Tough Outdoor Cleaning with Mean Green

September 8, 2016 by Leave a Comment

Disclosure – This post was sponsored by Mean Green, however all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Tough Outdoor Cleaning with Mean Green

The patio off the master bedroom is my favorite place to relax and read after work or after the kids go to bed and I probably spend more waking hours there than any one other spot in the house. Although its a covered patio, it still collects all sorts of dirt, pollen and even grass clippings every time we mow the yard. I keep a comfy cushion on this chaise lounger but as you can see in the before picture (upper right) the edges that aren’t covered get dirty and discolored over time and it just doesn’t look pretty anymore when that happens. I like to use Mean Green Mildew Destroyer on the chaise because it takes care of the stains in a hurry. Just a few squirts and you can literally see the spots disappearing right before your eyes, a few swipes with a cleaning rag and this job was done. What a huge difference it made in the after picture on the left side!

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Late Spring Cleaning with Mean Green

June 9, 2016 by Leave a Comment

Disclosure – This post was sponsored by Mean Green, however all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Late Spring Cleaning with Mean Green

While we like to keep the house as clean as possible all year round, I always like to tackle those projects each spring that seem to get missed during the year. It’s already getting pretty darn hot out but it’s technically still spring and I found a couple more things that needed a good cleaning like the outside of these patio doors. With so many kids handing slamming this door shut every day I wanted to be sure it was clean and bacteria free so I used Mean Green Anti-Bacterial Multi-Surface Cleaner to cut through this tough grease and grime while killing 99.9% of germs. I simply sprayed the door with the cleaner and wiped the grime away, I couldn’t believe it didn’t take a bunch of scrubbing to clean this mess.

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Excited to Be a Mean Green Ambassador!

May 26, 2016 by Leave a Comment

Disclosure – This post was sponsored by Mean Green, however all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Mean Green

With five kids in the house it’s nearly impossible to have the whole house clean at any one given time but I’ve always been a fan of Mean Green cleaning products because they help cut my cleaning time dramatically.  Anything that helps me save time and makes me feel good about the cleanliness of my home is a keeper in my book so it was a no-brainer when the opportunity arose to be a blog ambassador for Mean Green and I jumped at the chance to share my experience with their products with my readers.

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Check Out the New SUHD Technology from Samsung

June 1, 2015 by Leave a Comment

Disclosure – This is a sponsored post and I have been compensated in the form of a Best Buy Gift Card, however all thoughts and opinions are my own.

SUHD Technology from Samsung

I recently got to check out the new SUHD technology from Samsung at Best Buy and it was amazing! The last time I had to go shopping for a new television the advances in technology since I bought my old one were tremendous, but this picture is astounding. The new Samsung 4K SUHD TVs use nano-crystal technology to display a wider range of colors so you get a brighter, more true to life picture. SUHD has four times the resolution of full HD and the difference is huge so you can really tell the difference when you’re comparing different television displays.

SUHD Technology from Samsung

I’d read about the new technology and it sounded great, but you really can’t fully appreciate it until you go see for yourself. Right now you can even see a sneak peek of the new Jurassic World movie in the Samsung Entertainment Experience Shop inside Best Buy. The clip is only showing for a limited but you can get more information here http://www.bestbuy/JurassicWorld. You’ll love seeing it in the bright vivid colors on one of these curved screens.

SUHD Technology from Samsung

Right now through June 13th you can get an amazing savings offer for Samsung SUHD products and save up to $1500 on Samsung SUHD
TVs at Best Buy stores. Check out how you can enhance your viewing experience at a great informational Twitter party on June 9th at 7:00 CST where you can learn more about SUHD and also have a chance to win one of four $50 Best Buy gift cards.

 

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Ventilation Tips to Save Energy this Winter

February 4, 2015 by 1 Comment

When that chilly time of year rolls around, homeowners begin closing up windows and shutting doors to keep warm air inside. Unfortunately, you might have leaks and insufficient insulation that are allowing that hot air to escape, forcing your heating system to work harder and costing you more money. There are ways to easily detect and resolve these issues to reduce the amount of energy you use this year.

Check Your Insulation

The U.S. Department of Energy has recommended certain insulation depths for all new homes. That rating changes often. Odds are that even if you have a home that has been built in the last few years, your attic may not be sufficiently lined. Look up what the recommended ratings are for your home in your climate and compare that to what you have, adding more insulation if necessary. If you are not sure, call a professional for help. Insulation specialists can also retroactively insulate your exterior walls to lock in heat during cooler temperatures.

Detecting Air Leaks

Some leaks are easy to spot. For example, windows and doors may usher in drafts even when closed. Other spots are not so obvious. You can conduct an inspection of the exterior of your home to examine areas where two types of building materials come together. Common spots for leaks include:

  • Water faucets that are outdoors
  • Spots along the foundation where the siding or brick meets the cement
  • Edges where siding and chimneys meet
  • Any corners of the home

Inside the house, you might find cracks or gaps along switch plates, electrical outlets and door or window frames. If you are unsure of how to detect a leak, you can hire a professional to do a through inspection and energy assessment.

Once you know where all the leaks are, you can start to seal them using the appropriate measures. For example, if you notice drafts coming in through the doors, you can use weather-stripping or caulk. You can also use extra insulation around potential leaks in the attic and around piping.

Inspect Your Fireplace and Lighting Fixtures

The light-emitting diode (LED) is one of today’s most energy-efficient and quickly emerging lighting technologies. Quality LED light bulbs have a longer life, are more durable, and offer comparable and/or better light quality than other types of lighting. DirectBuy offers thousands of lamps, wall lights, landscape lights, chandeliers, and more that can help keep lighting costs down.

Your chimney is essentially a large vent leading outdoors. If your damper is not closed when the fireplace is not in use, you are losing precious warm heat. If you simply never use the fireplace, you can plug and seal the flue to ensure there are no leaks.

When you have a fire going, you can minimize the amount of heat you lose by opening the dampers in the bottom of the firebox, if you have one. You can also close all the doors leading into the room with the fireplace and lower your thermostat to 55 degrees.

Have Your HVAC Inspected

When is the last time a professional inspected your heating and cooling system? The air pumping through your home relies on clean vents and a properly functioning system; otherwise you are spending much more on your energy than necessary. Before every fall or winter, you should have a specialist run an efficiency test and check the condition of your vents.

Your home’s ventilation plays a key role not only in keeping you comfortable but also on how your utility bills look every month. Following these tips will make for a warmer and more affordable home this winter.

 

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Different Ways to Use Your Garage

December 29, 2014 by Leave a Comment

garageappeal

There are many people who do not use their garage as a place to keep cars. This happens because the cars do not fit or the family needs extra space. The family can change the room into a place that will look like any other room in the home. The family can make a transformation that will change the way they use all the rooms in their home by changing them to something that is brand new.

Bedroom

The garage can be changed into a bedroom simply by using wall units for storage. The room can be another guest bedroom that the family keeps items in, and they will not have to worry about parking their cars in the garage anymore.

Kitchen

The garage can become a new kitchen when the homeowner decides that it is wise to install new cabinets. The new cabinets in the room will be the beginning of a great kitchen that the family can install to run a new business or offer other services in the community. There are many times when the family will need to add a kitchen or living space, and the garage is the perfect place to handle this with new cabinets.

Storage

The garage can be turned into a storage room that will work well for all the items that the family has been keeping somewhere else. The room can be lined with storage cabinets, and the ceiling can be lined with storage that allows the family to hang things up or slide them into tracks. The family must remember that they can make the most of the room when they are putting in new storage units.

The storage can be used for tools and other things that the family uses to get their work done. All the storage units can be labeled, and the family will be able to keep track of everything more easily.

Changing the garage into something new is easy when the family decides to use storage units from a place like GarageAppeal.com to make a change to something that is no longer a garage at all.

 

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Getting Your Home Ready for the Market

December 23, 2014 by Leave a Comment

filtreteYou’ve decided that it is time for big changes in your life and moving is one of them. Whether you have a new job offer or just need a change of scenery, you are not alone when it comes to the challenges of selling a home. Before you actually put your home on the market, you need to prepare. You’ll soon have prospective buyers coming into your living space. Make sure everything is at its best to improve the chances of selling your home.

Do Any Necessary Repairs

Look at your home with a critical eye. That means taking in the outside and the inside. If you see anything that needs to be fixed, address the problem. Whether you have a loose railing, need a new board on your step, or have a shutter that is falling off, pay attention to detail. The same goes for the interior. Get rid of any extras sitting on your lawn and make sure your yard is maintained. If you don’t take care of issues ahead of time, you may find yourself hanging on to your home longer than you expected.

Make Your Home Warm and Inviting

When people are thinking about buying a home, the place has to call to them. Make them feel like a homecoming has welcomed them in the moment they walk in the door. Try a residential air filter to improve air quality. Choose inviting scents that create an inviting atmosphere. Make sure the place is tidy and that there is no clutter when appointments are made for showings of your home.

Try Opening Up Your Space

You want visitors to be able to see as much of your home as possible. This is a time to rearrange your furnishing and store excess pieces. Remember that they need to picture what the place will look like when it is theirs. They do not need to be overwhelmed by your belongings. Sweet and simple could very well be your best bet.

Be Willing to Negotiate

Get ready to haggle when it comes to the price of your home. It is rare to have someone snap up a house at the buying price. Consider the fact that there may be improvements that still need to be made on your home. This will affect your bottom line.

 

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Finding The Right Tools For The Craftsman

November 23, 2014 by Leave a Comment

toolsmith

When people are looking for the right tools for their work, they can use trades pro tools from a place like Toolsmith Direct. These tools come in various forms, and they all allow the craftsman to get the job done in a reasonable amount of time. When someone is shopping for proper accessories, they can come to the same place to find every accessory they need for their next job.

The Tools

Tools that are large and small must populate a toolbox. The professional repairman or craftsman will want to have as many tools as possible on their truck. The selection alone helps people get their jobs done faster, and people can shop a large number of tools to find the new one that they do not have. Adding to the collection over time makes working in the field that much easier.

The Accessories

The accessories that are used with these tools are often so varied that no one could own all of them. However, a craftsman needs to have certain accessories to complete certain jobs. When they are not sure which accessory to buy next, they can look through the catalog to see which accessory best fits their needs.

These accessories range from drill bits to battery packs. They can be purchased in a generic form, or they can be purchased to match a certain tool that they already own. Also, the craftsman will be able to find accessories that suit their budget. Some accessories are more expensive than others, but they often do specific jobs.

The Selection

The catalog is so large that someone could easily make their way through the catalog and never see all the items. However, the large selection allows people the chance to find exactly what they need.

Each and every craftsman needs to find the tools that will make their job much easier. There are so many choices for craftsman that it is hard to shop, but the will find something that makes their next job easy. Every person looking for the right tool can find one for the next job.

 

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Have You Tried Some of the Newest Options for Pillow Filling?

November 16, 2014 by Leave a Comment

sleeping

For those fortunate enough to be able to fall asleep anywhere, anytime, a pillow is a pillow. It doesn’t matter to them what it’s made out of as long as it’s there, and they can put their head on it and go to sleep.

For the rest of us who aren’t blessed with the power of insta-sleep, a bit more thought has to go into the rest ritual. And perhaps the most important aspect is the pillow we sleep on. But where there used to only be a few types of pillows on the market, all kinds of materials exist now. Taking a look at some of the newest materials may help you address a need you had been unable to solve until now.

Memory foam is one of the most popular bedding materials at the moment, both for pillows and mattresses and toppers. Temperature-sensitive, memory foam warms with your body, and softens and contours under the areas of greatest pressure for a customized sleep, every night. Buckwheat hulls meanwhile, are able to conform in a more manual way, as the small, super-supportive hulls can be moved into place with a little fluffing for a firm rest.

Microbeads are similar to the buckwheat hulls, but offer lighter weight, being typically made from polystyrene pellets, like beanbag chairs. In the same family, but far less common, are plastic pellets or beads that mimic the forming traits of small, solid filling.

Latex foam is also becoming very popular, though it is not to be confused with memory foam. Springy, it is instantly responsive to changes in pressure from the sleeper with a solid form that won’t crumple during the night. Lastly, you may want to give fiberfill pillows a shot if you have allergies. Being hypoallergenic, these fibers won’t harbor irritants. This filling is very affordable, and you can add more to pillows until you get the feel you like.

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Article submitted by The Foam Factory, an online retailer of comfort and support products, with a wide selection of pillows, made from latex foam, memory foam, polyester fiberfill, and more!

 

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Organizational Hacks Every Dorm Resident Should Know

October 20, 2014 by Leave a Comment

laptop_cartMoving into a tiny dorm room can be quite the eye opener for incoming students. These small living spaces often have limited open areas and as a result, organization is critical to keep things comfortable and less confusing. Here are some clever organizational hacks you can use to get the absolute most out of the minimal space you have.

Utilize Common Products

There are many common products on the market that have more than one use. Here are some examples of everyday items that can be reused in a different, and equally as effective manner.

  • Ice Cube Tray – An ice cube tray is an excellent resource to use when separating and organizing small jewelry, such as earrings. It can also be used to separate small crafting supplies.
  • PVC Pipe – A piece of PVC pipe, carefully mounted to a wall is one way to store your hair supplies, such as blow dryers, straighteners, and curling irons.
  • Sandwich Baggie Ties – Have you ever considered using sandwich baggie ties to section off specific cords in your tangled pile? You may choose to color code or simply write on each tie, which cord belongs to what.

Bathroom Magnet Strip

Have you ever found yourself frazzled trying to separate bobby pins for a last minute hair fix up, or trying desperately to find your toe nail clippers in your messy toiletry bag? Fortunately, you can avoid ever experiencing this mishap again when you take a small magnet strip and attach it to your bathroom wall. Once secured, it can be used to hold and organize bobby pins, nail clippers, tweezers, etc.

Plastic Bag Dispenser

Now that you are responsible for your shopping, you get to deal with the plethora of grocery bags each week. Rather than discard them, roll them up and put them in an empty disinfectant wipe bottle for instantaneous access via the top dispenser. You may even decide to decorate the outside to make it a bit more pretty.

These simple organizational hacks can be used to clean up your dorm and give you a bit more space and comfort.

 

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