3 Household Tips for a Safe and Clean Home

We’ve all seen the adverts on TV telling us to make sure our smoke alarms are working properly and we all think to ourselves “ours is probably fine” – but you may be surprised to know that on average only one in 3 households have a working alarm on every floor of their homes.

With that in mind, in this article I intend to give you 3 household tips for a safe and clean home, all of which are problems that can easily be avoided and therefore making our homes a safer place.

Check our smoke alarms work

“Smoke alarms were absent from the fire area in 37 per cent of dwelling fires (16,400 fires). Of the total of 306 dwelling fires fatalities in the Great Britain in 2010-11, 112 (37 per cent) of these fatalities were in fires where there was no smoke alarm present, and a further 76 fatalities (25 per cent) where a smoke alarm was present but did not operate.”

I’m sure you’ll agree that these are shocking figures to read.  The worst part about it is we see so many deaths each year that could be avoided by simply checking our fire alarms work on each and every floor of our homes. It’s pointless having a smoke alarm if you don’t know it works - taking a couple of minutes every six months to check your fire alarm could potentially be the difference between life and death.

If you know you will forget simply set yourself a reminder on your phone or leave a note on your calendar - and just to be safe you could even replace your everyday alkaline batteries for some lithium ten year lifelong batteries, this could be a blessing in disguise for you.

Clean your stove and utensils

On the hygiene front so many of us do the obvious things such as cleaning our toilet or cleaning the chopping board, yet so many of us leave our stove after use but we don’t think about the many bacteria that is then attracted and living on it.

The solution is simple, clean your stove straight after use - It will only take a few minutes but it could save you getting unwanted stomach bugs.  While it is fairly unlikely you will become really ill from it, but you could be leaving your home at risk of a potential fire once again due to build-up of fats and oils from food.

As well as your stove remember to clean your drip pans and all cooking utensils well - it is also crucial you replace these every couple of years, especially when your pans become stained as it’s highly unlikely they will come clean again

Take some time to clean underneath your fridge

As well as sweeping away bits of food debris that gathers underneath a fridge in a kitchen that can attract mice - very few people know this but underneath your fridge is a cooling fan along with a set of coils which need to be cleaned at least every year.  The coils looks a grate or a radiator and their function is to remove heat from within the inside and that heat is then dissipated through a radiator like appliance, this is located at the bottom of the fridge.

The reason for cleaning this appliance is that if you don’t clean those coils you cannot expect them to function properly and they will fail to give off heat as a efficiently as a consequence, creating issues with overheating.

To clean them simply unplug your fridge and locate the grate like coils, and clean with a long thistle brush, and get the vacuum cleaner out to clear any lint, pet hair and food from the coils.

This article was provided by Ryan Hirst who writes helpful guides and tips for Eurofit Direct on their blog

Natural Cleaning Solutions for Your Home

Have you ever felt like you need to wear a Hazmat suit when you use your regular household cleaning chemicals? Often the chemicals used to scour bathrooms, glass, and other parts of a home are far more potent than they need to be, and breathing the fumes of these chemicals is an unpleasant part of cleaning. However, using such strong chemicals can be easily replaced by using many eco-friendly solutions. More specifically, many items that you already have around your home can be used as green cleaning products, providing both an environmentally friendly and budget friendly alternative to regular cleaning products. 

Vinegar

Vinegar is one of the most underused (but excellent) all natural cleaning solutions. White vinegar is acidic enough to perform the necessary cleaning function of dissolving away household grit, but it is also gentle enough to use without the need for wearing gloves. Vinegar makes an excellent glass cleaner and can be used as an affordable alternative to Windex. For added economical value, vinegar may be diluted in a spray bottle, using about half a cup for of vinegar and filling the remainder of the bottle with water. This diluted vinegar solution is gentle enough to be used on hardwood floors. 

Hydrogen Peroxide

Hydrogen peroxide is also an excellent cleaning solution. Just as this compound is capable of cleaning out cuts and drawing out the grit in them, hydrogen peroxide can also be used to clean out the grit in kitchen counters and other grouted surfaces. As an added bonus, hydrogen peroxide can also often be used to draw out yellow perspiration stains in the underarm pits of white shirts. However, when using hydrogen peroxide for this latter purpose, be sure to gently rinse out the compound prior to washing the shirt with other articles of clothing. 

Baking Soda

Another great green cleaning product is baking soda. Effective at cleaning just about everything from filthy ovens to dirty carpets, baking soda offers a non-toxic way to freshen up your home. To use baking soda to clean carpets, simply sprinkle some of this compound onto the desired area of your home and subsequently vacuum it up; the baking soda should help remove odours from this area of your carpet. At the same time, as briefly mentioned previously, baking soda can also be used to clean ovens; to do this, simply make a paste of baking soda, coarse salt, and water, and leave this paste on the desired areas of the oven for several minutes before scrubbing it off with a wet rag. Baking soda can also be useful for keeping a refrigerator smelling fresh; leave an opened box of baking soda in the fridge to enjoy this benefit. 

Lemon Juice with Olive Oil

Finally, a combination of lemon juice and olive oil can be used to tackle a number of common household cleaning concerns. Like vinegar, lemon juice is extremely acidic and can effectively eat away at grit that has accumulated over time. Lemon juice is also an excellent way to combat mould, mildew, and other unwanted household fungi. Simply apply a lemon juice solution to any affected areas to enjoy this benefit. At the same time, olive oil is an excellent all natural polishing solution. To enjoy the combined benefits of lemon juice and olive oil, create a solution of two parts olive oil to one part lemon juice and rub it into wood furniture for a lovely shine and fresh scent.

The author, Hugo Riddle, writes about several topics including home contents insurance and other finance subjects. Find more on Your Insurance Quote.

Getting Your Sofa Selection Narrowed Down

By Oliver Bray of Web Marketing London

Oliver Bray’s has been interested in interior design and furnishing since first refurbishing his house a decade ago.  

Evangelising how our environment affects our performance, he now researches and writes about the latest trends in fashion, technology and interior design to help you transform your life.

Getting your sofa selection narrowed down to the one that is right for you and your family can be difficult. It is an expensive and important decision, and there are many factors that need to be considered.

Features

Yes, most sofas are designed to be sat on. However, some can come with several other practical purposes. A fold out futon-bed can come in handy if you frequently have the in-laws dropping by, but a sofa with recliner features can greatly enhance the comfort of sitting down and putting your feet up. Stitched down and fixed cushions might come in handy if you have children, and easily removable and washable fabric covers could make life a lot easier if it needs cleaning often. Think carefully about the little things; they could make a big difference.

There are a number of online stores who stock a range of sofas with different features. Selling sofa beds, recliner sofas and even sound sofas with built in speakers and Bluetooth, they can cater to everyone's personal taste.

Colour and Style

The colour and style of a new sofa is very important. The wrong choice can really clash with the style of a room, but a matching or complementing colour can enhance the look and even the feel of a living space. Think carefully about the different styles available. Sofas come in patterned, vintage and retro designs, as well as colours ranging from traditional and neutral to bold and vivid. Even the shape of the frame and cushions can differ between modern and sleek to vintage designs. Likewise, the material can make a big difference; suede can be a beautiful and elegant fabric, but can clash with the rest of the room. Leather is a popular choice but comes in a limited range of colours. Think carefully about the design of the rest of the room when making a decision.

CSL Sofas has a wide range of different colours to choose from. The decision can be even easier to make by using CSL Sofas free "In Your Room" phone application. Using augmented reality, you can pick out a sofa on the app and see what it would look like in your home. It's as simple as taking a photograph and is a sure way to see if the new furniture suits your style before you buy it.

Size and shape

Will the sofa be the focus of the room or will it be complemented by other armchairs? Is it for a busy family room or a more laid back living room? A sofa with built in reclining features can be ideal for quietly settling down and enjoying the television, but a large L-shaped sofa might be better for a bigger family or a more open room. You should always consider whether you will have other furniture such as footstools or a coffee table around the new sofa.

Kids and Pets

Never underestimate how mucky children can be, or how sharp a cat's claws are. It's ambitious to say "We'll keep the pets and kids off it!" but it doesn't always work out. Both pets and little children can be more destructive than they look so you'll need a couch made out of a hard-wearing material. Compared to upholstered fabric, leather is durable and easy to wipe clean. However, it can still be scratched so caution should be taken with any particularly persistent pooches.

Choosing Home and Building Insurance

If you own a home or property of any kind, it may be beneficial to obtain insurance for your property.  Disaster can strike at any moment, and having insurance provides you with the peace of mind that you will be covered if there will be any sort of disaster.  Selecting the right amount of insurance for your home or business property is always a challenge and dependent upon several varying factors that are unique to your situation and circumstances.

When determining the types and amounts of buildings and home insurance to obtain, consider the value of the property you own.   It is generally not advisable to insure the property for more than its current value, unless the cost associated with replacing the location are significant.  In addition, you should consider the likelihood of each disaster occurring and the geographic area where your home or property is located.  While it may be nice to have flood damage insurance, if your home is nowhere near a body of water, it may not be useful to have a significant amount of flood insurance and you may be able to trim this insurance for a lower premium payment.  In addition, you should always consider your financial circumstances and ability to pay these amounts of insurance and adjust the amount of your deductibles to meet your financial capacity or adjust your overall profit on your investment property.  Also consider any required insurance that you are mandated to obtain in accordance with your mortgage loan, which will help to protect the lender in case of your financial disaster. Finally, when selecting home and property insurance pay attention to the quality and reputation of the insurance company before selecting one, to insure that you are properly covered.

There are several types of home and property insurance out there that can be considered.  Homeowners insurance is a popular form of insurance that is generally mandated by your mortgage lender.  Homeowners insurance protects you from most environmental disasters including earthquake, flood, and tornado damage.  In addition, it protects you from theft of your home.  Homeowners insurance does not provide protection for routine repairs and maintenance.

Property and casualty insurance is another type of building insurance that is generally used with investment and business property.  It provides much of the same insurance that homeowners insurance does, but provides protection against lawsuits against your business in case of damage caused to others do to your property.