap.

On Christmas morning, Marty hit play on the CD player and turned the ceiling fan on high. Rubie then climbed the ladder and began slowly pouring her solution into the bucket.

Unexpected Messy, Turn of Events

As the bright blue bubbles and foam floated through the living room, their parents, Grammy and Pop, clad in pajamas, danced and laughed in the blue snow bubble shower.

Just then, Rubie lost her grip of the slippery, blue soap and dropped her bucket of foamy bubble solution right into the white carpet and absorbed quickly.

Wet with soap suds, their family paused, shook their heads then laughed. Grammy looked at her nervous grandchildren and said, “Thank goodness for Flat Rate Carpet.”

Two days after Christmas, the grandparents left just as the technician arrived. While the technician removed the stain, Amanda took a break from her book and thought, “Oh, how I love those colorful imaginations.”

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