The problem with moving furniture in a carpeted room is that more than likely it will leave you with carpet indentations. Fortunately there is an extremely simple solution to this problem.

Carpet indentation removal is simple and all it requires is ice cubes – yes, really! Simply place one in each indent and leave it to melt. If it’s a big dent position the cubes approximately 5cm/2″ apart.

When the ice cubes have melted and the carpet has dried, fluff up the fibers with a brush and then run your vacuum cleaner over the area. This should leave you with a carpet free from furniture marks. If it’s improved, but not perfect you can repeat the process.

This method is for removing furniture marks from a standard household carpet – it’s best not to use it on delicate, antique or hand dyed carpets or rugs, and if in doubt, test it out on an inconspicuous area first.

Also bear in mind that this may leave water marks on an underlying wooden floor.

It is possible to remove light scratches from windows or mirrors with a little bit of elbow grease.

The fingernail test

To test whether a scratch is likely to be removable use the fingernail test. Simply run the tip of your fingernail over the scratch. Does it catch on the scratch? If it doesn’t there is a good chance you can remove it.

Bear in mind that a deeper scratch that does catch on your nail could reduce the structural integrity of the glass, so replacing the glass may be the best thing to do in this case.

Use a polishing compound

The method described below for removing scratches from glass is intended only for light scratches and basically involves polishing the scratch out. You will need a polishing compound, so here are some easy to get hold of suggestions to choose from:

• Whitening toothpaste (a paste or cream, not a gel)
• Car wax polish
• T-cut or other cutting compound for car paint
• A paste made by mixing equal amounts of vinegar and dry mustard powder
• Jewelers’ rouge or iron oxide (available at hobby shops)

The process

You don’t want to make more scratches so first clean the glass thoroughly. Dry it with a soft lint-free cloth. Spread your chosen polishing compound onto the affected area.
Now comes the hard work! Take a soft cloth, and applying some pressure, start polishing in a circular motion. This will take a while, but when you think you’ve done enough clean the glass down again and see if the scratch has improved. If not, it’s back to polishing until the scratch is gone, or at least much less visible.

You could also use a buffing machine or drill with a polishing attachment, but be careful not to overdo it as it may leave you with distortion or weakened glass.

Keep at it and you will hopefully end up with glass you can be proud of again.

Tips4 preventing scratches on glass

Here are some tips to help you stop scratches occurring on glass in the first place:

• Tempered glass is particularly prone to scratches, so extra care is needed when cleaning
• If your glass is in an area where it is prone to scratches fit some glass protection film
• Special types of glass protection film are available if you are having building work or plastering undertaken, as this can produce the type of dust and debris that scratch glass
• When cleaning windows outside hose them down first to remove dirt and debris
• Don’t wear a ring while cleaning glass – diamonds can easily cause a scratch
• Use a soft lint-free cloth – newspaper and rough towels can scratch, particularly when used too vigorously

Photovoltaic roof tiles are designed to be built into a roof, either on a new build or if you’re having your house re-roofed. The aesthetics are much better, with a more integrated look than simply adding solar panels on top of an existing roof. As a result, they need not compromise a building’s design.

Photovoltaic roof tiles generate electrical energy in the same way as standard solar panels. As they convert the sun’s energy into electricity, they will obviously work better on a south facing roof on bright days, but need only daylight to work and they will generate electricity even on cloudy days.

PV roof tiles are designed around standard tile sizes and can be fitted to normal roof battens and held in place with a simple screw fixing. The end result is a watertight roof, designed to withstand the same weather conditions that you would expect from a normal roofing tile. Planning permission for the installation will not normally be required, unless yours is a listed building.

Running costs are low as PV tiles have no moving parts and, as such, are virtually maintenance free. A regular visual inspection is all that is needed.

As well as reducing your carbon emissions and electricity bill, you can use your solar PV tiles to generate cash as well as power in the UK, due to the Government’s Feed-In Tariff scheme (FITs). You can be paid for any electricity that you generate with your tiles, even if you use it yourself; you will be paid a set rate for each unit of electricity you generate, and then a further payment for each unit you export to the electricity grid. You will need to register for FITs, but your installer should be able to help you with this. Grants are often available to help you with costs of installation, but this will vary depending on where you are, so you will need to check with your council.

Tips4 Photovoltaic roof tiles

Here are some tips if you’re considering having photovoltaic roof tiles fitted:

• Ensure the tiles you are choosing come with a long warranty (at least 25 years)
• Check what grants are available in your area
• Install on a south facing roof if possible, PV tiles perform best on cold, bright days on a roof with no shadows