Category: Home Improvement

Water cleanliness should always be a concern, whether you’re drinking it, cooking with it, swimming in it, or washing in it. You should be able to feel confident that the water you’re using is properly cleaned and doesn’t contain any harmful bacteria, viruses, or other contaminants that could make you sick. There have been countless methods of purifying water throughout the centuries, but one of the newest ones is ozonation or ozone purification. Here’s what you need to know about this process, how it works, and why many people are turning to it as a means of disinfection.

What Is Ozonation?

Ozone filtration is the process of injecting ozone into the water to clean and purify it. An ozone generator first charges oxygen to create ozone, which is a natural oxidizer. When the ozone is added to water, it attacks and neutralizes any contaminants, then reverts to its original form—oxygen. This means that the water is now not only free from bacteria, viruses, and pollutants but it’s also free from any chemicals (including ozone) used to clean the water.

Remove Harmful Pollutants

As mentioned, the primary purpose of ozonation is to remove contaminants from the water. Common pollutants found in water—including manganese, hydrogen sulfide, iron, bacteria, and viruses—can all be neutralized through the simple addition of ozone. It’s more effective at removing bacteria and viruses than chlorine and doesn’t add any chemicals that damage your skin or burn your eyes.

May Help with Inflammation

Recent studies have found that ozone can help activate your body’s antioxidants and reduce the factors that caused inflammation. While these findings are preliminary, a study in rats showed a measurable improvement in inflammation by adding ozone to their water.

Environmentally Friendly

Other forms of filtration can actually be harmful to the environment. They either remove pollutants by adding other chemicals or filter out larger contaminants and require frequent filter changes, which go into a landfill. Ozonation adds only oxygen to your water and doesn’t create excess waste. It creates only clean, drinkable water.

Use in Jetted Tub Systems

Of course, ozonation isn’t only used for cleaning drinking water. It’s become a popular way of cleaning water as it circulates through the jets of soaking tubs with hydrotherapy systems, especially in a walk-in tub for seniors who may have more serious concerns about maintaining sanitary conditions for their health. This method ensures that the bather is not cycling dirty bath water back into the tub again and again. Rather, the water is quickly cleaned and pumped back into the tub, keeping the bath cleaner than it was when it came out of the tap.

Different pests can come and intrude our backyards. One would be bees that can sting and build their hives within your house’s walls. The same goes for wasps, which are sometimes said to “harm our native birds and insects, and are a threat to human health and recreation”. Does that mean though that we should immediately buy tons of pesticides to exterminate beehives and wasp colonies? Or is there a more humane treatment possible to control bees and wasps? Yes, there are. Several, in fact. Listed below are some methods of humane treatment of bees and wasps:

• Be careful with your food. One simple way of controlling the presence of bees and wasps in your home vicinity is by removing food and water sources. For instance, don’t leave sweet and sugary snacks without lids. Also, tightly cover your garbage bins and maintain their cleanliness. Avoid stagnant puddles and plug your pipes so that wasps won’t settle in them.

• Build a fence. Bees only sting as a defense mechanism in response to humans disturbing their homes. But we can live in harmony with bees living round the corner by putting up chicken wire or placing a fence around the hive entrance. This won’t bother the bees, but at the same time will deter people from going close to them.  

• Seal entry points. Obstruct any unnecessary small holes you can find in your house. When a queen bee deserts an active nest, take that opportunity to fill the remnants with soil intending to keep future queens from inhabiting that same spot. 

• Be bee-friendly. PETA also has some advice on how you can go about the humane treatment of bees and bugs. When you do gardening or are simply out in your yard, abstain from wearing white or yellow as these colors actually attract bees and wasps. Perhaps in their eyes, you look like a sunflower. It would be much better to wear red since most insects cannot see this color. Minimize fragrant smells of perfumes, hairsprays, among others. And most of all, never walk barefoot in your yard!

• Ignore them. Bees and wasps are non-aggressive (unless, again, their home is threatened), so if they aren’t bothering you, it will not harm you to leave them alone. You can even enjoy the natural scenery with their presence. After all, when the summer season ends, the wasps cease to exist after two touches of frost. If ever it happens that a bee or a wasp enters your car, it is suggested that you stop by the road for a while, open your windows and wait until the insect flies out of your vehicle. If it’s taking some time, you can guide it out with a piece of paper.
• Ask experts for help. For big-scale scenarios such as huge colonies and swarms, local beekeeping associations and pest control authorities are the best people to contact. Taking individual bees and wasps is not an effective way of reducing their population, a whole communal colony must be removed. This is dangerous if you’re a novice, so it’s definitely safer to reach out to the experts instead. 

Why should bees and wasps be humanely treated?

This might be a question you had in mind since you began reading this. As PETA declares, a lot of the insects we deem as pests are actually beneficial and play a vital role in maintaining the homeostasis of our environment. Bees and swarms, for example, should not be under pest control, rather “household guest control”. Bees are known pollinators, helping plants to reproduce by transferring pollen from one flower to another, thus expanding floral variety. Wasps are also extremely helpful to us humans, as they are humane treatments themselves aiding in pest control. As cited in a National Geographic page, “Nearly every pest insect on Earth is preyed upon by a wasp species, either for food or as a host for its parasitic larvae”.   

In conclusion, bees and wasps SHOULD be given humane treatment instead of dealing with them with cruelty because they are essential inhabitants of nature who have their own role to play. This can be done by removing food and water sources, making a fence, closing entries, preparing your attire when going out to the garden, and leaving them alone or at least letting the experts handle them. 

Five Healthy Improvements for Your Home

Renovations or even little adjustments to your home can make a world of difference for the health of senior loved ones. Here are five big improvements that can do wonders for them:

1. Set up a gym area.

Making your home healthier can be as straightforward as dedicating a room in your house for exercising. This will leave you with no more excuses for not having the time or means to get in shape. Think about the perks, too: it lets you skip out on commutes and gym membership fees.

If you decide to clear out a room to turn it into a gym space, make sure that it is spacious enough for the senior-friendly fitness equipment that you will be keeping there. Have enough empty space for other workouts, and install a mirror as well.

2. Get a hot tub.

A hot tub is a luxurious way to stay warm during the colder months of the year. It also improves health by inducing relaxation and improving metabolism. Seniors in particular can reap its benefits without the physical demands of working out.

Source your tub from a reputable hot tub provider to ensure its durability. Buying from trusted companies also guarantees that your hot tub will have features that will further enhance the experience of your elderly family.

3. Tend to your garden.

Gardening is therapeutic for everyone, including the elderly. It is a quiet activity that is also visually pleasing, especially when a garden is cared for well. Tending to a garden is a light form of exercise that keeps the body healthy without being strenuous.

To make a garden more accessible for seniors, it may be best to minimize the need to bend down and kneel as much as possible. You can accomplish this by decreasing the area of your garden and raising the beds to make them easier to reach.

4. Let natural light in.

Getting a good dose of natural light increases vitamin D levels for both young people and seniors. It also helps fight off seasonal depression and improve sleep. Introduce more light to your home by simply drawing your curtains and opening windows at daytime.

Having more natural light also makes you less dependent on fluorescent lighting. They can induce migraines and eye strain, so older adults are much better off with natural sources of light.

If there is not enough sunlight that comes into your house, it may be a good idea to have larger windows built in. You can also brighten the atmosphere by painting the walls a lighter shade.

5. Make use of aromatherapy.

Health issues such as respiratory problems and arthritis can be huge hindrances to a good quality of life for older people. While medication is important in addressing these, aromatherapy also alleviates the discomfort caused by these illnesses.

Essential oils emit pleasant smells that reduce stress and help deal with anxiety and depression. The pleasant fragrances can improve one’s mood by triggering positive memories.

Choose an oil diffuser that can run for a long period daily to maintain the relaxed atmosphere in your home. There are options on the market that also have a color-changing feature to give a room an even more relaxing ambiance.

Being Attentive to Seniors’ Well-being

The National Council on Aging reports that 80% of older adults have a chronic disease. On the other hand, 77% suffer from at least two. As the caretakers of our aging loved ones, we must be aware of how best to take care of the health concerns they have. But this poses new challenges amidst the virus.

Regular checkups and maintenance medication are essentials in this. But during this time when mobility is limited, improving their home life has also become a bigger priority than before.

The changing mental and physical needs of our aging loved ones allow us all to become more sensitive about these. As we pay more attention, we can be their partners in helping them live better and healthier lives in their later years.

Trends come and go, be it in fashion or interior design. But there are certain trends that you won’t expect to make a comeback. Millennials, for example, are now getting their style inspirations from their mothers’ and grandmothers’ closets. Hence, the rise of the “grandmillennial style,” an ode to old-school. 

Also known as “granny chic,” millennials are creating chic looks by putting vintage pieces together. The young generation uses this trend to put together an outfit, but those who have their own places also use it to furnish their homes.

The Antidote to The Minimalist, All-white Spaces

For years, minimalist and all-white interiors have dominated modern homes. This trend, however, is likely to come to an end soon. Interior designers expect to see walls with more pizzazz by combining colors, patterns, and textures. 

Millennials are getting tired of the monochromatic looks, too, so they design their homes inspired by their granny’s living room with an upgraded look to fit in the 21st century. An editor from House Beautiful, the one who coined the term grandmillennial, explains these millennials have an affinity for design trends that people would normally consider outdated or stuffy. This includes ruffles, Laura Ashley prints, and embroidered linens. 

Additionally, the grandmillennials’ approach to interior design is a form of self-expression. Designers say this style allows homeowners to show their personality. Your visitors will get a sense of who you are when they step into your home based on how your interior looks. 

Interior designers also share that more of their 20- and 30-something clients ask for treillage, chintz, and bright colors. They add that many of these clients are thrilled about having botanical prints, Gracie wall panels, and Fermoie pleated lampshaded in their home design.

Applying Granny Chic Design to Your Home

Interior designers described “grandmillenial” as a ‘New Traditionalist,’ which is someone who appreciates the past. Decorating your home using the grandmillennial style is surprisingly easy. You need to identify what classic pieces you want to put together, from floral printed wallpaper to needlepoint pillows. 

Here are three key elements to achieve a chic grandmillennial home.

1. Add Cane, Wicker, and Rattan Pieces

One of the most popular ways to give your home a granny chic makeover is by incorporating cane, wicker, or rattan pieces. Woven furniture and accessories made from these old-school materials bring summer vibes into the room. They are also easy to incorporate with other design details, like floral prints and needlepoint pillows, to create a cozy and timeless look.

These materials, however, can be confusing and often used interchangeably. Keep in mind that cane pertains to pieces with thin, woven accents. Wicker or rattan, meanwhile, are larger items with reed-like features. But not all wicker pieces can be considered rattan because they can be made from other materials, including willow, reed, and bamboo.

2. Don’t be afraid to embellish

Embellishments are another staple for the grandmillennial style. Think of pleats, fringe, and ruffles. They add personality to a room.

A pleated lampshade, for example, is a common decor among grandmillennials. Incorporate fringe and ruffles with your curtains and upholstery. Fringed bed skirts add interesting detail to your bedroom. 

3. Play with patterns 

Nothing says grandmillennial design more than patterns. The most common styles of pattern include chintz, toile, and plaid. They can be featured on upholstery, curtains, and wallpapers. Prints, like toile, are also seen on timeless ceramic pieces. 

You can also bring out china patterns that your grandparents passed on to you. They are pretty decor accents, especially when put together with contemporary pieces. These pieces can also a pop of color to the room. 

Feel free to play with different patterns. Mixing a variety of pattern designs can bring sophistication to the room. Make sure to do tastefully. Otherwise, the room will look tacky. When choosing patterns to use together, go with patterns with the same color and share a design element. Try combining a simple, modern pattern with a detailed one. 

The grandmillennial style allows you to express your personality in your interior design. For some people, the choice of patterns, colors, and pieces for this design style can be stuffy or outdated. When done right, however, you can still have a fresh, sophisticated home. Learn how to edit pieces and use your artful eyes to make sure you end up having an upgraded version of your grandmother’s home. 

You should never tamper with the electrical components and wiring in your house. Instead of trying to fix electrical problems on your own, you should always let an electrician handle it for you. However, how do you find a reliable electrician in your area? Finding a decent local electrician is much easier said than done, so it’s important that you do your research first.

There are plenty of local electricians in Weymouth who offer a wide range of services. Some of the most common services that they provide are as follows:

• Electrical repairs
• Electrical installations
• Electrical inspections

However, finding a decent electrician can be difficult. Here are a few tips for hiring a local electrician.

Ask Your Neighbours

You may want to ask your neighbours or your friends about which electrician they work with. If you get a reference from a friend or family member, you can contact the electrician and get a discount as well. It’s an excellent way to find someone reliable.

Check Their Website

It’s also recommended that you check the company’s website to find out about their services. You can get a better idea about the services that they offer and the kind of work that they do by going through their website. It’s a great way to determine whether you are hiring the right people for the job or not. Always do your research first before you hire any local electrician. These are a few tips to help you find the right electrician.

Everyone knows how hard it is to build a dream house, especially if it’s from the ground up. It’s not something any average Joe can DIY like a passion project — it has to be done by an expert or professional in that field. But even then, the decision to choose can be difficult because of all the available services or companies willing to take on a big job, such as building a house. And that is the part where you come in.

To be the contractor, everyone will be eyeing when they want their house built. You’ll have to establish a good reputation, which can only be achieved by a job well done. A great house will be a testament to your work’s quality, but the working relationship you will be sharing with your clients will be the thing passed on by word of mouth.

Besides having the good qualities of a contractor, you’ll need to know the best suppliers, have great connections and prove that you care about your client’s satisfaction to have the upper hand against possible competitors in this business. Here are a few tips to get you on the right path towards strengthening your brand and business:

Trusted Brand of Suppliers

Since contractors orchestrate most of the work being done in building a house, some take advantage of their clients by faking the materials’ quality to get the excess money. You can’t do that if you want your clients to trust you and your business. 

You have to put in the work and scour the construction industry for the best suppliers in the market. A good supplier is one that can provide quality materials for the lowest possible price. Like in your business, many services can offer what you need, so it will be your call in the end.

Test out different concrete, wood, stone, and steel distributors each time you do a project so that you can see their qualities for yourself. And once you find a brand you can trust, stick with it. That’s the most feasible and practical way of establishing a good contact list when you are contracted. 

Work with a Tried and Tested Team

As a contractor, one of your biggest responsibilities is having a team carry out the mission to build a house from start to finish. If you’re beginning in the business, you can subcontract different workers to help you build your client’s home. 

However, a great contractor will have a team of workers who are the best in their specific fields. But that’s not something that can be arranged with a snap of your fingers — a great team is built over time. What you can do is keep a steady eye on everyone on your team for each project.

Then, you can pick out the efficient workers with the potential to be part of your dream team. After you’ve organized a team you can trust to follow your lead, it will be easier for your clients to believe in your credibility.

Offer Great Service

Some people are good workers, and some people can establish a good rapport. Aspire to be the one who can connect to their clients at all times. You can’t be the go-to contractor if you’re a pain to work with and you’re too stubborn to compromise with your clients.

A good portfolio and a perfect supplier list are nothing if you, as the contractor, don’t have the right attitude and perspective. As a service provider, you should always put your client’s satisfaction and happiness before yours, unless it can literally put your life in danger.

That’s the key to being a go-to contractor. People will prefer to repeatedly contact a contractor they can negotiate with rather than someone who couldn’t even bother to listen to what they want to achieve in constructing their house. And in addition to that, you’ll have to have good leadership skills to strike a balance between all the people under your watch. A harmonized and conducive work environment is a manifestation of good leadership.

Always remember that your clients hired you to make their dream house a reality, but if you’re not willing to work with them, they would go and look for someone else who can. Be the person they run to when they want something built in their home and brag about with their friends and family. That’s how you get a good business that lasts. 

Graphic created by Modern Bathroom, a provider of shower fixtures for sale online.

The last thing you want to spread through word of mouth about your restaurant is food poisoning. Make food safety a top priority in your commercial kitchen to prevent food-borne illness from entering the community.

Sanitize Equipment

One of the most important things in a kitchen, besides your fire detection and suppression New York system, is the cleaning equipment. Each surface must be sanitized properly with hot, soapy water and commercial strength cleaner. Counters, dishes, utensils, bowls and more need to be cleaned thoroughly each day. Don’t forget to clean your large restaurant equipment as well. It’s best to have a cleaning schedule to ensure everything is completely sanitized.

Train Employees

Training your staff is essential for food safety. Every employee needs to know the procedures for cooking and cleaning in your kitchen. Provide training on proper handwashing, sanitizing and cleaning to prepare your employees for every situation in the kitchen. Encourage your employees to follow the procedures without rushing, even when the restaurant is busy.

Wash Food

Bacteria, such as salmonella, can gather on the skins and peel of produce. Even if you’re peeling a vegetable for the main dish, you must have employees wash the item first. Fruits and vegetables should be washed in cold water with an FDA-approved produce rinse. This will prevent bacteria from entering the interior of the produce, which can lead to illness.

Use Gloves

Employees should have gloves available while preparing food, but they need to know to change gloves regularly. After preparing raw meat, gloves should be changed before touching anything else in the kitchen. Boxes of gloves should be readily available so your employees keep the food you’re serving free from contaminants.

Cook to the Correct Temperature

Illness can be spread easily when meats are not cooked to the proper temperatures. E-coli can easily spread through undercooked ground beef and salmonella can be present in raw chicken. Use meat thermometers to guarantee your employees are cooking meat to the correct temperatures.

Store Food Safely

Raw meat should always be stored separately from other foods. Make sure you place raw meats in the bottom of the refrigerator to prevent the meat from dripping onto produce and other items. Once vegetables are cut do not leave them at room temperature. The FDA recommends a refrigerator temperature of 38 degrees Fahrenheit or less and a freezer temperature of 0 degrees.

With proper training in food safety, your employees will prevent the spread of food-borne illness, keeping the focus on the delicious food you serve.

Getting into apartment flipping can be lucrative and personally rewarding. It can also be a big hassle with many complications. Being able to visualize the completed project is a must. Start with a big picture in mind and then focus in on the details that will make the property an amazing place to live.

Location is Key

Experienced apartment building investors like Steven Taylor Los Angeles know that the biggest consideration for flipping is location. A property that needs almost no refurbishment isn’t going to make you enough money if it’s in a part of town where no one wants to live. On the other hand, a junky apartment complex in a sought-after neighborhood is almost always worth the money you put into making it habitable.

Reimagine the Space

Unless you demolish the building, there is little you can do about its orientation on the piece of land. However, you can reimagine the land the building sits on. Consider moving the entrance to a less busy side street. Determine whether the upkeep and liability of a pool is worth the money or if it could be filled in and landscaped, creating a beautiful greenspace for residents. If there are several courtyards, perhaps one could be fenced and turned into a doggie play area. Hedges can be added for privacy or and overgrown areas trimmed for security. In other words, although the building stays put, the atmosphere around it can change completely.

Modernize the Property

Landlords like Steven Taylor LA know the importance of modernizing the entire property from the inside out. Often this might include updating units to be on a more efficient HVAC system. Sometimes it means replumbing. If you want to be able to ask for rent that is in line with other newer properties, you have to offer a compatible living space. If the newer units across the street advertise stainless steel appliances and covered parking, you need to up your game. Added security features like solid wood doors, deadbolt locks, peepholes and code-access gates could make your property stand out. In addition, installing engineered hardwood floors, recessed lighting and shutters (rather than plastic mini blinds) could ultimately make your renters feel like they are getting more for their money.

Becoming a landlord is ultimately about whether you can make money; however, because you’re dealing with real people and not just facts and figures, it’s also about creating a great place to live for your tenants. Finding the right balance between the two is the road to success.

The coronavirus pandemic has shown us all how important it is to be comfortable in your own home because you never know how long you’re going to be stuck there. An online remodeling platform called Houzz saw a 58% increase in home remodeling projects in June of 2020, in response to the pandemic. Here are a few reasons why now the perfect time is to do a remodel if you’ve been considering it.

Lifestyle Changes

The pandemic has an impact on so many aspects of our daily lives and the home has become more crucial than ever. It’s no longer just a place to relax and spend time with your family it’s an office, school, social club, or vacation spot and if your home is not designed to accommodate these activities it can be hard to adjust. If you’ve been forced to make a sudden lifestyle change, it may be wise to update your home accordingly, so you can feel comfortable until things begin to return to normal.

Low-Interest Rates

The federal reserve has slashed interest rates to zero, which means that most lenders will be willing to give you a cheap loan if you qualify for it. That means that now is a great time to refinance your mortgage or borrow against the equity of your home because it’s never been more affordable to do so. If you’ve thought about remodeling, you can possibly save money by refinancing your mortgage and putting that toward home improvement. As long as you make improvements that are tasteful and functional, it will increase the resale value of your home, so you will get that money back when you decide to sell.

You’re Home Anyway

If you’re going to be stuck at home anyway, you may as well use the time productively. Remodeling can be difficult if you’re busy with normal daily activities like work and watching your children. But if you’re working from home and your kids are doing virtually schooling, you have all the time in the world to supervise a home remodeling project. It doesn’t take much effort to keep an eye on the process – you simply need someone nearby to open the door for workers and contractors and be available if there are any issues or delays. Under normal circumstances, this can be tricky if you have a busy schedule. But if you’re already going to be sticking close to home, it won’t be as much of a hassle.

If you are considering a home or room remodel, visit Kitchen & Bath By Design. Renovations are major projects so be sure to select a trusted home renovation company that can get the job done right.