Tips to Avoid the Dread of Spring Cleaning

(image from: https://pennstatehealthnews.org/2019/05/the-medical-minute-six-tips-for-safe-spring-cleaning/)

Winter has all but passed us by, and spring is just around the corner. With the new season, it is time to start thinking about spring cleaning your home. Spring cleaning is important for everyone, especially if you are someone who is prone to suffering from allergies. You owe it to yourself and your family members to enjoy a clean that is more than just the surface. But, you do not have to dread spring cleaning. You just need to find a way to organize and implement the cleaning. So let’s look at some spring cleaning tips to get your home in shape and allergy free, and be sure to put appliance repair London Ontario on your to do list. 

Start with a schedule

Scope out your home. Find which areas need the most work first. What areas do you usually skip during normal routine cleaning? Those are the best places to start. Though it does not really matter where you start, having a plan in place for how and when you are going to tackle each room will help you stay focused and motivated. Try looking online for spring cleaning checklists or templates to make this even easier. 

Time to declutter

Taking some time to reduce clutter makes you more efficient and helps you to stay organized. More than that though, clutter has the ability to influence your mood. It can signal your brain that work is not done. It has been shown that a disorganized home can add to your stress level. Add the stress to how much inhaling dust is hard on your body, and it can all take a toll. If you find that decluttering is too hard, try organizing the way you are going about it. Take it one room at a time, and focus on what you really need in your home versus what can stand to be trashed or sold. 

Start from the top

Since spring cleaning is such a deep clean, it is important to start from the ceiling and work your way down. Doing so forces debris downward and keeps you from having to redo cleaning and dusting that has already been done. If you have a vacuum with an extension hose, use it to get the cobwebs and dust from your ceilings and fans. After the ceiling, work on tables and furniture, then focus on cleaning the dust and debris from the floor. This is more efficient and it will save you time. 

Carpet Cleaning

If you are like many other people, you probably do not have a vacuum with the capacity to deep clean your carpets. This is important because you do not want to simply vacuum and wash your hands of the situation. At least once a year (spring cleaning is great) you should get your carpets deep cleaned. You can do this through carpet cleaning services like Chem-Dry of Richmond, or rental services at your local grocery store. Whatever you choose, make sure you are able to get your carpets treated and free of debris and dirt. 

Go Green for Spring Cleaning

Your entire goal is to start spring off on a clean note, so don’t ruin that by exposing yourself to chemicals and toxins that can be avoided. A steam cleaner is a great green product for spring cleaning. You can use it to clean your microwave, tile, hardwood floors, kitchen appliances, bathrooms, and some outdoor areas. Since steam cleaners rely on hot water vapor, they are 100% natural and chemical-free solutions. If you don’t want to buy a steam cleaner, the best natural combinations for cleaning is white distilled vinegar, baking soda, and water. 

Don’t forget the walls and windows

It is pretty typical for people to clean their floors, but they can easily forget about the walls and windows. But, not all dust settles on the floor and other surfaces. Take a damp towel and wipe down the walls and blinds (top to bottom). Take the screens out of your windows and wipe those down as well. When it comes to cleaning the actual window, a steam cleaner and squeegee are great for reducing water spots and keeping windows shiny. 

The kitchen and bathroom are important too

Don’t be afraid of cleaning your bathroom. There are plenty of ways to clean them quickly and hit the trouble spots. Some common trouble areas that you may run into include:

    Bathrooms:

• Change your shower curtain (at least the liner)
• Go through your makeup drawer and medicine cabinets and throw away items that are expired or not used
• Clean out the bathroom fan (this can hold a lot of dust and other unpleasant items). The fans ventilate moisture during showers and remove odors and vapor. They help keep the bathroom air clean and safe for use.. 

    Kitchens:

• Wipe down the cabinets
• Clean out the pantry and fridge. Wipe down the shelving and throw away items that are old or expired
• Use gentle cleaners or a steam cleaner on your stainless steel appliances to avoid scratching or marking the surfaces. 

Clean the air too

Replace your furnace and HVAC filters. This is one of the most important and often overlooked parts of spring cleaning. By replacing a standard filter with a new, more robust one, you will be healthier and happier as you enter spring. They catch small and irritating particles that can make you unhappy and cause respiratory issues. This is an inexpensive way to make sure you are breathing clean and healthy air. Also consider getting an air purifier to help get rid of the dust of winter.

Spring cleaning can be stressful and daunting, but it doesn’t have to be. Organize the way you want to tackle the process and have a plan so that you can get through it without too much of a hassle. Your house (and body) will thank you.

Independence As You Age: What You Should Know

Getting older can mean a lot of things - it can mean becoming wiser and more content with what you have, but it can also mean losing independence in some cases. If you’re worried about getting older and losing your independence, this guide will help you. 

1. Stay Active 

Start by staying active - start now, right where you are. The earlier you start to take care of your body by exercising, the better. You’ll not only live a longer life, you’ll enjoy many other benefits. You’ll improve your posture, improve your mental health, and be able to stay mobile for longer. Those who exercise tend to experience fewer problems getting around later on in life. How can you stay active now? Start walking more, then consider adding in an exercise, like swimming. You don’t need to be hardcore to experience the benefits of exercise. Just make sure you enjoy it! 

2. Keep Your Brain Stimulated 

It’s important to keep your brain stimulated as well as your body. Do crosswords, do puzzles, and find other things you enjoy. Read, and make sure you keep your mind active in as many ways as possible. Certain games may be able to help. Get into the habit of doing a few things that are good for your brain every day. You want to keep your focus and memory as sharp as possible. 

credit

3. Accept Help When You Need It 

You can’t be too proud to accept help when you get older. Sometimes, you will need it. Learn to accept it when you need it now. Even get used to asking for it! Most people you know will be more than happy to help you if you ask them for help. Whether it’s help babysitting or pet sitting, or even help clearing out your junk, make sure you ask. One day, you may need to look for an at home caregiver so you can keep up your quality of life. There is absolutely no shame in needing help from time to time. 

4. Use Technology 

You may not consider yourself somebody who is up to date with technology, but getting used to it will mean being able to stay in touch with those you love better. Get used to Skyping them, sending texts, and other means of staying in touch. It’ll really help - especially when you have grandchildren who love texting! 

5. Search For New Hobbies

Never be afraid to try something new. Age is not a good reason to avoid trying new things. You can continue to learn and grow until the day you die. Try something you’ve always wanted to try. Go to a life drawing or craft class. Try something wacky you never even knew existed! 

6. Aim To Meet New People 

Meeting new people will ensure you stay social as you get older, as loneliness can be a real problem. Go to coffee mornings, even smile at strangers. Try to stay in touch with people that mean a lot to you - don’t get into the mindset that nobody cares. Everybody has their own stuff going on, but keeping in touch is important. Make an effort! 

What You Should Know About Caring For Your Family When You're Sick

When you’re sick, caring for your family can be difficult. You don’t get to have the day off from being the head of the family just because you’re not feeling great! You’re going to need to work extra hard to take care of yourself and your family at this time. Read on for some pointers: 

Be As Hygienic As Possible

It’s bad enough when one person in the family is sick, but if you don’t keep up proper hygiene, everybody will get sick! Wash your hands thoroughly, especially after coughing, sneezing, or before making food. Carry a hand sanitizer with you so you can do this whenever you can, and remind members of the family to do it too. It’s also wise whether you are coughing or sneezing, to cough into your elbow. This will prevent the spread of germs immediately and encourage other family members to do the same. 

As well as making sure hands are thoroughly washed, you may want to make sure surfaces in your home are all disinfected to reduce the chance of infection. 

Try To Keep Your Distance

Don’t be overly touchy feely when you’re not well. Your kids will probably want to hug and kiss you, but make sure you’re careful. Tell them they can have all of the attention they like when you’re better. 

author

Get Help If You Need It

You can’t have the day off, but you shouldn’t feel bad or guilty about asking for help. If you need help, then ask for it! See if you can get a family member to take the kids off your hands for a while so you can relax and do what you need to do. If you’re not sick, but injured, then a Personal Injury Attorney will be able to start a case for you if appropriate and take a load off your mind. Make sure you don’t attempt to handle everything alone if you know you’re struggling to cope, as this can really take its toll. 

Quarantine 

It can be a good idea to quarantine yourself to one room in the house. You will need to come in and out obviously, but if you can spend the majority of your time in this room to ensure the illness stays in one place, it’ll be better for everybody. You can do this when anybody in the household is ill, and make the room really cosy so that nobody minds being in there. You could have a dehumidifier, fairy lights, blankets, and anything else you/they need. 

Try To Stick To A Healthy Routine

Taking vitamins, eating vegetables, and drinking plenty of water will help you to recover much faster. It can be difficult to stick to a healthy routine when you’re sick, but try your best and your body will have a fighting chance. Make sure you encourage everybody else to eat to strengthen their immune system’s too, as this will usually help them to avoid getting sick. 

Do you have anything you’d like to add? Leave a comment! 

Four outdoor games for people of all ages and played different parts of the world

One great aspect of games and sports is playing outside inspires us to leave the sofa, engage in different physical activities, and burn calories. The result of burning extra calories is reducing the likelihood of obesity. Since obesity is a good reason for many diseases like type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, depression, and many more.So, it turns out that going outside and playing games is now no longer someone’s will but mandatory. Below are 4 great outside game of different locations. 

The dragon trail ( China)

Dragons are important legendary creatures in Chinese culture. They represent good luck, strength and, a bright future. This traditional Chinese game is great fun at a playground. The game requires no playing material but the participation of a large group of children at least 10. The more players the more fun. Children age 4 years or older can participate in the game.

All children stand and form a line like a train by placing one’s hands on the shoulders to the next child. This line is the dragon. The first child in the line is the dragon head and the last child is the dragon’s tail. After forming the dragon, the head must try to catch the tail.

But it is challenging since all the players in the middle do their best to block the dragon's head. It is difficult for another reason is that while the head tries to catch the tail, all the players need to make sure that the body is connected. If the line breaks then the game stops and the dragon must reform. When the head gets success with catching the tail, the head is out and the tail takes its position. The game ends when there are only two players remaining.

Cheetahs and Cheetals

This game comes from India. It has some background history. The story is as such-The cheetah is a spotted cat and a cheetal is a spotted deer. Hundreds of years ago, the Indian princesses trained cheetahs to catch cheetals. Now the time has changed. In this modified the new version of the game, either Cheetahs or Cheetals can turn into predators. It means cheetals have the opportunity too to become predators.

In this game too, no sports gear or material is needed. Something to mark lines ie. Pylons are enough. Mark out three parallel lines which are separating from each other by 20 feet apart. Divide the group into two teams. One team represents cheetah, and the other is cheetal. Get the two teams to stand back to back.

At the start of the game select a leader. The leader will start the game by calling loudly the word cheetahs or cheetals. If the word is ‘cheetahs’, the cheetahs run and the cheetals chase them and try to tag them.

If the word is cheetal, the cheetals will run and cheetahs chase them to tag them. If someone has tagged either cheetah or Cheetal, he is out of the game. The game ends when a whole team has been caught.

Figure skates

Figure skating is a great game for young people. The game is played by ice skaters, singly or in pairs. The sport involves performing freestyle movements of jumps, spins, lifts, and footwork in a spectacular manner. There are various types of figure skating, including freestyle, pairs, ice dance, and synchronized team skating. Figure skating is one of the popular events of the winter Olympics. The performance of figure skaters on the skating rink depends on their intense practice, physical fitness and a great pair of figure skates.

Dancing warriors

This is a game of native Americans. This game has many variations around the world. The game is great for learning rhythm and requires no electricity and a parent's presence. The number of participants in this game could be 4 or more.

The game’s procedure is quite simple. One player is a drummer who beats the drum and other players start to dance with the beat of the drum. The drummer first beats the drum in a slow rhythm and then increases the beat gradually. When the drummer stops, all dancers must freeze even if they are in an awkward position. Any dancer that moves, is out. The game also stops if the dancing becomes too disorderly.

Conclusion

Besides fun and fitness, games are a great way to interact with other people and develop social relations. We cannot think about life without watching a sport or playing a game.

Saving Money Every Day

Photo Source

When you have children, life can get pretty expensive. You have extra mouths to feed, extra little ones to get from A to B, you’ll need to use more energy in your home to keep them all occupied and you’ll also probably find yourself forking out for extra hobbies and extracurricular activities. These are just a few of the basic necessary costs that come hand in hand with kids! So, it’s not all too surprising that most parents are always on the look out to save money. The more money you save, the more disposable income you can have and the more luxuries you can afford for your family. You could go on extra holidays, have extra days out, or simply afford nicer food, clothes, toys and more. So, here are a few simple steps you can take to save a fair amount of money on a day to day basis. Incorporate them into your lifestyle and you’ll see your disposable income grow significantly!

Reduce Your Energy Bills

A great area to start is cutting down your energy bills. At the end of the day, we’re all going to have to pay for some sort of energy in our homes. We need gas or electricity to get by and do the basic day to day tasks like cooking, having a shower, keeping the heating on and having light to still be able to see when it gets dark at night. But make sure you’re not paying more than you absolutely need to for the energy in your home. Lowering the cost of your energy is extremely simple. Just take a look on price comparison sites. These will compare all of the different energy providers on the market and let you know who’s running the cheapest offers in your area. Don’t stick with your current provider out of loyalty or convenience. Switching is designed to be simple and take barely any time. Plus, what’s the point in being loyal to a company that isn’t offering you the cheapest option? If you’re tied into a contract, find out your renewal date and switch then. When you’re browsing your different options, you may also want to consider green energy. Not only does this tend to be cheaper, but it will help you to reduce your carbon footprint and will prove a whole lot better for the planet - creating a better environment and atmosphere for your little ones to grow up in! Before signing up, also check for loyalty schemes. Some companies will offer a discount rate or money off your first bill when you use someone else’s referral code!

Cut Health Insurance Costs

If you have private health insurance, you can benefit from having high quality medical care for you and your little ones. The problem is it can make a significant impact on your bank account. A lot of health insurance doesn’t come cheap, especially when you’re paying for multiple people on your policy. Keep an eye out for discount insurance. This can prove a bargain! Just make sure to read reviews of your different policies to make sure they definitely cover any costs or expenses, treatments or medications that you need them to. It’s generally best to have more cover than less, to reduce your chances of having to fork out unexpected costs yourself.

Reduce Car Insurance Costs

A car can be an absolute essential when you have a family. Sure, public transport is great. But it can be difficult to manage multiple kids on the train, tube, tram or bus. Plus, you will find yourself having to walk between stations and stops to get where you need to be, which can result in little ones growing weary and getting grumpy or throwing tantrums - especially if the weather is bad. A car, instead, gets you quickly from one destination to another and you needn’t rely on timetables and can travel any time of the day or night. One cost that comes hand in hand with this convenience, however, is car insurance. This is simple to reduce, though. Just have a black box installed. This is a small device that monitors your driving behaviour when you’re out on the road. You’re going to be driving safely with your kids in the car anyway. This just proves you’re a good driver to your insurance company and they will reduce the cost of your policy accordingly.

These are just three steps you might want to consider to reduce your day to day outgoings. There are plenty more out there, but these should help to get you off to a good start!