Bathroom accessories: Kaizen for your bathroom!

Don’t you feel like spending the entire summers in the cool confines of your bathroom! Well, now you can make your bathroom perfectly equipped to beat the summer heat with the help of bathroom accessories. These accessories will not only lend an organized look to your bathroom but will also help you enjoy the experience of being in a spa. So get ready for a great summer experience!

Bathroom accessories are dominating showers around the world! Stone is finding its way back into the showers and with lot of style. Ceramic and travertine bring an old world charm into your showers and help you bask in the glory of the Mediterranean charm! The corner shelves and shower shelves will completely redefine your bathroom space!

You will simply fall in love with the travertine soap case and towel holders. They will make your bathroom look very different and provide a charming allure to your shower! These accessories also allow you to organize all your stuff and lend a neat and clean appearance to your shower. A perfect solution to enjoy a comfortable shower!

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Eco friendly flooring solutions for your child’s room

Whenever we think of renovating our child’s room, the first thing that comes to our mind is a safe and healthy atmosphere. This implies that everything in your child’s room, from the paint on the walls to the flooring has to be safe. Proper flooring is of utmost importance since children tend to play on the floor most of the time. Therefore eco friendly flooring materials should be the only choice for your child’s room. There are various eco friendly solutions to build a green playroom for your child.

Cork flooring is a very popular choice for kids’ playroom since it has a soft surface and prevents children from getting hurt. Moreover cork is naturally anti-microbial, tough, durable, biodegradable and does not stain easily. Since cork is derived from the bark of the cork oak tree, it can be stripped and removed several times without harming the tree. However, it is always advisable to avoid self-adhesive cork tiles since they may contain toxic chemicals.

For very small infants or toddlers natural woven carpets is an excellent flooring option. These carpets are made by weaving together natural fibers like coir, jute, seagrass or sisal and are extremely soft to touch. Seagrass grows naturally all around the world and helps in insulating houses and also acts as a barrier against sound. Similarly sisal is also a natural fiber and a sustainable resource and is grown without the use of any pesticides or herbicides which makes it highly environment friendly. These products are also appropriate for children prone to allergies or asthmatic attacks and require very little care and maintenance. Wool carpets are again a sustainable and 100% biodegradable choice and have various advantages like durability, fire resistance and are anti-static. Moreover, such carpets use only natural dyes, are not treated with harmful chemicals and are installed without the help of adhesives. All these characteristics make it a complete eco friendly product.

Another truly sustainable eco friendly flooring solution for your child’s room is bamboo. It is a fast-growing grass which can be re-harvested every 5 years and is by far the most abundant and renewable natural resources thus making it a popular flooring choice. Moreover it is extremely hardy, durable and moisture resistant. When we talk of eco friendly flooring solutions for a child’s room, it is necessary to mention rubber flooring. Rubber flooring apart from being an eco friendly flooring solution is extremely safe, durable, soft and appealing. It is stain and slip resistant, has anti-microbial and hypoallergenic properties and has shock absorbent surface; making it an ideal flooring option for your child’s room that is not only safe but cost effective as well.

Last but not the least linoleum flooring is also a safe and eco friendly option for your kid’s room. Linoleum is resistant to fungi and bacterial growth, has hypoallergenic qualities, and is very durable and also scratch and spill resistant. Whatever the option, care should always be taken to provide your child with a green, non-toxic and environmental friendly atmosphere.

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Go green with radiant electric floor heating

Heating up your homes and trying to keep it warm and cozy is a tough job during winters. Especially for people living in regions that experience chilly winters and snowfall, it becomes all the more necessary to keep the floors and walls warm throughout the day. There are various heating options available like gas furnaces, electric base board heat, wood and boilers but most of them are quite costly, use up a lot of energy and are not entirely environmental friendly. The only solution to this is radiant electric floor heating systems which works on the principle of thermal heat radiation and is gaining in popularity as a mainstream heating option in homes, offices, industrial places etc.

A radiant floor heating system is usually installed beneath the flooring or inside concrete slabs and this system heats up the entire area from the ground, up into the living area above. These heating systems are user friendly, comfortable, silent in operation and friendly to the environment. Moreover they can be installed underneath any kind of flooring. The electric radiant heating system is very easy to install, comes at a highly affordable price and is perfect for small bedrooms, bathroom and for homes under renovated.

These systems usually consist of electric floor heating mats which are embedded in a thin layer of concrete across the floor. SunTouch electric floor heat mat kit is a complete installation kit which has all the materials necessary for a perfect installation. It consists of a heating mat, programmable thermostat 500670, loudmouth installation monitor, double sided tape, installation DVD and an installation manual. This kit is designed to warm stone and tile floors and can be used in bathrooms, kitchen, bedrooms or any other part of the house. The ‘dry’ radiant electric floor heating systems are appropriate for pre-existing structures without having to enclose the coils and heating tubes in concrete flooring.

Radiant floor heating systems are equally effective if installed under hardwood floorings. The only precaution to be taken is to dry out the slab and subfloor before installing the wood flooring. Any moisture left on the slab can enter the wood flooring as soon as heat is turned on which can result in expansion, contraction, shrinkage or cracking of floors. Such heating systems can also be installed under linoleum or vinyl flooring.

There are various benefits of radiant electric floor heating systems as compared to other form of heating systems. Radiant floor heating systems do not create any kind of breeze or air like forced air heating. Moreover, these systems are very comfortable and consistent, easy to install, save energy, do not dry out the air and do not spread dust or allergens and are therefore highly environment friendly. Unlike heating systems which use water pipes or boilers radiant electric heating systems cut down the risk of breakage and leakage of water pipes. The radiant electric floor heating system transfers heat evenly to all places inside the house and is also vey helpful for people suffering from allergies and asthma.

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How to select the best eco friendly flooring solution

Nowadays, eco-friendly or ‘Green homes’ are gaining a lot of popularity since, apart from being environment friendly they are highly cost effective as well. More and more people are choosing eco friendly products for their daily use, so that there is less pollution and minimal wastage. Newly constructed houses or houses which are being renovated are made with environmental friendly materials that are non-toxic, recyclable and safe for the occupants as well as for the ecology. Therefore, in order to have a green home, eco friendly flooring products are the first choice for many builders, home makers and architects. However, it is important to select the appropriate eco friendly flooring solution as there are various options available in the market.

Carpets as a flooring option are the first choice for people living in regions experiencing cold weather almost all the year round. Eco friendly carpets are the ones made from natural fibers with no chemical treatment. These carpets usually have high recycled content, and less toxic adhesives and backing. Recycled rubber is another product which proves to be an ideal eco friendly flooring solution. Rubber floor tiles are tough, durable and easy to clean and maintain. Rubber has numerous ecological benefits and can be used in industrial/public places, places subjected to heavy traffic and even for residential purpose. Rubber flooring absorbs noise, reduces vibration and provides sound insulation.

Hardwood floors have long been a standard choice for many, due to its elegance, affordability, durability and above all eco friendly characteristics. For hardwood flooring cork is the perfect option since it is derived from the bark of the cork oak tree, which does not harm or kill the tree. Moreover cork flooring is attractive, hypoallergenic, sustainable and even relieves joint strains and foot pains. Bamboo is also considered to be an eco friendly flooring solution, since it is highly sustainable and grows back very fast. Moreover bamboo is water and insect resistant, and since it is a type of grass, it does not harm the environment. Natural linoleum floors are also biodegradable products that are anti-allergen in nature.

Stone floorings are growing in popularity and there are various eco friendly stone flooring solutions available nowadays. Due to its growing demand brands like EcoStone have also come out with excellent stone cleaning and polishing products which are easy to use. Stone is found in abundance and does not incorporate any synthetic elements, which makes it quite environmental friendly. Stone floorings are also water & scratch resistant. Same is the case with tiles, like glass, ceramic etc which are eco friendly as well as durable. In order to maintain the shine and beauty of stones, products like EcoStone’s powerful stone and tiles cleaner should be used regularly. These products also act as deodorizers, are biodegradable and environment friendly. There is also the Rock Star aerosol sprayer which is an excellent non-acidic and non-alkaline solution that helps to improve the shine of natural stone. These products do not have offensive odors and are the perfect solution for removing grime, dust and stains to safeguard natural stone surfaces.

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Eco friendly flooring for your bathroom

While setting up your new home or renovating your existing house into an eco friendly and green home, special attention should be given to the floorings, especially in the bathrooms. Flooring options for your bathroom should be water resistant, durable and long lasting. Costs may vary and some options may be a bit on the costlier side, but ultimately it proves to be beneficial and cost effective for the occupants as well as the environment in the long run.

Linoleum is considered as an inexpensive and eco friendly flooring option for the bathrooms. Linoleum tiles (VCT) are scratch, water and fire resistant, durable and long lasting. Linoleum is manufactured in vibrant and attractive colors and designs which can provide an artistic touch to your bathroom. Due to its high content of linseed oil, linoleum is anti-microbial in nature and fights bacteria naturally, giving you a clean, green and healthy bathroom. Linoleum grows tougher with age, and therefore you do not need to replace it for years.

Glass Ceramic tiles as a flooring solution for bathrooms are also advisable. These tiles are usually made from recycled products like discarded glass, bottles, jars etc, and its manufacturing process is also quite simple, and does not have any hazardous effects on the environment. Usually ceramic tiles do not get easily damaged by moisture and are long lasting. Moreover, these come in attractive designs, colors and shapes and give your bathroom an elegant look. Cleaning products like EcoStone tile cleaners are easy to use and effective in removing stubborn stains, which can be used regularly to maintain a sparkling clean bathroom.

Having Hardwood flooring for a bathroom is also not a bad option. Bamboo is a good option when it comes to durability, water and moisture resistance and longevity. Bamboo flooring is quite affordable and a sustainable product that can be re harvested easily which makes it eco friendly. Apart from these benefits bamboo floorings are bacteria, mildew and mold resistant and prove to be the perfect option for a germ free bathroom. Bamboo flooring can easily be maintained by using products like “Hardwood floor cleaner’ which is a non-toxic, environment friendly, water based solution that helps to keep wooden flooring in a shiny new state.

Cork is again considered as one of the most eco friendly flooring material and can easily be used for bathroom flooring since it is naturally water resistant. Moreover cork is derived from the bark of a tree which does not kill the tree, and can be harvested every nine years. Eucalyptus is also a fast growing hardwood and a sustainable product that can be used as an eco friendly flooring option.

Though a bit on the costlier side, stone is also another popular choice for bathroom flooring because of its durable and tough nature. Stones like limestone, slate are eco friendly in nature and are obviously water resistant. Nowadays textured stone is available which is perfect for bathroom flooring since it is non-slippery and safe. Moreover eco friendly stone floorings for bathrooms can easily be cleaned and maintained by using popular and effective EcoStone products. Chemical free and eco friendly diamond pads are available that help to polish limestone and other stone floorings to preserve their shine.

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