10 Tips on How to Improve Your Indoor Air Quality

The IICRC offers 10 tips for simple clean-up to improve indoor air quality:

1. Keep Walkway and Entries Clean: Start by keeping outside sidewalks, entry areas, porches and steps clean. Sweep, dust, vacuum or use a leaf blower to remove soil and debris from entries to eliminate tracking into the facility.
2. Use Mats to Trap Soil at Entries: Outside and interior mats to trap and contain particles and moisture should be placed at each entry. This not only extends the life of carpet, it greatly reduces the quantity of particles that enter and build up within traffic areas, eventually becoming airborne.
3. Clean Shoes at Entries: Studies conducted by professional engineers on carpet dust samples indicate that fine particles containing lead are reduced by cleaning or removing and leaving shoes at the entry.
4. Purchase and Use High Quality Vacuum Equipment: A quality, durable upright vacuum with brush agitation is a must. Price is not as important as quality. Check trade or consumer magazines and expect sales persons to provide technically accurate information. Also, check the Carpet and Rug Institute’s list of vacuums that qualify for the Green Label Program at www.carpet-rug.org.

READ THE REST OF THE TIPS FROM THE IICRC

How to Pick a Carpet Cleaning Company

Oh No! Company is coming and your carpets need to be cleaned! Sound familiar? It’s true that we all want a clean and tidy home when our visitors come.  If you have never had your carpets cleaned or you did but you were not happy with the company that cleaned them, how do you pick a company that you will be happy with? Most of the time when we need a service done we will either ask a friend or family member for a recommendation or either do a search on the internet or we may start calling companies out of the phone book.

STOP!!! Warning!!! Have you asked all the right questions?  What kind of information do you need to be able to pick a company that will clean your carpets the correct way?

Fortunately, there is a way to do that! You can go to IICRC.org. It  gives you all the help you need in order to find a Great Cleaning company!

Let’s take a tour of www.iicrc.org 

First, click on IICRC Benefit tab (http://iicrc.org/iicrc-benefit/for-consumers/). We are happy to say that we are IICRC certified. As you can see the IICRC gives you the correct  training that you need to be an excellent  at  carpet, upholstery, tile and grout and area rug cleaning.

Next, click on the "About Us" tab (http://iicrc.org/iicrc-benefit/for-consumers/ ) then click on Purpose, History and Values (http://iicrc.org/iicrc-benefit/for-consumers/) Here you will learn why choosing a cleaning company that is IICRC certified will deliver you great results for your cleaning.

So the next time you need your carpets, tile, upholstery or area rugs cleaned we hope you choose Champion! You can know that you will be well taken care of and cleaned the IICRC way!

RECIPE: SUMMERTIME SALSA

Ingredients

• 2 (10 ounce) cans sweet white corn
• 1 (14.5 ounce) can black beans
• 1/2 red onion, chopped
• 1 red pepper, chopped
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup rice wine vinegar
• salt to taste

Directions: In a large bowl, stir together corn, beans, onion, red pepper, and sugar. Stir in rice wine vinegar, and season with salt.

How To Vacuum

Ever wondered how to vaccum properly? Check out these tips from the Carpet and Rug Institute...

On carpet, use slow, repetitive front-to-back motions in an overlapping sequence. A quick once over doesn’t do much. On the other hand, don’t press down or make too many passes over the same spot. Instead, move slightly to the left or right about every four strokes.

To get the most out of your vacuuming regime, remember these few easy tips:

• When vacuuming, don’t ignore those corners and crevices where dust builds.
• “Top-down” cleaning saves you the step of vacuuming again after dusting. Dust blinds, windowsills, and furniture surfaces first and then vacuum away any fallen dust.
• Remember to remove and replace or empty vacuum bags when they are half to two-thirds full.

READ MORE VACUUMING TIPS FROM CRI

5 Ways to Protect Your Carpet

Everything that enters our homes in the air and everything that we track in on our shoes settles to the bottom of our home...the carpet. Some people try to avoid this problem by taking their shoes off but this only changes the source of the problem because the soles of our feet leave an oily residue just like the palms of our hands.

HERE ARE 5 WAYS TO COMBAT THESE ISSUES...

1. HAVE A WALK-OFF MAT: It's important to have an absorbent walk-off mat. A good mat will have fibers that trap oils, soils and dirt before they get into your home.

 

2. WASH YOUR WALK-OFF MAT: Obviously, if your mat is doing it's job it's going to get dirty. Every few months give it a good scrub down with soap and water.

3. COMBAT COOKING OILS: If you have a vent over your stovetop, use it. These vents either vent the cooking vapors outside your home or run the vapors through a filter and release them back into your kitchen. Either way, this will reduce the cooking oil released back into your home.

4. HOUSE PLANTS: Plants are beautiful in a home but they can also ruin your carpet if you are not careful. Here are a few tips to help you enjoy your plants and protect your carpet...

 

• Don't place plants directly on the carpet. If possible, put the plants in rooms with tile or other hard surfaces. If this is not possible, place overflow pans under the plant pots.
• Don't overwater. The overflow may ruin your carpet especially if it goes unnoticed for several days.
• Clean up spills quickly. A little potting soil on the carpet is not usually a problem unless it's wet or not cleaned up properly. Potting soils often contain ingredients to enhance their dark look. When these ingredients are wet they can stain the carpet. The best way to clean spilled potting soil is to first vacuum it thoroughly. If the soil was damp it is good to wait a while for it to dry and then vacuum again.

5. PETS: We love them but let's face it...they have dander and oils that end up on the carpet. The options when it comes to pets aren't easy but here they are...

• Find another home for your cat or dog.
• Keep pets outside if possible.
• Keep pets out of carpeted areas.
• Vacuum carpets at least twice a week.
• Bathe your pets frequently.
• Regularly have your carpets and upholstery professionally cleaned.

Spring Cleaning Tip: How to Clean Windows

To look their best windows should be cleaned twice a year. Here are some useful tips on how to do it.

• Wash one side of a window with horizontal strokes and the other side with vertical strokes so you can easily tell which side of the window has a streak.
• Use a squeegee on a long handle or a sponge/squeegee combination to prevent streaks on large windows.
• Eliminate tiny scratches on glass by polishing the affected areas with toothpaste or glass wax.
• Direct sunlight dries cleaning solutions quickly so don't clean on hot, sunny days.
• Use a cotton swab to clean corners. ­ ­
• To give an extra shine to window glass, polish it with well-washed cotton T-shirts or old cloth diapers.

How to Save Water

Water seems abundant but is it really? Here are a few tips on how to conserve water in your home and help save the planet...

1. Check faucets and pipes for leaks. A small drip from a worn faucet washer can waste 20 gallons of water per day. Larger leaks can waste hundreds of gallons.

2. Check your toilets for leaks. Put food coloring in your toilet tank. If, without flushing, the color begins to appear in the bowl within 30 minutes, you have a leak that should be repaired immediately. Most replacement parts are inexpensive and easy to install.

3. Install water-saving shower heads. Inexpensive water-saving low-flow shower heads or restrictors are easy for the homeowner to install. Also, long, hot showers can use five to ten gallons every unneeded minute. Limit your showers to the time it takes to soap up, wash down and rinse off.

4. Install faucet aerators. All household faucets should be fit with aerators. This single best home water conservation method is also the cheapest!

5. Turn off the water after you wet your toothbrush. There is no need to keep the water running while brushing your teeth. Just wet your brush and fill a glass for mouth rinsing.

6. When washing dishes by hand, don't leave the water running for rinsing. If your have a double-basin, fill one with soapy water and one with rinse water.

7. Use your dishwasher and clothes washer for only full loads. Automatic dishwashers and clothes washers should be fully loaded for optimum water conservation.

National Pet Day - April 11, 2012

Tomorrow is National Pet Day. Honor your pet by preparing them for disasters. Here are a few tips from Ready Ga...

Start with the basics – Prepare your pets just like you would your two-legged family members. Create a Ready kit and include basic items such as food and water for three days, medication and important documents like rabies vaccination forms. You may also want to include an extra collar with an ID tag, an extra harness or leash and familiar items such as favorite toy, bed or crate to reduce stress.

Arrange a safe haven – There are two things to keep in mind: If it isn’t safe for you, it isn’t safe for your pets. Also, if you have to evacuate, most public shelters cannot accept animals. Make a plan detailing where to take your pet during an emergency. Try to locate a hotel or shelter that would accept you and your pet. Or consider a boarding facility. You could also ask neighbors, or friends and relatives outside of your immediate area if they could be a temporary caregiver for your pet.

Stay put and stay safe – At the first sign of a warning or storm disaster, always bring your pets indoors. Make sure that all of your pets wear collars and tags with up-to-date identification in case you have to evacuate immediately. Leaving pets behind, even if you try to create a safe place for them, is likely to result in them being injured, lost or worse. Stay informed by monitoring a local radio station, TV station or NOAA Weather Radio for the latest information, and follow the directions of local officials when told to evacuate.

Carpet Cleaning For Dummies

Now there's a how-to guide for cleaning your carpet! If you've ever felt overwhelmed by keeping your carpet clean and beautiful...this book is for you.

Sponsored by the Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI) and HousekeepingChannel.com, Carpet Cleaning Tips For Dummies, is published by Wiley Publishing, Inc. The book is available for $2.00 and can be ordered online or by contacting CRI's Publication Department at 706-428-2114. Order your copy online today!

Stay Cool and Save Money This Summer

The summer heat is here but it's only April. To help you and your family stay cool, comfortable and save energy, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Energy Star program suggests a few simple steps...

The average American home spends almost 20 percent of its utility bill on cooling. Increased energy production to run cooling systems raises your costs and contributes to pollution that adversely affects the quality of the air we breathe. Here are seven simple ways to help protect your wallet and the environment:

1. Use Ceiling Fans Optimally. Run your ceiling fan to create a cool breeze. If you raise your thermostat by only two degrees and use your ceiling fan, you can lower cooling costs by up to 14 percent. Remember that ceiling fans cool you, not the room, so when you leave the room make sure to turn off the fan.
2. Maximize Shade. Pull the curtains and shades closed before you leave your home to keep the sun’s rays from overheating the interior of your home. If you can, move container trees and plants in front of sun-exposed windows to serve as shade.

Click to read more ...