Properly Cleaning and Repairing Leather Sofas

A leather sofa is an elegant investment for your home. It may cost a bit more than ordinary furniture, but due to its durability and ability to last for years, it is well worth the price. Unlike wood furniture, a leather sofa does not lose its quality over time if properly maintained. It can actually look better with age, and its beauty adds a touch of class to any room.

A lot of leather sofas are now available in stylish and vibrant colors, as well as varying shapes and designs suitable for modern and traditional homes alike. They are also easy to maintain and repair as long as you learn the proper way to care for them.

To maintain the beauty and luster of your leather sofa, here are a few cleaning and repair tips:

1. The first step in maintaining and cleaning leather furniture is to dust it weekly. Use a soft cotton cloth or duster to wipe off dust that has collected. You can also utilize a vacuum cleaner that has special brush attachments appropriate for cleaning leather materials. Do not use regular vacuum brushes, though, as they can scratch the surface.

2. If your leather sofa has become too dirty, use a soft cloth dipped in a mixture of water and gentle soap to wipe away the dirt. Make sure that the solution is not over saturated with soap because it may alter the quality of the sofa. After removing the dirt, use a soft cotton cloth to buff the furniture dry.

3. Avoid exposing your leather sofa to direct sunlight for prolonged periods of time. Also keep the sofa away from strong heat sources. Extreme heat will fade the color of the leather.

4. Remove edge fluffs and fibers by carefully cutting them with scissors. It is necessary to smooth these areas, especially if you have small kids who may try to pull the fibers out because that will cause more damage.

5. Use a leather patch to cover torn areas. Trim the patch to fit the tear then glue the lifted pieces. Allow it to dry for an hour.

Jessica Greving
NMLS# 21685
Residental Mortgage Network
RMN NMLS# 1495
Office: 319-354-7501
Cell: 319-330–1502
Fax: 319-354-8740
http://mortgageforall.com

Creating a Nursery Room at Home

Having a baby is a priceless and highly fulfilling blessing. In preparing to bring your little one home, his or her nursery room is one of the most significant parts of the house that needs to be dolled up. It is where your baby will spend a lot of time, and you want to be sure it has a nice, soothing ambience that is equipped with all of the essential materials and facilities needed to care for your little one.

You may decide to keep your baby with you in your bedroom initially, but as they continue to develop, having a nursery will be very important to provide space for your baby to grow and to accommodate parenting tasks like feeding and changing diapers. You want to plan a nursery room that will provide a comfortable place for you both to play and address daily needs.

Once you identify which room you will be designating as the nursery, you need think about how you will decorate it. Creating a nursery room does not have to mean a complete restoration. You can paint the walls a new color, which will immediately transform the room. You can also add nursery-themed wall decals, which are a great, inexpensive way to personalize your child’s room. The greatest rate of developmental change happens during the early years of a child’s life, which is when they develop their own personal interests and tastes. So, as they change, it is easy to switch out old decals for new ones. When you are planning the room’s theme, consider the child’s gender. Also incorporate decor with bright colors and bold shapes to stimulate the child. As your child grows, acquaint them with nursery books and other child educational materials.

To ensure that your baby is comfortable and you will not have a hard time meeting his or her needs, include necessary furniture, such as a rocking chair for feedings, a changing table, and a dresser, which could be used for multiple purposes. The baby’s crib should have comfortable bedding and security locks because your little one’s safety should always be the top priority. You can also add a twin bed or daybed inside the nursery room, so that you have a place to sleep when your baby is not feeling well and needs constant monitoring.

Jessica Greving
NMLS# 21685
Residental Mortgage Network
RMN NMLS# 1495
Office: 319-354-7501
Cell: 319-330–1502
Fax: 319-354-8740
http://mortgageforall.com

How to Properly Maintain Your Concrete Surfaces

Nearly every homeowner has some type of concrete flooring installed on their property. It may be on the sidewalk, garage, porch, or kitchen. Concrete is a popular material for floor surfaces because it is has outstanding strength and is low maintenance. Although it is considered to be one of the most durable flooring materials for building construction, the risk of material degradation still exists. Things like the deterioration of reinforcement bars, chemical and physical damage, and cumulative expansion can weaken concrete. Regular maintenance, however, can considerably reduce the impact of these outside forces.

Proper concrete maintenance can prevent costly repairs. Always make sure that all cracks are appropriately sealed. This will prevent water from seeping into the cracks and washing out the stone base below. It will also help prevent tripping hazards because when water starts to penetrate cracks. For outdoor concrete, when water enters cracks and the temperature drops, the water freezes and expands, which puts pressure on the concrete and causes the same types of problems. Use a high-quality concrete caulking to close or seal the joints. Ask your local concrete supplier or home improvement store which material are best for sealing concrete cracks. Good sealers penetrate the concrete material to facilitate a long-lasting protection. Generally, sealing materials can either be sprayed or painted.

Regularly cleaning your concrete floors will help prevent acids, carbon dioxide, and chlorides from penetrating the surface. Removing dirt, automobile fluids, salt water, and sand is also important because they contain harmful elements that can minimize the durability of the concrete surface. Reducing contact between these harmful substances and your concrete will prevent fragmentation and surface cracking that would otherwise develop over time.

Jessica Greving
NMLS# 21685
Residental Mortgage Network
RMN NMLS# 1495
Office: 319-354-7501
Cell: 319-330–1502
Fax: 319-354-8740
http://mortgageforall.com

How to Properly Maintain Your Water Heater

Water heaters are important house tools that do not often receive the attention and maintenance necessary simply because they are usually installed in a basement or garage – out of sight, out of mind. They seem to only ever be thought of when they are leaking or not functioning properly. To ensure their longevity and efficiency, they have to be given proper maintenance, just like any other piece of machinery in your home. The maintenance necessary to keep your water heater functioning properly is not difficult, but it should be scheduled once a year depending on the quality of water in the area.

Here are the most common tips that you can do yourself to keep your plumbing system up and running:

1. Check if the electrical wire connections are loose or unattached because this could short out the system. If there are any leaks in the gas connection, report it immediately to a professional technician.
2. Check the temperature and pressure relief valve (TPR valve). This valve opens if the tank pressure is too high. Place a bucket under the pipe that is connected to the TPR valve. Lift the valve’s lever to let some water out, then let go. If water still keeps flowing, partially drain the tank, unscrew the old valve and install a new one.
3. Inspect the flu pipe. Make sure it is properly aligned with the heater exhaust port. In addition, check the roof vent if the flu hat is in place and ensure that all points in between are properly attached and secured.
4. Take a look on the anode rod. It can be removed from the top of the water heater but be sure to turn off the cold water inlet valve first. Check to see if there is any flaking on the surface or if any of its core wire is exposed. If the rod looks like a worn wire, it has to be replaced.
5. Withdraw the remaining water in the tank into the bucket and then stir the sediment, calcium deposits and other corrosive particles at the bottom of the tank by opening the cold-water supply valve. Repeat this procedure until clean water comes out of the hose. Water coming out of the tank can be very hot, take extra caution especially when small children are around.

Jessica Greving
NMLS# 21685
Residental Mortgage Network
RMN NMLS# 1495
Office: 319-354-7501
Cell: 319-330–1502
Fax: 319-354-8740
http://mortgageforall.com

Managing a Burst Pipe

Pipes are an essential part of your house, and it is important to be aware of the factors that affect them and their functioning. Changing temperatures (as we are now approaching the colder months) cause severe damage to your pipes. Water occupies more space when it freezes rather than when it is in liquid form. Hence, when temperatures begin to fall during the winter season, the possibility of a burst pipe increases. Fortunately, there are many different ways to extend the life of your pipes.

Fast detection of burst pipes decreases your likelihood of damage to your home. Immediately call a plumbing contractor if ever you suspect a water-related problem. If your water bill suddenly increased and/or you hear a continuous sound of flowing water once all the water devices are turned off, there may be problem in your water system. Also read your water meter regularly especially when you turn off all the water supplies to find out if water is still being pulled from your pipes, i.e. a leak.

As the colder seasons approach, take some steps to protect your pipes from the damage brought on by cold weather. Insulate pipes in unheated areas such as the; garage, basement and attic. Use an insulating tape to wrap all exposed areas. Make sure you cover all the spigots, pipe fittings and values with insulating tape. Next, disconnect all the pipes that are connected to the taps to prevent any water from running through the pipes undetected and freezing during the winter. Regularly allow water to run through the pipes during the cold months. You can also utilize hot water to unfreeze any frozen water that has accumulated in the pipes. Set up lamps or space heaters along the pipes that you do not use to keep them from building up ice.

If a pipe bursts, shut off the main valve that distributes and controls the water flow to the pipe which has leaked. Utilize a clamp to control the leaking pipe. Learn to use the clamp before the damage occurs so that you can be ready to control the situation in the event a pipe actually bursts. Turn off all the water supply to prevent unwanted water loss. If the leak is uncontrollable, contact a plumbing expert as soon as possible to assist you in repairing your burst water pipe.

Jessica Greving
NMLS# 21685
Residental Mortgage Network
RMN NMLS# 1495
Office: 319-354-7501
Cell: 319-330–1502
Fax: 319-354-8740
http://mortgageforall.com

Clean Tile Floors in Faster

You have so much to do every day, but you only have so much time for household chores. Unfortunately at the end of the workday, you know you are faced with a job of cleaning up your untidy floor and home. Fortunately, you can reduce the time and effort you set aside for cleaning tile floors by following these few easy steps that go along with some practical cleaning tips!

A prevention is always better than a cure – so of course you always want to, take preventive measures to avoid staining in the first place. It is the easiest tip in cleaning tile floors because we don’t need to clean what isn’t dirty to begin with!

Always make it a habit to sweep the floor on a regular basis. Place mats or rugs at the entrances of your doors, because muddy or dirty shoes tend to not be removed when they come inside the house, and these will quickly dirty up your floors. Mats and rugs also help to avoid the buildup of snow, ice and water on your tile when it is winter time. When a spill occurs, make sure to soak up the liquid rather than just wiping it and thus spreading the mess.

Choosing the right sealant to keep your floor looking clean, as well as to protect the floor’s surface from staining, spillages and scratches, is a very important aspect to keeping your floors looking new for years to come. Make sure to follow sealant instructions carefully and if you do not feel comfortable doing it yourself, seek out a professional who has experience in treating floors.

Small scratches are caused by tiny pieces of stone, or grit of dust brought inside your house through the soles of shoes. Larger scratches result from clumsy moving of heavy objects like the furniture and large containers. The use of mats, pads or thick paper beneath the large objects reduces the risk of scratches while moving.

If these steps are being observed with regularity, cleaning your floor and tiles will be a much simpler task. Your floors will only need sweeping and mopping using water with soap. But remember to seal the floor regularly! If any floor discoloration is present, ask for the assistance of a tile floor cleaning specialist who will use more complex cleaning strategies to bring back the original color.

Jessica Greving
NMLS# 21685
Residental Mortgage Network
RMN NMLS# 1495
Office: 319-354-7501
Cell: 319-330–1502
Fax: 319-354-8740
http://mortgageforall.com