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7 Tips From The Experts On Maintaining Newly Cleaned Carpets

If you have chosen to hire a professional carpet cleaning company to clean your carpets, whether once or regularly, you will have allowed them to look their best and prolong their lifespan.

Apart from providing their carpet cleaning services, these experts are also asked many questions by their clients about how carpets can best be looked after between being professionally cleaned. While no single tip will cover every eventuality that might befall a carpet, if you follow several tips, you are making massive progress in keeping your carpets in excellent condition, including how they appear.

Here are seven top carpet cleaning tips from the professionals at Perth Home Cleaners that you, or your carpet, can also benefit from.

Wait Until The Carpet Is Dry

Professionals use many carpet cleaning methods, which leave the carpet remaining damp by the end of the cleaning. Some clients make mistakes by rushing to replace furniture on the carpet and allowing their families to walk across it immediately. This can damage carpets and cause colour transfer, so always wait until a carpet has thoroughly dried.

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renovation-budget

Saving vs. Splurging with Renovations

There is no doubt about it; renovations can be expensive, and many people find their renovation budget is simply shot to pieces by the time they’ve finished. But renovating the house can save the costs and effort of moving to another one, so if you don’t want to call Brilliance Removalists Perth just yet, it has to be done.

To avoid a budget blowout, it is important to plan out your renovation carefully, costing each stage and component and not making any changes to the plans halfway through. Experts tell us that there is a time to save and a time to splurge. Knowing which and when can save you heaps.

What to splurge on

The time to splurge is when something essential to your home needs repair or an upgrade. Often, this may not even be visible. For instance, if you renovate some part of the home and come across subpar structural elements. Or you might be tempted to save on the cost of joists and bearers. Don’t do it. Your home must meet all the Australian Standards requirements to be safe. It will not be passed if you don’t do it properly, but even more importantly, it may not stand up to the next big storm. Investing in good quality systems such as water, gas, and air-conditioning can save you more in the long run, as better quality units last longer and require less maintenance.

False savings

Having your roof blow off because you didn’t want to spend the money to build it properly will cost you more than doing it properly in the first place. Getting an unlicensed plumber to ‘fix’ that plumbing can cost more in the long run, so getting a proper residential plumbing expert to start with will save you more in the long run. The same goes for any other kind of renovation. So, just where should you try to save?

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Choosing the Right Size Pot for Your Plant: A Gardener's Guide

Choosing the Right Size Pot for Your Plant: A Gardener’s Guide

If you’ve ever admired a perfectly manicured garden, you already know how vital a proper pot can be for the plant’s overall look. An array of lush greenery in a suitably sized pot can instantly elevate a space and garden, be it a small balcony, an indoor corner, or a huge backyard. However, the magic lies not only in the aesthetic but in the choice of the pot size this can directly impact the plant’s health and growth. 

A common misconception among garden enthusiasts is that a larger pot always means better growth. While this may seem logical – more room, more growth, right? – it is only sometimes the case. Just as a child couldn’t swim in an adult-sized shirt without drowning, a plant can get lost in a pot too large for its size and a pot too small can hinder the plant’s growth, causing the roots to become root bound. A pot that’s too large for a plant can lead to overwatering, which is a common cause of plant demise. Excess potting soil in larger pots retains water longer, creating a soggy environment many plants don’t appreciate. The right size offers a balance, providing enough space for roots to expand and grow while preventing overwatering.

The Goldilocks Principle: Not too Big, Not too Small

As a general rule of thumb, the pot’s size should correspond with the size of the plant. A pot that is about 1-2 inches larger in diameter than the plant’s root ball is typically a good choice for most plants. This gives the plant enough room to grow without causing water to pool at the bottom.

However, not all plants are created equal, and different plants have different root systems. For instance, succulents and cacti prefer a snug fit, so a smaller pot might work better. In contrast, fast-growing plants with extensive root systems, such as ferns or spider plants, may need a larger pot for better growth.

Room to Grow: Potting and Repotting

For new plants, it’s generally best to start with a smaller pot and gradually increase its size as the plant grows. This method promotes healthier, more sustainable growth. When you notice signs that your plant might be outgrowing its current pot — such as water flowing straight through the pot, roots appearing through the drainage holes, or the plant growing significantly slower — it might be time for repotting. This typically happens every 1-2 years for indoor plants and faster for outdoor plants, depending on the plant’s species and growth rate.

The Material

Lastly, the pot’s material can also affect how quickly the soil dries out. With materials like clay or terracotta they can help prevent overwatering by allowing more evaporation than plastic or ceramic pots but you will need to water your plants more often, particularly in hot or windy weather.

Choosing the right size pot for your plant can seem daunting, but with these tips, it becomes a much more manageable task. Start small, monitor your plant’s growth, and adjust as necessary. After all, gardening is as much about the journey as the destination. Enjoy nurturing your plants, learn from the challenges, and take pride in their growing, thriving garden.

There’s no ‘one size fits all’ solution in gardening. Different plants have different needs, and what works best for one plant might not work well for another. So don’t be afraid to experiment, observe, and learn from experience. May your garden grow and flourish.

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7 Amazing Tips For Maximising Your Solar Energy Savings

7 Amazing Tips For Maximising Your Solar Energy Savings

As the world moves increasingly towards using renewable energy wherever possible, using solar power to generate electricity is becoming a trendy choice for many homeowners. Not only does it reduce your family’s carbon footprint, but it can also save you money on your electricity bills, which, of course, helps your household budget.

Below are seven excellent tips to maximise savings using solar energy.

Choose The Correct Solar System

Choosing the right solar system is crucial in maximising your energy savings; you need to consider a range of factors, such as the size of your home, your electricity usage, the climate in your area, and any potential future changes in your energy needs. A reputable solar panel company can help you determine the appropriate size and type of solar system you need for your home.

Hire Professionals For Proper Installation

Installing them properly is essential to work well and last longer; the installer will follow all the necessary guidelines and regulations to ensure your solar system is installed safely and effectively. They will also know where to pop them on your roof and what angle to place them in to ensure that your panels receive maximum sunlight.

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Air-Conditioning-unit

Which Kind of Air Conditioning Unit is Right for You

If your home has not been fitted with air conditioning by a professional, you’ll know what it’s like to be uncomfortably hot day and night during the heat of summer. You will undoubtedly have spent many nights tossing and turning, trying vainly to find an excellent spot on the sheets. You may even consume much time at the mall throughout the day just to get some relief from the heat.

Installing air conditioning in your home will be one of your best decisions. But it is essential to get the right kind. The correct type of air-con and the right size for your home are also necessary. There are three main choices for air conditioners.

  • A ducted system – is expensive to retrofit and impossible for a flat-roofed house. Excellent choice for new builds.
  • A split system reverse cycle – easy to retrofit but generally only cools one room well – depending on the home’s layout. It can heat as well.
  • A window system – smaller yet, cheaper and much noisier than the split system, but better than nothing. It does not reverse cycle, so it can’t heat as well.

If your home was built without air conditioning and you are on a budget, #2 or #3 would be your choice. Go for the split system if you can possibly manage it. These are almost noise-free inside the home and more efficient than those in the window cavity. They look much nicer too. However, they do have to be installed by a professional as they are not plug-ins.

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7 Pro Tips For Restoring Your Landscaped Garden After A Damaging Storm

7 Pro Tips For Restoring Your Landscaped Garden After A Damaging Storm

There are many things that those with landscaping can control to look after their garden. They can choose how often to have garden maintenance, when the lawn is going to be mowed, what to feed the plants, and what irrigation system is to be used. Conversely, there are some things that a homeowner has no control over, and one of those is the weather.

Hopefully, for most of you reading this, the weather where you live is conducive to landscaping and everything within its design thriving. That will mainly be down to the many hours of sunshine it receives, provided that you have taken steps to ensure it receives enough water whether from a watering can, a hose, or a fully functioning irrigation system.

We also assume that, if you have many hours of sunshine, you are not too often blighted by long spells of rain or even snow in the winter months, and therefore do not have to worry about flooding or frost adversely affecting the plants in your garden.

What no one can be sure of though is that they will not have to endure a storm. Storms are extremely rare in some areas, however, when they do occur they can cause havoc and, worse than that, they can be destructive. That destruction can mean overnight your landscaping can go from being an idyllic haven to something resembling a scene from an apocalyptic movie.

Even moderate storms can cause a fair degree of damage and upheaval in a landscaped garden which will leave you many things that you have to put right. Read on and we will outline seven of our favourite professional restoration tips for fixing up landscape gardens after they have suffered storm damage.

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Prevent Water Damage To Your Carpet

7 Reasons Why Professionally Cleaning Carpets Is Always The Best Option

Whenever it is obvious that the time has come to clean the carpets in your home, the decision as to whether you use professional carpet cleaners such as Brilliance Carpet Cleaning Perth or do it yourself has to be made. There will be some who will tell you that you should clean carpets yourself as it is the “cheapest” option. Others will insist that the only way to truly have clean carpets is to use a professional carpet cleaning company.

The choice is yours, but if you are swaying towards using professional carpet cleaners, but need just a bit more persuasion, then you should consider the main benefits of professional carpet cleaning. There are several, and if you read on you will discover seven reasons why many people believe having their carpets professionally cleaned is the best option.

Carpets Are Fully And Properly Deep Cleaned: We will start with the most obvious reason for using professional carpet cleaners and that is that the best possible job will be done which will manifest itself in superbly clean carpets. More than that, it will be a deep clean that removes all the dirt, grime and bacteria which might be lurking within the fibres of your carpets.

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The Pros And Cons Of 7 Of The Most Popular Kitchen Worktop Surfaces

The Pros And Cons Of 7 Of The Most Popular Kitchen Worktop Surfaces

One of the most significant choices you have to make when renovating your kitchen is what type of worktop surface you are going to have. Not only do you need to ensure that the colour and style fits with the rest of the design, but more importantly, the decision on the materials your worktop is made from is crucial.

What does not make the choice of worktop any easier is that there are multiple options. As a result, many kitchen refits are delayed because making a final decision on the worktop is too difficult for the customer. Trying to balance the practicalities of a worktop surface, the colour options, and the cost is not easy for everyone.

To ensure that you are not left in the same quandary we have outlined the pros and cons of seven of the most popular worktop surfaces. If you are still unsure, then we strongly recommend you seek advice from a professional kitchen design company such as Kitchen Professionals.

#1 Quartz

Quartz worktops provide a durable and non-porous surface created by blending natural materials with resin.

Pros

  • Extremely durable
  • Easy to clean
  • Antibacterial
  • Colour choices are extensive

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5 Reasons You Should Be Thinking About Landscaping

7 Tips That Will Ensure You Choose The Right Landscaping Company

Whenever a homeowner decides to employ professional landscapers to design and create landscaping for their garden, several questions need to be answered. These questions include “How much is their budget?”, “What theme will the design have?”, and “Which features are to be included?”.

All of the above questions are important but there is one question that should supersede all of these questions and that is “Which landscape design company are you going to employ?”.  A reliable choice will always be Martin Cuthbert Landscapes. Thankfully, most homeowners show due diligence in making that choice and to help you take that same care, here are 7 tips to ensure you choose the right landscaping company.

Determine If They Do Landscape Design Only Or Landscape Design And Construction: As you research landscaping companies you will see that some offer landscape design only, which then entails you employing a second company to fulfil the construction. This can work, but the ideal scenario is a landscaping company that will both design, and construct, the landscaping, meaning the same company is responsible for fulfilling the entire project.

Request To See Examples Of Their Previous Landscape Designs: By far the most effective way to evaluate whether a landscaping company is the right one is to ask to see some of their existing landscaping. Apart from this allowing you to see the quality of their work, as a bonus it can provide you with some ideas as to what it might be possible to create within your landscape design.

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5 Reasons You Should Be Thinking About Landscaping

5 Reasons You Should Be Thinking About Landscaping

As a home or business owner, you will be required to make a lot of decisions in life. One of those decisions might be whether or not you put any time, effort, or money into landscaping, gardening and lawn care.

We don’t tend to spend as much time in our gardens as we do in our homes, which may be why some people can be on the fence about whether they want to focus on this part of their property. However, aside from its aesthetics, there are many reasons why now could be the right time to start thinking about landscaping.

To Increase Your Property Value

Even in a hot property market with homes being snapped up quickly, spending time and money on landscaping can often lead to even higher returns. Your return on investment (ROI) can also be exceptional.

Some people also find that even between two similar homes, a neatly manicured yard with care and effort put into landscaping can be the deciding factor for many prospective purchasers.

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