Steam Power at Home

In the late 18th and 19th centuries, steam powered factories, boats and locomotives. Now, steam power can be harnessed at home – to thoroughly clean every room.

Americans aren’t used to the idea of steam cleaning, but Europeans have been steam cleaning their homes for years. Steam cleaning machines work by releasing hot steam vapor into the pores of surfaces, where it breaks up dirt and stains. While a vacuum cleaner removes surface dirt, a steam cleaner removes deeply embedded dirt without using harsh or potentially harmful chemicals.

Take a Home Decorating Personality Quiz

You often hear that you should match your home’s design to your personality and interests, but few color swatches come with names like “Reads Paranormal Romance Novels,” “Hikes on Weekends” or “Gleek.”

To help you figure out what color palettes will best suit your personality, Mohawk Flooring provides the following quiz:

What Is Your Design Personality?

You’re making big plans for the weekend. What are they?
A) Participating in a charity walk
B) Antique shopping
C) Inviting friends over for dinner
D) Touring a haunted house

Tips for a Clean, Green Home

You faithfully separate your paper and plastic recyclables and purchase phosphate-free laundry detergent, but a look at your cleaning cabinet reveals bottles displaying skulls and crossbones. Sure, you know that harsh chemical cleaners aren’t the best for the environment, but how else are you expected to clean your home?

Luckily, it’s possible to make your home spotless with tgreen cleaning products [www.Buy-DropShot.com]t. JBI, Inc. (OTC-QB: JBII – News), a technology company that seeks to innovate new solutions to issues facing today’s world, including environmental concerns, offers the following tips:

Automation Saves Pool and Spa Owners Time, Money

div img class=”category-img” src=”http://ftper.newsusa.com/Thumbnail/Pools.jpg” alt=”Five words or less” width=”180″ //divdiv class=”category-listcontent”div class=”category-body” id=”ArticleBody” style=”display: block” (a href=”http://www.newsusa.com”NewsUSA/a) – No one would purchase a television without a remote, yet many people install pools without bothering to get them automated — a move that can cost …/div/div

Living Together? Make Room in the Refrigerator

div img class=”category-img” src=”http://ftper.newsusa.com/Thumbnail/LivingTogether.jpg” alt=”Five words or less” width=”180″ //divdiv class=”category-listcontent”div class=”category-body” id=”ArticleBody” style=”display: block” (a href=”http://www.newsusa.com”NewsUSA/a) – It doesn’t matter if you’re a newlywed, roommate or house guest — sharing a life, home, drawer or appliance can be an adjustment. Sure, splitting …/div/div

Three Steps to Begin a Hassle-Free Deck-Building Experience

div img class=”category-img” src=”http://ftper.newsusa.com/Thumbnail/DeckingTools.jpg” alt=”Five words or less” width=”180″ //divdiv class=”category-listcontent”div class=”category-body” id=”ArticleBody” style=”display: block” (a href=”http://www.newsusa.com”NewsUSA/a) – A beautiful, well-crafted deck is the dream of many homeowners. Yet, most homeowners will find themselves faced with difficult choices and …/div/div

Bring a Breath of Fresh Air Into Your Home

div img class=”category-img” src=”http://ftper.newsusa.com/Thumbnail/FreshAir.jpg” alt=”Five words or less” width=”180″ //divdiv class=”category-listcontent”div class=”category-body” id=”ArticleBody” style=”display: block” (a href=”http://www.newsusa.com”NewsUSA/a) – There’s nothing quite like a breath of fresh air, yet people spray “fresh air” scent around their homes instead of simply opening a window. Rather …/div/div

Ordinary Products Go High-Tech

Lightbulbs, televisions, toaster ovens – all three inventions changed the way that Americans live and work. Today, scientists still use technologies to improve home products. Appliances have become increasingly efficient. New smart homes will even allow people to lock their house or adjust their thermostat with their cell phones.

But the products that use advanced technology don’t always seem like science fiction. For example, painters tape doesn’t usually cause excitement. But Frog Tape, which won a Best of What’s New award in Popular Science’s Home Tech category in 2007, does exactly what old tapes failed to do – create clean edges around paint jobs.

Navigate Through the Choices in Composite Decking

<b>Navigate Through the Choices in Composite Decking</b>“></td>
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<p>(<a href=NewsUSA) – When many consumers decide to add a new deck or replace an existing one with a low-maintenance composite version, they typically discover an overwhelming amount of information available. Homeowners might find themselves faced with many options and have questions about how to choose the right product. What type of composite decking is right for me? How do I choose from the different types of deck boards? What color combinations are right for my home?

There are quite a few different decking options available, based on individual needs and budgets. Composite decking is available in several different types of boards with varying looks, colors and qualities; therefore, it is important to understand all the alternatives.

Based on all these options, how can consumers decide which is best for their lifestyle? TimberTech, one of the leading manufacturers of composite decking, railing and fencing products, offers a number of tools that help sort through the details of choosing a deck and assist consumers in making educated decisions about their new deck.

At the beginning of the decision-making process, consumers first need to choose the type of board that best fits their lifestyles and tastes. Tools like the Product Selector guide consumers through a series of step-by-step questions that are used to uncover their needs, habits and deck usage. The results give consumers options of board type and style that are best suited to their needs.

Another tool that is helpful during the planning process is the Deck Designer. By using the Deck Designer, consumers can enter the desired size, shape and color of their dream deck so that they can envision the deck before it is built. When the deck design is complete, users can print a 3-D model of the deck, build a materials list and get installation guidelines and helpful construction tips for their deck.

The newest tool, designed to help consumers decide among the varieties of color combinations available, is TimberTech’s Color Visualizer. The Color Visualizer lets consumers choose different home colors and decking color combinations. The colors of the primary decking, accent decking, rails or balusters and posts can all be changed to build a customized look. If consumers are looking for more direction, the Color Visualizer also offers suggestions of the most popular color combinations.

No matter what type of composite decking consumers choose, it is important to understand the different offerings available by taking advantage of these free interactive tools available online at www.timbertech.com.

Is It Time to Upgrade Your Home’s Security?

<b>Is It Time to Upgrade Your Home’s Security?</b>“></td>
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<p>(<a href=NewsUSA) – As Americans work in their yards and start DIY home projects, it might be appropriate for them to think about improving outdoor security.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics, U.S. households experienced about 16.3 million property crimes, including burglary and robbery, in 2008. Many people feel that a home security system automatically makes their home safe, but outdated technologies may leave a home vulnerable.

Take outdoor motion sensor lighting. Burglars want to avoid detection, so they are often deterred by well-lit yards and driveways, making motion sensor lighting a wise investment. But for the past two decades, motion sensor lights have used Passive Infrared technology (PIR), which detects heat from moving objects. The problem? PIR technology can be easily fooled.

PIR sensors can be triggered by wind or temperature changes. For example, they might turn on by wind-blown leaves, but fail to detect a burglar on a cold night. In addition, PIR motion sensor lights can only detect lateral, or side to side, movement. If a burglar moves towards a PIR light in a straight line, he can approach the house without triggering the light.

But one new motion sensor light combines Doppler Radar with PIR to create more reliable home security. Precision Plus Doppler Radar, by Cooper Lighting, uses Doppler Radar to cover those areas where PIR motion sensors fail. Doppler Radar allows the motion sensor light to cover a larger range. Doppler Radar does not sense temperature, so weather changes don’t affect its ability to sense somebody approaching the home. In addition, Doppler Radar can detect a person moving in a straight line towards or away from the home.

Upgrading a motion sensor light is just one way to protect your home. Some low-tech, DIY solutions include installing heavier doors and deadlocks, and removing large hedges, which burglars can use to hide.

To learn more about Precision Plus Doppler Radar, visit www.precisionplusdopplerradar.com.