Here are the top 5 we found based on our own testing and other consumer reviews:

You might not realize it, but one of the biggest determinants of whether your house looks clean is your carpet.  Even if a house is kept sparkling clean; a dull, dingy carpet will make it feel dirty and less homey.  Even worse than that is a clean carpet with a giant stain in the middle.  Keeping your home looking great involves keeping your carpet looking great too.  Here are a few tips to help your carpet look clean and inviting.

The best tip I can give you for getting your carpet clean is to take steps to not let it get dirty in the first place.  I understand that if you have kids and pets this is pretty much impossible, but there are things you can do to keep it from not getting quite so bad.  The first option is to consider not having carpet at all.  Area rugs on hardwood floors are so much easier to keep clean than carpet.  You may not be able to afford this option, but if you can it should definitely be a consideration.   A good way to keep carpets cleaner is to keep outside dirt from getting in.  Encourage everyone to leave their shoes at the door.  You can also put down welcome mats and boot scrapers at the door.  Just remember to put them at all entrances, including back or side doors.

Another great idea for keeping your carpets clean is to vacuum regularly.  Carpet griminess doesn’t usually happen from spills; it happens from regular dirt and dust getting ground into the carpet.  Vacuuming on a regular basis may seem tedious, but it can save you a lot of money by keeping your carpet cleaner (and saving you scrubbing time).  It can also help with allergies and asthma by picking up dust mites and other allergens that live in your carpet.   If carpet does start to look dingy, you can rent a hot water “steam” cleaner to refresh them and get out ground in dirt.  If you’re worried about chemicals in your carpets, just run them with clean water; they’ll still get out most of the dirt.

I’ve always been told that if a stain isn’t gone within a few hours, it isn’t going anywhere.  If spills and stains do occur, you should do your best to clean them right away.   My favorite type of carpet cleaners are the kinds that contain two separate cleaners that don’t combine until you spray them on the stain.  This then produces oxygen bubbles which quickly get to work cleaning your stains.  I’m not sure exactly why these work better, I just know they do.  Another high quality product to clean your carpets is Simply Green.  I can’t tell you how many people I’ve heard or read recommend this product for all the toughest stains.  It’s also great to use in steam cleaners.

If you don’t want to spend a lot of money on cleaners, or are worried about bringing chemicals into your house; there are several household products that work great to get out stains.  If you have a greasy stain, try putting baking soda on the stain and letting it sit for several hours.  This should soak up the stain and you can just vacuum away the excess particles.  If a stain requires more scrubbing, you can mix 1 part vinegar with 2 parts water and scrub like a normal carpet cleaning product.  Just remember to clean it out well so you’re not left with the smell.  Other products that can work are club soda or hydrogen peroxide.

Whatever product you use, remember to wash out all the cleanser.  Soap residue left in the carpet can become sticky and attract new dirt; making the stain seemingly reappear.  Stains can also come back if you don’t get the pad of the carpet clean enough.  To get out the deep down dirt, use lots of water when cleaning spots; then, put a large amount of paper towels and a heavy object of the stain and let it set overnight.  This will suck up any leftover dirty water that may have stayed in the carpet.

Whether you’ve just bought new carpet and you want to keep it looking great, or you have old carpet that needs reviving; these tips can help make your carpet look great and stay that way.

Top Spot & Stain Removers

BlueMagic 900 Carpet Stain & Spot Lifter - 22 oz. Aerosol Can Average Rating: 41 total customer reviews...

Gonzo Liquid Stain Remover, 8-Ounce Bottles (Pack of 12) Average Rating: 28 total customer reviews...

Folex Co. FSR32 Folex Instant Carpet Stain Remover Average Rating: 126 total customer reviews...

Top Steam Cleaners

BISSELL ProHeat 2X CleanShot Upright Deep Cleaner, Red Berends, 9500 Average Rating: 187 total customer reviews...

Hoover Platinum Collection Carpet Cleaner with MaxExtract Technology, F8100900 Average Rating: 211 total customer reviews...

Hoover Platinum Collection Pet Plus Carpet-and-Upholstery Detergent, 50 Ounces, AH30035 Average Rating: 62 total customer reviews...

Top Carpet Cleaning Machines

Rug Doctor Mighty Pro Plus Average Rating: 8 total customer reviews...

BISSELL Big Green Deep Cleaning Machine Professional Grade Carpet Cleaner, 86T3 Average Rating: 85 total customer reviews...

Carpet Express C4 Remanufactured Carpet Steam Cleaner Like Rug Doctor Average Rating: total customer reviews...

If you have kids, pets, or a messy spouse, you know how easily your brand new carpet can start to look dirty and dingy.  When it comes to cleaning your carpet there are tons of options, which can get kind of confusing.  A great and fairly effective option is steam cleaning.  You can hire someone to steam clean your carpet, but this can be expensive and inconvenient for repeated cleanings.   Sometimes it’s much easier to do it yourself by renting or buying a steam cleaner.  But before you invest in steam cleaning, here’s some information to help you learn about the different steam cleaning options and hopefully make your carpet sparkling clean.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=LXQjd1XEmmg

What most people consider a steam cleaner actually only uses hot water to clean the carpet, a cleaner that only uses steam is caller a vapor steam cleaner.  Contrary to popular belief, this device doesn’t actually clean your carpet, at least not on its own.  A vapor steam cleaner uses a very dry steam to go deep into your carpet, loosen dirt, and bring it to the surface.  The dirt can then be vacuumed up revealing a clean carpet.  The biggest plus of vapor steam cleaners, besides that they deep clean and deodorize carpet, is that they can be used to clean tons of other things including upholstery, fabrics, sinks, mirrors, and even bathroom tile (you know this if you’ve watch those late night infomercials).  These machines are very good for allergy sufferers because they kill mites, mold and mildew.  Plus, they leave the carpet drier than other steam cleaners, so it’s less likely to grow anything after the cleaning.  And they don’t require any chemicals so they’re safe for kids and pets.  The downside of vapor steam cleaners is that it only works as well as your vacuum.  If you pull up all that dirt and the vacuum doesn’t pick it up, it will just get pushed back into the carpet.  It also is generally only used for spot cleaning and cannot be used on all types of carpets, so if you’re considering getting one, be sure to research what kind of carpet you have and it if will work on it.

If you want to get a more versatile machine to clean all your carpets, you should consider getting a hot water “steam cleaner”.  Hot water, usually with chemicals, is put into the carpet and then agitated with brushes.  The dirty water is then sucked back up into the machine and put into a separate water bin for disposal.  These machines are generally safe on most carpets depending on the type of chemicals used.  However, they do soak the carpet and leave the area wet.  This means you have to wait until the carpet dries to put everything back on the carpet.  Wet carpet can also grow mold and mildew if left wet for too long.  If you’re worried about chemicals on your carpets, because of animals or children, you can skip the chemicals and clean you carpets with just water.  This may not get out the toughest stains, but treating only portions of your carpet with chemicals is better than treating all of it when it doesn’t really need it.

Remember, if you don’t want to make an investment in buying a steam cleaner, you can always rent one.  These are generally the hot water kind of steam cleaners and can be found at many different kinds of stores.  However, if you need a cleaner for repeated use, you probably want to just buy one yourself.

Top Steam Cleaners

BISSELL ProHeat 2X CleanShot Upright Deep Cleaner, Red Berends, 9500 Average Rating: 187 total customer reviews...

Hoover Platinum Collection Carpet Cleaner with MaxExtract Technology, F8100900 Average Rating: 211 total customer reviews...

Hoover Platinum Collection Pet Plus Carpet-and-Upholstery Detergent, 50 Ounces, AH30035 Average Rating: 62 total customer reviews...

Professional Grade Carpet Cleaning Machines

Rug Doctor Mighty Pro Plus Average Rating: 8 total customer reviews...

BISSELL Big Green Deep Cleaning Machine Professional Grade Carpet Cleaner, 86T3 Average Rating: 85 total customer reviews...

Carpet Express C4 Remanufactured Carpet Steam Cleaner Like Rug Doctor Average Rating: total customer reviews...

www.youtube.com/watch?v=GTytg6MPJpQ

So, you finally did it.  You got that pesky stain out of your carpet and it looks beautiful again.  Then, a few days, or maybe even a week later, the stain has returned.  Nothing’s more pesky than a disappearing-reappearing stain.  There are two main reasons this occurs and several steps you can take to make that stain go away for good.

The first reason a stain may reappear is that the stain is not actually coming back, but a new stain is occurring because of the soap you left in the carpet.  If there is soap residue left in the carpet, it can pick up dirt and everything else off the bottom of your feet and put it into the carpet, making a new stain where you removed the old one.  To stop this problem, you should use as little soap as possible to clean your carpet.  A great way to clean your carpet without soap is to use a vapor steam cleaner or a hot water “steam” cleaner.  Both of these machines can be used without chemicals to get your carpet clean.  You could also run a normal steam cleaner with chemicals and then again with just water to get the chemicals out.  If you don’t want to bother with steam cleaners, just be sure to rinse the soap out of your carpet as well as you can (and then rinse one more time, just to make sure!)  You can also take steps to avoid adding new dirt to the stain; like not wearing shoes indoors.

Another reason that your carpet stains might be coming back is deep down dirt.  If a stain isn’t cleaned right away, the dirt can get puddle or get pushed deep into the carpet and the carpet pad.  When you clean, it’s hard to get the deep down dirt; usually you only clean the surface dirt.  With time, the dirt you didn’t get out works its way up to the top.  Even if you clean this spot again, more dirt will eventually work its way to the top.  If you just keep cleaning the surface dirt, you’ll just keep repeating this endless process.  To really clean your carpet, you have to clean the carpet all the way through.

There are several methods for cleaning deep into your carpet.  The first method involves cleaning your carpet as you normally would with a cleaner (I prefer the kind that combine two separate chemicals right onto the stain), but when you are done, put a large amount of paper towels over the stain and place a heavy object (some books or a brick) on top of them.  This helps soak the excess water out of the carpet, and the dirt with it.

Another option is to not clean the deep down dirt, but to clean the surface in a way that the deep down dirt stays there and doesn’t work its way back up.  For this method, just use a damp towel and only clean the top layer of the carpet.  Be sure not to over wet the carpet because the water pulls the dirt back up to the surface as it dries.  You also want to be sure to scrub just the top layer and avoid scrubbing too hard into the carpet padding.

Hopefully these tips will help to keep your carpet looking clean.  If none of these methods work, you can always hire a professional carpet cleaner.  Their tools are powerful enough to remove the dirt from the visible carpet and the padding.

Top Steam Cleaning Vacuums To Get Rid Of Stains:

BISSELL ProHeat 2X CleanShot Upright Deep Cleaner, Red Berends, 9500 Average Rating: 187 total customer reviews...

Hoover Platinum Collection Carpet Cleaner with MaxExtract Technology, F8100900 Average Rating: 211 total customer reviews...

Hoover Platinum Collection Pet Plus Carpet-and-Upholstery Detergent, 50 Ounces, AH30035 Average Rating: 62 total customer reviews...

I have to admit, I just love cleaning.   Scrubbing and dusting are just fun to me, but what isn’t fun is vacuuming.  I have to go to the basement, lug the giant vacuum up three flights of stairs, push a giant dinosaur of a vacuum back and forth; it’s a big hassle.  Then, when it comes to changing the bag, I usually get covered in dust.  Even though bag-less vacuums are somewhat smaller; you still have to carry them around and you still end up getting dirt everywhere when you clean it out.  Plus, they generally don’t work as well.  Well, I finally found a solution for my vacuuming woes.  I found out about central vacuums.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=M2eHI20VSKg

Central vacuums are like the central air conditioners of the vacuum world.  Instead of having to haul a vacuum around with you, there is one built into each section of the house.  There’s just a hose in the wall you can pull out and vacuum when you need it.  What you think of as the actual vacuum is built into the house.  It’s built into the house, so you don’t have to strain yourself lugging it around.

You may be thinking “That sounds convenient, but is it really that beneficial?”  Well, it is.  It has many benefits over bagged or canister vacuums.    Because a central vacuum can fit into your basement and doesn’t have to be carried around; it is much bigger and therefore more powerful.  This power, along with the superior filtering system, means that central vacuums not only can central vacuums get rid of more dirt, they also remove significantly more allergens than regular vacuums.  Many allergy and asthma sufferers have raved about how much better they feel after installing a central vacuum.  Because the engine is in a separate room (usually the garage or basement), central vacuums are much quieter than traditional vacuums.  This is great if you have kids or skiddish pets because you don’t have to worry about disturbing them with the loud noise.   Unlike many upright vacuums, central vacuums can be used to clean various surfaces in the house including wood and tile, drapes and furniture, hard to reach corners and edges, and much more.   Another benefit of central vacuums is that, if installed properly, they’ll almost never clog.  This means you’ll never have to pull strings of hair or string out of a vacuum roller again!  As a bonus, some central vacuum systems offer extras like slots to sweep excess dirt into.  Overall, these systems provide superior cleaning power and versatility than any traditional vacuum.

While this idea probably sounds appealing to you, you’re probably concerned about the cost of the system and the hassle of installation.  The best time to install a central vacuum system is, of course, during the construction of your house.  This way, it can be installed with the walls; making it that much easier.  But if you already have a house, it’s still pretty simple to install one of these systems.  No matter what people tell you, you don’t have to tear apart walls to install the pipes.  They can generally be run through the attic or through existing airways in your house.  They will generally only have to cut a few holes in your walls, which will be used to attach the vacuum hoses.  As for cost, these systems aren’t cheap, but they can increase the value of your home up to $2000.  The value of your home is also improved because properly cleaned carpets last longer and look better.  Plus, they offer all the benefits of a cleaner house without the hassle of a traditional vacuum.

Here’s a video showing the cleaning power of different nozzles:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=QFjUWVK3fiQ

1. Central vacuums with two motors start off with 185 CFM / airflow (good portables have between 68 and 95). Friction loss in the tubing at 75 feet is about 2% if the system is installed properly with wide sweeping bends and the tubing is cut with a pipe cutter. The additional loss at the 30-foot hose end is 3%. But remember you are starting with at least twice the power of portables. He is correct that CFM is a far more important measurement than waterlift and that is why our products have been designed with a very high CFM.

2. Your salesman is incorrect that the central vacuum motors are the same as portable vacuum motors. Look at the amperage rating on his portable vacuums. They fall somewhere between 5 and 10 amps. Our smaller unit SilentMaster S2 is 15.5 amps and our larger SilentMaster S5 draws almost 28 amps. These motors are far stronger, designed for longer life, and do not rely on vacuum air coming through them to be cooled. (they have their own cooling fan inside each motor.) Take a look at the stats of our models and compare them with any portable! I think the closest powerful non central vac you will find is the Milwaukee Shop Vac which costs around $800.00.

The portable vacuum you are considering may have a listing of 13 amps but I have never seen a portable that was listed as 13 amps which really has a motor of that size in it. The cord is often rated at 13 amps (not the motor). But remember, amperage alone can be very deceptive because I can make a very small motor pull a very high amperage but do very little work. All the energy can be wasted rather that put into actual performance. Try to find the CFM measurement or at least the AirWatts.

3. Properly installed central vacuums do not clog. I have installed over 8000 systems myself and have rarely seen clogs. Normally it occurs on a system installed by someone who did not use wide sweeping turns and where they cut the pipe with the wrong instrument. It is actually very easy to repair clogs. We give specific details on our website Service Chart. “Clogs easily” is a cliche response from someone who does not know central vacuums.

Your 2400 sq. ft. home should require about four inlets, our SilentMaster S2 power unit, and our Stealth attachment set. Your longest run will be approximately 75 feet and your friction loss will be quite minimal.

Central Vac Installation 101

This might not be quite as easy as installing a phone, but it is really quite simple to install a central vac. A typical home requires approximately one inlet for every 600 square feet of living space, and remember, the hose end needs to be able to reach the cupboards, closets, tile floor and even patios. You don’t necessarily need an inlet in every room but, with a 30 foot hose, one inlet at the end of the hall will get two or three bedrooms. Locate one inlet near the bottom of the stairs if necessary and make sure they are not behind doors, furniture or inaccessible locations.

Cut the pipe with a tubing cutter, not a hacksaw, and make sure you remove all burrs. Only glue the male end of the pipe so that no ridges are created inside the pipe run. Use sweep elbows throughout the pipe run except immediately at the inlet valves and use (2) 45 degree bends for any offset jogs instead of (2) 90 degree bends. The main runs can go under the house or above in the attic, as long as care is given to reduce fittings whenever possible.

It is recommended that homes larger than 5000 square feet might need a power unit stronger than 20 AMPS 110 volt. Multiple units are only necessary when more than one user will be operating it simultaneously. New SuperValves or ElectraValves not only contain the 24 volt activation switch but also 110 volts for the operation of an electric power brush. Have an electrician wire them into a nearby electric outlet. The two conductor CL2 (18-22 gauge) low voltage wire should be strapped to the pipe every five feet and can be looped all the way back to the power unit. Check your local building codes regarding the necessity of steel pipe to penetrate the firewall if the power unit is located in the garage. Most manufacturers now carry steel pipe and fittings.

Temporary plaster guards will protect the interior of the pipe while the construction is in progress and inlet valve extensions can make your life easier if the wall ends up thicker than expected. Check if your manufacturer recommends venting the exhaust and make sure it is not located in an area which will cause exhaust problems. Many systems do not need venting if they have an adequate filtration system.

Don’t be afraid to tackle existing homes! These jobs are quite easy with the help of instructional videos like “Where There’s a Wall There’s a Way” by Hayden manufacturing. Employ closets, soffits, return air ducts, pantries and any other hidden spaces.

Here’s an instructional video that will teach you how to install a central vac system as a weekend project:

Part 1:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=ofrApE02-cI

Part 2:

httvvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qfvh3HCIZUA

Top Central Vac Systems:

While the systems below aren’t the cheapest you can find, this is one area where it doesn’t pay to be cheap -- get ones that are built to last as they’ll not only last longer but clean your house much better.

Electrolux ZCV920H Oxygen Central Vacuum with LCD Display and HEPA Filtration Average Rating: total customer reviews...

Electrolux CS2000 Central Vacuum Quiet Clean Oxy Cleaning Set Average Rating: total customer reviews...

Electrolux ZCV910 Oxygen Central Vacuum Average Rating: total customer reviews...

Air King CVS-22E Central Vacuum Deluxe Electric Package Average Rating: total customer reviews...

Electrolux 040350 Central Vacuum 2-Inlet Kit in a Box with Inlets and Pipe Average Rating: total customer reviews...

TurboCat Air Driven Brush for all Central Vacuums Average Rating: 13 total customer reviews...

Honeywell 015235 Central Vacuum Standard Valve Average Rating: 6 total customer reviews...

Electrolux ZCV900 Oxygen Central Vacuum Average Rating: total customer reviews...

Central Vacuum systems are among the few kinds of vacuum cleaners that don't lose suction

Vacuums that don’t lose suction

Nowadays, there are tons of options when it comes to choosing a vacuum; there are bagged, bagless, regular filters, hepa filters, and countless other options.  Now, there’s yet another option, marketed as “vacuums that don’t lose suction”.  Before you go looking at vacuums, you should learn more about this promising vacuum option.

The latest vacuum on the market that claims to not lose suction is the Dyson vacuum.  The concept behind this vacuum is that there are no bags or filters to clog up and block air flow.  In bagged vacuums, the bag can itself acts as a filter, letting air flow through.  When the bag begins to fill with dirt, the bag becomes less efficient in letting air through and the vacuum starts to lose suction.  In bag-less vacuums, the filter that take out the dirt also begins to fill with debris and the vacuum loses suction power.  Dyson vacuums don’t clog like other vacuums because there is no bag or filter to get dirty and clog.  Instead, these vacuums work kind of like a tiny tornado.  It creates a vortex inside the vacuum which sends the dirt and debris flying outward to be collected; just like a tornado sends debris flying outward from the vortex.  Clean air then continues through the vortex and out of the vacuum.  The Dyson starts with one main vortex that removes large dirt, dust, and debris.  It then moves the air through smaller vortexes that removes even the finest particles from the air, making it totally clean when leaving the vacuum.  And this is all without a filter to clog up the vacuum and make it less powerful.

While you won’t see tons of marketing for it like Dyson vacuums, there is another option for a vacuum that doesn’t lose suction.  This other option is the central vacuum.  Central vacuums have been around for a long time, and if they’re properly installed, rarely lose suction.  These vacuums are also much more convenient because they are built right into your house.  This way, instead of hauling a heavy vacuum around, you just have to use a hose hooked into the wall.  These vacuums are also much more powerful than portable models and are better at filtering allergens out of the air.  While these vacuums cost more than Dyson vacuums, they generally increase the value of your home, so the investment pays off when you are ready to sell.  These systems can be put in new or old homes, just be sure to get a qualified installer to insure that the vacuum works properly and doesn’t lose suction.  Even if the system does clog, it’s fairly simple to fix without any damage to your home.

While these options are more expensive than traditional vacuums, they are well worth it in many ways.  Traditional vacuums have bags that constantly need replacing.  Bag-less vacuums have filters that require replacement as well.  Many times these vacuums also require hepa filters that quickly fill with dirt and need replacing.  Dyson vacuums don’t require any filters and save you costs that way.  Central vacuums do require filters; however, they add selling value to your house.  They also clean your carpets so well, they generally need replacing less often; this saves you money.

Dyson DC25 Animal Ball-Technology Upright Vacuum Cleaner Average Rating: 487 total customer reviews...

Electrolux ZCV920H Oxygen Central Vacuum with LCD Display and HEPA Filtration Average Rating: total customer reviews...

Electrolux CS2000 Central Vacuum Quiet Clean Oxy Cleaning Set Average Rating: total customer reviews...

Dyson DC25 Ball All-Floors Upright Vacuum Cleaner Average Rating: 525 total customer reviews...

Dyson DC23 TurbineHead Canister Vacuum Average Rating: 100 total customer reviews...

Dyson DC28 Animal Average Rating: 235 total customer reviews...

www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-NVXSHTob8

A good mattress is an expensive investment, so it makes sense to learn how to take care of it. Unfortunately, spills or accidents occasionally happen, especially if you’re having breakfast in bed or your children aren’t yet potty trained.  But, how do you clean a mattress? After all, it’s not like you can just toss it in the washer if it becomes soiled.

The best thing you can do is to avoid getting your mattress dirty in the first place. Encasing the mattress and the box spring in hypoallergenic cases protects them from dust and grime and will cut down on dust mites. However, liquid can still seep through most cases and into the mattress. You may want to consider placing a rubber sheet on the mattress for protection against spills or childhood accidents.

Of course, since most people find that these rubber sheets bunch up and are uncomfortable to sleep on, you may prefer to risk getting the mattress wet, especially if there isn’t a big chance that you will spill your morning coffee or your children are older. If you do get your mattress dirty, you can follow these simple steps to get it clean.

1. To remove dirt or dust, whip out your vacuum. Most mattress manufacturers suggest that occasionally vacuuming your mattress is a good idea, even if it doesn’t look dirty, to keep dust mites under control.
2. If you need to clean up a liquid spill or a stain, don’t grab your favorite stain removal product. Mattresses are made of materials that may not react well to chemicals. Instead, you should just try to blot up any liquid and leave the stain alone. If you can’t bear the thought of leaving the stain on your mattress or if it has a strong odor, you can use a cloth dampened with cold water to gently scrub the stain. You can use a bit of mild soap on the cloth if the stain won’t budge, but just be sure you don’t end up making your mattress or box spring wetter than it already is.
3. Once you clean up the spill or stain, leave the sheets off your mattress and let it thoroughly air dry before you cover it back up. There’s nothing worse than a moldy mattress, especially if the person sleeping on it has severe mold allergies.

Once your mattress is clean and dry, you may want to use this opportunity to flip it over so that it wears more evenly. You should flip your mattress over three or four times a year to help it last longer.

It is important to keep a chimney clean regardless of the type of fuel burned.  This can prevent fires as well as prevent noxious gasses from entering the home.  The chimney carries away toxic gasses emitted from the fire in the fireplace and it is an important safety measure to ensure it is clean and free from blockage.  A chimney sweep will perform routine maintenance and inspection to ensure proper safety standards are met.

It is advised that maintenance on the chimney be performed once per year.  In other countries this is a standard accepted practice.  However, this idea is still quite new in the United States.  It is growing in popularity, though, because of the increase in deaths and injuries related to fireplaces.  Over 5,500 fires and 10,000 gas poisonings occur each year due to improper fireplace maintenance.  These figures can be greatly reduced with proper care.

Chimney sweeps are available in all areas and can be easily found in the phone book or via an Internet search.  Choose services that are experienced and affordable.  It is also recommended to obtain a service that is certified by the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA), a non profit organization that educates tests and certifies chimney sweep services.

The chimney sweep will first inspect the chimney for any damage and determine the extent of cleaning necessary.  It is advisable to hire a chimney sweep that only does inspections and cleaning, and does not actually do the repairs.  This forces them to be objective about repair needs and can minimize unnecessary expenditures.  After the inspection, the cleaning will begin.  The room surrounding the chimney will be protected from falling dirt and particles so no damage is incurred.  Once the chimney is thoroughly brushed and clean, the technician will vacuum the particles and do a final cleaning of the surrounding area.

Some people may be tempted to do the work themselves.  However, there is an aspect of danger to the job and it can be very time consuming and tiring.  It is necessary to utilize the proper equipment and have access to the roof and interior of the chimney.  This can sometimes prove dangerous with the use of tall ladders.  Professional chimney sweep services are licensed and bonded which will protect your investment.  The cost of the service is affordable, generally fewer than two hundred dollars, and depending on the chimney the cleaning will only take approximately one hour.  Therefore, using professionals is recommended.

Today’s families are busier than ever. When both parents work outside the house and the kids need to get to after school activities and sports events, housework never seems to get done. More and more families are considering using a maid service to keep their homes clean and comfortable. However, is it really safe to use a maid service? How do you hire the right service for your family?

If you use a bit of caution, hiring a maid service is extremely safe. Before you give anyone a key to your home, always insist on meeting him or her in person. However, even if you feel like this person is nice and very trustworthy, you should also be sure that the service is bonded. Many cleaning services also have insurance to cover accidents or re-keying services. This helps you make sure that if the maid accidentally leaves a faucet running or loses your key, you will be covered financially. After all, even the best cleaning service can have an off day and accidents do happen.

Once you are sure the cleaning service you are considering is adequately prepared for any liability issues and hires trustworthy employees, it is time to sign a contract, right? Well, actually, it is a bit too soon for that. Ask for a few references and give them a call. Be sure the cleaning service shows up on time and ask each reference how he or she feels about the skill of the cleaner. A good cleaning service will elicit responses such as “I didn’t know my house could get this clean” or “Even my trash cans smell good now” from an enthusiastic reference.

Now that you know the cleaning service does a good job for other people, it is time to give the maid you will be using a try. Ask for a trial cleaning to be sure you are satisfied. Some cleaning services object to doing this because homeowners who don’t have their homes cleaned regularly ask a company for a trial cleaning without planning to actually have their homes cleaned on a weekly basis. If this is the case, ask if they can suggest a way for you to be sure that the cleaning service meets your needs without signing a contract. Perhaps the company will write a clause in the contract offering a two week trial basis during which either party can end the contract without a penalty.

Finally, when you use a maid service, be sure that you respect your cleaning person. After all, this is the person who sees your home at its worst each week and helps it regain its sparkle and polish so that you can be proud of the way it looks.

For a country style room, a braided rug is the perfect choice. Although it has a country feel, an oval braid rug is also slightly sophisticated. Careful vacuuming is a must with this type of rug, since a powerful vacuum can loosen the threads that hold the braids together. For a very informal country style room, the rag rug is ideal. Most rag rugs are machine washable. However, if you can simply shake out the dirt and avoid washing the rug, you will help it last longer.

An area rug can add character to your room.

If you are looking for a rug that goes well with a formal décor, you may prefer an Oriental rug. You can find these plush, beautiful rugs in geometric designs, but floral designs are also common. True Oriental rugs need special care. You should not vacuum them or clean them without reading the care tag on your rug. If there is not a care tag, you may want to take your rug to a professional rug cleaner instead of risking cleaning your rug in the wrong way.

Asian inspired rooms often look great with an area rug made from natural fibers, such as sisal or hemp. These rugs are usually a neutral tan color, although some are dyed with bright colors. Caring for rugs made with natural fibers is simple. You can simply shake your rug out to remove dust and debris. If the rug is soiled, you may be tempted to use soap and water to remove the stain. However, water will just make a bigger stain. Instead, you should use a special cleaner that is designed to be used on rugs made with natural fibers.

Finally, if none of these area rugs is right for you, you may want to take a look at woven rugs. You can find these rugs in solid colors, cheery striped patterns, or in bold geometric designs. They look right at home in family rooms, children’s bedrooms, or kitchens.