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Spring cleaning boot camp list from Merry Maids

Air registers



Luckily, Merry Maids, the nations largest home cleaning company and Debra Johnson, Merry Maids national home cleaning expert have developed the perfect Spring Cleaning Boot Camp to whip homeowners into tidiness and help them tackle spring cleaning room-by-room with easy to follow, expert-tested tips.

Inside of trashcans

TV remotes

Window sills, blinds and shutters

Merry Maids Spring Cleaning Boot Camp

Bedroom

Vacuum or dust ceiling fans and air registers be sure dust falls to the ground.Let the dusty rugs lay outside in the sun until youre done cleaning the room.Sprinkle baking soda on carpets, and then vacuum slowly. If you have wood or tile floors, vacuum. Make sure to vacuum under the bed.Throw comforters, bedspreads, sheets, mattress covers and duvets in the wash. Vacuum, rotate and flip the mattress. And dont forget to dust behind the headboard.Empty closets and drawers. Use a clean, damp microfiber cloth to wipe your drawers. Put a scented sachet or dryer sheet so your clothes always smell fresh.Organize your closets by hosting a fashion show and donate anything thats not show stopping. If you havent worn it in a year, donate it.

Living Room

Dust and remove knick-knacks from coffee tables.Launder or dry clean drapes and curtains. Dust windows thoroughly with a microfiber cloth and wipe windowsills.Remove and launder washable pillows and throws; dry clean the rest.Upholstery needs spring cleaning? Hire a pro to help. While youre at it, have the professionals clean the fireplace and chimney, too.Run your trusty microfiber cloth across all surfaces, including mantels, coffee tables, and shelves. Dont forget the wall hangings, decorations and baseboards.Rearrange the furniture and decorations to give the room a fresh, new look. Add some plants to give your room a spring-y feeling.

Kitchen

Start with the most neglected the cabinets. Remove all items and use a mixture of 1 cup warm water, 2 3 drops dishwashing liquid & cup vinegar to wipe inside of cabinets. Work top to bottom.Next up, the refrigerator. Toss expired food. Wash shelves with warm soapy water and dry. Clean the outside (including handles) with a damp microfiber cloth and vacuum behind the fridge, if possible.Put a bowl of water and half a lemon in the microwave for 2 3 minutes. Allow to sit for five minutes then wipe away all the grime. Wipe the outside, including the handle and control panel.Oven time. Remove racks and place into large plastic garbage bags. Once inside, spray them generously with an oven spray cleaner or degreaser solution. Loosely close bags. The following morning, rinse with warm, soapy water. Wipe down the inside of your oven, and then slide in the now clean oven racks.Scrub kitchen sink and deodorize the garbage disposal by throwing half-cup of baking soda down it, followed by a cup of vinegar. Rinse with hot water.Now the easy part: wipe countertops with warm, soapy water. Use an all-purpose cleanser or degreasing solution to clean appliances.

Bathroom

Begin by throwing the shower curtain in the washing machine, If its plastic, wipe it down with a microfiber cloth dipped in a mixture of 1 Tablespoon baking soda, couple of drops of dishwashing liquid, - cup of warm water.Remove items from medicine cabinets and linen closets. Get rid of expired, hardly used products. Wipe the inside of cabinets with a damp microfiber cloth and dry.Spray the inside of the tub/shower, toilet and sink with a non-abrasive cleaning detergent. Allow product to sit for 3 5 minutes and scrub with a microfiber cloth or a wand if tackling the toilet bowl and wash/flush thoroughly.Clean mirror, polish faucets and wipe down counter space with mild cleaning products and a microfiber cloth.Use a steamer to clean the floor. If you dont have one, use floor cleaning products and a microfiber cloth, either by hand or using a floor tool to get them extra clean.

Overall House

Dust all light fixtures and air vents.Vacuum or http://hardwoodflooringrefinish.com/ wash window treatments and floors.Wash walls and windows with an all-purpose cleaner and wipe with a microfiber cloth.Clean commonly forgotten areas:

Ceiling fans

We've run articles by the Merry Maids before because they are so thorough and, well, it's Spring Cleaning time and who better to turn to? There are some interesting statistics we garnered that we thought you might find interesting; take a look:



For more than two-thirds (68%) consumers spring cleaning is an overwhelming and time-consuming choreTwo-fifths (41%) of consumers spend several days on spring cleaningThe vast majority (88%) of consumers believe their homes could always be a little bit cleanerIn fact, more than a third (35%) say some rooms in their homes are so messy they avoid cleaning them altogetherFew baseboards would pass the white glove test, as scrubbing baseboards is the one cleaning activity consumers say they are least likely to do (47%).Other oft-avoided cleaning includes: cleaning behind/inside appliances (44%), and cleaning window sills (37%)Although it may seem like a luxury, nearly a third (30%) of consumers say hiring someone to help clean the house is actually more of a necessity than a luxury.

After a long winter, spring should be a time of celebration; instead homeowners are stuck with Spring Cleaning! The clutter and dust accumulated over an extended period coupled with the beautiful weather outside can discourage even the biggest cleaning enthusiasts from confronting the endless, boring chores.

Doors, top of doorframes and handles

Baseboards

Sweep and organize porches, patios and garage.Change batteries in smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.

http://www.examiner.com/article/spring-cleaning-boot-camp-list-from-merry-maids

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href="http://www.diynetwork.com/how-to/topics/refinishing">http://www.diynetwork.com/how-to/topics/refinishing href=''>



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How To Eliminate The Ugliness And Time Consuming Repair Of Re-applying Garage Floor Paint

As with most paints, it's best to apply it evenly and with thin, multiple coat, although it's best to let the previous coat dry completely before adding the next. The paint will get darker once it's dried, so don't be alarmed if it looks lighter than you expected.

At this point you'll need to check to see if there is moisture that needs to be sealed before you apply the paint. Taking a large sheet of plastic, or several sheets, taping off the edges to make it air tight, then waiting overnight to see if moisture has developed underneath is the surefire way to know if you need to apply a sealer. Any quality sealant will work and can easily be found at your local hardware store.

Drying time shouldn't take long after you've cleaned the floor, and it could take a bit longer depending on whether you have fans, a blower, or wind from the outside to help in the process. Once dry, use some kind of concrete filler to fill and repair cracks and holes.



Preparation is important when painting your garage floor, and cleaning it thoroughly is your first step. Pressure washers are always good after you've done a clean sweep because it will remove the tougher stains and dirt quickly as well as removing http://hardwoodflooringrefinish.com/ old paint if the pressure is high enough.



http://www.articlesnatch.com/blog/How-To-Eliminate-The-Ugliness-And-Time-Consuming-Repair-Of-Re-applying-Garage-Floor-Paint/1068573

After the floor has sealed, you need to prime it. The type of primer you use depends on the type of paint you choose. Check with your local hardware to get the correct supplies. Allow the primer to dry at least twenty-four hours before applying the paint.

Most people use their garage for more than one purpose. It's a place to park your car, but chances are you also use it for storage. A good garage floor paint can improve the look and value of this space.

Although professional assistance is always the best option, it's also quite easy to apply the paint yourself as long as you have the proper guidance. Latex is the least expensive option, but it's lifespan and durability are also less, so you have to consider this. Oil paints are also available, and they are much more durable, but it's also very messy and hard to clean up. Epoxy is the most popular option because it's extremely durable, but it's also the most expensive. Caution must be taken, however, in it's application because it can be extremely slick if not prepared and applied correctly.
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Tips for better green cleaning

http://www.foxnews.com/leisure/2013/04/01/tips-for-better-green-cleaning/

Green cleaning is so popular. Every blogger is posting their "totally amazing" homemade cleaner recipe that involves three magical ingredients, such as castile soap, vinegar and baking soda. All of this all sounds awesome, until you actually try the recipe yourself. Then you wonder what that blogger's standards of cleanliness actually are. Am I right?



Since I've been publish articles on green cleaning several times a month, for almost three years now, I have tried a lot of green cleaning recipes and techniques. I have come to one conclusion: If I were stuck on a desert island with two cleaning products, they would be bleach and dish soap. I would also want rags, an empty spray bottle, water and a bucket, and a good scrub brush. Not vinegar, not baking soda, and definitely not lemon juice.

But hey, I hear you if you won't use bleach in your house. It's not for everybody. So let's get to my green cleaning tips.

Don't clean with lemon juice: In my experience, lemon juice leaves http://www.homewyse.com/services/cost_to_refinish_hardwood_floor.html a sticky residue on surfaces. It is, after all, juice. Though it is touted to be a grease-cutter, I find that it does not cut through grease. I have used lemon juice to clean both diluted and neat, and I've always been disappointed with the results. As an alternative, I recommend cleaning with a dish soap and water solution and a scrub brush. Dish soap and water solution, even the ecologically-friendly kind, cuts grease way better than lemon juice. Combined with a brush and elbow grease, it is a very effective cleanser for greasy kitchen appliances. The trick is to do two passes on the surface with it, and wipe with rags after each pass. Dish soap and water are actually one of the best tile floor cleansers I've used.

Water down the vinegar: Straight vinegar doesn't clean more effectively than a vinegar and water solution. Vinegar neat is super-smelly, and hard on skin. It also leaves a residue on glass surfaces, in my experience. Water it down for best results. I like a 6 parts water to 1 part vinegar ratio, but try different strengths of concentration for yourself. Also, flooring contractors agree that straight vinegar is very harmful to hardwood floor finishes, so never use it straight to clean a hardwood floor. Read 8 Ways Not to Use Vinegar.

Rinse baking soda off with water: Who has ever tried using baking soda as a scrubbing cleanser, only to be left with a residue on the surface you cleaned? The trick to using baking soda as an abrasive cleanser is to wipe it off with rags, then spray the surface down with water, and wipe with rags again.

Use plain castile soap for laundry instead of putting it in a DIY laundry detergent: A few months ago, I made my own laundry detergent and was so excited. It contained castile soap, but in a much smaller proportion than washing soda, baking soda, and Borax. It turned out not to really work unless I squirted a whole lot of castile soap into the wash with it. Then I ran out of my DIY laundry detergent, and used just castile soap to do the wash. Guess what. It cleaned better than the DIY laundry detergent did. It helps to add vinegar to the rinse cycle to wash the soapy residue off the your clothes (not at the beginning of the wash, or you will counteract the castile soap). I am also sure that my NYC plumber is glad that I am not rinsing undissolved detergent solids down the drain anymore.

Do you have green cleaning tips? What works best for you? Please comment.

Chaya Kurtz writes for Networx.com.



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Adding Class and Value to your Home

Hardwood flooring is divided into two categories. Engineered wood flooring has a lower initial cost because it only allows refinishing 1-3 times. This is so because it has a top layer of thin high-quality wood resting on several layers of cheaper wood. Solid wood flooring increases the value of a house more than engineered wood, but both of them are prone to denting and to fading from sunlight. Both of them are not a suitable choice for rooms where there are water spills. Both of these floorings are susceptible to moisture which can cause the wood to http://www.ehow.com/how_7103554_refinish-old-wood-floors-sanding.html swell.

While decorating your home you dont want to spend your money on something you know is not long lasting. If you want your money well spent you want something you can rely on for several years to come. You also want to add an air of elegance and sophistication to your home. That is something that definitely comes to your mind when you decide to install flooring. Flooring changes the look and the comfort level of a house significantly. There is a huge variety of flooring available on the market these days and hardwood flooring is the top most choice when it comes to quality and looks. It offers a combination of elegance and comfort.

The excellent quality of hardwood flooring appeals to its customers. Hardwood floors can prove to be extremely durable given proper care. It allows multiple refinishing due to its thickness.



Hardwood floors are easy to maintain. General house cleaning methods like mopping, sweeping and vacuuming will help you to keep your floor clean and in tip-top shape. The floor material makes it more stable, warmer and less noisy than its competitors. It is a good choice for people who have allergies to dust or other environmental germs. A hardwood floor has minimal chemical emission levels; a fact which improves the quality of air inside your house.

Hardwood flooring is flexible enough to match any decor. You can change the design of your room whenever you want to without thinking of it looking bad. The floor will mold itself according to any set up. If you are planning to sell your home in the near future then this flooring helps you increase the value of your house. It also gives potential buyers less worry about decorating their new home. Studies revealed that homes with hardwood flooring are sold easily and at a higher resale value.



Because of the durability and natural beauty of hardwood floors, they have been admired and used for centuries.Flooring America hardwood come in Beech, Cherry, Maple, Oak, Pecan, Birch, Pine, Hickory, Walnut and more. Hardwood flooring is one of those investments that can deliver a lifetime of beauty and durability while at the same time adding value to your home.

Author's Bio:

Gina Hopkins writes about different home renovation tips and interior design projects using Flooring America hardwood, out of St. Louis, MO. Always looking for the best bargain on renovation materials, she tends to end up shopping at http://www.flooringamerica.com more often than not.

http://www.selfgrowth.com/articles/hardwood-flooring-adding-class-and-value-to-your-home
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Top 5 Engineered Wood Flooring Manufacturers

Contact

1-800-844-6356

Website

mannington.com

Starting off in 1927 as the Michigan Seamless Tube Company, Quanex is essentially a company that deals in all building products. The company wants to, in their own words, "be the preferred supplier in every market we serve", which considering their range of products, is commendable. They are also an environmentally friendly company, that in addition to manufacturing energy efficient products, also makes sure that their manufacturing processes are eco-friendly as well.



Name

Quanex Building Products

Established

1927

Mohawk Industries has been around for more than a century, providing customers with top-quality flooring options, in addition to other services. The company uses state-of-the-art equipment, and is well known for its superior quality products at affordable prices.

Name

Mohawk Flooring

Established

1878

Shaw Floors

A Fortune 500 company, Shaw Floors has been in business since 1946. Starting off as small rug company, today they are part of the Berkshire Hathaway group, and one of the biggest carpet and flooring companies in the world. With values such as honesty, integrity and passion, and a vision to create a better future for their customers, they are among the top flooring manufacturers you can opt for.

Name

Shaw Floors

Established

1946

Quanex Building Products

Contact

713-961-4600

Did You Know?Products made from engineered wood, also known as man-made wood and composite wood, can be used as joists and beams that replace the use of steel in buildings.

With more than 200 finishes of engineered hardwood floor options to choose from, Mohawk ensures that you can get the perfect finish you want. While pricing depends on a lot of factors, including where you live, the company has a lot of offers to make it affordable to consumers. Engineered wood floors from Mohawk use special 'ArmorMax Finish with Scotchgard Advanced Repel' technology, that ensures prevention of stains and abrasions. So sure is the company of their technology, that most engineered wood floors come with a 50-year warranty. Mohawk engineered wood flooring reviews disclose happy customers, which suggests that the company is doing a top-notch job of producing floors.

Engineered floors from Mohawk also feature UniClic technology, that makes them among the easiest to install. Examples of finishes from Mohawk's line of engineered wood floors include Oak Cocoa, Hickory Country, Cognac Maple, and Tigerwood Natural.

Website

mowhawkflooring.com

Mannington has been in the flooring business since 1915, and is a family-owned business since the last 4 generations. They aim to be "the best people to do business with in the flooring industry", and looking at the success they have achieved in almost a century of business, this seems to be true. With a plethora of awards won for their various products, we wouldn't hesitate at all to recommend this company for your flooring needs.

Name

Mannington Flooring

Established

1915

Mullican is a relatively new player in the flooring business, being founded in 1985. Since then, the company has been using state-of-the-art equipment and technology to ensure that its products remain among the highest-quality in the world. Mullican produces almost all of its flooring in the United States itself, thus making sure that it can keep an eye on the quality during each step of the process.

Name

Mullican Flooring

Established

1985

Contact

1-800-356-6787

http://www.buzzle.com/articles/engineered-wood-flooring-reviews.html

If you have decided to install engineered wood flooring in your house or office, then the following are among the best manufacturers of this type of flooring. Each of them follow a unique process to make some of the best flooring options available. You can visit their websites to see the options they have available, and then contact them to get your flooring needs fulfilled.

Mullican Flooring

Engineered wood is nothing but wood that has been engineered, or made, to exact specifications. Though most people seem to think that engineered wood is inferior to solid wood flooring, this is not true. If installed properly, very few can make out the difference between engineered wood flooring and solid wood flooring.

In fact, in some cases, like, for example, in basements, it is better to use engineered wood instead of solid wood. This is because engineered wood is more resistant to moisture, and is perfect for basements, that are usually damp, and have higher humidity levels. Invented in the 1960s, engineered wood, instead using a solid plank of wood, uses several layers (up to 12) of ply, that are compressed and glued together to form a single plank. This is then topped off with different finishes, giving it the impression and look of solid wood. Thanks to the multiple layers, engineered wood proves to be stronger, more durable, and more resistant to moisture and damage. These planks then can be glued, stapled, nailed, or just placed on the current floor or sub-floor, with gravity doing the job of keeping it in place.

Mannington Flooring

Mullican Flooring has some of the most exotic finishes of engineered flooring, with almost 100 options to choose from. A few types of engineered floors from Mullican feature LOC-TO-FIT technology, which makes installation a breeze. Engineered wood from Mullican comes in 3" to 7" widths, and is crafted using 7-ply wood.

Like most reputed flooring companies, Mullican too provides a PDF for warranty information, and depending on the product chosen, warranties can last from 0 years for unfinished products to lifetime for a few pre-finished products. Some examples of finishes from Mullican's stables include Maple http://www.yelp.com/search?find_desc=Hardwood+Floor+Refinishing&find_loc=New+York%2C+NY Cappuccino, Oak Glacier, Oak Suede, and Brazilian Cherry Natural.

Contact

1-800-441-7429



Website

mullicanflooring.com

Website

quanex.com

Contact

1-800-266-4295

When it comes to engineered wood flooring, Mannington claims that their floors are stronger than others, thanks to the several layers of 'plies' they use. With over 125 varieties of engineered wood finishes, you won't be stuck for choice when it comes to Mannington. The company also features a 'Show this Floor in Virtual Decorator' option, where you can choose a flooring sample, and apply it to a picture of a room (static pre-uploaded image) to see how it looks.

Depending on the type of finish you opt for, Mannington offers different warranties. They provide a PDF with all the different types of warranties offered, along with care instructions, and claim information. Examples of Mannington's engineered flooring finishes include American Maple, Madison Oak, Montana Oak, and Atlantis Prestige Brazilian Cherry.

With almost 50 finishes to choose from, Quanex too is a major provider of engineered wood flooring. The flooring is provided in finished and unfinished options. Quanex follows the 'sawn' method for its top layer, which ensures that their products can be refinished at least a couple of times, making them last longer. Their top layer also features multiple coats of aluminum oxide, making it extremely resistant to abrasions and dings.

Thanks to all this, Quanex can afford to offer a 35-year warranty for residential floors, and a 5-year warranty for commercial floors. Examples of finishes that Quanex offers include American Cherry, Red Oak, Hard Maple, and Black Walnut.

If you are planning to install engineered wood flooring, then you should make sure that the area you live in does not have high humidity or moisture levels. Moisture and humidity can make wood expand and contract, thus affecting your floor.

Engineered wood has a lot of benefits, and can be chosen over solid wood flooring without affecting the look of the room. In fact, experts say that when selling your home, engineered wood flooring commands a price on par with solid wood flooring. Make sure you buy reputed brands; the above manufacturers should stand you in good stead when it comes to warranty claims if anything goes wrong.

Mohawk Flooring

With over 55 exotic engineered wood finishes, you have a wide range to choose from. Prices for engineered wood at Shaw Floors start from as low as USD 8 and go up to a relatively affordable USD 14. The Shaw Floors website not only provides an installation PDF to install the floors yourself, but also features a 'My Shaw Floors' option, where you can upload photographs of your room and see how the finish looks in your room. These can also be saved and shared, enabling you to get an opinion from others before spending even a single dollar.

Depending on the product, Shaw also provides comprehensive warranties. Some examples of engineered wood finishes from Shaw Floors include Cypress Mountain, Castlewood Oak, Brushed Suede, and Castlewood Hickory.

Website

shawfloors.com
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What To Know Before You Visit An Auto Repair Shop

You don't have to know that much about cars, as long as you know the rules of car repair. Here are some key pieces of knowledge that will smooth your ride.

5 Methods of Overcharging at the Auto Shop1. Add on repairs: Fixing your problem but also doing additional work that you don't need.



2. Phantom repairs: Charging you for repairs they don't do at all.

3. Bait and Switch: Advertising great specials, then pressuring you to buy more services once you're in the door.

4. Periodic maintenance: Selling elaborate maintenance packages well beyond what the manufacturer recommends.

5. Warranty items: Charging you for work that's covered by your warranty.

5 Ways to Find a Trustworthy MechanicAAA-certified auto repair facilities: AAA-approved shops are required to offer members a 12-month, 12,000-mile warranty on their work. Their estimates are guaranteed. And if you still have a problem, AAA will investigate your claim and resolve more information it. Use the link above or visit AAA.com to find a member mechanic in your area.

Automotive Service Association:: Another source of shops is the Automotive Service Association, ASA. It's a voluntary membership organization. When shops join, they pledge to uphold high ethical standards.

Automotive Service Excellence: This organization tests mechanics' knowledge and recognizes "Blue Seal" shops, where most of http://www.garagedoorrepairvictorville-ca.us/ the mechanics have earned their ASE certificate. Just be sure the individual tech you work with has earned certification in the type of repair you are getting.

Better Business Bureau: If a shop joins the Better Business Bureau, that's no guarantee they're good, but it means they have pledged to uphold a code of ethics and if you have a problem, the BBB will mediate for you.

CarTalk: Click and Clack have retired, but their hilarious talk show "Car Talk" continues. Car Talk listeners swap mechanic referrals with each other and there are now more than 30,000 listings on the show's website, so you can check out what your fellow customers are saying. Just be sure to read between the lines in case shops have reviewed themselves!

5 ways to Check Out A Shop Before You Go There Better Business Bureau: The BBB keeps records of consumer complaints against companies. You can look up the info in two minutes online.

Attorney General: Some state attorneys general investigate automotive shops and may provide a complaint database you can check.

State Consumer Protection: If the attorney general in your state does not get involved, another state agency may. Use this link to find it.

County Consumer Protection: If you're really lucky, you live in a county that has its own consumer protection office. Click here to find out.

The Internet: And finally, Google 'em. Google the name and city of the shop with words like "scam," ripoff" or "complaint" and see if anything comes up.

5 Ways To Make Sure You Get a Fair Shake at the ShopWritten estimates required: Most states require mechanics to give you a written estimate. Insist on it. In most states, once the shop gives you a written estimate, it's required to contact you if that estimate is going to rise more than 10 percent. If your state doesn't require shops to ask your permission before doing additional work, take the law into your own hands -- with a pen. Write on the service ticket either "not to exceed X dollars" or "mechanic must contact customer if price is going to rise more than 10 percent."

Get a Second Opinion: Once you find a trustworthy mechanic, stick with them -- with one exception: If your mechanic tells you you need a repair that's so expensive it's a financial hardship for you, seek a second opinion. Mechanics, like doctors, can diagnose more than one problem from the same set of symptoms. Getting a second opinion is simply a check-up, a cross reference, before you spend a pile of money. If the second opinion confirms the first, you can return to the original shop to get the work done.

Know the labor rate: Most states require shops to post their hourly labor rates and are required to charge each customer that same rate. From there, they usually consult a computer program called a "labor table" that tells them how many hours a particular job should take. Your estimate will likely be based on book time, though the shop's actual time doing the work could vary. But there are three major labor tables. And sometimes they cite different times! So if your labor estimate seems high, ask the shop if it has access to another labor table that may be lower. I find this confusing. Labor rates can be negotiable.

Ask for your parts back: In most states, it is your right and a way of verifying that new parts were, indeed, installed. Just informing the shop that you want them back puts the mechanic on notice that you know what you're doing (even if you don't!). If it's a major, expensive repair, ask whether the parts have "core value," which means they can be rebuilt and sold on the secondary market. If the mechanic wants to keep them, ask to be compensated for that value.

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You may not have to pay: If you take all the steps above and still run into problems, there are two -- legal-- ways not to pay the shop for the work. First option, put the bill on a credit card. You can then dispute the charges through your credit card company. Company policies differ, but you may not have to pay the bill while the matter is being resolved. Option two, in some jurisdictions, you can go down to the local courthouse and post a bond for the price of the repairs. The law varies from place to place, but either you or the mechanic must then file a small claims suit over the money. In some states, if the mechanic doesn't bother to file, you automatically get your money back.

http://abcnews.go.com/Business/visit-auto-repair-shop/story?id=19440636
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5 Home Renovations You Shouldn't Do Yourself (And Ones You Can Tackle Instead)

Homeowners who regret DIY-ing: 42 percent

Homeowners who went over budget: 22 percent

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/home-renovations-you-should-skip_56819c28e4b06fa68880da99?fb_comment_id=1002835963095740_1003719059674097

So if an update is in order, what's a homeowner to do? It's tempting to go big on DIY improvement, said Zillow's Alexa Fiander. But homeowners often forget that large-scale DIY projects require special carpentry or electrical expertise, as well as LOTS of time.

Homeowners who regret DIY-ing: 53 percent

Homeowners who went over budget: 42 percent

Also on HuffPost:

The best DIY revamp, however, may be a simple cleaning session. Many experts, including HGTV's Nicole Curtis, say decluttering before you do anything else will help you appreciate your space and renew your eye for design, thus eliminating the need for all those renovations you had planned.



BanksPhotos via Getty Images

Homeowners who regret DIY-ing: 43 percent

Homeowners who went over budget: 23 percent

Robert George Young via Getty Images

BanksPhotos via Getty Images

...Well THAT saves us a lot of trouble. Happy new year, homeowners!

Homeowners who regret DIY-ing: 49 percent

Homeowners who went over budget: 20 percent

Homeowners who regret DIY-ing: 48 percent

Homeowners who went over budget: 23 percent

Cultura RM/Erin Lester via Getty Images

With the new year comes resolutions for both yourselfand your home. But before you tackle that big interior overhaul... don't.

Last month, real estate site Zillow Digs polled homeowners who had completed a DIY home renovation within the last three yearsto find out how they feel about their projects in the aftermath. The results http://www.bobsidotifloors.com/ were not so promising: More than 40 percent of homeowners said they regretted undertaking large DIY renovations such as refinishing cabinetry or expanding a room, as projects like these went over budget at least 20 percent of the time. Survey responders had the most regret over the following projects:



Blend Images - Jetta Productions via Getty Images

Instead, Fiander recommends small fixes like replacing light fixtures, replacing cabinet hardware and giving rooms fresh coats of paint. These easy, quick projects left homeowners regret-free more than 80 percent of the time, Zillow's survey found.(Bonus?A white paint job could make your home sell faster, if you're in the market.)
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How to Refinish Your Kitchen Cabinets

Kitchen cabinets play an important role in the kitchen dcor. Refinishing them will surely give your kitchen a refined look. Though time-consuming, this process is definitely worth the effort. Here are a few guidelines to help you learn, how to refinish kitchen cabinets.

Things Needed



Drop Cloth Sandpaper Paintbrush Household Cleaner Vanish or Paint Directions for Refinishing Kitchen CabinetsTo start with, first remove the kitchenware from the cabinets and drawers. Look carefully for any signs of damage, rot, and wear. Particularly check the cabinets under the dishwasher and the sink for rot. If you find rot in the cabinets, then replace the affected part before you start the refinishing work. You will need the help of a carpenter to replace the affected cabinet. Once, you have done this, disassemble the doors and drawers of the cabinet. Label the cabinet openings and doors. Put the same label at the back side of the door and the corresponding cabinet opening. Mask the kitchen countertop and floor with the drop cloth. Take the hangers and hinges off the cabinet door. Dust the cabinets, drawers, and doors. Then, clean them with a household cleaning solution and rinse with cool water. Use wood glue or putty to fill the holes, if there are any. Take sandpaper and rub it over the surface of the door and cabinets to remove the gloss and irregularities. Vacuum off the dust, so that you can easily apply the paint. Now, apply paint or varnish using your paintbrush. Lay down the cabinet doors and paint the doors from top to bottom, then paint the drawers and at last the frame. Before applying the second coat of paint, wait for the first coat to dry. During the time that the paint dries, clean the handles and hinges with a drop cloth and household cleaner solution. You can also replace the handles with new ones. Also, new hinges are a better option. After you are done with all these, replace the cabinet doors and drawers carefully, ensuring that they are leveled with the frame. Additional Tips

There are several important things to keep in mind http://www.trufinishhardwoodseattle.com/ while refinishing. Here are some tips that will help you simplify your task.



Choose a well-ventilated work area to refinish kitchen cabinets. Be sure to wear a mask and hand gloves, to protect your body from the chemicals. Decide which paint or varnish you are going to use. Paints and varnish are available in different finishes, eggshell, satin, semi-gloss, and high-gloss. Marine varnish works well for the kitchen as they are water repellent. If you are a novice wood finisher, use wipe-on varnish which comes in satin finish. Latex paint leaves brush strokes. Therefore it is advisable to use paint additives like Flotrol as it will help to lighten the brush strokes. Oil-based paints do not leave brush strokes like latex do, and can be painted over latex paint. But, latex paint cannot be painted over oil paint. Refinishing kitchen cabinets is inexpensive and a great idea to give your kitchen a novel look. The cost depends upon the size of the cabinets, the materials and the paint used for the refinishing task. The total cost (if you do it yourself) would be almost of the cost when you get it done professionally.

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Get Help From The Hardwood Flooring Experts

Apart from the reputation of the company in the market and amongst the client, it is also important to figure out the number of years of experience that it has in the market. Refinishing of the hardwood floor takes a certain level of expertise and skill from the flooring experts and unless they have the necessary skills, there is no point in hiring them for your home as that will be a known case of wastage of money, time and effort.



By: Amelie

If you are a home owner who is proud to own a hardwood flooring at home, you must understand that at some point of time or the other, you need to take care of the refinishing of the hardwood flooring at home. It is thus also very important to hire a professional company that is reputed and reliable. Unless you are able to trust the Hardwood Flooring Experts, you would not be able to have a heart to hand them over your home that has been a dream erstwhile.

When it is time to go for a refinishing of the hardwood or a up gradation of the floor that has become dull over the years, there are several factors that are worth considering. For instance, when you find the right company and the right experts, they can take the old hardwood flooring and make it look as good as new all over again. Upgrading the home can be a crucial part of making over a new home and in case you are looking for selling off your property, getting a makeover of the home done can increase the overall value of the asset to a huge extent.

Perhaps the most important thing to look for while choosing the Hardwood Flooring Experts Lady Lake is the past records of their service with the previous customers and clients. Tracking down the various testimonials and the reviews of the previous clients for the company via the internet and also in person from the company representative is one great way of finding out the kind of services offered by the company and their level of support and service that you can expect in your case. It is always a good idea to go for a conducted research before finalizing on a company and hiring them for your home tasks and services.

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For more information Area Rugs On Sale FL and Area Rugs Lady Lake please visit www.greatlakescarpet.com

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You might also consider the chemicals and the cleaning agents and products the company people use for handling the hardwood of your home. While many professionals green floor cleaning for the hardwood which is safe for the environment as well as home, it is faster, safer, and also much less expensive too. Thus if you are one of those people who are trying to do your bit for the world environment, going for the green floor cleaning option for your hardwood floor is a great option. It is dust free and is a great alternative to the other forms of refinishing and cleaning process. Do your bit to save the world for your future generation and they will never be able to thank you enough.

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