7 Warm Weather Tune-Up Tips

Your bags are packed, your maps are unfolded, and the kids all have their snacks. You and your family are ready for your road trip, but is your car? As the weather gets warmer, there are some things you should do to ensure that every trip, short or long, is a safe one.

1) Do a check of all of your exterior lights and windshield wipers. Replace worn wipers or any burned out bulbs.

2) Look over your tires to make sure that the tread is not worn down. Don’t forget to check your spare also. This is a great time to get out your jack, make sure it is in working order, and review how to use it.

3) Under the hood, check the belts, battery, and all fluid levels. It is a good idea to get a fresh oil and filter change before and after a road trip.

4) Fill up the washer fluid reservoirs and wash all the windows.

5) Inside your vehicle, do a safety check of all of your seat belts.

6) Check any car seats that are in your car, making sure that they have been installed according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

7) Put a safety kit in your vehicle. This should include first aid supplies, a wrench, screwdriver, flashlight, safety flares, extra water, and some rags.

DON’T SKIP THAT SUNSCREEN

There is nothing more you can do to prevent melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, than to use sunscreen every time you go into the sun. You might imagine that people who have survived melanoma would be extra careful. But a study by researchers at Yale University’s School of Medicine reveals that more than 25 percent of melanoma survivors never use sunscreen when heading outdoors.

Everyone should limit exposure to the damaging effects of ultraviolet (UV) light. This means putting sunscreen on every time you go out, staying in  the shade as much as possible, wearing protective clothing and a hat, and avoiding tanning salons.

The good news of the study is that over one-third of melanoma survivors always wore sunscreen. Other studies have revealed that only about 17 percent of Americans wear sunscreen all the time. The  researchers believe that better education of the melanoma survivors increases the rate at which they use sunscreen.

With almost 77,000 cases of melanoma diagnosed each year in the United States, it is critically important for everyone to understand the risks of sun exposure. An estimated 9,500 American will die of the disease this year. But with better educationabout basic precautions, that number could be reduced significantly.

Clean Your Indoor Air

Have you noticed that the air in your home is not as clean and fresh as it should be? These tips will help you breathe easier.

• When cooking or cleaning, keep your windows open as much as possible. (not during pollen season)
• When cooking on the top of the stove, cover pots and pans especially when frying. Use the ventilating fan under the hood of the stove when cooking.
• Use the bathroom exhaust fan or open a bathroom window when steam is present.
• Make sure your vacuum cleaner is working properly and does not blow dust back into the room. Change vacuum cleaner bags frequently.
• Use doormats at each entrance to your home to collect dirt and dust before it enters your home.
• Dust your home regularly and clean large flat surfaces several times a year.
• Vacuum and sweep regularly.
• Clean and change the filters on any humidifiers or air-filtration systems regularly.
• Wash all bedding in hot water weekly.
• Use non-toxic cleaning products and don’t mix different types of cleaning solutions together.
• Place some houseplants in your home. They remove toxins from the air.
• Don’t smoke inside your home.

How Does Stain-Resistant Carpet Work?

Consumers have become quite demanding. We expect that the things we buy and use will last a long time, work properly and outlive the warranty.  Our high expectations extend straight down to our carpets. We expect them to resist staining and look new for many years. Fortunately, with modern stain-resistant applications, we can get years and years of life out of our carpets with proper care.

Understanding Stain-Resistant Fibers
True stain-resistant carpet is referred to as 5th generation nylon. Although these fibers are stain resistant, they are not stain-proof. In order to  understand how carpet can be made stain-resistant, we have to define what a stain is.

A stain is something that has added color to the carpet fibers, and cannot be removed with regular cleaning. Some stains are fairly simple to remove.  Others are difficult or even impossible to remove completely. One type of stain that gives owners of carpet nightmares is the red food coloring typically found in soft drinks. These products dye the fibers in much the same way that carpet is dyed at the factory.

5th generation nylon carpet fibers are factory-dyed using an acid-based dye system. This means that the dye registers on the acid side of the pH scale. Nylon fibers have microscopic areas on the surface called dye sites. These dye sites are negatively charged. The acid based dyes are positively charged,  as are many staining agents like food coloring. Opposites attract, and the molecules of dye attach themselves to dye sites on the nylon fibers giving you the color you want. However, staining agents can do the same thing.

The Magic of “Invisible Dye”
When the carpet is dyed, not all of the dye sites are filled. This creates an open space for any acid-based, positively charged stain molecule to attach itself. To help prevent staining, fiber producers invented a process where they fill the open dye sites with what can be described as “colorless dye”. These “colorless dyes” are called acid dye resistors (ADR’s). ADR’s make it very difficult for stains to permanently enter the dye sites, buying you precious time to blot and remove a spill before the spot becomes a permanent stain. If it weren’t for ADR’s, most food spills would instantly stain the carpet for good!

ADR’s are not the same as carpet protectors like Scotchgard or Teflon, which are referred to as fluorochemical soil retardants. Fluorochemical  soil-retardants help carpet resist common soils, spots and spills. It’s the combination of soil retardants and acid dye resistors that make modern carpet last much longer and clean up much more easily than carpets of a generation ago.

There are things that can damage the factory-applied acid dye resistors. Untrained, uneducated carpet cleaners using the wrong type of cleaning agents can void your carpet’s stain-resist warranty. That’s why Hansen Steam Way is always your safest choice when it comes to having your carpets professionally cleaned.

Hansen Steam Way use the methods, cleaning agents and equipment most recommended by major carpet manufacturers. When we apply a quality fluorochemical protector, your carpets stay cleaner longer. The result is that your carpets look beautiful, resist stains and last longer, maintaining your valuable warranty.