A sofa is one of the most basic and most functional pieces of furniture in the house. We spend long hours sitting or lying on it every day. Sometimes that sofa can end up full of crumbs, stains, hair and much worse. Cleaning it, though seemingly difficult, can be achieved quickly and easily by following some simple tips.
Sofas come in many shapes, colours and materials – the latter is especially important to cleaning. Before you start cleaning, learn what the material of your sofa is. Most models have labels that identify whether:
W: You may use water for cleaning.
S: You can use specific cleaner for fabric.
SW: Water and cleaning products are safe to use.
X: Only dry cleaning.

Practical tips to clean your sofa:

• Dry Cleaning: Use a vacuum cleaner. Most new vacuum cleaners have special attachments placed on the tip, to reach and clean even the most difficult parts of the sofa. Do not forget to vacuum both arms of the sofa, as well as the back.
• Leather sofa: If your sofa is made of leather, you can use special products for cleaning leather surfaces, which you can find in stores. If the sofa is not too dirty, use a damp cloth instead.
  Sofa with wooden surfaces: If your sofa has wooden framing, use a cloth to remove the dust.
• Sofa with velvet fabric or synthetic microfiber: If you do not want to use chemicals, try cleaning your sofa with a chamois cloth, dipped in a solution of water, some drops of vinegar, and ammonia. Rub over stains and when removed, leave the fabric to dry naturally.
• For the odours that have soaked in your sofa: Sprinkle your sofa with baking soda, leave for an hour, and then remove it with a vacuum cleaner.
• Hair from pets: Use a dry, synthetic cloth with long fibres, to collect the hair that your pet loses over time. Alternatively, use duct tape. Wrap the tape around your palm and place your hand over the area you want to clean. The hairs stick to the tape.
• Deep cleaning: For even deeper cleaning, you can use a steam cleaner on any upholstery. The hot steam will eliminate any germs.
• For difficult cases: In really difficult cases, there is always a risk of causing damage to the fabric of the sofa while cleaning. In such cases, the safest solution is to use the help of professional cleaning services that have the expertise and the resources to do the job properly and safely.

For many families, a washing machine is much more than a convenience, it’s an essential part of their weekly routine. This means that finding the right one will take some thought and careful consideration.

One of the biggest concerns that people have when shopping for a new washing machine is the issue of size. Not everyone has the space to allow installation of a full-sized washer and dryer. Fortunately, a little thought into what your exact requirements are, and you can narrow down your options smoothly…

Measure Your Space

Before you decide on a new washing machine, make sure you know where you are going to install it. You’ll need to carefully measure how much room you have to place the appliance. When you are measuring, make sure to allow a few extra inches above and in front of the unit. You’ll need to allow some room for plugging it into to a power outlet, as well as some room for opening and loading the washer.

If you’re short on space, consider a front-loading model. They’re a bit more expensive but they are stackable and can save you a significant amount of space.

Estimate Your Usage

The size of a washing machine is directly related to its capacity, or how much it can wash at a time. Are you purchasing a washing machine to use for yourself or do you have a spouse, roommates or children?

Washing machines can range from the small, efficient 5.5 kg models up to large 16 kg models. To estimate how much of capacity you’ll need, a good rule is that 1 kg can wash one outfit (shirt, pants and undergarments). So, if you’re a single adult, one cycle in a 5.5 kg machine can wash all of your work clothes for the week. However, if you have several children or roommates, an 8 or 9 kg machine might be a better choice.

Consider Your Bills

You’ll also need to think about how the size of your washer affects your utility costs. Front-loading models cost more initially, but the use far less water and electricity. This can help you save on your monthly bills. Make sure to check the energy rating on a new washer model to estimate how much it will cost you in the long run.

Can help you find the right choice.

As the world gets globalized, the need for travelling has grown by leaps and bounds. Be it the academic or professional work schedule, or a long leisure vacation, we all are experiencing transition and are facing the concerns that come with it.
No matter how short or long the stay is, a well-furnished home is a place to look forward to. Buying furniture and appliances can be a hassle and also a little heavy on the pocket. But with the introduction of modern local furniture rentals the dread of transition can be avoided.

1. Cost Effective: Paying a large sum of money to buy the furniture is no longer viable. We can easily rent furniture, appliances, and gadgets for a much lower price. Moreover, a wide range of prices of furniture are available and can be chosen according to the needs of the occupant.
2. Hassle Free: Purchasing furniture involves a tiresome task. If the stay is short-term the idea of re-selling the furniture comes into the picture. Expected price or suitable buyer may not be found on time leading to a chaotic circumstance. Renting furniture comes without such hassles. The appliance can be easily returned once the period of rental is over without any complications.
3. Convenient: With the advent of modern rental websites, the furniture to be rented can easily be delivered at our doorstep. Even a convenient date and time can be scheduled according to the preferences of the occupants.
4. Long or Short Term: The idea of rental furniture is not only suitable for a short term but also long term. From weeks to months, furniture and appliances can be rented for a flexible amount of time serving the needs of the renter.
5. Flexibility: Often we buy furniture that tend to wear and tear after a while or do not seem to live up to our expectations. But with renting furniture and appliances a level of flexibility is available where we can easily try and change according to our demands.

Whether you are corporate personnel, a student or simply a traveller, furniture rental is suitable for all. Moreover, at present, even the permanent dwellers are choosing rentals over buying. It is often observed that the lifespan of a store bought furniture is less in terms of money as compared to that of a rental furniture. The dilemma of rent versus buy can be overcome with the verdict going towards renting for the major advantages that rental furniture services offer.

by DENISE DOCKER

Television has definitely come a long way since its conception. Who would have thought it could get this far in a relatively short time in our world’s history. Here is a rough timeline –
• 1920’s – The conception and beginning of television
• 1954 -1965 – Colour television was gradually accepted and became commonplace
• 2000–2010 – Digital television was introduced and the analogue signal was phased out
• 2010 – Currently Smart Televisions are being rolled out and becoming widely appreciated
• 2010 – 3D Television is still improving while developing a growing audience

Socurrently available for the avid viewer to purchase are: -Digital, Smart and 3D televisions – either LED or LCD screens. Confused? It can be a bit daunting with all these choices. No need to stress though as there are plenty of skilled staff available to give you advice at numerous outlets around the country. I will try and summarise the differences between these televisions as best as I can.

SMART TELEVISION
All new televisions are now digital after analogue was replaced. With the onset of the internet and the improved speeds available to most households, the smart television can now be connected to the internet as well. This means you can download movies and other content direct from the internet to your television or you can share data from your computer.

3D TELEVISION
This kind of television was introduced to enable the viewer to watch movies, sports & other shows with a 3D aspect. This in turn would bring the picture to life and give a much more realistic experience. Initially 3D glasses needed to be worn to view these programmes but there has been significant advance with some 3D sets not requiring them.

LCD TELEVISION
LCD televisions ‘Liquid Crystal Display’ revolutionised the overall shape, giving a much thinner profile than ever before. The picture quality was further improved and remains a more economical choice than LED.

LED TELEVISION
LED televisions ‘Light Emitting Diodes’ are basically LCD’s but with LED lighting, instead of fluorescent tubes. The LED gives a better picture quality and colour range than the LCD. These televisions can be even thinner and have lower power consumption. Even though they are more expensive to purchase they do have a longer lifespan.

Now all you have to do is decide on the size of your screen before you purchase or hire your new television.