Household Tips Category
Here we Buddy Allen Carpet One Floor & Home brings you tips for your home from cleaning, organizing and interior design, to storage, preservation and DIY projects. Located in Nashville, we are a flooring company.
Your Guide to Spring Cleaning
It’s officially Spring time and you know what that means…It’s time for spring cleaning! Use this checklist to help your spring cleaning stay organized and stress free!
Clean room by room. In order to stay organized and not feel overwhelmed, you will want to clean room by room. Start in your biggest room first, working your way down. This will allow you to take breaks when needed and spread your cleaning out over multiple days if necessary.
Wipe down everything. When you begin, you must wipe down everything and I do mean everything; bookshelves, entertainment centers, kitchen counters, etc. Dust every surface using a rag or dust towel. After dusting, go back over everything with a wet rag or disinfecting wipe.
Sweep, mop and vacuum. Any room with a hardwood or tile floor must be swept and mopped. Your laundry room, basement, bathroom and even garage needs to be swept and mopped. The rooms with carpet and rugs need to be vacuumed.
Wash linens. Strip every bed in the house and clean those sheets. Be sure to include bed skirts and pillow cases. You will also want to wash any throw blankets from the living room and all window treatments.
Clean furnishings. Take all couch and furniture cushions outside and gently shake them off to remove dust. Use a vacuum to further clean them, making sure to be careful to not damage the cushions.
Polish metal door and window hardware. Using an old rag or polish cloth, polish all the hardware in your house. A simple hardware polish should un-tarnish most surfaces and you will want to use a paste or cream for heavier work.
Do you have a checklist you’d like to share? We would love to hear from you!
Wine, Chocolate, and Coffee, Oh My!
If you have children, grandchildren or pets, you know what we mean when we talk about carpet stains! If you hate stains on your carpet, you’re in luck! The LEES® Spillibration Savings Event is going on now and that means incredible savings on our incredible stain-resistant carpet and many other products throughout the store!
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How Cleaning Helps Relieve Stress
Although many people associate cleaning with drudgery, there are several reasons why cleaning can be a great stress reliever! Read below, and you might be wanting to clean next time you are feeling stressed.
Physical Activity. Physical activity releases endorphin’s in your body which relieves stress. Cleaning your house and doing chores like dusting, vacuuming, and wiping down your kitchen counters are all great ways to be physical. You may have noticed that sometimes these activities might even cause you to break a sweat while cleaning. By making cleaning your house a fun and physical workout, you will find that your body is naturally relieving stress.
Music. Music has many stress relieving benefits and listening to music while you clean can make the activity much more enjoyable. Turn on some tunes while you do your chores. You will probably find that you work faster and allow your mind to think of things other than cleaning. Listening to music while you clean can also turn your house from feeling like a stressful and messy situation into a relaxing environment.
Feeling of Accomplishment. We all know that the feeling of accomplishing a task is extremely stress relieving. Cleaning your house can bring about that exact same feeling of accomplishment. Once you are able to mark chores off your list, you will feel like a load has been lifted and you are now free to do other things that do not involve cleaning. Keep in mind that the end result of cleaning-a beautiful and organized house-will be extremely rewarding and stress-free in the end.
Don’t let the thought of cleaning overwhelm you! Remind yourself of its stress relieving aspects and benefits, turn on some tunes and use your cleaning time as a great way to get in some physical activity! You’ll be on your way to a clean house and stress free self in no time.
Kitchen Clean Up: Tips and Tricks
If you’re anything like me, your kitchen is the dirtiest room in the house. Take the time to learn and practice these easy steps and you’ll save time and money when it comes to kitchen cleaning.
Microwave Messes
If you are having trouble with stubborn debris, heat 2 tablespoons of lemon juice and 1 cup water in a small microwave-safe bowl and bring to a boil; let it boil for 3 minutes and stand for 5 minutes to allow the steam to loosen the debris. Wipe down the walls with a damp microfiber cloth and the mess should disappear.
Oven Yuck
For hard to reach build up in your oven, grab the baking soda! Sprinkle the baking soda over any debris in your oven that could not be cleaned by scraping with a plastic spatula. Using a spray bottle, spritz the build up with water and let it sit overnight. Wipe away any remaining residue. The baking soda and water mixture will allow for easy cleaning in the morning.
Spills Under Your Refrigerator
If your refrigerator is not easily movable, you may run into a bind if there is a spill that has leaked underneath. In this case, Grab a dish towel and wrap it around a ruler. Securing it tightly, use water and your regular floor cleaner. The length of the ruler will help you reach the entire spill covered by the refrigerator.
Garbage Disposal
To freshen the garbage disposal, sprinkle a couple of tablespoons of baking soda down the drain, drop in two ice cubes and turn it on. Then run the hot water for a few minutes while the disposal is working. This will clean out all excess food and particles that may be stuck in your disposal and stinking up your kitchen. You may also try putting lemon or lime pieces through the garbage disposal every few days for a clean fresh smell.
Organize Your Cleaning Schedule
If you dread cleaning, it’s time to organize your cleaning schedule. Yes, we said organize your cleaning! It may sound crazy but organizing the way you clean is crucial to cutting clutter and gaining control of your chores!
Make a List
Organization must begin with a list. Make a list of all the chores that need to be done around the house. Break them down into daily, weekly, and monthly activities. You might consider also making a “Bare Minimum” list that contains the chores that are absolutely essential and must be completed every week. Having your chores on paper will help you mentally prepare and plan out a schedule to tackle your tasks.
One at a time
Approach your list one at a time. Clean one room or complete one chore a day. This will save you from spending an entire Saturday cleaning or waiting until the last minute to work on your entire house before you have guests. When you have a hectic week, stick to the “Bare Minimum” list so your house doesn’t pile up with clutter as you deal with life.
Assign Chores
Probably the most important step in organizing your cleaning schedule is assigning chores. One person cannot do it alone. Everyone should be involved in the cleaning process. Every family is different and what works for others may not work for you. Consider having a family meeting and discussing all the chores. One idea is to make a chore chart and post the chart for everyone to see daily. Having everyone’s help will cut down on time and energy!
“Have a time and place for everything, and do everything in it’s time and place, and you will not only accomplish more, but have far more leisure than those who are always hurrying.” -Tryon Edwards
Energy Saving Tips for Your Home
You’ll be surprised just how much energy you can save by making small changes in the way you live. Saving energy means saving $$$ so try these tips below to start living greener and for less. 
1. Unplug Unused Items
Even when your hairdryer, cell phone and curling iron are not turned on, they are still drawing small amounts of energy just by being plugged in. Start being conscious of whether or not unused appliances are plugged in and you will not only conserve energy but also reduce your electric bill.
2. Line Dry
Whenever possible, line dry your clothes. An average household does seven loads of laundry a week; a dryer load costs about 34 cents in energy. So, according to these figures from the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (ACEEE), if you line-dry all your laundry, you could save about $10 a month.
3. Wash Full Loads
Wait until your dish washer is stacked with a full load before running a wash cycle. The more time you give for your dish washer to fill up, the less times you have to run it.
4. Use Fans
Use fans with your air conditioner. Fans help reduce energy costs by circulating cool air already powered from your air conditioner.
5. Clean Dryer Filter
Always be sure to clean your dryer lint filter after every load. This keeps the dryer clean and running efficiently, thus saving energy.
6. Turn off Lights
This is a very simple, yet largely cost effective task. Practice turning off all lights when they are not needed. If you have trouble remembering to do this, you might also consider setting both your outdoor and indoor lights with a timer to ensure they are only being used from dusk til dawn.
The 4 P’s of Post Party Clean-Up
After hosting a party comes the less-exciting task of the post-celebration clean-up. Not sure where to start? Use these party-planning tips to lighten your load and assist you in the cleaning process.
Plan Ahead
Pre-party prepping is pertinent. Begin with a clean slate by taking out all trash and emptying the dishwasher before guests arrive. This will make room for dirty dishes and trash that will certainly build up during the celebration. Planning ahead with disposable utensils and plastic-ware is also a great way to reduce your post-party clean-up time.
Prioritize
Spills and broken glass are inevitable. By prioritizing your clean-up tasks, you will be able to tend to the most severe messes first. Do not let a spill ruin your mood or even worse, your carpet. Be prepared with carpet cleaning supplies on-hand to avoid the spill turning into a stain.
Pick-Up Promptly
Do not be afraid to pick-up while you party. Stay on top of cleaning during the event to save time and eliminate chaos after guests have left. Once the party is over, it is important to start cleaning asap. We know the process can be exhausting, but acting quickly when cleaning is key.
Purify
While packing people into a party is sure to bring fun, it might also bring germs. Purifying and sanitizing after a get-together is a must! It is important to go beyond sweeping, vacuuming, and simply wiping down counters after a get-together. Using antibacterial cleaners and disinfectants will help kill the germs brought in from the outside.
Do you have post-party cleaning tips you’d like to share? We’d love to hear from you! Follow us on Pinterest or ‘Like’ us on Facebook for more helpful hints!
How to Clean Laminate Flooring
Laminate flooring is great! You get the look and feel of hard wood, tile or any other flooring without the price tag, and they are very easy to clean. This blog will lay out all the best practices for how to clean laminate flooring!
For daily cleaning of your laminate flooring, you only need a fiber dust mop (a Swiffer or any similar brand) to remove dust, dirt or food particles. Vacuums with soft bristle brush attachments are safe for laminate flooring and are great at removing tough residue like pet or human hair.
Tip: When sweeping or vacuuming your laminate flooring, make sure to clean in the direction that the laminate floor has been laid. If you clean against the grain of your laminate, dust and dirt can become trapped in the grooves of your flooring.
Once a month, it is imperative to deep clean your laminate flooring. A mop, hot water and few squirts of a mild dish washing detergent should do the trick. Always wring your mop out before cleaning your laminate flooring. After cleaning, remove excess water from your laminate flooring by wiping with a clean, white towel. Allowing puddles of any liquid to remain on your laminate flooring could cause them to warp and possibly discount your warranty.
What Not to Do:
Never use bleach, abrasive cleaners or scouring pads on your laminate flooring. Cleaning products that promote shine often contain chemicals that can be harmful and scouring pads or steel wool can severely scratch your laminate flooring. It is important to remember that while your laminate flooring looks like hardwood flooring, it is not made of the same materials. You should never wax or polish your laminate flooring.
Frugal Secret: Vinegar!
Mop your laminate flooring once every few months with a solution of 1/3 cup of vinegar and 2 small drops of a mild dish washing detergent diluted in one gallon of hot water. This mixture is great for keeping your laminate flooring shiny without buying expensive cleaners!
For more tips, tricks and ways to keep your home healthy and clean, follow Buddy Allen Carpet One on Pinterest.
Prepping Your Home for Fall Weather
Like it or not, fall is here. The temperatures are already dropping and the chilly nights are moving in. Since fall officially began Saturday morning, we’ve compiled a list of the 6 things you should do to prep your house for the cooler weather.
Look What the Cat Dragged In!
We love our pets and we love to see them happy. Pets enjoy spending time outdoors but they love to come back inside to you. You welcome your pet inside but have you ever thought about what else you’re welcoming in with them? Here are some facts you should know:
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