6 Rugs Decorating Mistakes You Need To Avoid

Rugs can really bring out the best in your room or it could make it look all cramped and jammed if not selected or made use of in the right way. First, you should choose your area oriental or tribal rugs wisely and then you should deploy it astutely too.

There are many common mistakes that people make while positioning the rugs. We are going to mention some of those mistakes and will give solutions about it too. Here are some common rug decorating mistakes.

Getting a Rug Which Covers the Entire Floor Up To the Walls

The fashion of completely carpeted floors are long gone; instead, you should buy rugs which are smaller in length (not covering the floor up to the walls) and let the floor work as a border for the rug. Your rug should at least be 3 feet smaller than the entire room because the floor peaking from below gives the rug and the room a nice look.

Choosing a Way Too Small Rug

Just like extra-large rugs look bad; extra small rugs look bad too. Your rug should be of the perfect size; neither small nor big. If you are putting furniture on the rug then it should be big enough that you can put your feet and half the furniture (its front legs) on it, if you are putting a table on it then the rug should be 4 feet bigger than the table to make it look proportional and not out of proportion.

Choosing Your Rug at the End

If you’re decorating the house from scratch and wait until the last showpiece to choose the rug, chances are that you won’t be able to find a rug which will go with your rooms. You should always get the rug before other home accessories like showpieces, pillows or even the curtains so that you can set your room the way you want and find the color combinations you desire for your house.

Layering Dilemma

If you have small rugs and not big ones then you can try layering them in a certain way to make it look classy however if the color tones of the rugs are like north and south poles then you should use them separately or get new ones because rug layering can look nice if one color is neutral and the other is bright but two bright colors can’t work together. Generally, the smaller rugs are economical; so you can get three or four rugs with proper combination and then you can successfully layer them to get a good look.

Not Using the Rug Pad

Rug pads are the biggest lifesavers. They stop the rug from slipping, sliding and taking people with them on the floor. The rug pad will keep the rug firmly on the floor and is nothing like the rug tape which spoils the rug as well as the floor with its stickiness and which also doesn’t work. Make sure to use rug pads especially if you have rugs at the mouth of stairs or on the stairs because it can be dangerous to leave rugs without pad.

Not Getting Patterned Rugs

Patterned rugs can really brighten up your room. If you have a white room with white furniture and a white rug then it will look bland and flat. But, if you have a white room with white furniture and a dark blue patterned rug then the room will look alive. Don’t be afraid to buy wild and patterned rugs because sometimes that is all you need! If you are still not sure about patterned rugs then you can also get an expert opinion from any interior designer.

If you too made the above mistakes (or some other mistakes) while rug decorating in your house then don’t be ashamed because these mistakes are fixable and you are not alone in making them. Now that you know about these; you should make them right. If you are buying new Persian antique rugs Northern VA or moving to a new house then you should remember all these common mistakes and decorate your room while keeping these in mind. Always remember one thing; that rugs are the life of your house, buy them and utilize them wisely.

6 Tips For Defrosting Your Refrigerator

Timely defrosting your refrigerator is very important as otherwise this becomes the most common reason to go for refrigerator repair. Below are a few tips to defrost your refrigerator efficiently which can also help in increasing its lifespan.

Use Scraper

You get scrapers while purchasing refrigerators which you need to keep safely as using them is the best method of defrosting your refrigerator quite quickly. However, you need to be very careful and use it very safely as it may damage the walls of the refrigerator as well.

And if you have misplaced the original scraper, you can also use a wooden spoon or plastic spatula as an alternate to scrapers. But make sure that anything you use as an alternative to scraper should not have pointed ends which can damage the refrigerator walls.

Pour Mild Hot Water on Ice

This is considered as a very old yet traditional way of defrosting refrigerators where you can pour mild hot water on ice to melt it in seconds. You can also use normal tap water at room temperature if you do not feel comfortable with mild hot water. It will serve the same purpose but make sure to keep towels or something which can absorb splashes of water plus melted ice to avoid mess around your refrigerator.

Use Hair Dryer

Sounds weird? Well, it may sound weird but trust me this method really works well and in fact I am sure you will thank me later for this. You just need to make sure to keep the dryer and the cord away from water and ice chunks.

Also, remove ice from one place at one time so that you can assure your hairdryer is not overheating. Along with this, you need to be careful that you do not bring dryer too close to the walls or coils of freezer as the speedy and high amount of heat from dryer may damage the unit. When you feel the edges are melted, use a plastic scraper to pull off the ice outside completely as the heat from dryer loosen the ice off walls quite quickly.

Use a Hot Metallic Spatula

You can heat the metallic spatula by keeping it over the flame directly and then press it against the ice in the freezer which will quickly loosen the ice from the walls of the refrigerator. However, this method is quite dangerous and challenging for both the cleaning person and the refrigerator as well so you have to be extra careful if you are using this method.

You can wear oven mitts to keep yourself safe from getting burnt through hot metallic spatula and you need to keep the spatula away from the walls of the refrigerator to prevent any big damage. Generally, this method is not at all recommended by specialists as the chances of accidents are very high. But many people still go for this method as it gives very quick and efficient results but using precautionary measures is very important in this situation.

Let the Ice Melt Itself

The simplest and safest method of defrosting your refrigerator is to unplug it, empty it and then wait for the ice to melt itself. However, it is a very long process too as it will almost take your five to six hours which sounds very impractical.

And also, your frozen items like meat or any temperature sensitive medicine can also get harmed this way. Usually this process is neither used by people nor recommended by the specialists as well.

Use Pans of Boiling Water

Another traditional method of defrosting refrigerator is putting the pan of boiling hot water inside and then close the door of the refrigerator. And since the walls of freezer are well sealed so the steam of boiling water will loosen the ice off the walls.

Wait for around thirty minutes and then pull off ice from the freezer using plastic scraper. However, you have to be careful about one thing here and that is putting a tripod stand or thick layers of towel under the pan of boiling water. It is because keeping it directly on the shelf of refrigerator will definitely damage the surface of the refrigerator and you might need to go for refrigerator ice maker repair Fairfax.

The only tree pruning guide that you need

As leaves begin to fall every autumn, branches that were covered in thick green leaves earlier, start to become visible. While most gardeners and home owners do not really get bothered by this natural phenomenon, it is a good practice to inspect your tree branches at this point in time. Furthermore, it is a good practice to call in local tree cutting services when this happens, to see which branches need some pruning. All in all, one must take full advantage of these dormant months.

Why is it so important to prune trees?

Well, there are a number of reasons due to which it is important to cut trees. Firstly, it is done to ensure that the tree looks and performs much better. Though, trees do grow without pruning also, it actually allows them to reach their full potential. As a result of this, the trees live a very long life.

However, before getting a tree trimmed, it is very important to understand why it is important. Basically, tree trimming is done to ensure that the tree stays in good health. In this process, the diseased, dying, and dead tree branches are cut off. As a result of this, the remaining part of the tree continues growing properly.

At the same time, near the ground, water sprouts and suckers start to steal nutrients from the tree. This, in turn, weakens the wood. So in a way, tree trimming and the maintenance of the landscape surrounding it can help you in growing the magnificent tree that you have always envisioned.

While a big number of people do not consider the safety aspect of this, they are also a good reason to trim the trees. By trimming your trees, you can create a safer environment for your neighbors and your family. This is because cutting off the extended unwanted branches will reduce their risk of falling.

What is the proper way to prune tree limbs?

Well, when you are shaping the tree branches and reducing them, make sure that your cuts are encouraging new growth. Furthermore, make sure that you are cutting limbs at least ¼ inches above the bud facing the plant’s outer surface. This is the direction for new growth, usually. Furthermore, also make sure that your cuts are at a 45-degree angle. This will prevent the chances of diseases and damage from water.

How to prune thicker tree branches?

When trees are pruned properly, they form calluses at the area where the branch was removed from. These calluses are extremely important for the tree’s overall health. In general, three cuts are required for the prevention of damage. In this regard, the first two cuts are done to remove weight from the tree’s branch. Finally, the last cut is delivered in a way so as to encourage best growth of calluses.

While tree pruning seems to be a huge project, it is not the case. Well, it certainly may take about two to three hours, but not more. However, in case you don’t do it right in the first go, it could actually take away your entire day.

Ending note

Proactive homeowners start pruning their trees as soon as they are planted. Furthermore, they also ensure that the broken, dead, and diseased branches are removed immediately. As a result of this, the trees end up looking very sleek and fresh. All in all, it enhances the overall image of the property. So, make sure that you are calling in tree removal companies Maryland at least once every year (or after every couple of months). This is to ensure great tree health.

What to Consider When Buying Rugs Online?

In case you are planning to save some money or there are no decent shops near your area, shopping for rugs online is a good idea. However, shopping online for things that are tactile and visual can be a challenge.

In this article, we talk about all the critical factors to consider when you buying a rug from rug stores online. This way, you will be ready to buy rugs safely on the go!

Three critical factors to consider

There are a number of critical factors that you need to keep in mind when you are buying rugs online on the internet. Often at times, people end up ignoring these factors, which results in the wrong purchase.

These include:

Measuring problems

Rug stores on the internet tend to have many different sizes for their rugs. In this regard, you will have to take a measurement of your room in order to find the right fit.

A common mistake here is that people end up measuring all corners of the room without considering the furniture. As a result of this, you may have to lift your equipment and furniture in order to slip the rig underneath. This could be a huge pain.

So, measure the exact floor area that you want to cover with the rug rather than measuring the entire room going from wall to wall.

The material content

There are a number of rug materials that you can find. Often at times, people end up falling for rugs with cute patterns when shopping online. However, it is very important to check the material the rug is composed of.

When shopping rugs online, you will not have the guidance of a salesman. Moreover, you will not be able to run your hands across the rug material to figure out how it feels.

Some information about common materials

Jute and other grass rugs

Typically, jute fiber rugs and grass rugs tend to be very durable. They are used on patios and porches. As a result of this, you cannot expect them to be very cozy or warm. This is because these rugs have very rough fibers that are not designed for insulation.

Synthetic rugs

These rugs are inexpensive, durable, plush, and very easy to clean. However, it retains some chemical smell in it after manufacturing. In case you are okay with it, the smell may fade away in a few days.

Silk rugs

Silk rugs are very smooth and shiny. However, they feature a very delicate fiber. As a result of which, these rugs are preferred for rooms with very low traffic and movement such as a bedroom. All in all, silk rugs are a great way to improve your house appeal.

Cotton rugs

Just like wool, cotton is one of the oldest material that is used to make rugs. At the same time, cotton is also very affordable. However, it may not be as durable as synthetic or wool. Nevertheless, cotton is one of the easiest materials to clean. In fact, you can also clean some smaller cotton rugs straight in a washing machine without much effort. This makes them very maintenance-friendly.

Wool rugs

Wool rugs have been there from many centuries. Persian antique rugs Northern VA are often made of very high-quality wool. As a result of this, these rugs are perfect for the winter season.

However, wool rugs are far more expensive as compared to synthetic rugs and do not have any chemical smell with a long life span. However, you can expect these rugs to shed a little for a while after they arrive from the store.

Try it out virtually

Nowadays, many stores offer augmented reality applications that you can use to try the rug out in your room through a VR/AR device. This makes it very easy for you to figure out how the rug would look like in your room.

Top 9 Challenges Restaurant kitchens Face

Restaurant industry is one of the fastest-growing ones. But restaurants are facing some serious challenges just like when they can’t find great managers, commercial refrigerators repairs services, locations and the others. Here are the top challenges restaurants are facing these days.

Things to know about commercial kitchen appliance repair

Poor Planning

Restaurants make a lot of money everywhere because this is one of the most sustainable businesses in the world. People have to eat and they will wherever they can. But restaurants nowadays start with poor planning. They don’t conduct studies and don’t do their homework either. They can start but can’t sustain in the market with such kind of planning. They need to be more accurate in calculating customer base, their needs and where they will be doing all this.

High Competition

There are few really big and successful restaurants in every downtown or urban areas. They are making money and working successfully. But the problem is for small and medium size restaurants. These are in hundreds everywhere. In a single urban area, you will see dozens of restaurants. They don’t get enough customers so they have to raise prices. This is even more dangerous for any business. At that time, even small things like commercial refrigerators repairs become a burden. A heavy competition can be reduced with different food dishes, new variety and offers and promotions.

Bad Selling Point

The location of the restaurants plays a great role in making them successful and get more customers. If you will make a hotel in a countryside, you will rarely get customers. Whereas, in urban areas the competition is high. People can’t find a right place for their restaurants. So they have to choose somewhere between other restaurants. In such cases, they can’t sustain when there are so many other successful restaurants.

Customer Service

This is one of the biggest challenges for restaurant industry. The customers have increased but the quality of customer services has declined over the years. If you call commercial refrigerators repairs and can’t get perfect service, would you call them again? The restaurants should think like this. They should focus on to improve the customer service. Studies and surveys and feedback from the customers will help them improve their customer service.

The Menu

According to customers, this is one of the biggest problems of restaurants nowadays. Most of the new hotels have weird menus that seem to be attractive but in fact the food is not as tasty or delicious as the customers expect. They pay a huge money on food but can’t get quality food. This is affecting the restaurant industry badly. Customers want restaurants to be creative, introduce new dishes and prefer the customer satisfaction when it comes to choosing the menu.

Need quick fix for appliances issues? Use a reliable commercial refrigerators repair service.

The Management

Apart from servers and the staff, restaurants also need experienced and professional management. They need managers who can provide valuable feedback, input to make the restaurant better with the passage of time. The calculations are important for the managers. They have to find out the customer needs, the number of customers, what dishes are popular, what customer prefer and how restaurant can improve its service as well as menu.

Marketing Issues

We live in digital world. If a restaurant focusses more on traditional marketing and advertisement method, it will not make a huge impact. Rather, they should also include digital marketing. They should have a website where location, menu, photos and other details should be mentioned. Information should be available to the customers. Restaurants can spend a small amount on digital marketing, ranking their site, getting quality content and improving the brand image.

Food Quality

Apart from the poor menu, the restaurants have lost trust because they have not maintained the standard of their food and dishes. Even restaurants use expired products and many cases have been noticed. This is ruining the restaurant industry and if it continues, there will be a few people who will be eating from restaurants.

Having No Experience

Sometimes, the people who open restaurants have no prior experience. This is a reason why many people in restaurant industry fail. However, if you have skills, knowledge, marketing tricks and know how to attract customers to your restaurants- you will never fail. Just maintain the quality of food, great customer care, best management and the perfect ambience.

Need walk-in cooler repair Falls Church services? Never settle for the cheapest as it will eventually cost you more.

Drain Cleaning Basics Everyone Should Know

Drains get clogged a lot and for that reason, there are drain cleaning services that you can call to take care of that nastiness that goes down the drain. You should still learn some basics to clean your drain and potentially saving you some money of hiring a drain contractor.

How To Detect Blockage?

Before even thinking about hiring a drain cleaning contractor or even doing it yourself, you need to be able to detect the signs that lead to blockage of the drains. If these signs are detected and treated with immediate effect, it couldn’t lead to any big problems later on. Here are a few signs:

Water not sucking inside the drains
Clogging in kitchen and bathroom sinks
Unpleasant sewage smell
Moist walls
Dripping and leaks from the pipes
Noises in the pipes
Smell of gas
Molds appear

Basic Preventions for Drain Blockage

Sometimes the stuff we try to drain down into the sewers get stuck halfway through, drain clogging the drains and blocking the way of other stuff. Being cautious about what goes down in the drain can prevent all the headache that is drain cleaning. Here are things you should avoid shoving down your drain which even drains cleaning services would also tell you:

Fats and oils
Grease
Paper or plastic bags
Acidic substances
Paper towels
Cat litter
Coffee
Eggshells
Paints or varnishes
Nail polishes and nail remover

Kitchen Drain Issues

The most commonly clogged area in your house is the kitchen. If you don’t take proper care of your drains you will have to very regularly call your draining cleaning services. Since there is a lot of fatty acids, soaps, oils and solid waste that goes down the drain, there are more chances it will get clogged very often. There is a lot of fat that builds up in the pipes and doesn’t let anything through. You can either change the pipe or have it all drained up and then remove all the waste from it. When putting the pipe back, make sure to screw it properly and firmly.

Bathroom Drain Issues

Bathroom drains getting clogged up is a big problem. It is another most common place of your house where draining issues remain. Look for the signs of overflowing and drains not sucking up water immediately. Hair, soap scum, shampoo foam or sometimes toilet papers get stuck in the pipes blocking everything. Clean your drains by removing hairs after each shower. Use a plunger to free up the toilets. For the soaps and fats, spray lots and lots of water on it.

Know Where Your Shutoff Valves Are

In a case of an emergency like flooding or overflowing of water, you should immediately run to the main valve to shut down the overall flow of water coming inside your house and saving you from water damage. If the situation is this serious you need to hire a drain cleaning contractor to look into the matter. If there is a constant leak in a single area of your house then usually there are separate valves for each area. Turn them off and then assess where the problem is.

Issues with Washing Machines

Washing machine obviously requires lots of water and lots of draining of water. Washing machines are usually connected by hoses that go in the drainage system. Check them to see if they are still strong and not leaking. Most of the time these pipes become brittle and crack causing unnecessary havoc in your washing area. Change the pipes or tighten it up every month or so.

Outdoor Drain Leaks

If you see water coming up outside of your house, it may be a sign that there is a leakage in your main water line. The issue with this is that the drainage gets blocked and causes the water to overflow which is very smelly. This smell can cause troubles to your neighbors as well. Usually, the debris and some stuff get clogged up inside the main drainage system. Hiring a drain cleaning contractor Manhattan might be the best thing to do here.

Routine maintenance is important to be done by you but if there is any trouble, calling up the drain cleaning services might be the best in your interest.

6 Budget-Friendly Ways To Renovate Your Retail Store

Having to run a business is not an easy task and expanding it with retail remodel can be a bit harsh on your pocket but if you start neglecting the situation your store is in, it will appear dirty and outdated to the customers. Since it can cost a fair amount of money, here are some tips to renovate your retail store on a budget.

Retail store remodeling tips

Clear the Mess

The most basic start to the renovating prices. Deep cleaning is an essential part of having your store look better. You can hire cleaning service. Clearing the mess on the floor, on the counter or behind the counter can work like magic and your customers will begin to notice the changes and make it look spacious. Reorganizing the stock in your store yourself and making it easy to find things. The cleaning process doesn’t even have to be long and tiring if you just go for the cleaning one or two areas a week and the hard work will pay off soon.

Lighting It Up

Lighting are very important for your retail shop to look attractive. Lights are a way of calling the customers to your shop. Replace the old, worn out and dark lights that have a declining light levels as time passes by with the new ones. Customers would like to go to a brightly lit, attractive store than a dim, dark and shady looking place. Have LED spotlights and trendy LED lights installed because the generation is quickly shifting from old, warm bulbs to more color corrected LEDs. LEDs are also very low power consuming lights so it can make a difference on your electric bill too.

Using Second Hand Materials

Since you are renovating on a budget, having to buy second hand materials are the way to go. You can buy second hand furniture for your store. You can browse online or visit thrift shops, auctions or yard sales to buy the items you need. You will be surprised on how much money you can save on these items. Sure, the items may be a little worn out but with a little repairing or painting, these items will be as good as new.

Paint Your Store

Another most noticeable way of having your retail remodel is to paint your store. Paints can breathe new life in a house or a store, making them look new and fresh. Choose the colors that match the vibe and scheme of your store. Usually vibrant colors are very attractive and can add extra points with your renovation. It all depends on the vibe of your store and what it has to offer. Have a creative idea in mind and share it with your retail store contractor.

Having Your Store Name Put on a Statement Wall

If you want to make your store’s entrance or any part more attractive, try making a statement wall. For that you need to paint one wall differently than others. Again, choose a color that is suits the theme and vibe or your store. Now add your store name to that wall and put on few spotlights to make it look classy and you will have a cheap way of having your retail store look great. If this is too much of a hassle for you then you can ask your retail store contractors and share the idea with them.

Add Some Artwork

This is yet another way of decorating your store into a more luxurious looking shop. Artworks are a great way of decorating your empty looking walls. Finding some local art instead of expensive, corporate level artwork by renowned artists is the way to go. Browse for some local upcoming artists and ask them if they would be interested in displaying some of their artwork in your store. If they agree, you can have their business card with their name and contact info on it and put it alongside the painting, photos or other form of artwork they provide you with.

Having to hire a retail store remodeling company VA is beneficial if you are going all out with your retail remodel but these things are the ones that you can do on your own, in your own time, inside your budget.

Time To Prepare Your Pool For Summer

With spring spreading colors around town, your pool design contractor can also help you prepare your swimming pool for the expected and unexpected visits and pool parties you and your hood have been looking forward to. Not that you cannot do any happenings by the pool any time of the year, it’s just that this season is the best time to make a lot of memories outdoors, especially since the weather itself is perfect.

Make Ready Your Pool

Outdoor activities will never be complete without a pool event. And as prepared as you are, your entire poolside and swimming pool should also be prepped up to make the season truly amazing and worth the wait.

Here are ways to groom your swimming pool so you can make the most out of your spring break.

THE ‘HARD WORK’ PART

Before anything else, you cannot just plunge into the pool and enjoy the rest of your summer without applying effort on making your outdoor oasis a ‘worthy’ place to hang out.

This is your indicator that you are welcoming a spring or summer avant-garde. CLEANING is always the first part, hosing down your roller, removing nature’s debris using a scoop net, and your roller shutter, if you have any, clearing the water line and sucking up all the dirt from the pool, is all part of the pool preparation job and there are more to add up on your plate.

This is, in fact, the first part of your pool-cleanup chores and no one really likes this task. Although, it can really be relaxing to clean your pool for as long as you have set a schedule for it where you can really clean the pool area – immaculately. Doing this from the beginning will even make your weekly pool cleaning a breeze.

MAKE SURE THAT TECHNICAL INSTALLATION IS WORKING

Swimming pools are more appreciated during spring and summer because the sun radiates its beauty better. Although the cleaning and preparation are yet to be over. First of all, the water is way too cold and this is where your heating system will be needed the most, so you better know what type of heating system you are using because their time of usage varies.
If your pool uses heat pumps, you have to wait until the last frost of the evening is over, which falls usually by the end of April. Because for as long as there is frost, your heating system cannot heat the water adequately. Plus, the water becomes even colder during the night, even with pool covers. What you can also do is to program your pool filter to function at least 12 hours every day to ensure that your pool is clear and clean and will stay that way.

PH COMES FIRST – ALL THE TIME

Before you can improve the water quality of your pool, you have to find out first that state of it – whether it’s good or bad.
It is important and crucial that you know the right PH level of your pool. Swimming pool products will only show results once you have applied the correct PH value. Like if the PH value is too low, you have to add PH Plus. Then, if it’s too high, then add PH min. After checking the PH value, the next thing that you have to check is the pool’s chlorine level. Once you get the hang of maintaining your pool, you will just be surprised at how simple it can be.

ADDITIONAL TIPS

Never empty your pool.

Not unless you are having a pool renovation. Otherwise, leave the pool with water all the time, regardless of the season.

Top it off.

This best applies during the winter season, but make sure that the filter is clean before using it.

Have a water professional test your water.
Wait till the pool’s water is really clear.

So don’t dive in yet.

Time to groom.

Just like housekeeping, vacuuming your pool is also a must.

Maintenance and all.

The habit of keeping your pool clean should be applied throughout the rest of the season and you can use the help of any pool contractors Brookville NY.

Tree Removal Companies: 4 Ways To Manage Oak Tree Acorns

Oak trees can be annoying as they shed a lot of acorns. Many homeowners opt to hire tree removal companies to remove the trees but it doesn’t have to be the case with you especially if you love your trees. There are plenty of ways in which you can manage the oak tree acorns. Some of these ways include:

Prune the trees

When you leave the oak tree branches unchecked, they tend to grow even to bushy extents. This extends the surface area that produces acorns. As you might have guessed, this leads to more acorn production.

For you to reduce the number of acorns produced, you should consider pruning the trees. The cool thing with this practice is that it not only reduces the number of acorns produced, it also leaves your acorn tree looking great, which gives your yard a great look.

When you are pruning the tree you need to consider a number of tips. As rule of thumb, ensure that you don’t cut the branches too close to the main tree thus ending up damaging the tree. You can do the pruning by yourself or hire a professional to help you out.

Collect the acorns

If you have just a few trees and you have the time, you should commit yourself to collect the acorns when they fall. There are plenty of ways in which you can achieve it:

Using a rake: Did you know that you can easily collect the acorns using a rake? You can use the rake that you use to collect the leaves, but for ideal results, get a rake that is specifically designed for acorn collection. There are plenty of these rakes in the market that you can go for. You only need to find the one that is ideal for you.

Picking the acorns using your hands: If you have just a few trees, you can easily remove the acorns by collecting the acorns using your hands. Do you have children in your house? You will have an even easier time doing it.

At once a week, get out of your yard and collect all the acorns that might have collected there. For you to make the process fun, you should create a game where you reward the person who collects the most acorns.

If you are many, you will get rid of the acorns within a short time.

Vacuum the acorns: One of the best machines you can use to vacuum the acorns is the leaf vacuum. If you don’t already own the machine, you don’t have to worry as you can easily rent it from your local store.

After renting the machine, you need to learn how to suck up the acorns so that you can give your yard a perfect look. The cool thing with using the vacuum is that you can clean up a large yard within a very short time.

Using a nut gather: Also known a weasel, the nut gatherer is a highly effective tool that you can use to get rid of acorns from your yard. The device picks up the acorns and puts them inside a basket. After collecting the acorns, you need to empty the basket.

Use a growth regulator on the oak trees

If you have tried pruning the tree but still the tree is producing a lot of acorns, you should consider using a growth regulator. From its name, this is a chemical that reduces the fruits produced by the oak tree.

When you properly apply the regulator, the oak tree will produce fewer acorns hence you won’t have much to collect. When you are using the regulator you should note that most of the chemicals leave the trees susceptible to diseases; therefore, you should use them with caution.

Remove the tree

Sometimes you don’t want any acorns in your yard or you have too many oak trees. If this is the case with you, simply remove the tree. If the tree is small you can remove it by yourself, but if it’s large, you should hire a tree services MD professional to help you with the removal.

After removing the tree, remember to also remove the stumps to minimize the chances of accidents happening. Removal of stumps also improves the look of the yard.

Hiring The Wrong Chimney Contractors And Other Chimney Mistakes To Avoid

Chimney contractors report that most of the chimney fires and accidents come about due to the mistakes that homeowners make. The most common mistakes include:

Operating a dirty chimney

When you light a fire in your fireplace, creosote buildups. If you allow the creosote to build up for a long time without removing it, it puts your home at the risk of catching fire. Chimney fires are extremely dangerous and if you don’t put them off at the right time, they burn down your entire property.

Some homeowners have the notion that since they haven’t been lighting the fire in their units for a long time, their fireplaces are safe. While the unit might not be having a lot of deposited creosote, birds and animals might have died up there. The critters might also have built nests that block the chimney.

Regardless of whether you have been using your chimney or not, you should make a habit of cleaning it regularly. You can do the cleaning by yourself if you have the skills, but if you have never done it before, let a chimney cleaning professional help you out.

In addition to cleaning, you also should make a habit of hiring a chimney professional to inspect the chimney at least once a year. As rule of thumb, ensure that the contractor you hire is experienced and certified to work in your area.

Being a cheapskate

Some homeowners know that they need to clean and inspect their chimneys but they will hire the cheapest professionals that they come across. You should avoid doing this.

You should note that there is a good reason why the contractors are cheap—they are most likely inexperienced hence will provide you with cheap service.

For you to ensure that your chimney is given the service it deserves and you are safe, you should hire an experienced and certified professional to inspect and clean your fireplace. While the professional will be expensive, the extra cost will be worth it.

Relying on chimney sweeping logs to keep the chimney safe

While creosote sweeping logs have been approved by the chimney safety institute of America for use in the chimney, you shouldn’t rely on them to keep your chimney clean and safe.

While they might aid in getting rid of the creosote, they have been shown to be less effective than chimney sweeps. This means that even if you are using the logs, ensure that you also regularly hire a chimney sweeping professional to inspect your fireplace and clean it. Don’t rely on the logs as you will be putting yourself and your family at great risk.

Ignoring carbon monoxide detectors

If you visit most homes, you will find that they lack carbon monoxide detectors. This is wrong. When you are burning wood or any other fuels, it’s common for carbon monoxide to build up in your home.

Since the gas is odorless, you can easily inhale it to high levels that put your life in danger.

For you and your family to be safe you should install carbon monoxide detectors in your home. Installing the pieces isn’t enough—you also need to inspect them regularly to ensure that they are in good condition all the time.

Believing that seasoned wood burns clean

You might have heard a lot about seasoned wood. This is wood that has been air dried for at least six months. While the wood produces more heat and less creosote, it doesn’t mean that it burns clean.

Just like any other wood, it leads to creosote buildup and if you don’t remove it early enough, you will be putting your life and that of your family at risk.

Even if you are burning seasoned wood, you should still hire chimney cleaning services Columbia MD professionals at the end of the year to clean the chimney and inspect it for any issues it might be having.

For you to reduce the amount of creosote deposited on the chimney, go for properly seasoned wood. Before making the purchase, check the moisture of the wood. For peace of mind, borrow or buy a moisture meter that will make the process easy.