In today’s high-tech world, it’s nice to know that there are many “low-tech,” in expensive and environmentally safe solutions to everyday problems.
Vinegar, for all of it’s simplicity, is an amazing product. Here are just a few of the many uses for vinegar:
When waxing a floor after scrubbing with a floor stripper, use 1 cup of vinegar to the rinse water. It neutralizes the chemicals and makes wax or floor finishes adhere better.
For an inexpensive cleaning solution to replace those expensive PERGO flooring cleaners: (From a PERGO dealer) Pour 32 ounces of white vinegar, 32 ounces of rubbing alcohol, 64 ounces of water and 6 drops of dishwashing liquid into a 1-gallon plastic jug, shake to mix, then pour contents into a spray bottle. You now have the equivalent of the more expensive Pergo floor cleaner. Just spray and mop, then go back over the floors with a dry towel to remove any excess moisture. Also works great on tile floors!
As a wall cleaner: Mix 1 gallon of water, 1 cup of ammonia, 1/2-cup vinegar, and 1/4 cup of baking soda into a bucket of water. STIR TO MIX THOROUGHLY. Wash the walls from the bottom up. Otherwise, you may get drips on the non-cleaned surfaces that are very difficult, if not impossible to remove.
As a nontoxic bug spray: Keep 100% vinegar in a spray bottle and use instead of pesticides, anywhere inside or outside. Why spray toxic pest killers inside your home, where your family and pets are exposed to it, when you can use a natural remedy?
To repel ants, spray vinegar around door and window frames, under appliances, and along other known ant trails.
To kill grass on walks and driveways: Pour full strength vinegar on unwanted grasses.
To kill weeds in the garden, spray full strength on the tops of weeds. Reapply on any new growth.
To keep car windows frost-free: Coat the windows the night before with a solution of three parts vinegar to one part water.
Soak new propane lantern wicks in vinegar for several hours. Let dry before using. They will burn longer and brighter.
As a cat repellant: Sprinkle vinegar on an area to discourage cats from walking, sleeping or scratching or...
To freshen vegetables: Soak wilted vegetables in a quart of cold water and a tablespoon of vinegar.
To scale fish more easily: Rub with vinegar 5 minutes before scaling.
Monday, July 27, 2009
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Spot Removal
There is a right way and a wrong way to cleanup accidental spills on your carpet. What you should not do is just as important as what you should do. Today’s new carpets resist spots much better than those manufactured even a few years ago. However, they are still susceptible to spots and should be treated quickly to avoid a permanent stain.
Step 1: Blot up as much of the spill as you can. Make sure you blot - don’t scrub. Scrubbing will only work the spill deeper into the fiber, and may leave a wear mark. Use a white paper or white cotton towel to blot. Fold the towel and press it into the spill. Rotate the towel often so a clean surface is always against the carpet. Continue to blot until no more of the spill transfers to the towel. Remove any solid material with a rounded spoon or the edge of a dull knife.
Step 2: Cover the blotted area with a fresh white towel. Weight the towel with something that will not transfer color to the carpet or towel. Leave this in place for 15-20 minutes to remove any remaining spill. Should the carpet remain stained by the spill, go to step three.
Step 3: Spotting the remaining stain in your carpet requires care and patience. You cannot apply most household cleaners to the stain without further damaging the carpet. Many common cleaners contain dyes that will discolor the carpet, or chemicals that will permanently set the stain. If you can locate the literature you received when you bought the carpet it should contain spotting procedures for you to follow.
If not, you can attempt to remove most common household spills with the following procedure. Mix a teaspoonful of colorless, mild detergent in a cup of lukewarm water. To test the safety of the solution apply several drops to an inconspicuous area (closet, under a couch) and rub gently with a clean white towel. Do not proceed if any carpet color transfers to the towel or if the carpet’s color changes. Try an alternate cleaner, or call a professional.
If the test is successful, spot the stain by alternately applying a few drops of cleaner followed by blotting. Always blot, never scrub, and do not over wet. Work from the outer edge of the stain to the center. Continue this process until the stain is gone or no more color transfers to the white towel. The final step is to gently rinse the area with clear water, then absorb all the remaining moisture with absorbent towels.
Step 1: Blot up as much of the spill as you can. Make sure you blot - don’t scrub. Scrubbing will only work the spill deeper into the fiber, and may leave a wear mark. Use a white paper or white cotton towel to blot. Fold the towel and press it into the spill. Rotate the towel often so a clean surface is always against the carpet. Continue to blot until no more of the spill transfers to the towel. Remove any solid material with a rounded spoon or the edge of a dull knife.
Step 2: Cover the blotted area with a fresh white towel. Weight the towel with something that will not transfer color to the carpet or towel. Leave this in place for 15-20 minutes to remove any remaining spill. Should the carpet remain stained by the spill, go to step three.
Step 3: Spotting the remaining stain in your carpet requires care and patience. You cannot apply most household cleaners to the stain without further damaging the carpet. Many common cleaners contain dyes that will discolor the carpet, or chemicals that will permanently set the stain. If you can locate the literature you received when you bought the carpet it should contain spotting procedures for you to follow.
If not, you can attempt to remove most common household spills with the following procedure. Mix a teaspoonful of colorless, mild detergent in a cup of lukewarm water. To test the safety of the solution apply several drops to an inconspicuous area (closet, under a couch) and rub gently with a clean white towel. Do not proceed if any carpet color transfers to the towel or if the carpet’s color changes. Try an alternate cleaner, or call a professional.
If the test is successful, spot the stain by alternately applying a few drops of cleaner followed by blotting. Always blot, never scrub, and do not over wet. Work from the outer edge of the stain to the center. Continue this process until the stain is gone or no more color transfers to the white towel. The final step is to gently rinse the area with clear water, then absorb all the remaining moisture with absorbent towels.
Friday, July 24, 2009
Carpet Care And Your Families Health
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says… “Until such a time as the carpet fibers are cleaned, the potential for human exposure and health risk remains high.” “Every time carpets and fabrics are emptied of their pollution build-up through professional cleaning methods, there is a health benefit.”
Imagine a carpeted floor and a hard surface floor in your home, office or work area. Let’s say that you vacuum the carpet daily and sweep the floor daily. Six months later, what would your hard floor look like?
Remember, you have only swept the floor, not mopped. You would have a grungy looking hard floor, but the carpet would still look good. The reason for this is that carpet does not magically repel dirt...it hides it!
Same dirt on both floors, you just can’t see it on the carpet...yet.
The problem: Carpet by its design, hides dirt. By the time soil becomes apparent, it is no longer a light duty-cleaning chore, it has become a heavy-duty restoration. The ability of the cleaning process to achieve a desirable appearance is affected by the amount of soil and the length of time it has been in the carpet.
Without a quality maintenance plan, the carpet is eventually replaced, not because it has “worn out,” but because cleaning no longer improves the appearance. The carpet has “uglied out.” The overall annual cost of owning a carpet can be reduced, if it is properly maintained. You could effectively extend your carpets life by 3 to 5 years.
The solution: Regular maintenance programs are your best protection against the build-up of soils, mold spores, chemicals, dust mites and other pollutants that accumulate in your carpet and upholstery.
Imagine a carpeted floor and a hard surface floor in your home, office or work area. Let’s say that you vacuum the carpet daily and sweep the floor daily. Six months later, what would your hard floor look like?
Remember, you have only swept the floor, not mopped. You would have a grungy looking hard floor, but the carpet would still look good. The reason for this is that carpet does not magically repel dirt...it hides it!
Same dirt on both floors, you just can’t see it on the carpet...yet.
The problem: Carpet by its design, hides dirt. By the time soil becomes apparent, it is no longer a light duty-cleaning chore, it has become a heavy-duty restoration. The ability of the cleaning process to achieve a desirable appearance is affected by the amount of soil and the length of time it has been in the carpet.
Without a quality maintenance plan, the carpet is eventually replaced, not because it has “worn out,” but because cleaning no longer improves the appearance. The carpet has “uglied out.” The overall annual cost of owning a carpet can be reduced, if it is properly maintained. You could effectively extend your carpets life by 3 to 5 years.
The solution: Regular maintenance programs are your best protection against the build-up of soils, mold spores, chemicals, dust mites and other pollutants that accumulate in your carpet and upholstery.
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Is Your Home Making Your Family Sick?
Most people are aware that outdoor air pollution can damage their health, but may not know that indoor air pollution can also have significant effects. The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) studies of human exposure to air pollutants indicate that indoor air levels of many pollutants may be 2-5 times, and on occasion more than 100 times higher than outdoor levels. These levels of indoor air pollutants are of particular concern because it is estimated that most people spend as much as 90% of their time indoors.
Over the past several decades, our exposure to indoor air pollutants is believed to have increased due to a variety of factors, including the construction of more tightly sealed buildings, reduced ventilation rates to save energy, the use of synthetic building materials and furnishings, and the use of chemically formulated personal care products, pesticides, and household cleaners.
In recent years, comparative risk studies performed by EPA and its Science Advisory Board have consistently ranked indoor air pollution among the top five environmental risks to public health. Poor indoor air quality is a leading cause of allergies in humans and pets.
Allergies are an over reaction of the immune system to foreign substances. This over reaction weakens your immune system, draining your energy and leaving you more susceptible to infectious diseases caused by viruses and bacteria.
Allergic reactions can range from mildly uncomfortable to life threatening, as in a severe asthma attack. Health experts are especially concerned about people with asthma. These people have very sensitive airways that can react to various irritants, making breathing difficult. The estimated number of people with asthma has risen over 59 percent since 1970, to a total of 9.6 million people. The number of related deaths has increased by 68 percent.
The largest source of indoor air pollution is from the common household dust mite. In February, 1993, John W. Maunder, Ph.D., Director of the Medical Entomology Center at the University of Cambridge, UK, published a paper entitled “Carpets, House Dust Mites and Asthma” in which he states, “There is no longer room for serious doubt about the dominant role of the house dust mite in both the initial induction of asthma and in the subsequent triggering of wheezy attacks.”
Asthmatics are not allergic to living mites but to the airborne feces of mites and, to a much lesser extent, to dead mites. Dr. Maunder states that although living mites are difficult to remove from carpet, their feces are readily removed from carpets by proper cleaning. “A carpet regularly cleaned will not and cannot contain enough allergen to affect people. The proper maintenance of carpet completely prevents trouble from that source.”
A recent study concludes that carpets may benefit indoor air quality by acting as a filter for indoor air, trapping and holding dust mites, pollutants, and allergens like pollen, pet dander and molds, which play an important role in allergic diseases. The key to maintaining good indoor air quality in a home is to remove these pollutants regularly.
As you can see, regular cleanings are important… not just to maintain the appearance of your carpets, but for hygienic reasons, as well. Contaminates in your carpet that need to be removed on a regular basis.
Waiting until your carpet looks dirty is waiting too long. In fact, the EPA recommends having carpets and upholstery cleaned at least twice a year, more often if you have children or pets.
Properly cleaning your entire home can also go a long ways in the battle to control dust mites and other indoor pollutants. You cannot see a dust mite with the naked eye, (dozens of them will fit on the head of a pin) but you can help keep their favorite breeding grounds dry and clean.
Controlling dust is very important. Besides carpeting, dust mites also thrive in upholstered furniture and bedding. Vacuuming will not remove them, but will help to remove dust. Make sure that you use a vacuum cleaner that filters the exhausted air. Get in the habit of vacuuming your carpets and furniture thoroughly, at least a couple of times a week.
For more information on this subject, visit the EPA website @ www.epa.gov and enter “indoor air quality” in the search engine. Another good source of information is the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website @ www.cdc.gov. Or, talk to your physician.
Over the past several decades, our exposure to indoor air pollutants is believed to have increased due to a variety of factors, including the construction of more tightly sealed buildings, reduced ventilation rates to save energy, the use of synthetic building materials and furnishings, and the use of chemically formulated personal care products, pesticides, and household cleaners.
In recent years, comparative risk studies performed by EPA and its Science Advisory Board have consistently ranked indoor air pollution among the top five environmental risks to public health. Poor indoor air quality is a leading cause of allergies in humans and pets.
Allergies are an over reaction of the immune system to foreign substances. This over reaction weakens your immune system, draining your energy and leaving you more susceptible to infectious diseases caused by viruses and bacteria.
Allergic reactions can range from mildly uncomfortable to life threatening, as in a severe asthma attack. Health experts are especially concerned about people with asthma. These people have very sensitive airways that can react to various irritants, making breathing difficult. The estimated number of people with asthma has risen over 59 percent since 1970, to a total of 9.6 million people. The number of related deaths has increased by 68 percent.
The largest source of indoor air pollution is from the common household dust mite. In February, 1993, John W. Maunder, Ph.D., Director of the Medical Entomology Center at the University of Cambridge, UK, published a paper entitled “Carpets, House Dust Mites and Asthma” in which he states, “There is no longer room for serious doubt about the dominant role of the house dust mite in both the initial induction of asthma and in the subsequent triggering of wheezy attacks.”
Asthmatics are not allergic to living mites but to the airborne feces of mites and, to a much lesser extent, to dead mites. Dr. Maunder states that although living mites are difficult to remove from carpet, their feces are readily removed from carpets by proper cleaning. “A carpet regularly cleaned will not and cannot contain enough allergen to affect people. The proper maintenance of carpet completely prevents trouble from that source.”
A recent study concludes that carpets may benefit indoor air quality by acting as a filter for indoor air, trapping and holding dust mites, pollutants, and allergens like pollen, pet dander and molds, which play an important role in allergic diseases. The key to maintaining good indoor air quality in a home is to remove these pollutants regularly.
As you can see, regular cleanings are important… not just to maintain the appearance of your carpets, but for hygienic reasons, as well. Contaminates in your carpet that need to be removed on a regular basis.
Waiting until your carpet looks dirty is waiting too long. In fact, the EPA recommends having carpets and upholstery cleaned at least twice a year, more often if you have children or pets.
Properly cleaning your entire home can also go a long ways in the battle to control dust mites and other indoor pollutants. You cannot see a dust mite with the naked eye, (dozens of them will fit on the head of a pin) but you can help keep their favorite breeding grounds dry and clean.
Controlling dust is very important. Besides carpeting, dust mites also thrive in upholstered furniture and bedding. Vacuuming will not remove them, but will help to remove dust. Make sure that you use a vacuum cleaner that filters the exhausted air. Get in the habit of vacuuming your carpets and furniture thoroughly, at least a couple of times a week.
For more information on this subject, visit the EPA website @ www.epa.gov and enter “indoor air quality” in the search engine. Another good source of information is the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website @ www.cdc.gov. Or, talk to your physician.
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Health Alert From Pollen And Mold
Here are tips that will help you to protect yourself, family and visitors from unnecessary suffering or from exposure that might be linked to the cause of lifelong allergies.
- Stay indoors during peak pollen hours: usually 5am to 10am.
- After you've been outside, change your clothes(but not in your bedroom) and take a quick shower. Pollen from the air can collect on your clothes and hair.
- Shower and wash your hair every night to remove pollen.
- Don't line-dry clothes.
- Pets who live both indoors and outdoors should be bathed often.
- Keep windows in home closed.
- Monitor pollen counts and adjust outdoor activities accordingly. Dry, windy days, especially after a rain, can be particularly high in pollen.
- Use air conditioning and change filters often.
- Reduce the time you spend mowing the lawn (which stirs upboth pollen and mold spores) and raking leaves(which stirs up mold spores). If you must mow the lawn, wear a mask to filter out pollen and mold spores.
- When driving, keep windows rolled up and use air conditioner (set on re-circulate) to reduce pollen exposure.
- Post reminders to take medication during the day, carry it with you.
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Pet Allergies: Living With Fluffy And Fido
Our beloved household pets are one of the most common sources of allergic conditions.
Many people think that pet allergies are triggered by the fur of cats and dogs, but, researchers have found that the major allergens are proteins secreted by oil glands in the animals skin and shed in dander, along with proteins in saliva, which stick to the fur when the animal licks itself. Pet urine is also a major source of allergy-causing proteins.
Cats are more likely than dogs to cause allergic reactions in humans. They lick themselves more frequently and are more often held than dogs. They also tend to spend more time indoors than dogs. Consider the following:
• Vacuum frequently (did I mention that already?)
• Wash hands after handling pets and wear a dust mask when changing a litter box.
• Have a non-allergic family member brush pets outdoors frequently.
• Bathe pets weekly, to keep dander from accumulating.
• Keep pets off of furniture.
• Keep pets out of the bedroom.
• Call us to treat urine-damaged areas.
Many people think that pet allergies are triggered by the fur of cats and dogs, but, researchers have found that the major allergens are proteins secreted by oil glands in the animals skin and shed in dander, along with proteins in saliva, which stick to the fur when the animal licks itself. Pet urine is also a major source of allergy-causing proteins.
Cats are more likely than dogs to cause allergic reactions in humans. They lick themselves more frequently and are more often held than dogs. They also tend to spend more time indoors than dogs. Consider the following:
• Vacuum frequently (did I mention that already?)
• Wash hands after handling pets and wear a dust mask when changing a litter box.
• Have a non-allergic family member brush pets outdoors frequently.
• Bathe pets weekly, to keep dander from accumulating.
• Keep pets off of furniture.
• Keep pets out of the bedroom.
• Call us to treat urine-damaged areas.
The Many Uses Of Fabric Softener Sheets
In our nonstop quest to provide you with useful information, we came upon this little gem on the internet. We haven’t tried all of these ourselves - we’ll leave the field-testing to the experts.
And you thought that fabric softener sheets were only for the dryer!
Repel Mosquitoes: Tie a sheet of fabric softener through a belt loop when outdoors during mosquito season. (If it doesn’t work, you can always use it as a white flag when you surrender to the little pests)
Eliminate static electricity from your television screen: Since fabric softener is designed to help eliminate static cling, wipe your television screen with a used sheet of fabric softener to keep dust from resettling.
Eliminate static cling from panty hose: Rub a damp, used sheet of fabric softener over the hose after you put them on.
Eliminate static electricity from Venetian blinds: Wipe the blinds with a sheet of fabric softener to prevent dust from resettling.
Dissolve soap scum from shower doors: Clean with a used sheet of fabric softener.
Freshen the air in your home: Place an individual sheet of fabric softener in drawers, closets or wherever you could use some freshening up.
Prevent musty suitcases: Place an individual sheet of fabric softener inside empty luggage before storing.
Freshen the air in your car: Place a sheet of fabric softener under the front seat. (Remove all of the old fast-food bags first) It’s cheaper than those little tree air fresheners!
Prevent thread from tangling: Run a threaded needle through a sheet of fabric softener to eliminate the static cling before sewing.
Clean baked-on foods from a cooking pan: Put a fabric softener sheet in the pan and fill with hot water. Let it sit over night. The next day, simply sponge clean. The antistatic agents in fabric softener apparently weaken the bond between the food and the pan while the fabric softening agents soften the baked-on food. (Of course, if you ate out every meal, you wouldn’t have this problem)
Collect cat hair: Rubbing the area with the fabric softener will magnetically attract the loose hairs. (Is that why my cat keeps climbing into the dryer?)
Wipe up sawdust from drilling or sandpapering: A used sheet of fabric softener will collect sawdust like a tack cloth.
Eliminate odors in wastebaskets: Place a sheet of fabric softener at the bottom of the wastebasket.
Eliminate odors in dirty laundry: Place an individual sheet of fabric softener at the bottom of a laundry bag or hamper. (These people have obviously never met my teenage son)
Deodorize shoes or sneakers: Place a sheet of fabric softener in your shoes or sneakers overnight so they’ll smell great in the morning. (OK, you test this one out first)
With a little creativity, I’ll bet you can add to this list!
And you thought that fabric softener sheets were only for the dryer!
Repel Mosquitoes: Tie a sheet of fabric softener through a belt loop when outdoors during mosquito season. (If it doesn’t work, you can always use it as a white flag when you surrender to the little pests)
Eliminate static electricity from your television screen: Since fabric softener is designed to help eliminate static cling, wipe your television screen with a used sheet of fabric softener to keep dust from resettling.
Eliminate static cling from panty hose: Rub a damp, used sheet of fabric softener over the hose after you put them on.
Eliminate static electricity from Venetian blinds: Wipe the blinds with a sheet of fabric softener to prevent dust from resettling.
Dissolve soap scum from shower doors: Clean with a used sheet of fabric softener.
Freshen the air in your home: Place an individual sheet of fabric softener in drawers, closets or wherever you could use some freshening up.
Prevent musty suitcases: Place an individual sheet of fabric softener inside empty luggage before storing.
Freshen the air in your car: Place a sheet of fabric softener under the front seat. (Remove all of the old fast-food bags first) It’s cheaper than those little tree air fresheners!
Prevent thread from tangling: Run a threaded needle through a sheet of fabric softener to eliminate the static cling before sewing.
Clean baked-on foods from a cooking pan: Put a fabric softener sheet in the pan and fill with hot water. Let it sit over night. The next day, simply sponge clean. The antistatic agents in fabric softener apparently weaken the bond between the food and the pan while the fabric softening agents soften the baked-on food. (Of course, if you ate out every meal, you wouldn’t have this problem)
Collect cat hair: Rubbing the area with the fabric softener will magnetically attract the loose hairs. (Is that why my cat keeps climbing into the dryer?)
Wipe up sawdust from drilling or sandpapering: A used sheet of fabric softener will collect sawdust like a tack cloth.
Eliminate odors in wastebaskets: Place a sheet of fabric softener at the bottom of the wastebasket.
Eliminate odors in dirty laundry: Place an individual sheet of fabric softener at the bottom of a laundry bag or hamper. (These people have obviously never met my teenage son)
Deodorize shoes or sneakers: Place a sheet of fabric softener in your shoes or sneakers overnight so they’ll smell great in the morning. (OK, you test this one out first)
With a little creativity, I’ll bet you can add to this list!
House Plants-Ahhh Breath of Fresh Air
It's a long-held belief that talking to your houseplants can help them to thrive. But, did you know that they in-turn can return the favor, even though you may refuse to carry on a conversation with your coleus?
The benefit of filling your home or office with houseplants isn’t myth. Research continues to demonstrate the ability of plants to improve the quality of indoor air.
The energy crunch of the 1970’s led to changes in building technology. Homes and office buildings are insulated and sealed to increase energy efficiency. The downside of lower heating and cooling costs, is the concern about indoor air pollution.
The tightening of buildings means less fresh air is allowed into the structure. Many offices re-circulate air, with no opportunity for opening windows to bring in a fresh breeze. The air quickly becomes stale. Humans exhale carbon dioxide, contributing to the worsening air quality.
Plants, giving off oxygen, do just the opposite. Architects and building designers are beginning to include plants as important parts in the design of new buildings, often circulating air through plant-filled atriums.
Besides giving off oxygen, some plants have even proven their ability to remove harmful chemicals and pollutants from the air. Among them, the common “spider” plant was proven by NASA scientists to be able to absorb and remove formaldehyde - a common chemical used in many building products, including carpeting - from the air.
During the last 20 years, more than 40 plants have tested successfully in removing various indoor air polluting chemicals. Experts recommend using as many plants as practical in the home and office, mixing different varieties, since it’s not certain which combinations of plants work best together.
The list of house plants suggested by researchers include spider plants, dracaenas, palm, ficus, Chinese evergreen, golden pothos and peace lilly.
There is no such thing as a “bad” choice when selecting house plants - some are better than others at improving the air we breathe - but all plants, due to their natural beauty, will help improve the morale in your home or office. Houseplants make great house guests too. They don’t eat or drink much, won’t track mud in from outdoors, and never dump over the garbage.
Have you ever heard of a dog’s tooth violet having an “accident” on the living room carpeting? So, take a deep breath of fresh air, thank your thalia and tell your yuca plant that you love him.
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