How to grow vegetables in containers?

For some persons, traditional gardens are not practical because of space limitations or because there are so much work to do. As for other alternative, there is an easier way to grow and enjoy fresh vegetables in containers.

Many vegetables lend themselves well to any container. With a certain thought to choose varieties of bush or dwarf, almost any vegetable can be adapted to grow in a pot. The vegetables which take little space, such as carrots, radishes and lettuce, or crops that bear fruits over a long period of time, such as tomatoes and peppers, are great for container.

You can follow work instructions below to grow your own vegetables in container:

1) Prepare several suitable containers, garden soil, garden tools, vegetable seeds or starter plants and suitable place.

2) If the containers have no holes, drill some drainage holes through the bottom. Place your containers in locations according to sun exposure; follow seed packet instructions; and convenience to water source.

3) Fill containers to appropriate levels with soil. Plant seeds according to the seed and/or starter plants packet instructions.

4) Water on a daily basis, or as needed.

5) Remove any weeds in your containers.

6) Some plants such as potatoes need to add and mound soil around the plants occasionally.

7) Harvest when your vegetables in container ripen.


Before you start to plant your vegetables in container, there are 5 main considerations to know:

1. Light exposure.

Choose vegetable plants according to how much sun or shade they’ll obtain everyday. Leafy vegetables, such as carrots, lettuce, spinach and onions are all right in partial shade. But plants that bear fruit such as tomatoes, eggplant, squash and peppers need full sun light at least 6 hours per day.


2. Type of container.

Any container is suitable for vegetable plants as long as it has good drainage. Leafy vegetable and herbs do not need as much space, but use a pot at least 9 inches deep so you don’t have to water frequently. Vegetables with extensive root systems such as potatoes, cucumbers, tomatoes and squash need containers with a minimum depth of 16 inches. Remember, the bigger the pot, the bigger the yield. An additional 2 inches deep can more than double your harvest.

Small containers usually dry out very fast in summer. The smallest size of container for outdoor use is around 8 to 12 inches in diameter which is ideal to use in shade part.

Midsummer heat can fry tiny, hair like feeder roots. Without these feeder roots, the plant will die even if the soil is wet. Then larger roots become very weak to root rot fungus that can raze the rest of the plant. Overheat soil is a common cause of failure in container plantings. Thick wood and dark colored containers will take up more heat, while light colored containers reflect heat.

If you are using recycled containers, clean them very well with brush and wash in a solution of 9 parts water to one part bleach. If containers are porous, soak them well in water before filling so they won’t act like sponges and pull all the water out of your soil.


3. Preparation of the soil.

Purchase a high quality mixture soil that is sterilized, and able to absorb moisture and drain fast. Never use garden soil. It may have fungi and diseases and is usually very heavy and slow to drain.

4. Fertilize

Plants grow in containers cannot search nutrients with their roots. Confined root systems demand frequent light fertilizing in summer. Nutrients are leached from the soil with watering and require to be replenished regularly. Two to four weeks after planting, start applying a water soluble fertilizer mixed half strength. Apply fertilizer every two to three weeks continuously except you add a slow release fertilizer to the soil.

There is 3 numbers on the fertilizer package that explain what the fertilizer is formulated to do. The numbers are always in the following order:

Nitrogen - for green leaves
Phosphorus - for flowers and fruit
Potassium - for root growth

When one of the numbers is bigger than the others, that means the fertilizer is designed to promote growth in that specific part of the plant.

Never over feed your plants. A little is good, a lot is worse!


5. Watering requirements.

Watering requirements will be different according to the season, type of container, soil mix and exposure. Check your containers daily. Touch your finger into the top inch of soil. If it feels damp there is no immediate need to water. If it feels dry then you should water until some runs out the bottom of the container.

Water the plants early in the morning to avoid wet leaves at night when temperatures drop and mildew and disease organisms grow. Use a spray to avoid washing out the soil.


Finally, you will be satisfied with your completion of growing your own vegetables in containers. As reward, you will be able to enjoy those fresh, tasty organic foods as long as your container garden produces them.

How to remove odors from carpets

If you have stains on your carpet, you will be able to live with it for a moment, until you get the right time to clean your carpet thoroughly. But stinky carpet takes the mood out of a room. Whether the stink is caused by lack of air circulation, stale dust and debris, or by pets , taking the smell out will be a main concern. Read more...

How to clean a blackboard?

There are all sorts of chemicals, soaps, and other products that can make your blackboard cleaner than ever. However, these products can damage blackboards. When it comes to cleaning a typical blackboard, nothing works better than the old standby--plain water. In more desperate cases, there are some simple ways to clean a blackboard that seems like it is beyond repair... Read More...

How to dye silk scarves

Wearing a silk scarf is a simple and quick way to dress up an outfit. However if you want to buy at the store, you may find that your selections are limited. By dying your own silk scarves, you can dye them in any color you want and at the same time you can save money.

How would you like to color you scarves?
You can die and create wonderful scarves quickly and easily with your microwave.
Here is how to dye silk scarves:

You will need a microwave, a microwave safe pot with lid, blank silk scarf, silk dye paints, apple cider vinegar, gloves and cording.

You can purchase silk paints from you local craft store, supermarket or online. Pick three or four dissimilar colors to use in this project. You can found blank silk scarf at some craft stores and also online. A blank scarf is simply a white or light cream color, silk scarf that is ready to dye.

Start off with washing the silk scarf using mild detergent. This cleaning process is important to make sure your dye process will not be interrupted by chemicals that may be trapped on the scarf. Dry the silk scarf completely.

Wear gloves to protect your hands. Tie cording around the silk scarf randomly to produce tie dye effect. The finish look will vary depending upon the cord size and number of the binds. Once your scarf is finish with the cord, pour some cider vinegar into a bowl and put your scarf in the bowl. Let your scarf remain in the vinegar for 10 minutes.

Silk dye paints can stain many surfaces, so ensure your working place is free of other objects. Use one paint brush per color, so you do not have to clean the brush every time you want to use other colors and make you work easier. Dab the brush into silk dye paint several times. Apply the silk paint onto the blank scarf. There is no exact way in applying the paint since each scarf will be a unique work of art. Once you finish applying the paint, squeeze the scarf to encourage the colors blending.

Place the painted scarf into a small pot and cover it with the lid. Warm up your microwave on the medium setting. Put the pot in the microwave for four minutes.

After four minutes, turn off the microwave and take out the pot. Let it cooled for 1 to 2 hours.

Once it cooled, takes out your scarf from the pot and unbundled the cords. You should notice an attractive abstract pattern of colors on your scarf. Rinse your scarf in clean water to remove any residual colors. Let your scarf to dry and iron out any wrinkles.

Enhance your wardrobe with the luxury of the beautiful silk scarf and add a calm feel to a few stylish favorites.

How to detect asbestos in your home

Asbestos is a natural silicate mineral with long, thin fibrous crystals. It was used widely in home building materials and manufacturing industries for much of the 20th century. However, in the 1970s, it was found to be a serious health hazard.

The material composition of the asbestos consists with fibers that has a tendency to break easily into tiny particles and carried by the air. The broken particles of asbestos are as tiny as dust and can easily be inhaled into the surroundings or can easily be ingested when it sticks to clothing.

It was discovered that, when the tiny particles inhaled into the lungs, they could become permanently lodged. After some times, they could cause an illness known as asbestosis, or a rare form of lung and intestinal cancer called mesothelioma. Unluckily, the materials that contain asbestos cannot be removed from your home by yourself because airborne particles would expose and risk your health. As an alternative, you need to have licensed asbestos abatement professionals handle testing and any necessary removal.

Here is some information how to detect asbestos in your home:

1) Be alert of the materials that have asbestos. You have to know the sources of asbestos at home to detect it. Commercial products that contain asbestos are listed below:

- Thermal insulation on pipes and boilers of houses built before 1978.
- Some roofing materials made up of asbestos cement including siding shingles.
- Plasters and mastic glues that are used to fix floor tiles to concrete or woods.
- Some vinyl floor tiles and adhesives as well as the back area.
- Embers and ashes for fireplaces that are fired using gas.
- Old stove walls and floors may contain asbestos paper or cement sheets and its stove-top pads may have some asbestos traces on it too.

2) Carry out some asbestos test if you think that a material in your home is made up of asbestos. Make sure you wear appropriate safety equipment such as mask and clothing before doing your asbestos sampling.

- Get ready a spray bottle; fill it with water and small quantity of detergent.
- Spray at the suspected material until it’s thoroughly soaked. Carefully remove some pieces that less than a square of an inch.
- Group the samples and place them in airtight containers. Check the containers carefully for leaks and accurately label each material stating its description, including the place and the date it was taken. When the samples are ready, make an appointment with the licensed state consultant laboratory within your area for a laboratory test and analysis of your asbestos samples. You can find their contact numbers in the phone directory under "asbestos" or "environmental”.

3) Hire a professional inspector to check your new home. If you just bought a new home, you should have it checked for possible asbestos materials for your own safety and that of your family. If you not have enough money to hire one, call or write to an accredited state laboratory consultant office within your area to request about how you can perform your own asbestos sampling, how they prefer it to be submitted and how much does it cost to have it analyzed.

How to make soap ?

There are many fancy soap recipes which make better soaps if you have all the ingredients and know the basic method. Here is providing the basic information on how to make soap from the most basic materials.

The first basic method assumes that you can go to a store and just buy the ingredients. The second method assumes that you have animals to butcher and a proper place to burn wood fires and saved the ashes.


- First Basic Method

You will need a small plastic dishpan about 10" x 12", an enamel 2-quart saucepan, 12 ounces of lye (sodium hydroxide), 3 pounds of lard and enough water. As safety awareness, you will need hand gloves and eye protection.

Wear hand gloves and eye protection. Pour 3 cups of ice water or refrigerate water into the enamel saucepan. Carefully put in the lye a little bit a time, stirring it with a wooden utensil. Make sure you not use any metal and not breathe the vapor.

The lye mixture will be very hot. Allow it cool in a safe place at least one hour. Meanwhile, the unwrapped lard should be warm up to room temperature in the plastic dishpan.

Once the lye solution is cool, carefully pour it into the lard in the dishpan. The lard will melt. Stir and mix thoroughly for about15 minutes, until it looks like thick pudding. Then allow it set until the next morning.

After it set, cut it into bars and package. It will get harder after several days. If you want to create olive oil soap based, use about 48 ounces. It may take a week to harden.

If you wish to create liquid soap, make chips from your home-made soap bar. Put in enough hot water to dissolve followed by citric acid to get pH 7 to 8. It is important to add in acid citric to avoid harsh on your skin.


- Second Basic Method

This soap making method takes 3 basic steps.

1) Making of the wood ash lye.

Place wood ashes in a bottomless barrel. Set on a stone slab with a groove and carve a lip in it. The stone in turn settled on a pile of rocks. Place a layer of straw and small sticks in the barrel then put the ashes on the top to avoid the ashes from getting in the solution.

Pour water over the ashes slowly until a brownish liquid oozed out from the bottom of the barrel. This potash lye solution was produced by letting the water run into the groove around the stone slab and drip down into a clay vessel at the groove lip.

Other way to make the lye solution is use an ash hopper. Keep the ash hopper in a shed to protect them from being leached by a rain fall. Add ashes periodically and pour water at intervals to assure a continuous supply of lye. The lye will drip into a vessel placed beneath the hopper.


2) Rendering the fats.

Cleaning process of fats is called rendering. It is the smelliest part in making soap.

Animal fat must be rendered while removed them from the animals during butchering. Take out all meat tissues that remain in the fat sections. Fat obtained from pigs is called lard while fat obtained from cattle is called tallow.

If soap is made from grease saved from cooking fires, it is also have to render to remove all collected dirt in it. It will create a good smelling soap.

To render, place animal fats or cooking grease in a large kettle and add in an equal amount of water. Place the kettle over the open fire outdoors. Never do it in house because the smell from the rendering process is too strong. Allow the mixture boiled until all the fats or grease is completely melted.

After a longer period of boiling to assure completion of melting the fats, the fire is stopped. Add the same amount of water as earlier into the kettle and left the solution over night to cool down.

The fats have solidified and floated at the top surface forming a layer of clean fat by the next day.


3) Mixing the fats and lye solution.

Place the amount determined to be the correct amount lye solution in another large kettle or pot. Place it over the open fire outdoors again. Let it boiled until the mixture change into a thick frothy mass. The soap is formed. This process could take up to 6 to 8 hours. It is depend on the strength of the lye and the amount of the mixture.

How to dye carpet ?

Carpet faded over time and gets stained. When it comes to deal with a faded carpet or permanent stains on carpet, it is occasionally better to replace the carpet. But buying a new carpet is costly. In today tough economic times, dyeing carpet by yourself to give it a brand-new look and a total face lift may save you hundreds or thousands dollars.

Ahead of getting started, there are cautions that must be followed carefully to make the task successful. You have to make sure the carpet fiber and the dye absorbing capability. Different carpet fibers require different dyes. Carpet made up of woolen or nylon fiber can be dyed, while acrylic or polyester carpet cannot be dyed. If you do not know fiber type of your carpet is made out of, ask a professional to take a look at your carpet. You should only pay money for the right type of dye.

Once you know the carpet fiber, make a decision on the dye color for the carpet. The resulting color of the carpet depends on the original color. If the original color of is white, cream or other light colors, you can go for any range of colors but do not get a deep black. For other colors, pick a darker shade than the previous one. For example, if the current color is red, dyeing with blue colored dye will result a purple color carpet. Of if your carpet was yellow and you added red dye and you would get an orange carpet. You also can decide on for the darker color carpet dye that matches with the interior design of the room.

In order to dye carpet correctly, you will need carpet shampoo, carpet dye, spray bottle, stiff scrubbing brush, plastic, tape, and a piece of scrap carpet. Once you are ready with all these equipment, follow this step by step work instruction to dye carpet:

1) Move out all the furniture from the room and cover the walls with plastic using tape to keep away from staining. Since carpet dyeing occupies using of strong dyes, think about safety purposes. Wear rubber hand gloves and old clothes.

2) Wash the carpet. It is important to make sure the carpet is clean enough so that it can absorb the dye successfully. Use carpet shampoo as provided by the manufacturer. Let the carpet to dry out completely before proceed to the next step.

3) Prepare the carpet die solution to make a desired color range. Dissolve an exact amount of dye with hot water and warm water as per the instructions provided by the dye manufacturer. Mix well to make sure the dye dissolve evenly in the water. Pour the dye solution in a spray bottle and shake well. In order to test out the color, spray a small amount of the dye on a scrap piece of carpet and analyze the result. You can add more water or dye to until you get the desired color.

4) When you get a satisfactory color, spray the dye straight to the carpet section by section. Start with a small section of the carpet and then keep on further. Do not spray too much dye in one section because it can spoil the carpet and padding. Use a stiff scrubbing brush in circular motion to apply the dye into the carpet, so that the dye is distribute evenly. Once complete, let the carpet to dry totally.

Now you know how to dye carpet. Enjoy your brand-new look and a total face lift carpet!

How to remove nail polish stains on clothing

Do you polish your own nails?
If you do, there is definitely a time that you have accidentally spilled nail polish on your clothing item. The only way to stay away from having nail polish accident is to polish your nails in the backyard while you are naked!

It is best to discover how to take care of that nail polish accident before it occurs so that you can treat it as soon as it happens. Taking care of the stain as soon as possible will help you to remove the stain completely without difficulty.

Here are some tips how to remove nail polish stains on clothing item:

1) Nail Polish Remover

Nail polish remover takes out the polish off your nails. It is also work on most nail polish stains in any material including cloth. First of all you have to test the nail polish remover in an unremarkable area of your clothing item to make sure that the item is colorfast.

Apply the nail polish remover to the entire stain and then blot the stain gently with a clean towel. You may have to apply the nail polish remover and blot quite a few times to take out all of the nail polish stain. Next apply fabric detergent and warm water to make sure that you have removed the stain completely. Then wash the cloth as usual with your fabric detergent.

Another treatment alternative in using the nail polish remover is to stretch the clothing item over a bowl and attach it using a rubber band. Apply the nail polish remover using a spoon or spatula and allow it drip through the stain into the bowl. This may take a little time to remove the stain completely, but it will be worth it if you have the stain on your favorite shirt.


2) Hydrogen Peroxide

This solution method should be used only on white clothes or colorfast clothes. Make sure to test in unremarkable area of your clothing item to make sure it will not harm your item.

If the stain still remains on the cloth after you have tried several times using nail polish remover, then try a mixture of hydrogen peroxide with water. Make a 50-50 mixture of hydrogen peroxides and water. Apply the mixture to the entire stain. Leave the cloth sits in the sun for several hours to get maximum effectiveness and keep it moistened with the mixture.


3) Dried Nail Polish Stain

Make sure you test for colorfastness in an unremarkable area of your clothing item before trying this method.

Dried and old stain of nail polish on your clothing item like carpet can be removed easily. You have to take a dull knife or spoon and scrape the stain as much as possible out of the clothing item. After that, take your nail polish remover and softly blot the clothing item with the nail polish remover several times until the stain is removed. Rub the affected area using towel with a liquid dish detergent that does not contain bleach. Then rinse with clean water from a spray bottle and blot up the wetness.

If the stain still remains, wet the affected area with hydrogen peroxide and let it sit for 30 minutes. Continue applying the hydrogen peroxide until the stain is fully removed. Then blot with clean towel to remove the wetness.

Now you know how to remove nail polish stains on clothing items easily.

How to get rid of bed bugs

Experts say the bed bug resurgence started with international travel with bugs probably hitching a ride in suitcases. Once they’re in, they’re hard to get out. Learn how to get rid of bed bugs here...

How to remove blood stains from carpet

Blood stains are hard to remove unless you know the exact method to remove them. Always test on a small and hidden spot to avoid any damage.….Read More…

How to Clean laminate Wood floors?

Laminate wood flooring, also known as Pergo, is a popular choice for those seeking the look of hardwood, but also wishing to prevent the higher level of maintenance. It is much easier to maintain than real wood. Read more ...

How to patch a hole in a carpet

A beautiful carpet look really unattractive if there is a hole on it. Do not throw the carpet away. Actually it is easy to solve this problem. You can patch the hole... read more..

How to make citrus potpourri

Potpourri is an aromatic mix of dried plant material. The use of potpourri is nothing new. For centuries, people use potpourri for repelling a room or an area with great smell.

Generally potpourri is also made for decorative use. It is shaped from dried plant materials, but it does not mean that is gets it's scent from the material. Actually most of the times you will find the plant material mix make a wonderful look because of their colorful combination but the smell comes from fragrance oils or spices.

Try making your own citrus potpourri. It is create an uplifting atmosphere. Aromas like lime, lemon, and orange have been known to be refreshing and can also give a wonderful feel.

It is easy to make arrangements of citrus potpourri that look pretty with great fragrance. It also great for gifts! Here are two recipes for making your own citrus potpourri:

Recipe 1: Simple Citrus Potpourri

Make potpourri mix with materials are available to you, so think creatively and adjust the recipe to suit what you can get in your hands. You need any left over used citrus fruits as many as you like, 2-3 cinnamon sticks, 1 tsp cloves spice and enough water. All you have to do is just place all ingredients in a medium pan, cover with water and simmer. As long as you keep water in the pan, the scent can last all day up to 2 days.

Recipe 2: Spring Citrus Potpourri

For ingredients, you need 3 lemons, 5 oranges or tangerines, orange aromatherapy oil, and flowers (orange cedar chips, natural angel wings, albezzia leaves, birch cones and orange star).
To make it, slice lemon and oranges or tangerines into thin slices. Dry out the sliced fruits using a food dehydrator or place them on a wax paper-lined baking pan and place it in the oven on very low heat until it is light brown and has almost no smell.
Place the dried slices and flowers into two glasses or reused plastic containers with tops. Add 5-10 drops of orange essence. Put the top snugly on the container and place it in a dark area for two weeks; shake every few days. When you uncover the potpourri, place it in a small cheese cloth or silk sack to use as drawer fresheners or put in a decorative bowl as an alternative to deodorizers in bathrooms and kitchen.
The scent can be increased by adding more aromatherapy oil. This is the ideal way to revive ageing potpourri mixes. If giving as a gift, tie a large citrus colored bow around the citrus potpourri filled inside a cellophane bag. If wished, add cinnamon sticks to the bow for a complete finished look.

It is not only fun when making potpourri, whether dry or moist, but it is also relaxing when you sit back and enjoy the aroma you have created.

How to Clean Your Kitchen Using Green Tea

For centuries, green tea has been known for their natural ingredients that come from green plants that are good for health. Green tea is rich with nutrients and antioxidants that help our body system immunity to prevent some diseases, build up our skin and weight loss.

Green tea is not only excellent for health but also excellent as household cleaner. Green tea is able to clean the kitchen effectively and much efficient than the traditional way of cleaning. The best thing is it uses less harmful chemicals because it always uses its natural extract to clean.

You are going green by using green tea instead of harsh chemicals that are bad for the environment and health especially your skin. In addition, the cost of green tea is affordable. Here are easy instructions how to clean your kitchen using green tea.

First of all, obviously you must have at least a small pack of green tea. Purchase the cheapest green tea available in grocery store at your place. You need only the green tea natural extract, not the taste. Therefore, it is not worth to choose branded, formulated or fancy green tea.

Fill water in a large pot. Put the pot on a stove and heat the water until boil. As an alternative, you can use tea kettle to boil the water, and then transfer it to a pot when it is boiling. Then put in a couple of green tea bags or two tablespoons green tea leaf in the boiling water. Allow the tea completely extracted for a few minutes just like making tea for drinking. Turn off the heat and let the green tea cool down.

Get a clean kitchen towel or a rag and soak it into the green tea. Squeeze the kitchen towel or the rag but not let the green tea off too much. Use them to wipe and clean just like you do with regular cleaning agents on any surfaces of your kitchen. Common surfaces of kitchen are counter-tops, top of the stove, inside and outside of refrigerator and microwave, and tiles. You not require wearing glove while cleaning your kitchen because the green tea will not damage your skin and it is totally safe.

You will find out that the green tea works on any surfaces of the kitchen and leave off natural and refreshing smell. Just like any traditional cleaning methods, if you are not confident with the green tea reaction with the surface material, make an experiment with a small amount of the green tea on a small area of the surface to be cleaned.

Green tea may not replace your regular cleaning agent entirely but you can use this way to reduce the use of harmful chemicals, help save nature and save money. Now you know that green tea is good for your body, your home and environment.

Tips for painting a room

A fresh coat of paint with suitable shade gives a wonderful looks for a room. Painting a room may take hours or more than a day. It depends on the room size and the painting style. Whatever the size and the style of the room, the painting techniques remain the same. In this article are some helpful tips for painting a room to make the process easier. You will enjoy the project as much as the finished result! It’s personally rewarding, inexpensive fun.

Before you start, you have to decide color for the room. The color set the entire mood of the room. You may want your room into a light and happy place or a more serious place that you can use to get work done. So you can use color scheme card to help you in making your color decision. Once you've made your decision, go to hardware store or paint store to purchase suitable paint for your room and painting equipments.

Follow these tips for painting a room:

1) Plan a day ahead for preparation.

A good result usually begins with a good plan. Make sure you purchase sufficient top quality paints and get ready all the painting equipments. Use only top quality paint because their finishes are much easier to work with and offer long-term performance.

Use a day ahead of painting day to gather furniture in the center of the room and cover them with a good drop cloth, take everything off the walls, put blue painter's tape around doors and windows, and cover light fixtures with large plastic bags.

2) Prepare the wall surface properly.

Paint only stick on surfaces that are clean and sound. Remove dirt, dust and grime from walls, ceilings and trim with a detergent-water solution. Rinse the wall thoroughly with water and allowed to dry completely. Then use a putty knife to fill cracks and holes with a quality acrylic caulk. Finally, if walls or ceilings have water stains, it may be necessary to coat them with a latex or oil-based stain-blocking primer before painting to prevent the stains from bleeding through the new paint.

3) Painting process.

Firstly, start painting at the ceiling. Starting at a corner, paint a section about 3 feet square using paint roller. Use a zigzag pattern which will disperse the paint on the roller evenly. Fill in this 3 feet section without reloading the roller until you have complete coverage of this section. Continue to cover the ceiling, working across its shortest dimension in 3 foot square sections, overlapping while paint is wet to minimize lap marks.

After completing the ceiling, continue to paint the wall. Use tools for edging to paint the top edge of the walls. Then paint in a vertical direction using a zigzag pattern with paint roller. Push the roller upward on the first stroke; paint a section about 3 feet square without reloading the roller until you have complete coverage of this section. Continue with this approach until the wall is finished. Touching up spots you missed when the paint is wet will help minimize sheen potential sheen differences.

4) Clean up process.

Rinse your paint brushes, rollers and equipments in warm water to clean. Let the painted walls dry completely before you reinstall your furniture and rearrange your room.

How to dye carpet

Carpet is a thick heavy covering for a floor. It is usually made of woven wool or synthetic fibers. Its vibrant colors and scruffy surface makes your room look elegant. The problem is, after several years it can get stained and faded.

Replacing a new carpet is expensive, but you can dye your old carpet to give it a brand-new look. Dying a carpet is a bit difficult, but your effort can give you a wonderful result at a fraction of the cost of professional services.

To dye a carpet, you will need carpet shampoo, carpet dye, spray bottle, stiff scrubbing brush, plastic, tape, and scrap piece of carpet. Before getting started, it is important to purchase the correct type of dye. Different carpet materials require different dyes. If you do not know what type of materials your carpet is made out of, have a professional take a look at your carpet. Get more than one color therefore you can give your carpet a new look as what you want.

Carry out dyeing process during the day to utilize natural sunlight to dry the carpet and help you to spot potential trouble spots that are not taking a uniform color easily. It is also important to do the new color of a darker shade than that of the original. If the carpet has been too stained for a smooth coloration, there are effects that can be used to help blend color variations into a pattern.

Move all furniture out of the room. Vacuum your carpet. Go over it several times to remove the large particles stuck to it. Once done, clean and wash the carpet with carpet shampoo. Rinse with clean water and let it dry completely. It is very important to make sure the carpet is clean and dry because dye only absorbed evenly in this condition. Meanwhile cover the walls to protect them from the dye.

Mix dye with warm water according to manufacturer directions. Add more water if you want to lighten the coloring solution’s hue. When you have settled on a color, pour the solution in a spray bottle. Spray the dye on a scrap piece of carpet to practice until you are able to get satisfactory results.

Spray the dye in one small portion of the carpet, preferably near an edge. Scrub in the dye with a stiff scrubbing brush using a circular motion to distribute the color evenly. Once you get your desired hue, repeat the same process on a small section of carpet at a time until you have covered the entire carpet. Keep away from spraying too much dye because it can damage the materials. Let the carpet dry completely.

Enjoy your brand-new look carpet! You can prolong the life of the carpet for several years.

How to improve your mood with paint colors

Your mood can be affected by paint colors. The sensation of a room is influenced by colors. Whether you are aware of it or not, certain colors evoke different emotions that can either improve, maintain or demote the way you feel.

It is important to choose the right paint colors for the right rooms. You won't want to paint the walls of your bedroom sunshine yellow or red if your bedroom is where you do most of your relaxing.

In everyday life, you can make use of the effect of color on your psyche in order to improve your job satisfaction and well-being. The following is a list of some colors and their matching moods which you should keep in mind when selecting paint colors:

Red
Red, the most intense, pumps the adrenaline like no other color. It empowers a room's energy. It is a good selection when you want to blend excitement, especially at night. In the living room or dining room, red represents people together and stimulates conversation. In a front entrance, it makes a strong first impression. Red has been revealed to raise blood pressure, speed respiration and heart rate. It is usually measured too stimulating for bedrooms, but if you're only in the room in the night, you'll be seeing it mostly by lamplight, when the color will appear muted, rich, and elegant.

Crimson
Ancient cultures used crimson to stimulate the body and mind and to increase circulation. It is able to make some people bad-tempered and should be avoided as the main color of a room since it invoking feels of rage and hostility. Sitting for long time in a crimson room will possibly breakdown any peace and harmony.

Orange
Orange was used to heal the lungs and increase energy levels in ancient cultures. It is an energetic, cheerful, commanding, and stimulates goodwill color. It evokes excitement and enthusiasm. It is not a good idea for a living room or for bedrooms but it is great for an exercise room. It will bring all the emotions out that you need when jumping into your fitness routine.

Yellow
In chromatherapy, yellow was believed to stimulate the nerves and purify the body. Yellow captures the cheerful, increases energy and communicates happiness. It is perfect for kitchens, dining rooms, and bathrooms, where happy color is energizing and uplifting. In entries, halls, and small spaces, yellow can feel expansive and warm. But it is not a good choice in main color schemes of a room. It tends to create feeling of frustration and anger in people and the most fatiguing on the eyes. People are more expected to lose their tempers and babies seem to cry more in a yellow room.

Green
Green is considered the most restful color for the eye. It has a soothing effect when used as a main color for decorating. It is believed to promotes emotional growth and relieve stress by helping people relax and refreshing. In addition, it believed to help with fertility, thus it is a great choice for the bedroom.
In a kitchen, a sage or medium green cools things down. In a family room or living room, it encourages unwinding but has enough warmth to promote comfort and togetherness.

Blue
Blue is cool, refreshing, soothing, relaxing, and promotes feelings of tranquility and peace. It brings down blood pressure and slows respiration and heart rate. It is often recommended for bedrooms and bathrooms. However, a pastel blue that looks pretty on the paint chip can come across as unpleasantly chilly when it's on the walls and furnishings, especially in a room that receives little natural light. If you choose for a light blue as the primary color in a room, balance it with warm hues in the furnishings and fabrics.

Purple
Lighter versions of purple, such as lavender and lilac, bring the same soothing and relaxing quality to bedrooms as blue does, but without the risk of feeling chilly. Dark purple is rich, dramatic, and sophisticated. It's associated with luxury as well as creativity, and as an accent or secondary color, it gives a scheme depth.

Color choice is an individual belonging. These general lists are a good preliminary reference point in your search for a paint color to improve your mood. But remember that you're the one who has to live with your new paint color, so decide a perfect color that suits your lifestyle.