Security Tips You Most Likely Didn’t Think About

When it comes to home protecting, you may find that there are some common elements you go through. Locking your doors, and putting in motion sensors can be a good start. However, that’s just the beginning of what you should be thinking about overall. There are a lot of different security elements that you should consider, especially when it comes to modern protection. Much like security systems have evolved, so have the tactics that criminals use to break into homes. The following tips can help you get a leg up on some of the things you can do to protect your home against modern issues.

Don’t Let Anyone Know 

One of the worst things that you can do when leaving for vacation is simple, tell everyone. Many people make announcements on their social media pages, and many tell a lot of people about upcoming vacations. Don’t do that. You never know who can be hearing you talk and who may be following you on social networks. The last thing you want to tell people is that your home is going to be empty and ready for breaking into.

Clean Up Your Tools and Lock Sheds

If you keep gardening tools in your shed, or you leave them out in the open, you’re letting criminals have options for breaking and entering your home. Cleaning up and putting away tools is a good starting point, but also make sure that you lock your shed tight. The last thing you want is to find out that a criminal broke in using tools that you left out.

Purchase A Home Security System

In today’s internet age, you’ll find that home security systems can piggy back off of your wireless internet connection. You can also connect to your smartphone, and even get informed about all the elements that are going on in your house. You can keep a bird’s eye view of everything and ensure that you’re protected against nefarious characters. There are a variety of options that you can explore in this regards, many of which are inexpensive. Oh, and if you go this route, you can save money on renters and home insurance.

Change Your Locks

Perhaps the best tip that you can take with you today is simple, change your locks. When purchasing a house or moving into a new condo, change the locks. You don’t want to have the same key sets that a previous tenant had, and you don’t want to let anyone from the past in. Changing your locks will help you gain peace of mind in regards to locking up your home.

Home Security by http://astrolocks.com/

Getting Rid of Cat Pee Smell

You may love your cat, and you may give them a lot of love. They will return the favor when they use their litter box by cleaning up a little. Keeping this clean will help you avoid any smells, and your kitty will love you even more. But here’s the thing, they may sometimes miss the box. Whether it’s because you missed cleaning up or because they just couldn’t make it all into the box, you may find that a little dribble outside of their area can cause a bad smell. If you want to get rid of this smell, there are a few things that you should keep in mind moving forward.

Is Your Cat Sick? 

Before we get to the cleaning aspect, first determine whether or not your cat is sick. If they are not hitting the litter box, or they seem to be having a problem with peeing, they may have an issue in your home. Whether it’s because there’s another cat around, or they are dealing with a real sickness, you will need to get the opinion of a vet to figure this out. Sometimes, this is a sign that your cat is sick and needs help. If you’ve determined that this is not the issue, then you will no doubt want to get to the cleaning, which can be simple.

Fabric Options

If you have pee smell on any fabrics, including cushions, you should look into cleaning things up with simple detergent. You can clean up with baking soda, or just use a regular laundry detergent that can help you get the smell and stain out with ease. This is not complex in most cases as cats don’t really pee a great deal when they use their litter box, or don’t, rather.

Carpeting Options

If you have an issue in the carpet, you will need to clean things up by first spotting the wetness up with a towel. You can even use paper towels if you need to, and blot the area to get things cleaned up with relative ease. One you do this, you will want to add a little baking soda to your carpet and let it settle. After about 20 minutes, use a vacuum to clean it up. That alone will clean up the smell and will give you clear carpeting.

Hard Wood Surfaces

Moving forward with the next step, you’ll want to look into cleaning up with your normal cleaner. There’s a variety of hard wood cleaners that work here, and the smell is not going to penetrate deep into this.

At the end of the day, you’re going to find that the scent of pee will be easy to clean, if you don’t use any ammonia based cleaners. That’s your one caveat, which will help you get to this fast.

Cleaning Tips by https://www.maidbrigade.com/ca/orange-county/

Cleaning Windows With Professional Tips

As the weather goes from cold to warm again, you’ll no doubt want to get some Spring cleaning done. One of the aspects of this is to get to your windows. Cleaning windows can be a tough job if you don’t do it properly. Many people think that this is all easy, but then they get to the task and run into a variety of problems. The following tips are tried and true, and are some of the same things that professional window cleaners utilize on a regular basis.

The Vinegar Cleaner

The first thing that you should know about cleaning windows is that you have a powerful element in your home. If you have white vinegar at home, then you have the secret ingredient to cleaning windows. Mix this with two parts water and use a spray bottle to get started. Spray this on your windows and wipe it away, that’s it. Well that’s the starting point anyway.

Clear Dry Dirt First

Before you start the cleaning of your windows, make sure that you wipe away dirt and dust first. Use a microfiber cloth to clear off these issues. By doing this, you’re going to avoid having to wipe and clean up over and over again. While cleansers do work, the effort that you will have to put in to get things clear will be double or triple. Just wipe things down first, it will pay off.

Dry Things Well

To avoid streaks, you’ll want to make sure that you dry things very well after you spray and wipe with a squeegee. If there’s any moisture left on your windows, you’ll see streaks. Also, make sure that you clean after the sun has finished hitting the areas that you want to clean. That’s going to cause the liquid to dry too fast, and could cause streaks to show up.

Cleaning Screens

If you’re going to clean windows, you might as well clean screens as well. If you don’t do this, you’ll have dirt and grime come back onto your glass. To clean screens use a large bucket of water with a little dish soap. Then use this mixture to clean the screens efficiently. Before putting them back up, make sure that you let them dry naturally.

For Deeper Cleaning

One last thing to remember about cleaning is that you may need additional support. For instance, if you have to deal with rust, you’ll need to get a cleanser that can help with this. Also, look into picking up products like CLR if you need to remove stains beyond just dirt and grime.

Stanley Window Care specializes in OC window cleaning http://www.stanleywindowcare.com/

A Quick Look At Low-VOC Paint

Paint is one of the best things that you can invest in. Whether you have a home or you are leasing, you can always add a little bit of paint and make things stand out. You can make any space your own by just throwing a little color around. There are a lot of paint options that you can explore in this regards, but there’s an argument brewing in regards to safety. When you have children, their safety becomes paramount and that means that you will want to consider what type of paint, fumes, and other issues can end up being let out when home improvement projects start. With that in mind, you may hear about low-voc paint, and the safety that it has.

What is VOC? 

VOC is found in paint and usually is found with organic elements. These elements can evaporate quickly, but when there’s a high concentration of them in paint, it can actually cause problems. The problems associated with paints of this type include irritable eyes, headaches, nausea, and much more. Long term exposure to this can even cause liver damage and issues with the nervous system, which is definitely not good. As a way to fight back against this, the industry has put out low-VOC options that can help avoid these medical problems.

For Pregnant Women

Perhaps the biggest jump in safety is in regards to pregnant women. Pregnant women will find that low-VOC paint is safe for those that are pregnant and are doing home improvement projects. Of course, ventilation is an important thing, but aside from that, this type of paint is not going to be a problem in terms of medical issues.

How To Identify Low-VOC Options

Most hardware stores today have this type of option in their paint department. When in doubt, ask the people at the counter in regards to this solution. You’ll find that paint companies that are providing this type of option will label their canisters with zero-VOC or low-VOC as well as “green” solutions. This will help you purchase the right solution to ensure that you’re getting a new look and feel in your home with safety in mind.

It should be noted that there are still risks involved with these options. However, they will be greatly reduced versus regular paint options. Your best bet is to look around for safe options, and still have a well aired room when painting just about anything in your home.

House Cleaning Tips by https://www.maidbrigade.com/ca/orange-county/

Safely Clean Your Baby’s Toys With These Steps

It’s easy to overlook cleaning your child’s toys. They are constantly playing with them, they are touching, throwing, and sleeping around their toys and games. Along the way these things are going to get dirty, torn, and you’ll need to clean things from time to time. If you’re not sure how to get this done right, or perhaps you are trying to make things a bit easier, take on a few tips that can help you get moving forward with relative ease.

Cleaning Hard Toys

First and foremost, hard toys are going to be the easiest to clean. You could work on these in the sink, and wash them like you would with dishes. If they are plastic, you can clean them in the dishwasher without too much heat. The easiest way to do this, however, is to use a soft soap and some water to clean up the grime and dirt. You will need to ensure that they dry completely, but honestly, this is an easy option to move forward with.

Cleaning Soft Toys

Some of the toys that you are going to want to clean with care are soft. Softer toys can end up pulling a lot of drool, soaking up liquid with ease. Spot cleaning and clearing up the messes that can be left over in the plush toys that you give your child can be a bit tough traditionally. You can go far by actually cleaning them up in the washer. That’s right, use your washer and make sure to set it at a gentle pace. With the gentle cycle, you will be able to ensure that the soft plush toys get free and clear of spots, and more. Once you do that, you can air dry them or dry on low and that’s it. Make sure that you do this every few weeks, and you will ensure that your child’s favorite plush toys are going to be great overall.

When Things Won’t Clean

This is one thing that you’re going to want to consider, and it’s throwing things out. Toys are going to go through a rough cycle of cleaning, getting dirty, and then cleaning again. Over time, the cleaners that you use, even gentle soaps, can start to cause toys to break down. Instead of trying to salvage them, it may be good to throw things out. If toys are broken, peeling, or are looking a bit messed up, it’s time to get rid of them and replace them with something new.

House Cleaning Tips by https://www.maidbrigade.com/ca/orange-county/

Mistakes You Should Avoid When Buying A Security System

It’s easy to get a security system for your home today. You could easily purchase one without even thinking too much about it. There are so many on the market, finding the right one can be a bit of a task. Instead of looking at what you should buy outright, perhaps it’s important to look into what mistakes you should avoid when buying a system. It’s easy to make mistakes when buying home security systems, especially with so much marketing that goes into the decision. With that in mind, consider the following options as you move forward.

Buying Too Inexpensive Outright

The first thing that you should avoid is simple, going for the most inexpensive option possible. You can be cheap in a lot of different areas of your life, but when it comes to home security, perhaps it’s important not to work with the most inexpensive option. Price is not always going to dictate quality, but in the case of your home’s security, perhaps it’s best not to scrape the bottom of the barrel overall.

Subscription Fee Issues

You really need to balance whether or not you want to subscribe to a security plan. If your system comes with additional fees, really weigh in on if it’s worth it for you to move forward with. It’s easy to get caught up with the added expenses may not be what you need, or can afford. Now, if the subscriptions come with additional benefits, perhaps it’s a good plan for your needs. Assess what you want and need and perhaps move forward if subscription based options are right for you.

Going With The Latest Unproven Tech

There’s always going to be something new to come through. Something new doesn’t mean that it’s going to be good. Don’t go with something that has been unproven. Don’t become an early adopter of security systems, as you may find that you add risk to your home when they fail. The latest in tech doesn’t come without bugs, so don’t go forward with this just yet.

Going Overboard 

It’s easy to overextend yourself. You want protection for your home and family, so you are willing to spend top dollar. Don’t do this. Don’t overspend as you could end up with a security system you don’t use, or don’t really need. Not everyone needs Fort Knox level security elements, so don’t go too deep into the purchase of a system. It could end up being problematic in the long run.

Professional Services by http://astrolocks.com/surveillance.asp

Cleaning Secrets Straight From Professional Housekeepers

Ever wonder how the pros do things? Not just in sports, but other facets of life? For instance, have you ever thought about how a professional housekeeper gets things done? They are efficient, thorough, and spend their days cleaning people’s homes. How can you emulate what they do? Well, you could take on some cleaning secrets that they utilize every time you decide to get your home in order. With just a little bit of a push, you could have the cleanest house on the block, without wasting any time.

The Products You Use Matter

The first thing that you should consider is the type of products that you’re going to be using. What you need to consider is simple, use only products that are going to be available for multiple surfaces. What that’s going to do is simple, eliminate a lot of frivolous products you’re not going to use. Instead of having to switch through different products to clean an area, you can have one, and get the same cleaning power. You can disinfect, clean, clear, and much more.

Just Have The Necessities (Tools)

As you look into cleaning, you will have tools of the trade. It’s easy to get a lot of tools to help you, but when it comes down to actually cleaning up, you may end up using very few of them. To ensure that you’re getting things clean and clear, only use tools that you absolutely know you’re going to use. Just having the necessities will allow you to clean things up, with the right tools, so that your time spent is well focused. This includes non-traditional items, like a toothbrush. A toothbrush could help you clean in spaces where other options won’t fit.

Get A Tool Box or a Caddy

Take your cleaning to a professional level. Professional housekeepers have caddies or tool boxes to hold their products. They take them around the home so that they have easy access to all of the products that they need to move forward with. You could use a shower caddy, or you could get a tool box to help you out. Just having things with you as you move around will save you time, as you go from room to room.

Clear Your Path First

Before you get too in depth with your cleaning, make sure that you clear things out of your way. Getting rid of clutter is going to help your path, and will allow you to focus on the task at hand, rather than doing minor changes here and there. Simply put, it’s going to help you manage your time, without having to think about other tasks as you go along.

House Cleaning Tips by https://www.maidbrigade.com/ca/orange-county/