Energy Spring Clean With Kim Woodburn

Kim Woodburn from ‘How Clean Is Your House’ fame has teamed up with British Gas to help the British public save money on their household bills with a range of handy household tips.

Kim says:

‘It’s brilliant that British Gas is giving UK households straightforward advice to help stop them wasting money on their energy bills.

The current squeeze on household finances means it is madness to throw money away needlessly and I’m supporting this campaign to show people that they can start saving money today.

I have loft insulation in my own home, as well as energy efficient light bulbs and draft excluders, and all of these have lowered my monthly bills. Take a look at British Gas’ top tips to see what tasks you could do to save you money!’

Some of the hints including descaling your kettle to help the water to boil quicker, insulating your loft or replacing your boiler.

While other tips can even help you lose weight. Did you know for every half an hour of cleaning, you will burn an average of 100 calories, but not that, you’ll stay nice and warm the whole time, so you can turn your heating off and save money in the process.

Watch the following video to find out more about the Energy Spring Clean.

The Basics of Using Energy Efficient Windows

If you are looking for a way to lower your energy costs, using energy efficient windows should be the first thing that you should consider doing. Energy efficient windows have actually gained a lot of popularity in recent years not only because of how they are able to cut energy costs but also because of their ability to make homes a lot more livable and comfortable even during extreme temperatures and weather conditions. They work through enhancing the insulating ability of your home, minimizing the amount of cool air escaping during the warmer months and preventing warm air from going out during the colder months.

There are a wide range of energy efficient window options that you can choose from for your home or office. These would include single-glazed, double-glazed windows and triple-glazed windows. Among these, the double-glazed and the triple-glazed windows would be the ones that are most efficient in saving energy. Double-glazed windows would be those that have two layers made with clear glass, tinted glass or low, moderate or high solar gain glass. Between the two layers, there is a pocket of gas which acts as the insulating layer, which helps in preventing the escape of air, making the home cooler or warmer, depending on the climate condition outdoors. Triple-glazed windows, on the other hand, have three layers which also have pockets of gas or air between them, providing an even better insulating ability compared to double-glazed windows. In order to make a good decision in choosing an energy efficient window type, you need to make sure that you would be taking several factors into consideration. Some of these factors include your insulating and energy efficiency needs and the type of weather or climate conditions you have where you live. There are plenty of window manufacturers today which offer a wide selection of energy efficient options, both online and offline so make sure that you would be taking your time in going through them. You could also consider working with a contractor or a home building professional who could offer you advice and recommendations on which option would be best for your home.

Wet Rooms – Pros and Cons

Wet rooms are basically alternatives to the conventional bath and shower that we must all be familiar with.  Remember those excruciating schooldays with the after PE shower.  Memories that can never fade however much you try and make them.

The new in thing is a walk-in shower wet room.  The entire room is waterproofed so that all adjacent rooms are protected from all potential leaks plus water damage and even mould.  When you select the way you are going to define the spaces in the room for the various functions make sure you choose wisely.   You could possibly preserve visual space and still be able to install a glass wet room shower screen.  The glass dividers allow light to pass through so that visual continuity is maintained.  

Another way to define the space is the installation of a shower tray.  Usually these are prefabricated shells placed on the floor where the shower is.  If you decide on one of these consider from which material it is made.  Safety is a major issue and the surface must be resistant to any slipping in order to avoid any accidents.  Any surface made from tile, stone or marble can become slippery when wet.

Walk in shower wet rooms are definitely a new trend in home bathrooms but like any new venture there are advantages and disadvantages.

The advantages are that a wet room is super stylish and totally perfect for creating a contemporary look to the room. If you build one as a second bathroom this can also help to increase the value of the home.  If you are after more space then the removal of the bath from the normal bathroom will create it for you.  To generalise wet rooms are also easier to clean.

As for disadvantages you might have to be careful to watch out for wet towels and perhaps the toilet rolls if the room is on the cosy size.  Spray from the shower might be a problem.  Even though you might be an expert DIY enthusiast you may be better advised to get an expert to waterproof the room.  Any leaking water can cause untold problems and damage.  Price wise a wet room can be expensive as it needs tiling from floor to ceiling.  This can be an expensive venture.  If you are building a separate wet room then all well and good but if you are intending to convert the current bathroom into a wet room then there may be a problem when you come to sell at a later date. 

To summarise then a wet room is a superb idea but like all major jobs needs a good deal of consideration before a final decision is made.

Rob Stone writes many articles on Home Improvements including many on Cheap uPVC Conservatories and many other conservatory designs available online.

Use Interior Design To Get A Good Nights Sleep

After many studies by scientists it is now scientific fact that a good night sleep is vital to overall health. It is one of the most important things you can do and with modern life often interrupting a good sleep now more than ever we must do whatever we can to get it back. Many may not realise but the interior design of your bedroom can play a large part in helping you get that good quality sleep.

It is now known that cells at the back of the eyes will wake us up when they are stimulated with light. That is the reason why you will often wake up earlier in the morning in the summer and why you find it so much harder to wake up in the dark winter mornings. It is therefore incredibly important that the bedroom is kept dark so that you can sleep properly rather than be woken at 4am in the summer. There are a number of interior design solutions to help in this regard.

Like all the solutions the first is surprisingly simple and very affordable. It is to get a good set of think curtains that when pulled can completely shut out the light that may come through your bedroom window. While this will help you get extra sleep it can also be used for your children’s bedroom for early mornings and the long summer evenings. Without it kids will get up and not be able to sleep. This could in fact help you get more of a lay in at weekends by keeping the children asleep longer.

For those who are not fans of curtains you can also get blackout blinds which have a similar job to the war when there was a black out. The idea then was to stop light getting out of the home so the bombers couldn’t pick out targets. This is the opposite as you are trying to prevent light getting in. The idea is the same. You need a blind that stops sunlight. For some a combination of both is used although get either option right and one is enough.

Another great idea is to keep the room painted in a darker shade than other rooms around the house. This is so if there is any light getting through it will hit a darker wall and not have such an effect. A dark blue is often a good idea but this will really depend on where your room is in relation to the sun in the morning and evening. If it doesn’t get much direct sunlight then blackout blinds and or curtains will probably be enough. It is of course important to ensure that the room’s walls, curtains and carpet match so it looks good.

Finally if you are like me and suffer if the temperature is to hot or two cold make sure that you have windows that can be opened without a security risk and a duvet that can be used in the winter. Keeping your temperature right will help you sleep properly. Get all of these areas right and you will have a bedroom perfect for sleeping which is ultimately what the bedroom is for.

Rob Stone writes many articles on Home Improvement including Conservatory Designs to self build conservatories but overall anything to do with DIY.

Wicker/Cane Furniture for the Conservatory

For whatever reason you decide to build a conservatory it is one you will never regret.  A conservatory has any number of uses and with the advent of central and underfloor heating the room can be utilised every day of the year.  Before central heating the conservatory would lay dormant for the winter but not now!  There is any number of reasons to use the space and the selection of the most appealing looking furniture will add that touch of class to the surroundings.

Cane or wicker as it is sometimes called is one of the most popular.  Being uncoloured cane furniture provides a natural hue that totally enhances the beauty of the natural surrounding.    Made from bamboo or rattan, wicker will provide a look that increases the beauty of the conservatory rather than competing against it.  Hardwoods might work but will tend to overpower a natural area.   

Conservatories have been around for many years and the presence of cane and wicker furniture gives the room an air of traditionalism as opposed to the use of modern metallic furniture.   Be aware when you are shopping around though as the market does contain high grade plastic under the guise of ‘modern wicker’.  The imitation of cane or wicker will never compete on level terms with the original and it will be easy to spot the difference.

Natural Cane furniture is without doubt the absolute ideal choice for the conservatory with its durability, quality and natural beauty.   However it is also imperative that the furniture receives a proper cleaning when the time comes.

When using natural rattan or cane avoid using proper polishes as these may harm the material.  Simply take a damp cloth to it otherwise there is the possibility of adding a shine that would not look natural.  Hoovering the furniture is a must as with all your other furniture but care must be taken.  Use a soft brush attachment thus ensuring there should be no damage to the furniture.  You will find that wicker furniture does tend to get dusty.

One of the few disadvantages of cane furniture is that it has a weakness for very dry conditions so keep the conservatory well ventilated in the winter to keep it humid.   In order to avoid any loosening or sagging of the cane spray it with water and leave it untouched and unused for at least a day to let it dry off.  Cane has natural elasticity and after a while can lose some of it.

Rob Stone writes many articles on Home Improvement from Conservatories to Solar Panels For The Home

Make To Make A Difference To Your Home With A Simple Change Of Lighting

These days there is a large range of different sizes and shapes when it comes to light fixtures. A few years back all you could get was a standard light hanging from a standard cable from the ceiling. There are now such things as table lamps, torches, spot lights. Pendant lights and even floor lighting. The decision for what option is best for you is a tough one. And just when the choice was hard enough they have introduced energy saving and eco friendly light bulbs on top of that.

The first thing to do is to decide if you want a soft lighting or a bright lighting theme. It is totally your choice. This will depend on what kind of atmosphere you wish to create although this can be altered in a number of ways. In fact as technology increases so do the number of options available.

When we change the lighting in a room the whole character can change. It may be you need to have bright light such as when you are reading or focusing on something and need to be able to see clearly. On the other hand a romantic meal for two isn’t quite as romantic if the lights are bright. You would prefer softer or dimmer lighting over the dining table. This can be sorted easily with a dimmer switch allowing you to set the lighting level as you see fit at the time. Of course there is always the candle option which is always popular.

In a modern home the table lamp has become popular especially by the side of the bed and also in the living room. The look of the lamp along with the lamp shade can have a dramatic effect on the look of the home as well as the functionality. Get them right and the room will look stunning.

Although we are talking light a mirror can have a big impact. They have the ability to make a room look larger and lighter. The light is different in each room with the bathroom for example being very different to the living room or kitchen. A large mirror in the dining or living room can instantly male the room lighter as it is like having double the light sources.

With a large number of choices today it makes it easier to find exactly what you need to create the look you want. To change the look simple change the lights or move them around. Adding a dimmer switch or different lamp shades can also have a big impact. If you add lighter lamp shades they will let more light out creating a lighter room. If this is not the look you are after then perhaps a darker lamp shade is in order.

Lighting today is built around giving you a variety of options for each room and all at affordable prices. With the economic downturn we all need to be careful with money so lighting could actually prove to be the most effective way of changing the look of your home for the better.

Ronique Writes many articles on Interior Design and Home improvement, and runs a website on Staging, Home Organizing & Family Solutions.

The Benefits of Using Steam Cleaners

Steam cleaners are ideal for cleaning a number of different areas in homes or businesses. A steam cleaner can be used on carpets, hard floors, countertops, and most hard to reach surfaces. A quality machine can remove dust, debris, grease, and dirt from nearly any type of surface.

Steam cleaners have numerous advantages over conventional vacuum cleaners. Because this type of machine uses water that is heated to a high temperature, it will disinfect and sanitize without the need for harsh and dangerous chemicals. This allows the user to easily eliminate harmful mold or fungus. The hot water also makes cleaning easy and quick. Stubborn dirt and stains can be removed without the need for scrubbing. A steam machine can be used to remove odors as well.

Steam machines can be used for a number of cleaning projects. Steam is ideal for removing wallpaper and cleaning glass surfaces. This machine can eradicate dirt and grime from bathroom and kitchen tiles, where traditional cleaners can’t reach. Window screens and blinds can easily be cleared of dirt or dust because of the steam cleaning power produced by the heated water.

Many people are opting for the efficiency that steam cleaners offer over the traditional styles of cleaning. A steam cleaner can not only do the job of a conventional vacuum cleaner, it can take cleaning to a healthier and more hygienic level.

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