Category Archives: Guest Post

Mold Remediation

Mold Remediation is not merely cleaning the molds. It involves the elimination of the source of moisture; containment of the molds to control its further spread; removal of dead molds and spores from infested areas; and the treatment of the area to avoid future occurrence of molds.

During the course of mold remediation, the contractors wear Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to avoid contamination. They wear gloves to avoid contact with allergens and cleaning solutions; and a respirator with HEPA filter to prevent entry of small particles. Disposable protective clothing is recommended too to forestall the transfer of mold and to prevent skin contact. The PPE should be worn all throughout the process to protect the entire body.

In all mold remediation processes, the goal is to remove the contaminated materials in a manner that will discourage its recurrence. During the process, one or more of the methods may be utilized: Clean up with anti-microbial agent; application of organic-based enzyme or fungicide or mold encapsulator; and sanding or painting. Though professionals have different strategies, the procedure boils down only to three steps.

The first method employed is identifying and cutting off the source of water. Wet vacuuming is utilized to collect accumulated water from the area but only if it is still wet. If the affected surfaces are already dry, the molds will be wiped out or scrubbed with water and detergent. Afterwards, the place has to be dried quickly.

The second process is to spray the infested area with biocide. Biocide is a liquid which eradicates mold. It is Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approved to kill the molds. HEPA (High-Efficiency Particulate Air) vacuum is recommended for the final cleanup of the dust that settled on surfaces beyond the remediation area.

The last step is to encapsulate the molds. This is done by spraying the moldy area and its surrounding with paint or whitewash. This ensures that the remaining spores do not spread and no more molds grow.

All the materials damaged by molds are removed and sealed in a 6-mil polyethylene sheeting before bringing outside the containment area. This is a way to contain the spores and prevent its release into the air before final disposition.

Upon completion of the process, post-treatment testing is conducted to find out if the remediation was successful. It involves evaluation of the area to detect any airborne spores. Passing the clearance test is an indication that the contaminated area was completely treated.

How To Choose a Quality Camping Bed

Now days camping can be equaled to enjoying a night in the comforts of home with new technology and luxuries that are available that have not always been in years past. Though campers and hikers in previous times pursued the outdoors for the experience of nature and all that it has to offer, campers now can choose to still smell the fresh air and rest comfortably in spacious tents with their heads off the ground in a camping bed.

Types of Beds
In the past, camping mattresses have either been the type you have to either blow up with your own lungs or have an external pump, or just a foam pad, but now there are more options. Camping beds range in size from twin to full. If more than one person is camping and does not mind sharing a bed, then a bigger camp bed and mattress can be obtained. A double camp bed or camping bunk beds can be easily found at an outdoors store or even a large chain store. For more convenience and easy travel, some campers prefer air bed camping, which is done with an air mattress and a portable pump. A folding camp bed is also more fit for travel and hiking. No matter the type of mattress or pad that is used, the bed is supported by a lightweight metal or plastic spring frame and is usually easy to assemble. This allows for a cleaner sleeping environment and more comfort and stability for the camper.

Things to Consider
Buying a camping bed requires an adequate amount of consideration before a final decision. Weather is an important factor because the mattress and frame need to be weather resistant. It also needs to meet the standards of the camper for comfort levels and possible health issues like back problems and arthritis. Price is a factor. Though the cheapest equipment should not be the first option, the most expensive should not be the only consideration for best quality. A look at the features of the bed and maybe a consultation with someone with more experience could be helpful in finding a quality bed for a reasonable price.

An uncomfortable bed can lead to sleepless nights and an overall unpleasant camping experience. However, a quality camping bed could brilliantly intertwine the joys of home and the great outdoors. A decrease in stiffness and discomfort is an increase in a pleasurable camping adventure.

How To Design A Butterfly Garden

To those who have never done it, designing a live butterfly garden might appear a bit intimidating. But in reality, so long as you are careful to do a little planning and aren’t afraid of some elbow grease at the outset, the joy of a butterfly garden is well within your reach.

First you need a sunny spot. The sun is important because plants grown better when they get plenty of exposure to it. But it is also critical for butterflies, who are cold-blooded insects. Without sun, they can’t fly.

People wonder how large a butterfly garden should be. There is no single right answer. It really depends on how hard you want to work to create it, and what kind of result you are hoping to achieve. Really, you could put a few plants in pots and so long as they’re the right plants, you’ll have butterfly visitors. But if you want a number of species, then you need something a bit larger.

Aim for ten by ten square feet. Till the soil and then add some nutrients to give your plants a real jump start. Lime is good, as is compost – both of which are available at garden supply stores.

Once you’ve got your garden set up, it’s time to add some plants. What should you add? Well, different species like different plants. You can do a little research and try to maximize your plants for ideal butterflies.

But a simple list of relatively easy to care for plants probably includes: rose bushes (go for a few shades of red), asters, marigolds, violets, butterfly bushes, clover and zinnias. You can add milkweed if you are interested in attracting Monarch Butterflies.

Be sure that you keep your plants grouped together by color. We love butterflies because of their colorful wings, and they love plants because of the colorful blooms! If you scatter the flowers, the butterflies will have a harder time focusing on where they want to alight. Keep your yellows with your yellow and your pinks with your pinks!

After you’ve got the plants up, it’s time to kick back and watch the butterfly show begin!

Prepare for Disaster by Packing an Emergency Backpack

You never know when disaster is going to hit close to home.  It’s a simple thing to overlook as we go about our daily lives, but the evidence that things can go terribly wrong on a horribly grand scale is rampant among our world.  Earthquakes, hurricanes, flooding, and wartime struggles are just a few catalysts to force us out of our homes in a moment’s notice and on to the street facing primal survival.  The illustration may sound like hyperbole, but unfortunately, emergency evacuation is something millions of people have to face each year.

Fortunately, you can always prepare for the worst.  If disaster preparedness is themed around immediate evacuation, there are a few things to consider.  First, pack light.  A lot of folks think emergency preparation means going out and buying a pallet of freeze dried food.  That’s great if you’re faced with a disaster that grants you the fortune of staying in your home, but one ton of beef jerky won’t do you much good if you’re forced 100 miles from your neighborhood.  Only pack the things that you need.

Sticking with the packing light theme, pack smart.  Emergency backpacks can surely be loaded with practical tools you may get use out of for years, but what we’re primarily focused on, particularly in reference to perishables (like food and water), are items that will get us through 72 hours – a week at the latest.  Sure, you may very well find yourself in a seriously awful predicament for a much longer period of time, but 72 hours generally allows you get yourself somewhat established and where you need to be to continue.

You’ll also need to pack ahead of time.  This sounds like a no-brainer…it is.  Unfortunately, we as humans tend to put things off until it’s too late.  Going out and purchasing all of the supplies necessary for a good evacuation kit is only half the battle.  If disaster strikes, you don’t want to be running around like a maniac piecing everything together while your house falls apart; you might forget something, or worse, die.  Do yourself a favor, and put your gear together in an easily accessible, memorable location.

As far as the gear itself, we’re keeping it basic.  You need a versatile backpack to stow your supplies, long-lasting, high calorie food, water, first aid, simple tools, a radio, and lightweight shelter.  This guy put together a wonderfully detailed list of all the supplies you need for preparing an emergency backpack.

Remember, pack simple, be smart, and don’t put it off until it’s too late.  Good luck out there!

For Those Not into Weight Lifting: Hamstring Exercises without Weights

The reason why a lot of people are discouraged from exercising is the use of weights and machines, especially with what they see on advertisements. But of course you can perform exercises even without weights or machines; you just have to be resourceful and creative. You may even find that there are exercises specifically developed so you won’t need anything else but just your body movements to execute them.

You can perform the following hamstring exercises without weights:

1.    Dead lifts use only your body weight for resistance. Stand with your feet apart and pointing forward. Bend your knees a little, your arms hanging loosely in front of you. Keeping your spine straight, bend at the waist to lean forward and reach the floor. If your hamstrings aren’t too tight, you may be able to touch the floor. Push through your heels, buttocks, and hamstrings to return to standing position. Do 2 sets of 20 reps each. Progression: do it one leg at a time.

2.    Ball hamstring curls are done by lying on your back with your legs straight and your feet on top of a stability or Swiss ball. Squeeze your buttocks and lift your hips. While pushing into the ball and bending your knees, roll the Swiss ball under your hips. Extend your legs straight once more while your hips are still in the air. Do 10 reps initially, followed by 3 sets of 15 reps each.

3.    Lying hamstring curls are done by folding your arms and relaxing your head on your arms. With your legs straight, bend your left leg and let your heel touch your buttocks. Return to starting position and do it with your right leg. Do 10-20 reps with each leg.

Remember to warm up before and cool down after whatever exercise you do. Work on these exercises regularly and you’ll have improved hamstrings—and glutes—in no time.