There is a variety of bed linens in the market today, namely different colours, patterns, fabrics and prices. Essentially, this should work in the best interest of the buyer, given that you have a wide range of products to choose from. However, one should also note that the piece of linen you select has its own way of care for it to last long. While there are some specific instructions on how to take care of specific types of linen, there are others that are common to all. This article will look at some common instructions on how to take care of your bed sheets.

Read and understand the accompanying instructions

Every type of bed sheet has its own instructions on how to care for it. When you buy, it should be your priority to read and understand these instructions. Should the washing water be hot, warm or cold? All will be listed right there.

One mistake that most buyers do is to throw away the care instructions the moment they unwrap the bed linen. Always keep the instructions for future reference. The instructions  show you not only how to wash, but also how to dry the linens. If you have many linens and fear that you will confuse the instructions, consider taping the instructions on a card. This will help you remind which instructions belong with which linen.

General guidelines for washing

If you don’t have the care instructions for your specific bedsheets, then you don’t have to worry. You can go the common way. Things like the temperature of the water, the type of soap to use or avoid and other common things can be done even in the absence of the guidelines.

In most cases, it is advisable to use less detergent when washing bed linens and to rinse thoroughly to remove the detergent residue that might have have become struck to the sheets while washing. Things like bleach can only help break down the fabric fibers of your sheets. This should be avoided at all means.

General drying guidelines

After washing, you also need to understand how to dry the sheets. Leaving the sheets out in the open with natural sunlight to dry sufficiently is the best practice. However, be careful not to over dry the bed linens, as this can intensify the wrinkles on the sheets. After removing the sheets from the dryer, fold them promptly. This will also to help reduce the wrinkles on the sheets, since leaving the sheet unfolded will only make the creases worse. Just in case the sheets have over dried already and have developed wrinkles, you can hand-press or iron the sheets to remove the wrinkles.

Wrinkles on your bed sheets can be very unappealing and reflect poorly on your domestic maintenance and decorative skills. By making sure that your sheets are folded immediately after they have dried, you will find that the quality of the linen fabric will be maintained for a longer period of time.

While many people would choose to ignore the best practices when washing and caring for their linens, one would just wonder why then you should buy such expensive, high-quality sheets? In order to get value for your money and years of use from your sheets, it is imperative that you learn how to take good care of them.

There are a wide variety of linen retailers throughout Australia, all of whom can provide the best advice as to how you can properly maintain the quality of your bed sheets. Even if you have lost the instructions of care or are unaware as to how to wash your linen, a reputable seller will help you get things done correctly.

An air conditioning unit that isn’t efficient in cooling a room isn’t only a pain but also increases your electricity expenses. You should always check that your AC can do the job it was designed to do. 

There are several ways you can improve the efficiency of your air-conditioning unit. With these tips in mind, you can say goodbye to the uncomfortable atmosphere in your home and rising power bills. Here are some tips that you can follow to improve the efficiency of your AC.

Clear out the debris from the unit’s housing

You’ll increase the efficiency of your air conditioning unit if you ensure that it’s cleaned regularly. You should clear debris out of the unit’s housing and make sure there’s enough clearance around it. A lot of times, AC units that aren’t cooling efficiently are likely to have some debris caught inside. 

Dust, dirt and leaves can settle inside the housing of your air conditioning unit. It’s also advisable that you trim back any straggling plants and bushes near the unit’s housing. If you follow this tip, you can allow your AC to operate efficiently.

Check the ventilation fins

The ventilation fins are the parts of the AC that allow the air to flow into the unit. Therefore, you should check if they’re opened properly. There are times in which they are close, which obstructs air flow and slows down your AC. It’s necessary that you get a fine comb to clear out any dirt or obstructions that may have settled on the ventilation fins. 

Insulate the ducts

One of the ways to improve the efficiency of your AC is to insulate the ducts. To do this, you can apply fibreglass insulation to seal and wrap the unit ducts for that purpose. If any of the inside ducts need replacing, you should call up a professional to do the job.

Install a shade

You should ensure that your air conditioning unit has at least some form of shade to shield it from the heat of the sun. The sun’s heat can cause your AC to run low with its original functions. To prevent this, you can install a shade or cover for that purpose.

Believe it or not, certain temperatures can cause circuitry malfunctions inside your AC’s housing. Such malfunction can lead to inadequate cooling, or even worse, start a fire. Another thing to note is that when running efficiently, your AC unit produces a reasonable amount of heat. Any more heat from external sources can cause it to break down.

Ventilate the attic

To lower the internal temperature in your home, it’s advisable that you set up proper ventilation up your attic. You can have an exhaust fan to minimise the effect of hot air in the attic so that your AC unit operates efficiently, without any hassles. 

Cover the window with blinds and curtains

Windows that are exposed to the sun should be covered with blinds and curtains during the hot hours. You can also install solar shade screens if you want to allow light to get in without too much heat. As mentioned earlier, the sun’s heat can cause the AC to overheat, hindering its performance. 

Dehumidify the air

Nowadays, air conditioning units not only provide cool air to your home, but it also gets rid of moisture-laden air out of it. However, you can double up the dehumidification process by having another dehumidifier in the room. Installing a dehumidifier can eliminate around 60 pints of water daily from your home.

Clean the air filters

According to Provincial Heating and Cooling, you should inspect the air filters of your air-conditioning unit as this will help you know when and if it needs cleaning. Clogged air filters often cause poor circulation of air to your home. However, if cleaning doesn’t solve the air circulation problem, you can consult a professional AC cleaning service to assist. 

Always remember that opening your AC requires a professional to do it. Never attempt to DIY your AC unit if something inside it needs replacement as you might mess up something, causing more damage to the unit.

Upgrade to a modern AC unit

Old air conditioning units are way less efficient than the new ones. It will do you good to upgrade your AC. You should choose an AC unit from a respected brand, one that is renowned in providing comfort when cooling your home.

If you’re worried about the costs of a brand new AC, think of the maintenance costs of your old unit. Think of the costly repairs and the rising power bills you’ll have to pay if you don’t choose to upgrade. 

Insulate air leaks in your home

You should look for air leaks in your home and insulate them. Air leaks can cause your air conditioning unit to work harder in providing air inside your home and it can also increase your electricity expenses.

Takeaway

Your air conditioning unit should provide you comfort, not problems. Therefore, if you encounter issues with your AC, perhaps a little tweak can help it operate at its best, or perhaps purchasing a whole new unit may be the best course of action. 

Today rent can become a real burden for a lot of people. It’s hard to believe, but 17% of people spend around half of their income on rent.

You might be scrolling rental websites for hours and feel desperate because the figures seem impossible to manage. This may even be your first time looking at renting or buying a home or apartment. Naturally, you might feel helpless because you can do nothing about it. But what if, in fact, you can?

In most cases, there is room for negotiation for a lower rent. Of course, landlords won’t give you a discount for free. You have to be smart and prepared to win the bargain.

Here’s a list of things that can help you lower your rent:

Practice

If you’re not used to bargaining, the very thought of discussing a lower rent can make you nervous. Though there’s absolutely nothing to be afraid (in the worst-case scenario the landlord will just refuse to do it), your uneasiness is totally understandable.

But think about it, what usually helps with the fear of doing something for the first time? Right, practice.

Although it might feel weird to do it, grab a friend and try to role-play the negotiation. And, even if it’s not your first time negotiating, practice will improve your performance.

Timing

We all know how important it is to be at the right place and at the right time. The art of timing is one of the essential negotiation skills.

When it comes to negotiating your rent, you probably don’t have all the time in the world to wait for the perfect circumstances. Nevertheless, there are some key moments to start negotiation that can get you the best price:

The dead season

Fall and winter months are a dead period for landlords. People are not willing to look for rental properties and they are even less willing to go through the packing and moving process in grim weather. Owners get desperate to fill vacancies and it affects the power balance in negotiation.

In this case, you have something your landlord needs. Use your advantage, but don’t overplay it.

If you’re looking for a new place, you can start in October or November. But remember that the prices will keep going down during the whole season. And if you want to negotiate the rent of your current place, you can get a significant discount by offering to extend your lease to spring or summer, so it’s easier for the landlord to find the tenants.

The end of the month

This one will only work for new tenants. The end of the month is a tough time for landlords when they struggle to find tenants ASAP. You’re relieving their stress by moving in at this time.

A few months before the end of your lease

If you’re negotiating about your current rent, it’s better to start the discussion at least a few months before your lease expires. The reason is simple: you don’t want your landlord to think that you want to break your lease.

Know your leverage

The key to a successful negotiation is to present the deal as a win for everyone. Find out how exactly you can make your landlord’s life easier and use it.

Some things you can offer:

Upfront payment: If you can afford it, pay 3-4 months in advance.

Longer lease: The longer you stay, the longer the landlord doesn’t need to look for a new tenant.

Extend termination notice: Offer to prolong your termination notice from 30 to 60 or 90 days.

Know the market

Thorough research is an essential part of every successful negotiation. If you want to win the best price, you just have to know what you’re dealing with. So take your time to study the market properly.

First of all, you have to know if negotiation is even on the table. You can learn it by comparing the prices of similar properties in the neighborhood and in other areas.

If the market is tight (meaning, the number of prospective tenants is higher than the number of properties for rent), most landlords won’t even consider lowering the price. Whereas, in loose markets (where there are more available properties than tenants) landlords are pressured to start making profit, so you have more space for negotiation.

A good idea is also to check how long the apartment stayed on the market before you found it. If the place has stayed empty for two or three months, you are very likely to get a very good discount on it.

You can also keep an eye on the number of new properties in the neighborhood. If there are a lot of recently built modern living complexes in the area, the price for the apartments in them is likely to go down, at least temporarily.

Be the handyman

Providing, you’re actually able to do it, you can offer your help with repairment and maintenance in exchange for a discount. You can also propose to replace the damaged items.

Most minor problems, like scratched surfaces or damaged paint, can be fixed in no time and with minimal resources. But when it comes to something serious, you should be very confident in your skills.

Alternatively, you can suggest taking an apartment with some flaws as it is at a lower price. In that case, make sure all the defects are documented. You don’t want to pay for something you didn’t damage.

No pets and smoking

Of course, if the rules say you’re not allowed to do something, you have to obey. But what if you have the permission to do things you don’t really want or need to do? You can use it as a leverage in bargaining.

Think about it: after a pet owner leaves the apartment, the landlord has to spend money and/or time on cleaning. And tenants who smoke not only leave a cigarette smell after living in the apartment, they also can put the building at risk of fire. So by giving a reasonable discount to people who don’t own pets or smoke, the landlord is actually saving their resources.

Don’t limit to money

A price reduction is not the only thing you can get out of the negotiation. In fact, not every landlord is ready to lower the rent, no matter how good of a haggler you are.

But a property owner who is stubborn about the money can be much more flexible about amenities and benefits. It’s particularly typical for large properties.

You can ask for things like:

Furniture or Appliances Upgrade

If you’re haggling for a discount, getting a new stove or a fridge might be just as good as getting a rent discount. 

Amenities Discount

You can try to lower the fee for the local gym, pool or sauna membership.

Parking

If you have a car, you can try to get yourself a parking place with a shelter, or closer to the entrance. In some cases, you can even win a free one.

Negotiating rent is not easy if you come prepared and confident. Do your homework and you will win the best price and get what you want.