Reduce Bedtime Stress

Falling asleep can be difficult when you are stressed. Try these tips to help make your bedtime more peaceful and relaxing.

1. Do something physical for a few minutes. Dance around your living room, take a short walk on your treadmill, or run in place for a minute or so. You will release some of your pent up tension and help to begin the relaxation process for your mind.

2. Enjoy a warm drink. Herbal tea (without caffeine) or warm milk will temporarily increase your body temperature and calm your nervous system. It is also a way to slow down your mental energy.

3. Massage your aching body parts. You can very easily give yourself a foot or scalp massage. This will cause your tensed up parts to release, allowing your whole body to feel more relaxed.

4. Take a warm bath. This will calm your entire body. Use your soaking time to relax your mind as well. Once you’ve spent this time relaxing, you will find that it is easier to fall asleep.

Keeping Your Pets Safe this Easter

Easter is a fun and exciting holiday for children; but for your pets, it can be filled with danger. The treats in your children’s Easter baskets and the decorations around your home can be hazardous to your pet’s health.

Some plants, especially Easter lilies, are highly toxic to pets and can be fatal if eaten. All parts of the Easter lily, day lily, and tiger lily are toxic to cats. Eating even a small part of the plant can lead to kidney failure, which if left untreated, can cause death. Other spring plants that are concerning include
daffodils, hydrangeas, wisteria, and ivy. Ingestion of these plants can cause stomach pain, vomiting, dehydrations, and difficulty breathing.

Also harmful if eaten is the plastic grass used in Easter baskets. It can become twisted within a pet’s intestines and can require surgery to remove. Foil candy wrappers are tempting to pets, but can cause intestinal blockages. Keep these items out of your children’s Easter baskets or up out of the way of your pets to be safe.

Finally, candy can be harmful to pets, with chocolate possibly fatal to cats, dogs, and ferrets. Dark chocolate is worse for pets than milk chocolate. Xylitol, an artificial sweetener used in many candies and gum, can be toxic too. All candy in your family’s Easter basket should be kept out of the reach of your animal companions.

What are some ways to treat your pets this Easter? Give them their own Easter basket filled with healthy treats, a new leash, and some fun chew toys.

Simplify Your Life

Are too many activities making your life hectic? Consider these ways to slow things down.

Get rid of distractions—everything from TV watching to running the kids from activity to activity can fill up your day. Only do those things that are necessary.

Clutter can be a distraction, too. Remove items you rarely use from your home. You’ll have more space and fewer things to spend time cleaning.

Make sure you get enough sleep each night. And take time for yourself each day, even if it is just a few moments.

When all else fails, just say no. When others ask for your help, consider carefully whether you have the time. If not, don’t be afraid to decline. Try saying, “I’m busy with other things right now, but thanks for considering me.”

How to Save Your Rug from Pet Accidents

Rug owners tell us all the time, “It doesn’t seem to matter what I do, if my dog is going to pee on the floor then he is going to choose my favorite area rug. Why?” There are many possible reasons for this behavior. For example, wool rugs are made from sheep hair, so the dog walks by the rug and says “Hey, what’s that sheep doing in my house?” and then proceeds to mark his territory!

There are other motivations too. Maybe the pet is getting old and can’t hold or control it as much. Maybe the pet is overactive or gets too excited when you finally get home and you get a “happy tinkle.” Maybe he’s being territorial with other animals or in the home. Or maybe he or she is just mad at you because you have brought someone or something else into “their” home without consulting them first!

Regardless of why it happens, you need to know what to do to prevent permanent damage to your precious area rugs. This article will help you with procedures you can use to keep your rugs clean, soft and odor-free.

The most important step is to act fast and treat the spot as soon as possible. When a pet “accident” occurs, you’ll want to safely and immediately clean it up before it penetrates into the fibers and becomes a permanent stain.

IMPORTANT! Before treating the spot, lift the rug and lay a plastic trash bag or sheet of plastic under the affected area to avoid saturating the rug pad or floor below. This is especially critical if the rug is on top of a wood floor. Test the following process on a small inconspicuous area of the rug first.

STEP 1 If the spot is still wet, soak up excess liquid by blotting with a clean white terry cloth towel. If you use a colorful towel, you could transfer dye onto your rug. Never brush, rub or scrub the rug; this will cause permanent damage. Simply blot as much liquid as possible and proceed to step 2.

STEP 2 (see rug-safe recipe). Soak a cloth with the rug-safe detergent/ vinegar solution and use the cloth to saturate the spot with a blotting action. Again, do not rub or scrub the rug. Allow a minute or two for the detergent to dilute and neutralize the spot. Blot as much liquid as possible with a dry towel.

STEP 3 Soak a cloth with the rug safe water/vinegar rinse solution and apply to the rug with a blotting action. Blot up with a dry towel. Repeat the rinse step a second time. Blot dry until most of the moisture has been absorbed.

STEP 4 Use a fan or hair dryer on its coolest setting to hasten the drying process. The quicker the rug dries, the better. For stains that do not come out using these methods, contact us as more advanced techniques may be required.

This advice will help you in your time of need but is not a guaranteed solution for every rug. Your rug is unique, so always proceed with caution. If in doubt or if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call Hansen Steam Way Service for advice or to schedule a service visit.