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Archive for December, 2010

We’ve come a long way since our cave-dwelling ancestors piled up moss or grass to create the first pillows, if indeed they did. Ancient Egyptians, Chinese, Greeks and Romans all used bed pillows and decorative pillows to cushion themselves from hard stone and wood furniture. Today, you can buy a pillow for a few dollars at your local superstore or several hundred dollars at a high-end bedding store.

What you pay depends on what you want; if you are happy with cheap pillows, buy cheap pillows, use them until they wear out, then replace them. If, instead, you want you want something durable, hypoallergenic and soft as a cloud, buy what you want and don’t worry about the price. You’ll be grateful you did every time you wake up.

Bed pillows or sleeping pillows have one primary use (besides pillow fights at sleepovers): They support and cushion your head while sleeping, giving you a better night’s rest. The pillow material most directly influences how well it does its job.

Pillow Material

Down

Down is generally considered the ultimate material for pillow luxury. Down is the small feathers that keep birds warm, geese and ducks in particular, and down bedding is renowned for softness and warmth. Add a silk or satin pillowcase for even more comfort.

Memory Foam

A by-product of the space age, memory foam was developed by NASA to cushion astronauts during take-off. Memory foam is created by mixing chemicals that expand as they react, forming tiny air bubbles in the material–a chemical Swiss-cheese. Stiff foams do not allow air to circulate between cells, and some are actually strong enough to use as building materials. Memory foam, by contrast, is very flexible, especially when it is warmed by a human body. They mold themselves to the shape of your head but spring back to their original shape when you get up. The memory pillow has a natural resilience, so it won’t ever go flat.

Buckwheat

Buckwheat hull pillows, a traditional in the Orient, are a recent addition to Occidental bedrooms. They provide firmer support than down; conforming to your body shape and more evenly distributing the weight of your head and neck. Buckwheat hulls are resistant to breakage, deterioration and burning and are not chemically treated.

Polyester

Synthetic fibers are the inexpensive alternative to natural materials and polyester probably fills more pillows than anything else these days.

Pillow Firmness

The material also determines pillow firmness. Down or polyester pillows are simple; for a firmer pillow, the manufacturer simply puts more material into the pillow covering. A memory foam pillow uses differing chemical formulas to create foam that is more or less dense.

Pillow Design

A backrest pillow can be a wedge that keeps the head raised above the body while sleeping (very helpful for asthma and acid reflux sufferers) or a small, saddle-shaped pillow supporting the lower back while sitting.

Frequent travelers are especially fond of the neck pillow; it’s U-shape wraps around the neck, cradling the head and keeping it upright while driving or flying. On long trips, it helps prevent the sore muscles common after falling asleep sitting up.

Pillow care

The most serious pillow care problem is also a health issue–dust mites! They thrive in warm, humid climates and feed on dead skin cells shed by people. That means your bed is dust mite heaven, and 10 percent of people are allergic to proteins found in these tiny creatures. However, a few simple steps can be taken to minimize their effect. First, get allergen covers between the mites and their habitat–your pillows and mattress. Second, regularly wash all bedding in very hot water (anti-dust mite laundry additives are available). Third, give a thorough, regular vacuuming of bed and bedroom. Finally, put a dehumidifier in the bedroom. You have now turned your dust mite heaven into dust mite hell.

Even if you aren’t allergic to mites, these steps will be beneficial to your bedding; after all, what’s better after a hard day than lying down on freshly laundered sheets?

Pillow Terms

Standard/twin pillow: 20 inches high x 26 inches long

Queen pillow: 20 inches high x 30 inches long

King pillow: 20 inches high x 36 inches long

Body pillow: Of particular interest to stomach sleepers, this pillow is long enough to reach from your head to your feet.

Density: A memory foam pillow is rated by density in pounds per cubit foot; 3 to 5 lbs. are the most common densities.

Hypoallergenic: Designed and constructed with materials that minimize the potential of allergic reactions.

Maternity: Actually two pillows sewn together to provide support to the back and abdomen when lying on your side or back.

Pillow questions and answers

What is thread count?

Abbreviated TC, it means the number of threads (in each direction) per inch of cloth; the higher the count, the softer and stronger the fabric–200TC is considered the minimum for a good, soft texture, but in luxury bedding, TC can exceed 2,000. Not a major factor in pillows, but very important when you consider pillowcases.

What is a bed in a bag?

A complete set of bedding, with matching materials and designs, contains top sheets, fitted sheets and pillowcases, plus quilts or comforters. Queen or king sets contain two pillowcases. Sets may also include duvet covers, pillow shams or dust ruffles. The fanciest sets might add matching decorative throw pillows, window dressings, even bathroom rugs.

Is it really illegal to remove the tag?

If you’re the seller, it is. As the buyer, you can pull it off as soon as you get home, but it’s a good idea to leave the tag on–it contains the materials and care instructions for that pillow.

The heart of many central heating systems is the water boiler. Boilers can be powered by electricity, oil or gas, and will continue to provide heat to your radiators, underfloor heating or hot water systems for many years, without a single grunt or groan of complaint.

Ignoring your boiler and assuming all is well can be a disastrous and costly mistake, as a lot of people find out, usually when its needed most. No heating, no hot water. What could be worse? You will pay almost anything to get your home comforts back; and you probably will when you see the heating engineers bill land on the table.

With just a little planning during the warmer months, you can avoid the unnecessary panic and associated costs needed to restore your house to a home.

Here are 5 tips:

Make sure you shop around for a qualified heating engineer to come and service your boiler. Engineers working on gas, oil and electricity should be registered with an appropriate organisation. You can check the engineers’ registration is valid by asking for their registration number and checking with the relevant body. Always agree a price for the standard service and any additional labour that may be required to replace parts. Get the engineer to detail a scope of work that is included in the price. Most decent engineers will provide a written service report. This should include any safety checks that are made, the results of any tests carried out and details of any parts replaced. A general service in the summer can help prevent many problems when the boiler is activated in the Winter. However, nothing is 100% guaranteed!

If your boiler is greater than 10 years old, you may wish to consider replacing it with a new, higher efficiency condensing boiler. As boilers age, maintenance costs go up and efficiency goes down. This all makes for a more expensive heating system for you. Get your heating engineers advice on the matter, and shop around, there are some bargains to be had out there.

Selecting a towel may seem quite a simple task, but if done with care and a few handy tips selection of the best bath towel can help you make up your day. Even a simple after shower wipe may seem more smooth and cuddly experience to begin your day perfectly.

Bath towels also add up to your bathroom’s d

Marble flooring has become increasingly more popular in the past ten years. Marble and Granite have always been popular choices of materials for counter tops, but marble flooring is a great choice to complement any kitchen with wonderful elegance and style. This article will look at some of the reason why you may want to consider marble flooring for your next project.

Where Does Marble Flooring Come From?

For several years companies took fine marble from Italy to use in buildings and other places that required a hard rock material. Now you will find that marble is being brought in from China, Spain, Soviet Union, and even Mexico.

What is Marble Made From?

Marble is created when limestone is subjected to high temperatures and pressure from the earth. The combination of heat and pressure cause the limestone to crystallize and create marble. The very fact that it endures so much to become marble is a contributing fact that it is a very durable material.

Since marble is a natural material is will resist stains very well. This is especially important if you are planning on using marble flooring in your kitchen where it may be subject to spills and lots of foot prints.

Some natural Products Might Cause Problems

Although marble is tough and will resist most stains well. Some common household products like nail polish remover, orange juice, and even certain shampoos might cause stains or damage to your marble flooring. It is recommended that you use a good sealer on your marble flooring to help resist certain stains.

Take Care of Your Marble Flooring

There are some extra care issues that you should consider if you plan to install marble flooring in any area that will be subject to higher traffic. If you plan to install marble flooring in a foyer or door entrance you will want to think about having a professional installer clean and re-seal the marble flooring every year or so.

Marble flooring offers a look and feel that most other flooring materials do not offer. It definitely has its place in the consideration of flooring options. You can find lots of information online about marble flooring. You may want to check with a few builders and see if they have sample of home you can look at to see if it is the flooring choice for you.

Okay! Photoshop is a lot of things but it is not a dishwasher. I’ll grant you that. But it can be very useful around the house. Maybe even indispensable.

Not long ago, I clicked my garage door opener and, after some screeching that sounded like derailing train, it shuttered to a stop in a painfully crooked position. Fast forward to the garage door installer showing my wife and me pictures of new garage doors. Lots of styles, lots of colors… and lots of indecision. But the solution was easy. I digitally scanned some contenders from the installer’s

There’s nothing like stepping between the cool clean sheets of a freshly laundered bed but it’s not so good if you haven’t looked after your linens properly. Here’s the best way to launder linens and make sure you get the best out of them.

1. Wash Regularly

I know it’s a bit of a chore but you need to change and launder your bed linens every week. That way they will stay as crisp and fresh as possible. If you have more than one set then rotate them and you will get years of use out of good quality linens.

2. Avoid Bleach

If you wash sheets regularly bleaching should not be needed. This damages the fibers of the fabric over time. If you need to bleach try a quarter cup of lemon juice in the wash otherwise standard washing in a washing machine with good quality detergent will be fine. If you have colored sheets avoid bleach altogether, wash dark colors together to prevent color running and use color care detergent to prevent colors fading.

3. Room To Move

Don’t overload your washing machine with linens and other items as the sheets won’t clean properly. Put your washing machine through several cycles instead if necessary.

4. Dry Sheets Alone

Putting sheets in the dryer with heavier items such as jeans or towels will mean that the sheets stay in the dryer longer, dry unevenly and wrinkle more. Dry on medium heat and remove your bedding as soon as the dryer has stopped to reduce wrinkling.

5. Don’t Store Damp Linens

Always make sure bedding is dry before you put it away. Fold your bedding while still warm from the dryer or iron your sheets and air them before folding or replacing on the bed. A lavender iron spray is a nice touch.

6. Don’t Cram Your Sheets In

Putting your carefully ironed sheets away in a cramped drawer or untidy closet is going to undo your good work. Tidy out your closets and drawers to make sure that you have ample room to keep your folded linens and have easy access without dragging everything out onto the floor when you look for something.

7. Protect Your Linens

If you use a traditional wooden chest to store your linens and other bedding make sure you line it with fabric such as muslin or acid free paper to avoid linens getting stained by the oils in the wood.