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If broken glass has gotten into your pool you are going to need to drain all the water for maximum safety. Drain a pool with broken glass with help from a swimming pool and spa industry professional with over twenty years of experience in this free video clip.
Cleaning your mini-blinds more often means that you won't need to repair them quite so much. Clean and repair mini-blinds with help from a home cleaning professional in this free video clip.
Washing windows doesn't necessarily have to leave streaks behind. Wash windows without them streaking with help from an experienced window cleaner in this free video clip.
Streak-free windows aren't some myth that you'll never achieve. Learn about a cleaning solution that can give you streak-free windows with help from an experienced window cleaner in this free video clip.
Athletic swimsuits need to be washed in a very particular way to preserve the material for the future. Wash an athletic swimsuit with help from the style evangelist in this free video clip.
An existing CMU wall with limited reinforcement or an unsightly, crumbling appearance may be at risk for further deterioration and perhaps even partial failure or eventual collapse. The proper application of a rated surface bonding cement to a wall made of dry-stacked or mortared concrete masonry units can greatly increase the wall's strength. This type of cementitious coating gains its strengthening properties from additives such as latex binders and glass fiber reinforcements.
Just because you're using water for cleaning purposes doesn't mean you can stop thinking about water conservation. Learn the greenest way to wash windows with help from a home improvement expert in this free video clip.
A wall-mounted Peerless gas heater is a type of space heater that attaches to the wall and uses gas, unlike most modern units. Many Peerless heaters are sold as antiques, and whether you use the heater as a decoration or for heat, cleaning it regularly can keep it looking its best and help you stay safe, especially if you’re using it for heating.
Honduran mahogany can vary in color from a pinkish brown to a reddish brown that darkens with age. The durable nature of Honduran mahogany makes the wood ideal for furniture, musical instruments, floors and walls. Over time, a Honduran mahogany wall will become dirty and require a thorough cleaning. Some common cleaners will damage the mahogany wood, but a few inexpensive items will keep the mahogany wall looking its best.
When your trailer-mounted hydraulic windows get dirty, cleaning them can pose a challenge as they are hard to reach. The windows are up so high that washing the dirt and grime off the outside of the window is a major chore. While the inside of the window is easy to reach -- just climb inside the trailer -- you will need to devise a means for maintaining the exterior windows so that your trailer has optimal visibility.
Vertical blinds rely on a fairly simple adjustment mechanism. However, there are still several things that can go wrong in a vertical blind and jam them when you try to close the vanes. If you pull the chain designed to open and close the vanes and the blinds jam, you need to inspect them and find why they aren't closing properly.
Designing a vertical blind isn't as simple as turning a standard blind on its side. The mechanism used to control this popular window covering is complex, but despite the wide range of styles, materials and prices of vertical blinds available, the basic design of most blinds is the same.
Vertical blinds are usually installed in windows as a way of controlling the amount of light that comes into the room. If you consider the blinds to be unsightly but can't remove them, especially if you're renting an apartment, you may opt to hide them instead. Vertical blinds are in installed in both small and large windows. Regardless of the size of the window, the same method can be employed to hide the blinds.
Vertical blinds are usually made from polyvinyl chloride and can be tilted to allow varying amounts of sunlight into a room. Vertical blinds are usually easy to maintain because they are water-resistant and can be wiped clean. Despite these advantages, however, vertical blinds can sometimes be ineffectual.
Cove baseboards are commonly seen in schools, offices and other public buildings. The vinyl material is used in place of wood baseboards to finish the wall where it meets the floor and provide an aesthetically pleasing appearance that's easily cleaned and not as expensive as wood baseboards. Vinyl cove baseboards are exposed to the same dirt, dust and debris your floors and walls are. Keeping them clean is an important part of maintaining cleanliness in the entire room.
According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, approximately 4,000 children under the age of 10 are treated in emergency rooms because of window-fall accidents each year. However, the vast majority of children who fall out of windows are under 5. The installation of window guards can help prevent accidental falls from windows, and they are simple to install.
Home builders take extra precautions when installing windows into a home located at a high elevation. Windows that are manufactured for use at lower elevation than the home will suffer from excessive pressure, and could begin to leak. The best windows for higher elevations should have breather tubes or capillary tubes, which help to relieve the pressure between the glass panes.
Pressure washers are capable of cleaning many surfaces quickly and aggressively, but they should never be used on any type of window, insulated or otherwise. Even the dirtiest windows shouldn't require the use of any sort of powered equipment -- they generally should be washed by hand or with simple cleaning tools.
Shallow wall shelves add a modernistic look to a room, especially when they hold framed art, photographs or postcards. Designer shallow shelves can be pricey, but you can make your own shallow wall shelves out of repurposed venetian blinds. Venetian blinds, especially the genuine wooden variety, are the perfect size for shallow wall shelves, and they are prefinished and ready for mounting. All you need to do is get brackets sturdy enough to hold the shelves and mount them on the wall.
An accidental pull of a vane on a vertical blind sometimes causes damage to the carrier stem. The carrier stem is the portion that holds an individual vertical vane. The stem fits inside the carrier body, which attaches to the upper track. Often one side of the vane connector will crack off if the individual vane is pulled. Replacing a vertical blind carrier stem requires removing the broken one and taking it to a store for a replacement. This helps ensure purchasing the correct type of carrier stem for your vertical blinds.
Mini blinds function similarly to regular width blinds, as both operate through the use of a cord to increase or decrease the length of the window covering. Improper care of your blinds can cause tangles within the framework when the pull cords attached to the blinds are not simultaneously pulled. Tangled cords throughout the mini blinds increases the risk of permanent damage to the blinds since the cords can break individual slats or cause the entire window treatment to collapse if forcefully pulled.
You can brick any wall of your house with brick veneer, a material just like full-size brick but less than half as thick. Installing brick veneer on a wall is not complicated and can be done in a single weekend. Once the brick is installed, your room will have the urban feel of an apartment in SoHo or a converted warehouse in Brooklyn.
Vertical blinds have a sleek look that suits a modern room. The standard cornice at the top of blinds is narrow and plain, but you can give the window treatment a finished look by making a custom cover for the cornice. Choose a substantial fabric for the cornice to complement the sturdy look of the blinds. Heavy upholstery fabric is a good choice for fabric covered blinds, while a heavy twill fabric suits the smooth surface of blinds made of solid aluminum.
Many homeowners want the appearance of leaded glass windows and the function of modern air-tight windows. To achieve the look of leaded glass with any window, you can use the same trick that builders and designers use: leaded tape. This tape is available in several styles, and some is as thick as true leaded stained glass installations. They are much easier to install and maintain, and you can enjoy the modern economics of dual pane windows and the ambiance of the look you want.
Cleaning outside windows on the third floor can be dangerous using a ladder. Extension poles attachable to many window-cleaning accessories are available through maintenance supply retailers and home improvement stores. The extension pole used to clean windows in high areas extends to various lengths by pulling out an extension bar and latching it at the desired length.
Vertical blinds are useful for maintaining privacy on your sliding door. Sliding doors often cause privacy issues because they are large panels of see-through glass. The blinds allow you to enjoy the natural lighting and view during the day and block the windows to the outside world at night. The blinds rely on a cord to control their movement, and the blinds won't work if the cord breaks or gets tangled. Fortunately, the cord is usually simple to repair.
Decorative window surrounds are used to make the windows stand out on the outside of a house. The surround and headers of a window are different parts, both key to how well your window protects from the elements and how aesthetically appealing it is. Choose them carefully for windows that will stand the test of time and add visual interest to the exterior of your home.
Given the variety of different siding types, there are a variety of ways you can cut out the siding around your aluminum windows if you need to replace them. Weather and wear and tear will eventually make their mark on any home, and if you need to replace the windows, you have to cut the siding out first and then replace the window, as well as the siding. Knowing the best method can save you money in the long run.
Custodial maintenance workers perform a number of heavy-duty cleaning and general maintenance responsibilities. These duties range from removing trash to washing windows and walls. Custodial maintenance workers shampoo carpets, and clean floors and toilets. Depending on the employment terms, the worker may be responsible for performing routine maintenance on boilers, furnaces, furniture, electrical fittings and plumbing equipment. External maintenance may include shoveling snow off driveways, parking areas and sidewalks, and maintain landscaping by mowing lawns and trimming hedges.
Vertical blinds can be pushed out of arrangement by pets, children and wind from an open window. Unlike horizontal blinds, vertical blinds are only attached at the top, so the bottom portion of the blinds can swing freely. As a result, they can become caught up on the window frame or in curtains, resulting in a messy appearance. A homemade vertical blind tract will keep the blinds in a vertical position, even when the window is open. A board of wood trim will comprise the tract, so select a trim pattern that coordinates with the window frame or nearby molding.
Although the primary functions of vertical blinds are to keep out light that's too bright and provide privacy, they can also have a decorative function. For an aesthetic pop without parallel, vertical blinds bearing murals are an intriguing option. Whether crafted by hand or mass-produced, mural-covered blinds can transform your window space and serve as a conversation piece.
The exterior features of your home stand out for others to see, and a dirty exterior can reflect poorly on your commitment to maintenance. Check the outside of your home regularly, especially after a long winter when you may not have had the chance to perform any cleaning. You can use various efficient cleaning methods to tidy up your home's exterior.
Venetian blinds are common window treatments because of their ease of use and versatility. With regular use, Venetian blind lift cords may wear and become stuck, preventing you from adjusting your blinds. The easiest way to repair these stuck cords is to replace them with new ones. Minimal time and expense is required for this simple project.
Foot traffic from people and pets, spills and other accidents all take their toll on hard-surfaced floors, like wood, laminate, vinyl or tile. Besides being functional, flooring contributes to the aesthetic value of the home. Keeping it clean and in good repair is important. Most of the time, regular maintenance is enough to keep your floors looking their best. Deep cleaning, like hot pressure washing is sometimes necessary for tough stains.
While bricks may come in a large variety of colors, the actual colors typically found for purchase are limited by the brick manufacturer to those few that are in the greatest demand. If your color scheme calls for something different, though, you need not limit yourself. With a layer or two of penetrating concrete dye, you can tint your brick house, quickly creating walls of any color you desire.
Textured painting adds a unique design and a sense of depth to a wall. A skip trowel is a type of mud trowel that helps finish carpenters apply joint compound to a wall. Although the most common use for a skip trowel is to provide a smooth surface between two sheets of drywall, you can also use this basic tool to paint and texture your wall. This technique gives your finished wall a random, free-form style reminiscent of historical haciendas.
Vertical blinds offer an upright alternative to horizontally slatted blinds. Like their horizontal counterparts, vertical blinds come with slats in a range of thicknesses. While these slats don’t generally change the way that the blinds function, they do alter the amount of shade or light provided to a room and have an effect on the room’s appearance.
According to manufacturers of tilt-wash windows, like Sun and Anderson, tilt windows make lives easier for homeowners. Both the top and bottom of the window tilt inward, giving you access to the exterior side of the window from inside your home. Help for painting tilting windows includes the right paint and tips on painting.
The soffit is the underside of a roof's overhang. Soffits are protected from wind and rain, but this allows dirt and dust to build up on them easily, making soffit-cleaning an eventual necessity to maintain your home's appearance.
Vertical blinds, unlike horizontal blinds, are typically attached only at the top of the rod from which they hang. Although they don't collect as much dust as horizontal blinds, they still get dirty and require an occasional cleaning. While placing them in the dishwasher may seem like an ingenious idea at first glance, it is not your best option.
Proper drainage prevents excess water from pooling on streets, which creates dangerous traffic conditions. Workers install trenches with a 1-inch slope, to make the water flow toward storm drains. To allow the water to enter the trenches -- yet prevent pedestrians, debris and vehicle wheels from falling inside -- workers secure Irving grates over the openings.
Cleaning windows from a hanging platform is a dangerous but well-paying job. A hanging platform, or suspended scaffold, provides a stable stage to stand on and clean the windows. The platform is anchored to the top of the building. Safety precautions are a primary focus, as a long fall will frequently result in death. The technique for cleaning windows on the platform is very similar to cleaning normal windows.
With normal wear, glass or glass-ceramic stove cooktops can become scuffed or scratched. Kitchen utensils, pots and pans or abrasive debris trapped betwen a cooking vessel and the glass cause scratches that dull the finish of the stovetop. Stovetop manufacturers often recommend specific cleaning preparations that buff out scratches. The preparations are typically acidic or alkaline pastes or suspensions that contain calcite, pulverized diatomaceous earth or microcrystalline silica. These mildly abrasive compounds must be rubbed or buffed onto the scratches to remove irregularities and restore the stovetop's shiny finish.
Sunrooms are intended to provide a space where you can sit comfortably indoors, while enjoying the outdoor views all year long. It is counterproductive to build a sunroom that is useless for over half the year if it is too hot in the summer or bone-chilling cold during the winter. A variety of sunroom windows are available to help keep a constant, comfy temperature. The best gliding windows can provide the sunroom with fresh air when the weather is pleasant and keep out wet weather and winter's chill.
An egress window allows people to exit a basement. These special windows have excavated areas resembling a deep window well on the exterior of the basement. This area facilitates reaching the ground level from the basement level of the home and may include a ladder or steps. This excavated area can accumulate rain and snow that must drain away to prevent leakage into the home.
Hunter Douglass makes Duette blinds that have a honeycomb design, making them more like shades than the typical mini-blinds with individual separated slats. This can pose an issue when it comes to cleaning them, especially if you are accustomed to cleaning and dusting blinds by slipping a duster through the individual slats. Luckily, Hunter Douglas has developed the shades to be soil and dust resistant. When they do become dirty, the blinds should be cleaned carefully and properly to prevent damage.
If your windows seem to let in cold or hot air even when they are closed, they may need to be sealed. Properly sealed window panes can greatly reduce your energy cost as well as keep the temperature in your home stable. While there is no "best" way to seal your windows, the easiest way to ensure a quality finished product is caulking. Caulk can be purchased in home stores and online and it is very user-friendly.
The standard mini blind is seen in apartments and homes over and over again, and the sight of yours, even if they are in good shape, may not be setting your home apart from the pack. Luckily, you can convert your mini blinds into fabric shades using any fabric you choose in one afternoon. Once your blinds have been transformed into stylish shades that match your décor, you can hang them and raise or lower the shades with the same ease as the original blinds.
Salty windows are inconveniences for those who face long, hard winters. Road salts prevent icing, but can splash onto your car windows. If you live in a coastal area, wind can carry droplets of saltwater to your home windows as well. In either case, when the water evaporates, white salt deposits remain on the windows, leaving unsightly stains.
Oily soot may be caused by grease fires or other sources of burning oil. Sticky particles created in the burning process can attach to the walls, leaving black stains that are difficult to remove. Because soot spreads easily when wet, remove most of it with a vacuum before attempting to clean with water. A strong cleaner such as trisodium phosphate can remove greasy and oily soot stains from your walls with minimal effort.
