Backyard Safety Tips

The sounds of summer always include children playing outdoors. To ensure that your children will be safe as they enjoy their summer vacation, use this checklist to inspect your backyard swing set and play equipment.

1. Are the bolts tight? Be sure to tighten all bolts before your children use the equipment.

2. Do the ends of the bolts have safety caps on them? Children can be seriously injured from a puncture by an uncapped bolt. Most hardware stores sell replacements caps.

3. Are handrails rusted or loose?  Tighten all handrails and ensure that there are no loose or sharp edges. Any other metal parts should be checked for rust and rough spots. They should be filed down and recoated before children use the equipment.

4. Are there any rough spots on the wood? Most manufacturers recommend that the wood on wooden play sets be stained every year to extend the life of the unit and to prevent splinters from forming.

Problem! What Carpet Fiber Should I Choose? Special Report Continued:

Olefin (also called polypropylene) has become extremely popular in recent years. The first attraction to olefin is the price. Olefin is generally—although not always—less expensive than other fibers. The second appeal is that this fiber will not absorb any liquid. If you were to take a yarn from an olefin carpet and place it in a glass of water, the fiber would float on the top of the water. Nylon and wool would not, since each would absorb a certain amount of water. The point is this: when something is spilled on olefin carpet, it will not be absorbed into the fiber. The value is that permanent staining from spillage is reduced. In addition, olefin carpets are solution dyed, which means that the color is introduced to the molten plastic before the fiber is made.

The characteristic of being non-absorbent can present unique cleaning challenges. Sometimes when spillage occurs, it runs down the side of the yarn into the backing of the carpeting. Many times this can cause wicking problems as the spill gets trapped in the backing of the carpet and is not effectively removed. Therefore, it continues to wick up the surface over time. In addition, if an inexperienced carpet cleaner leaves too much liquid in the carpet after cleaning, it simply slides down to the backing of the carpet with the soils, and as the carpet dries, it wicks back to the surface.

Happy Father’s Day

In the late 1800’s, a baby girl, Sonora Smart, was born.  Unfortunately, her mother died giving birth to her. The usual practice was to send such a child off to relatives who would care for her. But Sonora’s father, William, chose to keep her close to home, raising the little girl along with her five siblings alone on a farm in eastern Washington.

Sonora grew up and married, becoming Sonora Smart Dodd. One day in 1909, she was sitting in church listening to a Mother’s Day sermon. Thinking that her father deserved the same recognition as any mother did, she began an effort to designate a special day for fathers. The first Father’s Day observance was held the following year in Spokane, Washington.  She chose the month of June, the month of her father’s birthday.

Within 15 years, this custom had spread across the country. In 1924, Calvin Coolidge issued the first presidential proclamation in support of Father’s Day.  President Richard Nixon made it a permanent designation in 1972. The third Sunday in June has become a National Day of Observance in honor of fathers everywhere. One woman’s love for her father has inspired millions to honor their fathers as well.

For customers new and established… we offer you this SPECIAL REPORT.

Problem! Cleaning Raw Plant Material

Jute, sisal, sea grass, coir, and hemp are names associated with floor coverings made from raw plant material. Ranging from mats to wall-to-wall, some with backings, some without, this type of material is in a very raw state. Therefore, an understanding of how the fibers react to every day soiling and how they respond to cleaning is very helpful.

One of the unique characteristics of this type of floor-covering material is the tendency to develop mysterious dark spots when cleaned, regardless of the method used. Generally, efforts to bring a “worn” sisal back to its original state are a lost cause. Also, sisal stains very easily. One of the best things to do is have it protected with a solvent-based fabric protector, providing some resistance against spots that result from any type of spillage. In addition to developing dark spots, sisal may also “lighten” when cleaned. The best way to clean plant material is with a low-moisture approach. The bottom line is that these products are not very spillage, traffic, or cleaning friendly. However, you can’t beat the look.

Place this type of floor covering in non-traffic, non-spillage areas to prevent over use. Have a light, maintenance cleaning done about once a year to remove surface soils, pollen, asphalt, exhaust, and other foreign matter that finds its way into our homes.

A final note about sisal: some wool carpets come in a “sisal style.” These products are made to look like sisal, but are actually an entirely different material.

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Due to the natural characteristics of these types of materials our company requires a written consent before proceeding with cleaning.

Exercising Safely in Warmer Weather
If you enjoy exercising outdoors, there is no reason to give it up when the weatherman is predicting a heat wave. You do, however, have to take some precautions. Follow these guidelines when exercising this summer.

You should acclimate your body to increases in temperature gradually. Cut back on your regular routine and then gradually increase the amount of exercise you do over the next few weeks. It is not safe
to exercise during extreme heat and/or humidity. Try to avoid the hottest part of the day, generally from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Wear light colored, loose fitting, cotton clothing. Wear a hat and use sunscreen to protect you from sunburn. Be very aware of the dangers of dehydration. You should drink plenty of water before, during, and after exercise in warm weather. Your body can lose up to a quart of water an hour. It is possible to over-hydrate, so don’t overload your body on fluids. But you will need about one to two cups of fluid every 20 to 30 minutes of exercise, depending on the heat and your level of activity.

If you begin to feel weak, dizzy, or nauseous, you may have the first signs of heat exhaustion. You may also get a headache, notice that sweating stops, or feel overheated. At the first sign of any of these  symptoms, stop exercising, move to a cooler location, and drink some water. If the symptoms persist, see a doctor immediately.

For customers new and established… we offer you this SPECIAL REPORT.

Problem! Ugly Black Lines Along My Baseboards and Under My Doors

If you have light-colored carpet, you may have experienced dark lines that appear on the carpet. This soiling is called filtration soiling because it comes from air passing through the carpet as it is attempting to get through the crack between the carpet and the baseboard.

As the air passes through the edge of the carpet pile, microscopic soiling is deposited there (hence the term filtration soiling.) This occurs over a significant period of time and is not noticed until a buildup has occurred.

This type of soiling is difficult to remove because the soil particles are so fine that they penetrate deep into the carpet pile, even sometimes into the backing of the carpet. Can filtration soiling be removed? Sometimes. With special products, time, and effort, reasonable results can be achieved.

To help prevent filtration soiling, vacuum and wipe the edges of the carpeting on a regular basis. Be careful around the tack-strip on the edge of the carpeting; it could nick your fingers!