MOVING SOON? 7 STEPS TO REFRESH THE PLACE AND FEEL AT HOME.

MOVING SOON? 7 STEPS TO REFRESH THE PLACE AND FEEL AT HOME.

You will soon be moving into your new house or condo and you can’t wait to repaint to put the place to your taste and remove all traces of the old homeowner.

While it is true that painting is a messy task, it is essential to do part of the cleaning before because:

  • Greasy spots and dust accumulation on the walls will prevent the paint from adhering.
  • Airborne hair and dust particles might stick on the fresh paint and leave traces.

Here are therefore 7 steps to follow for the preparation of your new home before installing your furniture and personal effects:

1. VACUUMING IN EACH AND EVERY CORNER

Equip yourself with an efficient vacuum system and do not forget to remove dust from the walls, ceilings and windows on top of the floors.

A lot of central vacuum accessories can help you with this task, such as telescopic wands that stretch to get to hard-to-reach areas and mop brushes which are fastened to the end of the wand and allow mopping and vacuuming in a single step.

2. SURFACE CLEARING

Take off all hangers, nails and screws, and push back protruding gypsum inside the walls. Scrape or cut excess paint with a utility knife (X-Acto) or a spatula. Make sure the surface is as smooth as possible by gliding your hand on it to detect any bumps and imperfections.

3. THOROUGH WASHING OF WALLS, CEILINGS AND WINDOWS

Start by washing quickly all walls, ceilings and windows with water, then wash one square metre (square yard) at a time using a cleaner. This is a long and tedious task, but it is extremely important for an impeccable result! And, who knows, maybe some of the walls will come up looking so fine you won’t feel the need to paint them anymore!

4. PROTECTION OF SURFACES AND OBJECTS

Cover up the floors with drop clothes and spread over them some trash bags to lay your paint buckets and trays. Hence, messes will be more easily cleaned up if need be. Take off all wall-plates and protect all other immovable objects with plastic bags and masking tape.

5. REPAIR OF IMPERFECTIONS

Start by coating all surfaces with a white primer, which will help make imperfections more noticeable. Once it is dry, fill in all minor gaps and cracks with some drywall compound. Wipe all repaired spots with a damp cloth to eliminate compound dust and cover them with a new primer coat.

6. BRING IN THE PAINT!

We are finally getting there! For best results, paint the ceilings and the walls going from the palest to the darkest colours. In the corners, make the darker colours go slightly over the edging (roughly 1-2 mm) on the lighter colours. This will allow you to draw a nice straight line even if the joint is not quite even. Use masking tape to help you.

A little trick to paint in the cleanest way possible: Always keep a clean and damp rag to wipe undesirable brushstrokes and droplets as you go.

7. DEEP CLEANING

Once all painting is finished, take off all drop clothes, bags and masking tape, and put back on the wall-plates. Take this opportunity to replace yellowed or cracked ones.

Vacuum once again all floors and wash them thoroughly. Wash also all counters, cupboards and window panes.

Your great move-in cleaning and painting are done!

All you need to do now is to install your furniture and personal effects. Welcome in your home!

To read more on central vacuum features, take a look at this article : Why choose a central vacuum ? 11 factors to consider.

which type of vacuum cleaner sucks dust better?

Which type of vacuum cleaner sucks best dust ?
3 factors to consider.

Many types of vacuum cleaners are found on the market to cover all needs in terms of dust and debris removal at home. To determine which type of vacuum will fit best your needs, here are three factors to consider :

1. POWER

A vacuum cleaner’s power determines the suction’s efficiency, or the proportion of dust that is vacuumed, and is measured in AirWatts. In a general manner, more powerful the vacuum cleaner, more dust will be sucked at once.

Be careful : Some vacuums are powerful when empty, but lose their efficiency after sucking in a good amount of dust.

2. FILTRATION

The vacuum cleaner must have an excellent filtration system that will prevent vacuumed dust from going air-born during use.

On the one hand, the filter must be able to keep hold of the smallest particles. The best filters on the market meet HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) American standards which filter 99.5% to 99.995% of particles.

On the other hand, the vacuum cleaner must be completely airtight inside as to ensure that the entire flow of vacuumed air is filtered by the filtration bag and/or the permanent filter.

3. DUST DISPOSAL

Some vacuum cleaners have a receptacle where dust is directly accumulated. This practical and economical solution eliminates the need to buy filtration bags. If the user prefers a more sanitary solution that will prevent particles from becoming airborne when the canister is emptied, the use of a filtration bag becomes the ideal solution.

Many Husky central vacuum models offer the best of two worlds with their hybrid technology filtration system that allows to use them with or without a filtration bag. Hence the choice is left entirely to the user.

If you are looking for a practical and efficient cleaning appliance in terms of power, filtration and dust disposal, there is a good chance that a central vacuum is the right solution for you.

To read more on central vacuum features, take a look at this article : Why choose a central vacuum ? 11 factors to consider.

WHY CHOOSE A CENTRAL VACUUM ?

Why choose a central vacuum ?
11 factors to consider.

Nowadays, central vacuums offer many interesting features, advantaging them over portable vacuum cleaners. Here are eleven to consider :

1. POWER

Power is measured in AirWatts and determines the vacuum cleaner’s efficiency. Central vacuums offer the most power, and Husky models are 5 to 8 times more powerful than canister vacuums.

2. Noise / Sound level

All vacuums have a sound level index measured in decibels, as do other appliances (e.g. dishwashers). There is often a choice to be made between power and sound level for a vacuum cleaner, except in the case of central vacuums since the motor is usually installed in an out of the way area such as the basement or garage. Husky central vacuums have the benefit of being ultraquiet as well as powerful with the new low-noise technology of their thru-flow motors.

3. Durability

With minimum maintenance, a central vacuum of superior quality will last more than ten years, or even a lifetime. To the opposite, regular portable vacuum cleaners are generally replaced every 5 to 8 years. As in many cases, investing a bit more for something durable that costs less to use on the long run is often worth it.

4. Warranty

The warranty is important for all types of appliances, particularly if you are making a long-term investment with a central vacuum. This investment is equally significant for your life quality as for the added value to your home. Make sure to read in detail what the warranty includes, especially regarding parts and labour.

5. Filtration Quality

The filter’s quality tells how well your vacuum cleaner retains the dust that is sucked. If you suffer from allergies or asthma, this consideration is important for you. In the best cases, the filter will be a HEPA-type (H12: minimum filtration efficiency of 99.5 %; H13 : 99.95 % and, finally, H14: 99.995 %) to eliminate the smallest airborne particles. Many Husky central vacuum models offer a HEPA-type double filtration with a permanent filter and a filtration bag for maximum efficiency.

6. Maintenance

All vacuum cleaners require maintenance more or less often, as for the cleaning of the canister or the replacement of the filtration bag. The greater the capacity, the lesser the maintenance. Central vacuums generally have a much greater dust capacity than portable vacuum cleaners.

7. Surface Types

Whether it be for carpets, hard surfaces or upholstered furniture, vacuum cleaners often perform better on some surfaces than others. In the case of central vacuums, the range of attachments is practically unlimited and there is only to choose depending on your specific needs.

8. Hard to Access Areas

Can the vacuum cleaner access easily every corner of your home, under and behind the furniture and the ceilings ? When it comes to central vacuums, the various available attachments will cater to all your needs.

9. Weight / Ergonomics

Canister vacuums are the most widespread, but can be a hassle to move because of their size, especially in staircases. If you have health problems or back pains, this consideration is important. Central vacuums require a single hand to handle the light flexible hose.

10. Cleaning radius

The cleaning radius is the area you can cover with a vacuum cleaner without having to reconnect the appliance or flexible hose. Cordless vacuums offer the best cleaning radius for obvious reasons, but are also less powerful since they must rely on batteries. Central vacuums offer an excellent compromise between power and cleaning radius due to their piping that is generally installed as to service one floor per inlet.

11. Automatic Shut-Off

This feature allows a running appliance to shutdown automatically when the canister is full, preventing damage, spills and power lost. Many Husky central vacuums are equipped with this feature.

If you have any questions or would like to learn more, do not hesitate to contact one of our representatives.

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