Everyday Home Products Getting a High-Tech Upgrade

(ARA) - You may not have noticed it, because of larger technological breakthroughs such as hybrid cars and solar energy, but a new class of home conveniences is emerging to make day-to-day activities easier and more time efficient. Every day new products are developed and old ones are given high-tech makeovers.

High-tech has hit cleaning appliances. Consider these new home cleaning products that are faster, easier and more cost effective than the old mop, vacuum and washboard they replace.

Luxe Laundries
Clothes washing used to be a time-taking task involving hand washing and leaving clothes out for hours to air-dry. In the 1930s, the clothes washer and dryer emerged to save time and effort. Now, in the new millennium clothes cleaning is becoming even easier.

Sophisticated new washers allow users to select their settings with digital displays that can be programmed for specific washing needs -- individual stain removal, fabric choice, dry cleaning, wrinkle removal, and even to run at a certain time of day. Some of these digital devices can even add the detergent and fabric softener for you, eliminating another step in your laundry routine and allowing you to make the most of your time. Check out www.digitaltrends.com for more information and products bringing convenience home for you.

Cutting the Cord
The way we clean our homes is another part of daily life that has seen significant changes over the years. Portable vacuum cleaners have been around since 1868 and have taken many forms to provide the most efficient cleaning power around, but they are no match for the convenience and power of today’s central vacuum system.

The central vacuum system concept is simple; in-wall tubing leads to inlet valves strategically placed throughout your home. When it’s time to clean, you just plug in a lightweight hose and attachments to get started. You don’t have to carry a heavy standard vacuum unit with a tangle-prone cord up the stairs, down the hall or around the rooms.

Not only are these systems convenient, they also provide a healthy space for you and your family. Central vacuums, often installed in basements or garages, use powerful filtration methods to operate suction and provide thorough whole-house cleaning without recirculating dirt and pollutants throughout a home. Because of this, central vacuum systems provide proven improved indoor air quality and allergy relief by removing all vacuumed dust mites, pollen dander and other allergens. For more information on central vacuum cleaners, check out www.dirtdevilcentral.com and www.vacuflo.com.

A “Three-Second Clean”
Quick cleaning life’s little messes has long been the realm of wasteful paper towels and ineffective hand vacs. Even this part of your routine is getting a revolutionary makeover with a new product called the Vroom.

No longer do you need paper towels, sponges or brooms. Vroom brings powerful built-in vacuum suction to quick-clean jobs in kitchens, bathrooms, laundry rooms, mudrooms and other high traffic areas of a home. Vroom is installed directly into the cabinetry of a room and combines speed, convenient location and the ability to clean up dry spills to give its user a “three-second clean.” Check out www.Vroomyourroom.com for more information. Vroom can be used with or without a central vacuum.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Customize Your Room With a Unique Touch

(NewsUSA) - Whether you are renting an apartment, a first-time home buyer or a long-term homeowner, the saying "Home is where the heart is" holds true. It is said that a home is a true reflection of the people residing in it. So, for those looking to add some personal touches to a new home or to freshen up an existing residence, the following simple home décor tips offer quick, easy and affordable ways to spruce up the home.

- Color. When thinking about color, it's a good idea to coordinate your color palette so that other elements of the room match the walls. Furniture and carpeting in the same tones can help blend the visual flow and trick the eye, making the room appear larger. Companies like FLOR, a leading carpet manufacturer, offer versatile carpet tiles in a variety of colors and sizes. By mixing and matching FLOR, the possibilities are endless.

- Lighting. Certain lighting techniques can do wonders for opening up a space. Try updating lamp covers or recovering your lampshades with new fabric. Consider decorating with mirrors to reflect color and light, creating the illusion of space.

- Furniture. To give a room a new look and feel, consider moving the furniture away from the walls, and position it in new, more inviting angles, giving your room new depth.

- Focal point. Give your room a centerpiece. A new area rug is a great way to soften or add emphasis to a room. FLOR carpet tiles are beautiful and practical, making it quick and easy to form your perfect social circle.

- Décor. Adding accent pieces is an excellent way to infuse color and patterns into your room. To make the room appear larger, limit the number of decorative accent pieces, and keep the random clutter to a minimum. For example, instead of hanging several small pieces of artwork on your wall, consider choosing one big piece.

For more information, visit www.FLOR.com, where you can find a variety of collections, including "Martha Stewart Floor Designs" and "Alexander Girard."