Every woman loves a clean house. One of clients recently told me having her home cleaned professionally by the Madison House Cleaning staff is like getting a “House Massage”.  Hello, my name is Scott Kindberg and I am husband, father of two pre-schoolers, and a small business-owner. I can’t think of any better way to say ‘I am think of you’ to my wife and my family than with a clean house.

Beautiful Clouds from michaelwu on Vimeo.

Live Clean. Live Better.  Tip #1

Through out the month of March you see practical tips local, regional, national experts to help you “Live Clean. Live Better.”

#1. Only 10 % Your Time Is Spent Outdoors. What Are Your Breathing Indoors?

What are you breathing? It is a good question to ask ourselves. All of us face a variety of risks to our health as we go about our day-to-day lives. Driving in cars, flying in planes, engaging in recreational activities, and being exposed to environmental pollutants all pose varying degrees of risk. Some risks are simply unavoidable. The good news is indoor air pollution is one risk that you can do something about.

Consider this, research has shown people spend up to 90% of their time indoors. Here are some causes of poor indoor air quality.

• Wet or damp carpet
• Household cleaning Products
• Improper Ventilation, and
• and more

How to improve your indoor air quality.

• Check the air condition/ heater duct work for leaks into your home
• Remove wet or damp carpet that can lead to mold growing in your home.
• Throw away toxic household cleaning products that are harmful to you, your family, your pets, and the environment.

For more information about how to improve your homes indoor air quality call A Helping Hand at 608-829-2444 and ask for Scott or  Kathy.

One thing that makes it even more enjoyable is knowing all of the Madison and WI area athletes  that are in the Vancouver Olympics. As I am watching the games it brings them closer to home.

The other thing that I really enjoy is know that our staff take pride in their work every day as they work to clean hour clients home in excellence.

Our cleaning teams, which include a Team Leader and Team Member, are backed by a strong support staff. They have a Team Manager working hard everyday making sure they are fully equipped and professionally trained on and on-going basis.

Here are some things you can come to expect our staff at every visit:

• Clean, trustworthy, and professional staff
• Fully organized cleaning supplies, so you don’t have to use your own.
• Same level of service at every visit – Guaranteed!
• …and more

In addition, the Team Manager and staff are backed by the owner. We are here to serve our team, build them up, and help them cleaning your home at an olympic- grade.

It is our expectation that you would come to expect nothing less from A Helping Hand Residential Cleaning Professionals, LLC

http://www.madisonhousecleaning.net

This post is dedicated to our staff and women we serve through Cleaning For A Reason. “The only non-profit organization helping woman going through cancer treatment.”

Click here for more information about Cleaning For A Reason

Brava Magazine. Jan 2010

If you only had 10, 20, or 30 minutes to take care of your home what would you take care of first? Where would you begin? Read the latest featured article in BRAVA Magazine for A Helping Hand’s helpful ‘HOW-TO GUIDE’.

We were featured along with other local area experts in the January 2010 edition.

Grab your copy today and post your comment of the article today.

Also…

If you have a useful tips let us know, post it below.

Thank you for your support.

6 Budget Decorating Ideas Inexpensive And Simple Decorating Ideas

*Be sure to visit the links through out this article. We highlight local Madison area businesses that may help your decorating needs.

Inspiration for budget decorating ideas can be found everywhere. From low-cost reproductions of high-end designer rooms to creative themed rooms, decorating your home need not be a costly affair. However, it can be difficult to know where to begin. Presented here are a few budget-decorating ideas that can get your project started. Use these ideas as a springboard to create your own unique design.

Use Paint

As long as you do not have a landlord who forbids painting, this is at the top of most lists of budget decorating ideas. Color reflects mood and can be used as the backdrop to create a theme. Paint is relatively inexpensive and easy to work with and simply repainting a room can be enough to instill new life.

When selecting paint, it is important to keep a few factors in mind. Eggshell is a popular finish for walls, as it is easy to clean and carries just a hint of shine. Semi-gloss is an excellent choice for trim, providing a beautiful shine and an easily scrubbed surface. Gloss and flat paints are harder to work with and should only be used for accents, preferably once you gain more painting experience.

It is not necessary to purchase high-end designer paint. Most of the time, you are paying for the designer’s name rather than a higher quality. However, low-cost budget paints should be avoided; these paints tend to be thin and prone to drips and runs and will require multiple coats. Select a mid-grade paint instead.

When estimating the amount of paint you need, remember to calculate the square footage of the walls, not the overall square footage of the room.

Multiply the length of each wall by its height, and add each wall’s square footage together. You can subtract a bit for large areas of cutouts or cabinetry.

Before you start painting, make sure that your walls are properly prepared. Scrape and sand any loose or peeling paint and fill in holes. Consider using primer if you are painting over a bright or dramatic color or any faux finish. Plan on one to two coats of paint for a similar or darker color and two coats over primer or if you have selected a lighter color.

Faux finishing can add instant drama to your room. Popular budget decorating ideas involve techniques such as sponging and ragging that can be easily used by even a novice painter. Talk to the staff at the paint store or look online for directions. Ask the paint store’s staff to explain the color wheel to help you choose complementary colors and tones.

If you are not permitted to paint, consider attaching fabric to the walls instead.

Simply use a paint roller to apply starch to the wall then press the fabric into the wet starch. Use pushpins to hold the fabric until it dries. Cover the newly attached fabric with a top layer of starch. Exact directions can be easily found online. When you are ready to remove the fabric, simply grab a top corner and carefully peel the fabric from the wall. If you have any trouble, use a wet sponge to dampen the starch and make it pliable. If done correctly, this technique should not damage the underlying paint.

Simply use a paint roller to apply starch to the wall then press the fabric into the wet starch. Use pushpins to hold the fabric until it dries. Cover the newly attached fabric with a top layer of starch. Exact directions can be easily found online. When you are ready to remove the fabric, simply grab a top corner and carefully peel the fabric from the wall. If you have any trouble, use a wet sponge to dampen the starch and make it pliable. If done correctly, this technique should not damage the underlying paint.

Use Fabric

Fabric lends itself well to numerous budget-decorating ideas, as it can be purchased quite inexpensively if you follow a few simple tricks. Purchase end-of-bolt pieces or discontinued designs. Even scraps can be put together to create fabric murals, pillow covers or decorative accents. Think outside the box when selecting colors and patterns. Remember that choosing a third fabric that bears a pattern containing both colors can easily pull two disparate colors together.

Fabric can also be used to create room dividers, bed hangings, curtains and decorative accents. You can easily make a slipcover from either a length of fabric or even a bed sheet. No sewing skills are necessary to create fabric designs, although a slipcover can be a bit trickier.

Fabric can also be used to create room dividers, bed hangings, curtains and decorative accents. You can easily make a slipcover from either a length of fabric or even a bed sheet. No sewing skills are necessary to create fabric designs, although a slipcover can be a bit trickier.

Buy Discounted Pieces

Be willing to purchase furniture pieces from alternative sources such as Goodwill, Salvation Army, garage sales and odd-lot retailers. When choosing furniture, pay more attention to its structural quality than its outward appearance. A sturdy chair with a stained seat cushion can easily be reupholstered, while a mattress with broken springs is useless. Scratches and nicks in wood are easily repaired with a bit of sanding and wood putty. If you have some carpentry skills, it is possible to partially rebuild damaged wooden pieces, which can result in some truly great buys.

However, you must always consider whether a particular item is worth the time and effort that repairs will require.

Remember that eclectic design style is very popular and it is no longer necessary for furniture to “match.” This provides you freedom to assemble a collection of dining chairs one at a time or to purchase a loveseat and sofa from different sets. Use accent pieces, fabrics and wood stain to create harmony between differently styled pieces of furniture.

Anchor Each Room

A successful interior design scheme can be based around a central piece. Choose one focal point (the bed in a bedroom, the couch in a living room, etc) and find a piece that you truly love. This item may be your biggest financial investment for the room, or it may cost very little. Either way, it should provide an anchor point for that room around which the rest of the design scheme can take shape.

Do Not Buy Art for Art’s Sake

One of the most common mistakes made by people on a budget involves artwork. Many people feel that art on the walls is a requirement, so they go out and buy the first thing that they can afford. Whether your art budget is $10 or $100,000, it is important to design the room first. Then make art selections at your leisure, looking for pieces that inspire or speak to you and fit with the overall theme of the room.

Wonderful art can be found in all price ranges, and junk can also be found in all price ranges. Allow your art selections to happen organically over time, rather than making quick purchases because you feel that you need “art.”

Use Levels

Anything that you display, from a collection of shot glasses to a series of paintings, will look more visually interesting if you vary the heights of your display. Using various levels adds a sense of depth to even the most inexpensive budget decorating ideas. Look for inexpensive boxes, trunks, even suitcases to provide height to those items you want to display.

Presented above are just a few budget decorating ideas to help get your project started. Remember that paint and fabric are inexpensive and easy to change whenever you become bored. Basing any redecorating project on paint and fabric also helps keep costs low. Most importantly, take your time and design the room that is right for you.

What Is Your Home Decorating Style?

Do your friends and family say your home looks nice because you are an excellent home decorator, or are they just being polite? Take the home decorating style quiz to find out if your home decorating style is as inspirational as people say. Whether you are a decorating diva or your home decorating style is akin to a bowl of oatmeal, this quiz can show you if you are inspirational, average, or utterly boring. Which home decorating style are you?

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