steam cleaning
Electrical Bill Money Saving Tips
It’s never too late to prepare your home or office for the cold weather and the effect it may have on your electric costs. I hate to say it, but we’ve only felt a brush of Mother Nature’s wrath. But hopefully, it won’t be too bad… HOPEFULLY!
In any case here are some things you can do around your home or office that are easy and inexpensive to help save you some money while we recoup from the holidays. Implementing these quick tips will help create savings this season.
REDUCING YOUR HEATING COSTS-
Make sure to set the thermostat to 68°in the winter. It may feel uncomfortable at first, but dressing in layers and using blankets can help you to feel more comfortable. Also, lower the thermostat setting at night and when you’re away. Avoid sudden increases in temperature of the thermostat, instead purchase a programmable thermostat that will gradually increase the temperature. I know this may sound a little weird to some of you but, for those of you that have a central heating system do not close doors or registers in unused rooms. This will disrupt the airflow and create cold spots.
SEALING UP THOSE AIR LEAKS-
Are all the windows in your home or office closed securely?? Is the crawl space and vents closed?? Many people don’t know that a lot of their money is flowing right through the cracks and crevices that are not sealed up shut. At the same time, while you’re trying to heat yourself up, you are 
also heating up the outside. Windows, doors, and even electrical outlets are culprits of heat and energy loss. Another culprit in some areas is the clothes dryer. In the colder months leave in some laundry with the door closed to block the heat loss. Also as a safety precaution, keep the dryer door closed especially in homes with small children. Wrap it up or caulk it up to heat inside your home and the change in your pocket. Jingle-Jingle J
USING LESS HOT WATER-
If you haven’t already, it’s a good idea to lower the temperature setting on
your water heater to 120°. Most water heater heaters come programmed with a higher temperature
which will use more energy. If your water is located in the basement or garage, insulating the tank and hot water pipes will protect it from energy loss.
LIMITING THE USE OF SPACE HEATERS-
Space heaters use a significant amount of energy and can greatly increase your heating and cooling costs. A typical 1500- watt space heater used only 5 hours a day would use about 155 kWh per month – about $28. That’s ONLY five hours! WOW! If you are on a tight budget this is definitely going to sting.
ARE YOU A OWNER OF A SMALL FRIDGE OR FREEZER??
If you don’t keep your spare refrigerator or freezer full it should definitely be emptied and unplugged until it’s needed. They also need to be placed in areas that are well conditioned. You will risk it becoming inoperable since refrigerators and freezers are not designed to be kept in cold or hot areas.
HAVE YOU HAD YOUR HVAC SERVICED THIS YEAR???
Your heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning system may add to the problem but the real cause of your problem is drafts. Outside air is getting into your home from the air leaks in your home’s shell and ducts. Close them up! Your heating and air system works harder because of those leaks. Have your heating and air system serviced yearly and have your air ducts cleaned just as well. This not only provides you with a healthy breathing environment for you and your loved ones, it also keeps your air duct system efficiently, effectively running smoothly.
DON’T FORGET ABOUT THE BIGGEST FILTER IN YOUR HOME-
Did you know that the carpet in your home or office helps to promote good indoor air quality? That is if you maintain it properly. To do so, it is recommended that you vacuum your carpet 2-3 times a week at best. Make sure and schedule to have a professional carpet cleaning twice a year. Your carpet traps odors and other pollutants out of the air and out of your lungs. This will take care of pollutant buildup. If you want to maintain your home and health, take care of it. When you do it will also take care of you……..
~A Clean Home Is A Healthy Home
Happy Holidays!
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5 Great Reasons To Clean Your Carpet & Upholstery This Spring
With the early onset of spring this year, dust and pollen will leave your home in desperate need of a seasonal overhaul. Spring cleaning may not be on your mind, but we have a few tips to help make cleaning a ~~~Breeze.
- Springing into Cleaning
Try to start in the smallest room or area and work your way through the rest of your home. This will not cause you any over exhaustion, especially by working through a little at a time. Before you know it, you’ve cleaned your home from top to bottom. Starting with organizing your paperwork to thoroughly cleaning your furnishings.
In no time, your home will look and smell Lemon-y Freshh!!
- Keeping Those Allergens at Bay
The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology states that Seasonal allergies
affect over 35 million people in the United States. Outdoor air pollutants are definitely carried into your home by you, your family or your friends. These air pollutants contain pollens, fungus, bacteria, air pollution, cigarette smoke, car exhaust and hundreds of other chemicals. These pollutants are carried in by you or family members and usually end up in the carpeting of your home.
One way to stop those grimy pollutants from coming into your home is to have everyone take their shoes off at the door. I know that it’s a pain to do, but you will be extending the life of your carpet.
Which is more important? Your family and friend’s feelings OR your investment, and your family’s health.
I like the second answer myself.
- People & Pets: Protecting Your Carpeting
The American Pet Products & Manufacturers Association also states that the United States is home to some 68 million dog owners and 73 million cat owners. That’s a lot of love—and a lot of carpet stains. Accidents on carpet require quick cleanup to remove bacteria and odor.
We are here to help with that!!
- Keeping Your Indoor Environment Healthy
As much as 90 percent of our time is spent inside, especially during colder weather. So far, the Environmental Protection Agency estimates the air inside homes is 2-5 times more polluted than the outside air. Yuck!!!
The Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) recommends following these tips to help you to maintain a healthy indoor environment for you and your family:
- Maintain a humidity level below 60 percent. Higher humidity creates an environment for mold growth and produces allergens.
- Vacuum regularly. Your carpet and fabric furniture can hold dust and particle soil, mold spores and other harmful allergens.
- Have your furniture cleaned professionally once a year by an IICRC-certified firm to ensure the use of proper extraction procedures, to make certain that soil is not just redistributed, but removed.
- To Keep Your Carpet Looking Its Best
Your carpet can last a very long time if it is properly maintained and cared for. The fact is…. That if you clean your carpets frequently, especially when traffic lanes first start to appear, they will last longer, look better, and protect your family’s health. Awesome!!
One more great tip during spring is to get out and enjoy the weather. The National Park Service announced their first peak bloom prediction at a press conference on the morning of March 1. They predict that the cherry blossoms will reach peak bloom between March 14 and 17, 2017. According to, the National Park Service, this is the earliest peak bloom on record since March 15, 1990.
Wow! That’s Extraordinary!
Peak bloom usually happens around the last week of March to the first week of April.
Well…. Not this year!
I wonder what will happen next……Extinct animals coming back?
Anyway…. Get out and enjoy this year’s Cherry Blossom Festival. Check out the great events happening in Washington, D.C. celebrating this year’s cherry blossoms here.
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Bed Bugs….. Yuck!
Aside Posted on
Within this 
sultry season, people do a lot of traveling. With a lot of traveling there’s bound to be a lot of hotel, motel, etc. stays to get some rest from all the traveling. While that’s all good and acceptable, there’s one thing that’s not……. BED BUGS.
Bed Bug Basics
So what are bed bugs, anyway? Everyone has heard of them. They’re essentially little bugs that are nocturnal and feed off human blood. There are actually a lot of different kinds, including some that feed off certain types of animals like chickens, but the ones most people are worried about live mainly off humans. They usually live inside of mattresses, where they have convenient access to a food source – you. They crawl out just before dawn and bite you, sucking out blood for about five minutes. You don’t feel anything until after the bed bug is already safely back in its home.
Steam Cleaning
Unlike vacuuming, steam cleaning is generally very effective at killing any bed bugs or eggs that come into contact with it. Extreme heat will kill them quickly (anything over 120 degrees Fahrenheit or so), and most steamers will exceed this temperature. You will definitely need to get a commercial steam cleaning company, because they will need to run it for awhile and cover most areas in your bedroom. You will want to make sure you cover all the areas they could be hiding, even inaccessible ones. If you hire a pest control company, sometimes they will use steam cleaners in addition to applying pesticides. You should also strongly consider going with what is called “dry steam” – low moisture steamers, which have a lot less risk of mold (a big potential problem given that you will be using it around your bed).
There are some major downsides, though: First of all, it is of questionable value when applied to the mattress itself, which can absorb the moisture from the steam very quickly and keep it from actually coming into contact with the bugs. Second, the temperature is often not high enough to kill them outside of a small area right where the steam comes out. If you can’t wedge the head in close enough in small cracks or crevices, it may not kill them all. Third, some items may be damaged by applying steam to them (especially wooden furniture). Fourth, and most important, it is very hard for you to get ALL the bedbugs this way. If you even miss a few, or miss a couple of eggs, you still have an infestation. They’ll still be biting you, and get right back to breeding again when you’re done.
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