floors Archives - Tammie's Take~

What Is The Best Way To Prevent Fleas?

Reviews · October 26, 2022

When you first hear the word fleas you probably think about your pets. After all, we’ve all seen images of dogs covered in bites and scratches thanks to a flea infestation. Eliminating fleas in your home is one way of looking after your pets. But, it should be noted, while fleas generally prefer animals, they can also target humans.

This happens when the pets have been treated but your house still has fleas or when there are simply too many fleas. You’ll start to notice itchy marks on your legs, usually no higher than the knee.

The problem with fleas is that they lay a lot of eggs, resulting in a lot more fleas. It can appear as though you have killed them all and then the new eggs hatch and the problem starts all over again. This is particularly true if you have carpeted floors as you’re giving the fleas the perfect place to hide themselves and their eggs.

If you have an infestation it is best to find out more info about your local specialist and let them handle the problem for you. In addition, you can learn the best techniques for preventing the return of the fleas.

Flea Treatments

The most obvious way to prevent fleas is to visit your vet or local store and purchase flea treatments. These are usually administered via a pipette and a few drops of liquid are placed at the bottom of their neck/top of their back.

It’s effective, especially if you get ones from the vets which tend to be stronger.

Vacuum Daily

If you want to prevent fleas you need to vacuum daily. Specifically, you need to tackle carpeted areas as these are where fleas and their eggs are most likely to be. Simply vacuum on the normal setting and you’ll suck up any fleas and eggs, breaking the cycle.

It takes several days to eliminate them in this way but vacuuming daily is a great way to prevent an infestation from starting.

To help kill any fleas or eggs, sprinkle the carpet with baking soda and brush it to make sure the soda gets to the bottom of the piles. This will suffocate and kill the fleas and eggs, allowing you to vacuum them up a few moments later.

Essential Oils

Essential oils are a good way of killing fleas already on your dogs as they suffocate. The aroma can also prevent fleas from jumping onto the dog.

All you have to do is add a few drops of essential oil to a spray bottle of water. It’s best to choose oils such as peppermint, eucalyptus, or citronella. These are the most effective.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple cider vinegar is actually very good for your dog. It will help to regulate their pH levels. As a side-effect of this, the dog is likely to be less appealing to fleas, they simply don’t like the taste.

You can dilute several tablespoons of vinegar in water and spray your dog. Or, if you prefer, you can add a teaspoon to a bowl of drinking water and they can ingest it. It’s surprisingly effective.

3 Tips for Keeping Your Floors Safe During a Move

Reviews · December 14, 2018

3 Tips for Keeping Your Floors Safe During a Move If you’re getting ready to move, you might be wondering how to protect your new floors before there are dozens of heavy boots stomping everywhere as people haul in boxes and furniture. Fortunately, it’s easier than you might think. Here are just a few tips for keeping your floors clean and safe as you relocate.

1. Put Down Tarps and Sheets One of the simplest ways to protect your floor is also one of the most effective. Lay down a protective barrier like a tarp or a vinyl sheet. Not only will it prevent scuff marks, but it will also provide traction for your movers that will prevent them from slipping on anything overly smooth or glossy. This can be especially helpful in a high-traffic area like the front foyer. It’s often designed for style over functionality or safety, so you’ll need to make up the lack.

2. Beware of Slippery Areas Speaking of slips, this is probably the single biggest cause of moving day mishaps. The people hauling a heavy dresser aren’t looking at their feet, and the people directing them through the door aren’t thinking about slips and falls. Of course, this is exactly when everyone starts to slip and fall. Do yourself a favor and be extra diligent in drying slippery areas before they can become hazards.

3. Prepare Your New Floors in Advance If you already plan on doing something special with your new floors, move up the date. Instead of waiting until after you’ve moved in to complete the remodeling process, do it before your family actually arrives. Buy those epoxy floor products and apply them; strip up that peeling linoleum and replace it with something better. Have everything ready before move-in day so that you can already reap the benefits when the time comes. These are just a few tips for protecting your floors as you prepare to relocate. It doesn’t matter if you’re moving across town or across the pond; the basic principles are the same. Remain vigilant, utilize the resources at your disposal and watch out for accidents.

Things to Consider When Buying a Rug

Reviews · December 3, 2017

You might be in the process of decorating your new home. If this is the case, some rugs might be on your shopping list. These are not items that you should buy quickly without giving it a lot of thought. There are a number of things that you need to take into consideration before you make a rug purchase. The extra time that you spend shopping for your rugs will pay off in the long run. You will be able to get beautiful rugs that you will be able to enjoy for many years to come. Here is what you need to know to be a smart shopper when it comes to buying rugs.

1. Think about the size of the room that the rug will be placed in.

You should start off by taking the measurements of the particular room that you are in the process of decorating. How much of the floor do you want to be covered by the rug? Where do you want the rug to be positioned in the room? The total dimensions of the room might not matter if some of the space is already filled by other objects. Therefore, you need to measure the area where the rug will be laid. Then you will be able to avoid buying a rug that is too big for the space that you have available.

2. What type of design do you want the rugs to have on it?

The style of the rug that you decide to buy will usually have a lot to do with the overall decorative scheme of the room that you will place it in. You might want to consider looking at some southwestern style rugs if that design will compliment the rest of the room. Roth Rugs has an impressive inventory that includes many of the most popular styles.

3. What type of material do you want the rug to be made out of?

Ideally, you want the rug that you buy to last for many years. You need to buy a very strong and durable rug if you plan on placing it in a part of your home that has a high level of foot traffic. Therefore, you must pay very close attention to the materials that were used to make the rug. Buy something that can tolerate being walked on regularly.