Doing a professional oven cleaning for yourself is something that most people carry out either because they do not see the point of hiring a cleaning company to be able to do it for them, or it’s more about “it’s just an oven, I will do it myself!”. Either way, whatever the deal, times are tough and it isn’t always easy to be able to hire cleaning contractors and we’re left to be able to clean the oven that is full of grease ourselves because we know that if we need to continue to cook or bake in it, it isn’t always easy to have a dirty oven! We know the reason that when the cleaners choose to clean our place, it sparkles and shines simply and often because of the cleaning agents they use. But what about the times that we have to do it all by ourselves and want to achieve the same result? Not a worry, we’ve taken the liberty of being able to put it down for you in a handy short guide that you can go through and get even better results (!) than the experts, provided you follow the steps. It is a great skill to learn, one you can teach friends and family as well as save a bit of money on the side to be able to put towards something else. Keep this guide handy as it will help for the future:
Before cleaning the oven, please clean the stove itself. Sounds a bit silly to even be saying that however it is imperative that all of the cooker is sparkling and clean so that it doesn’t feel weird having a cooker that is dirty on the outside and yet clean on the inside. You can do this by taking off the burners and cleaning them with a damp cloth slowly and all around the grill rack as well, if it is a gas cooker. If it is an electric cooker, your job is a little simpler as you can spray on the foam cleanser and let it sit there for a while, for around half an hour until you can get a scourer and then clean up with little to no effort!
Before you actually do your oven cleaning, it is important that you also clean out the vent. Ensure that your vent is cold and that you have not used the oven to be able to cook just a short while ago. If all is well, simply climb on a stool and wipe it down with a damp clean cloth. Remember that you use your vent to let out any excess heat, so it may have a little grease on it from time to time.
For your actual oven clean, this is how it works. Mix a quarter cup of bicarbonate of soda and a quarter of vinegar into a bucket that has been filled with warm water. Take off the oven racks and let them sit in there overnight. For the actual oven, make a paste of these two ingredients, mix and then smear all over the oven. Leave overnight and then scrape off in the morning. Your oven will be as good as new!
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January 27, 2015 | Ella Andrews
If you’ve decided to carry out your own home clearance, then there a number of factors you’ll need to consider. A property clearance entails heavy lifting of items like boxes, furniture, electrical items like fridges and sometimes even carpeting or plasterboard! So it’s imperative if you are going to go done the DIY clearance path that you take every precaution to safeguard your health as well as the environment when disposing of you unwanted junk!
So why do people make such a big fuss over lifting or carrying boxes? Well the answer is that by lifting or carrying a heavy item can cause severe injury to your back or knees, some that can become chronic and leave you with permanent damage! Also you might want to consider what good you’ll be to yourself or anyone if you put your back out during your first day of the home clearance! Your do-it-yourself plan will go straight out the window and you’ll have no choice but to call in a professional clearance company to take care of the junk disposal! So here are a few tips on how you can perform a safe domestic clearance, significantly limiting any chance of injury!
This may sound ludicrous at first, but your clothing while taking care of furniture clearance is so important! Make sure as your bending down, lifting and lugging items from your home that you are wearing loose fitted clothing. Anything too tight, uncomfortable could restrict your movements and leave you feeling stiff. Meanwhile it’s also important to wear shoes that cover your entire foot to protect them in the event that you drop a box or two! It’s also a good idea for your shoes to have rubber soles that wont’ slip on the floor, giving you a firm grip on terra firma! Finally always wear good fitting, anti-slip gloves to protect your hands during a waste disposal operation!
Always pay close attention to a box before you attempt to lift it. Don’t try to be the big man or woman and just lift it anyway if it feels too heavy. Get some help! Also if you’re confronted by an obstacle course of furniture or building debris, take extra caution as you carry the box and attempt to manoeuver it outside. You don’t want to trip over with the box in your hand. You could fall and seriously injure yourself! Finally before you even lift up the box, have your eye on the area you want to place it. An end goal is key!
When picking up a box it’s important to bend you knees slightly as you do so (but avoid the squatting position) and then lift back up using your knees, hips and back as a propeller into standing position. Don’t put too much strain on your back, as this is the main cause of back injury. Once you’re holding the box make sure to keep your balance by placing feet shoulder width apart and with one foot positioned slightly before the other. Now while ferrying a box outside, remember it’s best to keep the item close to your body in order to give it the maximum amount of support and reduce the risk of it falling and crushing your toes! Believe it or not, the item will also feel a little lighter if you hold it in the embracing position! Meanwhile park your van as close as possible to the entrance of your home, to reduce the time you’ll be carrying boxes of other heavy items.
Now once you arrive at the landfill or recycling plant and are ready to dump your old items, do this carefully. Remember that items like fridges and washing machines contain chemicals harmful to the environment when they break down, so wear a facemask when at the end stage of your junk disposal!
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January 16, 2015 | Ella Andrews
Small or major, home renovations always involve a lot of stress and money. In most of the cases, reality and expectations don’t align. You can at least save yourself living with an expensive decoration disaster for the rest of your life. Okay, that was exaggerated. You can still repair your DIY mistake, but it won’t be cheap. Take renovation seriously. Be sure that you know what you are getting into and prepare for hard work and some compromises.
Have a Clear Vision
You probably spent hours imagining the dream room. You are full with ideas, but executing them is a whole other story. Before undertaking any big steps, you need to think it thoroughly. Take time to make a plan. There is no need to rush, unless you are dealing with a bathroom or a kitchen. Look at the internet for useful tips and techniques. You should also research for a professional clearance company that will dispose the old appliances or will remove the waste from the renovation. Settle these things, before initiating the DIY project.
Have a clear idea what you want to achieve. Changing your mind too often, might leave you with an incoherent design. You need to decide what you want and to stick with your plan. Otherwise you risk going beyond your schedule or your budget.
Train DIY Skills
Whether it’s painting or laying the bricks, don’t go straightly into the deep, before testing your abilities first. The rehearsals are not only for the theatre. Start with a small project. If you are planning to paint your walls by using a specific technique, try it on a chair or a table.
Be Realistic
There are two things that are almost certain, when talking about DIY renovations. In fact they apply for any renovations. It will be costlier and timelier than you thought. That is why it’s useless to stress over things that go beyond your control. Don’t get carried away by the idea of changing the décor. You need to stay grounded and to start projects that are too ambitious. Remember, it should be doable and adapted to your own skills.
Give Up the Order
This is also part of the “be realistic” part. You need to accept the fact that the home renovation will leave quite the mess, until the house clearance company doesn’t remove it. Be patient. When the clearance service takes away the junk, you will be free to enjoy your new décor.
Consult With Experts
Except if you don’t have the specific education, it is better to talk with the professionals for the major renovations. There is some pride in dealing with the home repairs alone. However, there is nothing wrong in asking for help. Looking for the expert’s opinion is what any smart DIY enthusiast will do.
Read more helpful home related tips here: http://www.houseclearance.co/hampstead-house-clearance/NW3-trash-collection-hampstead.html
January 6, 2015 | Ella Andrews
With winter and cold temperatures knocking on your door, it is a good idea to start preparations now, while the temperatures are still bearable. Winters can be rough, seeing how everywhere around the globe countries are experiencing snow and cold weather earlier or more severe than ever before. Make sure your home is ready for any such unforeseen contingency.
Winter preparations often times do not require a great deal of time investment, only some knowledge and know-how on how to perform them. Much like house cleaning, preparing for winter is best done with a good to-do list and proper tools for the job.
Start with insulation. It is one of the most effective solutions when it comes to preparing for the winter. You can insulate the attic and walls, as these are areas that heat escapes from. Warm air is light, and will easily escape through your attic, if there is no insulation there. Another problematic area of the house is windows and doors. Holes, cracks and other openings can easily lead to leaks, losing a large amount of heat from your house. Make sure you caulk those to seal them. Install storm doors and windows to serve protection from snow blizzards. Consider window cleaning after or before that, to ensure they are in their best condition. If there is draft under your doors, you can use draft stoppers. Get your heavy curtains out and after giving them a thorough steam cleaning, put them to good use.
Have your heating system checked by a professional to make sure everything is working as intended. Check the vents for blockage and remove any if present. Cleaning them is also important, as is replacing your air filter frequently. This will ensure the system works smoothly and more effectively.
If you own a fireplace, make sure you get a professional to clean your chimney. Any creosote and soot build ups must be removed. Inspect your damper, to make sure it closes and opens freely. Check the chimney for any birds or other rodents and install a screen on top to prevent them from entering. You should inspect your wood as well, and keep a reserve of 20% at least, in case of sudden outbursts of extreme cold weather, during which you will use more wood fuel.
Make sure you prepare your winter upholstery for the season. Consider upholstery cleaning services. Having bulky upholstery can bring lots of warmth in your room, especially if it is one you spend a lot of time in.
Making sure you are ready for winter will ensure no bad surprises happen to your home. You should definitely start your preparations early and make sure they are performed thoroughly.
Read more tips at: http://www.londoncarpetcleaning.co/SW12-flat-cleaning-balham/balham-apartment-cleaning.html
December 15, 2014 | Ella Andrews
A flat clearance can differ somewhat from a house clearance, mainly due to the fact that flats are not as easily accessible as houses, which have a direct ground floor entranceway and can really facilitate furniture disposal without the hassle of narrow stairways or small lifts! For a swift and easy property clearance, flats are not ideal, but when waste removal is necessary, ways will be found to ensure an effective process is performed, particularly by a seasoned and well trained clearing company!
Remember the process of organisation and deciding what you want to keep and what you want to bin, is the same no matter whether you’re carrying out a house clearance or office clearance. Have all your items ready to go before the clearance professionals arrive, to cut down on time and thus costs of completing your rubbish removal!
So if you live in a top floor flat that’s only accessible via a narrow staircase, you’ll need to find a company that is up to the job of flat clearance! Many companies will charge a lot more for a waste disposal operation from a flat, while some just aren’t equipped to carry out rubbish disposal from hard to reach flats! However there are other clearance firms out there, who will be more than happy to take care of furniture clearance from a top floor flat, with or without a lift. The stairs won’t be a hindrance nor will narrow corridors and if when you speak to them, they say they can deliver, make sure they pay your flat a visit before signing on any dotted lines! Also ensure the property clearance services you hire work to a strict deadline and swiftly, as you want to cause as little disruption as possible to your neighbours who will likely be navigating the corridors and narrow steps at the same time as your Balham domestic clearance is underway! Whether you’re after partial or full flat clearance must be outlined to the clearance company when you speak to them in order to get a quote or find out if they can perform the task.
When it comes to flat clearance, it really doesn’t differ to a house clearance in the sense of rubbish clearance and what you do with your unwanted items. Some valuables you no longer have any need or want for could be sold online or at a car boot sale! Some flat clearance firms will take care of this for you and deduct the price from the cost of clearance services offered! You’ll need to check first with the company of your choosing before assuming it’s a given service!
Charity shops are always crying out for items in good condition. So if there’s nothing wrong with your old CDs or books, or you baby’s old clothes, then why not drop them off at a charity shop of your choosing? Such donations will be much appreciated and this will help you with your junk disposal! For items you’d like donated, again you’re best to enquire with a property clearance company.
There often come times, when people require flat clearance services, but not for their flats, but for those of relatives who have recently passed away. This can be so much harder, as dealing with somebody else’s junk removal is not the same as carrying out your own. Landlords often also require flat clearance if they are readying the property for a new tenant or need builders waste removal from a flat after carrying out renovation work!
December 9, 2014 | Ella Andrews
