Archive for August, 2010
Tuesday, August 31st, 2010
 The first thing that guests see when they are visiting a home is likely to be the front garden. Shrubs, flowers and fruit trees can add splashes of color to the front entrance of a residence while also showing off the hard work of the individuals who live there.
If you’re hosting a Labor Day party, you may want to be sure that the garden is in prime condition before visitors start to arrive. Not only does this mean trimming or weeding any areas that require attention, it also means protecting a garden from wandering wildlife.
Deer are particularly a nuisance, because they can devour ripening fruits and vegetables, as well as destroy the flower petals which would otherwise cast a rainbow of color in the yard.
Liquid Fence, one of the most popular animal repellents on the market, may be an ideal option for those who are prepping for a garden party. This product boasts a biodegradable formula which will make a garden and other vegetation unappealing to deer and rabbits.
If you do choose to apply Liquid Fence, be sure to use it two or three days before the actual occasion, because it could emit an unpleasant odor that will last a day or two before disappearing. 
Posted in Liquid Fence | No Comments »
Tuesday, August 31st, 2010
 School is about to start and teens across the country are getting ready to go to high school. With that in mind, it may be a good idea to provide your own adolescents with an area where they can go after school to unwind.
Designing a teen lounge for your home doesn’t need to be expensive or time-consuming, especially if you have a spare room, such as a basement or garage, that can serve as the gathering space.
Before undertaking the task, be sure to consult with the teenagers themselves, who may have ideas about what they want the room to look like. Ask for their input regarding the color of the walls, the style of the couches and the function of the room itself.
Some of the basic necessities for a teen lounge include a comfortable couch and a few chairs, as well as a television. This setting will allow teens to watch movies late at night without bothering the other residents of the house.
Lighting can be tricky in darker rooms such as basements, attics or garages. White wire lights are a versatile and practical way to light these spaces. By hanging them along the ceiling or wrapping them around rafters, you can create soft lighting for a teen lounge that is affordable and easy to install. 
Posted in White Wire Lights | No Comments »
Tuesday, August 31st, 2010
 Shelly’s Diner is one of the Department 56 Original Snow Village’s best selling pieces of all time. It was introduced in December of 1999 and is still in the line for 2010. While Department 56 has had numerous pieces that have stood the test of time, but many of them were retired for a while and then reintroduced. Few pieces have made as long of a run as Shelly’s Diner has without being retired for a while.
The Original Snow Village collection is modeled after the 1950’s US suburban communities that started poping up everywhere after the end of World War 2. When you recollect on the 1950’s you think of the standard middle class communities that were filled with cookie cutter houses along with a central business district that was patronized by the community for all their shopping and entertainment wants and needs. One of the staples of these 1950’s communities was the classic diner! For that reason, the iconic design of Shelly’s Diner has been a piece that most Department 56 Original Snow Village series collectors could not be without.
Shelly’s Diner features a free standing, flashing sign and a traditonal diner design with patrons sitting down inside enjoying some of America’s most famous pastime foods.
Deapartment 56’s Shelly’s Diner retails for $110. More than the average Department 56 village piece, which usually ranges from $75-$90. The price of shelly’s Diner hasn’t stopped individuals from buying every piece we buy each year for our retail location Rollier Hardware and our online business, www.hardtofinditems.com.
Tags: Department 56, Department 56 Original Snow Village, Department 56 Snow Village, Original Snow Village
Posted in Christmas, Department 56 | No Comments »
Monday, August 30th, 2010
 The Bona brand has been around since 1894, when the 26-year-old Wilhelm Edner opened a grocery store in Sweden that specialized in floor wax, which was a new innovation at the time, according to Bona.com.
Five years later, floor polish, mop oil, dry floor cleaner and other products were added to the list. These same traditions have been held and improved upon time and time again, and Bona hardwood floor cleaning products have been a staple for professional cleaners since 1919.
In recent years, this family-owned company has taken significant steps to give back to communities around the world. It was the first manufacturer in the industry to create a cleaning line that has been certified by GreenGuard in regards to indoor air quality.
This means that Bona hardwood cleaning products are not only easy on floors, but they are also likely to emit fewer fumes than other brands.
The water-based cleaner is less harmful to the surrounding environment than most others, which have harsh chemicals that can degrade the integrity of a hardwood floor and become more toxic.
If you want an effective, environmentally-friendly product that will guarantee a long life for hardwood floors, you may want to consider Bona cleaning products. 
Posted in Hardwood Floor Care | No Comments »
Monday, August 30th, 2010
 The end of summer means that leaves across the country are changing, falling from trees onto the ground or, in some cases, into gutters. This can present a problem during storms, when wind can carry debris into gutters so water doesn’t flow properly.
If water overflows from gutters, it can cause damage to the gardens below or the paint on your home’s outside walls and porch. It can also seep into the basement and cause long-lasting structural damage or leaks.
Gutterbrush Gutter Guard offers a solution to these problems because, simply by installing the product, homeowners can prevent the build-up of falling sticks and leaves of autumn.
This particular gutter protection system is easy to clean, because all you have to do is remove it from the gutters and spray it down with a hose. This will effectively purge the product of debris.
The Gutterbrush Gutter Guard will also drastically reduce the number of times homeowners are required to maintain gutters in the spring and fall, because they are less likely to be clogged.
This product’s flexible design allows it to be fitted into almost any kind of gutter, and it comes with a 25-year guarantee. 
Posted in GutterBrush Gutter Guard | No Comments »
Friday, August 27th, 2010
 “How low can you go, how low can you go?” If this phrase sounds familiar, it’s because it’s from Ludacris’ hit song off his “Battle of the Sexes” Album. The premis of this article is not to ask you how low you can go on the dance floor, but how low your vacuum can go? Many times it is difficult to get your vacuum to work its way underneath and around all your furniture in you home. This results in you having to slide furniture around, or worse yet skip vacuuming those hard to sweep areas.
That’s not the case with Miele Upright Vacuums. Miele’s new S7 Upright series can bend down to a complete horizontal angle. Some of the other features of the Miele Upright Vacuums include a completely sealed bag compartment along with HEPA filters on most models.
For a very long time Miele only manufactured canister vacuums, except for a couple of lower end stick uprights. In 2009, Miele introduced the Miele Upright Vacuum line complete with many of the same features as their canister line carries. Demand in the first year for these vacuums was fair, but nothing like the volume and demand for Miele Canister Vacuums.
To help push the Miele Upright Vacuum line, Miele has just dropped many of the models price points. Now you can get into a Miele Upright Vacuum for as little as $429, but if you want to get all the bells and whistles along with a HEPA filter you will have to pay a couple hundred dollars more. I know this may sound like a lot of money for a vacuum sweeper, but all Miele Vacuums regardless of price point come with a 7 year motor warranty and tend to last for 15-20 years. How long did your last vacuum last?
You might pay more for a Miele Vacuum up front, but over the long haul Miele vacuums will most likely cost you much less than many of the alternatives.
Tags: Miele S7 Upright Vacuum, Miele Upright, Miele Upright Vacuum, Miele Upright Vacuum Cleaners, Miele Upright Vacuums
Posted in Health & Personal Care, Miele Vacuum Cleaners | No Comments »
Friday, August 27th, 2010
 It is sometimes difficult to find the proper housewarming gift when attending a party for recently settled neighbors or friends who have moved to a new home. The trick is to find something that is long-lasting, but practical.
When searching for the perfect item, look for products that will be will serve a valuable function in the new residence. New homeowners may be especially concerned about mud, dirt or debris being tracked through the house, so a doormat might be a thoughtful present.
Cape Cod doormats are particularly thoughtful gifts because they are colorful additions to any front step and extremely durable in rain or snow. They’re especially useful at beach houses, because these mats will prevent sand from being brought inside.
Since they are also insect-resistant and mildew-proof, Cape Cod mats can accommodate any climate and require very little maintenance. When a mat gets dirty, a quick shake or rinse will make it clean again. They are also reversible, which effectively doubles their lifetime.
By bringing new homeowners a Cape Cod doormat and placing it on their step when you arrive, you can be sure that your gift is remembered, appreciated and used every day.
Posted in Cape Cod Doormats | No Comments »
Friday, August 27th, 2010
 Those who own a Brabantia bin may have struggled to find a bag that fits the product. Ill-fitting trash bags that overspill the container can look sloppy.
This can be a problem for any bin, whether it’s the touch, retro or pedal. Luckily, Brabantia bin liners are custom-tailored to your trash bin, so that they will settle perfectly, without clumping around the top.
Additionally, these liners have special ventilation holes so the bag doesn’t bunch up when it is inserted into the bin. They are also easy to remove – just pull the sealing tape and the bag will close.
The HDPE plastic of the bin liners makes them stronger and more durable than normal trash bags- garbage disposal is made easier by the plastic shell inside every Brabantia bin. When you are taking the trash out, remove this shell, along with the bag, to guarantee that the bag won’t break on its trip outside of the house.
These premium liners are color-coded, so simply look at the color of your Brabantia bin, which is located on the inside of the lid, and match it with the liner. 
Posted in Bin Liners | No Comments »
Thursday, August 26th, 2010
 Having a washing and drying machine in your home can often seem like a blessing and a curse, especially when it comes to drying your clothes. Dryers can cause utility bills to skyrocket and produce unwanted heat and noise.
The size of a drier may also prove to be inconvenient when you are attempting to wash clothes for a whole family or, worse yet, bedding. Sheets, bedding and heavy comforters can be some of the most difficult items to fit into a dryer. And, they will also generally take multiple cycles to dry completely, which can be costly.
Individuals sometimes resort to hanging blankets from railings or counters, hoping that the air will dry them instead. However, this technique may take up much of your living space while the items dry.
Brabantia drying racks are ideal for drying heavy garments and linens that would otherwise take more than one cycle to dry. The door rack fits comfortably onto any railing, door or wall and offers an efficient and aesthetically pleasing way to dry blankets.
If you want to save even more money on drying, try investing in a Brabantia outdoor drying rack. This premium product can accommodate several loads of laundry, so you can actually dry more at once than a machine would allow. 
Posted in Drying Racks | No Comments »
Thursday, August 26th, 2010
 Across the country, college students are flocking to their new residences and leaving their old places behind. Now may be the perfect chance for parents to clean their old rooms before Thanksgiving.
This may prove to be a long and arduous task, especially if you are trying to thoroughly clean an area. Bookshelves can have layers of dust, desks might be scattered with bits of food and debris and the corners around beds and bureaus might have years of accumulated lint behind them.
Homeowners with a Miele vacuum may take full advantage of its versatility and flexibility, but the tiny crevices of a keyboard or the narrow spaces between a bed and a wall can still prove to be difficult to maneuver around.
For this reason, it might be wise to invest in a Miele Microset Vacuum Accessory Kit. This package comes with all of the enhancements you might need when trying to clean a student’s room. The crevice tools make it easier to vacuum at awkward angles and the micro hose with a dusting brush is perfect for windowsills. The dusting brush can also be handy for hard-to-reach book shelves.
Don’t miss the opportunity to remake a college student’s room before they come back for break. 
Posted in Vacuum Accessories | No Comments »
|
