Dog Bite Lawyer Can Help After Attack

Who is liable for a dog bite?

In order to determine who is responsible for a dog bite, it is necessary to establish who owned the dog. In California, a dog owner is strictly liable for any dog bite regardless of whether he or she failed to protect others from the attack, or had no reason to know the dog was dangerous, provided that the victim was not trespassing or provoking the dog

In addition to the dog owner, other individuals may be held liable for a dog bite including anyone who is responsible for the care or custody of the dog such as a kennel, pound or animal shelter. A property owner can also be held responsible if he or she allowed the dog onto the property. Similarly, a landlord can be held liable for an animal bite caused by a tenant’s dangerous pet.

Who is responsible?

In Maine, owners are legally responsible (“liable”) for an animal bite. Even if the owner had no reason to believe that his or her animal was dangerous, if the animal bit someone, the owner would still be liable. A homeowner’s insurance policy, renter’s policy, or personal assets can all be used to pay for your pain and suffering if the owner or keeper of the animal is found responsible for your injuries.

Examples of valid animal injury cases where someone other than the owner or keeper of the dog could be held liable:

  • The dog was under the care of another individual, like a dog walker, kennel owner or groomer.
  • The dog’s owner or keeper is under the age of 18.
  • The dog was on someone’s property, other than the owner or keeper, and they did not take some type of action to have the dog removed, they could be held liable for injuries that someone receives.
  • For example, a 25-year old man kept his Rottweiler at his grandparent’s home during the day in an unfenced yard and left the dog unsupervised. The dog was known for harassing anyone walking by the home and sometimes lunging at people and other dogs. While it was owned by the adult grandson, the grandparents could be held legally liable for an attack simply because the dog was living on their property during the day.

Where do Dogs Stand?

As applied to dogs, the injured party must show the dog’s owner’s awareness the pet engaged in prior similar acts that showed its vicious nature.  This does not necessarily mean the dog had actually bitten or injured someone else before.  The injured party proves the dog’s “vicious” through evidence it growled, snapped or bare its teeth.  They can also show the manner they restrained the dog or kept it as a guard dog.  An injured party can show the dog acted in a way that placed others at risk of harm.

In past cases involving children, the courts have dismissed lawsuits where the injured party cannot show the dog had ever previously bitten anyone or exhibited aggressive behavior.  Barking or growling without anything else is insufficient proof.  The court will look at the facts and see whether the dog snapped or bared its teeth at the child. The court looks at how an owner restrained the dog at home. It also considers whether an owner trained the dog to guard the home.

What types of damages can I collect?

We can identify and document every possible source of damages for your claim, and request compensation based on the maximum value of your case. While damages vary based on the circumstances you endured, some of the most common damages we can collect for our clients include:

Medical Costs

Even the most minor dog bites require medical attention. More serious attack injuries require extensive cleaning and careful attention to prevent further complications. The risk of infection is high, and scarring is common. Bites on the face, neck, arms, and hands often require closure by a plastic surgeon and follow-up care. The most serious bites or infections may require amputation or lead to other permanent disabilities.

We make sure to request compensation for medical bills, ongoing and future medical care costs, therapy expenses, and any other expenses related to the treatment of your wounds.

Lost Wages

Major dog attacks could keep you away from work for weeks, longer if you experience complications. We can collect compensation based on the wages you missed, and wages you will likely miss out on in the future if you cannot return to work due to your injuries. We may be able to also claim lost benefits if you suffer from a disability that will prevent you from ever returning to your previous position.

“Pain and Suffering” and Inconvenience

Dog bites cause immense pain and suffering, and may lead to both physical and psychological scarring. We fight for full compensation for these damages based on the severity of your injuries and your actual monetary losses due to the accident. We can also recover damages for your inconvenience (e.g., having to attend doctor’s appointments, missing your child’s birthday party).

Punitive Damages

Occasionally, we need to file a personal injury lawsuit to get the compensation our clients deserve in their dog bite case. If your case heads to court, we might be able to persuade the judge or jury to award punitive damages. It is important to note that an award of punitive damages is rare and only occurs when the dog’s owner acted particularly recklessly or maliciously.

Who Could Be Held Responsible if a Dog Bites?

In order to pursue maximum compensation for your dog bite injuries, our dedicated legal team will need to build a strong case to prove who is at fault. Depending on the circumstances of your accident, that at-fault party may be:

  • The owner of the dog
  • A dog sitter or someone responsible for watching the dog
  • Dog walkers who may have been negligent in their duties
  • Owners of kennels
  • Landlords at apartment buildings

Owning Garbage Disposal

What Can I Throw in the Garbage Disposal?

As the name suggests, a garbage disposal is for getting rid of – wait for it – garbage. While that might seem obvious, what’s not as clear is what kind of garbage? You see, not all garbage is created equally and while some items are well-suited for the garbage disposal, other items are not. Before we discuss that, however, let’s take a closer look at what a garbage disposal is and what it actually does.

How a Garbage Disposal Works

A garbage disposal is an electrically powered device that is installed under a kitchen sink and sits between the sink’s drain and the drain trap. When food and other debris goes down into the garbage disposal, it passes through a shredder (some people refer to the teeth of the shredder as blades) that work to grind the food up in pieces that are small enough to continue down the drain and pass through the house’s plumbing system.

Most garbage disposals last around 10 to 12 years, depending on how well you take care of it and more importantly, what you put in it. If you abuse your garbage disposal by repeatedly sending items down into it that you shouldn’t, you not only won’t get as much lifetime use out of it, but you may cause some plumbing issues as well.

Items You Can Throw in the Garbage Disposal

Citrus rinds: It may surprise you to learn that throwing the rinds of oranges and other citrus fruits into your garbage disposal are actually good for it. They not only help to naturally clean your disposal, they also leave it smelling nice and fresh.

Coffee grounds: There are some mixed answers on this one, but we’re okay with you putting small amounts of coffee grounds down your drain. Just don’t put a large amount, however, because it can collect in the pipes and create a clog or backup. This is actually because of the oil that is found in the coffee grounds.

Cooked meat scraps: Leftover meat scraps from dinner are fine to put in the garbage disposal when you’re clearing off the dinnerplates. Once again, no large amounts though or big chunks.

Most fruits and vegetables: Almost all fruits are okay to toss in the garbage disposal and most vegetables are as well. There are a few exceptions to this, which will discuss below.

Small bones: Bones are rather hard on a garbage disposal and we would prefer that you throw them away rather than send them down into the garbage disposal. That being said, if you do happen to drop a small bone down into the garbage disposal, it’s usually no big deal and should grind up without causing any problems.

Wet (canned) cat/dog food: It’s usually not a problem in our house, but if your cat or dog leaves uneaten canned food in their bowl, it’s perfectly find to dump it down the garbage disposal.

Items You Should Not Throw into the Garbage Disposal

Artichokes: The leaves of an artichoke are super tough and can easily get caught in the teeth of the shredder.

Asparagus: One of several fibrous materials that are known to cause jamming problems and can shorten the lifespan of your garbage disposal.

Banana peels: While a banana can pass through a garbage disposal with no problem, a banana peel is super fibrous and can wrap around the grinding teeth causing it to jam.

Corn husks: Another fibrous material that can cause jamming problems, plus they cause your garbage disposal to have to work really hard.

Egg shells: This is another one of those items that people disagree on. While some people think that it helps to sharpen the teeth of the grinder others believe they cause more harm than good. We like to err on the safe side and say that you should just toss them or use them in your compost pile.

Fruit Pits: Think of them like tiny rocks. Best just to throw in the garbage, or better yet, compost them.

Grease: We don’t want you to pour grease or anything else that is super fatty down your drain ever – even if you don’t have a garbage disposal. All grease does is congeal and once it does, it creates a big gooey mess that over time will clog your pipes. If you pour it down into your garbage disposal, it will make the problem worse because all that grease will be coating the grinding chamber and the teeth of the shredder.

Large bones: This will really wear out your garbage disposal in a hurry. Don’t do it.

Nuts: Think about how peanut butter is made. It’s a lot like that only the peanut butter you create will be sticking to the shredder in your garbage disposal, making one big mess.

Onion skins: Just no.

Pasta and rice: You would think that since pasta and rice are so soft, what could possibly be the harm. The problem is that even when they are shredded into smaller pieces pasta and rice will expand. They also become a sticky substance and that can clog your drain.

Potato Peels: They may make it through your garbage disposal okay, but they are really starchy and not good for the drain. Best to toss them or work them into your compost pile.

Shrimp shells: Not only are they hard on the garbage disposal, shrimp shells can leave behind an unpleasant scent that lingers. Trust us on this

Garbage disposal unit

A garbage disposal unit (also known as a waste disposal unit, garbage disposer, garburator etc.) is a device, usually electrically powered, installed under a kitchen sink between the sink’s drain and the trap

History

The garbage disposal unit was invented in 1927 by John W. Hammes, an architect working in Racine, Wisconsin. He applied for a patent in 1933 that was issued in 1935. His InSinkErator company put his disposer on the market in 1940

In many cities in the United States in the 1930s and the 1940s, the municipal sewage system had regulations prohibiting placing food waste (garbage) into the system. InSinkErator spent considerable effort, and was highly successful in convincing many localities to rescind these prohibitions

Adoption

In the United States, some 50% of homes had disposal units as of 2009, compared with only 6% in the United Kingdom and 3% in Canada. In Sweden, some municipalities encourage the installation of disposers so as to increase the production of biogas. Some local authorities in Britain subsidize the purchase of garbage disposal units in order to reduce the amount of waste going to landfill.

Rationale

Food scraps range from 10% to 20% of household waste, and are a problematic component of municipal waste, creating public health, sanitation and environmental problems at each step, beginning with internal storage and followed by truck-based collection. Burned in waste-to-energy facilities, the high water-content of food scraps means that their heating and burning consumes more energy than it generates; buried in landfills, food scraps decompose and generate methane gas, a greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change.

THINGS YOU SHOULD NEVER PUT DOWN YOUR GARBAGE DISPOSAL

Garbage disposals were invented for a reason: they’re a quick and easy way to clean up the kitchen and dispose of excess materials. Most garbage disposals, however have limits on what they can and cannot dispose of. When it comes to your sink, prevention is the best medicine, and adopting good habits is the best way to keep your sink clean and disposal functioning. Next time you’re cleaning your kitchen, think twice before putting these things down the garbage disposal.

Coffee Grounds

Disposing of your coffee grounds in your garbage disposal should be avoided. While it seems like a quick solution to throw them down the drain, coffee grounds can get stuck in your garbage disposal and cause a costly backup. One pot of coffee per morning down your disposal can cause a back up quickly. To avoid fighting with your sink and annoying backups, compost or throw away your coffee grounds.

Celerey, asparagus, corn husks and the likes

While some vegetables can go down your garbage disposal no problem, others can back it up and cause sizable problems. Vegetables that have long fibers such as celery, asparagus and corn husks all fall into this category. These fibers can get tied up in the blades of your garbage disposal, so throwing them away, or even better composting them, is the best solution.

Egg Shells

When you make your morning omelette, don’t make it a habit to throw your eggshells in the garbage disposal. The inner membrane within egg shells can get wrapped up in the blades of your disposal making it dull and stuck. Enjoy your eggs, but if you don’t like clogs, keep them out of your disposal.

Rice and Pasta

While ideal for stir fries, spaghetti, curry, and more, rice and pasta should be kept out of your garbage disposal. Because both foods expand in water, they can increase in size in your disposal. This causes a gross gooey mess in your sink and can cause your drain. Rather than spending your evening fighting with your sink, enjoy your Chicken Tikka Masala but don’t put the leftover rice down the disposal.

Do’ and Don’ts for Your Garbage Disposal

Garbage disposals are an appliance that provides many conveniences to our kitchen. What do you do with that week old, leftover pasta sauce or soup that you found in the back of your fridge? It’s easy to dump liquid foods down the sink just to get rid of it quickly. Unfortunately, improper use of your garbage disposal can often lead to ugly problems. By following a few simple rules you can avoid these problems, like unwanted odors or the garbage disposal not draining properly in your apartment. Here are our do’s and don’ts for your garbage disposal.

The basics

While your specific garbage disposal may be able to grind and dispose of more than just liquid food, it doesn’t mean it’s always a good idea. Most cities’ plumbing systems are not built to handle large amounts of food waste. There are some things that should never be put down any garbage disposal because you will run the risk of clogging pipes or other future garbage disposal problems. Proper use and regular cleaning will keep your garbage disposal in working order and keep the plumbing pipes clear and grease-free.

Do’s

Put a slice of citrus fruit down the drain and run the disposal with the water running to eliminate odors. Try a quarter of a lemon, lime or grapefruit—make sure to include the peel.

Use your disposal in moderation. It’s designed for breaking up small food particles, not large amounts of food.

Always run cold water before, during and after use.

Check the drain for fallen items like spoons, bottle caps and other small things before running the disposal. If you find something, use tongs to extract it out of the drain.

Contact your apartment‘s maintenance team if any issues arise.

Don’ts

Don’t put your hand in the garbage disposal to retrieve fall items.

Don’t pour grease or fat from food down the disposal.

Don’t grind anything other than food scraps.

Don’t put coffee grounds, egg shells or potato peels down the disposal.

Don’t run hot water through your disposal as it can cause clogs.

Cleaning

Cleaning your garbage disposal is probably not something you think of when cleaning your apartment, but it should be! Luckily, there is nothing special that you need to buy to keep your disposal clean—you can use natural, everyday items that you probably already own. Here are a few easy ways to clean your garbage disposal.

KITCHEN GARBAGE DISPOSAL REPAIR: DO’S AND DON’TS

The dispatch line rang and our customer service representative answered, ready to help with any plumbing-related issue. “I need to get an octopus out of the drain,” a voice muttered.

“Okay, we’ll be happy to help,” the representative cheerfully responded and promptly sent a plumbing tech to wrangle the animal and inspect the disposal for damage. is an ocean-lover’s paradise and while that fresh, live octopus will make an amazing calamari dish – the octopus might not agree with your plans.

Garbage Disposer Don’ts

Once upon a time, our grandparents lived without garbage disposals. This is probably more shocking to some than an octopus in the drain.

However, there are some items that should never go down the garbage disposal.

Grease and fats: Often the problem with grease, fats and cooking oil is that they create problems further down the waste disposal system. They solidify, making sludge and create clogs. Do not send grease and other fats down the drain, not even with hot water/soap.

Bones and Fruit Pits: This should be common sense, but it is a frequently seen problem for plumbing service appointments where garbage disposals fail. They can damage the blades or just don’t ever get broken down, creating a mass of items to block the sink drain.

Rice, Pasta and Coffee Grounds: This is one that isn’t as much common sense as others. You might see these “digestible or dissolvable” items. But, what happens in the garbage disposal is detrimental to the appliance. As these mix with water and other foods, it becomes sludge that can jam the blades, slowing or limiting rotation.

Celery, Carrot or Potato Peels: Celery has very long and strong fibers throughout the stalk that can tangle in the motor of the blades. Asparagus and corn husks provide the same risk. The same for carrot or potato peels.

Egg Shells, Shellfish and Fish Scales: There is some debate as to whether egg shells are bad for the garbage disposal, with some people saying there is no harm and the grinding of the shells actually helps sharpen blades. There are other ways to sharpen the blades without having slimy linings potentially stick and clog the shredder.

Do’s for Garbage Disposal Health

Dishwasher Use: Dinner clean up is much easier with a dishwasher. Make sure the dishwasher hookup properly drains into the sink and don’t just let the waste flow down the sink drain. Rinse plates before you put them in the dishwasher to make sure excess food and taboo junk doesn’t make it down the drain (or jam the dishwasher).

Cold Water: Use cool or cold water when running the kitchen faucet and garbage disposal to make sure any grease on plates and dishes isn’t liquefied. You don’t want it to later become a solid deep down in the pipeline of your plumbing and drain system.

Waste Trap: Use a mesh drain strainer that you can buy at your favorite Point Loma, Mission Hills, or and other local San Diego housewares store to collect food, skins, peels, and bones before they go down the drain. Then, throw them out.

Clean the System: Use a homemade drain cleaning solution to help reduce grime, much and sludge build up. A quick DIY utilizes baking soda, vinegar, and lemon to break down sludge and deodorize the appliance. Some folks will actually mix ice cube with the lemon and vinegar to help sharpen blades while cleaning.

Stop and Clear: If you find an octopus or anything else that is the core problem for your sink drain and garbage disposal problem, turn it off, unplug it and work to remove whatever it is that’s blocking or clogging the system. If this isn’t something you are comfortable with, make an appointment with your local plumbing service.

Discover The Beauty Of Laminate Flooring

THINGS TO CONSIDER WHEN BUYING LAMINATE FLOORING

If you’re considering updating the flooring in your home, you have a lot of options! You can put in carpet, tile, hardwood, laminate, or just stain the concrete. A good, durable yet affordable option is laminate flooring. Laminate flooring has come a long way from that lovely orangish pattern everyone had in the 80s. Modern laminate floors can actually imitate the surface that they look like!

Board thickness

The thicker the laminate, the more realistic it looks. Thicker laminate is also much more durable. At a minimum, you want it to be 8mm thick. A good, high quality flooring will be anywhere between 8 and 12mm thick. You definitely don’t want a paper thin flooring, as it will wear away quickly and it will be much harder on your feet

Atmosphere of the room

What do you want to accomplish with your new flooring? Do you want the room to feel bigger? If so, aim for laminate with wide planks or light colors to brighten up the space and make it feel larger. Conversely – dark, dense patterns will make the room more cozy.

Foot traffic

Are you having the new laminate installed in a very high foot traffic area? Is it a place where children and pets will enter – possibly tracking in dirt? Consider the footwear of the people moving through the room, as well as the location in the home. And keep in mind that while dark-colored laminates will show less dirt, pet hair stands out against dark floors. A nice wood laminate would balance both of these issues nicely. A textured stone laminate is also a great option.

Attached rooms

When you’re only replacing the flooring in one or two rooms, take a look at the surrounding flooring. You don’t want to choose a laminate that clashes against your existing floors. Pick a color that matches or compliments the attached rooms.

WATERPROOF LAMINATE FLOORING BUYING GUIDE

Good news, the affordable laminate floors you love now feature waterproof capabilities! But before you deck out your home in waterproof laminate flooring, it’s important to understand how this feature works. Keep reading to learn what you’re getting with waterproof laminate flooring and to find the best product for your application.

We get it – you love the idea of putting laminate flooring in your home. You can’t stop thinking about how gorgeous the dark espresso color looked in your sister-in-law’s living room, somehow scratch-free even with her dog’s clattering claws running all over it.

But your kids aren’t that pristine. Maybe you even have a track record of spilling. Juice boxes, milk cartons, dishwater – you’re tired of seeing the results of those disasters on your existing floors. Yet, you know that laminate is not known for its water-resistant properties, so what do you do?

That’s right, waterproof and water-resistant laminate products are hitting the market, making this traditional wood-look floor even more irresistible. Now you can install this affordable flooring in more rooms of the home – like the kitchen or bathroom – with confidence that it will withstand the mess of the everyday chaos.

What is Waterproof Laminate Flooring?

Laminate flooring is a type of synthetic floor that first made a splash on the flooring market in the 1970s as the first man-made alternative to natural wood. This floor quickly grew more popular as manufacturers created increasingly realistic looks that could easily pass for real hardwood.

EXPANSION JOINTS IN LAMINATE FLOORING

Laminate flooring consists to about 90% of wood. Being a natural organic material, wood is always in motion. It’s a common saying that “wood works”. What this means is the wood expands or contracts (or grows and shrinks) in response to changing temperatures and humidity. So the same thing applies to laminate flooring. A metre of laminate flooring can undergo dimensional fluctuations of about a millimetre. This is what makes it so important to leave a gap of 10mm where the panels abut walls, door frames, pipes and so forth. If this isn’t done, the material can suffer damage as a result of buckling, warping and so on. The tongue-and-groove joints can also suffer, and all this may void the terms of the warranty.

Extra Expansion Joints: Absolutely Essential in Large Rooms

The gap around the edges of the floor, which are camouflaged by skirting boards, doesn’t allow enough play in large rooms. If a room is wider than 8 metres and/or longer than 12 metres, one or more additional expansion joints are needed in the middle.

How to Create and Cover Expansion Joints

To create an expansion joint in the middle of the floor, leave a gap between two adjacent panels instead of clicking them together as usual. So-called “transition profiles” can be obtained in DIY markets and specialised supply stores for covering these gaps. These are appropriately sized to visually disguise them. It’s a good idea to inquire about the kinds of profiles that are available before installing your laminate floor.

Nowadays you can take advantage of a huge range of transition profiles with different surfaces and in various colours to ensure that they perfectly match the décor of your laminate floor. Depending on the profile, the distance between the double-rail in the middle and the panel on each side of it should be at least 10mm. So if the rails are 5mm apart, the expansion joint will have a total width of 25mm. Spacers of the right size also come in very handy. After inserting a gap with a profile, you continue laying the laminate panels like at the start, i.e. beginning with a “first row”.

We recommend that you take the same approach when a laminate floor extends across more than one room. At the transition between two adjacent rooms, you face essentially the same situation as before. Transition profiles should also be inserted at door frames and where laminate meets another kind of floor covering.

So Cheap & Easy! Homemade Cleaner For Laminate Flooring

We recently had gorgeous laminate installed in our living room and I just had to take the opportunity to ask the installer what he recommended for washing it.

Although it’s much easier to care for than real wood flooring and I’ve had it for years in other parts of the house, I want to take extra care to maintain the high gloss that this one has (it would be a shame for it to dull over time or be plagued with streaks from washing).

Directions:

Regularly use a soft brush attachment on the vacuum or a swiffer style tool for picking up dirt and hair. Sweep or vacuum in the direction that the pieces are laid so that you pick up all the crud between the grooves instead of trapping it (especially if it’s mock-hardwood style that has the grooves between each “plank”).

Mix a couple quick squirts of gentle liquid dish detergent in a pail of warm water. Wring out the mop well so there won’t be any water dripping then damp mop the surface. No special cleaner/fluid required!

My sister-in-law has this tried and true recipe that she finds will give a streak-free result. Is it better than the above? Well the vinegar does help cut the streaking and adds a little extra muscle.

Here’s The Recipe:

1/2 cup of vinegar

1 to 2 squirts of liquid dish detergent

Bucketful of warm water (about a gallon)

Did You Know:

Many manufacturers require that only their brand of cleaners are used or the warranty on the flooring is voided. On one hand I understand it (For example: if bleach was used to hose things down–should you really be eligible for all new product under the warranty?), but on the other hand–total ripoff considering there are suitable solutions that are cheap and effective (you’re locked into buying their product for the lifetime of the warranty–which can be up to 30 or 50 years for some brands).

LIVE BETTER WITH LAMINATE

Laminate flooring from Logoclic proves its worth in many ways

Whether for your bedroom, living room or even for your bathroom, laminate flooring from Logoclic is the ideal foundation for your home! you will find a comprehensive selection of laminate flooring in differing styles, from real wood to tile in appearance. And all of laminate flooring has these things in common: high durability, ease of cleaning and a high degree of individuality, all coming together to create a pleasant environment in your home

Here are some of the major advantages of laminate flooring:

Robust: laminate offers high strength and is scratch, dent and wear resistant.

Natural: The natural look and feel of laminate flooring will give your living room the ambience you desire.

Straightforward: From installation – thanks to the simple click-system – to maintenance,  laminate flooring is easy.

Heat resistant: Laminate flooring from is fire resistant.

Hypoallergenic: Laminate offers no place for dust and dust mites to hide, so this type of flooring is ideal for allergy sufferers.

Colourfast: laminate is UV resistant – sunlight causes no discolouration.

Guaranteed: offers a full 30-year warranty on your laminate flooring!

low price and high quality

Laminate flooring from is environmentally friendly and sustainable. This type of laminate is made from 90 percent waste wood, which Logoclic sources from forest preservation and maintenance projects to ensure a low impact on the environment. Nature even plays an important role in the design of these laminate products.

Feel good about Laminate – from insulation to baseboards

not only offers a comprehensive range of laminate flooring, but also any accessories that you might need for the installation and maintenance of laminate flooring. Find out more about the best underlay for your project, the correct cleaning agent for your flooring, and which height profiles and baseboards best suit your needs.

Do you have questions about laminate?

What do I do with surface scratches? How do I clean the laminate? Which underlay do I need? What do the different wear classifications mean? For all of these questions and many more

Natural Ways To Go About the Upholstery Cleaning

Professional Cleaning Methods for Your Sofa

A good sofa set furnishes the living room well and provides unsurpassed comfort to its users. However, sofas require regular professional cleaning services in order to maintain its comfort and beauty. It not only prolongs the lifespan of the sofa, it also makes it a healthier place to be at without all the dirt and germs.

Steam heat extraction

Steam heat extraction utilizes high temperature steam heat extraction technology to remove dust and all other unhealthy particles from the surface of the sofa. This method removes excess moisture together with dirt and dust, ensuring that there will not be any wet or soggy after effect. As a result, fabric shrinkage is significantly reduced and the entire sofa can be cleaned in just a couple of hours. This method is also more financially economical as compared to other methods and ensures for the best possible cleaning.

Carbonation cleaning

Carbonating cleaning simulates natural cleaning by Mother Nature and it ensures that the sofa is left in a just bought condition. The entire cleaning takes only 4 to 6 hours. Only a small amount of carbonating cleaning solutions with an effervescent effect is used, which are only a tenth of what steam cleaning requires. Less water is also required. Millions of carbonating bubbles are small enough to penetrate into the fibers, removing grime and dirt. They then lift these to the surface where they are easily wiped away. Not only that, it leaves a protective barrier on the surface, minimizing future accumulation of dirt and grime.

Chemical cleaning

Chemically safe products which are safe on all types of fabrics including leather are used. A unique dry shampoo encapsulation method which effectively removes dirt and embedded particles are used and minimal drying time is required. In fact, you can almost immediately sit down after the sofa cleaning is completed.

Foam cleaning

A foam solution is applied by hand onto the sofa and they are worked onto stains and allowed to rest for a short period of time. Subsequently, the area is vacuum cleaned and the result is a clean and fresh smelling sofa. Since the amount of foam can be controlled by the user, the chances of moisture damage are lower and are a common choice by consumers.

Dry cleaning

This is a method similar to foam cleaning without the usage of water. A chemical cleaning powder is sprinkled around the fabric and it is worked onto the stain. After which, the powder are vacuum up and the result is a clean sofa. Since no water is used in this cleaning method, it can be used on wood materials and there is no down time required for drying.

There are many different methods available on the market now and the consumers are spoilt for choice. Depending on their budget and whether the cleaning is an urgent one, they can choose their desired method and continue to use their beloved sofa for an even longer period of time.

How to Clean a Fabric Sofa with a Steamer

What you’ll need:

An upholstery steam cleaner. Make sure before using that the manufacturer’s recommendations state it is safe for a fabric couch. Note, too, that just because your sofa is water-safe doesn’t make it heat-safe. As with other types of cleaners, always test spot an area before going full-steam (pun-intended)!

What to do:

  • Read the manual. There’s a reason why a steam cleaner comes with instructions. Read them carefully before beginning.
  • Vacuum first. Vacuuming your sofa – or anything, for that matter – before cleaning makes it a whole lot easier to clean it. Dirt, dust and other loose particles won’t get in the way and will give your steam cleaner a clean canvas to work from.
  • Keep the air circulated. Turn on a fan and open all the windows in the room for a strong cross breeze. This will help to keep the air circulation strong, preventing moisture buildup and residue.
  • Spot test an area first. This step is so important, it bears repeating. Pick a small hidden spot to test the cleaner, such as the back or the inside of the sofa’s skirt (if it has one, and if the inside material is made of the same fabric as the outside of the sofa).
  • Let the sofa air dry. Don’t sit on the sofa while it’s still wet. Keep the windows open to help dry out the room. Be aware that it may take leaving the sofa untouched overnight for it to fully dry.
  • Vacuum last. Vacuuming again, once you’ve steamed the upholstery, will help ensure that any dirt that was loosened by the cleaner gets removed. Just remember to wait until the sofa is completely dry before vacuuming!

COMMON CARPET AND UPHOLSTERY CLEANING TECHNIQUES USED BY PROFESSIONALS

Regular vacuuming is useful for cleaning on the surface. However, there are many stains on carpets and upholstery that cannot be simply vacuumed away. Professionals are needed to apply more advanced tools and techniques to clean at and beneath the surface level. The following are a few, common cleaning methods that are used by Fox Valley Carpet Cleaning’s technicians in Aurora and Naperville.

Hot Water Extraction

Hot water extraction is one of the most popular methods of carpet cleaning. For many property owners, it’s the most effective way to clean carpets and furniture at the deepest levels. The process starts by pre-treating the area with a cleaning solution that penetrates the fibers. Then, hot water is inserted into the fibers and extracted through a high pressure vacuum.

Water Usage

Preventing problems is a major aspect of floor or upholstery cleaning. Over-saturation occurs when too much water is applied to the area being cleaned. Some people think that using more water increases the effectiveness of removing stains. In reality, it just requires more power to remove the water and it takes longer to dry the area.

Brushing

Brushing helps to remove the stains that lie on the surface and deep within the fibers. It’s optional, but it increases the penetration of the cleaning agents that remove stains. After brushing, the solution is left to soak into the fibers for at least 10 minutes or more.

Spot Cleaning

Spot cleaning is the work of removing the biggest and most deeply ingrained stains. It involves using a highly concentrated solution and scrubbing the stain off using a hard bristle brush. This technique works for either carpet or upholstery cleaning; however, upholstery comes in different materials, so the cleaning solution must be safe to use on the material.

Stain Diagnosis

People who do not clean for a living are not familiar with stains. There are different types of stains that require different types of cleaning methods to remove. Removing blood effectively is not the same as removing paint, and some stains if left too much cannot be removed at all.

How to Clean and Maintain Different Types of Upholstery

No matter how much effort you put in cleaning and maintaining your armchairs or sofa, accidents happen. When spill occurs the time of reaction is of essence. In fact, upholstered furniture is bound to get dirty from general use over time – that’s inevitable! Stains, dirt and accumulated dust can make the fabric look worn out and scruffy.

Learning how to clean and maintain your furniture is important if you want to keep it looking beautiful, clean and well cared of. This is why we’ve gathered some useful tips on cleaning the most common types of upholstery fast and effective.

How to Clean Different Fabrics

There are some pretty common rules when it comes to clean upholstered furniture. Regular vacuuming is a must to avoid dust setting deeply into fabric and stuffing. Spot treatment is the best way to remove spills, before they become stubborn stains. But the similarities end here.

Different upholstery fabrics require different care. Knowing how to deal with the specific kind can help you avoid shrinking or colour bleeding and get impeccable results when cleaning your furniture.

Synthetic Upholstery

Fabrics made of synthetic fibres, such as acrylic, polyester, nylon or olefin, are generally easy to clean. They stand water well and you can use any type of water-based cleaning product. If the upholstery is removable you can even put it in your laundry machine. However it is always smart to check the label on your furniture to see if there are any instructions for specific treatment or product. If not sure what to do just test the cleaning product on a small, inconspicuous area to see if there is shrinkage or discoloration. If these occur, stop and try another furniture cleaning agent.

Natural Upholstery

Some types of upholstery are made of 100% natural fibres, most often cotton and wool, but sometimes silk, velvet or linen. Typically natural fabrics retain a lot of water so wet cleaning is not a good idea, however steam cleaning can be appropriate. Generally, you can clean these types of fabrics by yourself unless the label says otherwise. When you clean natural upholstery you will do fine with water-based product, but be moderate when applying it. Too much moist can cause shrinking or ‘water rings’.

Combined Upholstery

Very often upholstery fabric is combination of natural and man-made fibres. Usually cotton or wool are blended 50/50 with some synthetic threads. The safest option when dealing with blended fabrics is to hire professional upholstery cleaners in London. Combined fabrics usually require special treatment to avoid shrinking or other damage, unless the label specifies their DIY cleaning method.

Microfibre Upholstery

Microfibre is beautiful, durable and easy to maintain fabric. In this type of upholstery a tiny area consist of large amount of fibres. This stops the dirt from penetrating deep into the fabric. Usually scrubbing off the dirt with brush and vacuuming should be enough to remove the stain. For spot cleaning check the manufacturer label to select the best product for your microbibre upholstery.

Leather

Usually leather needs only wiping from the dust and dirt and occasional conditioning to keep it elastic and smooth. If however you have to deal with stain on you leather upholstery you should consider hiring professional company to treat the spot.

NB! When cleaning your upholstery, you should try to avoid getting liquids and cleaning agents to frames, legs or armrests of the furniture. These metal or wooden parts can corrode, rust, change color and even stain the upholstery and this definitely is a problem you don’t want to deal with.

Improve Your Vision With These Effective Eye Care Tips

Untreated Chronic Dry Eye Complications and Risks

Chronic dry eye is a condition where your eyes either don’t produce enough tears, or they produce low quality tears. It can be uncomfortable and cause symptoms like a gritty sensation in your eyes or redness. The severity of dryness varies from person to person. If you have a milder case of dry eye, you might shrug it off. But if it’s not going away or seems to be getting worse, it’s time to seek further treatment. Tears are necessary for eye health. They lubricate your eyes and wash away debris that can cause irritation. If left untreated, dry eye can progress and cause complications that affect the quality of your life.

Here’s a look at a few complications that can occur if you aren’t properly treating chronic dry eye.

Corneal ulcer

A corneal ulcer is an open sore that develops on your cornea, which is the clear, protective outer layer of your eyes. These ulcers typically occur after an injury, but severely dry eyes can also play a role.

Debris like dirt and other particles can sometimes get into your eyes. If your tear glands don’t produce enough tears, your eyes might be unable to wash the particles away.

Debris can then scratch the surface of your cornea. If bacteria gets into the scratch, an infection can develop, causing an ulcer. Corneal ulcers are treatable with antibiotic eye drops. But if left untreated, these ulcers can spread and scar the eyeball, causing partial or complete blindness.

Conjunctivitis

Untreated dry eye can also lead to inflammation of the conjunctiva. This is the clear layer of cells that cover the white part of your eyeball and the inner surface of your eyelids.

This type of inflammation is known as conjunctivitis. Symptoms include redness, light sensitivity, and a gritty feeling in the eyes. This type of conjunctivitis is different from bacterial conjunctivitis. It’s usually milder and doesn’t require treatment, although you should see an eye doctor for inflammation that doesn’t improve or worsens.

Decreased tear production

Dry eyes can occur when you’re unable to produce enough tears. The medical term for this condition is keratoconjunctivitis sicca (ker-uh-toe-kun-junk-tih-VY-tis SIK-uh). Common causes of decreased tear production include:

  • Aging
  • Certain medical conditions, including diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, scleroderma, Sjogren’s syndrome, thyroid disorders and vitamin A deficiency
  • Certain medications, including antihistamines, decongestants, hormone replacement therapy, antidepressants, and drugs for high blood pressure, acne, birth control and Parkinson’s disease
  • Laser eye surgery, though symptoms of dry eyes related to this procedure are usually temporary
  • Tear gland damage from inflammation or radiation

Increased tear evaporation

Common causes of increased tear evaporation include:

  • Wind, smoke or dry air
  • Blinking less often, which tends to occur when you’re concentrating, for example, while reading, driving or working at a computer
  • Eyelid problems, such as out-turning of the lids (ectropion) and in-turning of the lids (entropion)

7 ways to treat and prevent it

When left untreated, dry eye can cause light sensitivity and blurred vision.  Furthermore, under lubricated eyes are more susceptible to scratches or infection.

So how do you treat it?

The following home remedies are good first steps:

  1. Use a humidifier
  2. Wear glasses instead of contacts
  3. Take frequent breaks when staring at computer or TV screens
  4. Sleep for at least eight hours each night
  5. Avoid smoke
  6. Wear sunglasses or a hat
  7. Drink at least six glasses of water per day

If you try those but your dry eye persists, consider an over-the-counter eye lubricant drop. These come in the form of gels or ointments and can provide immediate relief.

If you still experience trouble after that, contact your physician. He or she can provide you with prescription-strength eye drops or, if necessary, discuss surgical options with you. This might include an outpatient procedure to provide punctal plugs, which temporarily close the small duct where tears drain from the eye.

Viral pink eye vs. bacterial pink eye

A virus that causes viral pink eye can spread from your nose to your eyes, or you can catch it when someone sneezes or coughs and the droplets come in contact with your eyes.

Bacteria cause bacterial pink eye. Usually the bacteria spreads to your eyes from your respiratory system or skin. You can also catch bacterial pink eye if you:

  • touch your eye with unclean hands
  • apply makeup that’s been contaminated with bacteria
  • share personal items with someone who has pink eye

Both types of pink eye often start during an upper respiratory infection, such as a cold (virus) or sore throat (virus or bacteria).

Both viral and bacterial pink eye cause the same general symptoms, including:

  • pink or red color in the white of the eyes
  • tearing
  • itchy or scratchy feeling in the eye
  • swelling
  • burning or irritation
  • crusting of the eyelids or lashes, especially in the morning
  • discharge from the eye

Here are a few ways to tell which type of pink eye you have.

Viral pink eye:

  • usually starts in one eye but can spread to the other eye
  • starts with a cold or other respiratory infection
  • causes watery discharge from the eye

Bacterial pink eye:

  • can start with a respiratory infection or an ear infection
  • affects one or both eyes
  • causes a thick discharge (pus) that makes the eyes stick together

Your healthcare provider can tell whether you’ve got a bacterial or a viral infection by taking a sample of the discharge from your eye and sending it to a lab for testing.

Treatment for Eye Infections

Obviously, bacteria cause bacterial infections, and viruses cause different viral infections. The treatments differ depending on whether you have a bacterial or viral infection.

Bacterial infections are often treated with antibiotics, which can kill the bacteria or stop it from multiplying. Antibiotics will not work for viral infections.

Instead, the symptoms of the virus are usually treated directly. There are some antiviral medicines that can stop the virus from reproducing. Certain vaccines can prevent viral infections from occurring in the first place, such as the vaccine for influenza.

Many of the common bacterial infections of the eye will readily clear up once you are prescribed an antibiotic or some other treatment like eye drops. Some of the more common viral eye infections may resolve on their own, but they may require antiviral eye drops or even steroids to reduce inflammation.

What Is An Electrical Panel Upgrades

Electrical Panel Upgrades

Why Upgrade?

Modern electrical panels are properly designed and safe, however homes with electrical panels (also known as circuit boxes) installed as recently as the 1980s may contain components that have deteriorated, because of the components that were in use at that time. Your electrical panel may have become unsafe with age and may pose safety issues for you and your family. Old electrical panels have limitations on available space to add circuits or they may have fuses. Some home insurance policies will not insure a property that has fuses.

However, this is not the only reason why your electrical panel may need to be upgraded if you are:

Renovating of your home, particularly the kitchen, which is appliance-heavy.

You are adding a home addition.

The addition of a major appliance, such as central heating and air, stoves, spas, garage power equipment, and more.

You need/are adding outlets to your home.

To meet homeowners insurance requirements.

You’re in need of a 240 volt circuit.

You need to add a sub panel

Electrical Panel Upgrades

Updating the electrical panel in your home can greatly improve the safety and effectiveness of the entire electrical system. Power originating from the utility company travels to your home directly to the electrical panel. From there, the current travels throughout your home, providing power wherever you need it. At Dalcon Electric, our San Jose electricians can repair or upgrade your electrical panel unit for you in a timely fashion

Consider upgrading your panel if you:

Cannot properly run appliances within your home

Notice that your circuit breaker frequently malfunctions

Notice that your lights randomly dim or do not work properly

Surefire Signs It’s Time To Upgrade Your Electrical Panel

Your electrical panel is hub of your home’s electrical system. It receives the electricity coming in through your meter and distributes it to the outlets, appliances and light fixtures in your home. It also monitors the amount of electricity going to each place, giving more to higher energy users and less to lights and appliances not in use. It’s even able to detect when a circuit has too much electric current being pulled from it and kill the power to that circuit.

In other words, it’s one of the most important fire safety mechanisms in your home. So it’s vital that you make sure it’s up to code and working safely. An old or insufficient electrical panel won’t be able to effectively power your home or protect it against electrical fires. Be sure that your panel is safe by checking that it doesn’t show these five signs of needing an upgrade.

Your Home Has A Fuse Box

Fuse boxes and fuses aren’t necessarily an immediate fire hazard, but they are quite outdated. Homes haven’t been built with fuse boxes since the 1950s, and if your home is still using one its electrical infrastructure likely isn’t able to properly meet the electrical demands of a 2010s family. Because of this, many insurance companies won’t cover homes with fuse boxes. If your home uses fuses and a fuse box, Doug’s can help you upgrade to circuit breakers and an electrical panel.

You’re Doing a Major Renovation

Changing your floorplan—from adding rooms to simply rearranging the existing layout—means making significant changes to your electrical system. Whether you’re keeping it small by installing additional outlets or building on a whole new wing, your existing electrical panel may not have the ability to accommodate the additional electrical output. Upgrading to a newer, expanded panel will allow your home to function better with all the electricity it needs

You Use Tons of Extension Cords

Extension cords are useful for giving your vacuum cleaner the range to do a whole floor rather than a room at a time, but you shouldn’t use them in place of properly-wired outlets. If your home doesn’t have enough outlets, it’s probably because you have an outdated electrical panel without the ability to support more outlets. Rather than risk causing a fire with a daisy chain of extension cords, call Doug’s to upgrade your electrical panel.

Electrical Panel Upgrades

An increasing number of our commercial clients have been told by their insurance agent that they cannot switch to a more affordable insurance policy because of their current electrical panel. And an even larger number of insurance companies will not write a homeowners insurance policy based on an outdated electrical panel.

It is a possibility that you don’t have a panel with circuit breakers, but instead have an outdated fuse box. In some cases, it is even worse: an electrical panel that has lost its UL approval because it has been found to cause fires.

Circuit breakers are designed to shut off in a fraction of a second if there is ever a problem. They keep you and your family from becoming victims of electric shock and house fires. Many older breakers will not trip under a test load for at least one minute, and some won’t even trip at all.

If you need an upgrade to your electrical panel for your home, call Best Electric Service today. One of our licensed and experienced electricians will gladly come to your home and give you a complete evaluation

Get peace of mind that you’re getting the most out of your home’s electrical system and help avoid electrical hazards by having a new panel or load-center installed in your home. Your loved one’s safety is so important.

Wenatchee Electrical Services

Electricity is probably the utility that adds the most convenience to our lives, but it is also one of the most dangerous if it is not given the proper respect. When homeowners in Wenatchee, WA have power outages or other issues with their electrical system, it’s important to have access to a qualified Wenatchee electrician to find a solution.

you can expect safe and timely electrical repair service and installation, plus stellar customer service with every call. When you work with us, there is never a need to worry about hidden costs added to your bill because we feature flat-rate pricing on all services

Signs You Need Electrical Repair Service

Electrical repairs can come in a variety of shapes and sizes; some are minor and don’t really affect any part of your home while others affect the entire house. Some of the signs that indicate you may need the help of residential electrical contractors include broken or damaged wall sockets, flickering lights, a scorched smell near sockets, inconsistent performance, short circuits, sparks, and if you have older wiring in your home that hasn’t been updated in a long time. When you call us for electrical wiring repair, you can expect a quick and safe solution.

Do I Need an Electrical Panel Upgrade?

The electrical panel for your home is typically in your basement or garage, containing circuit breakers or fuses that work to keep all your electrical outlets supplied with power. If your electrical panel is older and has been experiencing tripped circuits or blown fuses on a consistent basis, then it may be time for an electrical panel upgrade or electrical panel replacement. You may also need an upgrade if you need surge protection, or if you find that your electrical appliances outnumber the available outlets in the house.

Risks of DIY Electrical Repairs

Just because you may be handy around the house, doesn’t mean you should try your hand at electrical troubleshooting and repair. In fact, one mistake during the process could cost you your life, or start a fire that destroys your home and endangers your family. You could also run into legal problems if your electrical repair service hasn’t been properly inspected. At the least, your insurance claims will be denied, and you’ll be on the hook for medical expenses and property damage. Do yourself a favor and call a professional Wenatchee electrician right from the start.

Outdoor Electrical Lighting For Your Patio Or Backyard

How To Choose The Best Outdoor Lighting For Your Home

Security and Safety

The first and most important goal of outdoor lighting is for safety and security. This is achieved by illuminating your front entrance, pathways, and stairs, as well as the darkest corners of your property. All of these areas should be considered when designing an effective lighting plan, as well as making sure your plan can be built upon as time, budget, and exterior space allow.

Choosing Your Style

Once the dream plan is done, the usual starting point would be the outdoor lanterns and path lighting to greet your guests. Choosing a look which complements the style of your home’s façade and your existing door hardware is the most creative part of choosing your outdoor fixtures. Personally, I like to mix it up and have fun with my styles and colors, and make my own rules. For example, a stainless steel finish with an ornate design is unusual, and definitely sets apart your style from your neighbor’s.  It is easy to choose a style that suits you with the many outdoor lighting options and many combinations of colors and textures in stone and siding materials these days. If you like to keep it simple, many lights come in collections, where different types of fixtures all come with the same design and finish.

When selecting the lanterns for your exterior lighting there are many factors that need to be taken into consideration, to assure that the fixtures will meet your needs. Scale, mounting, and bulb types are all very important in the selection process. One of the biggest issues that gets overlooked is the placement of the junction box on the wall, which often interferes with the direction the fixture will hang. If hung incorrectly the fixture will not illuminate the surrounding area correctly and may even shine back into your windows

Type Of Light

I am often asked which bulb is the correct type to use in exterior fixtures. I do not have the perfect answer for that question. The bulb type is usually dictated by the fixture itself, but my preferences are LED (light-emitting diode), CFL (compact fluorescent lamp) and incandescent bulbs. LED lamps seem to be the direction that all manufacturers are leaning, and that it exciting because of the sleek designs and the energy savings that they offer.

About the Author

We have been active in the Design and Construction Industry since 1982 in the Portland metro area. The broad experience that she brings to Chown is used every day in helping her clients reach their dreams of the perfect room or project. In her spare time, uses her creative talents to make one of a kind jewelry pieces using materials that she collects or are given to her by the team of treasure hunters in her life. Other favorite pastimes are working in her flower beds which she refers to as “dirt therapy” and cooking up pretty amazing meals for family and friends.

Outdoor Lighting Tips for Beginners

If you want to focus on the architecture of your home instead of your landscape, you can choose from a wide variety of lighting styles. The subtle scheme in this photo will create a moonlight effect after the sun goes down resulting in soft, inviting highlights as if moonbeams were lighting the property.

Creating an outdoor lighting design for your house and yard might not be at the top of your home improvement “to do” list but there are practical and aesthetic reasons for doing it, from increasing the security and safety of your property to providing additional curb appeal at night.

Getting Started

The first thing you need to consider is your current setup for exterior lighting. Do you have lighting fixtures already installed or the necessary outlets and/or connections for the job at hand? Many newly constructed homes in residential areas are often equipped with outdoor lighting sources on the left and right corners of the house. If you don’t have a basic setup like this, you should hire an electrician to do it. If you have a home with a less conventional facade and architectural features that  extend or recede from a standard straight line layout across the front, you might consider installing additional light sources to highlight these areas.

Picking Your Subject

Regardless of whether you are lighting your front or backyard, you need to decide what you want to highlight in your design. Is it your landscape, specific trees or shrubs, a fountain or maybe a courtyard area? In most cases, exterior lighting sources are as high as the eaves of houses or higher with the light shining down, but there are always exceptions to this. For example, Burks says, “If it’s a newly installed landscape project and it’s not a very mature landscape, you’re probably only going to be able to go from the ground up. The problem with trying to light landscape for the first time is our brains are used to having the light shine down from the sun and the moon.” If you are only interested in lighting something specific like a walkway, you may find that you can accomplish that effectively with ground lighting or a combination of high and low lights for the best results

Choices of Light

Your choices for exterior lighting are primarily going to be flood lights, spotlights or path lights and you might want to consider a combination of all three depending on how elaborate you want your lighting schema to be. Flood lights will cast a wide beam suitable for illuminating a large area but spot lights will disperse a narrower beam of light, usually less than 45 degrees wide. Path lights, of course, are most effective for lighting walkways and paths.

TIPS TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT TYPES OF OUTDOOR LIGHTING

A garden without outdoor lighting can never be used to the fullest extent, depriving you of great pleasure. Outdoor lighting has many benefits like improved security, enhanced aesthetics, and it adds to the curb appeal of your property. Outdoor lighting fixtures are available in a variety of styles and finishes, and these add to the style quotient of your home. Fixtures with quality waterproofing do not require shelter and can rough it out in any season. However, lights with minimal waterproofing can be used in semi-outdoor areas like covered patios and decks, etc.

Practical Aspects to Keep In View

You need to pay attention to certain aspects while choosing outdoor lights such as the IP rating, which is always mentioned on the packaging. This factor is vital because when you fit any lights outdoors, they need to be durable and waterproof. Let us see what IP (Ingress Protection) rating indicates. Look at the first and second digit. These digits tell you the levels of sealing effectiveness of the lights from intrusion – the first digit related to foreign bodies like dust, tools, etc. and the second digit to moisture.

Entrance Light Fittings

Entrance lights are the face of your house because they brighten the path to the front door of your home. The illumination they provide makes it easy for you to welcome visitors and identify callers at your door. Use 60W porch lights that complement the styling of your front door and exterior architecture.

Patio and Deck light fixtures

Do you use your outdoor area for dining and entertaining friends often? Then patio lights can make the place more usable. You can choose from a variety of light fittings to suit your style preferences. Install wall-mounted decorative lights, recessed spotlights for the ceiling area, or pendant glass lamps to create the perfect mood. Ensure that the lighting theme beautifies your furniture, and illuminates the outdoor area correctly, allowing you to use these spaces optimally.

Decorative Lights

Decorative lights bring your outdoors to life, add charm to the place, and create a warm and pleasant environment. Colourful or white lights, string lights, accent lights, and light curtains swaying in the breeze induce a cheerful and ethereal atmosphere. There is an amazing variety of outdoor lights to choose from so you can turn your yard into a comfortable and beautiful place. Illuminate particular features like trees, a fountain in the garden, or the path by using accent lights or uplighters.

Buying guide: How to choose the right outdoor Christmas lights

One of the best things about Christmas is lighting up your house. It creates a warm, glowing welcome when you arrive home. And festive light displays always put people in a good mood! Outdoor Christmas lights can be confusing because there are so many types to choose from. So I’ve put together a handy buying guide to explain the different styles, bulbs and power options.

POWER SUPPLY AND BULBS

Make sure you buy lights that are marked for outdoor or external use. Indoor lights are not designed for outdoor use and could easily blow a fuse. Most modern outdoor lights use LED bulbs, which stands for light-emitting diode. They are very efficient and use less electricity than traditional incandescent bulbs, making them cheaper to power. They are also low-voltage and don’t overheat, so they are safer for children.

There are two power options available: mains supply and battery-powered.

Mains supply lights plug into your electricity supply. If you choose this option, please make sure everything is safe! You will need to check that all sockets, cables and connections are fully waterproofed. The slightest bit of moisture in an electrical circuit can be extremely dangerous. Make sure to buy and fit proper socket covers.

STRING LIGHTS

String lights and fairy lights are one the most popular types of Christmas lights. They can be used in all sorts of ways. Hang them from your eaves, window frames and conservatory roof. Trail them along fences and paths or wrap them around tree trunks and other structures. You can also use short battery-powered versions to decorate wreaths and pile into jars and storm lanterns to decorate steps.

NOVELTY LIGHTS

The other type of Christmas lights come in novelty shapes and silhouettes. It’s a great way to create a warm welcome to your home. Try one feature or a whole collection for a festive scene. Novelty lights can be freestanding or hanging. There are loads of possibilities, from simple shapes like trees, stars and baubles to characters like Santa and reindeer. They can have wire frames and there’s even a trend for inflatables lit up from inside.

Select Outdoor Yard Lights for Security and Energy Savings

Many rural residences and farmsteads use yard lights to provide night security and to illuminate driveways and buildings after dark. Selecting the right light will produce the results you want while saving energy.

How much light?

Light intensity is measured in foot candles. One lumen of light energy falling on one square foot creates one foot candle. For general yard security and movement, a light intensity of one half to two foot candles is recommended. This light intensity can be created by 100 to 175 watts of lamp size mounted 25 feet above ground and serving no more than 8,000 square feet.

What type of light fixture?

Unshielded lamps send light in all directions. Even standard downward-facing fixtures can lose one third of their light to the sides. A full parabolic reflector fixture will direct the most light to the ground in your target area and allow desired light intensity with a smaller lamp.

What type of lamp?

Lamp efficiency is one factor to consider and is measured in lumens of light per watt of electric consumption, vary widely. Some lamps are slow to start or to reach full intensity. 

Standard incandescent and halogen lamps produce only 15 to 20 lumens per watt, but come on almost instantly. These lamps are fairly short-lived, but do not suffer from frequent on-off cycles. They are best where use time is short and the lamp is easy to access to change bulbs.

How To Be A Pro Wedding Videographer

Things You Need to Know Before Choosing a Videographer

WHY HIRE A VIDEOGRAPHER?

When it comes to looking back on your wedding, having a film brings the day back to life just by pushing play. Having video to accompany your photos can give you a more full experience to look back on, but it can also be amazing to have this piece of art — starring you!

Hiring a wedding videographer was an important process for me and my fiancé because we want to be able to re-experience our wedding in motion. There are so many moments that occur in between photos being taken, and that extra experience adds to the authenticity and depth of a memory. A video of my wedding day will allow me to revisit my vow readings and remember all of the jokes my older brother cracked in his speech.

Equally as important was our selection of the videography style we wanted. My fiancé and I have somewhat-unconventional styles, so we knew a traditional wedding video wasn’t quite the right fit for us. After going through dozens of wedding videos, we decided that a modern cinematic style was perfect for us. We were happy to find a videographer that “got” our styles, and we trusted enough that we wouldn’t have to worry about the finished product.”

TIPS WHEN IT COMES TO CHOOSING THE RIGHT VIDEOGRAPHER.

It’s not every day that you are tasked with planning the biggest party of your life, and thank goodness for that. All of a sudden you’re now supposed to be a flower expert, a music guru, and a professional decorator—all while still going about your regular responsibilities. There always seems to be one of the wedding must-haves that seems to slip through the cracks ’til the last minute, and often that thing is videography.

It Is Worth It

As your wedding day gets closer and closer it seems that the budget gets tighter, and many couples start to ask themselves “is videography really something we want?”. In short—it’s definitely a must.” It is said that a picture is worth a thousand words, and a video is literally thousands of pictures a minute! Trust us, when it comes to the video of you walking down the isle, you don’t want to rely on your great uncle’s shaky cell phone video to capture that moment.

Professionalism Over Price

You can always find someone who will do it for cheaper, but be wary of a price too low—because it just may be too good to be true. I groomsman at my friend’s wedding who had hired a videographer on Craigslist for $300. The morning of the wedding, the shooter text us saying he wasn’t feeling well and wasn’t going to make it. No offer to provide another shooter, no ‘plan b’, he just wasn’t going to show up. I ended up having to be both best man and emergency videographer (not recommended!). 

Personality is Important

Once your big day finally arrives, the only person spending as much time with you as your photographer, will be your videographer. If you have a wedding planner (which we highly recommend) will be dealing with the BIG stuff, the DJ will be occupied with the party, and the flower and cake vendors generally drop off their beautiful creations and then dip out. From hair & make up until the sparkler send-off, the videographer will be by your side capturing every moment and memory. So if you like their work and their personality, book them!

Know the style you like.  

There are so many ways to shoot a wedding but here are the three main ones:

Music video: It focuses on cinematic shots, and is a visually driven film with lots of time shifting through parts of the day with effects and music with lyrics. This style has little to no audio such as vows, speeches or any other voice over dialogue.

Candid/minimalist: The opposite of the music video: This style is like a professionally shot home movie– it focuses on candid moments with a more handheld style, and is more about moments of guests laughing, speeches, natural audio and interactions between people over visual flair.  These films have a more organic natural feel with instrumental music driven by dialogue.

Cinematic Story Telling:  I personally feel this style is the best of both worlds and this is how I shoot my films.   It has the visual production quality of the music video but with the feel and emotion of the Candid style.  In this style there are the stunning cinematic shots but also the emotional feel of the day with dialogue from the day.

You Might Need More Than One Videographer

Imagine if they’d tried to film an event in the Olympics on a single camera. It probably wouldn’t have worked out very well. So if you want a live event filmed – like a wedding or a gig – you’ll need multiple video cameras to capture different angles. This means hiring a few different videographers. Even if it’s for something like a music video, it will make filming more efficient.

Sometimes videographers will work as part of a crew, which makes this pretty straightforward. If they’re independent, it’s a good idea to ask them who they’ve worked with in the past. You can then hire a second videographer knowing that the two have worked well together before.

It’s Not Just Filming You Have to Think About

Sure, you could just get the raw footage if you’re trying to cut costs and have the capacity to edit the video yourself. But in all likelihood, post-production is likely to be something you’ll have to consider in your budget. You’ll want a good edit to make your final video look polished. Some videographers will include this in their package, but you might have to hire a separate video editor. Video production can be a fairly lengthy process as a result, so have a realistic time frame in mind (as well as a budget that matches it). For example, a wedding video will probably take at least 8 weeks to finish.

You can relive the memories over and over.

Your wedding day is a once-in-a-lifetime event, but your wedding film allows that day to live on forever. While some memories are bound to fade over the years, having every moment on film is a truly priceless benefit of hiring a wedding videographer. You are going to be making so many precious memories on your wedding day, and we guarantee you won’t regret getting to relive them year after year. Anniversaries will be even more special when you get to watch your wedding film and reminisce about all the love you felt that day. Even a random Tuesday can be made a little sweeter by blocking off time to relive your beautiful day. Seriously, this is one movie you’ll never get tired of re-watching!

You can easily share the video with people who couldn’t make it.

As sad as it is to think about, there is a chance some family members or friends might not be able to attend your wedding due to illness, distance, or age. And, if you decide to elope, it’s likely nobody but your officiant will get to witness your special day. So, having a wedding film allows your loved ones who couldn’t make it feel like they were there and experience more emotion than they could get from just your photos. Because videographers can easily post your wedding film on YouTube or Vimeo, you can easily give everyone who wishes they could have been there a front-row seat to the best love story in town. Your videographer can even create shorter clips that you can share on social media for your extended friend group to get a peek into your day.

Getting Rid Of Bed Bugs Bites

Choosing the Right Bed Bug Inspection Company

With the arrival of new treatments for bed bugs, it has become easier for those with pest problems to get effective treatments to eradicate bugs and other pests. Just calling in a bed bug inspection company, as a start for the process, many homes have been able to find a perfect solution for pest infestations.

Although the results are positive, it is still a daunting process as a homeowner to pick out the best company to begin the inspection process or the treatment itself, for that matter. After all, pest control measures do not come out cheap. Hence, here are a few tips to the home owners about how to pick out the best bed bug inspection company amongst several possible candidates.

Positive and effective inspection methods

None of us like to bring in strangers into our homes for inspection. Since bed bugs inspection involves a rigorous process of checking under mattresses, photo frames, switches and many more, it takes time and effort for the inspecting team to get to the crux of the matter. For this, various inspecting methods, including canine detection services are used by many inspection companies. So, inquire about the way the inspections are done, before calling in for a scrutiny.

Effective treatment methods

When we want to get rid of the pests, inspection is only the initial step, but the most crucial one. However, the bed bugs inspection company should also have treatment processes up in their sleeves, whenever required. Hence, call a service for checking your home which also offers a comprehensive package of treatment processes too, to make the endeavor worthwhile.

Cost-effective and affordable

Pest control measures are always costlier. However, we can still save cost, by comparing the beg bugs inspection company for their effectiveness versus the amount charged for inspection and successive treatment processes.

Choosing a Pest Control Operator

Should I use a pest control company?

Bed bug control requires an integrated pest management (IPM) approach that includes proper preparation and inspection, identification and housekeeping. This will ensure the risk of pesticide exposure is minimized, the environment is protected, and the effectiveness of the treatment is maximized.

Getting rid of bed bug infestations requires the use of pesticides or other treatments. Only pest control professionals should apply pesticides for bed bugs. There are several licensed pest control companies in Saskatchewan who have the proper training and experience to manage a bed bug infestation.

Foggers and bug bombs are not effective against bed bugs. Untrained individuals attempting to control a bed bug infestation on their own may put themselves in dangerous situations, including severe over-application of insecticides or inappropriate use of insecticides.

Choosing a Pest Control Company

The best way to deal with bed bug infestations is Integrated Pest Management (IPM). IPM combines a variety of techniques and products that pose the least risk to human health and the environment. You can find more information on the IPM approach here (link to 1 Planning).

Only licensed pest control companies should apply pesticides for bed bugs. Other companies may use thermal treatments to solve the problem.

The proposed work should follow all of the principles of Integrated Pest Management, not just pesticide application. It is important to note that eliminating bed bugs may take several treatments. Make sure that the company you hire has a committed treatment plan, including follow up pesticide treatments.

The pest control company should be straightforward and open when discussing details of the service provided. Understand what guarantees are being offered. Bed bug management may be difficult to guarantee, because re-infestation from an outside source is possible. It may require several treatments to control the infestation.

Ask the company for references for bed bug control and check them.

Always deal with a qualified and licensed pest management company. Ask to see their licence. A good company should:

Have extensive experience with bed bug management;

Inspect your property before giving you a price quote or beginning any pesticide application or thermal treatment;

Give you a written inspection report and an action plan of how to prepare for treatment and prevent further infestation;

Base quotes on inspection findings;

Visit often and work with you until the job is done and the bed bugs are gone;

Employ qualified, well-trained pest management operators;

Educate you on how to prevent bed bugs; and

Treat you with respect.

When you speak to the operator ask them to:

Tell you when it’s safe to re-enter a treated room;

Notify your landlord to inspect adjacent apartments for bed bugs;

Agree on a service treatment plan and pricing structure;

Clearly explain what you and the company are each responsible for. If repairs are not part of the service agreement, then the company should provide you with a list of repairs you need to do to solve the problem;

Walk around your home with you during each visit and explain the work being done; and

Point out any conditions that contribute to bed bugs in or near your property, and provide a written inspection report

How to Get Rid of Bed Bugs

Bed bugs are just among the worst pests a person will ever have in a home. A bed bug infestation can cause a major headache. The bugs are difficult to exterminate, and they cause extra anxiety to a homeowner because they feed on human blood and seem to attack during sleep. This Guide to Bed Bugs Control article will focus on strategies, various treatments and costs to get rid of bed bugs

What Are Bed Bugs?

Bed bugs are small insects that feed on the blood of humans and animals. The bugs are oval-shaped and brownish in color with flat bodies. Once a bed bug feeds on blood, it tends to swell. Still, even a well-fed bed bug is small enough to hide in crevices and tiny spaces.

Severe reactions to bed bug bites are not common. Most people have no long-lasting reaction to the bites. However, the bites can cause itching and light swelling in humans

The following is a list of things you can do to treat the bites:

Apply an ice pack or a cold cloth to your bites.

Use calamine lotion or an over-the-counter anti-itch cream.

Make a salve by mixing water and baking soda. Apply this mixture to the skin to relieve itching.

Try not to scratch your bites. Scratching can irritate the skin or open the skin, which could increase your risk of developing an infection.

Bed Bug Removal Strategy

There are two strategies you can use to remove bed bugs. The first is to exterminate them using heat, a vacuum, a mattress cover, and chemicals. The other strategy involves making some changes to your home to allow a professional to exterminate.

How Much Do Bed Bug Exterminators Cost? (A Simple Guide)

Bed bugs: frustrating, annoying pests at best…hungry, nocturnal bloodsuckers at worst.

When faced with a bed bug infestation, you’re probably finding yourself deprived of a decent night’s sleep. Even worse, you feel helpless in dealing with the problem yourself considering their size makes them almost impossible to detect.

The only real option you have in this situation is to call a bed bug control service. While a bed bug exterminator is indeed just a quick phone call away, this critical first step is (sometimes) a lot more complicated than you might think

Should You Call A Bed Bug Exterminator?

Bed bugs are indeed quite small and you may want to solve the problem on your own. But can you really get rid of the problem that keeps on biting you in your sleep? Or is it better to call in a pro for bed bug control service?

Why Make the Call?

If this is your first time to consider calling for bed bug control service, chances are that there are still a lot of things that you don’t know about these small (but terrible!) pests.

The size and appearance of bed bugs make these pests nearly invisible to the naked eye. They’re about the same size of a pin head with a brown appearance. Bed bugs have flat bodies that can easily squeeze into the smallest or most restricted hiding spots. They feed on human blood but can also live for more than a year without food.

Bed bug control

Bed bug inspection

There is an overwhelming amount of information on how best to detect and monitor bed bugs – in and amongst the mix of DIY solutions, suggestions from friends, myths and urban legends, a clear solution can be difficult to find.

Entomologists, pest control experts and homeowners all agree on one though – bed bugs are unique and cannot be managed through typical pest control measures. These parasitic insects are incredibly small and can fit into cracks as thin as a credit card – miss two of these expert hiders and you’ll have a brand new infestation on your hands

Challenges in bed bug detection

The most important – and ironically, the most difficult – step in eliminating bed bugs is detection. It is crucial to correctly identify these blood-feeding pests, but adult bed bugs are typically only a few millimeters in length and width. Other stages of the bed bug life cycle (eggs and nymphs) are microscopic and virtually invisible to the naked eye.

Bed bug eggs hatch and nymphs mature with each blood meal, developing into fully-grown adults in months. These adults go on to reproduce and form new colonies; left undetected and untreated, the infestations spread at rapid pace, making sleep a recurring nightmare for the humans they share a bed with.

Western Exterminator bed bug inspection process

At Western Exterminator, we use multiple detection methods to ensure a comprehensive bed bug inspection.

A Cosmetic Dermatologist Should Learn The Latest Technology

Dermatologists: What do they do?

A dermatologist is a doctor that specializes in treating skin, hair, nail, and mucous membrane disorders and diseases. They can also address cosmetic issues, helping to revitalize the appearance of the skin, hair, and nails.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimate that, in the United States, there were 39 million visits to office-based dermatologists, who were not federally employed, in 2010. Below, we explore common issues that dermatologists encounter, the treatments they offer, and the qualifications involved.

What is dermatology?

Dermatology is an area of medicine that focuses on health issues affecting the skin, hair, nails, and mucous membranes.

Qualifications

It is important to know that a dermatologist has a full license or certification before visiting them. Some practitioners in spas and beauty clinics call themselves dermatologists but do not have the necessary accreditation

Common conditions

Being a dermatologist requires a great depth of clinical knowledge, including, for example, the various internal health problems that can cause skin symptoms

How to Choose a Dermatologist

The importance of learning about your skin and how to take great care of it is substantial—and oftentimes overlooked. As the body’s largest organ, the skin needs consistent upkeep to remain healthy and in its top condition, which is why people bathe, moisturize, and visit their dermatologist on a regular basis

Dermatology is complex yet vital to your health, especially in Arizona—a state known for high temperatures and constant sunshine. People carrying on with their normal routine in temperatures reaching as high as 115 degrees during the summer need to pay extra attention to their skin.

That’s where your dermatologist comes in. It takes a licensed professional with years of experience to diagnose a variety of rashes, moles, and other irregularities that might occur, as well as prescribe the right treatment based on your personal needs.

But what are the top qualities you should look for in a dermatologist in the sunny? Well to start, we recommend doing your research before choosing a dermatologist, and establishing a set of expectations before your first visit.

Dermatologists, what do they do exactly?

You should know that Dermatology isn’t all rashes, facelifts, and fillers. Dermatology encompasses the evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment of all diseases related to the skin, hair, nails, and oral cavity. These specialists in white coats aren’t all talk, they literally do it all!

Tips for Choosing the Right Skincare Products

A silky-smooth texture, a vibrant glow, and a rich, even color are hallmarks of beautiful skin. If that’s what you’re after, you must develop a rock-solid skincare routine that involves choosing the right products. Though intimidating at first, with a little bit of knowledge you’ll find yourself whizzing through the world of skincare like a pro.

Tips for Choosing the Right Skincare Products

From fancy creams and serums to masks and ointments, selecting skincare products can seem overwhelming, especially when you don’t know what you’re looking for or where to start. Your skin is as unique as a fingerprint, and caring for it means learning how to build your own routine with the right products to support your skincare goals. Use these tips to get started.

Know your skin type

Getting to know your skin type is the best place to start when you’re considering building a skincare routine. Figure out your skin type — oily, dry, sensitive, or combination. The goal is to add products to your regimen designed for your specific skin type.

Know your needs

Take some time to think about your skin’s needs. Perhaps you have fine lines that you want to diminish. Maybe you have persistent acne that isn’t responding to your normal routine, or large pores that you want to minimize the appearance of. The products you choose need to effectively address the issues you’re most concerned about.

Know the basics

Regardless of what type of skin you have, the four skincare commandments form the basis of every good regimen

Dermatology

We are an internationally recognized Department that offers our patients expert and individualized care. Using the most advanced medical tools available, we achieve outstanding results.

We diagnose and treat a wide range of conditions, including:

Common skin issues: eczema, acne, warts, psoriasis, and others

Complex skin disorders: skin cancer, autoimmune disorders, skin problems due to systemic illnesses

Cosmetic concerns: fine lines and wrinkles, hair removal, unwanted tattoos, acne scars, skin rejuvenation, and others

Exceptional dermatologists: Our Department’s medical and surgical dermatologists are all highly trained and experienced. Our team of dermatologists includes leading experts in their fields, all of whom have made significant achievements in patient care, research, and academic teaching.

Convenient, personalized care: Whether treating the simplest issue or the most complex conditions, our physicians put patients first. Each patient receives a unique care plan based upon their individual condition and goals.

Proven patient satisfaction: Our approach has led to high patient satisfaction rates among our 70,000 patient visits per year

HOW TO CHOOSE YOUR COSMETIC DERMATOLOGIST

Tips for Finding the Right Person to Help You Look Your Best

A qualified cosmetic dermatologist, supported by the equipment and resources of a quality facility, can do wonders to help you feel better about your appearance and maintain healthy skin. This article provides tips to help you select the skin-care specialist who you will feel best seeing.

Quality – A knowledgeable, qualified specialist will help you select the right treatments that will achieve the best results for you.

Safety –  Most importantly, a qualified professional will have the training and qualifications to provide an equal commitment to your safety and health.

Here’s a list of questions that you should ask any clinic offering these services:

Does a board certified physician actually perform or supervise the treatments on-site? Board certification means the doctor has had additional training and testing in that specialty.

Is the doctor a Board Certified: Dermatologist by either the American Academy of Dermatology or the American Osteopathic College of Dermatology? These are the only two legitimate dermatology certifying bodies in the US.

If a patient has a complication or unwanted side effect, what happens? It is important to have confidence in your provider’s protocols in these situations.

How long has the clinic been providing these treatments? Make sure you feel good about how long the facility has been providing the treatment you will receive.

Who is the medical director of your clinic and are they a Board Certified: Dermatologist, Plastic Surgeon, Ophthalmologist or Otolaryngologist?

Can you have a consultation with a Board Certified Dermatologist at your appointment?

Does the medical director actually see and treat patients at your clinic or does your clinic/medispa use their name, Drug Enforcement Agency number and medical license to purchase medically controlled products/lasers and medications (like BOTOX® Cosmetic and Restylane) in exchange for financial compensation?

When coming in for a medical or laser treatment is a complete medical history taken and reviewed by a board certified physician before any treatments are provided?This is important to ensure extra precautions are taken if your medical history warrants them or indicates a particular procedure could not be safe.

Does anyone affiliated with your clinic have any sanctions against them filed with the State Board of Medical or Nursing Practice?