In modern homes, especially those with new-fangled windows designed to keep heat out in the summer and in during the winter, windows need cleaning, not covering, but that’s not always feasible. Modesty usually prevails, so here we explore a few simple ways to let the light in without losing your privacy.

Before we talk about some of our ideas, we’d like to share the best advice we’ve ever seen for making windows look better, which is to say bigger. Buy your drapery longer and wider than the window. Instead of purchasing panels that fit the height of the window, try the height of the ceiling and instead of stopping at the width of the window add 25 percent or more to the sides and buy the hardware to match. It’s a simple way to cheat and fool the eye.

1. The Anywhere Telescoping panel system ($94.50, Uma, 313 North 11th Street or www.iloveuma.com) makes for an airy and inventive window treat. The adjustable silver pole by designers Paul Rowan and Michelle Ivankovic can be used to cover windows or function as a space divider. It adjusts to a height of 70 inches to 120 inches, and the swing arm extends from 20 inches to 36 inches. The look is a great complement for contemporary décor. When closed over the window, there’s the look of filtered light and then with a shift of the swing arm, the window is completely open and unobstructed. The telescoping system is easy to assemble with a few clicks and twists. It’s anchored to the ceiling and floor with screws. Here we use a set of linking 16-inch-square cut-out screen panels ($29 for four, available in three styes and two colors, black or white, linking rings included) to create decorative window treatments.

2. If you’re more of a traditionalist, but you’d still like to give your windows some pizazz, we found a quick and easily solution for dressing up windows at Pier 1 Imports. We used a bamboo table runner ($12), a hot glue gun, colored rope and an anchor (which can be as simple as a decorative screw or an old knob from a cabinet). MacGyver would have been proud.

We used a table runner because of the length. At about 72 inches long, this will fit most windows, and we chose the multicolored bamboo table runner because it rolls nicely without shifting and kinking. You’ll need a sturdy pole to hang your new drapes from because you’ll need to be able to tug and pull on it. A lightweight tension rod would be a disaster. Try a system that screws into the wall. To make the loop for the table runner to fit over the rod, fold the bamboo runner as if you’re making a hem and then hot glue along the edge of the seam so that you have an opening to fit the rod through once it dries. We suggest measuring this distance around the rod before you glue and make it a little loose.

Let it dry completely, then slide it over the rod. Now roll up the table runner from the bottom up and use the rope to make a sort of lasso or slip knot around the whole unit. The rope is going to be the cradle for the bamboo roll.

Now hang the rod and give your slipknot a tug to raise the curtain and then give it some slack to lower. You may want to avoid a knot altogether if you plan to raise and lower the curtain a lot. This can be done by hot gluing or tying one end of the rope to the top of the curtain along the side that faces out and then simply looping the other end around and back over the top. To keep the drapes open at whatever height you chose, use an anchor.

3. Lastly, who says you need to cover a window from the top down. If you live in an area where your windows must be covered at all times, you might be able to get away with covering only the bottom half instead of top to bottom.

Think of the window as extra wall space and hang a piece of art there. Use some fishing line and suspend the art within the window pane for a floating art look. You can use this on any window, but windows that face the public are tricky because they’ll be looking at the unattractive back of the art frame, which tends to diminish curb appeal.

Source: http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/lifestyle/stories.nsf/homedecor/story/C45CA1C65F4A1C0C862574C7005D9490?OpenDocument

Since service began Aug. 31, more than 440,000 meals have been served by the Salvation Army in Louisiana.

Salvation Army Food Boxes and Clean-Up kits are also available while they last. Each kit includes a mop, broom, rags, cleaning supplies, and bucket. Food boxes include enough food to feed a family of four for up to four days.

“Our desire is to reach deep into the bayous of South Louisiana with the message that each person and family is important to The Salvation Army and that their need is our need. The best “words” we can give them is a hot meal and cold water,” said Bill Feist Disaster Services Director for The Salvation Army.

The Salvation Army also has mobile feeding units serving meals in in Terrebonne, Lafourche and Grand Isle.

The following is a list of the mobile feeding sites and their locations for Thursday, Sept. 17. This list is subject to change.

– Houma: Houma-Terrebonne Civic Center, Barrow Street and La. 311.

Also at Salvation Army Office, 410 East Tunnel Blvd., near the Houma Tunnel.

– Golden Meadow: City Hall.

– Bourg: St. Anne Catholic Church, La. 55.

– Chauvin: St. Joseph Catholic Church, La. 56.

– Grand Isle, La. 1.

– Grand Caillou, Knights of Columbus Hall, La. 57.

The Salvation Army, an evangelical part of the universal Christian church established in 1865, has been supporting those in need in His name without discrimination for 128 years in the United States. Nearly 29 million Americans receive assistance from The Salvation Army each year through the broadest array of social services that range from providing food for the hungry, relief for disaster victims, assistance for the disabled, outreach to the elderly and ill, clothing and shelter to the homeless and opportunities for underprivileged children. About 83 cents of every dollar raised is used to support those services in 5,000 communities nationwide. For more information, go to www.salvationarmyusa.org

Source: http://www.houmatoday.com/article/20080917/HURBLOG/809170287&title=Need_food__water__cleanup_kits__Try_these_Salvation_Army_sites

Question: My hardwood floor was given a water-based polyurethane finish about two years ago, but now has a number of fine scratches. Can we eliminate the scratches without sanding?

Answer: You should be able to restore a smooth finish by using a no-sanding process developed by Varathane. This process will eliminate fine scratches that don’t penetrate into the wood. The manufacturer says it will work on previously finished hardwood floors and some factory-finished floors and laminates.

The process will not improve deep scratches in the wood and will not work if the finish has worn off to bare wood or if the finish is flaking or peeling. It will also not work on floors that have a wax finish or have been waxed to make them shine. You can check for wax by rubbing the floor with your thumb in an inconspicuous area; if the finish smudges, it is waxed.

If your floor qualifies, look for a Varathane Renewal Floor Refinishing Kit at a home center or buy one online. Renewing the floor is a three-step process that includes cleaning with a No-Sanding Cleaner supplied in the kit. The cleaner chemically abrades the old finish to eliminate the scratches and improve adhesion of the final finish. Rinsing with soap and water is the next step, followed by applying a fast-drying, water-based finish. Two coats of finish are recommended. For more information, visit www.varathane.com.

Source: http://www.lansingstatejournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080919/LIFE01/809190307/1080/LIFE01

Obviously you’re concerned about your fine rugs, upholstery, and carpet being ruined when you hire a cleaning company.   But some unfortunate homeowners have even worse problems. It happened in New Jersey just last week.  Three floor maintenance workers were stripping varnish.

“The job ended with a huge explosion which severely burned the workers and destroyed several homes.” The maintenance workers were using acetone to strip the floor.  Acetone is a solvent that is occasionally used for cleaning or stripping.  However, properly trained cleaning technicians know to use it very sparingly if at all.  Acetone is highly flammable and harsh to breathe.   Apparently the technicians were using a large amount of the solvent throughout the kitchen and living room.

What caused the solvent to ignite is unknown by the officials.  But if gallons of a highly flammable solvent are spread on a floor, even static electricity could cause it to ignite. Fortunately no one was killed.  The man who lived in the home in which the incident occurred narrowly escaped severe injury.  He had left his home just minutes before to run an errand.  Talk about good timing.  Anyone within a couple hundred feet from the explosion could have been severely burned or killed. Had the maintenance workers been properly trained in the use of these chemicals, this tragedy would never have occurred.  One of the first rules any cleaning professional learns about solvents is they are highly flammable and should NEVER be used in large quantities.

Many other instances of uneducated cleaners have caused families to be poisoned by harmful chemicals.  One cleaning technician left a bottle of strong acid cleaner in reach of a two-year old.  The child found the bottle and drank some of the chemical.  The toddler died. There are countless other stories of cleaning companies using too much or too harsh of a chemical that caused destruction.  Other stories involve minor problems like strong chemicals burning a hole in carpet or tile.  Carpet turning yellow.  Upholstery getting torn apart.

Are you covered with insurance? These companies rarely ever have insurance.  If they don’t spend the money and time to educate themselves, they typically don’t spend it on insurance.  One of the easiest payments to let slip by is general liability insurance.  And the people who hire them don’t even know.  They’re out of luck if something goes wrong.  Be careful about who you hire for any home service.  Be especially careful about who comes into your home.  Don’t assume they’re sending safe employees.  Ask about who they’re sending.  Get their names. All our employees are hired through Landrum Services.

Landrum does complete background checks and drug testing on every employee we hire.  As well, our company is trained and certified by the Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification (the IICRC).  This means we’ve learned proper cleaning and safety techniques.  Rest assured when you call Premium Carpet Care.  You’ll be cared for properly.

Souce: http://carpetcleaningpensacola.com/blog/2008/09/19/uneducated-cleaners-destroy-home/

Today’s laundry rooms are expected to do much more than wash, spin and dry clothes.

In many homes, the laundry room has become the command center, a place where the laundry is done side by side with schoolwork, crafts and even bill-paying.

“It’s the drop zone,” said Peggy Holloway, design counselor with Ferris Homes, which is building homes in the northern suburbs. “You have your lockers near the back door so the kids come in and put down their stuff, and you’re in an expanded mudroom area that opens into a laundry room and craft room.”

In that type of layout, the washer and dryer would be part of a row of base and wall cabinetry along one wall. The appliances might be built into the cabinetry or placed behind folding doors so they can be hidden from view when not in use. The countertop and cabinets would be similar in style and material to those used in the nearby kitchen.

The other walls would include plenty of countertop space for folding clothes, along with cabinets for storing detergents, cleaning supplies and even bulk food products. Those who buy many foods in bulk might want to add deeper cabinets that can fit large containers.

One of the walls also might include a desk and a computer. This brings the schoolwork and bill-paying functions into one central location. Cell phones also can be charged in that area.

If the room is being used for crafts, there would be a large table in the middle and nearby cabinets, bins or baskets for storing supplies. This type of laundry room often is 8 by 10 feet or 9 by 12 feet, Holloway said.

As laundry rooms become more inviting, some people are moving them into the main living space of the home. The laundry room might become part of one wall in the family room or home office or take a section of hall space near a master bedroom suite on the second floor.

The idea is to bring the laundry area out in the open and blend it with adjacent rooms through decorative cabinetry, sleek countertops and interesting lighting. “Washers and dryers have become a centerpiece with bold colors or interesting front-loading designs,” said Heather Argo, design education coordinator for KraftMaid Cabinetry.

The stylish machines can be paired with cabinets with raised or recessed door fronts or glazed wood finishes to create a furniture-styled look. The design fits well when the laundry room is next to a family room with interesting crown molding, an ornate fireplace surround or a striking entertainment center.

When deciding where to put a laundry room, consider the overall floor plan and the traffic flow through the house. Do you want a multipurpose room for the whole family or a separate space just for laundry? Do you feel comfortable letting visitors see your laundry area as they walk through the house?

The level of noise the appliance emits also is an important consideration. Some manufacturers make machines that are quiet to operate, but those appliances tend to be more costly than others. If you dislike hearing water rushing through the machine during the various cycles, then a private laundry room design would be a good option.

The size of the home also is important. While large, fancy laundry rooms are becoming the norm in single-family homes, they require 60 to 100 square feet of space, making them impractical for many multifamily units. Condos, townhouses and lofts typically are smaller than single-family homes, prompting builders to put more emphasis on the main living areas instead.

In a 1,000- to 1,800-square-foot loft at Burr Ridge Village Center, for example, laundry rooms typically include stackable washers and dryers that are built into a closet. By using vertical space, one can make a small unit seem larger—and leave horizontal space for the important kitchen area.

“Typically. those buyers are happy to not devote too much space to the laundry,” said Matt Nix, senior real estate director with Opus North, which is building that project in Burr Ridge. “They want something nice and efficient, as we’re generally serving singles and young couples who have limited laundry needs.

The larger units in that development cater to empty nesters, however, who are accustomed to having a large laundry room. In units that are 2,000 to 4,000 square feet, for example, home buyers typically get a separate room for their laundry. In that scenario, buyers tend to splurge on fancier cabinets, countertops and storage units, Nix said.

With the right floor plan and square footage, a buyer can turn an ordinary laundry room into an attractive space. The trick is keeping the piles of shirts, pajamas, and mismatched socks from cluttering the landscape.

Source: http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-laundry-choices_chomes_0919sep19,0,2128508.story