General Chit Chat

[queenie40something]

Originally Posted by nubianqueen

hi queenie

how are you, did you get my private message i just sent you (wednesday evening), can you let me know. shokran.

nubianqueen

Hi Nubian I am fine thanks. Just booked a flight out to Sharm on Tuesday and cant wait to see my apartment all furnished.

How are you? No I havent received your private message xx

[queenie40something]

Originally Posted by nubianqueen

SNAGGING

whats going on complete silence on snagging, did i tell you that I use to work for a Greek Shipping Tycoon and the snagging took years, esssh! hope that does not happen to us, anybody out there with information on this, whats the process in egypt or is snagging the same all over the world!

shokran


nubianqueen

Hi Nubian - when I flew over last month for my handover I done the snagging myself. Hubby told me what to look for and it was easy enough. Had to check for cracks, check windows fit correctly and opened ok and locked, doors fitted well and locked etc. Mine was unfurnished but now I have had it furnished by a 3rd party I will be snagging the furniture. I will be staying in the apartment so will be able to test the electricals such as tv, kettle, dishwasher, air con, fridge freezer, oven and hob, microwave, washing machine etc. I will be staying there until the 5th so the will get a good going over! I will also check the wardrobes to ensure they are solid and the doors slide and drawers open and shut freely, I will also check the sofa bed to make sure it pulls out without any probs etc.

I appreciate that not everyone is able to fly over and do this for themselves though.

Hope this helps

Alison xx

[doctorbob]

hi everybody, thanks for the posts about iraida showroom i have been digging myself and found out my old friend adele is now working for Iraida. they must be opening something special out there, cant wait to go and see it as she always disliked wood furniture in egypt due to quality or rather lack of it. i have tried phoning adele to get first hand info but no luck maybe she'll read this and contact me direct as i know she used to read the forum. believe me if this is true all our furniture worries in hurghada are over, we will be able to get quality and design. Apologises for harping on.

[anokayperson]

This really sounds like good news for everyone!

[wellheld]

Originally Posted by nubianqueen

hi everyone

i wonder if anyone can help me with the snagging process, how long does it take after the original snagging is done for everything to be ready, i realise this is a big big question depending on what is found!

i also realise that we do our own snagging when we move in? and hopefully have any problems sorted because there is a one year guarantee? this is just off the top of my head any expert opinions would be appreciated


Nubianqueen

Hi, I don't know how it usually works in Egypt but if you or anyone want me to snag for you,or with you, while I'm in Hurghada,( 9/9 to 9/12 then back after christmas) then I'd be happy to. I sell ,and snag, new build in UK. I'm not going to be working, but would like something to do out there. I'm planning to stay (in a friends apartment) for a few years at least.
Hope this helps. Helen. x

[queenie40something]

Right girls I have been told to be careful when I do a white wash because of the sand getting into the water pipes so have gone out and bought some washing bleach - Clorox - silly question time - what do I do with it. I have bought washing powder that goes in the drawer - think I figured out large side of drawer is for powder like at home and small for conditioner like at home - this is a Zanussi but instructions are in Arabic. So if I have got that right where and and what stage do I add the satchet of bleach???

Also I bought some spray for the roaches and ants called Bygone and sprayed it all around te edges of the rooms etc - is this right and is there anything better to buy??

Appreciate some help on how to deal with rats, roaches, ants and flies and these are the only things scaring me on my own!!!!

Thanks girls xxx

[Georgina]

Originally Posted by queenie40something

Right girls I have been told to be careful when I do a white wash because of the sand getting into the water pipes so have gone out and bought some washing bleach - Clorox - silly question time - what do I do with it. I have bought washing powder that goes in the drawer - think I figured out large side of drawer is for powder like at home and small for conditioner like at home - this is a Zanussi but instructions are in Arabic. So if I have got that right where and and what stage do I add the satchet of bleach???

Also I bought some spray for the roaches and ants called Bygone and sprayed it all around te edges of the rooms etc - is this right and is there anything better to buy??

Appreciate some help on how to deal with rats, roaches, ants and flies and these are the only things scaring me on my own!!!!

Thanks girls xxx

I'm not going to be much use! I never do a white wash. Haven't got many white things because of the sand.

Never had any roaches. Not sure if it is because I live on the second floor and they get enough food on the ground? Ants are a nightmare at the moment. I just keep everything spotless but everytime a tiny crumb is overlooked it will be crawling in seconds. I don't know how they appear so fast. Where ever you spray they will find a way round it. The ants like to travel up the electricity wires in the wall. And check your kettle in the morning. Mine always has ants in there!

[wellheld]

Hi, I always used Raid against cockroaches, spray under all furniture and at any possible entrance points. this includes the drains/plug holes/overflow, keep them covered if you can. Don't forget to spray by the front door too. You know you're winning when the dead ones get smaller and smaller.
For flies, blue zapper lights work well, as long as the door/windows are closed. You must be able to get them in Egypt because Ive seen them used in loads of places. Spray the rooms before you go out and close all the doors (a/c off) to have a fly free home when you return. You really don't want to breathe that stuff in.
I've not encountered the whites/sand/chlorox issue (and we had sand in Alexandria and the western desert), but sand is an abrasive and will put more wear and tear on fabrics in the washer. So my suggestion would be shake to remove as much as possible then either pre wash or put on a couple of rinse cycles before the main wash. Bleach will discolour man made fibres ( you get grubby whites, use net curtain whitener) and should only be used on natural fabric like cotton or linen, and then only if needed. Oxygen bleach is ok. When I use it I put it in with the washing powder. Remove general sand stains with washing soap.
I used an ant killer that came as a liquid and you put a drop onto a penny, the ants took it back to the nest and it poisoned them all. It worked VERY WELL. I think it was called Nippon. Will check on that.
See you soon. Yippee!!!!!!!!!!! Helen X

[wellheld]

For rats get rat traps and poison, we had a man in to do it!. Good luck. Helen

[Lsab]

Oh Alison, poor you. It's taken me around 10 years to stop being frightened silly over cockroaces and I still get shivers when I see the huge ones. Raid and Bygone are as good as anything else and like Helen I spray to prevent them. You can get one of the sprays for use as an outside barrier and I always spray a line of it around the outside of my front door. Every couple of days I spray underneath furniture particularly in the kitchen e.g under the washing machine. Before you leave, spray along the back of kitchen work surfaces and obviously give them a good clean on your return.

We don't get ants probably because we're on the top floor but I've heard as Helen said, that Nippon is good. You can get 'traps' for ants and cockroaches which might be another line of defence!

Believe me, it's nothing to do with how clean or dirty you are.

Rats and mice I've never had a problem with though they're rife across the Gulf.

As for whites - I've more or less given up! Just take them home and wash them!! I've tried everything to get my whites as clean as I do here, including Vanish powder, but I've decided it must be something to do with the water. I keep meaning to get a filter for the plumbing on the washing machine as I think that's probably the answer. Any plumber will be able to do the same for you I'm sure. As for Clorex, doesn't it give instructions on the bottle? If not I'd just add it to my powder or liquid. I don't think the sand on your clothes is the problem. It shouldn't stain them.

xx