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How To Prevent Hardwood Flooring

How To Prevent Hardwood Flooring

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How To Polish An Engineered Floor

One of the greatest things about engineered wood flooring, as well as its amazing visual appeal, is its hardwearing ability. This is, of course, provided you take care to maintain your engineered wood floor, which is why we’re here to help. If you’re thinking about polishing your engineered wood flooring then we’ve got the step by step guide to help you complete the task at hand without a hitch.

  1. Make space for polishing

As with all big tasks that involve your floor-space, making sure you’ve cleared the room is key. Remove all the furniture if you can, as well as rugs and mats.

If you have anything that would typically hang on to your floor then we would recommend removing this from the room also. In the case of things like curtains, tie them up out of the way and leave them hanging up for the duration of the polishing process.

  1. Clean floor for polishing

Next, it’s time to prepare your floors before you begin polishing. Brushing, hoovering and mopping your floors is usually all you will need to do, but in ome cases, floors may be ingrained with dirt which it is essential you remove before beginning polishing. Make sure too get into every corner that you can, and don’t neglect to clean your skirting boards whilst you’re there!

For those floors that require a little extra TLC, a wood floor cleaner should be sufficient to help you lift up extra grime. If you’re in a rush to get ahead with your polishing then you can manually dry your floors after mopping them by using either a dry mop or cloth.

  1. Polish your floor

Now it’s time to actually begin the polishing process. We would advise starting at a corner first, and the furthest corner away from the door you will exit from. This means you can work steadily backwards and across the room until the last portion of the floor that requires polishing is the section directly in front of the door, which can be completed from outside the room.

The One-step Polishing Technique

Coat your applicator in a small, hand-sized amount of polish and then work steadily in arms-length sections with a further amount of hand-sized polish. Allow a small amount of overlap between sections as you move to make sure there are no missed spots.

Once you’ve coated your entire floor the only tool you now need is patience! Check the manufacturer’s guidance on how long your polish will take to dry and leave it as long as you possibly can before walking on it, just to be safe.

The Two-Step Polishing Technique

Using the same starting point, apply the polish paste with a soft cloth to sections just over a metre in size. Once the waxed section of the floor has dried you will notice it turn white in colour, at which point it is suitable for buffing.

Using an electric floor buffer will be much easier – and much less exhausting! – than buffing by hand. Also, an electric floor buffer will keep the final look of your polished floor much more uniform in appearance.

 

Maintaining Your Wood Floors

Since wood is an organic material, that it will react to its environment. In humid environments, wood gains moisture and can swell. “In dry environments, wood loses moisture and can shrink.” If the environment changes, there will be changes in the floors themselves and how they perform.

For example, moisture can cause the floors to cup. This causes raised edges and lowered centers. On the other hand, if your floors lose moisture, they can gap or split. “This can occur between floorboards or on the face of the boards.”

If these gaps and splits occur but then go away during seasonal changes, he says there’s no reason for concern. “However, if the gaps in your floors are large or do not close during more humid months, it’s time to call a professional.”

Fortunately, there is a way to minimize these issues. “Keep your home between 60 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit and between 30 and 50 percent humidity year-round,” Miller advises. To do this, you’ll need to be sure your thermostat isn’t producing ghost readings and false numbers.

 

Proper Care And Maintenance For Walnut Hardwood Flooring

Walnut wood is a distinctive and durable flooring choice that provides a unique aesthetic for the home. It complements any style of design, offering a touch of warmth and luxury. Hardwood flooring even adds at least 2.5% more to the value of your home.

Installing walnut flooring makes quite a design statement but still needs proper maintenance. This will keep your floors functional and long-lasting for years to come. With the right tips and techniques, you can prolong your floor’s superior condition.

Follow this guide for the best ways to care for your walnut hardwood flooring.

Select the Right Flooring Contractor

This is the most important tip for having lustrous, long-lasting and well-maintained wood flooring. You’ll want to choose a skilled flooring contractor with satisfied customers and referrals. They should also specialize in installing walnut floor planks.

From here they can guide you in the different types of wood species best for your home project. As well as preferences on plank sizing and fabrication options.

Walnut wood flooring runs an average of $5 to $10 per square foot, not including installation. So be sure to factor this into your wood flooring costs. As you’re paying for high-quality products and installation techniques.

Installing wood floors is an investment that you want to be sure you are placing in the right hands. Many contractors also offer some type of warranty to stand by their quality of work.

A skilled flooring installer will also ensure there is perfect spacing between planks. This makes it easier for you to care for your wood floors and keep them in top shape. They may also recommend finishing options to increase longevity.

Use Rugs for More Than Style

Rugs are an excellent way to anchor furniture around a room. But this is not only for making a design statement. Adding rugs to a room will also protect the floor from heavy furniture.

This is helpful in rooms with high traffic areas, like living rooms and bedrooms. A play mat or rug also works well in a children’s playroom, to keep their toys from scratching the floor. You may also want to consider adding a runner in hallways and on the staircase.

Felt protectors can also work in furniture areas without rugs. These help to keep indentations from occurring in the wood.

Use smaller rugs or placemats for areas like below the kitchen sink to catch water splashes. This will also make it easier for learning how to clean hardwood floors in busy areas of the home.

These mats should be well ventilated as not to trap dirt or moisture beneath the back of the mat. Also, place welcome mats near entryways. These help trap dirt, and chemicals from outside, keeping them off your floors.

Adopt a Special Cleaning Routine

When maintained the right way, hardwood floors can last a lifetime. Begin your routine by sweeping or dusting daily. This will help keep dirt, dust, and debris from collecting on your floors.

You’ll also want to vacuum at least once per week. Be sure to use the vacuum’s hard floor mode or a floor brush attachment. Never use a breaker bar as this can cause damage to hardwood floors.

Cleaning often will help pull up any tiny dirt particles in the floorboards. As these can damage the finish on the floor over time.

Use a damp mop as needed, with a soft terry cloth head. A special cleaning mop is also the best way to clean hardwood floors. Bona is a great brand that gets recommended by professionals.

Their cleaning agents are safe to use on the hardwood. They don’t use harsh chemicals that can penetrate into the wood. Be sure to wipe up any extra moisture from the floor afterward.

Always clean up any spills right away. As liquids can cause water damage, or discolor or stain the floor. Don’t use a steam mop, as this can ruin the floor’s finish.

Keep a Healthy Living Environment

A healthy home will prolong the life of your wood floors and provide a safe environment for your family. Keep humidity levels no higher than 50% to maintain a balanced moisture level. As too much moisture can affect your floors, as well as cause mold growth.

It helps to open windows often to let in fresh air. Yet, be sure not to let too much sunlight in. As the UV rays can cause discoloration to your floors over time.

Consider designing a mudroom or entry area for your home. This is a place where the family can take their shoes off so they don’t track in germs, water, or driveway sealant. It’s also important to keep sports cleats and stiletto style heels off the floors.

If you have pets, keep their nails well trimmed so they don’t scratch the floor. Bathe and brush your pets often to keep fur and dander from accumulating on the floors.

 

Wood Floor Refinishing:

STEP 1: Remove Remaining Carpet

If there is any carpet or staples remaining on your floors, we carefully remove them with needle nose pliers and a putty knife. We use a chemical solvent that is safe for you and your family. We promise to take great care to not damage your original wood floors during this process.

STEP 2: Sand Your Hardwood Floors

We’ve made sure that our sanding method creates minimal dust and odor in your home. We begin with coarse grit sandpaper and repeat the process 3 times or more, using a finer grit each time. This ensures that all damage, scratches, and stains on your floors are completely removed. Our technicians will do a thorough job and will sand hard to reach places by hand where necessary. Once the sanding process is complete, your floors are ready to be stained.

STEP 3: Stain Your Hardwood Floors

Fabulous Floors has a large variety of stain colors for you to choose from. You can see our most frequently used stain colors here, however, if you don’t see a color you love, we can provide additional options. We apply the stain with the grain of the wood, making sure it’s applied evenly throughout your hardwood floors. We finish by buffing the floor and cleaning away any dust or debris with a tack cloth and vacuum.

STEP 4: Seal Your Hardwood Floors

Lastly, your hardwood floors are topped off with a high-quality & long-lasting polyurethane finish. We apply this coat with a mop-like tool and pad applicator. After 24 hours, your floors will be dry and ready for everyday traffic. This polyurethane finish will prevent future wear and damage, lock in your stain color, and make your hardwood floors shine for years to come! You can choose from gloss, semi-gloss and satin finishes for your floors.

 

Refining Treatment

BRUSHING

Brushing the surface highlights the natural structure of the grain and emphasizes the texture of the wood. Brushing effects vary, depending on the wood species. Brushes are made from different materials in varying levels of hardness, and brushing is often carried out along with other refining treatments such as staining and bevelling of edges.

STAINING

Staining further enhances the wood’s natural colour tones. It also allows us to apply new colours, thus completely transforming the appearance of the wood.

SMOKED

Smoking is an old technique used for treating wood floors, typically oak, to bring out darker shades, while the sapwood remains light. The colour can be different within the boards due to tanine concentrations.

Learn To Be A Camera Operator The Easy Way

Learn To Be A Camera Operator The Easy Way

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Tips for Shooting Great Video

With your camcorder of choice in hand, it’s time to venture off and shoot videos. If you’re new to videography, following these tips will help you create better videos. If you’re an old hand, think of this list of shooting axioms as a way to snap out of your routine and juice things up a bit:

Get a closing shot

Your closing images are what stick in people’s minds. You should be constantly on the lookout for that one shot or sequence that best wraps up your story.

Get an establishing shot

An establishing shot sets a scene in one image. Although super-wide shots work well (aerials in particular), consider other points of view: from the cockpit of a race car, a close-up of a scalpel with light glinting off its surface, or paddles dipping frantically in roaring white water. Each grabs the viewer’s attention and helps tell your story.

Shoot plenty of video

Videotape is cheap and expendable. Shoot a whole lot more raw footage than you’ll put in your final production. Five times as much is not unusual. Giving yourself that latitude might help you grab shots you would have missed otherwise.

Adhere to the rule of thirds

It’s called the “rule of thirds” but it’s more like the rule of four intersecting lines. When composing your shot, think of your viewfinder as being crisscrossed by two horizontal and two vertical lines. The center of interest should fall along those lines or near one of the four intersections, not the center of the image.

Consider all those family photos where the subject’s eyes are smack dab in the center of the photo. Those are not examples of good composition.

Another way to follow the rule of thirds is to look around the viewfinder as you shoot, not just stare at its center. Check the edges to see whether you’re filling the frame with interesting images. Avoid large areas of blank space.

Keep your shots steady

You want to give viewers the sense that they’re looking through a window or, better yet, are there on location. A shaky camera shatters that illusion.

When possible, use a tripod. The best “sticks” have fluid heads that enable you to make smooth pans or tilts.

If it’s impractical to use a tripod try to find some way to stabilize the shot: Lean against a wall, put your elbows on a table, or place the camcorder on a solid object.

Follow the action

This might seem obvious, but keep your viewfinder on the ball (or sprinter, speeding police car, surfer, conveyor belt, and so on). Your viewers’ eyes will want to follow the action, so give them what they want.

One nifty trick is to use directed movement as a pan motivator. That is, follow a leaf’s progress as it floats down a stream and then continue your camera motion past the leaf—panning—and widen out to show something unexpected: a waterfall, a huge industrial complex, or a fisherman.

 

Choose your lenses

Just like traditional DSLRs, you have the option of attaching third-party lenses to your mobile device. While you are putting a lens on top of a lens (your phone’s lens or lenses), you can expand the capabilities of your mobile device. Depending on the manufacturer, it might be necessary to buy a case for your phone with threading for your lenses, but it is worth the investment. Here are a few lens options:

  • Anamorphic: Yes, that is right. You can shoot anamorphic footage on your mobile device. You might even get some nice lens flares as you shoot. You will need to be sure to desqueeze the footage but FilmicPro offers this option within the app.
  • Wide angle: A wide-angle lens will allow you to capture more of your scene than your in camera lens.
  • Telephoto: A telephoto lens will let you zoom in around 2x. This is great for capturing subjects from a distance. Stick with the higher-end Moment tele lens.

Use stabilizers

Most mobile devices have some built-in stabilization but with secondary lenses and an audio kit, you might want to invest in a stabilization rig. There are a few different options, which we’ve detailed below:

  • Tripods: Consider using a tripod. You can purchase a simple attachment for your mobile device or purchase a mobile-specific tripod.
  • Phone cages: A cage is another great low-tech way to stabilize your footage. You can attach your audio equipment to your cage, and it will allow you to move freely and shoot decent handheld footage.
  • Gimbals: The most high-tech option for stabilization is a gimbal. A gimbal is a motorized device with three separate motors that controls the direction and movement of your camera – in this case, your phone. You can get really smooth footage with a gimbal.

Now you’re ready to shoot professional-looking mobile videos that will wow your clients and viewers alike.

 

Don’t Be Afraid to Put Your Camera Down

I know it’s scary to put your camera down in public (because thieves), but if you want to get great shots, you’re probably going to have to. This will not only give you the freedom to do whatever it is you have to do in front of the camera without being tethered to it but it will also allow you to diversify your compositions.

Framing is Important

Speaking of composition, it’s super important if you’re one-man-banding it. Isn’t it always important? Yeah, but if you’re filming yourself, you may not realize that you’re limiting the kinds of shots you can get…most likely because you’re holding your camera all the time. (Think about how uniform selfies are.) So, approach these compositions in the same way you would a narrative film. Try different angles, focal lengths, blocking, etc.

Use Your Arms

Duh, right? But use your arms in unexpected ways. Get some sweet tracking shots of your feet by holding your camera out below your waist. Get some subtle dolly shots by pulling your arms in slowly. There are tons of interesting camera moves you can pull off with just your arms, but if you want a little extra help, you might want to think about getting yourself a handheld gimbal or GorillaPod.

 

Choose the Right Camera Settings

  • Shutter Speed

When setting up your camera to shoot video, the first thing you need to do is make sure your shutter speed is set at double your frame rate. For example, if you are filming at 50 fps (frames per second), your shutter speed should be 1/100. A frame rate of 24 fps with a shutter speed of 1/48 or 1/50 will give your footage a smooth cinematic look and feel. Higher frame rates, such as 60 fps with a shutter speed of 1/120, will allow you to slow down your footage at the editing stage and create ultra-smooth slow motion scenes.

  • Aperture

Your aperture setting controls how much of your frame is in focus. A low aperture such as f/2.8 will help you emphasise your subject and create a professional-looking blurry background. If you want to make sure as much of your scene is in focus as possible, use a high aperture like f/10 or f/22.

  • ISO

Once you have your shutter speed and aperture dialled in you can select an ISO setting to suit. Remember that the higher your ISO number is, the more grain you will introduce to your footage.

 

Work with the Light Available to You

When shooting subjects in the great outdoors, it’s important to consider your light sources when planning and framing your shots. For example, if you’re shooting at the beach, it’s recommended not to shoot with strong sunlight beaming directly into your subject’s face. This can result in glary looking footage with overly bright subjects who are forced to squint into the camera. Instead, seek out indirect lighting to create a more balanced look. You can do this by filming your subject with the light directly behind them or from the side. You can also shoot in the shade and use light reflectors to bounce light back on to your subject.

Switch Between Handheld and Tripod Shots

Using a tripod or gimbal can help you shoot perfectly smooth and steady video footage without any camera shake whatsoever. If your camera lens has image stabilisation then you can also shoot handheld footage to create a more dynamic look and feel. Handheld shots aren’t generally as smooth as tripod or gimbal shots, but they can add a sense of movement and emotion to your footage. If you plan to edit your footage, it’s also worth remembering that you can smooth out any shaky handheld footage in post-production.

How To Handle Common New Electric Circuits Problems In Your Home

How To Handle Common New Electric Circuits Problems In Your Home

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Electrical circuit-interrupters

Electrical circuit-interrupters, such as AFCI’s (arc-fault circuit-interrupters) and GFCI’s (ground-fault circuit-interrupters), are devices required by the National Electrical Code (NEC) that are designed specifically to help prevent fires and electric shock. When installed as required, AFCIs and GFCIs significantly reduce accidents that naturally result in physical loss, electrical shock, and even death.

AFCIs (arc-fault circuit-interrupters)

AFCIs are required by the NEC to be installed within all dwelling units. Typically, they are special AFCI circuit breakers that can be found within your electrical panel or receptacles in the wall.

So, what do AFCIs do? AFCIs are designed to detect arcing electrical faults within your electrical system that may otherwise go unnoticed, until they potentially result in a fire. Arc-faults can be caused by things as innocent as putting a nail in the wall to hang a picture or plugging in an appliance with a defective electrical cord. If a nail makes contact with an electrical wire or a cord has a defect, arcing can happen, and is rarely ever seen. An AFCI device, however, will sense abnormal arcing on the electrical system and open the circuit when detected.

Key points about AFCIs:

All AFCIs should be installed by a qualified electrician.

Homes that were built prior to AFCI’s being required by the NEC, or homes built in states whose electrical codes do not follow the NEC arc-fault requirements, may not have arc-fault interrupters installed.  While AFCI’s may not currently be installed in your home, ask a licensed electrician to install AFCI protection for your safety.

All AFCIs should be tested at initial installation and monthly, at minimum, thereafter to make sure they are working properly.

GFCIs (ground-fault circuit-interrupters)

GFCIs have been required by the NEC since 1971. Initially they were required for all outdoor receptacles, and bathrooms were added as a requirement in 1975. According to ESFI, the required areas for GFCI’s have grown since then based on the immense success they have had in reduction of electrocutions. Since their implementation in 1971, there has been an 83 percent drop in electrocutions, and a 95% drop in electrocutions caused specifically by consumer products.

 

How to Replace a Circuit Breaker

Circuit breakers last a long time so you should check your other options before deciding that issue is a faulty breaker. The breaker may need to be replaced if it trips very easily, doesn’t trip when it should, can’t be reset, is hot to the touch, or looks or smells burnt. If you can’t figure out the underlying issue or don’t feel knowledgeable or experienced enough to do the repair yourself, call a professional electrician. Working with electricity is dangerous, and it’s better to be safe than sorry.

When replacing a circuit breaker, you will need:

New circuit breaker (same brand, make, model and size as the one you’re removing)

Rubber mat or plywood to stand on (this insulates you against electrical shock)

Insulated flashlight or independent light source

Insulated screwdriver

Insulated wire strippers

Cable connectors to connect the circuit breaker to the main panel

Voltage tester

Here’s how to replace your circuit breaker:

Shut off the branch circuit breakers one at a time.

Shut off the main circuit breaker.

Test all the wires with a voltage tester to make sure they’re dead before proceeding.

Remove the panel cover.

Disconnect the wire of the breaker you’re removing from the load terminal.

Carefully pry out the old breaker, paying careful attention to how it’s positioned.

Insert the new breaker and push it into position.

Attach the circuit’s wire to the load terminal. Strip a bit of insulation off the wires, if necessary.

Inspect the panel for any other problems. Tighten any loose terminals.

Replace the panel cover.

Turn on the main breaker.

Turn on the branch breakers one by one.

Test the breakers with a voltage tester to make sure everything is in order

 

Fundamentals of Electricity

Branch Circuits

A branch circuit is defined as that part of an electric circuit extending beyond the last circuit breaker or fuse. The branch circuits start at the breaker box and extend to the electrical devices connected to the service. Branch circuits are the last part of the circuit supplying electrical devices. These circuits are classified in two different ways, according to the type of loads they serve or according to their current-carrying capacity.

General purpose branch circuits are 120 volts circuits used for supplying lighting fixtures and receptacle outlets for most small portable appliances. There are usually a number of general purpose branch circuits supplying lights and outlets in different rooms around a residence or commercial or industrial building.

Circuits rated for a maximum of 15 amps using 14 gauge wire were common in older homes but are no longer recommended in new installations. Circuits rated for a maximum of 20 amps using 12 gauge wire are recommended for general purpose branch circuits in modern electrical wiring systems.

Appliance branch circuits are 120 volts circuits used for supplying fixed electric equipment such as refrigerators, washers, and other large appliances and electrical devices. Appliance branch circuits do not supply any lighting fixtures. Appliance branch circuits can not exceed 20 amps.

Installed in permanent locations such as an electric range, a clothes dryer, or an air conditioner. These circuits usually lead directly from the distribution panel to the appliance and do not serve any other electrical devices. These circuits can be any amperage size.

 

An electrician’s guide on how to fix a tripped fuse

Any kind of major electrical fault around the house will need to be repaired by a professional electrician. However, that said, there are a few everyday electrical tasks that aren’t complicated, or dangerous, which you could attempt yourself. The most important thing to remember is to switch off and unplug whatever it is you need to work on so there’s no danger of a live current.

The first thing to do is find your main fuse box (these days called a consumer unit), which will be in the same place as your electricity meter. They’re often in the main hallway of a house, in a purpose-built cupboard. This is where the electricity in your house is controlled from, and it’s important that you know where to go and what to do if you need to turn off the mains electricity. It’s also helpful to remember where you left a torch too

In the case of loss of electric light or power

Your fuse box, or consumer unit, will either have fuses or trip switches. Modern electric circuits are fitted with a circuit breaker fuse system; if a fault develops, a switch is tripped and the circuit is broken. Older ones have fuse holders and when a fuse is blown it must be replaced or rewired.

If you experience problems with an old-fashioned fuse box, it might be sensible to install a replacement which conforms to current regulations for ease, safety and peace of mind. If you need assistance with any kind of electrical installation we would recommend calling out a qualified electrician.

Setting a trip switch

Open the cover on the consumer unit to see which switches have tripped to the OFF position. Put them back to the ON position. If tripping occurs again, it is probably being caused by a faulty appliance. You need to identify which circuit is affected and which appliance on that circuit is causing the problem.

 

What is an Electric Circuit?

the concept of electric potential difference was discussed. Electric potential is the amount of electric potential energy per unit of charge that would be possessed by a charged object if placed within an electric field at a given location. The concept of potential is a location-dependent quantity – it expresses the quantity of potential energy on a per charge basis such that it is independent on the amount of charge actually present on the object possessing the electric potential. Electric potential difference is simply the difference in electric potential between two different locations within an electric field

To illustrate the concept of electric potential difference and the nature of an electric circuit, consider the following situation. Suppose that there are two metal plates oriented parallel to each other and each being charged with an opposite type of charge – one being positive and the other being negative. This arrangement of charged plates would create an electric field in the region between the plates that is directed away from the positive plate and towards the negative plate

A positive test charge placed between the plates would move away from the positive plate and towards the negative plate. This movement of a positive test charge from the positive plate to the negative plate would occur without the need of energy input in the form of work; it would occur naturally and thus lower the potential energy of the charge. The positive plate would be the high potential location and the negative plate would be the low potential location. There would be a difference in electric potential between the two locations

Now suppose that the two oppositely charged plates are connected by a metal wire. What would happen? The wire serves as a sort of charge pipe through which charge can flow. Over the course of time, one could think of positive charges moving from the positive plate through the charge pipe (wire) to the negative plate. That is, positive charge would naturally move in the direction of the electric field that had been created by the arrangement of the two oppositely charged plates. As a positive charge leaves the upper plate, the plate would become less positively charged as illustrated in the animation at the right. As a positive charge reaches the negative plate, that plate would become less negatively charged

Over the course of time, the amount of positive and negative charge on the two plates would slowly diminish. Since the electric field depends upon the amount of charge present on the object creating the electric field, the electric field created by the two plates would gradually diminish in strength over the course of time. Eventually, the electric field between the plates would become so small that there would be no observable movement of charge between the two plates. The plates would ultimately lose their charge and reach the same electric potential. In the absence of an electric potential difference, there will be no charge flow.

The Most Common Dog Bite Lawyer Services Needed

The Most Common Dog Bite Lawyer Services Needed

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Here’s Why You Need to Hire a Dog Bite Attorney

Being attacked by a dog can be both physically and emotionally scarring. If you or a family member has been bitten by a dog and the owner of the dog is liable for their pets’ actions, you are entitled to compensation for your medical bills, pain and suffering, and any future expenses, such as professional counseling, that may be needed. When dealing with an attack by a dog, one of the very best things that you can do is hire an experienced dog bite attorney. A dog bite attorney is an excellent resource who can help ensure that you receive the settlement that you deserve. Some of the top benefits of hiring a dog bite attorney include:

Communication

Communicating with the owners of a dog who bit you, as well as their homeowners’ insurance company, can be quite a hassle. This can be especially true if there is any animosity between you and the dog owner. One of the great things about hiring a dog bite attorney is the fact that he or she will take care of all necessary communication so you don’t have to. After you hire your attorney, he or she will get in touch with the dog owner to collect information about their homeowners’ insurance carrier and policy. Then, your attorney will continue to communicate with the insurance company on your behalf.

Determination of What Your Claim Is Worth

Most people have little to no experience with dog bite injury claims, so they have no idea of what their claim is worth. Homeowners’ insurance companies know this, and they try to take advantage of this fact by offering dog bite victims who do not have legal representation low settlement amounts. When you hire a dog bite attorney, he or she will be able to assess the details of your case, look at your medical records, and determine what size settlement you are entitled to. Your attorney will then negotiate on your behalf to ensure that the settlement that you receive is fair.

No Out-of-Pocket Costs

Almost all dog bite attorneys work on contingency, so their services won’t cost you a dime out of pocket. They are paid for their legal services with a percentage of your settlement. Since it won’t cost you any money to utilize the services of a dog bite attorney, it doesn’t make sense not to hire one if you have been injured after being attacked by a dog.

 

Dog Bites Can Involve a Range of Complications

Outside of physical injury, dog bites can also be a source of ongoing mental distress for many victims. For instance, a victim of a dog bite injury in Boulder may suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder as a result of the attack. This mental anguish can affect many other aspects of one’s life, from the ability to earn a living to being able to take a walk outside.

If the dog bite is severe enough, it may require medical attention. In many cases, this medical care must be paid for by the victim, even though the sustained injuries are result of someone else’s negligence. This is especially true for dog owners who haven’t taken the proper precautions to ensure their pets aren’t a risk to others. Most states require that animals be leashed and contained when in public. In the event that a dog owner has failed to sufficiently control an animal, a legal solution may be required.

 

What to Do If You’ve Been Bitten By a Dog

If you have been bitten by a dog, the first response is probably to remove yourself (or the dog) from the situation. Even if the dog didn’t mean to bite aggressively, the ensuing commotion may cause the dog to panic further. This can result in greater injury.

After that, there are a few steps to take to clean the dog bite and prevent infection.

  1. Apply pressure to the wound to stop the bleeding. If possible, find a clean cloth or towel to prevent contamination.
  2. Go to the nearest kitchen or bathroom to clean the bite with soap and water.
  3. If the wound is very large or deep, head to a local clinic or doctor’s office, as you may need stitches or other assistance.
  4. Apply a clean bandage and a disinfecting ointment to the wound each day.
  5. Over the next few days, continue to change the bandages and check for any redness, swelling, or discharge that could indicate infection.

If you notice any of these symptoms, go to your doctor for antibiotics and treatment.

 

Benefits Of Hiring A Personal Injury Attorney

These are the benefits of hiring an attorney on a personal injury claim:

Free Consultations.

Most personal injury attorneys give free consultations to prospective clients.  In some cases, the attorney will utilize hard sale tactics during the initial consultation. Because of this, sometimes it is difficult to leave the attorney’s office without signing a contingency fee agreement.  However, since you do not owe the attorney anything for the free consultation, you can tell him that you want to speak to other attorneys before making your decision to hire one.  You can obtain valuable information about the merits of your accident claim during this consultation.  If the attorney does not spend much time with you during the  initial consultation and doesn’t answer all of your questions, this is some indication of how he will probably handle your claim. Make list of questions for the consultation. This will afford greater knowledge and insight into your personal injury claim.

Reduced stress.

Once you hire an attorney on a personal injury claim, the attorney will deal with the insurance companies on your behalf. The end result will be reduced stress to you.  Some personal injury attorneys don’t handle your property damage, because it involves a lot of time and effort for little, or no, compensation.  Ask the attorney during the initial consultation if he handles property damage.  If he doesn’t, he is not providing you with full service for his contingency fee.  If he does, he is most likely a full-service Personal Injury Lawyer, and he will not take a contingency fee on the property damage and rental car aspects of your claim.  This is major benefit of attorney representation.

Statute of Limitations.

Many victims of personal injury accidents who are not represented by an attorney fall victim to Statutes of Limitations.  These are cut-off periods of time that can extinguish your claim.  It these statutes of repose are “blown” by not filing a Complaint with the appropriate Court within the relevant Statute of Limitations, the result will be your inability to recover against the adverse party and/or his insurance coverage. You lose the right to sue the adverse party. Different statutes of limitations apply to third-party claims (claims against  the other party’s liability coverage) and first party claims against your own insurance company.  Your attorney will protect your interests regarding these cut-off dates.

 

What compensation am I entitled to?

An experienced attorney will advise you concerning what you can expect on your claim.  The types of compensation that you are entitled to may change with time and the course of your medical treatment.  Proof of wage loss to an adverse carrier generally involves doctor’s excuses, pay stubs to track your earnings history prior to the accident, payroll records showing your actual wage loss, and a letter from your employer explaining your job and compensation.  If you have a substantial wage loss claim, you need an attorney to handle this aspect of your claim.

Ability to negotiate.

The hammer that the attorney has on a personal injury claim is that he can file suit causing the adverse insurance carrier to spend time and money to defend it.  The layperson is not capable of putting this pressure on an insurance carrier. Therefore, the claimant  will have much  less negotiating power with the involved insurance company.  The attorney can also sue the insurance company for bad faith on first party claims, if the insurance company doesn’t handle your claim fairly.

How To Choose The Water Treatment System That’s Best For Your Home

How To Choose The Water Treatment System That’s Best For Your Home

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Water Testing

Water is the most important resource we have, and it is vitally important for all of us. So, in many countries it is the object of numerous environmental laws and regulations. This relates not only to drinking water but ultimately also for the whole water cycle, for example surface and ground water, process and waste water

Environment Testing is NATA accredited for the analysis of a wide range of water samples for;

Emerging Contaminants including PFAS and 1.4-Dioxane

Total Recovery Hydrocarbons

Semi-Volatile Organic Compounds

Volatile Organic Compounds

Metals

Inorganics and Aggregates

Microbiology

Persistent Organic Pollutants including Dioxins / Dioxin-like PCBs

Microplastics

River and Streams

Sewage

Trade Waste

Groundwater

Storm Water

Leachate

Sea Water

Drinking Water

Reuse Water

Bottled Water

Process and Cooling Water

maintain a large inventory of instrumentation with built-in redundancy ensuring timely reporting to meet project schedules and the ability to accommodate schedule and scope changes. A dedicated Analytical Service Manager (ASM) is appointed to be the central liaison point for each client – one point of contact for all Pricing, Orders, Reporting and Technical enquiries.

 

Water Testing

Water Quality Testing

The Department of Utilities’ ensures that the drinking water flowing from your tap is safe to drink, but sometimes you may find it necessary to have your water quality tested. Water chemists offer water quality testing for Norfolk water customers. Should you feel the need to have your water tested

a chemist will be happy to take a water sample from your home.

Bacteria

Color

Chlorine/chloramine

Iron

PH

Turbidity

Well Water Testing

If you would like your private well water tested and you live we’ll tell you how to collect the sample and the type of container to use

These samples are tested for the following parameters, if you need to review what these terms mean

Alkalinity

Hardness

Iron

Fluoride

PH

Salt

Turbidity

 

Water Testing

When should I get my water tested?

Test if…

Your well does not meet construction codes.

The area around the wellhead has been flooded or submerged.

Back-siphoning has occurred.

You have mixed or used pesticides near the well, or have spilled pesticides or fuel near the well.

You have a heating oil tank or underground fuel tank near the well that you know has leaked.

You are pregnant, are planning a pregnancy, or have an infant less than 6 months old.

Your septic system absorption field, or your neighbor’s, is close to the well (within 100 feet).

Wondering about the quality of your irrigation water?

Test annually for:

Nitrates

Coliform Bacteria

Testing for fecal coliform and/or total bacteria is a good place to start. Depending on the results of that test, you may be advised to test for other contaminants such as metals, sediment, or organic pollutants. A presence of live coliforms in your water is an indication that surface water is entering your drinking water, which means that other pollutants will likely be found in your water as well.

Another common starting test for drinking water is nitrates. A value higher than 10 ppm (mg/L) can threaten your health especially if you are pregnant or nursing, and can threaten the health of infants. A presence of nitrates in your water indicates surface water contamination of your drinking water.

How do I collect a sample?

First, call a lab near you that is certified for the test you need.

Use the appropriate container for the type of sample.

Store the sample carefully according to the instructions before taking it to the lab.

If you receive a container from the lab for a bacterial test, do not rinse it out. It has been sterilized and contains a preservative.

Some samples must be kept cool and delivered to the lab within a short period of time (often less than 24 hours) or they will not be analyzed.

Where do I get the water analyzed?

Use the button below for a list of labs in Utah that test water. NOTE: Not all certified labs test for all pollutants. Check with the lab before you collect any samples – collections methods, sample storage, and delivery directions are often important.

 

Water Testing

Health Department is committed to the protection of county groundwater resources in order to assure a safe and adequate supply of water for our citizens. Environmental Health provides a variety of water testing services for citizens who are served by well water

Radon, Uranium, and Radium

Recent news from neighboring counties has increased the awareness of these naturally occurring substances in ground water. Wake County found wells with unsafe levels of uranium, radon and radium in the water. These substances occur naturally in the rock located underground. They sent out notice to inform residents about the naturally-occurring groundwater contaminants found in the eastern area of Wake County so that well owners could decide what actions to take about water treatment.

The State Laboratory of Public Health has an Environmental Radiochemistry unit that can analyze the gross alpha, gross beta, and uranium. This office is working with the state lab to make those sample kits available to us to assist well owners in County who want this specialized sampling.

Hexavalent Chromium

Hexavalent Chromium is a carcinogen caused by the natural leaching of mostly volcanic rocks in aquifers across the Piedmont region. Contamination stems from water-rock interactions that are common across the region. This is not limited only to wells near coal ash ponds.

Testing for Hexavalent Chromium

Hexavalent Chromium and Coal Ash panel are special order kits. Hexavalent Chromium is a time sensitive kit because it contains a preservative. We only order the kit when a sample is requested. We send all of our samples to the state lab. Health Department staff have to collect the samples using the kit and ship to lab to maintain chain of custody.

 

Water Testing

If you suspect your drinking water is contaminated, the water should be tested. If your water is provided by a public system, contact the operator of the system for testing and possible disinfection. If you have an individual well, we suggest that you test your water for bacteria annually. If your water sample is unsatisfactory, you should then evaluate and disinfect the well.

Water samples must be submitted in specific sterile sample bottles that are available from Environmental Health Services. You may ask for specific instructions about collecting a water sample when you pick up your empty bottle, instructions are also on the form or from the Department of Health Coliform Sampling Procedure Brochure.

Bacteriological Testing

The test done by the County Drinking Water Lab measures the presence of coliform bacteria. These bacteria are commonly found in human and animal waste, decaying vegetation, as well as in the soil. Although coliform bacteria are not usually a cause of illness, their presence indicates a potential contamination problem. A sample which tests positive for E. coli or fecal coliform bacteria is most likely to indicate recent fecal contamination, and requires immediate attention and follow-up sampling.

The bacteriological test takes a minimum of 24 hours to complete. You will typically receive your results in the mail within a few days. If your water contains coliform bacteria, Environmental Health staff will contact you by phone immediately with the result and suggestions for disinfecting your well.

Nitrate Testing

The County Water Lab tests for the amount of nitrate in drinking water. The Nitrate test is recommended for individual wells every three years and costs $30.00. Nitrate tests are generally only run in the lab two times each month.  See schedule below for specific dates and times.

Shared Medical Practice Accountant Can Be A Cost Efficient Option

Shared Medical Practice Accountant Can Be A Cost Efficient Option

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What Are Debits and Credits?

Debits and credits form the basis of the double-entry accounting system of a business. Debits represent money that is paid out of an account and credits represent money that is paid into an account. Each financial transaction made by a business firm must have at least one debit and credit recorded to the business’s accounting ledger in equal, but opposite, amounts.

Bookkeepers and accountants use debits and credits to balance each recorded financial transaction for certain accounts on the company’s balance sheet and income statement. Debits and credits, used in a double-entry accounting system, allow the business to more easily balance its books at the end of each time period.

What Are Debits and Credits?

Debits, abbreviated as Dr, are one side of a financial transaction that is recorded on the left-hand side of the accounting journal. Credits, abbreviated as Cr, are the other side of a financial transaction and they are recorded on the right-hand side of the accounting journal. There must be a minimum of one debit and one credit for each financial transaction, but there is no maximum number of debits and credits for each financial transaction.

The business’s Chart of Accounts helps the firm’s management determine which account is debited and which is credited for each financial transaction. There are five main accounts, at least two of which must be debited and credited in a financial transaction. Those accounts are the Asset, Liability, Shareholder’s Equity, Revenue, and Expense accounts along with their sub-accounts.

A debit increases both the asset and expense accounts. The asset accounts are on the balance sheet and the expense accounts are on the income statement. A credit increases a revenue, liability, or equity account. The revenue account is on the income statement. The liability and equity accounts are on the balance sheet.

 

Concept of Double Entry

Every transaction has two effects. For example, if someone transacts a purchase of a drink from a local store, he pays cash to the shopkeeper and in return, he gets a bottle of dink. This simple transaction has two effects from the perspective of both, the buyer as well as the seller. The buyer’s cash balance would decrease by the amount of the cost of purchase while on the other hand he will acquire a bottle of drink. Conversely, the seller will be one drink short though his cash balance would increase by the price of the drink.

Accounting attempts to record both effects of a transaction or event on the entity’s financial statements. This is the application of double entry concept. Without applying double entry concept, accounting records would only reflect a partial view of the company’s affairs. Imagine if an entity purchased a machine during a year, but the accounting records do not show whether the machine was purchased for cash or on credit. Perhaps the machine was bought in exchange of another machine. Such information can only be gained from accounting records if both effects of a transaction are accounted for.

Traditionally, the two effects of an accounting entry are known as Debit (Dr) and Credit (Cr). Accounting system is based on the principal that for every Debit entry, there will always be an equal Credit entry. This is known as the Duality Principal.

Debit entries are ones that account for the following effects:

  • Increase in assets
  • Increase in expense
  • Decrease in liability
  • Decrease in equity
  • Decrease in income

Credit entries are ones that account for the following effects:

  • Decrease in assets
  • Decrease in expense
  • Increase in liability
  • Increase in equity
  • Increase in income

 

Accounting entries

In the double-entry accounting system, at least two accounting entries are required to record each financial transaction. These entries may occur in asset, liability, equity, expense, or revenue accounts. Recording of a debit amount to one or more accounts and an equal credit amount to one or more accounts results in total debits being equal to total credits when considering all accounts in the general ledger. If the accounting entries are recorded without error, the aggregate balance of all accounts having Debit balances will be equal to the aggregate balance of all accounts having Credit balances. Accounting entries that debit and credit related accounts typically include the same date and identifying code in both accounts, so that in case of error, each debit and credit can be traced back to a journal and transaction source document, thus preserving an audit trail. The accounting entries are recorded in the “Books of Accounts”. Regardless of which accounts and how many are involved by a given transaction, the fundamental accounting equation of assets equal liabilities plus equity will hold.

 

What is a T-account?

A T-account is a visual way of displaying the transactions occurring within a single account. Any transaction a business makes will need to be recorded in the company’s general ledger. The general ledger is divided up into individual accounts which categorise similar transaction types together.

The reason it’s called a T-account is simply that it is shaped like a T.

  • When you debit an asset or expense account, you increase its value.
  • When you debit a liability, equity or revenue account, you decrease its value.
  • When you credit an asset or expense account, you reduce its value.
  • When you credit a liability, equity or revenue account, you increase its value.
  • When a company records a transaction, at least one account will always be debited, whilst at least one other will always be credited, hence the name “double-entry”. These entries show the movement of value around the business.

 

Accounting equation approach

This approach is also called the American approach. Under this approach transactions are recorded based on the accounting equation, i.e., Assets = Liabilities + Capital.[18] The accounting equation is a statement of equality between the debits and the credits. The rules of debit and credit depend on the nature of an account. For the purpose of the accounting equation approach, all the accounts are classified into the following five types: assets, capital, liabilities, revenues/incomes, or expenses/losses.

If there is an increase or decrease in a set of accounts, there will be equal decrease or increase in another set of accounts. Accordingly, the following rules of debit and credit hold for the various categories of accounts:

  • Assets Accounts: debit entry represents an increase in assets and a credit entry represents a decrease in assets.
  • Capital Account: credit entry represents an increase in capital and a debit entry represents a decrease in capital.
  • Liabilities Accounts: credit entry represents an increase in liabilities and a debit entry represents a decrease in liabilities.
  • Revenues or Incomes Accounts: credit entry represents an increase in incomes and gains, and debit entry represents a decrease in incomes and gains.
  • Expenses or Losses Accounts: debit entry represents an increase in expenses and losses, and credit entry represents a decrease in expenses and losses.

These five rules help learning about accounting entries and also are comparable with traditional (British) accounting rules.

About Essential House Cleaning Tips

About Essential House Cleaning Tips

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Guide to Keeping Your House Clean

If cleaning the house seems like one big chore, you’re probably doing it wrong. Before you put off cleaning for yet another month, here are some ways to make housework a comfortable and even enjoyable part of your daily routine.

Start small

If you begin and end each day with a little picking up, you’ll never get swamped with housework again. Keeping a clean house begins with good habits like making your bed every morning and cleaning the dishes while you cook. Nobody wants to navigate through a minefield of yesterday’s mess to make coffee, so never allow yourself to fall asleep with dirty dishes or a disheveled living room

Enjoy yourself

Even the most reviled of household chores can be enjoyable if you have some headphones or a portable speaker. Truth be told, cleaning the house is a hidden source of me time that you’ll eventually learn to love.

For example, if you think vacuuming kind of sucks, listen to an energetic playlist of your favorite songs and sway to the music like nobody’s watching. If you haven’t had much time to read lately, listen to audiobooks and podcasts while you do the dishes. If you’re a parent and miss watching movies and shows without singing princesses, prop up your phone or tablet and use some wireless headphones to do a little binge-watching. Yay for chores!

Simplify your chore list

Rather than making a never-ending list of unattainable projects, break it up into manageable, bite-sized pieces. Get a blank sheet of paper and make four columns: Daily, Weekly, Monthly and Yearly. Everyday chores like making the bed, picking up the house and doing the dishes can go in the Daily column. Chores like vacuuming and dusting can go in either the Weekly or Monthly column, depending on what’s realistic for your lifestyle. Reserve the Yearly column for big projects like cleaning the oven, shampooing the carpet and wiping down the fan blades.

 

THE LAZY GENIUS GUIDE TO CLEANING YOUR HOUSE

It feels easier to burn it down than to clean it sometimes. So much dust, so little time. Necessary arson, you guys. But even so, in the fire, we’d lose the charts we never checked off and the homemade cleaner that smelled of Easter eggs and sadness.

Know your angles.

Right now, your perspective towards cleaning is likely volatile and antagonistic. Dirt is the enemy, and it’s winning the war. Sometimes, I feel like the dirt in my house is toying with me; it’s a psychological predator.

It feels like we can’t win, so what’s the point? Just pseudo-clean when people are coming over, and let that be the routine, right? Maybe. But if you aren’t in the habit of inviting people over, you might reach arson mode quicker than you’d like

We see cleaning as a utilitarian drudgery, but if we shift our perspective to keeping the home instead of cleaning the house, we allow ourselves the chance to recognize the good parts. Decide what clean means for you, redefine cleaning as replenishing good things, and keep in mind why home is a place you love to be. Those principles along with seven others can reignite an appreciation for the domestic without turning you into June Cleaver.

Prioritize the emotional.

The bigger your house, the more there is to do, but even if you live in a studio apartment, a robust list of cleaning tasks are vying for priority. What do you do first? What’s the most important use of your limited cleaning time?

 

A Guide to Tipping House Cleaners

If you hire someone to clean your home, you may be wondering: How much should I tip my house cleaner? What about at Christmas? Should you tip even if you’re not happy with the work? These and other questions you may have about tipping house cleaners will be answered in the rest of the article.

What does it cost to hire a house cleaner?

If you hire a house cleaner through a company, you may pay between $20 and $45 per hour. It’s a good idea to investigate more than one cleaning company to compare prices. An individual house cleaner may charge less an hour because they don’t have the overhead that a large company does

How Much to Tip House Cleaners?

To decide how much to tip house cleaners depends partly on the way you employ them in the first place. You might hire a house cleaner directly, or through an agency. Some agencies pay minimum wage, while others pay more and don’t allow tipping.

If you hire a cleaning person directly for a one-time cleaning or if you want them to clean infrequently, tipping between $10 to $20 a cleaning is fair. But, if you hire your home cleaner directly and use them year round, a cash bonus or a gift at the end of the year is appropriate. The bonus should be the equivalent of one week’s pay.

If you hire through an agency and they only pay minimum wage, a tip for cleaning is appreciated. This is how the house cleaner makes a little extra money. The general rule is to tip between $10 to $20 per service. In fact, most agencies rely on people paying a house cleaner a tip to get them over the minimum wage hump.

 

Tips & Tricks for Clean Hotel Rooms

Forget uncomfortable beds, poor service, or itchy bathrobes: hotel guests are most likely to be put off by poor housekeeping. guests never expect to be greeted by dirt, hair, or dust in their room, and complaints or negative reviews are understandable if this does happen. And, given that the majority of customers will read online reviews before booking a hotel these days, that can pose a real threat to your business.

Clearly, an effective housekeeping strategy needs to be a top priority for any hotelier. In this guide, we’ll show you how to properly clean your rooms and bathrooms, as well as share some tips for impressing your guests

This guide will cover:

What are the duties of housekeeping in a hotel

Creating a housekeeping strategy

How to clean a hotel room: a step by step guide

How to clean a hotel bathroom: a step by step guide

Cleaning products, equipment, and supplies

What are the duties of housekeeping in a hotel?

Good housekeeping is an invisible service, in that guests only really take notice of it when your team fails to deliver the expected standard of cleanliness. A hotel room could play host to hundreds of different guests each year, but no guest wants their room to feel used, which is why it’s the role of your housekeeping staff to ensure that there is no evidence of any previous occupants, and that every room is completely clean from top to bottom

Creating a housekeeping strategy

If you want your guest bedrooms to be as clean as possible, you’ll need to have an effective housekeeping strategy in place. That means working out how many staff you need to employ per shift and creating a checklist for them to follow in each area to ensure cleaning standards are met.

 

Point checklist when booking home cleaning services

Deep cleaning your home from time to time is important. Many people opt for these services before a major festival, such as Diwali or Christmas, or a big family event, such as a wedding. And with the festive season coming up, you too may now look to avail of such a service

Expense: While everyone likes to get the best service on offer, the price may at times become a constraint. Different people have different budgets to work with. So, you must take out your calculator, do the math and see exactly how much you want to spend on cleaning activity. House deep cleaning prices depend on several factors, such as the number of rooms to be cleaned, number of cleaners required, type of equipment used and cleaning products or chemicals used. As a result, different home cleaning service providers offer varying rates. So, take some time and compare the best deals available to you.  Do speak to at least three cleaning service providers to find the best deal.

Services offered: Next, and very importantly, you have to see what services are on offer. You may have a specific requirement, like deep cleaning beds and couches, or you may need to go in for a complete deep cleaning of the entire house. Check to see what services are offered by the cleaners of your choice. For example, if you are opting for a bathroom cleaning service, you must look for the exclusions and inclusions. Check the fine print to see whether or not the tub cleaning services are included. If you are not satisfied with the package or the individual home cleaning services offered, look for a different service provider.

Time: Next, you should ascertain how much time the cleaners will take to complete the job. You may need to ask them to spread the job over a couple of days if it takes too long or you can choose to have it done all in one day. So speak to the cleaners beforehand to understand exactly how long the service will take. You may need to plan your own schedule accordingly and make the necessary arrangements to fit in the cleaning service in your busy schedule. For example, if you are also planning to get pest control done, the cleaning job will have to be completed prior to that. So, check whether the timing is correct before booking a home cleaning service.

Safety: You must check whether the products used in cleaning the house are safe for your children and pets. Speak to the service provider and ask them about this. These days, most of the products used are safe and free of harmful chemicals. However, there may be a few cleaners who use industrial chemicals to do the job. Be clear about these things and if needed, move your pets and kids to a neighbour or friend’s house for the time being. Also, if any member of the family is allergic to any specific item, inform the cleaners or ask the family member to vacate the house for the duration of the cleaning. If, however, the service providers promise to use only natural and safe products to clean the house, you can have every one stay in the house while the cleaning takes place.

Dentist Service Accessibility Is Important Given Its Location

Dentist Service Accessibility Is Important Given Its Location

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Dental Emergency During Quarantine? Here’s What to Do Next!

With the Coronavirus spreading in full force, you’re probably self-quarantined, as you should be, to help keep you and your family safe. But what happens if you have a dental emergency? With most dentists closed during this time, what should you do if you bite down and crack your tooth or experience extreme pain? Thankfully, your dentist has some tips to help you make yourself more comfortable at home, and they’re still ready to treat your dental emergency. Keep reading to learn what you should do if you have tooth pain during this strange time.

Do You Have a Toothache?

A toothache can seem like it comes out of nowhere, however it is usually caused by poor dental hygiene. When plaque builds up, it interacts with bacteria in your mouth to create acids. This can cause decay, but it can also lead to infection in the tooth. If this occurs, you may experience pain and piercing sensitivity. Should this happen, call your dentist right away because you may need a root canal. Your dentist will still perform emergency services during the Covid-19 outbreak to keep you as healthy as possible.

Did You Chip or Break Your Tooth?

One of the activities you may be enjoying during quarantine is snacking. However, a hard bite on the wrong popcorn kernel could fracture your tooth, putting you in intense pain. If your tooth breaks, pick up any pieces, rinse them, and store them in a safe place. Use gauze to ease bleeding and apply a cold compress or a bag of frozen veggies to reduce swelling. If you’ve lost or broken a crown or filling, you can use dental cement to repair it. However, if you don’t have this product, you can temporarily protect your tooth with sugarless gum. Your next move is to call your dentist immediately. Although they are closed, they will still treat dental emergencies to get you out of pain and back to smiling.

Did Your Tooth Get Knocked Out?

You may be engaging in indoor exercise due to the quarantine, however this often limits space and increases risk of dental injury. If a tooth gets knocked out while roughhousing with the family, pick it up by the crown and gently rinse it off. After, store it in milk or water to keep it moist and apply gauze to your mouth if the area is bleeding. Once you’ve made yourself more comfortable, contact your dentist right away for treatment. The sooner you can visit their office, the better your chances are of successfully replanting it.

Now that you know what to do if a dental emergency happens during quarantine, no need to worry! Remember these tips and that your dentist is still here to help in your time of need.

 

Things your dentist doesn’t want you to know

Your  dentist sees you as a profit center rather than a patient.

Everyone gets the business thing.  Football players tell us this all the time…but this is health care and an ethical dentist MUST put the patient first.  That is the real definition of professional.  Dentists who do this usually relate everything to the “time is money” philosophy.  They usually run behind and are over-scheduled.

Your dentist just took a weekend course in an advanced surgical technique—-and you are his Monday morning experiment.

Yes, it’s true…we call these dentists gunslingers.  Many procedures dentists do are fairly safe and reversible, but others are way beyond the skill level necessary for performance.  When dentistry is a business and new “profit centers” are available…some dentists go beyond their limitations.

Many dentists are nothing more than tooth jockeys.

That means that they don’t look at the whole patient.  Granted, some patients may be satisfied with this standard, but most people go to the dentist for a long-term result.  If a practice is set up to treat single teeth, it’s unlikely that the patient will accomplish anything worthwhile.  You know if your dentist is committed to your comprehensive care and long-term results if he does a comprehensive examination which includes the teeth, the gums, the bite and an oral cancer examination.

The dentist uses the cheapest materials available and charges you for “the best.”

Dentistry is a blind service.  Look, every business tries to cut down on expenses but at least it should be disclosed.  When the patient goes to a dentist because of price…duh, how do people really think that works.

 

What happens when you visit an NHS dentist

When you see your dentist for a check-up, they will first carry out an examination or assessment. This is the first part of each course of NHS treatment and is included in the Band 1 ($22.70) charge.

You do not have to register with a dentist in the same way as with a GP to receive NHS treatment. Therefore, you should not be asked to have an examination or pay for any private work before being accepted by an NHS dentist.

If you want to have any cosmetic dental treatment, such as tooth whitening, this will be done privately. Ask your dentist how much this will cost.

At your check-up, your dentist will assess your mouth, teeth and gums and advise you how to look after them.

 

What will happen at your check-up?

At your check-up, your dentist may:

  • ask you about your medical history and whether you are currently taking any medicine
  • carry out a full examination of your mouth, teeth and gums
  • ask about your general health and any problems you have had with your teeth, mouth or gums since your last visit
  • ask about and give advice on your diet, smoking and drinking
  • ask about your teeth-cleaning habits and give you advice on the best ways to keep your mouth, teeth and gums healthy
  • explain any risks, as well as dental costs, of all treatment you may need
  • discuss with you when your next visit should be

Many of us have got used to going to the dentist every 6 months but you might need to go more often or less often than this depending on how healthy your mouth and teeth are. Your dentist should talk to you about when you should have your next appointment.

If you have problems with your teeth between check-ups, contact your dental surgery to make an earlier appointment.

 

Information you should find at your dental surgery

When you visit your dental surgery, some information should be clearly displayed:

  • a poster about current NHS dental charges
  • the surgery’s complaints procedure
  • a written statement about how the surgery meets the requirements for infection control, health and safety, X-rays and continuing professional development of dentists

In addition, you should be given a leaflet about the surgery and its services. If you cannot find any of the information, you have the right to ask for it.

What your dentist should not do

Your dentist should not:

  • offer NHS treatment to children on condition that a parent or guardian becomes a private patient
  • suggest that NHS treatment is sub-standard
  • make you pay privately for an examination to assess whether you will be accepted for NHS treatment
  • charge you for missed appointments for NHS treatment
  • charge you a deposit before any assessment of your treatment needs has been carried out
Marketing Your Vacation Rental Cleaning

Marketing Your Vacation Rental Cleaning

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Vacation Rental Housekeeping Professionals and Vacation Rental Management Association Introduce New Cleaning Guidelines

The new guidelines are part of the VRMA & VRHP SafeHome campaign, which empowers members to adopt and execute safe travel standards that conform to—and, in many cases, exceed—those that are mandated nationally, statewide or locally. The SafeHome initiative encourages all vacation rental management professionals to openly communicate with guests and employees about the precautions they are taking to help keep them safe and healthy.

The guidelines include recommendations for augmenting existing cleaning programs to account for COVID-19, including:

Disinfection and sanitization techniques

Proper use of personal protective equipment

Recommended products, cleaning agents and equipment

Updated cleaning and inspection processes for soft surfaces, upholstery and linens

Trash removal and maintenance processes

Communicating expanded cleaning processes to guests

“Cleaning a vacation rental is no small task, even when we are not faced with a global pandemic,” said, executive director of VRHP. “Housekeepers are responsible for completely resetting properties and creating a like-new experience for arriving guests. These new guidelines are intended to enhance the safety of properties, and provide more peace-of-mind for property owners and guests.”

Because guest and employee safety is paramount, VRMA and VRHP will continue their efforts to educate and inform members and the professional vacation rental management community overall of evolving guidelines and recommendations so that they are always able to provide a safe and enjoyable environment to guests, staff and the general public.

“Vacation rental professionals have historically set the standard for cleaning within the travel industry, and these guidelines memorialize an enhanced level of care in a COVID-19-impacted industry.” said, president of VRMA. “The COVID-19 pandemic makes proper and thorough cleaning methods, specific training, appropriate supplies and a systematic process even more vital to our industry. We can count on our professional community to rise to this occasion and restore confidence within our local governments and guest populations that staying in a professionally managed vacation rental is the safest way to enjoy travel.”

 

Cleaning Policies & Procedures

We know that there is heightened uncertainty around travel with the coronavirus (COVID-19), so we want to proactively share the steps we’ve taken to ensure your health and safety. Our Housekeeping Team has received proper training and instruction based on CDC cleaning guidelines.

Utilize CDC approved sanitizing and disinfecting products approved for killing the Covid-19 virus will be followed

Housekeeping teams will use fresh, laundered cleaning rags for each property to avoid the spread of germs from one home to another

Sheets and towels, where provided, are cleaned in industrial grade washer(s)/dryer(s) using appropriate chemicals and dried at proper temperatures.  Bed coverings are sanitized using a sanitizing spray that is distributing on the bed coverings.

Housekeeping and Maintenance staff will adhere to social distancing guidelines while working in homes and will wear appropriate face masks and gloves

Particular attention shall be paid to the disinfecting of high touch or hot spot items in between rental turns using CDC approved disinfecting products. Such areas include, but not limited to:

Appliance Buttons/Handles

Cabinet Knobs/Handles

Lamp Switches and Wall Switches

Door Knobs/Handles

Remote Controls

Electronics Controls

Phone Receivers

We strongly suggest that you also bring your own preferred cleaning supplies with you in order to keep your rental home sanitized and disinfected during your stay.

 

Cleaning recommendations, including 24 hours between rentals

Corrections & clarifications: A previous version of this story indicated some of Airbnb’s new cleaning guidelines were required. They are required only for Airbnb hosts who participate in an optional program.

The home-sharing service, under pressure from the coronavirus crisis, said Monday that it is establishing a new recommended “cleaning protocol” with the goal of reassuring both rental property hosts and their guests.

Airbnb said in a statement that the optional protocol will offer guidance on the best and safest practices for cleansing a residence’s various rooms. It will include a manual more than 40 pages long establishing the standards, as well as specifying particular chemicals and other products to do the job.

The protocol, for those hosts who choose to opt in, will also require a minimum 24 hours between rentals to reduce the chance a guest might encounter any residual viruses. Potential guests will be able to see whether hosts have opted in.

A top company official said Airbnb knows from surveys that cleanliness is a high priority with guests. “It was clear they wanted to know what you were doing to make sure the place itself would be clean,”

 

Airbnb Releases New Cleaning Protocol Program in Wake of Coronavirus

As Airbnb wants their guests to feel comfortable and at ease when travel ramps up again following the coronavirus pandemic, the home-sharing company has released a new set of standards when it comes to cleaning and sanitizing.

includes a certification program for hosts and specifically follows CDC sanitation standards in the wake of COVID-19, according to an announcement on Monday. Users will be able to filter searches for hosts who have earned the certification under the new protocol, aptly named The Cleaning Protocol.

With guidance of how to specifically clean each room, the protocol also complies with many CDC recommendations including a rule requiring a 24-hour vacancy period between guest reservations.

“Homes have become a place of shelter, and the future of travel will also rely on a new comfort zone, with the privacy and benefits of a home away from home, without crowds or high turnovers,” “We are working with leading experts in health and hygiene so that our community’s trademark hospitality can incorporate official guidance and fulfill new personal preferences, with hosts and guests uniting to offer, manage and enjoy cleaner accommodations.”

Hosts who do not opt into the Cleaning Protocol are able to participate in a “Booking Buffer” program that requires a 72-hour vacancy period after each stay when homes will be empty, except for cleaning.

 

[COVID-19 FAQ] What Should I Tell Short-Term Rental Operators?

While there may be less demand for short-term rentals during the COVID-19 pandemic, many hosts are still renting STRs to guests. This may be illegal in places where government leaders have suspended STR ordinances amid the crisis or residents have been ordered to remain home. In other places, government leaders are discouraging nonessential business.

For communities without traditional lodging options like hotels or where hotels have closed, STRs may be able to offer necessary lodging for sick and stranded travelers when others cannot. In places requiring sick travelers stay where they are, STR guests may be extending their stay past their scheduled booking.

Whether that means STRs in your community need to suspend operations or not, you will need to communicate with hosts about key COVID-19 messages. Good news! We have your communications to hosts covered. Read on to find letter templates and tips for communicating to hosts during this public health crisis.

How Do I Communicate With Hosts About STR Closures?

Should your community suspend the ability for hosts to rent out their STRs, you will need to communicate with hosts quickly and effectively. Our experts at Host Compliance, now a part of Granicus, recommend the following language.

If you have received this message in error, and you do not have a short-term rental, then please accept our apologies. If you do have a short-term rental, please read the message below.

A Local State Mosquitoes Control Mist System

A Local State Mosquitoes Control Mist System

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How to Get Rid Of Pests At Home Naturally!

Cockroaches, ants, flies, bed bugs, spiders and rodents etc. are some of the most unwelcome guests at home that all of us want to get rid of. These common home pests not only damage physical property but also cause serious health problems by spreading diseases. While there are plenty of products available in the market for controlling pests, natural pest control methods are the easiest, most cost-effective and safest bet. So, here’s our list of must-try natural pest control methods.

Which Natural Mosquito Repellents to Use At Home

Early morning and evening are the peak hours when mosquitos enter our homes. Mosquitos carry and spread some life-threatening diseases as well. It’s important to keep your child away from mosquitos. Though there are many repellents available, their overuse is unhealthy. Here are a few natural pest control methods and ways to get rid of mosquitos at home.

Neem Oil: It’s a great organic mosquito repellent that helps keep mosquitos away. A mixture of neem oil and coconut oil can be used. Sallanin present in neem is effective and organic pest repellents that specifically controls mosquitos. This natural oil extracted from neem tree can be applied over your body to avoid mosquito bites.

More flowers: planting more flowery plants like marigold, rosemary, lemon balm and catnip repel mosquitos and also make the air fresh.

Mosquito repellent candles: Using wax and essential oils you can make mosquito repellent candles that can help you get a relief from mosquitos. Cove oil, lavender oil, peppermint oil, rosemary oil etc can be used for making candles.

 

Mosquito Identification Guide

What are mosquitoes?

Mosquitoes are annoying pests that deliver itchy bites in order to feed on the blood of their human and animal hosts. Mosquitoes are small, fly-like insects with narrow bodies, a pair of translucent wings, and long, thin legs. Mosquitoes also have an elongated mouthpart called a proboscis that they use for feeding. Females use their proboscis to consume blood meals. Both males and females use their proboscis to feed on plant nectar – their primary food source.

Are mosquitoes dangerous?

Apart from being nuisance pests, mosquitoes are dangerous and can transmit a variety of diseases to both people and animals. They spread things like West Nile virus, eastern equine encephalitis, and more. Mosquitoes are a threat to our pets as well, transmitting parasitic heartworms to them, which, if not treated, can be deadly.

Why do I have a mosquito problem?

Mosquitoes are hard to avoid. They live and breed outside and can travel for several miles in search of food. Properties with areas of standing water to lay their eggs are highly attractive to mosquitoes. Both females and males feed on plant nectar as their main food source, so properties with a lot of flowering trees and shrubs are also desirable to mosquitoes.

Where will I find mosquitoes?

Mosquitoes live in a variety of outdoor habitats, including heavily wooded areas, athletic fields, tall grasses around ponds or lakes, or in yards. They like to gather around areas of standing water like ponds, drainage ditches, marshes, clogged gutters, buckets, and other containers that collect water. When the weather is at its hottest during the middle of the day, mosquitoes rest behind tree bark, in tall grass, along fences lines, under tree canopies, and in areas of dense vegetation.

How do I get rid of mosquitoes?

To solve your mosquito problem, it is best to partner with a professional. Pestout is committed to getting rid of mosquitoes and other pests, and keeping them out

 

How to Get Rid of Mosquitoes Indoors and Out

Summer is a season of hot weather, pool parties and, unfortunately, mosquitoes and their bites. Since the number of people getting diseases from mosquitoes, ticks and flea bites has more than tripled in the U.S. in recent years, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, it’s a very good idea to take precautions.

How to Get Rid of Mosquitoes

Eliminate standing water. Mosquitoes need stagnant water to breed. It doesn’t take much stagnant water to support a mosquito colony. “Even a little soda cap can breed mosquitoes,” This means that if you have a water feature as part of your garden or yard design, then it should have a pump or recirculating system, or be changed out frequently

Look for hidden water sources. Common culprits where stagnant water may collect include flower pots and saucers, sand buckets, tire swings, children’s toys, grill covers, garbage can lids and baby pools. But there are many other places where water may lurk undetected — gutters, tarps, metal pieces of furniture, even in a fence post where the cap has come off.

Bromeliad plants can collect water in the center portion of the plant that can become a mosquito breeding ground. “Daytime-biting mosquitoes, the ones that spread Zika, will look for plants like that,”

How to Protect Yourself From Mosquitoes

Make sure your home is sealed. Be sure that screens on your windows are in good working order, and that your screen doors close securely. Patch or replace screens that have holes or don’t fit windows properly. The CDC advises people to sleep under a mosquito bed net if air conditioned or screened rooms are not available, or if sleeping outdoors.

 

ULTIMATE MOSQUITO GUIDE

Species and Habitat

Mosquitoes are found everywhere except Antarctica. Common habitats include swamps or marshes, forested areas, lowlands and anywhere that water is present. Most common mosquitoes fall into three groups: Culex, Anopheles and Aedes species.

Permanent Water Mosquitoes V. Floodwater Mosquitoes

Some species always lay eggs in water (Culex, Anopheles), while others (Aedes) lay eggs near water in areas likely to eventually get wet. The eggs are able to dry out and can wait for floodwaters for a year or more. When covered by water, they begin to hatch.

Do mosquitoes bite year-round?

Mosquitoes are active in warm weather, and most species are dormant in winter. For most of the United States, mid-March through late summer is peak season. Anytime the temperature is above 50 degrees Fahrenheit, bet on mosquitoes being active.

Do all mosquitoes bite?

No, only female mosquitoes require bloodmeals; the proteins in blood help them lay more eggs. Male mosquitoes live off of nectar, plant sap and honeydew

How do mosquitoes bite?

The mosquito “bites” by piercing the skin with its proboscis. Inside the proboscis are two small tubes; one injects the enzymes that prevent clotting and dull the pain, while the other sucks up blood.

 

How to Avoid Mosquitoes

Mosquitoes are a big question if you’re new to the tropics or coming with children. Protecting yourself is easy, once you know a few local tricks (and what to bring with you)

Absolutely the best trick in the book – put mosquito protection ‘up your sleeve’! All of the mosquito-repelling bracelets and wristbands pictured are totally natural, and DEET-free.

our choice here is only aesthetic – the plastic spiral bracelets are the most popular and come individually wrapped to ensure efficacy. The neoprene wristbands are really soft, and a good idea for kids, babies and sensitive-skin wussies. Their protective magic lasts between 10-15 days. Both varieties are totally waterproof.

Do you need mosquito repellent? As a piece of fresh meat, yes. YES. Left to cavort as they like, even one mosquito can inflict a dotty red mess on your legs. The few seconds it takes to apply some bug spray will ensure your trip is so much more enjoyable.

How to prevent mosquito bites? As when escaping a crocodile on foot… you don’t need to out-run him, you just need to out-run someone else. As such, my first recommendation is to go ‘Incognito’

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