Category Archives: House Cleaning

Turning Bathrooms Into In-Home Spas

Turning Bathrooms Into In-Home Spas

It may be the busiest room in the house, but for many people, it’s also the most relaxing.

Designers say the latest trend in homes is to create luxurious living spaces out of bathrooms-and a new study indicates that homeowners may be on to something. On behalf of German bathtub manufacturer Kaldewei, the Rheingold Institute of Cologne, Germany, found that bathing brought about psychological changes, and concluded that a relaxing bath in the evening was calming and helped people “wind down.”

So how do you transform your bathroom into an at-home spa? One way is through aromatherapy. Try these recipes for a luxurious bath:

Fortune and Harmony

Add 4 tablespoons each of honey and cream to warm bath water with 5 drops of jasmine, 3 drops of orange, and 2 drops of vanilla.

Dream Bath for the Soul

Forget stress and tension with a combination of 4 tablespoons of honey, 3 drops of lavender, 3 drops of rosemary, and 2 drops of violet oil.

Revitalizing Soak

Boil a cup of lavender flowers and strain through a sieve into bath water. Add 2 drops of peppermint oil, 5 drops of everlasting oil, 2 tablespoons of olive oil, and 1 to 2 tablespoons of cream.

Of course, all the sweet aromas in the world probably won’t help you relax if your bathroom isn’t comfortable-and a good place to start is your bathtub.

Kaldewei, Europe’s #1 in baths, makes luxurious bathtubs that are guaranteed for 30 years. The bathtubs are manufactured from a steel enamel that resists damage from cleaning chemicals, abrasions, impacts and scratches. The resistance to scratches helps eliminate bacteria buildup, and the bathtubs can be cleaned by simply wiping them down with a dry cloth-meaning you can spend more time relaxing in the bathtub and less time cleaning it.

The bathtubs also resist the long-term damaging effects of perfumes and oils, making them particularly well-suited for aromatherapy.

Tips On Using A Warm Mist Humidifier

Tips On Using A Warm Mist Humidifier

Dry indoor air causes a wide variety of physical symptoms including a stuffy nose, dry cough, nosebleeds, dry skin and brittle hair. A warm mist humidifier will relieve these symptoms and help you sleep better. Dry air is common when the heat is turned on in the winter. If you live in a dry climate, you may need to humidify your home all year long. Excessive dryness causes wood furniture and flooring to crack and warp. Houseplants can dry out and the seams of your wallpaper could peel.

If your home is very dry and you need to add moisture to the air all year long, you may want to consider a whole house humidification system. These are installed on a forced air heating system and should be installed by a professional.

If you only need to use a humidifier in the winter weather, a single room model will be sufficient. These are plugged into any electrical outlet and can be used in the kitchen, bedroom or any other room in your home. The size of the water tank determines how long you can run the humidifier without adding water. Be sure the model you choose is large enough for the room and the amount of time it will be running.
 
Benefits of a Warm Mist Humidifier
 
A big benefit of the warm mist is the ability to put medication in the humidifier, as you can with a vaporizer. This is great for treating colds, congestion and winter viruses. Vaporizers release hot steam into the air and are notorious for causing burns in children. The steam in warm humidifiers is initially heated and then cooled just before it enters the room. This results in less risk of burns.

Because the water is heated, there is less risk of mold spores and bacteria breeding in the water. Since the mist is cooled before entering the room, mold can still grow, but happens less often than with cool mist humidifiers. Proper cleaning and maintenance can nearly eliminate mold spores in the air from the humidifier. In addition, monitor the humidity level in the room and make sure it doesn’t exceed fifty percent. Mold flourishes at higher levels of humidity.
 
Cleaning Your Warm Mist Humidifier
 
To keep your humidifier working well for years, regular cleaning and maintenance is needed. Always clean your humidifier according to the manufacturer’s directions. You will find this information in the owner’s manual. You should empty the water reservoir and rinse with clean water. Dry it out with a towel before adding new water. It’s best to do this each time you use it.

At the end of the season, give it a thorough cleaning before storing it. Use a disinfectant cleaner and dry thoroughly. You should clean the heating element at the end of the season to remove any build up that has accumulated. Doing this will help keep the air in your room cleaner.

Many warm mist machines have humidifier filters. The filter will need to be changed at least once, at the end of the season. Depending on the usage, you may need to change the filter more often. If you have hard water, the filter will need to be changed more often. Using distilled water can prevent the filter from becoming clogged with iron or other contaminants in your tap water.

Advice To Help You When Buying Jewelry (2)

Advice To Help You When Buying Jewelry

Many people feel overwhelmed when they are buying jewelry for the first time. They know that it is an investment and want to make sure that they are paying a fair price and getting a quality piece of jewelry. You will also need to know the basics of matching jewelry to clothing, as well as care and maintenance. The following tips will help you out.

As you begin to shop for diamond jewelry, you will notice that most pieces are presented against a black velvet background. Viewing a diamonds in front of a black surface can actually alter your perception of the clarity and cut of the diamond. Instead, ask to view the piece against a lighter-colored surface and under magnification. This gives you a more accurate visualization.

Remember that weight, cut, color and clarity will determine the price of any diamond jewelry you are considering buying. The store where you purchase the diamond should be readily able to provide documentation about the diamond. It is a red flag if they do not have papers to back their claim.

Preserve the texture, tone, and color of your turquoise jewelry by exercising the utmost care in storing and cleaning each earring, ring, and necklace. Although turquoise often features inherent surface imperfections, failure to cleanse it gently can affect the color of the stone. Wipe the stone, then dry it with a soft cloth. Do not use soap or chemicals on the stone.

Some people have difficulty tolerating the feel of metal around sensitive parts of their bodies, such as their wrists or necks. This makes it difficult for them to wear necklaces, bracelets, or watches. However, a popular substitute is a carefully knitted or crocheted piece with beads, which can be just as beautiful, but is much more comfortable.

Make sure that you remove your jewelry when doing things that could damage it, such as cleaning the house, swimming in a pool or hot tub, even just putting on lotion. Normal cleaners and harsh chemicals can do damage to the finish of your precious metals and loosen the stones.

If you are purchasing jewelry for a significant other, keep in mind the status of your relationship. A gift of jewelry may signify a change in the seriousness of your relationship that you are not ready for yet. Purchase a piece that is indicative of your current status with your boyfriend or girlfriend.

Hematite is a popular choice for modern jewelry. It is a silvery gray stone with lots of almost metallic-appearing sparkle, but doesn’t have the disadvantage of corrosion or easy denting. Look for it in rings as the primary component as well as the central stone of pendants, rings, and earrings.

Do not use ultrasonic cleaners and jewelry cleaning liquids on your precious and semi- precious gemstones. Most gemstones are easily damaged and their properties become corroded by the chemical properties in jewelry cleaning liquids. Ultrasonic cleaners can shake the gemstone settings apart and deteriorate the glue used to secure the gemstone in the setting.

Now that you have some tips to follow when buying and caring for jewelry you should feel confident and ready to find a great piece of jewelry. You can use the tips provided to find and maintain a lovely piece of jewelry that is affordable and well crafted.

The Different Related Occupations In Hospitality Management

The Different Related Occupations In Hospitality Management

Occupations in hospitality management involve a wide spectrum of jobs. This is true since more positions are being created as the needs of people continually evolves and changes. Here are some of the most common positions that you can find in this field of work, along with their general overview of responsibilities and tasks.

Food Preparation Workers

This position involves performing various food preparation duties aside from cooking, like slicing meat and vegetables, preparing shellfish and other cold foods, and brewing tea or coffee. Some of the job titles you can get from this kind of work would include: Dietary Aide, Dietary Assistant, Diet Aide, Food Preparer, Food Service Worker, Food Service Aide, Nutrition Aide, Prep Cook or Preparation Cook, Pantry Cook, or Slicer.

Some of the duties you are going to have would be cleaning of work areas, utensils, dishes, equipment, and silverware. You would also store food in their designated containers or storage areas so that spoilage is prevented.

You would also be the one to prepare various foods according to your supervisors’ instructions or customers’ orders, following approved procedures. It is also your responsibility to package foods to-go and sometimes serve food to the customers. You also inform supervisors whenever supplies are going low or when kitchen equipment isn’t working properly.

Housekeeping Cleaners And Maids

This kind of work involves performing combinations of light cleaning duties for the maintenance of commercial establishments or private households, like hotels, hospitals, and restaurants, in an orderly and clean manner.

Some of your duties would involve bed making, replenishing of linens, cleaning and vacuuming halls and rooms. You also get to carry linens, toilet items, towels, and cleaning supplies by the use of wheeled carts. You would also clean rooms, lobbies, hallways, restrooms, lounges, corridors, elevators, locker rooms, stairways, and other working areas in order for health standards to be met.

Travel Clerks Or Transportation And Reservation Ticket Agents

In this kind of job, you would be the one to make and confirm reservations for your clients. You also sell tickets to the guests of large motel or hotel chains. You can also check the baggage and direct your passengers to their designated pier, concourse, or track. Sometimes, you would be the one to deliver the tickets and arrange documents for visas.

This work would also entail you to contact groups or individuals to inform them about package tours that they can avail of. You also act like a tour guide as you give them travel information, like points of interest, rates, restaurants, and emergency services.

Gaming Dealers

This job would involve operating table games. You would sit or stand behind the table and operate gambling games by giving out the right number of blocks or cards to players. You also get to operate other gaming equipments. You would also compare the player’s hand against the house’s hands and collect or payoff players’ chips or money. You are also the one to exchange real currency to coin money or playing chips. You also check and ensure that all the table players have placed their bets before the game begins.

Some of the job titles in this kind of job would be: Dealer, Black Jack Dealer, 21 Dealer, Pit Boss, Casino Dealer, Gaming Host, Dual Rate Dealer, Poker Dealer, or Table Games Dealer.

The Best Home Care Provider – Who Can You Trust

The Best Home Care Provider – Who Can You Trust

As people grow old, their siblings main concern is to provide them with home care assistance in their Golden years. It is better safe than sorry. The bottom line is that you are entrusting your loved one to a complete stranger. Therefore, it would be worth the money spent in checking applicant’s background.

1. What Is Home Care?

Home care pertains to services that are not medically related. It helps individuals, mostly the elderly, in going through a healthy lifestyle each day. Home care service became well liked mainly due to the fact that the elderly do not need to go to a hospice or house for the elderly to be taken care of. They can just remain at home where they are comfortable and be given services there. As people grow old, home errands like cleaning the house, buying groceries, cooking dishes, opening or carrying something heavy becomes harder. Also, personal grooming like taking a bath, dressing up, even getting up from bed or stairs could be difficult. Now, due to those home care service providers, there are people trained and monitored by agencies to give those types of services. As a rule, people who provide home care should be ready to perform their duty 24 hours each day. Depending on the arrangements, home care providers can work by shift, hourly, living-in or can be called when needed.

2. Types Of Home Care:

Homemaker

This service includes preparing meals, minor house cleaning, laundry, buying food and household needs and other chores at home.

Personal Care

Service totally focused on the daily activities of a client like taking a bath, getting dressed, use of toilet, eating and grooming.

Companionship

This means that the home care provider is just somebody to talk to when needed. For example, the elderly is usually left at home when everybody is at work or in school. A home care provider is hired as a talking buddy. Depending on the arrangements, the service can be over the phone, a daily visit, or a stay-in companion.

Home Health Care Service

This service is performed by professionals that can provide help like nursing, psychiatric care, social work, health aides at home, respiratory therapy, speech development or occupational or physical therapy.

Respite Care

A volunteer trained in home care or professional lives in with the elderly or client. This is a comprehensive care giving service. Any help needed by the client will be provided by the home care provider.

3. Selection Tips:

Money matters

If money is an issue, agencies that provide home services are much expensive compared to individual providers. The advantage of an agency-based though is that they are professionally schooled and trained for the job. Individuals do not provide this assurance unless they present related proof of their professional training as a home care provider.

Easy To Deal With

Home care providers that are agency based have a much more systematic way and processes in dealing with clients. Payment is professionally processed and in case the provider is sick, an agency can give a replacement. Also if a problem comes up regarding the service provider, there is an agency wherein you can file a complaint; whereas for individual home care providers, you have no other person to report to if he or she falters. In case you decided to choose an individual provider instead, here are some things to do to assure that your loved one will be safe and given a good service.

– Know the person
– Perform a thorough interview
– Have clear expectations
– Explain clearly what you expect
– Discuss Salaries Immediately
– Ask for personal information

Things to Consider when Building a Bird Deck House

Things to Consider when Building a Bird Deck House

Bird deck houses are one way of making your home feel brighter and livelier everyday. It is the first thing that you can look at in the morning and the thing to see once you want to relieve some of the stress of your day. Believe it. Birds and bird houses in your home can make a lot of difference not only to your home but also to your life.

Building a bird deck house can be easy if you know what you are doing. There are some guidelines that you can learn from those who have done it. Bird experts have also some things to say about how to properly make your own bird deck house.

Overall, below are some of things you have to consider when building a bird deck house.

1. Ventilation.

You probably would not want to suffocate the birds inside your house. And you probably would not want to make them feel like they are your prisoners too.

What you need to do is to provide proper ventilation in your bird deck house. If you have one that is fully covered, consider putting on holes on the top, bottom and the sides. You do not need to do this if the bird deck house has an open space where birds can move out and about.

If you have a pet bird that you do not want to fly away from you, consider having bird houses that lets the air in naturally.

2. Roof.

Having a roof on your bird deck house is a means of protecting the birds from wind and rain. It is also one way of preventing bigger animals from playing and eating the birds inside.

In addition, the roof can prevent moisture from seeping inside the bird house. This serves the same purpose as the walls that you need to have in the bird house.

3. Space.

If you have more than one bird deck house in your house or garden, keep them some feet apart from each other. Having the appropriate space between bird deck houses is a way of reducing conflicts that might arise between the birds.

Birds are also like human in terms of protecting their territory. They also do not want other birds to trespass into their space. It is better to give them the appropriate space that they can have for their own.

4. Material.

The best material to make your bird deck house from is wood. They are more durable than metal that can rust and cartons that rot. Avoid using paint as much as possible. They tend to secrete vapors that can harmful for the birds.

Check out for unwanted visitors in your bird deck house. They can be insects or mice capable of causing harm and injury to the birds. Regular checking and cleaning can prevent these things from taking advantage of what you consider as pets.

The main purpose for putting up a deck in your bird house is to attract more birds. Your bird deck house will be a waste if birds are not visiting and coming back to it. An exception is when you already have the birds to put into your bird house. But for those who do not have, then the bird house should be a point of attraction and a regular safe place where birds can stay.

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