How to charge for house cleaning business?

Archive for May, 2010

How to charge for house cleaning business?

Tuesday, May 18th, 2010

I am starting a house cleaning business I am trying to figure out how to charge clients. I was thinking $10 per room. Does that sound like enough or too much? We do the following – clean bathroom, kitchen, all floors and dust everything in the house, plus door glass. Bring all our own supplies. I told one person what I charge and she though it was outrageous! I don’t think it is though…I have to hire another cleaner at $9 an hour and buy all supplies. What do you think? Oh, we are in Hannibal Mo.

I think you are better off to charge by the hour, rather than the room.

It’s also highly location dependent. We pay $120 per clean here in Canada, but only $40 for our similar house in Phoenix.

I suggest you do some market research. Phone some cleaners in your area, and ask them for an estimate to clean your house. Then match the competition.

Posted in house cleaning | 1 Comment »

Uv Sterilization in Aquariums; Misinformation

Wednesday, May 12th, 2010

I continue to follow the threads on forums, aquarium articles, and blogs about UV Sterilization. It still amazes me much misinformation spread about this, some masked in science. As I have stated many times before, a UV Sterilizer is not essential for any aquarium, however even for goldfish I have had maintained tanks with as many variables (similarities) in place as possible and noted the differences and this includes thriving reef tanks.

What I also find interesting is that many of these same persons who trash them will then state a protein skimmer as essential. I have maintained tanks with and without Skimmers (again every other possible variable the same or as close as possible), and noted the changes in measurable parameters and found that yes they are useful, however often not by much and that Mud Filters, DIY DSB filters or similar can often replace them (as well as UV Sterilizers and good over head lighting such as MH).

Back to the subject at hand, here is a thread I will comment on. In this thread one person who offered proof (albeit not of the perfect scientific nature, but as good as it can often be within this hobby) was attacked dog pile style without other backing up their statements other than criticizing his methods:

Arthur #1 (Edited):

“If you read some scientific documents about UV sterilization of water you will know they talk usually about a standard long, 40W mercury UV tube in a 3″ diameter lamp and water passing at the speed about 500 gph or less. This kind of setup delivers dosage of about 18,000 mW-sec/cm2. In order to increase this dosage you need to lower the water flow. For example, 250 gph

flow will in above mentioned lamp would be exposed to the almost double dosage of 34,000 mW-sec/cm2. This dosage is enough to kill bacteria, yeast, some mold spores, viruses and microalgae. And some aquarium grade lamps achive this effect with unicellular algea. To kill protozoa (like a well known from school “Paramecium” or our ich-causing “Cryptocaryon irritans”)

you would have to increase the dosage.

MY COMMENT:

First, most studies I have read show under 10,000 mW per se/cm2 for bacteria. Second, I have read articles that have shown 30,000 + mW-sec/cm2 with 90 watt bulbs at a rate of 200 + gallons per MINUTE (which even I find hard to believe, my point often it depends on whose data you look at. Third, there is more to treatment of Cryptocaryon than just out right sterilization (I would not want it that high in my reef tanks!!!), there is also the Redox potential which Sterilizers improve and also general water quality.

Finally each unit is different and there are many variables from age of the bulb (even a 3 month old bulb has lost 25%), to temperature, design of the unit, pre filtration (a micron pre filter vastly improves sterilization), and to flow rate which I have found to be best at 20 gph (or less for most good units in aquarium applications).

Arthur #2 (edited):

Without a hospital tank, adding a new fish was always hazardous. Back when I had

no UV on the tank, once one of the fish started showing signs, the life

expectancy of that fish was usually less than 3 days; they could not take the

combined stress of the parasites and the copper treatment. Other fish in the

tank would invariably show signs of infestation later, but would usually make it

through. Once the first sterilizer was added, the rate at which the disease

spread decreased; my theory is that some of the parasites were being killed in

their free-swimming stage. After that, the first fish to show signs usually

survived, and some of the other fish would never show any signs at all.

Once I added the second sterilizer, I never lost a fish to ich, though I did get

the occasional infestation. In short, there was a direct relationship to the

number of watts of UV and the intensity and rate of spread of the disease.

Since I was not religious in changing the bulbs (and the bulbs get less

effective with time), I was also in a position to notice that an outbreak was

worse when the sterilizer bulb was pretty old. Again, this didn’t happen once I

had two units running.

MY COMMENT:

This person most likely had decent units with low flow rates, pre filtration, and useful discernment.

Without elaborating too much (my expanded articles have much about this), as stated earlier there are other aspects of UV Sterilizers such Redox Potential, this is not a hard test to perform; simply test the Redox without a UV and then run one for a week and test again, easy! So many person who trash persons like this have not considered all the variables if they have failed, myself I have seen UV Sterilizers not do a damn thing. These were often 8 watt Units running off a sump with a flow rate of 800 gph, a calcified quartz sleeve and poor pre filtration. This is not to say a 8 watt unit (or less) cannot work, just not under those conditions (and in the case a brand I will not mention, a poor mixing chamber design as well). The 15 Watt Custom UV Sterilizer I made has performed well in most every application I have placed it in (The Terminator Compact UV Sterilizers do well too, one of the best compact UVs I have used along with the ReSun and Coralife).

What a UV Sterilizer is, is a tool for good aquarium husbandry along with water changes, filtration, Protein Skimmers and more. In many of my side by side applications with and without, the UV was just one more piece of the puzzle to improved water quality in let’s face it, an artificial environment (unless we want to kid ourselves). I can think of one experiment in particular with several goldfish tanks at a large service customer of mine. All these tanks in particular had canister filters, cleaning and the same feeding schedule and bio load; the only difference was UV Sterilizers. The difference in amount of diseased goldfish, growth and color was very noticeable (the vice president did not no we were performing this experiment and even commented about why some tanks did better than others, after which she had us install UV Sterilizers on all).

For my FULL aricle (including references and more links), please visit this site:

Aquarium and Pond UV Sterilizer

Carl Strohmeyer
http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/uv-sterilization-in-aquariums-misinformation-136944.html

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Computer Runs Slow–you May Have a Registry Problem

Wednesday, May 12th, 2010

A new computer in pristine condition, right from the box, will run at the full speed it was built for. Exactly how fast it runs depends on the speed of the computer chip,the amount of software you have installed and the amount of ram memory you have amongst other things.Obviously it also depends on the type of internet service you have. A dial up service is slow no matter what kind of computer you have. A broadband high speed internet service is fast and some extreme high speed services are available which are even faster.

If your computer is slowing down noticeably probably the most important thing that you need to do is to clean your registry. Registry? What is that?.

All windows computers have a registry which is a database that the operating system uses to run the computer and programs. Over time as the computer is used the registry becomes choked with fragments of programs and other data. Every time you download a program from the internet or uninstall a program there is the possibility that data fragments will be left in the registry. Over time depending on how much use the computer gets this unwanted material builds up and bloats the registry. The operating system must navigate through this material to find the entries it needs to run the machine. This can cause very slow running,freezing and occasionally crashing. This gets worse as time goes by unless it is corrected.

The registry can be cleaned manually by using the Regedit function which is installed on the machine for this purpose. However be seriously forewarned that just one error here may disable the computer to the extent that it will not run. The only thing to be done then is to reinstall the operating system. Obviously we do not want to do this and lose all material stored in the computer. There has to be a better way and yes indeed there is.

Several companies make registry cleaner applications available for download on the internet. These programs will backup your registry then clean all unwanted material out. When finished which takes only a few minutes the machine will run like new again with a registry in good condition.

There are a number of these registry repair utilities available from several companies. Most of them will first offer you a free online scan of your registry to determine if there is in fact a problem there. You can look at the results of the scan and decide if you want to pay a reasonable fee for the program to clean your registry. We certainly recommend this rather than trying to do it yourself unless you really know what should and should not be in the registry.

Quality of the registry cleaners varies somewhat. There is a good,better and best as with most things.

John Mowatt
http://www.articlesbase.com/computers-articles/computer-runs-slowyou-may-have-a-registry-problem-727097.html

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How Do I Transfer My 8mm Film To DVD

Wednesday, May 12th, 2010

In either case, you want to sit down and think about the importance of your film to yourself and your extended family, what skills and equipment you have or are willing to buy and how much time you have to invest in the project.

For most people, time, skills and/or equipment are the issues which cause them to search out a company that can do it for them. Before you do that, you need to understand what type of 8mm film to DVD processes there are and which one best fits your needs and budget.

Before we jump into the different 8mm film to DVD processes, let’s go over some basics. Video has several characteristics that determine how good it is. One of the most important characteristics is the number of lines of resolution. The resolution determines how detailed and sharp the video is. If you’ve ever watched a standard definition video channel on an HDTV and then switched to the HD version, you notice that the HD version is much sharper and detailed. The reason is that standard definition video has 480 horizontal lines while HD has 1080 lines.

In a similar way, your old 8mm movie films have a maximum resolution. The maximum resolution for an 8mm film to DVD transfer is limited by the film grain size and the size of the frame. Research has shown that 8mm film has the equivalent of 700 lines of horizontal resolution. So, a standard definition 8mm film to DVD transfer will only be able to capture 480 out of the 700 lines of resolution on your film. A high definition 8mm film transfer will be able to capture all 700 lines of resolution on your 8mm film since it is a 1080 line video format.

In addition to resolution, the type of film transfer is equally important to the final video quality you receive from your 8mm film to DVD transfer.

There are a few basic types of 8mm film to DVD transfer processes. More than 98% of the companies out there today use a real-time transfer. That is, they capture the film at the same speed that the film normally runs at. So, if a 3 inch reel runs in 3.5 minutes, the capture takes just 3.5 minutes. There are several ways to perform a real-time 8mm film to DVD transfer. Some shoot the film on a screen and record it with a camcorder. Some use mirrors and a camera. Some transfer the film to VHS first using equipment from the 1980′s and then transfer that to DVD. Because of the transfer speed and nature of a real-time capture, the resulting video frames are usually slightly blurry and the colors are faded compared to the film. In general, any type of real-time transfer will result in video that is 30-50% worse than the film’s current condition.

A second and much newer 8mm film to DVD transfer process is called frame by frame. A frame by frame process means that each 8mm film frame is captured like a separate digital picture. Most frame by frame machines are high-end $50,000+ machines that scan or project the image directly onto a CCD device. Reading each frame one at a time ensures that all the details are captured from the film. A frame by frame process will result in video that is 30-50% better than a similarly configured real-time process.

Be aware, some companies claiming a frame by frame transfer are doing a real-time transfer and then are extracting each film frame after the real-time capture. Because the capture process is real-time, it will still produce video that is 30-50% worse than the current film’s quality just like any other real-time process. These companies are trying to capitalize on the “Frame by Frame” slogan and price without giving you frame by frame quality.

So, at this point you’ve learned that 8mm film to DVD transfers can capture at standard definition (480 lines) or high definition (1080 lines). You’ve also learned that a frame by frame transfer can be 30-50% better quality than a real-time transfer. So, looking at it this way, there are now four 8mm film to DVD transfer process combinations. In order from least to best quality we have:

1) Real-Time Standard Definition (least quality)
2) Real-Time High Definition
3) Frame by Frame Standard Definition
4) Frame by Frame High Definition (best quality)

You’ll find all four processes being used today and you’ll see the price reflect that. Real-time standard definition processes go for 10 to 15 cents/ft, real-time high definition for 16-21 cents/ft, frame by frame standard definition 21 to 28 cents/ft and frame by frame high definition for 40 to 60 cents/ft

Besides these 4 different 8mm film to DVD transfer processes above, you’ll notice that a few companies have started to offer restoration services. The reason is that over 90% of the 8mm film today has colors that have shifted, exposure that is now darker, is grainy and scratched. These are natural side affects of the aging process. In addition, there may have been exposure or other types of issues that were originally recorded on the film to begin with.

Companies will have a wide range of abilities from no restoration at all, to a limited scene level color corrector, to full frame by frame restoration using dedicated film restoration machines.

If you want to pursue doing the 8mm film to DVD transfer yourself, there are a few options you can try. Elmo used to make a telecine transfer machine. They sell for about $2000. It produces about 240 lines of resolution per frame and only transfers to VHS.

Goto also makes a telecine machine called the TC-20. You can use a digital camcorder to capture the images through a firewire connection to your computer. This unit costs around $1300. You should be able to read in 480 lines of resolution on this type of transfer.

Even though the Goto machine will produce better results than the Elmo, both will produce the least quality of the 4 processes outlined above. But again, these may be good alternatives for you if you have a lot of film that you want to transfer.

Don’t forget that you’ll most likely need a splicer and splicing tape to repair your film before the transfer. You’ll also want to look into getting a film cleaner to clean the film as well.

Ron Wicker
http://www.articlesbase.com/technology-articles/how-do-i-transfer-my-8mm-film-to-dvd-134026.html

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How to Optimize Your Pc Performance

Wednesday, May 12th, 2010

You bought a top of the line system with the best parts, however after a few months you end up find it running at snail’s pace wondering whatever happened to your “best” computer. Well, here you must remember, a computer is unlike a television that once you buy, it works the same way it used to for years and years. A computer is not a static device. It is highly dynamic – in the sense that you do lot of stuff with it. You process and save documents, spreadsheets, run a number of applications, play games, save loads and loads of music and video files, etc. To do all this job, with the same speed of a newly bought one, it requires a lot of tuning up.

Here are some simple methods to tune up your system.

Remove unwanted programs

Your computer’s hard disk is like your file cabinet. You don’t want to clutter it with the brochure you got when shopping for something, outdated magazines, rough drafts, etc. Sometimes you might have downloaded an application that was required to visit that particular site, which may still be sitting in your hard disk eating the space. Needless to say the countless trial software that you don’t even need, live in your system even after their trial period ended. Over a period of time, these programs and get piled up and you may not be aware this is slowing down your system.

Removing these programs not only will improve your computer performance but will also leave more space for the important data you need. You can periodically check out your start up menu for unwanted applications. Also, you can check for duplicate data and remove those. For example, when you download a WinZip file after extracting it, you can delete the compressed file.

Clean up the Registry

Your operating system’s Registry is a bank of information about everything that is happening in your computer. It s very much like our brain, that keeps track of everything in our human system. When you delete a program, or move a file location or any of those routine tasks that you perform, a residue of that is left behind in the Registry. What you can do is you can clean up your Registry from time to time. There are many free programs available in the Internet, you can safely download them and clean up your computer.

Hard Disk fragmentation

To understand Hard Disk fragmentation, first let’s see how data is stored in a Hard Disk. Hard disk stores data in portions called sectors. Imagine the surface of the Hard Disk divided into rings like the many rings on a circular race track, then imagine dividing each ring into small pie-slices. A sector is one such slice on the ring. Each sector holds a fixed amount of data.

So when you install a new program to your empty hard disk, your computer can store the files of the program in a sequential manner, on the rings. This is the best way to store the data on a hard disk – for the reason that it can be quickly retrieved when needed. However, in due course of time, when you keep installing and uninstalling many applications, this sequential storing of data becomes harder for your hard disk. When a single program’s files are dispersed in your hard disk like a jigsaw puzzle pieces, it only increases the time taken for the disk’s arm to access them, resulting in slowing down.

When you defragment your disk, all the files are stored on sequential sectors on sequential rings of the disk. The point here is to minimize the arm movement when a program loads. This also helps to increase the speed of file loading.

Virus Removal

A virus, with creating other harmful problems, may decrease the performance of your PC too. To protect and improve your PC performance, you can install anti-virus software in your system and run virus scans regularly. There are several free anti-virus programs and Internet Service Providers too offer free anti virus software.

If your system is severely affected by virus, it’s advisable to seek a technician’s help to get rid of them. There are many online technical support providers that offer virus, malware removal services at affordable rates. You can just call them or opt for remote support where a technician will have access to your computer and clean up your system.

Thendral
http://www.articlesbase.com/computers-articles/how-to-optimize-your-pc-performance-744100.html

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Childproofing your Home

Wednesday, May 12th, 2010

Having babies and small children in your home means life, fun, noise and safety, safety, safety. Normal, everyday items can be dangerous and even life-threatening to them, so you’ll want to make any necessary changes to your living environment to ensure the safety of your little ones. From room-to-room there are different adjustments to be made. Here are a few tips to get you started:

The Nursery / Child’s Room

1. Use a baby monitor to track Baby’s activities while you’re in another room.

2. Wrap curtain cords and Venetian blind cords and put them out of reach as they can pose a strangulation hazard.

3. Use a changing table with high sides and a safety trap. Never leave Baby alone on the table.

4. Cover all unused electrical outlets with clear, plastic covers.

5. Check toys for sharp edges and detachable pieces that could be a choking hazard.

The Kitchen

1. While preparing food, keep babies and toddlers in a playpen within your sight, but far from the oven and hot foods.

2. Keep electrical appliances out-of-reach.

3. Keep sharp knives locked up or out-of-reach.

4. Put childproof latches on kitchen cabinets.

5. Keep plastic bags and plastic wrap out of children’s’ reach.

6. Don’t heat baby bottles or formula in the microwave as the center of the liquid can be scalding while other parts are cool to the touch.

7. Remove tablecloths as children can pull the cloth and get hurt by objects that fall off of the table.

8. Store cleaning products in a locked cabinet or out of children’s’ reach.

9. Keep a tight lid on your trash can to keep little hands from finding sharp objects or other potentially harmful items.

10. Keep your dishwasher latched when not in use.

11. Keep a fire extinguisher on hand.

12. Make sure your smoke extinguishers are in good working order.

Living Areas

1. Cover all electrical outlets with clear, plastic childproof covers.

2. Use childproof screens around your heaters, fireplaces and woodstoves.

3. Place safety gates at the top and bottom of stairs.

4. Cover trash containers securely.

5. Keep drapes, curtain cords and Venetian blind cords out-of-reach.

6. Don’t use paint that contains mercury or lead as chipped paint could tempt little ones to taste this poisonous material.

7. Keep ash trays with ashes out of children’s’ reach.

8. Keep household plants out-of-reach to avoid babies and children grabbing and eating potentially poisonous leaves.

9. Make sure that carpets and rugs have non-skid backing.

The Bathroom

1. Keep medications, cleansers, toiletries, razor blades and other hazardous items out-of-reach in locked cabinets.

2. Use non-slip mats in tub and shower areas.

3. Bathe young children and babies in water that feels warm, not hot.

4. Always supervise children under six in the bathtub.

5. Keep electrical appliances away from water sources and out-of-reach.

6. Put toilet lid locks on all toilets if you have a child under three.

7. Set your hot water heater below 120 degrees Fahrenheit to help prevent scalding.

8. Keep bathroom doors closed.

Jacqueline Courtiol
http://www.articlesbase.com/women’s-issues-articles/childproofing-your-home-88204.html

Posted in household cleaning tips | 4 Comments »

Google Adsense Compensates the Affiliate on a Pay-per-click Basis

Wednesday, May 12th, 2010

Chances are, you’ve heard of Google; the enormously popular search engine that everyone is using these days. But did you know that there’s a way Google can help you make money? It’s true; and the best part is you won’t have to do very much to make it work. That’s the beauty of Adsense.

Google Adsense works on the principle of passive income. In other words, you will generate income with a minimal amount of active participation on your part. Think of it this way: Instead of having to do all of the cooking and cleaning yourself, imagine if you had a robot that could do it all for you, for more details visit to www.google-atm-machine.com while you sat back and watched. Adsense works in a similar way, except instead of a cleaner house you get a fatter bank account. Sounds pretty nice, doesn’t it? We will show you how to make passive income work for you.

The world’s richest people all understand the concept of passive income. That’s how they can jet-set off to fancy parties and exotic locales while their businesses continue to flourish. They have more than just crackerjack staffs and winning ideas. They have passive income on the payroll.

Once you’ve invested the small amount of time to learn about Adsense and set it up, all that is left for you to do is to sit back and watch as your bank account or PayPal balance increases.
What is Adsense, anyway?

In a nutshell, it’s a fast and easy way for a website owner to make money through the placement of Google ads on their site. Adsense takes the guesswork out of ad placement, by choosing ads that relate very closely to the content on your site. You no longer have to search for relevant ads yourself; Google Adsense does the searching for you.

Without Adsense, you would have to spend countless hours searching for different ads for each of the pages on your site. All that searching could seriously eat into your golf time! With Adsense, you will be able to concentrate on providing your site’s visitors with high-quality content.

The program rewards site owners for providing web surfers with interesting content. You will generate an income stream from your website or blog just by participating in the program. Some site owners have earned monthly incomes in the thousands of dollars! Even if your initial incomes are small, for more details visit to www.adsense-income-exposed.com Adsense has the potential to earn your site a very comfortable second income stream. You’ll even earn while you sleep! And if you own more than one site, the earning potential is just that much greater!

The way it works is this:

Google Adsense compensates the affiliate on a pay-per-click basis. Each time an ad is clicked, the advertiser pays Google a certain amount. After they have deducted their amount, Google will forward you the rest, usually on a monthly schedule.

Do you want to earn money while you travel the world, play with your kids or simply take time out for yourself? That can be a reality with Adsense. With a simple set up and some tried-and-true strategies for taking full advantage of the program, you will soon see the dollars rolling in. So relax, put your feet up, and let Adsense work for you.

Ram Babu
http://www.articlesbase.com/internet-marketing-articles/google-adsense-compensates-the-affiliate-on-a-payperclick-basis-718524.html

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Choosing a Professional in Cleaning Services

Wednesday, May 12th, 2010

Choosing a trusted professional which one offers to your family and your home a safe and hygienic way to maintain your environment is not easy task. Imagine a sparkling bathroom, fragrant couch, radiant floors and a sterile kitchen top without having to lift a finger. Maintaining household cleaning has never been easier.

How will I know I can trust them?

Some maid service offer safe, environmentally friendly way to thoroughly clean homes. They use HEPA filtered vacuums which pick up 99.9% of pollen, dust mites, mould spores and pet hairs whilst purifying the air during the vacuuming of all floors, carpets and upholstery. They guarantee the safety and health of their cleaners and your family. Their steam cleaning option is also a 100% safe and natural way to eliminate nasty elements from around your home.

What services do they offer?

Cleaning services include a regular maintenance house clean of the bathroom, floors and kitchen, to dusting all household items, even light fixtures. Services can also include degreasing kitchen appliances, sanitizing all household products, polishing knick knacks, steam cleaning couches and curtains, and even cleaning the garbage container. If you so desire, cleaners can even hand wash floors for that extra personal service some desire. Maintaining your home has never been more thorough than with a good professional.

However it is not just regular home cleaning on offer. Some advertise a range of services such as: renovation, steam cleaning, laundry, cleaning, organizing and moving. Simply choose your desired cleaning service and let them know what you want. It is important to natural maids that the service they provide tailors your lifestyle and requirements, not the other way round.

What products do they use?

Cleaning firms have tested each one of their products to ensure its cleansing and hygiene abilities are an improvement on other top selling (yet environmentally harmful) cleaners on the market. Often special care must be taken for expensive and special surfaces such as granite and natural stone, the cornerstones of any grand kitchen, and company’s cleaners use a mild, gentle, perfectly pH neutral formula to safely clean and disinfect your counters, leaving them spotless, free of film and fragrant.

They also include revolutionary natural aroma therapy benefits to your home. After a professional clean, you will enter a home infused with gentle and natural fragrances which provide a calm and welcoming element to your home. Home cleaning maintenance as thorough as this not only benefits those interested in living in a desirable home but also those home sellers who want an extra leg up in the house market. A well maintained home is a profitable home.

Where can I find a professional in maid service?

You can selected some professionals in clean services in Toronto, North York, Etobicoke, Thornehill, Downsview, Vaughan, Woodbridge, Maple, Aurora, Newmarket, and Bolton. They also offer a local maid service in Mississauga, Oakville, Burlington, Hamilton, Milton, Brampton, and Georgetown, Guelph and surrounding areas. Reducing the stress in your life is as easy as hiring a professional in house cleaning.

Amy Nutt

Posted in house cleaning | 4 Comments »

The Secret to Living With Allergies Part 4: for a Healthier Night’s Sleep, Start With Dust Control in the Bedroom

Wednesday, May 12th, 2010

When you have indoor allergies to dust, mold and pet dander, you come into contact with allergy irritants all year round. This contact can be the highest in your bedroom, where you come to rest and rejuvenate, but may end up worsening allergy symptoms. The high levels of allergens found in your bedroom can affect your health, and the path to a healthier night’s sleep is through reducing your exposure to allergens and therefore preventing allergy symptoms. While steps should be taken throughout the home to reduce allergens, start in the bedroom as you spend the most time here. When you take these allergy relief steps, you’ll be on your way to a healthier home and a healthier night’s sleep.

Step 1: Cover Your Pillow and Mattress in Dust Mite-Proof Allergy Encasings

Over 1 million dust mites can live in a single bed. These dust mites love the dark, warm and humid environment found in any bedding, such as your pillows, mattress, box spring, comforter, blankets or linens. You are allergic to dust mite allergens, which are the dust mites’ dead bodies and fecal particles. You can protect yourself from the large source of allergens within the bed by using allergy-proof covers (or ‘allergy encasings’), which create a barrier between you and the allergens inside. Certain allergy encasings may also protect against pet dander that has built up in the bed and are helpful if you have pet allergies. The allergy encasings zip fully around your pillow or mattress, and the most recommended encasings, such as Allergy Control® encasings, are made from tightly woven fibers that are breathable, totally comfortable and easy to care for. Scientific studies prove the effectiveness of including these allergy encasings on your bed, and by taking this simple step, you can make a lasting difference toward a healthier night’s sleep.

Step 2: Wash Your Bedding Frequently

After including Allergy Control® encasings on the bed, it’s important to wash any other bedding, such as linens or blankets, frequently in hot water. Physicians recommended washing every 1 to 2 weeks, as hot water washing removes the dust mite allergens from bedding that contribute to your allergy symptoms. If you prefer not to wash in hot water, special allergen-removing laundry products such as Allersearch Allergen Wash or de-mite Laundry Additive can remove dust mite allergens in any temperature.

Step 3: Clean Regularly to Reduce Allergen Levels

Regular cleaning of your bedroom and home will keep allergen levels lower. Focus on the bedroom, following these 6 Steps for Allergy Relief and then use similar methods throughout the house. Prioritize your efforts to those cleaning steps that are the most practical and beneficial for removing allergens. An allergy sufferer should avoid being home when cleaning is done, or wear a face mask when others clean or when doing the cleaning. A face mask similar to Allergy Zone face mask includes a center valve that filters allergen particles while allowing breath to flow comfortably for easy use while cleaning.

Step 4: Remove or Treat Carpeting, the Second Largest Source of Dust Mite Allergens

Dust mites like to burrow into the fibers of the carpet, and as a result, the carpet is the second largest source of dust mite allergens after the bed. Removing the carpet in favor of hardwood or tile floors is the best option. If removing the carpet is not possible, clean the carpet with an allergy-related carpet treatment that is designed to kill dust mites or denature (meaning to ‘deactivate’) allergens. Also remove heavy curtains in favor of light, washable versions or blinds, and select leather or wipe-able furniture over stuffed upholstered furniture.

Step 5: Filter Air with HEPA Air Cleaners, Air Filters and HEPA Vacuums to Remove Airborne Allergens

Allergens can circulate in the air in your home and using air filters and HEPA filtration products such as HEPA Air Cleaners and HEPA Vacuum Cleaners will trap these allergens to decrease the irritants that you may inhale. Allergy-free® air filters in your central air/heat system will trap allergens from further circulating through the vents. HEPA air cleaners and HEPA air purifiers will trap 99.97% of allergens down to 0.3 microns that flow through the HEPA filter. HEPA air cleaners will trap dust, mold spores, pollens and more and are especially helpful for pet allergies as pet dander remains airborne for longer periods of time for improved filtration.

Step 6: Dehumidify Air to Reduce Dust Mite and Mold Levels

Dust mites and molds thrive in humid environments. Keeping humidity levels below 50% will decrease the growth of each, which will reduce the allergens in your home. Use air conditioners and dehumidifiers to keep levels ideally between 35 – 40%. Monitor humidity levels with a gauge to make sure that you’re in the right zone, even in the winter when using a humidifier.

Colleen Finnegan
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/the-secret-to-living-with-allergies-part-4-for-a-healthier-nights-sleep-start-with-dust-control-in-the-bedroom-682960.html

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how much does it cost to get insured and/or bonded for house cleaning services?

Saturday, May 8th, 2010

I am just starting out my cleaning career as a personal house cleaner and am not bonded or insured at the moment, but would like to get insurance ASAP. How much does it cost and who would I go to for this service?

Insurance and bonding are two seperate things, but they’re probably going to run you around $1700, all together. Likely, you’d have to pay that up front.

You’d go to a local, independent agent near you, to first get the quotes, then buy both the bond and the insurance.

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