Electrical Outlet or Light Switch Frame

by Madoline Hatter

Here is simple home decoration project to spruce up your walls or sides of cabinets that have an electrical outlet or light switch plate. This electrical outlet pictured to the right is in a conspicuous place in our house and I found the yellowish white plastic color rather offensive, so I came up with the following easy solution for turning an ugly necessity into a decorative piece.

How to decorate an electrical outlet or light switch plate

1. Find an old unused picture frame or buy a small picture frame from a dollar store or thrift shop
2. Make sure the inside of the frame fits around the outlet or light switch plate
3. Take out the glass and save it for other crafts
4. Clean and paint the frame if necessary or desired (The one pictured above was painted with gold enamel spray paint)
5. Paint the electrical outlet if desired. You can use small bottle of acrylic paint from the craft or hardware store, usually about $1.79)
6. Paint any wall area that will show inside the frame, if desired
7. Glue the frame onto the wall

This treatment is suitable for electrical, cable, and phone outlets as well as light switch plates.

Instant Carpet Stain Removal Tips

by: John Murray

Carpet stains are inevitable. At one time or another you will be faced with having to remove a stain from your carpet. Always follow any directions supplied by the carpet manufacturer. Carpets made from natural fibers or certain dye types may require special treatment. If you are not sure check with a cleaning professional for help. But for most common stains if you follow these carpet stain removal tips and you'll have your stain lifted in no time.

Beer, Wine, Cola, Coffee

Blot with a paper towel to remove as much of the stain as you can, then neutralize with a white vinegar solution made up of 1/4 cup white vinegar in 3/4 cup of water. Soak the spot with white vinegar solution then blot to remove the excess moisture. A spray bottle works well for applying the solution. If you the stain has still not lifted mix 1 teaspoon of dish detergent such as Joy into 1 quart of water and apply to the area. Blot to work the detergent into the stain, then blot again to lift the stain. Repeat until the stain is gone. Then rinse with water and blot excess water up. Do not use dish soap that contains bleach or lanolin as it will damage your carpet.

Berries or Fruit Juice

Remove as much of the spill as you can by scraping the excess up with a dull knife. If you have a wet vacuum it works well for sucking up the excess. If the spot has already dried you will need to saturate it with water so that you can lift the excess. First try removing with water by spraying the area and then blotting with paper towel. If that doesn't completely lift it then apply a small mix up ½ teaspoon dish soap in 1 quart of water and apply the mixture to the area. Continue blotting to lift the stain. Continue applying until the stain is completely lifted. Then rinse area with water using a spray bottle, and blot to remove excess water. If the soap mix did not lift the entire stain then moisten the area with 3% hydrogen peroxide and let stand for on 2 hours. Blot and repeat the hydrogen peroxide treatment until carpet the stain is gone. When exposed to light hydrogen peroxide returns to a water state so you don't need to rinse just dab up the excess moisture.

Blood, Catsup, Vomit

Blot up as much of the stain as possible then neutralize with an ammonia solution made up of 1 tablespoon ammonia and ¾ cup of water. Using a spray bottle saturate the spot with the ammonia solution but make sure not to get the carpet backing wet. Then blot with a white paper towel to remove excess moisture. All solutions for removing blood should be cold. First mix up a solution of 1 quart water and ½ teaspoon dish soap. Then apply a small quantity of detergent solution to the spot. Blot to work the detergent into the affected area. Continue applying and blotting until the stain is fully removed. If the soap mix did not lift the entire stain then moisten the area with 3% hydrogen peroxide and let stand for on 2 hours. Blot and repeat the hydrogen peroxide treatment until carpet the stain is gone. When exposed to light hydrogen peroxide returns to a water state so you don't need to rinse just dab up the excess moisture.

Candle Wax

Take a piece of brown paper or a terry cloth towel over the area then gently run a warm iron over it. The wax will be absorbed into the paper or towel. You can remove and residue using alcohol or dry cleaning fluid.

Chewing Gum, Contact Cement, or Glue

First take an ice cube and apply to the gum. This will freeze the gum. Shatter the frozen gum with the handle of a knife then vacuum up.

Chocolate

Remove as much of the spill as you can by scraping the excess up with a dull knife and the blotting with paper towel. Blot up as much of the stain as possible then neutralize with an ammonia solution made up of 1 tablespoon ammonia and ¾ cup of water. Using a spray bottle saturate the spot with the ammonia solution but make sure not to get the carpet backing wet. Then blot with a white paper towel to remove excess moisture. If the stain has not lifted mix up a solution of 1 quart water and ½ teaspoon dish soap. Continue applying and blotting until the stain is fully removed. When stain is gone rinse with clear water and blot.

Crayon, Paint or Makeup

Remove as much of the crayon by blotting with paper towel. Use a dull knife to scrape up what you can. Then apply rubbing alcohol to a white cloth or cotton ball and blot. You may have to apply extra if the crayon goes deep into the pile but make sure the backing doesn't get wet. First mix up a solution of 1 quart water and ½ teaspoon dish soap. Then apply a small quantity of detergent solution to the spot. Blot to work the detergent into the affected area.

Continue applying and blotting until the stain is fully removed. If the soap mix did not lift the entire stain then moisten the area with 3% hydrogen peroxide and let stand for on 2 hours. Blot and repeat the hydrogen peroxide treatment until carpet the stain is gone. When exposed to light hydrogen peroxide returns to a water state so you don't need to rinse just dab up the excess moisture.

Remember always follow the manufacturers instructions for stain removal. Combined with these carpet removal tips you should have no problem lifting the toughest of stains.

About The Author John Murray makes it easy to go through the carpet buying process and provides tips to keep your carpet lasting long. To learn more and receive your free mini-course visit: http://www.carpets-guide.com.

Improving your home and your life only at Home Improvement Idea : http://home-improvement-idea.blogspot.com

Bathroom Rugs For Functional Decor

by: John Murray

Many of us spend a great deal of time creating a relaxing atmosphere in our bathrooms, after all this is the room we head to take that long luxurious bath to unwind and the atmosphere is important! You can use bathroom rugs for functional decor adding beauty and function all at once.

There are many choices available to you in bathroom rugs. From the traditional styles you find in your local department stores that often come in a package to complete your whole bathroom, to more unique and beautiful bathroom rugs that are plush and rich.

Most bathrooms have either a linoleum or a tile flooring which looks real good but can be cold to the feet. Bathroom rugs can let you show off that flooring while adding decor and warmth for your feet.

Bathroom floors also tend to have water splashed on the floor which can make them slippery. Bathroom rugs can give you a comfortable place to stand when you get out of the tub or shower and provide a safe spot to stand where you won't slip.

The right bathroom rug can turn your bathroom into a luxurious spa. Imagine that deep plush pile in a rich jewel color. The right bathroom rug can also make the bathroom a fun place for the kids. How about the Muppets or Spiderman on your floor? Add a shower curtain, some matching toothbrushes, and you'll never again be fighting with your kids to brush their teeth and get cleaned up.

The most important thing to remember when choosing a bathroom rug is that the bathroom is as important as every other room in your home. So take some time to decide what style you are trying to accomplish in your bathroom. Luxury, fun, functionality, contemporary? Then you'll easily find the right rug. Your bathroom decor can also get a real boost from the right rug!

Bathroom rugs are the easiest way to give your bathroom a stylish unique look. You don't even have to repaint or retile to get a whole new look. Just add the right rugs and a few accessories and everyone will think your bathroom had a total makeover.

Remember you don't need to stick to traditional bathroom rugs. You could add an oriental rug, a braided rug, a Persian rug, or any other rug that catches your eye and works with your decor.

Of course there are few things that are important to a bathroom rug. You need to be able to easily clean it. It should not be susceptible to mold or mildew because of the high moisture content in a bathroom. The dyes need to be firmly set, and a rubber backing is great to prevent rotting and slippage. But remember a rubber backing will be ruined by the dryer so you'll need to hang to dry.

So whether you want to make a new home decor statement in your bathroom or give it a cheap makeover bathroom rugs are an excellent choice!

About The Author John Murray makes it easy to go through the carpet buying process and provides tips to keep your carpet lasting long. To learn more and receive your free mini-course visit: http://www.carpets-guide.com.

Improving your home and your life only at Home Improvement Idea : http://home-improvement-idea.blogspot.com

Home Improvement – New Solar Technology

by: Rick Chapo

Solar panel systems have always been criticized as bulky and unattractive. New solar technology is beginning to make such criticisms a thing of the past.

Solar Advancement

While everyone agrees solar energy is a clean, cost-effective energy source, there has always been one problem. The solar panel systems tended to be large and rather bulky. Frankly, they don’t add to the beauty of a home. While solar panel designs have improved over the years, a new development involving shingles is getting a lot of attention.

Photovoltaic shingles are a major design breakthrough for those who have a distaste for large solar panel systems. These shingles are, well, shingles. The replace the shingles on a roof, but have the physical appearance of a regular roof. Although they are black, they do not standout from the roof in the manner of panels. Instead, the they simply look like a regular roof and many people cannot tell the difference. Obviously, this seamless design is much better than the bulky designs of panel systems.

The technological breakthrough that makes this new technology possible is the invention of thin film photovoltaic cells. Known as “amorphous silicon thin alloy technology”, the designers essentially stepped back from traditional solar panel designs and did some thinking. What they realized is the materials used in panels were not the only ones that could be used. Without getting overly technical, the design team came up with a solution where more efficient cells could be built on a steel substrate. Each super thin cell was tailored to capture different spectrums of the sunlight. When layered on top of each other, they became extremely efficient at producing power.

The ultimate result is a system that can sit directly on the roof of a home or building, is more efficient than regular solar panels and far more appealing from a visual perspective. If you’re excuse for not using solar in the past was the bulky system, you need to rethink solar.

Will this new technology become the breakthrough we have been waiting for in solar power? It already is if you consider just the following:

1. The United States Army is building a solar powered community using it.

2. Museums in Beijing, China are converting to it.

3. Habitat for Humanity is using the system on many of the homes it builds.

4. Lockheed Martin is experimenting with the technology as a power source for high altitude flights.

In the opinion of many experts, this new technology represent a major breakthrough in solar energy. With energy prices exploding, solar represents the best solution to decreasing our dependence on limited oil and natural gas resources. Fortunately, the sun will be providing free power for the foreseeable future.

About The Author Rick Chapo is with http://www.solarcompanies.com – a directory of solar energy and solar power companies. Visit http://www.solarcompanies.com/articles to read more solar electricity articles.

Improving your home and your life only at Home Improvement Idea : http://home-improvement-idea.blogspot.com

Planning For Moving House

by: Joseph Kenny

If you have just bought or are considering buying a new home, then you will also need to plan the process of moving home. While there are many things that you have to remember, planning them in advance will make the whole move easier and less traumatic. So it is a good idea that, as soon as you know the completion date for your move, that you start planning.

There are certain things that take quite a bit of time and should be arranged at least a month in advance. You will want to inform your landlord or any flatmates, if you have any, of the date that you are leaving. This can mean the difference between getting your deposit back or not, if you are renting, so it’s a good idea to let everyone know your plans as soon as you know them yourself.

You should probably also inform the gas and electricity companies of your knew property that you are the new owner. By doing this, it can avoid mix-ups later on. This would also include calling your telephone company and arranging to have your phone number transferred.

You can start packing up your things or getting boxes together. There are some things like books and photos that can be packed in advance and will save you hassle later on when the move gets closer. You may want to book some time of work, especially if you don’t think you’re going to be able to arrange the move in a weekend. Another good idea is to have a clearout and get rid of some old things that have been gathering dust. In fact, moving is the perfect chance to get rid of some of the belongings that accumulate over the years.

As the move gets closer you should book the removal company and arrange for transit insurance if you decide you need it. You can tell the post office to redirect your mail and you can also notify the local authority of the change in address for council tax purposes.

You should make sure that all your utility bills are paid up by the date of the move. You don’t want the new owners to be hounding you for unpaid bills once you’ve moved and now is the time to make sure they are accurate. If you have services like milk deliveries, newspaper deliveries and the like you should have these cancelled.

Before you leave, make sure all doors and windows are locked and appliances and utilities are turned off.

About The Author Joseph Kenny writes for the loan comparison sites http://www.selectloans.co.uk and also http://www.ukpersonalloanstore.co.uk. At the Personal Loan Store there are cheap http://www.ukpersonalloanstore.co.uk/compare_personal_loans.html with in depth reviews.

Improving your home and your life only at Home Improvement Idea : http://home-improvement-idea.blogspot.com