7 Surprising Benefits of Hiring a Professional Window Cleaner for Your Home

First impressions count a lot. When it comes to our home or even business establishment, our building’s exterior is probably the first to be noticed. Before anyone comes in, he has already made an impression about you or the business based on what the outside looks like. Dirty or smudged windows because of accumulated dirt and debris will not wow your guests.

Are you struggling to keep up with your window cleaning regime? It might be time for you to consider having a commercial window cleaning done. Here are seven surprising benefits of hiring a professional window cleaner for your home.

1. It enhances the aesthetics of your home. 

As windows are a part of a house exterior, clean windows make your home look better. Whether you are trying to impress your neighbours or you simply want to make your house shine, a professional window cleaning service can make your abode look appealing and well maintained. They are guaranteed to add value to your home and improve its quality.

2. It extends the life of your windows. 

Unattended dirt and other debris accumulating in your windows can cause permanent damage. They can etch the glass and result in scratches that are unsightly. To protect your windows, you should have them professionally washed regularly.

Cleaning the windows by professionals will make windows last longer. These cleaners can remove corrosive substances from your windows which reduces the likelihood of having cracks and scratches, as well as glass degradation.

3. It uses the right equipment for the job.

Soap and water are not the only tools needed to make windows clean. Different windows may require different cleaning methods, cleaning solutions and even cleaning equipment. When you hire a professional window cleaner, you will not worry about all of these. You won’t need to spend extra on these cleaning needs. Their cleaning service company surely invested in the right equipment for the job. 

4. It’s more effective than washing them yourself.

Professionally washed windows are cleaner and clearer. These experts leave no marks or smudges behind. They have the right tools, techniques and equipment to make sure that your windows will be sparkling clean when they leave. If you do the job yourself, streaks and specks of dirt are still probably somewhere around the corner. Your personal tools and cleaning method may not effectively remove them. 

5. It saves you time.

With the pandemic, most of us are probably working from home. This setup is not as ideal as it sounds. We may become tempted to do tasks unrelated to work, or we may be distracted by the grimy window facing us. We tend to clean up while working which ends up in tasks piling up.

Cleaning windows can be more complicated than having a bucket of water and a bar of soap ready. It may consume more time than you think. Instead of doing it by yourself, outsource your window cleaning needs to the professionals. It will save you time from doing tasks not related to your job and even increase your productivity.

6. It keeps you safe.

A professional window cleaner can deep clean your windows, their frames and everything around them. They can get rid of molds, clouds of dust, debris and other allergens that may have accumulated. You can then breathe better without the worry of inhaling any of them.

When you clean your windows by yourself, there is also a high risk of breaking the glasses or falling from a ladder while reaching for the top of the window. The cleaning solution may also pose a hazard to you. When you get your windows professionally cleaned, you won’t have to think about these risks. They are experts in what they are doing, and they know how to protect themselves from these hazards.

7. It reduces fatigue and stress.

Balancing work and home life is already overwhelming. A home to tend after a day of work can leave you exhausted and without extra time to clean windows. 

When you let the professionals do the cleaning for you, you can relax and bond with your family while they clean. You won’t need to spread yourself too thin. You will not stress out from all the house chores you need to do. You can have downtime to rest and take care of yourself or be with your loved ones instead.

Are you ready to hire a window cleaner?

Window cleaning is as important as cleaning the other parts of your house, yet it may not come naturally and frequently like how you sweep the floor. We tend to clean only when we see dirt building up on the window surface.

However, we should remember that our windows also deserve regular cleaning. If you want to maintain the beauty of your glass windows, book a professional window cleaner. You will be surprised by the value it can give to you and your home. 

How Basements Differ in Varying Areas of the United States

We partnered with a home improvement company. for this post. The opinions in the post are honest. All reviews and opinions expressed in this post are based on our personal views. We are excited because we know you will love it.

If there is one part of many homes that is somewhat of an enigma, it is the basement. While many older homes have partial or full basements, the trend in recent years has been to leave off a basement when constructing a new home. Considered great places for you to have extra storage or to finish and thus create additional living space for your friends and family, they can also be prone to high humidity levels and flooding after a heavy rain. While found in homes throughout the United States, basements do differ in varying areas, based on a number of factors.

More Waterproofing

While basements can be found in homes in all areas of the U.S., some are located in areas that are much more prone to flooding. This is particularly true of states in the southern U.S., such as Texas, Louisiana, and Georgia. As a result, whether you have a walk-out basement or simply a crawlspace, you likely make waterproofing a top priority. From using professional services for crawlspace encapsulation or sealing walls with waterproofing paint, these methods are very common with southern basements.

Coastal Crawlspaces

Though basements can be found in many homes on both the East and West coasts, more and more newer homes are now opting for crawlspaces. Done so based on such things as potential flooding, costs of building supplies, and other related factors, crawlspaces allow for access to plumbing lines and other components of the home, taking up less space in the process.

Bigger House Often Means no Basement

Oddly enough, in all areas of the United States, owning a larger home often means you will have no basement whatsoever. A large home, which is defined as one having at least five bedrooms, will rarely have a finished basement, or even an unfinished basement.

Daylight Basement

In areas such as the Midwest, which is generally viewed as the heartland of the United States, daylight basements are very common. In fact, this area of the U.S. is thought to contain the most basements of any area in the nation. Thus, if you live in or are planning to purchase a home in such states as Missouri, South Dakota, Nebraska, or other neighboring states, you'll probably have a daylight basement. Featuring no external doors and having half of it above-ground and half below, most are left unfinished.

  Whether you want an unfinished basement or one that is made to look spectacular, New Key Construction can help create it in almost any area of the United States.

Guest Post - How to Choose the Right Flooring for Your Remodel

Whether you’re looking into redecorating your home or making improvements, choosing the right flooring is an essential step of the process. Floors receive your foot traffic and help to tie together the overall design of the room.

Here are some things to consider when choosing the flooring for your next remodeling project.

Know Your Budget

You must keep in mind the budget for your remodel and settle on a figure before you even start looking at any type of flooring options.

Along with the cost of the flooring itself, be sure to save money for other expenses, such as the cost of underlayment, delivery, and installation.

Also, you may need to spend money on additional material such as baseboards, stains, or adhesives. Having a well-planned budget will keep you from overspending on certain flooring materials.

Define Your Design Style

When choosing the right flooring, consider what style appeals most to you. Think about the different colors or textures you like.

For example, do you like the classic, slightly worn look of hardwood, or the smooth, glossy feel of tile flooring? Also, be sure to keep in mind how the flooring will complement the furniture and decorations you already have in your home. You don’t want to have to get new furniture just to match the new esthetic of your flooring.

Keep in Mind Your Current Lifestyle

Another important thing to keep in mind when looking at flooring options is how you will use the space you’re remodeling. For example, if you are remodeling the bathroom, you will want to pick water-resistant flooring, such as tile.

The type of flooring you choose should be not only aesthetically pleasing, but also capable of withstanding the everyday wear and tear of the different activities performed in that room.

Flooring Material Options

Hardwood

Hardwood flooring is a popular choice. This is because it can be cleaned quite easily, it’s more durable, and it lasts longer than carpet. Consider adding wood floors to your living room or kitchen, which receive higher foot traffic and are where spills are more likely to occur. Having wood flooring also increases your home’s resale value.

Engineered hardwood flooring is another option. It consists of floor planks made of layers of wood, called “piles,” bonded together using high heat pressure. They can provide more versatility than solid hardwood floors and are more affordable. Consider adding this type of flooring option to kitchens, bathrooms, or basements.

Vinyl

This type of flooring is both durable and relatively inexpensive. It is made from plastic and available in planks, sheets, or tiles. The durability of this option makes it the perfect choice for kitchens or hallways, which receive lots of activity.

It is also waterproof, stain-resistant, and scratch-restraint, as well as easy to install. Consider this flooring option for your home if you have younger children or pets.

Tile

Tile flooring is versatile, it can last for many years, and it requires little maintenance. It works well in rooms that have higher moisture content, such as bathrooms. Some types of tile include, ceramic, porcelain, and natural stone.

Carpet

Carpet is perfect for any place where you want to add extra warmth and comfort. Carpet is perfect for your bedroom or den to make the space feel cozier, and the material is soft underneath your feet.

When choosing a carpet type, keep in mind the level of foot traffic in the room so that it matches with the duralty of the material.

Alternative Options

Bamboo

Bamboo is typically more moisture-resistant and hard-wearing than wood options. It’s often cheaper, too. Consider adding this flooring option to any type of entertaining space to enhance the overall design and uniqueness of the room. The lighter tones will easily blend into the room and not distract from the other decorations and design elements already present. Bamboo is also an environmentally-friendly option.

Cork

Cork is durable, comfortable, and resistant to mold and mildew. This makes it the perfect option for areas with higher activity and where water is more likely to accumulate. Consider adding cork to your bathroom or kitchen. Cork is also a relatively inexpensive and uncommon option.

Choosing the Right Flooring

Deciding what type of flooring you want when remodeling certain areas of your home can be stressful. While making this decision, it’s essential to know your budget, design style, and lifestyle influences. There are so many choices of flooring material out there! Which one do you think suits your personality and your space?

Author bio: Rose Morrison is the managing editor of Renovated, where she offers advice on home renovation, maintenance, and organization.

Guest Post - DIY Projects to Improve the Safety of Your Home

There are many reasons to take on a home improvement project. Some are serious, like adding on a room or remodeling an old home. Others are fun, like renovating a space to update its ambiance and appeal.

Some of the most important kinds of improvements are those that increase your home’s safety. Here are a few different projects that address the safety of your dwelling from several different perspectives.

Review Basic Safety Hazards

If you want to ensure that your living space is a safe place for you and your loved ones, it’s wise to start with several basic considerations. A few common safety hazards that can be addressed with quick DIY fixes include:

• Trip and fall prevention: You can do this by installing handrails on stairs, adding guard rails on a porch, replacing slippery flooring, or even swapping out a steep step with two smaller stairs.

• Adding storage: Storage, especially high and out of reach options, provides an ideal place to keep chemicals, medicine, and dangerous equipment out of reach of children. It can also help you avoid further trip and fall accidents by keeping items out of pathways.

• Install alarms: Fire alarms, carbon monoxide detectors, and even flood alarms are all important to have properly installed throughout your home. If you don’t have them yet, schedule a time to install them.

Before you start looking for nuanced projects to work on, make sure basic safety considerations like these have been tended to.

Protect Your Home and Equipment

Safety doesn’t always revolve around things like physical accidents or fires and floods. At times they’re very human in nature. With that in mind, it’s also important to ensure that your property is properly protected from two kinds of theft.

First, review your home’s locks and safety features. You may even want to consider installing a smart home system to help deter potential theft. In addition, review your home insurance policy to see if you’re properly protected from everything from break-ins to natural disasters.

Second, consider all of the electronics in your home network. Cybersecurity is a serious concern these days. Make sure everything is up to date, password-protected, and has anti-malware and anti-virus software, too.

Consider Your Electricity

One DIY project worth consideration is conducting a review of your electrical situation. While most serious electrical jobs should be done by a certified electrician, there are many ways that you can look over your home’s electricity usage to make sure basic safety precautions are being made.

Take some time to go through your home and look for easy DIY fixes. For example, you can:

• Make sure appliances have plenty of room for air circulation.

• Check to see that outlets are properly protected with covers.

• Unplug unused appliances to reduce potential hazards.

• Check that exhaust fans are clean to prevent the risk of overheating.

• Replace damaged electrical cords and appliances.

Electricity is critical to a functioning modern home. However, it also poses many risks. Reviewing your electricity setup is a great DIY project to regularly schedule into the calendar every few months.

Not-DIY Projects to Avoid

While there are many safety projects that are perfectly doable on your own, others should be left to a professional. They may cost more, but if your goal is to be safer, you want to make sure everything is done correctly. 

For instance, if you’re trying to remove harmful substances like radon, asbestos, or mold, you may want to get a professional. Bigger projects like sanding down floors or repairing a leaky roof should also be kept off of the DIY list, and left in the hands of a professional.

Creating a Safer Home Environment

There are many factors that go into a safe home environment. Everything from removing trip and fall threats to addressing electrical, flood, and fire hazards to setting up physical- and cyber-security measures should be taken into consideration.

While there are some projects that are better left to a professional, many safety-focused home improvement activities are easy to do yourself. So review the suggestions above and consider where your home is lacking. Then make plans to start fixing things as soon as you can to create as safe a home environment as possible for you and your family.

Author Bio: Noah Rue is a freelance writer.