How to Remove Easter Egg Dye from Carpet March 31, 2010
Posted by Shannonbilby in : Care and Maintenance, Carpet , add a comment
It’s almost Easter! If you love to dye Easter eggs, but hate the worry of wondering what to do if you spill the dye on the carpet, stop worrying! Below are simple and easy guidelines to follow if you have a spill with Easter egg dye. You always want to treat spills as soon as possible and follow the instructions closely.
Detergent Solution – Mix one fourth (1/4) teaspoon of a liquid dishwashing detergent per one (1) cup of lukewarm water. NEVER USE A STRONGER CONCENTRATION! Thorough rinsing is necessary to remove detergent residues that may cause rapid soiling. It may be necessary to rinse with warm water several times to completely remove residues. Care should be used in selecting a detergent. Never use a laundry detergent of any type, because laundry detergents may contain optical brighteners (flourescent dyes) that dye the fiber. Do not select an automatic dishwashing detergent because many contain bleaching agents that destroy dyes and some fibers.
Warm Water – Lukewarm tap water should be used in most cases to rinse the cleaning solutions from the fiber. Failure to completely rinse the solutions from the fiber may cause accelerated soiling.
Ammonia Solution – Mix one (1) tablespoon of household ammonia per cup of water. Please note: Be aware that ammonia, if used improperly, can cause a color change. Be sure to test a hidden area.
Not sure? Call a Professional – Professional cleaners have the ability and the equipment to use more aggressive cleaning solutions to remove stubborn spills. Always consider consulting a professional cleaner regarding any spot removal question. Carpet and Rug Institute – 1-800-882-8846.
Hardwood Maintenance Video March 25, 2010
Posted by Shannonbilby in : Care and Maintenance, Hardwood / Laminate , add a comment
Test Your Mattress Knowledge! March 17, 2010
Posted by Shannonbilby in : Mattresses , add a comment
What is one of the biggest mistakes mattress buyers make?
Buying a mattress that is too small
What is another name for a full bed?
A double bed
If you are taller than 5′5″ which size beds will you be able to fit on?
Queen and larger
When is a queen size bed a good choice?
Queen size is a good choice for guest rooms, smaller master bedrooms and for couples who prefer close quarters. It’s also a great choice for single sleepers who are also “sprawlers.”
Is a California king bed smaller or larger than a regular king?
The “California King,” which is 72 inches wide by 84 inches long is 4 inches narrower and 4 inches longer than a regular king.
What considerations should you make before choosing a king mattress?
Obviously the size of the room, but you should also consider halls, corridors and stairways that have to be navigated. Measuring first can save a lot of headaches!
For more tips like this, please visit the Before You Buy section on our website!
Virtual Room Designer March 9, 2010
Posted by Shannonbilby in : Website tools , 1 comment so far 
Are you familiar with our Virtual Room Designer tool on our website? It is a fantastic tool to help you visualize different products in different room scenes. You can even upload a photo from one of your rooms in order to “try on” different floors, walls and even area rugs. With our virtual room designer, you can look at different size tiles in a room, different installation directions, dark floors or walls versus light floors or walls, you can look at hardwood installed in different directions. When it comes to choosing flooring, it’s nice to have a “crystal ball” to help visualize what your floors will look like before you make your purchase.
Using the Virtual Room Designer Tool is easy!
- First, choose a room type to work with or upload a photo of a room in your home.
- Then, choose a room that most closely resembles your room layout.
- From there, select an area to work with such as floor, wall, steps, cabinets, area rugs, etc.
- Next, you can make a selection of different products we offer by choosing the type, brand or product.
- Once you have chosen a product, you can choose to rotate the product to see different degrees of rotation for the installation.
You can change as many items as you like as many times as you like until you get the look you want. Along the way, you can save these images and selections in your own personal workbook. (you will be asked to provide some registration information in order to save and share your workbook) You can share these items in your workbook with friends or family and then we can review together to look at the actual samples of the products you have chosen. See? It’s that easy!
Design Perspective: Mixed Granites and Accent Tiles March 3, 2010
Posted by Shannonbilby in : Ceramic/Porcelain, Design Perspectives, Natural Stone , add a comment
This kitchen is a good example of how to use multiple granites in one room. It also shows how you can use contrasting accents of the same material. Let’s dive in and talk more about what’s happening in this room that’s worth noting from a design perspective!
The colors in the room blend and compliment each other very well together. The silver and black flecks in the granite on the countertop and the floors subtly tie the plumbing and appliances together.
The use of a slab of granite on the countertops, the granite backsplash and the same granite cut into tiles on the floor shows how you can use the same material in different forms.
On the floor, there are granite dots placed in the intersections of the granite tiles. Some might say that the number of “dots” on the floor draws too much attention to the floor because the rest of the room is so simple and that a better use of the granite accent dots may have been to use less of them. Others may argue that the floor with all of the dots serves as a focal point for the room.
From an installation standpoint, using the same material for the accent tile as the field tile (main tile) helps with the ease of installation because the materials are the same thickness.
The good thing about this kitchen is that all of the major cost items in this room are all neutral choices. If the homeowners of this kitchen would like to change the look in a few years, they can easily do that with a BOLD paint color or wall covering. Another way to add some punch or WOW to this kitchen would be to add a backsplash. Adding a backsplash made of the same granite may be a little too much of a good thing, but a complimentary ceramic or porcelain tile or a stainless tile might be a nice addition.
What are your thoughts on this kitchen? What would you change? What would you add down the road?
