Bedroom Windows

Do you ever gasp at things that make you happy? An image, or a color, that is so perfect you can't believe it existed without you knowing about it?

The other day I fell in love with a curtain. Yes, a curtain! For those of you who know me well, you know that the curtains in my living room are, in fact, cream blankets from Walmart; a solution that happened on a cold February day, after weeks of looking for the "perfect' curtain. Not my first option, they ended up being what I love the most; hanging casually from old, copper pipes with distressed curtain hooks. In fact, the process was so time consuming that I had no option but to write about it in an earlier blog (Curtains, a cautionary tale). Anyway, I recently saw some curtains that I loved, and it reminded me once again how difficult it can be to choose them.

I think, the first thought should be whether your need is driven by beauty or function? Of course, ideally, everything in life should be a combination of both, but in reality that rarely happens; to get there can take far more time than any of us have. Regardless of why you need them, spend a little bit of time wondering about your curtains before you buy.

In my living room, for example, I have three very large windows, each over 10 feet wide. I wanted a curtain that insulated the room in the Winter, but was not so decorative that it conflicted with my need to scatter random pieces of art onto the walls. Hence the cream blankets; they are simple, but warm, and I love the thick texture against the painted walls.

Like most things, we can get bogged down in the thought process, but going forward is always easier than we think. Decorating your windows should be fun, just ask yourself a few easy questions before you begin:

- Do you want the curtains to be purely decorative - a statement of color or pattern? Then choose with no restrictions. Buy what you love. Remember to open the packet, and hang them up (or lay them out on the floor) before you throw away the receipt. Any curtain will look totally different when it is opened up into a 4 foot by 7 foot panel.

- Are they something that you are buying because you "have to"? Be understated/neutral/classic in your decision. For total anonymity, try to match, or use a shade similar to the wall color.

- Is keeping in warmth, or shutting out sunlight, important? Spent extra time researching speciality curtains. They may cost a bit more, but will definitely solve your problem.

- How much do you want to spend?Be realistic with your budget. Don't be lured into things you cannot afford. Find your favorite, then see if there is a less expensive option available.

- Is your room large or small, ceilings high or low? If it is small, then choose curtains that are similar (or complimentary) to the wall color. Hang them above the window for extra height. Too much pattern, or opposing colors, will break up a room, making it appear smaller. If ceilings are very tall, check the length before you buy.

If you loved this article, go directly to Wendy's blog for more observations on life, style and decorating.

http://wendyandthebluegiraffe.blogspot.com/

For additional bio and company information, please check out her website or contact her directly.

Website: http://www.thebluegiraffe.com/
Email: wendy@thebluegiraffe.com
Telephone: 1-973-584-3501

Wendy E. Wrzos is a certified Interior Redesign Specialist, located in Morris County, New Jersey
She is a member, and frequent blog contributor, of the ADE (Association for Design Education)

You might be wondering how professional window cleaners do such a fine job in making windows so clean. It is as if they are using some secret techniques to achieve those sparkling results. Do they use a special solution that nobody knows of? What exactly are they doing? One thing for sure, they are not using any window cleaning solution that can be bought off the shelf. Those window cleaning chemicals sold in supermarket and hardware stores would only cause your windows smudges and streaks. There are still some people who believed in the old school way of cleaning windows, through the use of old newspapers and some vinegar to achieve the perfect clean.

It may work if your windows are not too old and stained by time and alternating weather conditions. Nowadays, it is not surprising to find all kinds of window cleaning devices and associated equipment readily available in the market. You can even go online and buy from there. You might not achieve satisfactory results if you do not have the right equipment. You will need equipment ranging from different shape and sizes of squeegees, window scrapers, window cleaning soaps, lint-free wiping cloth, a bucket and of course, a ladder. Typically, you might need a water-fed pole for those hard to reach windows. All of these can be bought through your favorite online shopping store. Some bigger brands home improvement stores also carry these types of specialized equipment.

What is the best way to prepare your window cleaning solution?

Perhaps the best and most economical soap you can use for professional looking windows is dish washing liquid soap. You can add a few drops in a bucket and you're good to go. You can mix it with some aroma chemicals to make your windows not only clean but smells good too. You might, however, be tempted to add other ingredients that are laying on your kitchen shelves such as alcohol, ammonia or even vinegar. These are not recommended as they might cause damage to your windows by staining any wood panels that surround it. Dish washing soap alone is very effective and can break the tough bonding of dirt into the glass surface and it is the perfect lubricant for your squeegees as well. You simply need to soak the sponge into the bucket that has the prepared solution and apply this to the window surface. For those hard to come off dirt such as stickers, or even bird's poo, you can try scraping it with the scrape tool. You'll find it is much easier to do the scraping before applying the solution.

Some other window cleaning secrets and techniques includes:

Ensure that your squeegees are in top condition and there are no breaks or cracks in its edges; A cut in the fine line of the rubber will cause water lines causing streaks to appear. To prevent the water excess from spoiling the wall below the windows, it is best to protect it with a cloth or towels. As a general rule, always clean the part with the most dirt and dust before moving to the next part, this enables you to see how well the cleaning progresses.

While this article delves on the subject on how to clean your own windows professionally, it is still not an effective replacement for professional window cleaning. Looking up for a professional is now made easy by windowcleaning.com with over 900 prime window cleaners all over USA and Canada.

Whether you're buying replacement windows out of necessity or a desire to improve the appearance of your home, these products can offer you a wide variety of benefits. New windows can help you save money and even earn you money in the future.

If you're in need of a new set of windows for your home or you'd simply like to find a way to save money on heating and cooling costs, getting brand-new windows can do the trick. New windows provide homeowners with a wide variety of benefits ranging from increased aesthetic appeal to lower energy bills and increased home value.

Increase Curb Appeal

When you select window replacement products for your home, you'll have the opportunity to make your home stand out. If you've grown tired of the way that your home looks from the exterior, you may think that the only way to make a change is to get a new coat of exterior paint or install new siding. While fresh siding or a coat of paint can make a difference, it's not the only change that can alter the look of your home. New window replacement products can make your home look great and improve your view at the same time. You can switch out your windows for similar styles or update the appearance of your entire house with windows that are more modern, more traditional, or whatever style you prefer.

Cut Down on Energy Costs

One of the main reasons that homeowners choose to get new windows is because they want to save money on their energy bills. With old windows in your home, you can end up losing hundreds of dollars each year in wasted energy. By purchasing energy-efficient windows, you can make sure that you don't have to worry about high energy bills due to heat loss/gain anymore. New energy-efficient window models will help lower your heating and cooling bills significantly, and you'll have more money to spare each month.

Increase Home Value

Another one of the major benefits of choosing new windows for your house is that it can improve the value of your home. If you ever plan to sell your home in the future, you'll want to make sure that it is appealing to potential buyers. Homes with old, broken windows simply will not succeed in attracting buyers with deep pockets. However, should you choose to hire window contractors and get new windows for your home, this can change the situation by adding to the value of your home. A shiny, new set of windows is going to appeal to buyers, and you could end up getting a lot more than you'd hoped for when you sell your home. When you think about the potential for profit, there is no reason not to call window contractors today and get started on improving your home.

Penny Jones is a home improvement guru and an Internet marketing specialist for Prospect Genius, a leader in search engine optimization.

There are various reasons why a home or business owner finds it important to have clean windows. Aside from the obvious, which is to add and introduce appeal to your family member, friend, neighbor or consumer to your establishment, it is a sanitary approach to letting your friend or customer know you care about the way you conduct your home or business.

For restaurants alone, clean windows can upgrade your sanitation score on average up to 20% from an 80-100% or from a C-A rating depending on how your local health and sanitation department provides its evaluations and scores.

So it isn't just about appeal, but rather a very important minor detail that is often overlooked when it comes to letting your customers know your business is a safe and clean establishment.

As for your home, the reasons are equally as important. While you are not graded or obligated to keep your windows clean, your friends and neighbors as well as family members will notice the difference. It still falls under the "we care about how you feel when you enter our home or establishment" category.

And while the effort can be great in order to maintain your windows yourself, hiring a professional in the window cleaning business can make your life simpler and easier to keep up with.

The fees for these services are typically very reasonable and will save you time in the long run.

Before hiring a window cleaning company it is important to ask questions before you purchase or acquire the services from a business.

The following are simple yet great starting points and questions to ask:

What are your window cleaning methods?How long will it take?Are screens included?Are sills cleaned and included in the service?How do you prevent drips and streaking?How do you prevent seepage to our floors and furniture?What are the solutions or products used to clean our windows?Are the products or solutions used to clean our windows safe for children, pets, plants and furnishings?How often do you recommend having our windows cleaned?Do you have references?

These are just but a few questions you can ask that will start you in the right direction.

Hopefully, by the time you've gone through these series of questions you will have a pretty good idea of the level of expertise your window cleaner has and know whether they are right for the job.

Michael A. Medina, owns Windows With a View, that provides window cleaning, Raleigh, Apex, Holly Springs, Cary, Fuquay-Varina, Pittsboro, to name just a few cities he serves in North Carolina. Contact him now to find out about how you can save 20% off for Spring Cleaning your windows - (919)239-0858.