What to do if your child draws on your floor!

Kids might say the darndest things, but they also do the darndest things.

Case in point: drawing on your floors!

With nine nieces and nephews myself, trust me when I say that I’ve seen my fair share of little ones going wild with markers across the house.

In today’s post I want to show you that when your own prince or princess decides to go Picasso on your floors, all is not lost. There are easy ways to clean up their artistic endeavors, and it’ll differ depending on the type of floor you have.

Cleaning Stains off Floor Tiles

If your little one has decided to write you a love note on the kitchen floor, cleaning it up is a cinch. Simply grab a clean cloth, apply some diluted bleach to it and lay it over the stain. Let the cloth stay in place until it absorbs the marker off your tiles. Simple right!?

Bonus Tip: When cleaning tiled floors, opt for a chamois-type mop over your standard sponge mops. The latter tends to push water into the grout between your tiles and can make them harder to clean.

Cleaning Stains off Laminate Flooring

One of the best things about laminate is how easy it is to take care of day-to-day. It only needs a quick vac and damp mop to keep its lovely look intact. But if your little one has gone to town on it with a texta, the good news is that cleaning it up is just as simple. Just add a little vinegar to some water. Dampen a cloth with the solution, and apply a little elbow grease to the stain to lift it right off of your laminate. Too easy!

Cleaning Stains off Luxury Vinyl Flooring

Generally, texta or crayon stains from your lovely little artist are really easy to lift from Luxury Vinyl. Definitely steer clear of harsh cleaners here because they’ll do more damage than good. All you’ll need to wipe marker off the vinyl is some warm water and a little mild cleaner. Something like some dish-washing liquid will do the trick. The one thing you should ensure with Luxury Vinyl is that you don’t wet it too much. Also avoid harsh scrubbers like steel wool. A gentle approach on all fronts will work best!

Cleaning Stains off Bamboo Flooring

Bamboo is becoming a really popular flooring choice and with good reason; It’s eco-friendly and super durable! Not only is it easy to care for day-to-day, but cleaning up marker is a headache-free experience as well. To remove marker from bamboo flooring, simply make up a vinegar and water solution and apply a small amount to the floor. A spray bottle might be a good idea here to ensure you don’t dampen the bamboo too much. Spray a little onto the stain and use a cloth to lift it out. Ensure you dry the area immediately with a paper towel and you’re done!

Cleaning Stains off Carpet

It’ll depend on your carpet type, but in general cleaning marker stains out of carpet is also an easy task. Start by getting onto the stain right away. That’s the best way to ensure it comes out easily. Next, Dampen a cloth and blot, blot, blot. Avoid scrubbing the carpet as this can rub the stain in further. Instead, blot in a circular motion until the stain is lifted. Then dry with a paper towel. Keep in mind that every carpet type is different, so it’s wise to phone your local Choices Flooring store to get their advice on cleaning the specific carpet type you purchased.

Original source.

Pet Friendly Tips

My kids and I had been desperate to get a puppy for years but our old house wasn’t suitable for a dog, so we’d always told them when we got a new house we’d get a new puppy. And I admit, as soon as the frames went up on that new house I started searching for our third family member before the paint had even gone on!

The plan was to move into the house and then get the puppy. Well, that was my husbands plan at least. Little did he know I’d found the most beautiful dog who was having a litter and we’d been promised one, so all our plans went out the window. We brought home our gorgeous little ‘Bessie’ right before we moved in. Talk about piling on the pressure! A new house which I wanted to keep pristine and a new puppy that wasn’t toilet or house trained. Eeek!

I’d already been warned by well meaning people that dogs could scratch floors, chew furniture and pee on carpets, but I wasn’t fazed. I believe a house should be a home so a few scratches or spills wouldn’t be the end of the world. However, I do want my house to look as good as possible, so it’s all about how you deal with those accidents that matters.

We decided to put carpet only the main bedroom, with both messy puppy and messy children in mind, and the plan was that the dog wouldn’t go in there.

Ha!

Are you getting the sense that we don’t really stick to plans?!

That little dog well and truly ran the joint from the moment she came into it and most definitely goes in the bedroom (lets not even talk about the no sleeping on beds rule) So there have been a few spills along the way, but as long as you get to them quickly with a micro-fibre cloth and blot the stain they come out pretty easily. I am also going to steam clean the carpets every six months to get out any stains you miss along the way.

However, when it comes to the rest of the house the Plantino Engineered Oak floors have been a dream and I haven’t noticed any scratches she’s made. Spills can be quickly wiped up and now the toilet training days are over I can happily say the floorboards coped with it beautifully. Bessie does shed hair however a quick go over with the stick vacuum deals with that.

Having said that, if you have a lot of pets and are worried about scratches and spills I think your best flooring choice would be luxury vinyl. It’s so hardwearing and totally waterproof, so it would definitely be the easiest option for animal lovers. And with the range now available in luxury vinyl your home can be both stylish and durable, and who doesn’t want that?

Whichever flooring you chose, I think the love of a pet is totally worth the occasional spill and scratch. Just make sure you always have a micro-fibre cloth handy and keep those toe nails clipped!

For more information call me. I’m here to help 305-776-3584

Original source.

How Laminated Floors are Made

Laminated floors have been around for a long time, but new improvements have added a much-needed feature: waterproofing.

This material is an ideal choice indoor use.

The material’s actual name is Direct pressure laminated.

It is manufactured by fusing four layers together at over 600 pounds of pressure per inch at temperatures of around 400 degrees Fahrenheit. These four layers function as follows:

• The bottom layer is known as the stabilizing or the backing layer, this layer provides strength and stability to the board. To make this material waterproof they have applied a resin-based coat to prevent water from penetrating into the material.

• The 2nd layer is known as the core board and its serves as the structural element supporting the weight and stresses of foot traffic. This layer is typically made of high-density fiberboard (HDF), but sometimes is made from particle board or medium-density fiberboard (MDF).

• The 3rd layer is decorative. It sits on top of the entire structure and its objective is to mimic the surface of a natural material, such as a hardwood veneer or lately any type of tile or other flooring materials that the manufacturer wants to resemble.

• The 4th layer is a resin-based coating designed to resist abrasion and typically made up of several coats of melamine or aluminum oxide (2nd only to diamonds in hardness) which protects the floor from stains, fading, wear and tear. This is the magical layer that makes laminated material resistant to scratches and stains.

Hopefully this information can help you by explaining how waterproof laminated floors are made and why they can be your low price, ideal solution, for your next flooring project.

Original source.

Wood floors in a Bathroom??

Wood floors can give your bathroom a fresh look and a sense of warmth most bathrooms lack. Laminate wood floors are a great choice for your bathroom flooring needs because:

PROS

• They can be installed fast
• The ease of maintenance make it one of the best options available.
• Laminated floors won’t dent or scratch. Bathroom’s can get messy, but this material will give you peace of mind.
• All you need it to keep it clean is a damp mop or a solution of water & vinegar occasionally to maintain it in perfect shape.
• Laminated floors are available in tile or slate looks. Two very appealing options for a lot less money and the big undertaking that come with installing other materials.

CONS

• Laminated floors can become slippery when wet. But a nice rug on top solves this issue.

Laminated floors can be an excellent option for your bathroom remodeling project. Some brands come with a moisture-resistant seal between the joints that insures long term sustainability in wet environments like bathrooms.

Hopefully this informations has been helpful in advocating the case for wood floors in your bathroom. Consider laminated wood floors for your next upgrade project.

Original source.

Laminated Flooring Vs. Hard Wood Flooring: Which is right for you?

Laminated flooring has become one of the most popular choices in the U.S.A.

During the manufacturing process melamine resin is used at the top and Bottom of each piece to increase durability. It also makes protects the color from fading due to direct sunlight or artificial light sources.

Most manufacturers offer 15 to 30 year guarantee. It varies depending on the brand and the type of flooring.

Stains and most impacts are not a problem for this material. It handles wear and tear better than most other types of wood floors.

By waterproofing it, manufacturers alleviated one of the biggest home owner concerns. As an added bonus, waterproofing it made floor maintenance a no brainer when it comes to cost or complexity. It’s so easy to maintain.

Since laminated floors “float“ on top of other surfaces, installation can be done quickly as long as that surface is leveled.

Laminated floors style variety means they can complement whatever design style you envision. Next time chose laminated floors because:

• They’re cheaper and more durable than hardwood
• You can get a 15 to 30 year warrantee
• They’re waterproof
• They’re easy to maintain
• You have so many styles to choose from

Choose laminated floors. The most appealing choice for a price conscious consumer.

Source
http://www.realtor.com/advice/home-improvement/laminate-flooring-pros-cons/