Be your own boss

Recent data from the Institute of Women’s Policy Research (IWPR) revealed that about 29% of all business owners in America are women. This figure is up from 26% as recently as 1997.

In the last decade, there has been a growth of 68% in women-owned firms compared to only 47% growth for all businesses on record.

One aspect of women-owned businesses that stands out is the 265% increase in the number of minority women who have stepped up to be their own boss.

According to Fortune Magazine, women interested in starting their own small business should pursue certifications in their field to increase credibility.

Women entrepreneurs should seek out other women to partner with and learn from. They should strive to build their customer base by actively marketing and emphasizing their unique talents and abilities.

Understanding Your Carpet and How to Solve Problems

When selecting carpet, choosing the right color is often the most difficult part of the process. Most people make relatively neutral choices, picking colors such as beige, taupe, gray and even off white because they blend well with just about any decor. Yet, carpets in bold colors like burgundy, deep, rich browns, regal blues and purples, soothing greens and even multi-colored patterns are not uncommon either. The interesting thing is that the color itself is not what protects a carpet from stains. Rather, it’s how the color is dyed that matters. When you know how your carpet was colored you can make more informed cleaning and spot treatment choices.

Extrusion and Coloration

Many carpets, such as polyester and Olefin, are created through extrusion. This is the process of melting plastic balls of certain colors, then extruding the liquid through small holes to create strands. In this way the color goes all through the thread; it’s called “solution dyeing.” This creates the most colorfast carpets, fibers which are highly resistant to fading and bleaching because the color goes all the way through. These carpets are most often found in commercial applications, but they can be in private homes as well. One such extruded fiber, Olefin, is common in Berber style carpets. Olefin fibers are not very absorbent, so they are highly stain resistant.

Fiber & Yarn Dyeing

Sometimes, the material is extruded or otherwise turned into rough fibers before color is applied. Then, various methods are used to apply dye to these fibers before they are spun into yarn. This type of dyeing provides great color penetration, but it is expensive and rarely used on carpets; it’s more common on wool and other high end fabrics. If the fiber is spun into yarn, then dyed, this is yarn dyeing, a common way that multiple colors of fibers are then woven into the carpet to make a variety of patterns, as is common in hotels and office buildings.

Print Dyeing

In print dyeing the carpet is made without color variety. Then, dyes are sprayed or painted on the carpet using stencils. This is common on novelty carpets such as playrooms, daycare centers and movie theaters.

Continuous Dye

The most common dyeing technique is the continuous dye method. After the yarns have been stitched into the backing material, the carpet passes through jets that spray hot dye into the face yarns. This is the fastest and most cost-effective way to dye carpet. Chances are, if you have a light to medium solid-color carpet, it was dyed in this way.

Keeping Carpet Looking Good

The dyeing process of a carpet determines how it resists color loss, fading and bleaching. An experienced cleaning company will know what chemicals and processes to use in order to get the best cleaning and maintenance results from a particular carpet. Using the wrong cleaning agents or processes could result in fading, loss of luster and other issues, so be sure to have your carpets cleaned at least semi-annually by Hansen Steam Way.

Forget the energy drinks. A growing body of scientific evidence shows that energy drinks can have serious health effects, particularly in children, teenagers, and young adults.

If you want a steady stream of energy without the ups and downs, dieticians recommend whole foods, grains, fruits and vegetables.

The key to sustaining energy throughout the day is balance. Start the day with a portion of whole grain and fresh fruit.

Throughout the day, eat fresh fruit, nuts, seeds, beans and non-starchy vegetables in small portions.

For a pick-me-up, research dietitian Aubrey Jarman recommends a slice of apple or one whole wheat cracker with peanut butter.

Drink plenty of water. Chronic dehydration is one of the primary causes of tiredness and lack of energy.

Meat and fish are part of a balance diet, when eating in moderation.

11 House Cleaning Secrets

Soil control is an important part of keeping your home clean and healthy. The Institute of Cleaning and Restoration Certification defines soil as any undesirable substance that is foreign to a surface. Practicing soil control means limiting the buildup of soil on surfaces. Limiting soil equals a clean and healthy home. Here are 11 tips to help you practice soil control.

1. Keep dirt outside by keeping all entry areas and garage floors swept and clean. Pressure wash walk-ways, porches and stairs leading to the entrances to your house. It takes 12 times more effort, time and money to remove soil from your home than it does to prevent it entering in the first place.

2. Remove dirt before it enters the house with door mats. Again, the idea is to limit the amount of soil that enters from outside. Use water resistant door mats made of non-absorbent, mold resistant fibers outside every entrance to your home.

3. Stop dirt at the door by adding another doormat just inside your home. This mat should be made of an absorbent material such as nylon, cotton or wool. Washable throw rugs work great, provided they don’t slide around or become a tripping hazard. Vacuum or wash the mat twice a week.

4. Keep outdoor shoes out of the house. Take off your shoes at the door and wear indoor shoes, slippers or socks around the house. Don’t go barefoot all the time; the natural oils on your feet attach to the carpet and attract soil.

5.Brush and groom your pets regularly – preferably outdoors.

6. Change your furnace filter every 30 days when it is in use. Opt for a high efficiency allergen-trapping filter – it will be $15-20 well-spent.

7. Keep your kitchen vent hood clean… and use it. These vents trap moisture, oils and odors that would otherwise end up in your carpet.

8. Use a bathroom vent. Humidity in the bathroom can lead to mold growth. Let the fan run 10 minutes after you shower or bathe.

9. Vacuum regularly. This is the most important step in carpet maintenance. 74-79% of the soil in typical household carpet can be removed by regular vacuuming.If these dry soils are allowed to remain, some of them break down and oxidize, creating a perfect breeding ground for fungi, bacteria and unpleasant odors.

Grittier soils adhere to sticky or oily residues on carpet fibers, causing abrasion and permanent damage. Regular vacuuming reduces these effects so carpets last longer

10. Vacuum furniture. You should vacuum your upholstered furniture, drapery and blinds for the same reasons listed above.

When you dust your furniture, do so gently, and slowly. It is best to do this with a duster attachment on your vacuum cleaner.

Allow the dust to settle for an hour or so; then vacuum the carpet or floor.

11.Have your carpets and upholstery professionally cleaned at least once a year, at a minimum. Homes with more people, pets and especially those with young children, should be cleaned more frequently

Holiday Weight Gain? Not as Bad as You Might Think!

People gain weight during the holidays, but not as much as they think, according to dietitian Cynthia Sass. Sass points to a 2009 study from Texas Tech University that followed 48 men and 100 women for six weeks from Thanksgiving to Christmas. On average, the subjects gained one and a half to two pounds each.

While this gain isn’t terrible, it tends to stay on. Sass says weight creep is
responsible for adults gaining 10 to 20 pounds over a 10 year period.

If you want to avoid that extra pound or two, Sass recommends drinking
two cups of water before meals. One study found that adults who followed
this prescription were able to shed 40 percent more weight during a 12-week
diet period. Drinking water also makes us less hungry.

Finally, budget your carbs. Holidays are carb heavy with potatoes, cakes,
pies, breads, and cookies. Try to choose just one carb item each day so you can
indulge, but not at every single meal. If banana bread is on the menu for
lunch, skip the toast and potatoes at breakfast and dinner.

Keep Your Water Flowing This Winter

Frozen pipes not only mean the inconvenient lack of water, they can also burst, causing expensive repair problems. Homeowners are often understandably frantic to get water pipes running again. But thawing pipes improperly can lead to more problems.

Use the right method for thawing-

A little heat on the right pipe could get that water flowing. But a flame on the pipe is a very bad idea.

According to fire experts, flames under the house, even when directed at pipes, are a common cause of fire. The open flame from a heater, especially a propane salamander, can ignite insulation or flooring materials under a house.

Excessive heat on metal piping can cause water to boil, causing the pipe to burst. If you know where the pipes are frozen, first open the faucets and then apply heat with a hair dryer or electric heating pad.

Prepare ahead-

If you know your pipes are prone to freezing, take some simple steps ahead of cold weather. First, prepare an emergency water supply. Partially fill a bathtub with water when very cold temperatures are predicted. This can provide water for pets, cleaning, or bathing. It will also give you some breathing room so you can take your
time unfreezing pipes. Next, keep the faucets open to a drip. This will help prevent pipes from freezing. Open your cabinet doors in the kitchen and bathroom to allow
warm room air to circulate.

Prevent frozen pipes-

One of the best ways to prevent frozen pipes is with heat tape or heat cable. These low-heat products usually can be plugged in at the beginning of the season and left until Spring.

Disconnect outdoor hoses and close valves supplying outdoor faucets.

If the problem with frozen pipes is persistent every winter season, consider
relocating exposed pipes. Although this is a major project, it is worth the
temporary hassle and expense to prevent future problems.

Insulation in attics, basements and crawl spaces will help prevent frozen pipes,
too. Just make sure that pipes are on the warm side of the insulation. If pipes are
on the cold side of the insulation, they are more likely to freeze.

Carpet Cleaning in Winter? Really?

This is the time of the year when you may wonder if it makes sense to get your carpets cleaned. Great question! But first, let’s think about this… Does it make sense to clean your wood or tile floors in the winter? Does it make sense to clean your bed linens in winter? Of course.

For some reason, many people treat their carpet differently. It’s as if the carpet was
somehow magically immune to soiling because the weather is cool. Logically, this
is not true.

It’s what you can’t see that is the problem.

Modern carpets do a great job of hiding soil. This may lead you to think you only
need to clean your carpets once a year or when they “look” dirty. But according to
the EPA, most households should clean carpets at least twice a year, maybe more
depending on lifestyle and other factors.

This may surprise you until you think about all of the soils, allergens, oils, pollutants
and contaminants that carpet traps.

In most homes, carpet is the largest filter, trapping soils, pollutants and pet and
human dander (dead skin cells, which we shed by the millions every day and dust
mites live for).

The fact is that winter is a great time to get your carpets cleaned. Here are a few
reasons why.

You’re worth it!

One reason for cleaning your carpets in the winter is that you want your home to
look great for visiting friends and relatives during the Holidays. Nothing makes your
home feel clean and inviting quite like freshly cleaned carpets.

Even if you don’t expect guests, you will be spending more time at home in the winter, so you want it to look nice for you, too.

Of course, there are far more important reasons to clean your carpet than
appearance. In fact, if you wait until your carpets look dirty before you clean them,
you have waited too long. Soil damages carpet, dramatically reducing its usable life.

Can you imagine waiting until your clothes look dirty before laundering them? Of
course not. That would be unhealthy and they would probably begin to smell before
they looked dirty. Carpet is no different.

During the summer, pollen and other pollutants enter your home and become
trapped in the carpets. In the fall, mold spores are more prevalent, again, becoming trapped in your carpet fibers. All of this just in time for you to close things up
for the winter and spend more time inside… Not a pretty picture is it?

It’s bad enough that winter is the time when people suffer from cold and flu
without adding poor indoor air quality to aggravate conditions such as
asthma and allergies.

Carpets tend to dry faster in the winter because the humidity is lower and most
of us are using our furnaces. Warm, dry air is great for drying carpets!

Clean the winter blues away..

Remember that in winter, days are shorter. Darkness comes earlier and lasts longer. A clean, fresh, healthy carpet is a great way to help fight off the winter doldrums. A clean, neat home just makes you feel better.

Hansen Steam Way is usually busiest during the Holidays; everyone wants a clean house for family and guests. Call now to book your cleaning before the big rush!

Post-Thanksgiving Sleepies

It’s about the gobbler, but not the one you might think.

It has become a truism: You get sleepy at Thanksgiving because of all that
tryptophan in turkey. But is it true? Yes and no, but mostly no.

It is true that the amino acid tryptophan works as a precursor to other sleep-inducing chemicals. Turkey has lots of it. But cheese and nuts have more. Even Tofu-turkey has more, according to Wired.com.

In 1972 a psychiatrist named John Fernstrom looked into the tryptophan
connection and found that tryptophan alone does not make you sleepy. Instead, he found that it’s really a carb-heavy meal of mashed potatoes, pie, dressing, and bread. Those carbs create loads of sugar and force amino acids to go to work breaking it all down. With amino acids busy fighting sugars, the brain starts converting tryptophan into serotonin and suddenly you feel you just can’t watch another third and 10
on the game. Snores ensue.

It’s not just the chemistry of the meal, however. The parasympathetic nervous
system also has a role to play. This little brain gadget does things in the
background so you don’t think about them; like breathing. When you eat too much, you have to digest a lot. The parasympathetic nervous system kicks in to give the body energy to digest and takes away energy elsewhere. You feel tired and it’s because you ate a really big carb-loaded meal. Too late to do anything about it. Just kick off your
shoes and don’t blame the turkey.

Simple Food Safety Tips for Thanksgiving

Use these safety tips when preparing turkey for the whole family.

• The best way to thaw a turkey is in a refrigerator, according to USDA
recommendations. Allow 24 hours for each four to five pounds, in a
refrigerator cooled to 40 degrees or below. Be sure to let the turkey thaw
in a container so juices will not drip onto other foods.

• If you must thaw a turkey in cold water, be sure it is in a leak-proof bag. The turkey should be submerged in cold water. Allow 30 minutes per pound. Change the water frequently. USDA recommends every 30 minutes. Cook immediately when thawed.

• Cook turkey to 165 degrees in thickest part of the breast, inner thigh, and inner wing.

• Wash hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds before touching any food.

• Do not store stuffing inside a turkey. Refrigerate it separately.

• Don’t wash the turkey. According to the USDA, loosely attached bacteria
can contaminate the kitchen when you wash meat or poultry. Studies have found bacteria cling to sinks, sponges and towels. Bacteria is effectively killed in the oven. The best idea is to take the turkey out of the package and put it straight into the pan.

Identifying Alzheimer’s Before Symptoms

New tests to diagnose Alzheimer’s disease are emerging, offering hope for new treatments and therapies.

According to the Alzheimer’s Association, the memory disease is now the sixth leading cause of death in the United States, and more than 5 million people are currently living with the disease. In fact, for seniors, a third of all deaths stem from either Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia. Although there is no cure in sight, for now, every effort is being made to find a way to diagnose and treat this growing threat.

According to The Wall Street Journal, there is support for a new approach to how Alzheimer’s is identified in the population, and it could lead to dramatically earlier warnings of the disease and accelerate research. New approaches hope to discover the disease before symptoms ever present.

Like finding malignant cells in the body to find cancer or plaque buildup in the arteries for heart disease, the presence of amyloid and tau proteins could be the key to early identification. Previously, doctors could only see these proteins during an autopsy, but improved technology has allowed for these markers to be seen in living patients. These scans are sometimes used to rule out Alzheimer’s in patients with various cognitive issues. Critics of the method agree that the process works to identify amyloid proteins but argue that there is no definitive way to predict whether or not the patient will actually develop symptoms.

Another test involves recognition of smells. One of the first things to decline is the ability to smell, which is associated with the first cranial nerve, according to WebMD. Researchers have found the ability to smell differs between nostrils in Alzheimer’s patients but it is still too early to say definitively if this will be a diagnostic tool for Alzheimer’s