When It Comes To Installing Mini Blinds, Do It Yourself

Measuring The first thing to do, is to determine the position of the mini blinds, deciding if they will be inside or outside of the window.  Inside mounting will look more customized, although outside mounting will provide better control of lighting.

For inside frame mounting, measure the width between the points where the brackets will be placed; top, middle, and bottom.  Record the narrowest of the measurements you receive.  Now, measure the length from the top inside casing of the windowsill.  At least 1 inch of flat surface will be needed on the inside casing in order to attach the brackets.

For outside frame mounting, you’ll need to measure the overall width of the area to be covered.  Hang your mini blinds outside of the frame if there is less than 1″ of flat surface on the inside casing. The measurement should overlap the window by at least 1 1/2″ on each side. 

Installation

 1.  Determine if you want inside or outside mounting, and measure your window accordingly.  2.  After you have purchased the correct size of mini blinds, remove the window stop from the top of the window on the window casing.  3.  Screw the brackets that came with your blinds to the side window casing at the top, using either two or three screws per bracket.  4.  With the wand on the left and the lift cord on the right, slide the mini blinds into the brackets you just installed.  5.  Once you have the mini blinds in place, secure the caps over the brackets.  6.  If the blinds are too long, remove the slats from the bottom of them, as this should help to get them to the appropriate height.

Helpful Home Tips When It Comes To Carpet, Installing Carpet

A majority of how your interior looks and feels will depend on your floors.  Houses that have carpet give off an undeniable warmth, vibrancy, and an aesthetic appeal.  There is a wide range of colors, textures, materials, and designs available that can transform your home and give every room a chance to be unique.  Your carpet installation has a long-term perspective, so it’s important that you select the best one for your needs and install it right the first time.

Once you have picked out your material and design, you’ll need to it install it.  Professional carpet installers can do the job for you, or you can choose to do it yourself.  Even though doing it yourself is cheaper than hiring a professional, it isn’t recommended if you don’t have the right tools, lack time, or have no experience.

A great way to ensure a professional installation of your carpet is to buy from an authorized carpet retailer or dealer.  Most of the time, your carpet retailer will have an installation staff that is very experienced with installing carpet.

If the retailer doesn’t offer an installation service, they can still guide you to a reputable and experienced installer.  Even though installation by a retailer is a bit more expensive, it offers several advantages.  The experience will show in their work and you’ll come out better in the long run.  You can also approach them if you aren’t satisfied with anything they have done.

However, if you are looking for low-budget carpet installation services, you’ll also have the option of hiring independent contractors, architects, builders, or interior designers.  You should always remember to get their references and inquire about their experience, where they received their training, and any certification they may have.

You can also visit homes that the installer has previously worked on, as this will give you an idea of their work before you hire them.  If it isn’t possible, you should at least make it a point to see some pictures of their work.

Even though private contractors may offer a lower rate for carpet installation than your retailer, the services of post installation may be very poor.  If you encounter a problem, you’ll find that your options are limited.  No matter what happens, if you choose an independent carpet installer, you should always make sure that the installer follows the standard for installation of residential carpet CRI 105.

Choosing the right installer for your carpet will entirely depend on your specific needs.  If you like to change your carpet type every few years, you may be better off to choose an independent carpet installer.  If you want carpet that will last for a long time, you should get a follow-up from a retailer, as this will ensure that you have a trouble-free experience with installation.

No matter who you choose, you should ensure prior to installation the carpet is power stretched so wrinkling and rippling will be minimized. It is also important that your rooms are measured before laying any of them and the sub floor has been cleaned. 

You should also vacuum the old carpet good before it is removed, to help eliminate dust.  Once the new carpet is down, the edges should be trimmed and sealed with hardwood.  You should always inspect the carpet, and make sure that nothing looks out of the ordinary and that everything pleases you before you finish the deal.

You should always keep in mind that no matter how expensive or exotic your carpets may be, it is the installation process that makes or breaks the look of your home.  Therefore, it pays off to invest a bit of time, money, and effort when you choose the right installer for your carpet.

Vacuum Cleaner Bags, Protecting The Air You Breathe

Everything that a vacuum picks up, no matter what type it may be, needs to be deposited somewhere – normally in a vacuum cleaner bag. 

Back in 1920, the Air Way Sanitizer Company of Ohio introduced the first vacuum cleaner with a disposable vacuum bag.  Until that time, the bags for vacuum cleaners resembled the type of bags that golfers used to carry their clubs.  They were somewhat heavy and awkard devices made out of thick, stiff canvas, designed to be very flexible and still keep dust and debris from the carpets from escaping out into the air.

The improvements made by the Air Way Sanitizer disposable vacuum bag went a long way toward improving the effectiveness of the vacuum cleaner. Made out of paper, the bag was designed to fit inside of the cloth bag.  Not only did it make cleaning the vacuum easier, but it also kept the insides of the stationary bag clean at all times so that less of the dust and debris could be blown out of the vacuum and make its way through the home again.

In the beginning, each manufacturer designed their own disposable vacuum cleaner bag made out of different types of paper.  You couldn’t interchange the bags from one machine to the next, as the fittings were different sizes with different configurations for the opening of the intake.  Manufacturers who were once very dependant on the sales of their machines had now discovered an entirely new territory for the disposable bags, and once again sales went through the roof.

Before, a housewife had her vacuum cleaner and the only thing it needed was to be cleaned and serviced every now and then.  If the man of the house was around, the job normally went to him. After a while, repair shops that specialized in vacuum cleaners began to pop up all over the place.

These days, there are very few vacuum cleaners that use bags.  Bagless is the way to go these days, and for good reason.  What was once a revolution in household cleaning, is now rapidly fading away and fast.

Models such as the Cyclone or Dirt Devil, are now using cylinder technology to store the dirt and dust.  When you have finished vacuuming, you simply empty the cylinder into the trash.  Vacuum bags can be very frustrating, which is why millions of people are using bagless vacuums.

If you own a vacuum cleaner that uses bags, you should look into upgrading it.  Bagless vacuums will save you time, money, and replacement.  If you’ve grown tired of the bags, now is the time to get a better vacuum.

Not only do the bagless models have more power, but they will also save you quite a few trips to the store and the closet.  They don’t cost a lot of money either, and they are the perfect addition to any household.