The only way that you’re going to keep your hot tub in a consistently pristine condition is to establish a regular cleaning routine; a routine that includes doing certain tasks occasionally and completing other tasks as often as a few times a week, during peak usage periods.

Correct chemical maintenance will ensure that your water is in pristine condition and ready for use whenever you are. The most frequently used of all hot tub chemicals is sanitizer, so checking its level regularly will be one of the tasks that you need to perform a few times a week while you’re hot tub is receiving regular use. A general rule of thumb is that if you use chlorine sanitizer it will require more frequent attention than if you use bromine in your water.

Another of your more frequently performed tasks that you should do a few times a week during peak usage is to check the pH level of the water. A proper pH level of 7.4 to 7.6 will keep you slightly alkaline or basic. Now what you don’t want is water that dips below pH 7.0, this is acidic and acidic water is more corrosive on hot tub components.

An oxidizing shock treatment is used to eliminate oils that make their way into the water by way of bodies, cosmetics, sunscreen and perhaps tanning lotion. Now this task is one that needs to be done about once a week but just like the rest it should be done on a regular basis, particularly during periods of high use.

Then if you live in an area that has hard water you should be aware that the calcium in the water can, over time, lead to unsightly deposits on your hot tub. Worse than this are the calcium deposits that you can’t see that will tend to build up in the plumbing and machinery, and over time work to inhibit functionality.

Use a descaling chemical periodically to remove the calcium that will have gathered up in the filtration system. Even so, be aware that the proper calcium level in hot tub water is between 100 and 200 mg per litre. If it gets any lower than this the water can become corrosive and damage the water heater.

A hot tub filter should be cleaned about once a month and even more frequently during peak use periods. Also make a point of checking the filter as you clean it for any damages that may affect its performance.

Another thing you may want to do is while you have the filter out take a sponge and reach down inside the filter compartment to wipe out as much of the crud that you’ll see accumulating along the walls inside of it.

So there’s a lot of cleaning to do if you expect to have your hot tub in a continuous pristine condition and this is why it’s recommended that you keep a written schedule to make sure that everything gets done accordingly.

Lastly investing in a good quality hot tub cover can go a long way towards keeping your water free of bugs; debris and whatever else can land or get blown into it.

Septic tanks may not be the most pleasurable thing to care for, but it’s important that you keep your septic tank clean. If you don’t, chances are it will become backed up. This can cause over flow in not only your toilet, but sometimes bathtub. There are special tools and products that can help keep your septic system clean. There are also chemicals that can help the bacteria grow within the tank so your waste dissolves faster.

There are many items you should not put down your drain. Water, waste and some bio-degradable items are acceptable. Things such as feminine products, soil, grease and insecticides are just a few of what shouldn’t go down the drain. Should any of these items go down into your drain, you risk backing up you septic system.

Using a metal snake hose into your drain is one way to clear out your septic system. However, in order to clean the full tank, you need to pump it. Pumping your septic helps keep any sludge or debris from stopping up the system. Pumping the tank should be done periodically. Call your local health department to receive information and support about how to pump and how often to pump your tank.

Having your septic system inspected periodically for leaks, cracked pipes and other problems is another way to care for your system. You can call a contractor to visit your site and inspect your system. Or, you can do it yourself. A simple check, before calling the health department for assistance, consists of a few steps.

Look for any depression or sunken areas around the septic system where the main tank is. This can be a possible hazard expressing a tank that may be in the process of collapsing. Also, look for water collecting anywhere near where the tank sits. This may be a slight crack in the tank that is seeping up into the dirt. The smell of sewage is a terrible sign that your tank has possibly ruptured somewhere. If this is true, immediate action is required on your part.

Regular cleaning is important for a septic system. Of course there are those drainage products that help with better water flow. And, there are also tablets that are dropped down into the tank. These tablets work like an effervescent. They fizz up inside the tank cleaning any debris and grim, then become flushed out the drainage pipe.

The health department may recommend that your tank be cleaned manually, especially if there are many residents in the household. Cleaning inside the tank allows for the sides and bottom to be scrubbed and washed. A contractor can be hired to do this type of dirty work. However, an individual can do it alone if they wished. Using a high pressured hose, the insides of the tank can be cleaned. This is the best time to check for any cracks or leaks.

Caring for a septic tank is not hard, but necessary. There are large fines involved should you not care for your tank properly. Health departments see a damaged septic system as a major health hazard not only to you, but to those in your neighborhood.

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Carpets are surely the most prized possessions in any house. Whether they are economical or expensive, they undoubtedly deck up the house, and even a slightest stain on them causes extreme disappointment and disgust. Regular vacuuming and steaming of the carpets is not enough, so one resorts to some home remedies for carpet stains to maintain their looks and longevity.

Stains are often caused when little children spill food on carpets, or when pets jump around them. The sooner the stain is dealt with, the easier it is to remove. Moreover, each carpet yarn differs in the time it takes for stain removal. For example, wool or nylon could take longer than olefin. A good home detergent can be sprayed onto an absorbent cloth, which can then be lightly dabbed on the stained area on the carpet a few times. This should then be followed by light dabbing of a cloth soaked in clear water, followed by leaving a few dry absorbent cloths to soak the water from the carpet. After the area dries, one is sure to find a brighter carpet with a lighter stain, or the stain might even have disappeared completely. While following home remedies for carpet stains, one must take care not to spray the detergent directly onto the carpet or brush the stained area, as this can damage it.

Club soda is an inexpensive and easily available home remedy for carpet stains, as it leaves no residue on the carpet and can remove almost all general stains. If some stubborn stains like those of ink etc. continue to persist, a little alcohol can be rubbed, or an undiluted citrus solvent can be used.

Also, a little vinegar mixed in four times warm water can be blotted on the area, and it can then be vacuum dried later.

A little ammonia mixed with double its quantity of warm water can be used to dab on the stains caused due to red wine. This has a bleaching effect, and can thus be used on light colored carpets.

At all times, while making use of home remedies for carpet stains, the hands should be covered with gloves.

Tea, coffee and chocolate stains are best removed with hydrogen peroxide. After cleansing the area, hydrogen peroxide diluted in warm water is applied on the area and covered with a white colored towel, as light transforms the chemical properties of hydrogen peroxide and causes color loss.

Puddings and other soft solids should be first scraped off lightly with a plastic spoon, from the outside to the inside, and then cleansed with a dab of detergent towel, before cleansing it with clear water and leaving white paper towels over it to dry the area. Care must be taken to first dry the area completely with a vacuum cleaner before staring the process.

All products used for home remedies for carpet stains are easily available in the kitchen cabinet and cost very little, but go a long way in maintaining the shine and luster on the carpets.

Read Home Remedies for common ailments. Also know about High Blood Pressure Herbal Treatment. Read about Weak Eyesight Supplements.

Anything that you install outdoors can be very difficult to clean because of too much exposure to dirt, dust, and other natural elements that indoor installations are not exposed to. This is the reason why many people find it hard to clean their outdoor lighting. This neglect often leads to dirty, damaged, or broken lighting fixtures. Instead of making your outdoor space brighter and more attractive, broken and useless outdoor lights only become eye sores that you just want to get rid of.

Installing outdoor lighting is not cheap, that is why you should take care of your outdoor lights by cleaning it regularly. Here are some tips that you can use if you are planning to clean your outdoor lighting.

o Unplug the lighting fixture from the electrical outlet or turn it off. You do not want to get electrocuted cleaning outdoor lights.

o Prepare a ladder. You might have some really high outdoor lights that you will not be able to reach without the aid of a ladder. Be careful, though. Make sure that the ladder is secured firmly before climbing it unless you want a broken neck.

o The bulb is always encased in grills, globes, or other housings. Remove the housing first. You might need screwdrivers to do this. Once you have taken off the housing, remove the bulb by just turning it counter clockwise. If you are on a ladder, climb down and proceed to cleaning the parts.

o You need to use warm water with dish washing soap to wash all the parts except the light bulb. Soak all the parts into the water with soap and leave them.

o Prepare another bucket of water with soap. You will use this for cleaning the parts that you could not disassemble. Use a sponge and soak it into the soapy water and use it to wipe the other parts.

o Rinse everything – fixed and loose parts with clean water. Wipe them with dry clean cloth or let them try if the weather permits.

o To make your outdoor lights look shiny and brand new, you can apply wax on the parts that are made of metal or a special cleaner for glass parts.

o If the light bulb is still working, clean it using a damp cloth. But if it is not working anymore, just replace it with a brand new one.

o Finally, put everything back properly and after only a few hours, your outdoor lights will be illuminating your outdoor space again.

John has a lot of experience with outdoor lighting. He has written many articles on the subject, including articles on patio umbrella lights and outdoor Christmas rope lights.

Very often, especially during winters and when it rains, we see that our basement has molds in it. Molds are tiny microscopic organisms which belong to the fungi family. When in nature, this fungi helps in decomposing dead leaves and plants. However they become a problem when they make our basements their homes. Usually basements provide moisture, which is exactly what this fungus needs. There are many toxic black mold health risks, and they pose a danger to humans especially to people who suffer from asthma. Hence use the mold removal tips given in how to remove mold from basement and make your house mold free and fresh.

Tips to Remove Mold from Basement
There are many methods you can use for basement mold removal. When you undertake to remove black or white mold in basement, remember to wear a mask. Molds leave out spores and there are chances that you will inhale them while you are removing white or black mold. The other simple tip is to dampen the mold before you actually start removing it. This minimizes the chances of mold spreading in the air and eventually into your entire house. If you have wall paper or carpet padding on the walls, then the best thing to do is to remove it totally to get rid of molds. Read on further to find the ways to remove the molds.

Bleach: Mix one part bleach with four parts water. Use this mixture and scrub the areas affected with molds. Let the mixture stay on the wall for at least 15 minutes before you start working on the walls. This will make sure that the walls are disinfected properly. Make sure you clean the entire area well. Check out the basement mold removal cleaning and prevention tips for guidance. When you use the bleach mixture, make sure you have rubber hand gloves on, at the same time take care that your skin does not come in contact with the bleach mixture.

Seal the Cracks: If you notice that mold reappears even after you remove mold in basement, you can try sealing the cracks on the basement walls. There are waterproofing compounds available for this purpose. They are available in all hardware stores. These compounds usually come with all the instructions on how to use them. So you won’t have a problem using it. If the basement is damp due to water that is seeping from the walls, then you can waterproof the walls of the basement so that you do not face a similar problem again.

Ventilate: Usually basements have mold as they are not well ventilated. Hence it is important that you ventilate the basement well always. Even after basement mold removal, do not forget to ventilate the basement. This will also help in removing the musty smell from the basement. If there is any furniture in the basement, remove it outside, clean it and keep it in the sun for sometime. Same is the case with carpets as well so that they become mold free.

Dehumidifier: If your basement gets infected with mold very often, it is advisable to install a dehumidifier. This will ensure that excess moisture is removed from the basement and molds are not formed.

If inspite of using tips given in how to remove mold from basement, you are not able to remove mold in basement, you will have to seek professional help. There are certain mold removal products, which are available for basement mold removal. You can try these products to see if they help you solve your mold problem.

Fighting shower curtain mildew is no easy feat. In high traffic bathroom it can be almost impossible to keep up with eliminating the mildew that can occur as a result of dampened conditions. There are a couple of things you can do to initially eliminate any mildew, then tips you can implement to help prevent future mildew growth.

Shower Curtain Mildew Removal.

First, you want to begin with a clean shower and shower curtain. Take the curtain that has mildew on it and throw it in the washer with a load of white towels. The bleach compound in the laundry detergent will help eliminate the mildew, as rough fabric of the towels act almost as a brush over the surface of the curtain.

Next, you want to clean the tub and shower with a proven mildew removing cleaner that is specialized solely for removing mildew. To save time, it is best to do this as the curtain is being washed with the towels. If mildew stains persist, you can use a mixture of water and borax in a spray bottle and apply it to the stained areas. (undiluted vinegar also works well for mildew stain removal)

Shower Curtain Mildew Prevention

Ensure that when you are showering to aim the shower head toward the wall opposite of the shower curtain to reduce the amount of water that makes contact with the curtain itself. Keeping the curtain dry helps reduce the growth of mildew as dampness and humidity are the root aspects that assist in the growth of mildew.

After you have finished showering, close the curtain back up. This is important because it allows the curtain to drain more efficiently as opposed to being folded up and confined. After the shower curtain has drained decently, and is only damp, you can move it from the inside of the tub to the outside for better air circulation.

Last but not least, use the fan in your bathroom to assist in removing the excess moisture that occurs as a result of the condensation from showering. This fan helps to remove the built up moisture that has accumulated over the surfaces of your shower. Once again, keeping everything dry helps prevent the initial growth of mildew. It is recommended to generally leave your fan on for 30 minutes after showering to ensure efficient ventilation.

Shower curtain mildew is something that can become a health hazard to your family. Aside from that, mildew can also cause damage to your shower curtains. Ensure you take the proper steps in helping to reduce and prevent mildew in order to avoid these issues.

The elegant style of a white colored porcelain sink is something unique, which adds to its huge popularity amongst homeowners. Since the last few decades, the market demand for this product has never gone down. However, the maintenance part of porcelain sink is not as easy as we want it to be, particularly when it is installed in the kitchen. And if you want a shining sink that lasts a lifetime, then learn how to clean a porcelain sink properly.

Tips on How to Clean a Porcelain Kitchen Sink

Before we discuss the cleaning tips of a porcelain sink, let me remind you that this plumbing fixture is prepared by fusing a glass surface with a metal and clay base. The high temperature treatment and raw materials make porcelain enamel a hard unit. But, it is still susceptible to scratches, dents, fractures and stains. Also, remember that it is not acid proof, and exposure to acidic cleaners will wear away the glass surface. This again increases the chances of developing unwanted stains and damages. The following are the steps on how to clean a porcelain sink.

Things You Need
Wearing protective gloves is advisable before you begin cleaning a kitchen sink. Other supplies that you will require include white vinegar solution, a soft bristle brush, sponges and clean kitchen towels. In case you are using a commercial cleansing agent, do not apply it directly. Instead, conduct a spot test to see if it is safe for the porcelain sink or not. If yes, then only proceed for the further cleaning process.

Disinfect Porcelain Sink
Repeated exposure to water, foods and beverages make the porcelain sink a breeding ground for pathogenic microbes. So, your first approach for porcelain sink cleaning is killing those microorganisms and removing greasy substances. For this, the mildly acidic, white vinegar is an excellent solution. Spray it all over the sink including the corners, and scrub with the soft bristle brush. Vinegar cleaning also leaves the porcelain surface vitreous.

Clean Porcelain Sink
For a newly installed porcelain sink that is free of stains and major scratches, cleaning is as easy as applying a regular soapy solution prepared with warm water. Also, a solution of baking soda and warm water works great for cleaning debris and soap remains. Then, wash thoroughly with plain water. Some people spray a diluted solution of hydrogen peroxide and chlorine bleach for cleaning porcelain sinks.

Get Rid of Stains
Since it is repeatedly exposed to pigmented foods, sauces and oily dishes, stain development is quite obvious. Wondering how to clean a stained porcelain sink naturally? The best way to get rid of marks is using sodium percarbonate, commercially marketed as oxygen bleach. Fill the sink with hot water and dissolve suggested amounts of bleach. Leave for 2 hours and rinse thoroughly with water and mild detergent. For fresh stains, you can rub the portions with citrus juices to lighten them.

Polish Porcelain Sink
For the porcelain material, occasional polishing is suggested to preserve the original glaze. In home supply centers, you will get porcelain gels, specially formulated for this purpose. Purchase a superior quality product and read the usage instructions. You will need to clean the sink first, remove stains (if any) and dab it dry with clean towels prior to applying the gel. You can even use a soft cloth dampened with baby oil for polishing porcelain sink.

Other Maintenance Tips
Dealing with scratches doesn’t come in the porcelain sink cleaning project. But, scouring the surface with a rough object or material will affect the finish and leave behind unsightly scratches, irrespective of how durable the porcelain material is. For deep scratches and chips, you can use a repair kit. First clean and dry the affected spots and put the filling compound. Finish by coating the glaze to restore the shiny appearance.

After going through this info on how to clean a porcelain sink, I am sure you won’t have to struggle a lot for maintaining this plumbing fixture. Just make sure that you exercise the cleaning project on a regular basis. Otherwise, you need to spend more time for cleaning accumulated debris and most importantly, tough stains. One word of caution is to avoid harsh cleaning agents, which clean less and do more harm to the porcelain material.

Removing rust stains from carpet is quite easy if you follow these tips and instructions. Several techniques for removing rust included. Before you throw your rug in the garbage, try these rust removal methods.

Rust. It’s unsightly and if we’re not careful it can appear in the unlikeliest of places. It’s bad enough when it shows up on our gardening tools and car parts, but when it’s brought into the house and shows up on our carpets, it’s time to draw the line.

When rust appears on our floors, it’s not something we can ignore. It’s to be expected outside, especially in the humid weather when oxidation occurs, but you can’t write off a stain on the rug as a trendy patina. When it comes to your carpet, shabby chic is most definitely a no-no. If you’ve become a victim of rusty carpet syndrome, never fear, help is on the way.

First, you’ll need to identify the source of the rust. If a piece of furniture or toy has left behind a stain, you need to remove the offending piece immediately or risk further damage to your rug. If the damage is coming from a window or other element of the home, some repair work may be necessary. Once the source is extricated, take a butter knife or other scraping tool and gently scrape off whatever surface rust you can. Be gentle because you don’t want to cause any additional wear to the fibers of your carpet. After you scrape away all you can, you’ll need to contend with what’s left behind. This can be done using any number of methods.

A mild detergent, such as dish detergent, (one containing no alkalis) is a good stain remover and is gentle on your carpet. Gently blot into the stain using a sponge or cloth. Don’t frantically rub at the stain as this will only cause the stain to spread and may weaken the fibers to boot. Rinse the sponge and blot with cool clean water.

Here are some inexpensive home remedies that also work for removing rust:

- Lemon juice mixed with a little salt will clean, freshen and brighten. Spray directly onto the carpet and let sit for a few hours. Afterwards, blot with a cool damp cloth.

- Make a paste of cream of tarter and water. Apply directly to the stain and let sit. Clean off with a damp sponge.

- Pour vinegar directly onto the carpet and let sit. After a couple of hours wipe with a damp cloth.

If none of these removal methods work, you have a couple of other options. The first is to go to your hardware store or supermarket and scan the shelves for appropriate rust removal agents. Before purchasing, be sure the product isn’t going to ruin your particular type of carpet. No matter what the label tells you, test some of the product first on a hidden area of your carpet. (Behind a wall unit, a closet floor or under furniture is probably your best bet.) Follow the instructions accordingly.

You can also contact your carpet’s manufacturer who may have a solution as well. If worse comes to worse contact a professional carpet cleaner. Make sure that he or she is aware of the problem prior to making the appointment. The last thing you want is to pay for expensive carpet cleaning only to find out the stain can’t be removed after all.

Don’t let unsightly rust stains ruin your carpet, if you act quickly and follow some simple steps, it will soon look as good as new.

Hard water is a big problem for a lot of homeowners and business owners in the western United States with windows. If you aren’t sure what hard water is it is the white film that shows up on windows when lots of water hits it over time. Usually it comes from sprinkler systems or other water being sprayed on the window and then sitting. The longer the water sits on the windows the harder it becomes to remove the water. Before I continue with the instructions on how to remove the hard water stains from windows I want to make sure you understand that I am in no way a certified professional when it comes to handling acid so please do so at your own risk.

What you will need to do is purchase some muratic acid from a local hardware store or grocery store. You can usually purchase it for somewhere around $5 per gallon so its pretty cheap. You will want to mix around 1/3 acid in a bucket with 2/3 water. Get a brush that can connect to the end of a pole so you don’t get any of the watered down acid on your hands. Once all of this is prepared you will also want to have a garden hose ready.

Now that everything is prepared you can dip the brush in the watered down acid and begin scrubbing the window with hard water on it. Once again you will want to make sure that you get a long enough pole so that you don’t run the risk of having any acid get on your skin. As you scrub the windows with the acid you will notice that the window will begin to become smooth. You may have to scrub the window and let it sit for a few minutes and then scrub again to make sure you get it all off.

Once you have all the windows nice and scrubbed you will want to take the garden hose and wash the windows very well. Spray them down good so that any acid becomes watered down and not harmful. This is very important because acid that is left standing on windows or sills could permanently damage them. Once the windows are completely washed down you are now ready to clean the windows with a squeegee. Make sure you squeegee off any excess water since that is what caused the hard water in the first place.

That’s all you need to do! You should have some fairly clean windows now that are easy to see through. Once again please be very careful when using the acid since it can burn you. If you do have any acid that gets on your skin wash it immediately. I am not a professional and do not claim to be an authority on this subject so please be careful.

Joseph Stevenson is a window cleaner in Las Vegas NV and writer for http://www.lasvegaswindowcleaningandjanitorial.com/

Rust can occur anywhere – on metal surfaces, clothes, tiles, utensils, decorative items, porcelain, vehicles, to name a few. Rust develops when water and oxygen in the air combine and a process known as oxidation occurs on a surface. Usually, rust forms a reddish-brown-yellowish spot or flakes on any given affected surface.

For rust removal, there are a number of rust removal products and cleaning solutions available in the market. However, if you are looking for some easy and environment friendly rust removal home remedy, then given below are a few of the most useful ones.

Rust Removal Home Remedies

Potato
If the spot from which the rust has to be removed is small, such as a knife surface, an effective rust removal home remedy is to put salt on a peeled potato and rub it vigorously on the rust spot. If the rust spot is on a utensil, a good idea is to simply keep the peeled potato with salt on the rust spot for about fifteen minutes. Follow this up by rinsing and drying the surface. Potatoes consist of oxalic acid which helps to remove rust from metal.

Alka-Seltzer
For clearing rust off aluminum items, one of the effective rust removal home remedy is to fill a tub with clean water. Next, soak all the rusted aluminum items in the water. Put a few Alka-seltzer tablets in the tub. Shake the tub so that the water mixed with Alka-seltzer tablets rub off on the entire surface of the aluminum items. Let the items sit in this mixture for about five minutes. After this, rinse them with clean water and make them completely dry with a towel cloth.

Lemon Juice and Vinegar
A simple homemade rust remover can be made by mixing together lemon juice and vinegar in equal quantities. Apply this mixture on clothes, tiles or metals which have rust stains on them and let it stay for some time. For the clothes, fifteen minutes would be enough for stain removal, while for metals two hours would be fine. After letting the mixture sit for an appropriate duration, rub the rust spot gently with a brush in case of a cloth item and with a steel wool for a metal surface. Rinse with water and make it absolutely dry. This is one of the most useful home remedies for rust removal from clothes, porcelain wares as well as metals.

Coke and Tomato Sauce
One of the quickest rust removal home remedies from metals is to rub them with coke or tomato sauce, let these items sit on the metal for a few minutes and then rinse off with water. Many people vouch for this rust removal home remedy so you can give it a try in case of an emergency!

Baking Soda
Another rust removal home remedy is to apply baking soda on the metal surface. Start with mixing baking soda with water so that it obtains the right consistency. It should neither be too thin nor too thick. Now, cover the metal surface with this mixture. Let it sit for fifteen minutes. After this, take a steel wool and scrub the metal surface. Rinse with water and again apply the baking soda mixture on the surface, followed by scrubbing. Repeat the procedure till you find the rust spot clearing away.

White Vinegar and Flour
If you are looking for rust removal tips from brass items, an effective method is to make a paste with a cup of vinegar, one teaspoon salt and enough flour to form a thick paste. Cover the brass item with this paste and let it sit for half an hour. Next, take a clean cloth and rub the brass surface with it. Rinse the brass item with water and using a towel cloth, make it dry. Repeat the entire process, till the brass becomes shiny and clean again.

When undertaking any of these rust removal home remedy, make sure that you do not keep the natural solutions given here on the rust spot for a very long time, otherwise it may damage the clothing or metal item from which you are trying to remove rust. Also, after every procedure, do not forget to rinse and completely dry off the surface as keeping it wet may further add rust to it! With these precautions and rusting solutions, now you can look forward to make your home completely rust-free!