Time Saving Bathroom Cleaning Tips

The bathroom is often the most used room in the house and because of this the hardest to clean and keep clean. By incorporating a few time saving bathroom cleaning tips into your regular routine, you can cut your cleaning time, save money on cleaning products and enjoy a cleaner
bathroom for longer periods of time.

When cleaning the bathroom, always start with the mirrors and shower doors. By cleaning from top to bottom you will save steps. The dirt from the mirrors and wall can sometimes fall to the floor. If done first, the dirt can then be cleaned in one step when you sweep and mop the floors.

To clean the mirrors and shower doors, you do not need an expensive commercial cleaner. The best cleaner and one that doesn't leave streaks, is a simple solution of water, white vinegar and rubbing alcohol. Simply add water, 1/3 cup of vinegar and 1⁄4 cup of rubbing alcohol to a spray bottle and shake gently to mix. Spray on glass surfaces and wipe with a clean white paper towel.

To clean grime and soap scum off the tub and shower stall you will need to use a two step process. First scrub the area with a white bristle brush to loosen grime and score the area so that a cleaner can penetrate it more readily. Next, spray or wipe on a concentrated orange-based commercial cleaning product. Allow the product to set for thirty minutes and the grime and soap scum should rinse right off.

After cleaning the tub and shower stall, coat the surfaces with an expensive car wax. If you do this twice a year it will help to repel dirt and cut cleaning time in half.

Another great time saving bathroom cleaning tip for your shower stall is to wipe away all of the water after each use. This will keep the dirt and grime from building up and make weekly cleaning a breeze.

After you have cleaned the big surfaces, it is time to clean the toilet and wipe down the counters, sinks and faucets. White vinegar is an inexpensive and effective cleaner for these jobs. Simply apply the white vinegar with a cloth and allow it to set for a few minutes. Then rinse the solution and wipe down the surfaces.

Other simple bathroom cleaning tips include the use of a bath rug outside the shower to collect water and dirt, the cleaning of your plastic shower curtain by tossing it in the washing machine with your dirty cleaning rags and the use of toothpaste and a scrub brush to shine and clean your ornate metal faucets.

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Tiles are the foundation stone for your stylish bathroom!

Tiles can increase the value of any home. Ceramic tiles, mosaic tile, floor tile all add an extra quality to your home. Tile can be found throughout a home from the kitchen, bathrooms, and even the flooring. Tiles are widely available in most home improvement stores and also in specialty stores throughout the company. Finding the right tile for a home with the right color, design, and even pattern can seem overwhelming. But, the results of this project can be beneficial for years to come.

Ceramic tile is one of the strongest that can be purchased. It comes in many colors and textures as well as designs and patterns. Mosaic tiles, or tiles that form a pattern once laid properly are an elegant element that can be added to a home. Mosaic tiles also offer a wide range of selection.

Bathroom tiles add quality as well as extra security. They can protect drywall and paint from water damage if properly installed. Floor tiles provide the same level of protection. These tiles are usually easy to clean and maintain. While normal mopping and washing can be effective, often an extra measure to keep them up to standard is to scrub the grout and edges with a brush. Elbow grease being the best cleaning product. While this does not have to be done each time the tile is cleaned, doing it regularly will improve the look of the tile overall.

Proper installation is important when adding tile to a home. If done improperly, the tile can often break or chip away. Consider hiring a professional so that the tile lies smooth and even and looks its best. When choosing the tile, do not forget to choose a grout that will benefit it. Grout, or the substance that is used to fill in the cracks between tiles, comes in many different colors and qualities. Again, this item is widely available at home improvement stores.

Tile, whether mosaic tile or ceramic tile, can enhance the quality of a home. It is an added investment into a home and should be done so with the overall supervision of a professional.

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The right Shower Curtain will make your bathroom look great!

A shower curtain can add the perfect touch to any bathroom. Whether you like simple pastel colors or more elegant designs, be sure to choose the shower curtain that compliments the look of the rest of the bathroom. Fortunately, there are many shower curtain designs to choose from. Patterns of almost all kinds and a full spectrum of colors are available, so be sure to hunt around till you find the shower curtain that is just right for your bathroom. While bathroom supplies and bathroom accessories are also very important to the way a bathroom looks, a shower curtain will more often than not be the focal point in any bathroom. Fortunately, most shower curtains are very inexpensive, though some of the higher quality models do tend to cost a little more.

The right shower curtain for your bathroom.

Knowing that there are so many different types of shower curtains, it may seem difficult to choose the right shower curtain. Also, some people know exactly what type of shower curtain they want but don’t know where to find it. After all, finding bathroom supplies and bathroom accessories can be difficult. However, be sure to keep on looking till you find the shower curtain that is precisely right for your bathroom. Also be aware that are some not so traditional shower curtains available, such as a hook-less shower curtain, shower curtain frog, fabric shower curtain, and many other unusual types of shower curtains available. When you find the right shower curtain for your shower, it will make your bathroom look so much better you will hardly be able to recognize it.

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The right bathroom light fixture will brighten up your bathroom.

A bathroom light fixture may be just what the doctor ordered to brighten up a dark and gloomy bathroom. House lighting is important in every room in your home, but especially in the bathroom. House lighting using too few lights in any room, especially your bathroom not only makes the bathroom look gloomy, but also may be a potential health hazard. On the other hand, too many lights may make your bathroom seem harsh. Fortunately, a bathroom light fixture will provide your bathroom with the perfect amount of light.

There are many bathroom light fixture styles to choose from, including Modern, Craftsman, Tiffany, Classic, and many others. Regardless of what lighting style you choose, be sure that it will be able to adequately light the bathroom. Also be sure to choose a bathroom light fixture that will be easy to clean, so bathroom maintenance wouldn’t be too much of a chore.


Tips on finding the perfect bathroom light fixture.

Considering that there are so many different styles and types of bathroom light fixtures, it may be difficult to choose the one that is right for you. Many people are turned away from light fixtures because of their price; after all, it is sometimes challenging to find the correct house lighting for any room. However, be aware that there are many discount light fixtures available. Also be sure to choose a bathroom light fixture that fits the style of the rest of your bathroom.

As installing a bathroom light fixture is often a complicated and difficult job it would probably be a good idea to hire a professional to get them installed, unless you have some experience in house electronics. Some other bathroom light fixture considerations are discount light fixture, bathroom supplies, bathroom fixture, lighting, bathroom, bathroom maintenance: all areas of importance when lighting up your bathroom.

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The Right Bathroom Accessories will make your Bathroom unforgetable!

Bathrooms aren't just about the basics but are about the bathroom accessories! Bathrooms have become places to relax and unwind. They are not just for doing your business and leaving. People have spent time in designing a place to find peace and quiet! And the bathroom accessories that you have in there will help accomplish this!

Yes, bathrooms have toilets and bathroom sinks. Yes, there are reasons that we need these spaces in our homes beyond for the point of relaxing, but these rooms can be stylish and elegant or fun and relaxing just the same. Some might think, a toilet is a toilet. Go into any home improvement store and find the aisle of toilets. Yes, there are many to choose from. Its not just about which works the best. No, its about how the look and feel. There are lots of different options even for toilets!

Now consider the other bathroom accessories that you can customize to your liking to create the bathroom of your dreams. For instance, bathroom lighting fixtures. Bathroom light fixtures come in many options. Some may be bright and seem simple while others may be funky and fun. In different colors, shapes, styles these can add an added touch of sophistication or style. Or, maybe adding lighting that is dim and smooth as opposed to bright. This can create a great atmosphere for relaxing.

Other bathroom fixtures to think about are bathroom faucets and bathroom sinks to think about as well. In every aspect of the bathroom, you will find different styles, shapes, and colors all to help make the bathroom of your dreams. Many options can be put together to show an overall style of the bathroom. Many can carry the same theme throughout the bathroom as well. So, there are many things you can do to create a great bathroom.

Adding bathroom accessories will help you create the bathroom of your dreams. A place to come home to, to relax and find peace and quiet.

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The Growing Market for Scales

Although many people prefer not to step on them, there is still a large market out there for scales to monitor weight. From the medical scales at the doctor's office, to the digital scale in your bathroom, there are a wide variety of weight scales available.

Many people prefer to monitor their weight on weight scales at home. The modern scale comes in a variety of styles, sizes and prices. Many brands are good looking, sleek and stylish enough to be matched with the interior styling of your bathroom.

Digital scales have become much more affordable since they first debuted about a decade ago. They now come with additional features. The digital body fat scale by Taylor Precision Products, for example, allows four different users to input height age and gender. The scale then lets off a low-voltage current that calculates that person's body fat percentage as well.

Bathroom scales give people the freedom and comfort of monitoring their weight without self-consciousness. Another reason why many people choose bathroom weight scales is because the best way to weigh yourself is with minimal or no clothing; and the bathroom provides a private place to do so. Bathroom scales are an ideal way to monitor and manage one’s weight.

Scales are also used outside of the home, however. A wide array of industrial scales can be used to measure manufacturing weights, food weights, and the weight of postal parcels. In addition, a separate line of scales made specifically for babies to weigh not only their bodies, but the amount of food they consume. Then there are pet-specific scales, which are ideal for measuring fidgety animals in the vet’s office. With all the scales in the world, it’s easy to get confused about the various types.

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The Cost of Remodeling a Bathroom

Before beginning any bathroom remodeling, you should create a budget. Pick an amount of money you can reasonably afford, and then check the costs of supplies to estimate what you can do in your remodeling project. It is wise to save about 20 percent of your budget to cover emergencies. They do happen. Keep in mind, too, the costs of professional help from plumbers or electricians. These services cost significantly more than doing the job yourself, so do whatever work you can. You may want to do your own painting, lay your tile, or decorate the new bathroom yourself. The extra work you do will let you be creative and have fun while saving money.

Online sites exist to help you estimate the cost of your bathroom remodeling. The Web sites have several remodeling scenarios to select; for example, adding a bathtub or redoing the walls. The calculators ask you your location, the size of your bathroom, the preparation work needed, and the amount and type of supplies you'll need. These sites are an easy way to plan your bathroom remodeling costs in minutes.

It also helps to talk with other people, either in person or online, who have remodeled their own bathrooms. They may alert you to great deals, products to avoid or unexpected costs they encountered. You can never do too much research. Check out the national averages of bathroom remodeling costs and get estimates from local contractors. If you are hiring someone to do work in your bathroom, don't be afraid to purchase the supplies. It may save significant costs.

The costs of supplies add up. A typical sink costs between $60 and $100, but higher-end sinks cost hundreds of dollars. Vinyl flooring is the cheapest, starting at around $3 a foot. Ceramic tile is usually triple the price of vinyl. Basic bathtubs cost a few hundred dollars, and whirlpool tubs thousands. Showers cost between $300 and $2,000. Traditional toilets cost under $200, but smaller or fancier toilets can cost up to $1,500. Paint costs around $50, wallpaper $60, and new accessories can cost anywhere from a few dollars to a hundred dollars. The important thing is to plan properly and shop wisely to keep a bathroom remodeling cost within your budget. You can always add more later on because after one bathroom remodeling experience, you will have the skills to tackle more.

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The Benefits of Hookless Shower Curtains

Anyone who has ever hung traditional shower curtains will agree on one thing: hooks are a pain to use. You get one side hung and the other side comes unhooked. While you’re reattaching that side, three hooks fall off. You fumble, you drop things. Before you get the whole thing hung, you are quite tempted to throw the curtain -- and the hooks -- out of the nearest window. There is an easier way.

Several different varieties of hookless shower curtains are now available. Though they all attach by different methods, each works with your existing standard shower curtain rods… and they all eliminate the hooks.

One such hookless shower curtain is available for $19.99 from AmeriMark. Equipped with a built-in flexible split-ring system, it simply fits over your curtain rod.

Another type of hookless shower curtain is one that utilizes ties. While each tie does have to be individually tied, you do not have to fumble with hard-to-use rings. One example is the Watershed Shower Curtain from Plow & Hearth. In addition to being hookless, this shower curtain also repels water, eliminating the threat of mold and mildew.

Some other hookless shower curtains use buttons, snaps, or Velcro to attach to the rod. While all of these methods have their own drawbacks, they do away with a lot of the hassle of dealing with hooks.

Hookless shower curtains are available at a variety of outlets. Try your local department stores, such as Target and WalMart. Many home improvement stores, like Lowe’s and Home Depot, also sell shower curtains. In addition, they are available at bedding and home décor stores like Linens N Things and Bed Bath & Beyond. You can also find hookless shower curtains at many online stores.

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The Benefits of Digital Scales

It's easy to use a digital scale to weigh yourself, and the results are even easier to read.

The best way to ensure that you are getting an accurate weight measurement is by getting a scale that only you use. A lot of people use the scales at their local gyms. Many of these scales work on a spring system. Every time a person steps on that scale the springs get a little more wear and this will change its accuracy. The locker room scale is rarely accurate, and that's why using a digital scale at home is best. Don't switch scales, either, the experts advise. Pick your scale and stick with it to ensure accuracy.

Choose one day a week to weigh yourself. On that day, after you wake up you should weigh yourself with your bladder and bowels empty, and no food or water in your system. This is the ideal time to obtain your most accurate weight.

There are many digital scales that are accurate to help you weigh in perfectly. A hot-selling scale is the GS-1 Siltec Glass Digital Bathroom Scale, which costs approximately $80. This scale has a 440-pound capacity and 0.2 lb readability. The style is modern, with a sleek glass platform. This digital scale incorporates four individual load sensors -- one at each corner of the scale to provide the utmost in accuracy. Most other scales only use only one load sensor with a mechanical leveler.

The Tanita HD-351 Digital Bathroom Scale is another modern style with the same specs as the GS-1. This digital scale sells for approximately $5 less, however, and has an oversized platform. The Tanita HD-372 Glass Lithium Digital Bathroom Scale has an extra-large display, 400-pound capacity, and usually sells for approximately $60. There are a wide range of solar digital scales and potable digital scales on the market as well.

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The Bathroom…the forgotten area of your home?

The bathroom in your home is the one room that has undergone a complete transformation in the past several years. A transformation that is as far as how it is defined. Kitchens are to cook and eat in, living rooms are still for living and entertaining in and the garage still holds vehicles and junk (not to mention lot’s of tools). But the bathroom has evolved so far beyond its traditional functions that to truly reflect its current status in many homes, "spa room" or the "retreat" might be more appropriate names for it.

Too often, the bathroom comes in second to the kitchen when it comes to deciding on which home remodeling project should be done first. The kitchen has retained and even built upon its position as the focal point of the home and a center of both socialization and function. But the master bathroom is still stuck in its hygienic role and remains a private area that doesn't get as many opportunities to impress visiting guests. Couple that with the fact that a bathroom renovation can be nearly as involved and expensive as a kitchen makeover and you have the makings for procrastination.

Today's bathrooms, particularly those incorporated into master suites, are being designed and built to be a source of luxury and relaxation. After all, for many parents the master suite's bath may be the only room in the home where they can truly enjoy some private time for relaxation away from the kids.

The world can be a very stressful place and having a nice, relaxing bathroom where you can de-stress can be very important.

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Tasteful home decorating changes your house into a home!

There is this undocumented story about Andrew Carnegie who kept postponing the decision to redecorate his home just because black, his default color of choice, was simply not used in home decorating those days! Mercifully today, you could well translate your home decorating ideas into alluring reality. For home interior decorating no longer means just coloring your walls in pastel shades and showing off your antiques – it is about using all the home decorating tips that one can get to highlight the most of what one possesses. Unless of course you wish to shrug the opportunity and call in a professional designer. But even this experience could be fascinating – what with "walk-throughs" in your "virtually" designed home before even a single coat of paint is applied! Yes, with home decorating, either way you always come up trumps!

Use home decorating tips to your advantage!

Your décor should exude your persona. Want it to appear spacious? Eliminate shadows with diffused, ambient lighting. Avoid ceiling lights which make the ceiling appear low. Your ceiling should always wear the lightest color in the room. Then the pastel shades on your wall would help create that feeling of largeness. Limit the use of patterns to accent pieces – the discerning eye should not stop as it travels across the room. And if you want a cozy pad, do just the opposite – use strong colors and heavy, soft textures. Draw attention to that precious grandfather clock with carefully directed light. And if you must, make up your bathroom – in exquisite black – and eliminate that permanently booked suite at New York’s Windsor Hotel – à la Andrew Carnegie!

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Staying in Tune with the Change of Season

Now the summer is winding down, leaves will soon start turning color and falling from the trees, signaling the change of season. We’ll enjoy brilliant colors for a short time, then there will be no color at all.

“Outside anyway,” says Terri Mattson, an interior designer who works for Fifth Avenue Design in Minneapolis, Minn. This time of year, her company is overrun with phone calls from people looking for ways to bring color inside.

“Color plays such an important role in our lives,” says Mattson. “It helps boost our spirits and keeps us going through good times and bad. I’m not sure if it’s related to the economy or something else, but a lot of people are coming to us asking for ways to brighten up homes.”

Mattson says the one of the best places to start is in the bathroom. “Earth tones are big this year. We’ve painted a lot of bathrooms that used to be white either cinnamon, ginger or terra cotta with blue and red or green and gold accents,” says Mattson. “The transformation is amazing.”

Painting the walls isn’t the only update you can do in the bathroom. Some people also change out fixtures or re-tile. “Both expensive propositions,” says Sue Kelley of Environmental Graphics, a Minnesota based company specializing in decorative products for the home. “There’s a much easier, less expensive and less permanent way to get a new look.”

Kelley’s company manufactures a relatively new home decorating tool called Stick ‘n Stile design appliqués. They are raised stickers that can be attached to your existing tile in just seconds.

To apply, all you have to do is clean the surface of your tile, remove the liner and press the appliqué into place. Just like the rest of your tile, they can be cleaned with a damp cloth or mild domestic cleaner . Removal is just as easy. Simply heat the appliqués with a hair dryer for a few minutes and peel off.

“One of the great things about this product is it gives you the ability to restyle without replacing your tile,” says Kelley. “They are easy to work with, which makes them perfect for the do-it-yourselfer.”

Stick ‘n Stile design appliqués come in six different designs: Water World, which features tropical fish; Summertime, featuring dragonflies and flowers; Orchid Narcissus, Botanica, and Fiji Palms, featuring flowers and leaves; and Geo Squares, which transform that geometrical shape into a work of art.

Once you have your new paint on the walls and design appliqués on your tile, you can add a little more color to the room by spray painting your wall plates and toilet paper holders, and getting accessories to match.

“When the next change of season comes, you can switch out those accessories, and maybe add a basket filled with pinecones to achieve a more wintry feel,” suggests Mattson.

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Some Like It “Hot”: Ten Products to Keep Your Home Warm and Toasty This Winter

The days are shorter, the nights are cooler and the winds are howling outside your home. Now is the time to “turn on the heat” with products that will keep you toasty throughout the long winter season.

These products will not only help you escape winter’s chill, but the luxuries they offer may actually help you get out of bed on those cold mornings rather than hibernating under the covers.

“Based on the overwhelming array of luxury products manufacturers have recently introduced, homeowners want anything that makes their lives more comfortable at home. Whether it involves heating/warming accessories or spa-like home environments, it's part of the ‘cocooning’ phenomena that has resurfaced,” says Stephani Miller, associate products editor for Remodeling and Custom Home magazines. “People are spending more time at home and they want to be comfortable. They want to use their home to its full potential, not just as a place to eat and sleep between workdays.”

So what are the latest products for weathering winter in style and comfort? Read on to find out:

1. Heated floors

Nothing’s worse on a winter’s morning than having your feet hit the icy tile. To solve this problem, many homeowners are installing heated floors to keep their feet warm, without relying on wool socks or fuzzy slippers. There are two types of heated floors from which to choose -- the first involves plastic piping installed under the floor to circulate hot water. The second is an electric heating system consisting of electric wires placed under the floor. The cost can range from $4 to $10 a square foot, but many homeowners feel it’s worth the expense.

And these floors aren’t just for the bathroom. “Heated floors can be used just about anywhere: in kitchens with cold tile floors, in pool or spa enclosures, sunrooms, or any other room of the house where extra warmth is needed,” notes Miller.

2. Heated towel bars

While heated floors require a major bathroom remodel, a quick fix to provide warmth in the bath is heated towel bars. These bars can easily be mounted to the wall and plug into a standard, 110-volt electric household outlet. What better way to pamper yourself after a shower than to get cozy in a warm, fluffy towel? They also provide the extra functionality of actually helping to heat up the bathroom. There are many shapes and sizes from which to choose, most costing between $200 to $300.

3. Warming drawers

“Many major appliance manufacturers have introduced warming drawers to their product lines to complement kitchen appliances. Designers are getting creative with these drawers and are using them in a lot of different ways, not just in the kitchen for keeping cooked food warm, but also in bathrooms or pool houses for warming towels,” says Miller.

The advantage to drawers over heated towel bars is that they can actually make a towel hot throughout. They can also be used to warm other items -- such as robes, underwear and socks. The average price for a warming drawer is $600.

4. New showerhead

What better way to wake up in the morning than a hot shower? And, with the unique water delivery offered by Moen’s Revolution massaging showerhead, its larger drops of water actually make the shower feel warmer. This showerhead takes ordinary water, spins each drop, and then twirls the entire stream. From a rain-like shower to a deep, therapeutic massage and anything in between, the showerhead provides phenomenal coverage and makes users feel enveloped in the water stream. The increased speed in movement of the water drops results in a perception of higher flow and higher pressure, in addition to the sensation of a massaging shower. Revolution showerheads start at $60.

5. Whirlpool tub or hot tub

While showering systems are popular because of their convenience, there are still some who prefer a long, hot bath on a cold night. Look for whirlpool tub models with special features such as aromatherapy and pulsating jets. For those with back or muscle pain, a whirlpool tub with jets can provide massaging relief for soreness and pinpoint certain areas of the body. If your current bathroom will not hold a large tub, consider adding a hot tub to your deck or patio area. Taking a dip in the hot tub on a cool winter’s night may provide the perfect ending to a long day.

6. Heated toilet seat

You’ve heard of being on the ‘hot seat’ before, but now heated toilet seats literally put you there. These seats easily install in just minutes and plug into a standard household outlet. They heat to 25 degrees F above the average room temperature and feature uniform heat distribution. Heated toilet seats retail for approximately $100 and offer just one more way to beat the winter chill.

7. Shower control

Are you tired of waiting for the water in your shower to warm up every morning? Do you get in the shower after someone else changed all the settings? If you answered ‘yes’ to either of these questions, pamper yourself with Moen’s ExactTemp, the first pressure-balanced thermostatic valve for residential use. Day after day, it lets you dial up your own personalized water temperature, set just the way you like it. Plus, as water volume in your hot water tank decreases, the valve’s smart technology maintains your pre-set temperature and your comfort. The thermostatic control is also pressure balanced so you won’t experience shower shock -- those uncomfortable surges in hot or cold water, such as when someone flushes the toilet.

8. Fireplace

Snuggling up with a cup of hot cocoa and a good book in front of a roaring fire is an ideal way to spend a cold winter’s night. It is also a great way to heat a room with gas. Over the past several years, ventless gas fireplaces have become popular since no chimney or vent is needed and they can fit right up against a wall in any room of the house. Fireplace models now can give off between 10,000 to 40,000 BTUs and come in many different styles that look similar to their wood-burning counterparts. Prices start at $400.

9. Home sauna

For the ultimate in luxury, install a home sauna. Saunas feature a combination of heat (usually between 165 and 195 degrees F) and low humidity. There are many sauna kits available in a variety of sizes and layouts. A kit comes with wood panels, a pre-hung door, benches, an electric heater, thermometer and accessories. These kits are pre-wired and snap together in just a few hours and don’t require any plumbing. Home saunas plug into a standard household outlet. Many wood options are available, but cedar and redwood are the most popular. Depending on its size and degree of sophistication, expect to pay between $2,000 and $5,000.

10. Heated driveway

And, once you have all these “hot” amenities installed in your home, you certainly don’t want to go outside to clean off your driveway. Instead, install a heated driveway, which has electric heating coils or hot water pipes below the surface of the concrete. The driveway automatically senses cold and turns on to melt the snow and ice. According to the latest figures, these driveways can cost between $12 and $21 per square foot.

There you have it, ten products to pamper you and safeguard your home with warmth, no matter what it’s doing outside.

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