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Home Design Tips

By: Lifschitz

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If you're dreaming of sunny summer days, February is the ideal time to plan your garden, shop for accessories and get quotes on renovation and maintenance projects. Here are a few other tips to get through the rest of the winter ...

The recent freeze/thaw cycles put a strain on your home's roofing system. Check interior ceilings near outside walls for staining caused by moisture damage. Watch for flooding or moisture damage in the basement. Check basement walls for signs of cracking and moisture damage. Check the hidden corners of your basement for signs of flooding.

Help your furnace do its job this month. Cleaning air registers, baseboard heaters and radiators regularly can boost the efficiency of your heating system by 10 per cent. Clean or replace the furnace filter every month. Seal air ducts with duct tape to increase the efficiency of your heating system (use metal duct tape, not the cloth kind.)

Keeping your chimney clean reduces fire risk. Minimize creosote build-up by burning dry, well-seasoned wood, burning a brisk fire for at least part of every time you use your fireplace and opening the damper a half hour before lighting the fire to warm the chimney and improve the draw.

Prevent excess humidity from causing damage in the home by keeping your humidistat below 40 per cent. Watch for condensation and damp areas on walls or ceilings.

Conserve electricity this winter - Turning your thermostat down just one degree can save you three per cent of the energy your furnace uses. Every few months, take off the cover of your thermostat and gently dust. Recommended settings are 21 degrees when you are at home relaxing, 18 degrees when you are sleeping and 16 degrees when you are at work or away.

Periodically check the gas meter at the side of the house for snow and ice buildup. Keep your walkways safe for visitors by using ice melter.

FABRIC FACTS
If your favourite easy chair is due for reupholstering, here are some tips to consider:
· Choose fabrics that complement your lifestyle as well as the intended use of the piece. For example, if you have a growing family, you should probably avoid high-priced silks and damasks. A durable manmade fibre will be easier to clean and serve your purposes better.
· When selecting a fabric, always consider the cleaning requirements.
· Having your newly-upholstered furniture treated with a fabric protector can provide a barrier against soil and stains.
· Rotate and reverse loose cushions weekly for even wear-and-tear.
· Vacuum dust and dirt from the fabric frequently, getting into the cracks and crevices.
· Protect your upholstery from direct sunlight, which can cause deterioration.
· Keep pets off the furniture.
· Be careful of setting newspapers down on light upholstery; the ink might bleed into the fabric.
· If you do spill something, blot, don’t rub, immediately with a clean, absorbent, colour-fast cloth.
· Work lightly on a spill, blotting from centre to the edges. Feather the edges by dampening the edges and working quickly to avoid “rings”.

Article Source: http://depositarticles.com/

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