March 21, 2015

post-thumb

Fight the mites!

Dust mites are tiny “pests” that infest the pillows and the closets of our homes. Formidable enemies that may be fought by using natural remedies like lemon and salt against ants or basil against mosquitos.

But all this may be not enough. According to a study by a team of researchers, the cushions on which we rely can comfortably accommodate potentially harmful micro-organisms, such as staphylococcus, varicella, and even E. Coli, a pathogenic virus responsible for intestinal diseases.

This is due to the sponge effect of the cushions tissues.  However, there is a way to combat the phenomenon and it is simple: to daily air the pillows, preferably under the rays of the sun. Alternatively, you can wash them at high temperature once a month.

However, we need to consider that the total elimination of the mites is in any case not possible. But you can contain the proliferation. In this regard you can use a dehumidifier to decrease the wetness, or air the rooms in the evening, when the air is cooler and less humid than in the morning. We must also remove the dark dust, which is the main cause of asthma, especially in children.
You can dissolve 2 tea bags in warm water and put the liquid in a plastic container with spray pump. After leaving for a few minutes the bags into the bottle, spray the liquid on the mattress and the pillows, and then let everything dry, preferably in the sunlight. Everything should be repeated every two weeks.

Another step is to eliminate the mites inside the vacuum cleaner. Draw in a wet tea bag inside the machine before using it on surfaces. The cleaning operation will be effective if the sachet remains inside for 2 weeks. Then it must be replaced.

Finally, you can also use sodium bicarbonate. Spread 3 tablespoons onto the surface to be treated, leaving it 2 hours and then vacuum. Et voila … no more mites! In fact, scientific studies have shown that crystals of bicarbonate have an inhibiting action on the development of the parasites. It was shown that scattering bicarbonate on the carpet you get a reduction of the mites up to 79% in 1 hour and 100% in 2 hours.

So, are you ready for your battle against the horrible creatures which are now the most common cause of allergy in adults and children?

Vegetable-garden-626x469

Make your terrace a vegetable garden

Do you think that your terrace is too small to be a vegetable garden? Think twice…with the right plants and some saving-space ideas you can.

Everybody dreams to have fresh hand-picked vegetable ready to eat every day on the table. Unfortunately, for the majority of us this is impossible, especially for who lives in big cities like London. I forced myself to be pleased with the tasteless fruits and vegetables I could find at the local supermarkets. I remember the surprise every time I was back at my grandparents place (my grandpa is a guru in how to grow vegetables) and I had some raw tomatoes…I had almost forgotten their real taste.

Well my grandpa lives in the countryside and he gets plenty of space in front of his house, but there was no reason why I couldn’t get my vegetable garden as well…on my terrace. My terrace is quite small and I had to choose carefully which plants I preferred to have.

First of all I wanted to have some aromatic plants like rosemary, parsley, basil and sage. I used to struggle to find them in the shops and I always use them when I cook. I planted my aromatic plants in some vases and I waited for them to grow. They don’t need a lot of care, just some water every day and they grow very fast, perfect match with my lifestyle…I am always outside and I usually don’t make home until 8pm.

I also need some vegetables and, with my grandpa’s help, I chose the ones that don’t grow that much and can be planted also in vases. I decided to go for chili pepper, pepper and carrots to start, but there are many vegetables you can choose like radish, beetroot or lettuce. You can also plant tomatoes but they grow a lot and you need to prune them regularly to make them manageable.

Your garden is part of your house and you need to design it. You can use some creative flower box such as metal watering can, coloured vases or funny boxes. You need to become creative reusing boxes that you have already in your kitchen, for instance an old bucket could become a nice flower box…you need just to remember to perforate the bottom J

If you love gardening you can find some nice tips here:

http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/gardening-blog

http://blog.shirlsgardenwatch.co.uk/

http://joanne-orangecottages.blogspot.co.uk/

http://www.smallestsmallholding.com/

piano-626x352

How to Clean a Piano

When it comes to pianos, cleaning and polishing are two different actions. Polishing should be kept to a bare minimum. Dust is ideally removed by a feather duster, and dusting with a dry cloth should be avoided at all costs; a dry cloth will allow the dust to scratch the finish.

1. If dusting with a cloth, always use a soft fabric such as flannel or chamois. Never use rags or paper towels.

2. Cloths should be only slightly damp, and the use of filtered water is preferred; minerals can alter the appearance of the finish.

3. Always use a gentle touch, and dry immediately with a separate cloth.

4. Resist the temptation to dust any exposed areas of the piano’s interior. These parts are fragile, and should only be cleaned by a professional.

Piano Cleaning Tips

• Avoid placing objects on your piano. If you use a piano lamp, make sure it has a cloth or felt base, or place it on top of a soft piece of fabric.

• Never spray products directly onto the piano. Spray the polish onto your cloth, and stand at least three feet away from the piano to prevent the particles from landing on your keys, strings, or other delicate areas.

• Keep an air purifier in the same room as the piano to reduce dust.

Polishing Your Piano

Before you polish your piano, you need to find out whether it has a polymer or lacquer finish; these two finishes must be polished differently to avoid possibly irreversible damage. Learn more:

o polish a piano without causing damage to the finish or instrument, be sure to read the basic guidelines for cleaning a piano.

It’s also very important to keep wood polish off the keyboard; there are special methods for cleaning piano keys.

Lacquer and Polyester Piano Finishes

Before you polish your piano, you need to find out whether it has a polymer or lacquer finish; these two finishes must be polished differently to avoid damage and possibly irreversible eyesores.

Here’s how to distinguish lacquer from polymer piano finishes:

Lacquer: Lacquer is most common on North American pianos, and will resemble most other pieces of wooden furniture. You can usually see the wood grain under the finish, and the surface will seem easily scratchable.

Most Tell-Tale Problem: A waxy buildup is common on lacquer finishes, as is a softening of the varnish. Lacquer can also dry out very quickly depending on cleaning habits and local weather.

How to Polish a Lacquer Piano

If your lacquered piano is due for a polish, you’ll want to spend a few extra dollars on a good product. Common household furniture polishes (even those with good reputations) are not ideal for a piano, even if the piano’s finish looks similar to the finish on your expensive dining room table. Beware of the following ingredients when polishing your lacquer piano:

• Silicone can seep into the wood and cause costly damage to delicate and (seemingly) distant parts.

• Lemon oils are recommended by some, but can actually weaken the finish and cause a sticky buildup over time.

Some lacquer finishes are meant to have a dull sheen. Attempting to liven up these finishes with a gloss polish will produce the opposite effect. A good product for satin (lower-gloss) finishes is Murphy’s Oil Soap, which can be found in most household cleaning aisles. For high or semi-gloss finishes, look for OZ Cream Polish or check out Steinway’s line of furniture polishes.

Tips for Polishing a Lacquer Piano:

1. Use a soft cloth, and gently wipe in the direction of the piano’s wood grain. This is the direction in which the original finish was applied, and following the grain during a polish will benefit both the wood and its finish.

2. Be extra gentle on corners and edges. These areas have the thinnest layer of finish, and too much pressure can expose the nude wood.

3. If you have a sticky build up of wax or polish, wipe these areas with a solution of filtered water and mild soap, and dry immediately.

4. Do not use polishing products meant for polymer piano finishes; your lacquer piano wood has different needs.

Remember: Dusting is best; keep polishing to a bare minimum.

Pulizie-primavera

5 easy spring cleaning tips

Spring is the season we naturally turn our attention to cleaning and updating our homes. The sun shines (more often), the days get longer and longer, we open the windows more often and we end up seeing a lot of dust on the floor and furniture.
We have prepared a list of easy tips to follow in order to prepare your home (and yourself) for the always-busy spring and summer months ahead.

1 – Organise wardrobes

Organising our wardrobes is the first step to organise the rest of our home. This time of the year is when the wardrobe gets really messy, as soon as the sun shines we start to want to wear spring clothes. Unfortunately, it still gets really chilly sometimes and we would need also coats and wool clothes. There is definitely no space for both our winter and summer clothes so, we need to get rid of unused clothes and accessories, and organise the rest by how we get dressed in the morning and by color. Our wardrobe will look appealing, and our everyday routine will be easier.

2 – Remove Stains and Odours

To remove stains and odours, blot up as much of the smelly mess as you can right away. While you’re blotting the upholstery, put a plastic liner or a garbage bag between the cushion and the fabric so you don’t push the contaminant into the cushion. Then flush with cold water as best you can. Blot and flush again. Cold water doesn’t set stains as much as hot water. You can also use a portable spot cleaner or wet/dry vac. If there’s still a residual odour, use a half-vinegar, half-water solution and rinse again. If that doesn’t work, call in the professionals.Book a consultation with us and we will send you a professional housekeeper who will help you with the cleaning.

3- Clean Painted Walls

To clean your painted walls we suggest starting with a clean cloth or sponge and water. If that doesn’t work, dip the rag or sponge into water mixed with a little dishwashing liquid, the milder the better. If the stain persists, apply a few drops of soap directly onto the wet sponge or cloth you’re using. For more stubborn cases, you could apply a little soap right onto the stain.

4- Clean Your Carpet

To keep carpets looking nice we suggest taking off your shoes when you get home — but leave your socks on because walking around in bare feet leaves natural oils that attract dirt. Try to vacuum every day and use a top-load vacuum, so the dirt falls inward, and HEPA filters. Change the filters often, so you don’t blow pollutants back into the air. For less-trafficked areas, you can get away with cleaning the carpets once or twice a year, and every 18 months for a bedroom. For higher-traffic areas, the most often you’d need to bring in professionals would be three or four times a year, although once you see that your carpet is dirty, you probably should have it cleaned for health reasons.

5 – Clean the silver

Natural light makes appear your silver opaque and grey if it is not perfectly cleaned. There are many silver products, but if you are concerned about the hearth you can squeeze a dab of organic toothpaste on a piece of cloth or flannel, and rub onto silver. The result will be shiny!

Load More