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Storing your things in a self storage unit might be a little daunting at first but if you know what will keep your belongings safe while they are not with you, you are sure to be happy with the results. Many areas of North America tend to be exposed to extreme changes in climates and humidity. Because of this most storage companies offer self storage units that are climate controlled. Some things don’t need this type of unit, however, there are some things that you are sure to own that will need a climate controlled unit.

Climate controlled storage facilities are the best way to protect your possessions against biological contaminants like mold, mildew, dust mites, bacteria and viruses. They also help in the prevention of wood degradation, paper rot, musty odors and any health problems that are caused by these types of contaminants. Although it is a bit larger expense to rent one of these units rather than a regular unit, it is almost always worth it. Not everything needs such a unit but there are a few items that you need to keep in mind when considering this type of storage.

Electronics need a climate controlled environment because getting moisture inside of them can affect the way that they work and if they get wet enough, they can even stop working all together. You need to keep all of your electronics in a dry and preferably warm place to prevent them from not working in the future.

Expensive furniture including antiques, wood furniture and fabric covered items also need to be kept in a warm dry place. If they get damp, they can become moldy, covered in mildew or even begin to rot. Mold and mildew can even stain wooden and fabric items which can depreciate the value of them. It can also cause allergic reactions and may help cause asthma attacks. If you want your furniture to remain in the same condition that you put it into storage as, you will want to look into a climate controlled unit.

Clothing is another thing that can become covered in mildew and mold if it is left in a cold damp area for too long. It is best to keep them in a unit that is heated and well ventilated so that you do not ruin you favorite jeans or sweater. Also, you will want to make sure that they are packed when they are completely dry so that the items will not become moldy in the boxes that they are stored in even if it is a climate controlled unit.

Other items that will need a climate controlled unit are books, important papers, paintings and other pieces of art. Anything that is made of paper is subject to paper rot if it is left in a damp area. Another problem that can arise, is curling pages and multiple pages sticking together and bleeding. Then there is of course the possibility of mold and mildew covering the pages or art and making it worthless and ruined. You may also need to find a climate controlled unit for your expensive or collector’s vehicle. Many units have heated garages that are perfect for vintage cars and brand new sports cars.

So if you have items such as electronics, clothing, furniture, books and art, you may want to consider getting a climate controlled storage unit to keep your things safe and to take away the fear that anything might happen to them.

Migson Public Storage provides customers with facilities such as mini storage as well as record storage downtown Toronto.

It is time for a new house. Perhaps you have out grown your old one or are just looking for a change. So, you go shopping and don`t find anything that is the total package for you and your family. What to do now? How about build one? The first things you will need are some blueprints for your new castle.

Now, assuming that you have already selected the lot to build on, you are ready to begin the actual planning of your dream house. First, take a blank sheet of paper on which you write the items that must absolutely be in the new house. Then make a second list of the things you would like to have if the budget or other relevant considerations make them possible.

When rooms are mentioned, write down the approximate size desired, either in square feet or give the desired dimensions in feet. These will only be approximate, as they must all eventually be fitted into the completed house blue print.

You might begin with something like this:

Living Room:
350 to 400 square feet
carpet floor
fireplace
large picture window
space for grand piano
wall space for furniture
quiet corner for reading

Continue the list until you have included the things you consider essential to a satisfactory house for you and your family. Then, you can start putting the rooms into your overall house blueprint.

The reason for the two lists is so that you can check your list should you find yourself with a little extra budget. Also, it will help figure out where to cut things if the budget gets too tight. If you draw your own blueprints, you will find the list indispensable. You can check your drawings against the list to find out what you are omitting in time to correct the plan.

The second list of things that would be desirable should be consulted once in awhile to see if any of those items could somehow be included in the plan. Possibly a few luxuries will not carry you too far beyond your budget.

When putting together your blueprints keep in mind the overall size of the house and usefulness of the space you are using. This may sound like an idea that doesn`t need to be mentioned, however, if a house that is too small, especially if it lacks storage space, is harder to keep in order than one that is adequate in size. Beware of large porches and verandas. Give thought to who is going to sweep down the cobwebs twice a week and who will sweep the leaves off every day in the fall and who will mop or hose off the dust occasionally. Space that is not useful is worse than wasted. You have to pay taxes on it and keep in cleaned. You have to light it, heat it and paint it occasionally. So do not build more house than you really need.

It is wonderful to have many large rooms, but if you have a large living room, adequate eating space and a good sized master bedroom, perhaps you will not feel too much circumscribed if the den is not large and the other bedrooms are reasonably small. Perhaps the family room and the dining room can be combined, especially if you have a nice breakfast nook. It is entirely possible to get too much house.
Every square foot has to be paid for and taken care of.

When you draw your blueprints, play around with the square footage you are planning on building. You will inevitably come up with a blueprint that will fit your family, style and budget.

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Roses, sometimes called the queen of flowers, look charming in the garden but also especially when they are cut and brought inside. There are several things which can be dome to enhance the beauty of your cut roses.

Roses will last for two to seven days, depending on the stage at which they are cut, and on the season. Other flowers have only one season, but roses are available throughout the year. Yet, despite their relatively short-lasting properties, the whole world still regards the rose as possessing everything that goes to make the perfect flower. It is the flower demanded for all special occasions; it always has been so.

Beauty is a composite quality. In any individual flower there are many contributing factors, the chief being colour and form. The flower may be of any colour, but this must be pleasing, either as a self-colour or as a colour combination. Form may be conventionally concentric as in dahlias, zinnias, and calendulas, looser as in carnations, azaleas, some camellias, and some chrysanthemums, or of an asymmetrical structure peculiar to that one type of flower, as in violets, pansies, sweet peas, antirrhinums, and irises. Each is beautiful in its own way.

All roses are concentric and either of the conventional spiral, or of loose form. Many are spiral in their early stages and loose as half-open flowers. Any flower that is normally concentric is enhanced by spiral arrangement of its petals, provided it is not made up of a multitude of petals amounting to solidity and coarseness.

Design

In the same way as Nature varies her arrangement of petals in flowers, so can we vary our use of flowers, not only for many purposes, but in diverse ways for each purpose. It is the effect gained that matters, and not the material used or the method adopted in arriving at that effect.

The more beautiful the integral parts of a floral arrangement, the easier it is to achieve a pleasing effect, but good arrangement of poorer material can often surpass less artistic handling of perfect specimen blooms. This is the real test of a floral artist

Containers

Flower containers should be subservient to the blooms and of simple shapes, with firm bases and good capacity for water. Occasionally a bowl or vase of distinctive colouring may be desirable, but only for roses of one variety of a dominant colouring. Opaque vessels are to be preferred because they conceal the stems. The old-fashioned silver rose-bowl has almost disappeared. Any accessories used should be subordinate to the flowers and their arrangement.

Cutting Blooms

For decorative uses, full-petalled roses may be left on the plant until half open, but the thinner types are best cut when only the outer petals have unfolded. Some roses lose their colour and freshness more quickly than others after cutting. Many of the reds and deeper pinks “blue” fairly quickly.

The apricot and other fancy colours often look drab after a very few hours, and should be cut as late as possible before they are to be displayed for any special occasion. White or yellow roses improve after cutting, the white becoming whiter and the yellow deepening in colour in much the same way as blooms covered for show purposes.

Wilting is due to water’s evaporating faster than it is being taken up by the stalk. When a rose is cut from the plant, air immediately enters the small spaces at the end of the stem. This air remains there when the cut end is placed in water, and obstructs the suction of water into the stem.

Recutting of the stems under water before the blooms are arranged will allow water, instead of air, to enter the new cut and will greatly increase the lasting properties of flowers. Only about a quarter of an inch need be clipped from each stem.

Using the above techniques, roses can be brought inside and will enhance any table-setting. Enjoy!

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House cleaning, if done properly, should take no great length of time, and leaves any house looking wonderful. To look its best a room must have a clean, softly lustrous floor whatever the finish or covering may be. Such floors are not difficult to achieve with the equipment and materials available at small cost to today’s housekeeper.

For waxed wooden floors and resilient coverings there are long handled buffers and applicators of modest price, while electric polishers can be rented inexpensively from hardware and grocery stores. Self-polishing waxes make the care of many floorings easier and to apply them there are applicators with containers for the wax, controlled by a trigger.

WAXED WOODEN FLOORS predominate in all but the kitchens and bathrooms of most homes so we shall discuss them first. Wax is sometimes applied directly to softwood floors, but for these as well as for hardwoods a finish for the wood is highly desirable for appearance and ease of maintenance.

If the finish on your floors is badly worn away in traffic areas, or if the wood has never been finished properly, save yourself a headache by having it sanded down to clean wood and refinished. Electric sanders can be rented: sealers are especially easy to apply. So the job could be done without outside help.

FOR WOODEN FLOORS in good condition, whatever the finish, the routine care is the same if they are waxed. They should be dusted regularly with a vacuum cleaner, soft brush, or untreated mop. Once a month, or as needed, they should be polished with a weighted buffer or electrical polisher. At this time fresh wax should be applied to areas that look worn. About twice a year the entire floor should be rewaxed. A paste wax is the most durable and is recommended generally, though liquid and even some self-polishing waxes can be used if you prefer them.

BEFORE PASTE WAX IS APPLIED the floor should be cleaned thoroughly. For this purpose use a liquid wax, or one of the special cleaners made for removing embedded soil from waxed floors. In this category are Bruce’s Floor Cleaner, Preen, and Beautiflor. Like liquid wax these special cleaners contain a dry cleaning agent such as naphtha, plus wax and other efficient dirt removers; they loosen the soil and remove old wax, yet leave a film of clean wax on the floor. Directions for using these products are given on the container. Read them carefully to obtain the best results. The general instructions are as follows:

First vacuum the floor carefully to remove surface dust and dirt. Shake the container to be sure the contents are thoroughly mixed before applying the cleaner. If it has been stored in a cold place and become thickened, stand the can in hot water for a while, or hold it under a hot water faucet, and then shake it. (Never heat any wax preparation over an open flame.)

YOU CAN STAND UP FOR WAXING. You do not need to get down on your hands and knees to apply cleaning wax to a floor. Use one of the inexpensive, long handled applicators that are made especially for this purpose. One kind makes use of steel wool pads that greatly aid the cleaning action. Pour a little of your cleaner onto the floor, and using the applicator, rub with the grain of the wood to loosen the dirt which will be picked up by the cloth pad, or by a cloth placed under the applicator pad. Change cloths as they become soiled and work until the floor has been completely cleaned.

WASHING A WAXED WOODEN FLOOR is seldom necessary, if it is well kept and if sticky materials spilled on it are wiped up promptly with a moist cloth. However, it can be washed without damage if you use a cloth well wrung out of mild suds. Wash a small section at a time and rinse each area before moving on to the next. The important thing is not to get the floor too wet. Buff the floor afterwards, when it has dried thoroughly. Rewax it if this seems necessary.

With these basic instructions, it should be a fairly easy task for the householder to get and maintain her floors in good order.

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Bunk beds and loft beds provide a great solution for families looking to conserve space. They are typically used in kid’s rooms to provide more space for kid’s activities. Bunk beds make it possible for two kids to share a room or provide a built-in solution for sleepovers! Loft beds are supreme space-savers for kids dealing with a small room. Incorporating the bed with drawers, desks and sometimes even a trundle, loft beds leave the rest of the bedroom available for everything else.

You may think that bunk bed and loft bed designs are fairly standard. While they do often have a typical “look” to them, there are still hundreds of variations from which to choose. All bunk beds are not created equal, however, and buyers should do their homework in order to make a smart — and safe purchase.

Functionality

With the multiple layout and design options offered for bunk beds and loft beds, it is easy to fall in love with one. Most families need this bed to last many years, which is why it is important to take into consideration the bunk bed’s functionality before making a purchase.

Is the bed big enough for a growing child? Many bunk beds offer designs that incorporate a full bed. Purchasing a bigger bunk bed will add years to its life. There are also different heights available on bunk beds. As long as the ceilings in the bedroom are not too low, purchasing the higher bunk bed will allow taller children and adults to sit comfortably on the bottom bunk. This also prolongs the life of the bunk bed.

Lastly, the theme or design makes a difference. The tent or princess-themed bed may look cute now, but if a family needs this bed to last the lifetime of the child at home, choosing a bunk bed with a simpler design may be a more prudent choice.

Product Recalls

As is true with all products purchased with kids in mind, it is always important to check for product recalls. Bunk beds and loft beds can be recalled for various reasons. Some have openings that can entrap small children and others may have faulty guardrails or ladders. Reputable dealers are aware of all product recalls, but it is still good as a consumer to do your homework. Before purchasing a bed, check with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission to be sure the bunk bed has not been recalled.

Construction Method

Children are not gentle creatures. Bunk beds purchased for use in a child’s room will have to withstand a lot of abuse. Considering the construction method of the bunk bed before purchasing can ensure the bed will remain safe.

The first rule of thumb is that wood bunk beds are typically safer than metal ones. This is because the metal ones tend to be wobbly, dent, rust and have a propensity for weak joints. A metal bunk bed may be cheaper, but it is not a good investment.

Even wooden beds have their issues, however. The heavier the wood, the safer the bunk bed. Screws and wing nuts also have a tendency to jostle loose over time. That is why it is important to look for a wooden bunk bed that has ample support braces to absorb some of the impact off the joints.

Cost of Shipping

Online furniture shopping is on the rise and can be a huge convenience because shoppers don’t have to haul the bunk bed home themselves. Cost of shipping can be cost prohibitive, however. Before ordering online, check to see if the company offers free shipping or flat-rate shipping. Choosing an online dealer that offers free shipping can save hundreds of dollars off the cost of a bunk bed.

Christine O’Kelly is an author for Bunk Beds and Loft Beds Galore, the online bunk beds and loft bed superstore offering free shipping for all orders within the US.

You have probably never given much thought, if any, to the chair mat that you roll your office chair around on top of all day. It’s like a rug but does so much more, yet does anyone really know where they come from, what they’re made of or that there are actually different kinds? Chances are this is not a topic you have spent much time studying, but like most things there is more to know than you might have thought. It just goes to show you that even the simplest of inventions have some kind of story behind them.

Simply put, chair mats are the hard plastic mats that go on the floor of an office that is carpeted. The standard office chair has wheels that do not roll over carpet very well, so anytime you are on carpet and want to roll backwards to grab something off the fax machine you stood a very good chance of flipping over backwards. That’s not something you want your coworkers seeing you do outside of happy hour, so you get a chair mat. With great easy you can roll back and forth all day long without worrying about your chair wheels getting caught up in the plastic.

The most common chair mats are made of a hard clear plastic with small spikes on the bottom. The spikes are painful if you grab the mat the wrong way, but they are necessary. Their main purpose is to anchor the mat to the carpet and keep it from sliding around, which would negate its purpose completely. Clear mats are common simply because they do not hide the carpet. Many offices have carpets of different colors and designs, so it may be hard to find a mat in a color that would go well with anything, and a color that didn’t go would be kind of unsightly.

Clear is not the only way to get a chair mat, however. You can find them in wood colors to match your hardwood floors, or a solid color that blends into any other type of flooring. Some chair mats come with special features, such as anti-static chair mats. Hasn’t this happened to everyone? You go to shake the hand of a visitor in your office after walking 30 feet across the carpet and “Zap!” you both get an unexpected shock. It’s not that it is a particularly painful experience, just a little surprising at 8:30 in the morning. Anti-static chair mats help eliminate some of the electricity that builds up so you don’t shock yourself on your desk, phone, computer or another person.

While most chair mats are made to go on top of carpet to help the chair move more easily, some serve the opposite purpose. A rolling desk chair on a hard surface such as linoleum, concrete or hard wood can often move a little too easily. It sounds like no big deal until you sit down one day not paying quite enough attention and the chair shoots out from under you, flying across the room. Certain types of chair mat help create friction for the chair wheels so it is a little more difficult to move, but still not impossible.

Finally, you may want to get a plain square chair mat, and for many people that works just fine. However, if your desk is set up a specific way or you have different pieces of furniture than simply the straight desk, you may need one of a unique size or shape. That is when custom chair mats can come in handy. There are office supply companies that can take the measurements you give them and create a custom chair mat that will fit your office perfectly. No more embarrassing, annoying or painful chair mishaps for you ever again!

Stewart Baker writes for ModernOfficeFurniture.com They carry a huge selection of office chairs, chair mats, office desks, and other office furniture suitable for the home or office. Make them your one-stop shop for all your furniture needs.