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Choosing To Hire Carpet Flooring Cleaning Professionals

Should I Buy New Carpet or Have My Old Carpets Cleaned?

When your carpets are starting to look like they have seen better days, you may be wondering if it is time to get new ones or if you should try to salvage the ones you currently have. It is always cheaper to repair rather than replace, but there will be some instances in which buying new carpets is necessary. A general rule is to replace your carpets when they currently pose health risks like harboring mold or allergens. If your carpets have just a few stains, however, you can likely get professional cleaning help to restore them to their original glory.

Here are some ways to decide if you should replace your carpet or save hundreds and have it cleaned.

Matted Carpet

A sure way to tell if you need new carpet is if the high traffic areas are matted down. If your carpet is made of Polyester or Polyester blends then matting is a sure sign of needing replacement. Once Polyester fibers lose their tuft or shape there is nothing that can be done to revive them. If you have carpet made of a higher quality fiber such as nylon it may be possible to revive it with a professional cleaning. Nylon is one of the most resilient and easiest carpet fibers to revive with a professional cleaning.

Berber Carpet

Carpets made of Olefin fibers have a shorter life span than other berber carpets. Olefin tends to be an oily fiber that attracts dirt and stains after time. When the fibers in Olefin berber carpets begin to matt and lay down it is hard to revive them. The life expectancy of an Olefin berber carpet is around three years, so if your Olefin carpet is looking dingy and matted it may be best to begin looking for a replacement.

Again nylon is a much more resilient fiber and nylon berber carpets will last a lot longer than other berbers. Nylon is more expensive but you get what you pay for. The average life of nylon berber is 10 years. A nylon berber carpet is more than likely able to be restored to like new with a deep professional cleaning.

Permanent Stains

No carpet is safe from the potential of permanent stains; there are however a number of ways to care for carpet to prevent stains from becoming permanent. Many carpets sold today come with some sort of stain resistant coating the most popular being Scotchgard. Scotchgard does wear off over time and can be reapplied by a professional carpet cleaner. If you have a stain master carpet the stain fighting is part of the fiber and there is no need to reapply.

Even with a great stain coating on your carpet it is possible to stain the carpet permanently with certain substances. If you have some ugly stains hanging on to your carpet fibers it is a good idea to call a carpet cleaning professional and ask their advice on weather the stain is removable. Some carpets are beyond hope and better off being replaced.

When do I need to buy new carpets?

If your carpets have incredibly stubborn stains that don’t respond to professional cleanings, then you will likely need to replace them. Also, if they harbor allergens or other health hazards, you should also remove them. Here are some instances in which buying new carpets is almost always necessary:

Your carpets have recently been damaged by a flood
There is mold in your carpets
Your carpets are stained with biohazards like waste
The stains won’t come out even after a professional cleaning

In addition, you should replace your carpets with high-quality carpets that are stain-resistant. This precaution ensures that future stains won’t force you to spend a lot of money on new carpets.

Why should you replace your old carpet?

Regardless of how durable the material used to make your carpet and padding is, you can expect it to reach its lifespan at one point in time. If you notice any of the following on your old carpet, then, it’s time to invest in a new floor covering:

1. Matting

When matting begins to occur more frequently on the sections of your carpet that experience the most foot traffic, it’s time to replace your old carpet with a new one. Even a professional clean up job can’t do much to reverse the unsightly look of a pile that stays matted down.

2. Staining

An old carpet most likely has collected old stains during the course of its use. Over time, even hiding the stains using area rugs and furniture becomes tiring and- perhaps- detrimental to your interior décor. This leaves you with no option but to replace the old, stained carpet.

Even for carpets with anti-stain coating, the sealant wears out over the years, leaving the old carpet vulnerable to tough stains. The types of stubborn stains that you’re likely to come across on your old carpet include protein-based stains, tannin stains, dye stains, and oil-based stains.

3. Wear and Tear of Carpet Padding

Have you noticed that your carpet is bunching up or wrinkling at certain spots? Or maybe, it produces a weird sound when you step on some spots. Both of these are pointers towards an old carpet with worn-out padding/underlay.

With constant foot traffic, your carpet padding is bound to get worn out at some point in time, and you’ll need to replace the carpet if you wish to continue enjoying the extra cushioning and comfort that comes with a fully-padded floor covering.

4. Bad Odor

Sometimes, the bad smell coming from your carpet just won’t go away, even after multiple treatments. This could be due to beverage spills and pet stains seeping deep into the fibers of the carpet- over the years.

Sometimes, the stains and the accompanying smells find their way into the carpet’s padding/underlay, making it really difficult to de-stain or deodorize. If this is the case, you might want to consider replacing your old, smelly carpet.

What is the lifespan of carpet

The Longevity of Your Household Carpet

Carpet Lifespan isn’t a cut and dry number. There are several factors that can effect how long your carpet lasts, whether it’s where you live, who you live with, or what you do in your home. But even carpet under the most trying of conditions can last many years, with the right carpet maintenance.

In the average household of about 2-4 residents, carpet lifespan is usually about 3-5 years. It is by this point that most carpet fibers become old and frayed. Stains will also have sunk in, turning what started out as a pure white carpet into something graying and dull. This is why apartment owners and most homeowners change out their carpets every 3-5 years, due to discomfort and degrading visual quality of the current carpet.

If there are children or pets living in the household with the carpet, this number can go even lower. Children and animals both are known for the stains they cause, and animals especially can fray and tear up the carpet they take residence on with their claws. So if you’re living in a home with either children or animals, then proper carpet care is even more essential.

Proper carpet care changes everything though. As mentioned, with proper carpet maintenance, many years can be added to the average carpet lifespan, and some households can even keep their carpet for a decade before replacing their carpet flooring. Vacuuming is a necessity, with low traffic areas like a bathroom or closet needing to be vacuumed every 2-3 days; for the greatest longevity for your carpets, high traffic areas like hallways or living rooms should be vacuumed daily.

For treatment of stains, the rule of thumb is the faster the better. Most carpets nowadays have been treated to resist stains better, and show them more clearly so as to make them easier to spot and clean up. However, even with new stain treatments you have to work fast, because the longer a stain sits, the more permanent damage is caused to your carpet. Dab the stain with a white cloth or towel, and then look up proper treatment for the specific stain–Remember, each are different!

How to replace an old carpet with a new one

Follow the procedure below to ensure you properly replace your old carpeting with a new one:

1. Establish how much carpet you’ll need

Before purchasing your new carpet, you need to determine how large the carpeted area is and note down the measurements. For wall-to-wall carpets, simply measure the width and length of the room.

2. Remove the old carpeting and padding

Next, take out the existing carpeting by detaching it from the tack strip. Once done, repeat the process to remove the carpet padding. Remember to wear the appropriate protective gear for this step, including hand gloves.

3. Prep the floor

Before laying down the new carpeting, prep the floor by cleaning it to remove any old stains and pet urine that could have seeped through the old carpet. You can clean the floor by using a broom and a vacuum cleaner. If there are tough stains on the floor, you can use a detergent solution to mop the floor clean, or use a power washer.

4. Install Tackless Strips and Carpet Padding

After cleaning the floor, you should lay the carpet padding. This can be preceded by nailing in new tackless strips if the old ones were damaged during carpet removal. When laying the padding, check to ensure that it doesn’t overlap.

5. Lay the carpet

Finish off the process by installing the new carpeting. While doing so, check to ensure that you’ve properly stretched the carpet onto the strips.

How To Make Money Selling Event Videographer

Tips For Shooting an Event Aftermovie

Shooting after the movie is one of the most common jobs for aspiring and professional videographers, whether it be for conventions, corporate conferences, or music festivals. While every kind of event requires a different approach, here are some solid guidelines that apply to all of them.

Prepare your equipment

While this might seem like advice for absolute beginners, its importance cannot be overstated. If you’ve ever found yourself on location with only one battery pack, you’ll know what I’m talking about. Forgetting only a single part of your equipment can make your job a whole lot more challenging or even impossible. Create a checklist that you can go through every time you head out to shoot to avoid the danger of leaving something behind.

Plan ahead

The last thing you would want to happen is arriving at an event that is almost over. Make sure to check out the schedule or setlist (in the case of a festival) so you don’t miss out on any important footage. Furthermore, research the location where you’ll be shooting, either online or in-person if possible. This way you can determine the light on the scene and prepare your equipment accordingly, and maybe even pack an additional light source, like an LED-Panel.

Communicate with your client

This is essential. Find out what expectations they have, what atmosphere they want you to capture, if they want you to stick to a strict concept or if they give you a free hand, and whether there is something specific they want you to film. You should also inquire about your own needs, like where to store your equipment if needed, or which power outlet to use to charge your only battery pack (in case you forgot tip no. 1).

Be a director

Interact with people at the event. A person smiling straight into the camera is always a good shot to have. You can ask people to do certain things, like lift a glass or perform a certain task – nothing complicated of course. Don’t be afraid to ask them to do something again, if the shot was out of focus for instance. This applies to event staff especially, you both work for the same person after all. No one will mind if you ask nicely.

Don’t be a director

On the other hand, you shouldn’t try to control everything that’s going on. Try to blend in and capture natural moments. Don’t walk around with a huge eye-catching camera rig. If people know they are being filmed, they will act differently.

Vary your shots

If you want to create a compelling aftermovie, try to capture different kinds of footage. Bring various lenses with you: I would recommend one with a short focal length (10-15mm) for wider shots, a zoom-lens for shots of groups of people or booths, etc., and a macro-lens for close-up shots of someone performing, for instance. While most of your shots should be tracking and/or panning shots, so the event looks fun and dynamic, you should also have still shots, to make your video more diverse and interesting. Try different angles of the same subject, if you have enough time. You can make a small group of people look like quite a crowd if you “compress” them by zooming in.

Capture the venue

You should create a sense of the venue where the event is taking place. Do wide outside and inside shots. Maybe do a shot of the building, if the event is taking place inside. Not only does that make for a nice intro to the video, but it also connects the event to the venue, enabling future guests to recognize it.

Better shoot too much than too little

This one speaks for itself. Even though after movies tend to be only a couple of minutes long, you don’t want to be forced to compromise when editing. The more footage you have, the less constrained you are in the post.

Tell a story

I’m not talking about a story-kind of the story; however, try to be consistent and linear when you edit your footage. For instance: If you have a shot of a bar, the follow-up shot could be of someone picking up a drink and joining their friends. Afterward you could show them walking up to a stage and dancing. Then you shift the focus to the performance and so forth. This makes the video much nicer to watch.

Pick the right song

The song you choose will underline and strengthen the mood and atmosphere you are conveying in your aftermovie, so it must be chosen wisely. Perhaps you should consult with your client before settling for one. At Tunetank there is a wide selection to choose from and you will definitely find what you need.

Effective Ways to Promote a Video Production Company

The world was a very different place twenty years ago. Businesses used radio and television channels to promote their brand/products. As we moved forward, the trend has shifted from leaflets to television to online platforms making everything digital.

1. Invest in a delightful website

This is a cakewalk. If you have an eye-catchy website in your hands, leads keep coming and falling from the sky. Make sure your site is user-friendly and visually pleasing (Of course, visuals are a must, we are a video company!). Don’t display everything you offer on your website, yet make it look simple and adequate as much as possible.

2. Build a perfect portfolio

Your clients/customers believe in what they see. So, the best possible way to gain their trust is through a classic portfolio. Get your creative hat on and start developing your own portfolio.

Point to remember: Don’t forget to add your unique style to your portfolio. Your style is the key that’ll differentiate your company from others.

3. Enhance your work (Constantly!)

Never give your customers a chance to have second thoughts about you. Improve your company’s productivity constantly. Keep surprising your customers with your new templates, updates, and offers. So that your customers will be busy exploring your service only.

4. Make use of Hosting Platforms

Share your amazing work on different platforms. This will help you to promote your business and spread awareness. Also, when your videos are noticed on other platforms, you make it easier for people to find you.

Some things to consider before the folks with cameras arrive:

Location Scouting – Where are you going to shoot and what challenges do you have there? Are there lighting, audio or other logistical problems that you will have to solve. A pre-production location visit and discussion with on-site maintenance or security is often necessary.
Permits – Do you require permits for shooting, sign-off /waivers for people in the video, special insurance, parking access for the crew and equipment, etc.?
Crew – Who is on your production crew? Camera, Audio, Lights, Director, Production Assistants, Grip for special equipment, Teleprompter operator? When is shooting scheduled to start and how much time is required for everyone to set-up?
Equipment – What type and how many cameras do you need? What do you have as back-up if something goes wrong? Do you have all of the right lights, lenses, audio equipment, jibs, sliders, reflectors, tools, power, etc. necessary? Do you need special equipment or props or products for the shoot?
Talent or Presenters – Who is on on camera? Are they prepared to be on camera? Have they rehearsed their lines or will they be using a Teleprompter? When should they arrive? What should they be wearing? Do they want / require hair and makeup? Are they on a tight schedule? (The answer here is almost always ‘yes’….)
Weather – Are you shooting outdoors? What happens if it rains/snows/hurricanes? Do you have an alternate shoot date?
Schedule– – Does your storyboard include a shot list and schedule that lets everyone know when to arrive and how long each scene or shot is going to take?

If you consider all of the above steps and take the time to properly consider your video planning checklist, you will have a much higher likelihood of success on your next video production

What Is Automotive Videography? All You Need To Know

Automotive videography many people think it’s just all about shooting cars; no, rather its more about creating an effect or creating a big picture that has to feature a car as the subject. There are a lot different types of cameras for your car commercial, Drones, Gopro cameras, motion activated hidden camera, car dash camera name it!, all just for that special moment involving your car. It will be ideal for people to follow the rules, the laws and most especially the safety tips before indulging in Automotive Videography session; these is necessary also for your safety.

So here, I will be covering some basic essentials need to be known for anyone whose about making some video, using cars or for whatever kind of car commercial you’re planning for.

Location Matching The Car

It is truly important to remember when doing car commercials that you’re into selling a story than much more of the car itself. Yes, you may have a bunch of ideas on how to shot angles of cars and different shots for car, but bear in mind that you are finally at the end of the day; creating a story that you’re telling. The car is the character, the location is also a character, for example; if you have a Pick-up Truck, make sure you put that Pick-up Truck in a location that makes sense for a Pick-up Truck, or if you are shooting something like a fast car or a racecar; put it on a racetrack. It just kind-of make sense if you pair the car with the right location.

Things That You Need To Shoot A Car Commercial

Now, to begin shooting a car commercial, there are certain things you need to consider having and they include:

1. A Proper Crew: You need about three people to make a crew in Automotive Videography, first one is being yourself ( Camera operator / Director / Producer), and the second is somebody to drive the vehicle you are actually shooting and lastly; the person to drive you in the vehicle that you are shooting from.

2. Means Of Open Communication: This is a prerequisite for car commercial, you’ll need a walkie-talkie, and it’s extremely important especially because you need to communicate with your driver who also needs to communicate with the other driver on how close the two cars should be when doing a Chase shot. Again, this aspect is crucial, if you want a safe environment to shot.

3. A Camera Gimbal: Obviously, when in motion, the car you are in can get quite shaky, so for you to have some good footage, it is highly recommended you bring your gimbals.

4. Slider: This will help you get some details, Macro shots; the badges, the logos, the interior of the car, and honestly; your gimbals may not just do the trick, where at times you need to deal with circumstances where the car just wobble in an up and down motion. So it is recommended you bring along a slider for such an event.

5. Lens: There are about three lenses to recommend for Automotive Videography:

Wide Lens: Because you’re going to need to shoot a wider view of the car in an amazing location

A Telephoto lens

A Macro lens: You’ll need this to capture the beautiful details that go into the interior and exterior of a car. Also, if you really want to step up the production on your car commercial; then it’s ideal for you to come along with a drone – if you don’t have one, you can rent or borrow to enable you get a little bit more creative with aerial view shots.

Tips For Shooting The Ultimate Music Video

Shooting a music video can be an exciting experience that can help aspiring musicians to jumpstart their careers. Although music videos don’t have to look like million-dollar productions, today’s technology creates an unprecedented expectation of quality.

1. ASSEMBLE A PRODUCTION TEAM

How many times have you seen a successful musician make it to the top of the charts alone? The answer of course, is never. Musicians will need to work with other people in order to make a successful music video. This means that musicians will need the interpersonal skills required to motivate others to accomplish a shared vision. In some cases, this may require that musicians offer an equity stake in the project to others that are helping out. It might even be necessary to seek funding from investors. Thankfully, the Internet makes it much more practical to do this in today’s world. Through social media, aspiring musicians can network with others that have specialised knowledge in video production or marketing a music video. If certain effects require financial capital, musicians can seek to raise a few thousand dollars in funding by simply using social media. By doing this, musicians can expect to get much more out of their painstaking efforts to create the ultimate music video.

2. MAKE IT SERIOUS

The difference between the average music video and a cutting-edge production is the effort that goes into it. If you want to make a great music video to go along with your best music, it is important to be serious about the project. This will inspire others to help out when they see how motivated you are toward your goals. Throughout all aspects of the music video’s production process, you should show that you are serious about achieving the end goal.

For the video itself, you should also be very serious about meticulously optimising every aspect of its production. Unless you want your video to permanently brand you as an amateur, it is important to look professional. This means that you will need to assemble other people to help out and obtain the equipment necessary to make quality videos. Although you can have fun along the way, you should not let this interfere with your success.

3. USE A HIGH-QUALITY CAMERA

While high-definition cameras were the latest thing more than a decade ago, video technology has become much more advanced. In most cases, it is recommended to avoid using a regular consumer video camera. Most people today have smart phones that are more powerful than consumer video cameras that were sold as recently as a few years ago. Unless you own a high-quality camera designed for professional video production, you will need to go out and find one.

4. SHOOT IT MULTIPLE TIMES

When it comes to actually shooting the video, one take never does it. With professional productions, it is not uncommon to see hundreds of takes for a single scene. Although this might seem laborious, it is unlikely that you will be able to assemble all of the resources necessary to film the same shots again. From coordinating equipment and people to reserving a site for filming, it can be difficult to come back and film again at a later date. If in doubt, you should film again to ensure that your video’s success won’t be undermined by a careless mistake. You should also make sure that you shoot the video from multiple angles. If you can afford to do so, you should even use multiple cameras. However, the same effect can be obtained by simply taking more shots. You might even consider using a high-quality smartphone or digital camera to film extra angles. This will ensure that you have all the shots you need to move on to editing your video.

5. USE PROFESSIONAL EDITING SOFTWARE

Although overlooked by many novices, the editing stage is perhaps more important than filming itself. This is where you will bring everything together with special effects and overlays. Without doing this right, your music video will look like an amateur production that could brand you as a musician that is not serious. Therefore, it is critical that you have a person on your team that understands the right way to use editing software. Ideally, this person should be professionally trained in video production and editing.

Benefits Of Hiring A Dog Bite Lawyer To Handle Your Dog Bite Case

The Best Reasons To Hire a Dog Bite Attorney

If you or a loved one has been bitten by a dog, then you should consider hiring a dog bite lawyer.

Dogs are lovely pets to spend time with but they can also bite you and cause serious injuries. It is estimated that four and a half million people in the United States are bitten by dogs every year. A fifth of those bitten end up seeking medical attention because their wounds are severe.

Children are at a higher risk of being injured by dog bites because they might not know how to act around dogs and they are also small in size. Believe it or not, most people get bitten by dogs they interact with. There are many reasons why a dog can bite you:

Possessiveness– a dog can bite you when it is protecting “property”. Property could be anything from humans, toys, or even food. Herding breeds and guard dogs are the worst offenders but any dog can exhibit this behavior.
Fear– a dog can bite you out of fear. It can bite when it is in unfamiliar territory or when strangers are around. Dogs can also bite when startled.
Pain– when a dog is in pain, no matter how friendly it is, it can bite. The pain can be as a result of an injury or a medical condition. Consider taking your dog to the vet if it becomes snippy for no reason.
Maternal Instincts– a female dog that has just whelped recently can become a biter regardless of how well trained it is. Be sure to handle the puppies with care and provide a safe and warm place for the puppies and mother to stay.
Prey drive– some dogs give chase when you cycle or run past them. If this happens, stop moving and stand still facing the dog. Don’t make eye contact because it will think that you are challenging it.

When Should You Hire A Dog Bite Lawyer?

The moment a dog bites you and inflicts injuries, you should hire a dog bite lawyer to help you get compensation. You can do it yourself and file a claim against the dog owner’s insurance policy but this will put you at a great disadvantage.

Insurance companies will try to offer you less than you are entitled to because they know the system and will even go to the extent of making you feel like you provoked the dog to attack you. A dog bite lawyer who has vast experience in such cases will ensure that you get the justice that you deserve.

Why You Should Hire A Dog Bite Lawyer

There are several reasons why you should consider hiring a dog bite lawyer:

You are worried that the dog owner’s insurance company will short change you when negotiating
You are not comfortable directly negotiating with the dog owner’s insurance company
You do not have the energy or the time to start negotiating a settlement with the dog owner
Your injuries are severe and you cannot determine the true cost of your injuries.

Benefits of Hiring an Attorney to Handle Your Dog Bite Case

If you are an adult who has been bitten by a dog, it can be very helpful to hire a lawyer to handle your claim, rather than trying to settle on your own. Dogs bite nearly 5 million people in the United States every year and around 15,000 of them get compensation for their injury, less than 1%. In most cases, an insurance adjuster will only pay a victim who files a claim without a lawyer 10 or 20% of what would be given with a lawyer. The other 80 or 90% gets pocketed by the adjuster. A lawyer works on a contingency basis and usually only charges about 33% of the outcome, leaving about 66% entirely for the victim.

You Don’t Pay Unless We Win Your Dog Bite Case

The term contingency basis means that the lawyer will not make the victim pay for anything. Payment only comes from a successful lawsuit in which the victim receives compensation, and then a percentage of that outcome will go to the attorney costs. Anyone who tries to settle a dog bite claim on their own assumes the responsibilities of an attorney without the knowledge and experience to do so, and causes resentment with the insurance company that can make dealing with them difficult. By themselves, victims may make unnecessary accusations or say incorrect things that can hurt their case. With a lawyer, they can simply say, “My lawyer said that.”

An Experienced Dog Bite Attorney Can Navigate the Legal System to Achieve a Positive Result for You

Therefore, having a lawyer can do away with the stress associated with making legal deals without experience and almost always results in a better outcome. An experienced lawyer knows not to harass or confront the dog owner involved in the case, make them feel guilty, embarrass them, put them in a bad light or act harshly. A rash victim might demand that the dog that bit them be put down, which is a ridiculous suggestion that can damage the victim’s reputation. With a lawyer handling the case, a dog owner will see that the victim is acting rationally and any additional anger on the owner’s part can be avoided.

A lawyer will carry out a thorough investigation

A dog owner might have known his pet was dangerous or didn’t take the necessary steps to prevent the attack; however, you might not have the resources to prove that he was negligent. A dog bite attorney will be able to conduct an investigation and establish whether the dog owner acted responsibly. If the dog has attacked someone in the past and the owner had knowledge of this, it could support your claim for damages and compensation.

Knowledge of Dog Bite Laws

If you suffered a severe injury resulting in fractures, disfigurement or cosmetic surgery and the dog bite happened without being provoked, a lawyer can help you initiate a claim against the pet owner for medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Severe injury claims are only valid if the dog has not bitten or attacked anyone before.

If the dog bite was not serious, you may initiate a claim for medical expenses only. The other scenario is if the owner knew that the dog had a previous history of biting or attacking another person. In this situation, you may pursue a dangerous dog claim against the owner and seek compensation for the damages you sustained. A lawyer understands dog bite laws and are up-to-date on legislation that affects them.

Skilled Negotiators

Dog bite lawyers have skilled negotiations skills because they know how to deal with insurance companies. When the dog owner or its insurance company offers you less a than reasonable settlement to pay out as little as possible, it does not mean you have to accept it.

A lawyer can review the offer and convey the seriousness of the incident on your behalf to try and convince the insurance company to increase the settlement offer to a more reasonable level. If an insurer does not provide a sufficient offer to settle the matter, an attorney will know this and can fight for your best interests.

Professional Experience

Most professionals do not have the personal and field experience with dog bites to negotiate with insurance companies or pursue a claim against the dog owner. Dog bite lawyers handle these types of cases often. When an attorney deals with these attacks, he or she may initiate the matter in court or communicate with an insurance carrier appropriately. Without hiring someone with this professional experience in animal attacks, you may not receive the compensation deserved.

Access to Valuable Resources

Hiring a dog bite lawyer provides you with plenty of valuable resources through a team that will contribute to the case. The other members of the legal team will research and investigate the case and gather evidence to determine the dog owner was negligent. To successfully handle complex matters, it usually takes a team. With this help, you are never alone.

Your Own Personal Advocate

With a legal advocate, you have someone on your side. An attorney will work on your behalf to fight for the maximum compensation you are entitled. A dog bite lawyer will also help determine the extent of the at-fault party’s liability, as well as whether any other parties share responsibility. In addition to the dog owner, other responsible parties may include:

Landlords when it is known there is a dangerous animal
Parents of minors when the dog is owned by someone under the age of 18
Property owners if he or she let the dangerous dog stay on the property
Animal keepers or someone involved in the care or upkeep of the animal which may include dog watchers, shelter services or a pound

Consider Residential Electrical Remodel For Your Home

Residential Electrical Services

When it comes to handling electricity, the last thing you want to attempt is the “do-it-yourself” method. Whether you’re considering a remodel or a new home build one of the first things you should consider is who you’re going to have manage the electrical installation, upgrade or electrical repair.

Avoid slip-shod wiring jobs that could put you and your home at risk, turn to the experts Thanks to a decade of experience in the industry and professional licensing, you can trust that you and your home will be in the best of hands.

the following residential electrical services:

• New home electrical installation

• Kitchen and bathroom remodeling

• Electrical upgrade

• Electrical repair

• Circuit breaker installation

• Electrical wiring repair

• Exterior lighting installation and repair

• Interior lighting installation and repair

• Panel upgrades

• Receptacle repair

Whether you’re considering a major remodel or building a new home, one of the most important things on your to-do list will be to find an electrician you can trust offer professional electrical services to residential, commercial and industrial clients From electrical upgrades to accommodate a kitchen or bath remodel to electrical improvements like recessed lighting, you can count on our professionals to get the job done right.

Electric for the following electrical services:

• Residential elecctrical services

• Commercial electrical services

• Industrial electrical service

• New construction electrical services

• Kitchen and bathroom remodeling electrical

• Electrical remodeling

• Service change/ electrical upgrade

• Generator installation

• Electrical design

• Electrical repairs

• Electrical wiring

• And more!

REMODEL YOUR ELECTRICAL SYSTEM?

READY TO Craft a Custom Electrical System for Your Commercial Building?

business owner, the success of your company is your top priority. If electrical issues in your building are impacting your business You can count on us to handle your commercial electrical installation and repair needs so that you can focus on your running your company

BENEFITS OF HIRING a qualified ELECTRICAL

You can count on us to take care of all of your commercial electrical installation needs

You should choose us because:

We offer free estimates on all of our commercial remodeling electrical services.

We have experience reading and working on plans from electrical print sets.

We’ll customize our services to fit your schedule, your needs and your budget.

Electrical Remodeling

When done by a professional, electrical remodeling takes time but can completely transform how your home or commercial space functions. If you live or work in an older building and need re-wiring or other remodeling services

has helped numerous clients make their homes or places of business function better and run more efficiently. We offer free estimates for new panels and re-wiring projects, and are available to give thorough consultations right in your home.

provide the following electrical remodeling services in Marietta:

Ceiling fan installation

Re-wiring

Security systems

Smart home installation

Renovations

Electrical additions

exceptional service and unmatched workmanship for electrical projects of all sizes. We respect your time and your home, which is why all of our workers always show up on time and perform our job with minimal disruptions.

we address important home safety issues such as power surges, faulty smoke detectors, carbon monoxide leaks, and more by providing our customers with informative safety tips and practical solutions to common household electrical issues.

There are five important safety devices that we believe should be in every home:

Arc fault circuit interrupters (AFCIs) – When electrical wiring or devices are overheated or damaged, electrical fires can occur. AFCIs replace circuit breakers, giving your home a higher level of protection from these fires by shutting down your home’s electricity quickly before a fire starts.

Tamper-resistant receptacles – Tamper-resistant receptacles replace wall outlets in order to protect children from burns or electrical shock when they put their fingers or objects into the outlet. Protect your children and hire a licensed electrician to childproof your home with these devices today!

Carbon monoxide (CO) alarms – CO alarms should be installed in every room where someone sleeps and on each level of your home. Be sure to test these alarms monthly to ensure they are working. If you need carbon monoxide alarms installed, we can get the job done right away.

Smoke alarms – Smoke alarms save lives! Test to see if your alarms are working, and if not, we can install the highest quality alarms on the market.

Ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs) – These devices protect people from electrocution by monitoring the flow of electricity through a circuit. GFCIs are typically installed in the kitchen, bathroom, and garage.

Residential Remodeling

Electrical is the backbone of every residential remodel. Do you have a major remodel project or just a simple add on? We can help. Whether you are looking to add custom interior or exterior lighting, add additional power, convert a room to a home theatre, add on to your existing structure and more, be sure to call us to help you put the correct electrical plan in place.

Ready to tackle that new addition you’ve always talked about? We’re well versed in all phases of new construction and additions, and we work to make your project happen fast. We realize that additions can be difficult for families to work around, so depend on us when you are ready to get it done right and done fast.

Do you need to update your building with a modern look or energy efficient lighting? Do you have a new tenant moving in and need a reliable contractor to get the work done on time and on budget? provided our commercial clients with such dependable service that they refuse to use anyone else. Let us show you how we can get your next project done on time and on budget.

COMMERCIAL RENOVATIONS AND REMODEL PROJECTS

Should your business require a refresh requiring renovations and remodel your existing interior or exterior spaces we will partner with you to keep your project on time and on budget with precision and professionalism.

services include:

New Installation or Relocation of Computer Cables and Data Lines

Electrical Planning, Design and Consultation

Lighting Replacements

Lighting Upgrades and Retrofits

Emergency Lighting New Installation, Repair or Replace

Office Space Renovations

Restaurant Equipment Service Upgrades

Electric Vehicle Charging Stations

Electrical Panel Installation and Upgrades

Boardroom Lighting

Bathroom Lighting Upgrades

Energy Efficient Lighting Upgrades

Office and Warehouse Projects

Spa and Beauty Salon

Hotel Room Upgrades

Retail Space Upgrades

equipped to handle all of your electrical needs for your commercial renovations and remodel requirements quickly, safely and professionally.

Twelve Cities Where You Need Water Testing

Water Bacteria Testing

What is Water Bacteria Testing?

Tests for water bacteria assess a home’s water supply for contaminants and pollutants, such as chlorine, lead and coliform bacteria. Testing can also reveal an imbalance of the pH level and other factors to ensure that a home’s water is drinkable and safe for everyday use.

often require water quality testing for properties with private wells and most will accept a home inspector as an independent tester. General results are usually available within 48 hours, although tests for certain minerals and other contaminants may require lab analysis and take longer.

Impurities are present in any water source and public and private water supplies may be affected by:

Elevated levels of nitrates, including fertilizers that leach into groundwater

Heavy metal contamination, including lead

Dangerous levels of bacteria

Mineral contaminants, such as iron and arsenic

Fluoride levels

Home inspectors can provide water bacteria testing services during standard home inspections with little additional time and without the need for heavy or complex equipment. Subsequent lab testing ensures comprehensive and accurate results.

Identifying the Problem

Odors, flavors, colors or stains on clothes or fixtures all can be warning signs of possible water issues. See the EPA website for a list of conditions that necessitate a water quality test.

Water Quality Testing

provide water testing services distinctively geared in helping homeowners assess the quality of their drinking water. If the water comes from a private well, our water testing will aid you in deciding the quality of your drinking water.

provide water testing services that tackle the concerns of property owners. Regardless if your water is well water or city water, we have water testing that will tell you the quality of your drinking water. For useful resources about water contamination, we have homeowner product information telling you what to expect when you decide to test your water.

FHA water testing requirements = bacteria, nitrate, nitrate, lead (please check with your lender to verify which tests are being required for the loan)

USDA water testing requirements= bacteria and nitrite or nitrate or total nitrates (please check with your lender to verify which tests are being required for the loan)

VA loan water testing requirements= bacteria (please check with your lender to verify which tests are being required for the loan)

Water Quality Testing Kits

In many applications, continuous or periodic monitoring of water quality parameters is an important part of water management. Here are some applications where these water quality test kits are often utilized:

Healthcare facilities to meet CMS-mandated water management plans

Commercial or industrial facilities to meet compliance

Hospitality organizations to test pools/spas and other water features

When continuous or periodic monitoring of water quality parameters is important, it can be impractical and expensive to regularly send samples out for analysis or contract a 3rd party for testing. The more frequently you test your water, the more it makes sense to do it yourself with an on-site test kit. There are many benefits of on-site “DIY” water quality testing

Immediate feedback with real-time results allows faster reaction to problems

Data stays “in-house” reducing concerns over confidentiality and privacy

Allows troubleshooting or retesting of questionable measurements

Lower cost per test allows more data to be gathered when budgets are tight

Staff becomes more knowledgeable about water quality when they do testing

Trusted Water specializes in assembling water quality testing kits using commercially available analyzers and instruments. This allows us to create standard or customized kits designed for specific client applications with the most accurate, easy-to-use, and cost-effective components.

continually evaluate new products, selecting only those that meet our strict criteria for performance, reliability, and cost. Enclosed in a rugged hard-side case, kits contain hand-held and/or portable analyzers with the necessary consumables and reagents included.

Inspections And Well Water Quality Tests

Septic systems are not exactly an exciting topic, I know. But if you or your buyer is planning on purchasing a home that has a septic system, inspecting that system is a must. And typically, if a home is on a septic system, it is also on a well.

One of the biggest challenges we face as a full-service home inspection company is trying to get septic inspections and well water quality tests done quickly enough to meet the buyers deadline.

Home purchases are up, and so are septic and well water inspection requests. Water quality testing can take time, especially if you are having your water tested for more than just coliform, which is the basic bacteria test.

What does all of this mean for buyers or their agents? It is always a good bet to ask for some extra time when you are purchasing a home where these tests will be required and to schedule your inspection as soon as possible once the agreement of sale is signed. We recommend asking for a 15 day inspection period, instead of the more common 10 days. This way you will be sure to get all of your results in time.

Home Buyer Inspections, Certified Move In Ready (also known as Pre-listing), Commercial Property Inspections, Radon Testing, Termite Inspections, Well Flow Testing, Well Water Sampling, Air Quality Testing/Inspections, Septic Inspections, Intrusive Stucco Testing and 203K Loan Consulting.

Well Water Testing FAQ’s

Whether you’re washing dishes with it, taking a shower with it, cooking dinner with it, or making coffee with it, we all need clean water for a myriad of daily activities. How can you be sure your source is untainted, especially when your home is serviced by a well, rather than a municipal water supply? Through a simple and inexpensive well water test.

Q: When should I test my well water?

A: We recommend testing your well water when you are purchasing a new home and when you are drilling a new well, at the minimum.

Q: What do I need to test for?

A: Our inspectors recommend that you test for six things— 1) Potability, 2) Lead, 3) Radon, 4) Arsenic, 5) Uranium, and 6) Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC’s, however, whether or not you need to test for VOC’s depends on where you live.)

Q: What does potability mean?

A: Potability tells you whether or not your water is suitable for drinking. If your home has a well, this is the minimum test you need to perform and provides general information on the overall water quality. The potability test will check for the presence of bacteria, such as E.coli and coliform. The potability test will also determine if common chemicals, such as sodium, iron, chloride, sulfate, manganese, copper, and Nitrate-Nitrogen are present in excessive amounts.

Q: How does lead end up in my water?

A: Lead in water comes from two main sources: pipes or soldering within your home or it can occur naturally from the water source. Many government home loans require you to test for lead if the home was built before 1978.

Q: How dangerous is lead?

A: Elevated levels of lead in water can cause brain, kidney and nervous system damage. Lead toxicity poisoning in infants and young children can impact mental and physical development.

How To Get Into Accountant

Tips for Accounting Career Success

As you pursue your career in accounting, there are so many paths to take. You may want to own your own firm one day. Find a promotion. Land a big raise. Regardless of your goals, there are some basic keys to your success in the field of accounting, and every single successful accountant can boast of these characteristics. You can do well with one or the other, but only together do they cooperate for success and freedom in your accounting future.

First you should take some time to address where you are now. Are you a beginner? Experienced? Expert? What are your future goals in your career of accounting? Are these goals available to you at the current time or will you need a big change to achieve your goals? You need some clarity for what you want before you can fully develop these traits. Then when you’re ready you can begin working on these two critical keys to success in accounting.

Competence

The primary key to success in accounting is of course competence. You must be good at your job. You need to be able to work efficiently, meet deadlines, think critically, and make effective decisions for your company or clients. You can begin working on your competence by reviewing your strengths and weaknesses in your current accounting position. Identify ways to strengthen your weaknesses and to display your strengths. Universal Accounting courses are available to bolster your accounting skills to maximize profits for yourself and your clients.

Confidence

This trait is by far the most lacking in the business of accounting. Most accountants believe that their work will do the talking, and that confidence is a trait for salesmen and athletes. If you do your job right you’ll have success right? Maybe. But the only way to truly guarantee success in your accounting career is to pair competence with confidence. Display your skills and speak up. Share your confidence with your superiors and clients. Believe that you can find creative solutions to any accounting problem, and that any endeavor you assume will be successful. Confidence transforms a mediocre accountant to a star accountant. Clients and firms will be attracted to your confidence and find more value in your efforts.

Embracing Technology

It’s impossible to embrace a client-focused, big-picture paradigm shift without wholeheartedly embracing technology. And the results speak for themselves. In the “7 Habits” study of high-performing CPA firms versus low-performing CPA firms, researchers found that high-performing firms were five times more likely to encourage innovation than low-performing firms.

What Does It Mean to Embrace Technology?

How does a firm embrace technology? And which technology specifically? The “7 Habits” study states, “This attribute, while it can be applied to technology adoption, is certainly not restricted to it. In fact, it tends to be pervasive in a firm’s culture — applying broadly to service offerings, management techniques, employee benefits, and so forth.”

In other words, jumping on the technological bandwagon looks less like rushing to download the latest iPhone and Android apps and more so an attitude of embracing change and encouraging clients to innovate. The speed of innovation is only increasing, so solutions will naturally evolve over time.

Working in Technology

As important as it is to work with technology in the form of apps and software that help accountants and bookkeepers streamline and understand their business and their client’s business, it’s equally critical to work through technology in your practice by taking a mobile, paperless, portal-centric approach.

Going paperless to streamline internal processes and encourage your customers to interact with you through technology (in a client portal, for example) not only improves efficiency, but it sends a clear message to increasingly mobile and tech-dependent customers who are likely to balk at outdated processes

You must Excel in Math

Accounting is about numbers and the manipulation to numbers; hence, you must certain that you excel in math at high school. People who hate math may not be success in accounting field. That’s why you got to love math if you like to become an accountant. Take a special attention in math and ask your teacher or counselor’s guidance on which courses to take to best prepare you for earning a degree in accounting when you enter a college later.

Request Information From College that Offer Accounting Degree

Beside the traditional brick & mortal colleges, there are many prestige’s online colleges and online universities offer degrees in accounting that enable you to earn an accounting degree from home. Send a letter, an email or make an online information request to those colleges that offer accounting degrees for heir catalogs and admission requirement on their accounting degree programs.

Become Proficient with Accounting Software

The time of using Microsoft Excel program in accounting work was over. You need to become proficient with a variety of accounting software if you want to success in this field. You may not be able to learn all the accounting software in the market, but you need to familiar with the common accounting software use by most corporate.

Gain Working Experience in Related Fields

Related working experiences are important in determining a success in your accounting career. If you are attending class-based accounting degree program, you could work at part-time jobs or internships in accounting firms during your college years. If you are getting your accounting degree online, then you can start gaining your full working experience in accounting with a full-time job, because an online accounting degree program allows you to plan your learning schedule that fit into your full-time job.

Secrets of the Most Successful Accounting Firms

Everyone is familiar with the saying “time is money” but how often do you actually apply that concept to your business? In a competitive industry, it’s important that you and all of your employees learn how to work smarter, not harder, so that you can get more done with the time and the workforce you have. If you want your business to be highly productive, consider implementing some of the following habits employed by top accounting firms:

Give clear direction regarding priorities; this helps employees to focus on the most important tasks first.
Consistently and evenly distribute workloads and tasks.
Provide strong support and training; this empowers employees and ensures they have the necessary skills to get things done.
Give employees the resources they need to get things done efficiently and at a high level of quality.
Give employees autonomy and authority to make decisions about how to do their jobs; this prevents delays in the workflow process and empowers employees to take ownership of their respective tasks.

Having brief meetings throughout your week can help you to gauge workloads and redistribute them as needed, so that you can ensure things are getting done; it also forces employees to be accountable for the things they have accomplished, because they must report back on their tasks periodically.

You should also set clear, firm deadlines for projects. According to one study conducted among college students, those students who had clear deadlines performed better and more consistently than those without any deadlines. You should also ensure the deadlines are not too lax; the same study indicated that students who had too much time to complete a task performed almost as poorly as those with no deadlines at all.

Encourage your employees to take breaks throughout the day as well. The same concept behind a good work-life balance applies to balance while employees are at work. According to several studies, the most productive people work in cycles; ideally, employees should work for 90 minutes, then have a 15-minute break. This syncs with the body’s natural energy rhythms, giving them more energy to get things done and allowing them to be more focused on their work.

You should also employ proper tools to cut down on the time that it takes to complete tasks. This can include items like paperless document management systems and scanning software. These kinds of tools will significantly reduce the amount of time your employees spend on time-consuming tasks like filing and data entry, giving them more time to spend on billable tasks and producing deliverables for your clients.

Upholstery Cleaning Tips

Start Upholstery Cleaning Business

What do you need to start a carpet and upholstery cleaning business? All it takes is a good work ethic and an all-inclusive affiliate package. Learning how to start an upholstery cleaning business isn’t as complicated as you’d think, and with a little bit of looking, you’ll be able to find a furniture cleaning business opportunity in your area that will give you the financial freedom you’ve always been searching for.

pride ourselves on our dry carpet cleaning technology that has helped people just like you start their own carpet and upholstery cleaning business. Carpet isn’t the only thing we do, however, it’s just as easy to start an upholstery cleaning business

While starting an upholstery cleaning business with a traditional franchise company might involve a lot of licensing fees and other pesky impediments to your long-term success, starting an upholstery cleaning business

For instance, we provide you with both print and online marketing materials to help you find clients. How does getting hooked up with over 1,000 free pieces of print marketing sound? And, how would you like to have your own website where you can send potential customers to see if they want to learn more about your business? We provide you with all these benefits and more

From detailed pricing information to a full list of the materials we’ll include in your affiliate package, the answers you seek are in this simple guide, and you’ll even be able to learn more about the equipment we use and what makes it so special.

Cleaning Guide

When it comes to buying furniture, choosing high quality upholstery is key. Investing in a durable, cleanable fabric will save you a lot of stress when stains and spills inevitably occur. Before selecting a fabric for your piece of furniture always check the supplier’s cleaning code, which tells you the best way to clean that specific fabric, and can help you determine which fabrics are best suited to your lifestyle and the intended use of the product.

Note: Be careful to clean with caution and always test a small area of the piece that is not visible before applying to a larger area (i.e. the back or under the cushion on the seat deck). If you are not confident that you are capable of cleaning your piece we recommend you leave it to the professionals. Research and hire a reputable company that specializes in upholstery cleaning and can take the pressure off you.

If a fabric is labeled “W” you are in luck as this is the easiest type of fabric to clean. It is safe to use liquid on this fabric and it can be cleaned with water and a mild soap or upholstery cleaner. This is the most durable fabric you can buy and is ideal for high-traffic areas such as dining rooms and living rooms, which see frequent use and a high volume of spills.

An “S” label indicates that the fabric must be treated with cleaning solvents (dry clean highly suggested) and will not react well to water. Never apply water to this fabric! Spot cleaning is only advised if the fabric is meant for home dry cleaning use. Always blow dry the spot after cleaning to prevent a ring being left behind. It is important to prevent this fabric from getting dirty, even if you plan on having it professionally cleaned. Stains, spills and dirt in general should be cleaned as soon as possible to retain the longevity of the colours and quality of the fabric. WS This means a combination of water and dry cleaning solvents can be used. This code is seen less often and it may be a good idea to hire a professional to clean it just to be safe. If you would prefer to clean it yourself be sure to treat spills as soon as possible before they have time to set and use a very mild cleaner with a small amount of liquid; never saturate with water. It is best to use this kind of fabric in low-traffic areas or on pieces that are used less frequently.

This code means that a fabric is not cleanable and should be vacuumed only. Vacuuming and light brushing can be done to remove dirt and dust, however no water or solvent-based cleaners of any kind may be used as they can cause shrinking, staining or distortion of the fabric. Contact a furniture restorer to determine the best method for caring for this kind of fabric.

Maintenance of upholstery

There are many sorts of upholstery available. There are fabrics in a wide variety of qualities but common to all is that the elasticity of the fabric is determined by the fibres in the thread and the way the fabric is woven. It is this elasticity that determines whether a fabric can be used for a particular model, but also the amount of wrinkling after use. Wrinkling is largely caused by the stabilisation of the foam as the piece of furniture ‘wears in’. This gives the upholstery a more supple form, which increases comfort (much in the same way as you wear in a new pair of jeans). However, this does lead to wrinkling. This wrinkling does not harm the look of the model – in fact it softens its appearance – and it cannot be avoided.

Every furnishing fabric also fades in the course of time. This is particularly the case with brightly coloured or dark materials. Direct sunlight accelerates this process so avoid this as much as possible. Synthetic fabrics are less prone to this. Fabrics with a velvet finish may take on a different appearance depending on the way the light falls on them, so it may appear as if a piece of furniture has been upholstered with different shades of fabric. Some fabrics ‘pill’ owing to the release of particles of fibre or through tangling with clothing fibres. Pilling can be easily removed with a pill shaver.

Fabrics and properties

Polyester

Entirely synthetic fibres like polyester are very hard-wearing and absorb little moisture. However, they do tend to get electrostatically charged. This makes the furniture fabric attract particles of dust faster, particularly in dry environments. For this reason, good air humidity in the room (50-60% RH) is important. Polyester furniture fabrics are permanently fire-retardant, can be easily cleaned, do not shrink and are resistant to bacteria and mould.

Cotton

Apart from being hard-wearing, cotton furniture fabrics absorb moisture easily and do not easily get electrostatically charged. However, this fabric get dirty quicker than wool. Cotton furniture is easy to clean.

Trevira CS

Textiles made of Trevira CS are very easy to clean because they dry quickly and keep their shape, which means that they do not need to be ironed. Their permanent fire resistance is embedded in the molecular structure of the fabric and therefore remains intact after cleaning.

Wool

Woollen furniture fabrics are generally hard-wearing, absorb moisture easily and do not easily get electrostatically charged. Wool also has a certain amount of fire-retardancy. Because of surplus wool fibres, woollen furniture fabric may produce fluff initially. This will stop and will not affect durability. Ensure that woollen fabric never get soaked right through.

Stains

Stains in these fabrics can often be removed with a damp cloth. If the stain has dried in, any surplus substances must first be removed by hand or with a soft brush. The stain should then be cleaned with a vacuum cleaner. Then fully remove the stain according to the table below.

Foam

Seating contains foam to improve comfort. This foam is available in various grades of density and hardness. For each model, we try to find the optimum combination of these two properties – this is what determines the quality of the foam and, ultimately, the comfort. One of the properties of foam is that it takes up to 6 months for it to stabilise. During this 6-month period, the hardness may decrease by about 15 to 20%. So your seat will feel softer and more comfortable. We recommend that you use all of the individual seats equally to avoid differences in the amount of ‘wearing in’ and possible wrinkling. We also recommend that you give loose cushions a regular good shake and swap them around in order to maintain their comfort and volume.

Upholstery Cleaner Machine

When it comes to keeping your furniture looking clean and stain-free, nothing works better than an upholstery cleaner machine. Purchasing one of these machines is a much more affordable option than hiring a professional cleaning service and it allows you to stay on top of messes, before they have a chance to set in and ruin your furniture.

So, if you want to save some serious cash, and you want a way to keep your furniture looking new and spotless, then you’ve come to the right place. My buyer’s guide includes all the information you’ll need to know to make an informed decision when you’re shopping for an upholstery cleaner. I’ve also done all the product research for you, testing out many of the best-selling models on the market. My list of the leading four upholstery cleaners includes models that will work for any budget. But even better, these appliances are built tough, loaded with some great features, and designed to last.

This model earned top marks for its stain lifting abilities, making it a great choice for your go-to upholstery cleaning appliance. This model uses hot pressurized steam that works to eliminate stains, mold, and grime. The steam cleaner is also highly portable, thanks to its lightweight design. It also comes with a nine-foot cord and is approved for both indoor and outdoor use. The nine-piece accessory kit is designed to help you clean those hard to reach spaces and tough stains.

Conclusion

This powerful upholstery cleaner can eliminate deep down stains, mold, grime, and more. Its lightweight design will allow you to easily carry the appliance up and down the stairs, while the hot pressurized steam works like a charm when it comes to completely dissolving even the toughest stains.

This model can be used to clean both upholstery and carpets and includes a powerful suction that’s able to reach those tough deep-down stains. It’s designed for both small and large stains and comes with a removable water tank that has a forty-eight-ounce capacity, which means fewer refills. The Hydro Rinse attachment is versatile and features powerful spraying action that’s designed to break up tough stains.

Regular Upholstery Cleaning for Health

Junior just spilled his grape soda on the couch and you’re wondering why on earth you didn’t go with the multi-colored upholstery that looked enough like that spill that no one could tell that it was there. Or, perhaps, you’re realizing that your crazy aunt was right to put plastic over everything. Don’t worry. Upholstery cleaning is inexpensive and an often neglected part of general home maintenance. It is something you should be doing with regularity, in fact, not just when there is an impossible stain.

Every day, you and your family come in from outside and go immediately to the furniture. Often, it’s snowing or raining, or your kid has come home from a sweaty soccer game or cheerleading practice, or maybe you’ve spent all day at the office surrounded by other people. Over time, germs, dirt, sweat – everything from ticks to swine flu – will build up on your upholstery. Many people do not get their upholstery cleaned nearly enough, if at all

Upholstery and Carpet Stains: Random Spills

If it isn’t time for your yearly upholstery cleaning and there is a spill, you will naturally try to clean something yourself before calling in the cleaning professionals. The best method is preemptive—always ask the carpet store or furniture maker how to best clean the product while still at the store. Often you will find that you get information that is helpful but might not have been disclosed. Armed with this, you can purchase furniture that will stay cleaner longer, last longer, and you will know how to deal with problems as they arise. This also protects you from warranty problems, because some manufacturers even have specific cleaners that you can’t use without discrediting any warranty or claim.

Pet hair is a recurring problem for many homeowners. Here are three simple tricks to rid your home of unwanted hair and dander:

Clean with a dryer sheet. Rake up unwanted hair with a dryer sheet. This will eliminate fur and improve the smell of your furniture.

Dab with tape. Wrap tape around your hand and gently dab fur-covered areas.

Wipe fur with a damp cloth. A wet cloth will attract hair and help you remove fur.

Often, you will not be able to get a stain out. Your detergents and cleaning products might not have worked, but that does not mean that a professional cleaning service won’t be able to do it for you. These companies are trained to know what chemicals work for what spills and they have the proper arsenal to deal with any situation. The most important part of any home maintenance is making it easy on yourself. Most companies allow you to schedule a yearly service. This way you know that the first week of every April (or whenever you choose), you will get a call from your cleaning service wanting to schedule an appointment. It will be easy, inexpensive, and will slide into your routine with ease. Most importantly, it will add to the life of your furniture and protect you and your family from the accumulation of germs.

Why Choose A Holistic Veterinarian

How To Choose The Right Veterinarian For Your Pet

It can be difficult to know what to look for when looking for a Veterinarian for your pet. You may have moved and left behind a vet with whom you have great rapport or you may have a new pet and are overwhelmed by all those big ads in the yellow pages. While there is no magic formula to guarantee a positive experience and high-quality care for your pet, there are a few ways to simply evaluate the hospital and veterinarian you choose.

Ask friends for recommendations

Before making an appointment you should check with friends and neighbors who own pets. Find out who they use and why. It is a good idea to get several different opinions since no one person will be liked by everyone. You want to get a sampling of opinions.

A visit to the clinic

Next, visit the clinic before making the appointment. The staff should be happy to answer any questions about the practice. It is also legitimate to request a tour at a time that is mutually convenient. There may be times of the day when a tour is not advisable but your request should be granted at some point.

The staff

Evaluate the front office staff? Are they helpful? Friendly? Do they acknowledge you when you walk in or are you ignored? What is the overall appearance of the clinic? Is it clean? Odor free? What is the attitude of the staff toward the other clients who may be present? How about to those on the other end of the phone line? You can learn a lot by just observing.

Your first appointment

If you make the appointment you will have a chance to meet with the doctor and the assistants. (Of course, you may have already met some of these people if you stopped in the office). You should evaluate these people in the same manner as previously described. Are the assistants helpful and friendly? Are they kind to your pet? Are they rough in handling the animal or gentle?

Meeting the veterinarian

How about the doctor? Does he/she take time to listen to your concerns? Are you given enough time to explain and ask questions? How is his/her rapport with your pet? Does he/she talk to your animal and try to establish a relationship before starting the exam? Is your pet called by name? Does the doctor take time to do an exam and address your concerns? Do you feel comfortable asking questions? Are you questions answered?

If your pet is ill or if some type of in-hospital procedure is required is everything well explained?

Make sure you communicate your needs to the doctor

It is always appropriate to ask specific questions about procedures, medications, anesthetics etc. It is also a good idea to tell the doctor exactly what you expect. If you treat your pet as a family member and want the doctor to feel free to do whatever he/she feels is necessary you should say so. If finances are a major concern that should be mentioned at the outset so there will be no surprises.

Verify location

The right veterinarian for you, aside from being a qualified and recommended pet doctor, should work at a clinic that you can get to easily. Especially if you have a pet emergency, you don’t want to have to go far once you make an appointment.

How close you want your vet to be can depend on the health of your pet. If you have a younger, healthy animal, proximity can get a little lax. If you have an older pet and you have concerns, try to find a vet a little closer.

If you’re worried about access to pet care, once you select your regular vet, ask them about the closest emergency animal hospital. Emergency vets, which are typically open 24-hours, are available in certain locations when it’s impossible to see your regular veterinarian. If something goes wrong with your pet and you can’t wait for your clinic to open, this is where you should go. Some conditions that may lead to an emergency visit for your pet include:

Difficulty breathing
Repeated vomiting and/or diarrhea
Excessive bloating
An accident with trauma
Ingesting a foreign object
Not eating, drinking or urinating

Choosing a Vet for Your Cat? Consider These Factors

It’s not just for shots; you’ll need a cat veterinarian for a number of reasons. Maybe you’re a new cat parent, your family just moved, or your cat is in need of medical care. Whatever the reason, it’s important to find a cat vet with whom you—and your feline friend—are comfortable seeing on a regular basis.

What’s the best way to go about finding a vet that’s right for you and your cat? Here are your options.

Friends and Reviews

Consider asking close friends who have cats about their choice. Another good way to find a vet, of course, is to explore reviews of local facilities online. But take reviews of a cat hospital with a grain of salt, according to Dr. Patty Khuly, as they often reflect subjective cases of financial coverage, rather than the care they provide.

What’s Important toYou

Once you have a list of potential vets to choose from, there are several factors to consider that can help you whittle it down. What’s most relevant to you? Price, location, hours, wait times, and bedside manner should all come to mind. Does the vet offer grooming and boarding? If your cat suffers from a disease or recurrent health problem, a vet that specializes in this issue might be the best route. Ultimately, consider the factors that are important to you specifically before deciding to meet with a certain practice.

While everyone has a different opinion on what is most important here are some common questions to ask yourself when researching a veterinarian for your cat:

Does the place have a good reputation? How long have they been in practice?
Are the facilities clean and updated?
Are their other patients in the office? This can be a good indicator that other cat parents trust this particular veterinarian.
Are they timely at responding to questions or at seeing your cat at your scheduled appointment time?
Is the staff friendly?

Follow Your Instincts

Look to a vet’s website to find answers to the issues most important to you. If you can’t find answers online, don’t hesitate to call the office and ask these questions before making an appointment. You can even ask to come in and meet the vet without your cat. Once you do, ask him or her questions and follow your instincts. Is this someone you feel like you can trust with your cat even if you’re not in the room?

How to Find the Right Veterinarian for Your Dog

Every dog deserves a good veterinarian to help it stay healthy. As a pet owner, you also deserve a veterinarian who meets your needs a well as your dog’s needs. Your veterinarian is your other family doctor, so you want to find the right one. Here’s how to go about finding the right vet for you and your family.

Before You Begin

There are many different types of veterinarians out there. There are also a lot of different veterinary facilities. Remember that your vet will come with a staff, facility amenities, and more. Decide what matters most to you. Are you looking for a highly skilled vet in a state-of-the-art facility that offers a personal touch? Or, would you prefer a quick, inexpensive vet visit with a no-frills approach? Of course, there are options in-between. Cost is almost always a concern, as well as location, but these should not be the only things you consider. Make a list of your ideal veterinarian’s attributes in order of priority. Once you have an idea of what you need in veterinary practice, it’s time to do your research.

What You Need

In selecting a vet, you need to spend some time and energy to make the right choice. As you gather information, make sure you have some essential questions and concerns about the choices.

A file (online or paper) to keep your notes
List of questions you’ll want to ask the vet

Talk to People

Friends, family, and neighbors may offer great insight when you are searching for the right veterinarian. These are people you can usually trust to tell you the whole truth about their experiences, both good and bad. You may also consider asking trusted professionals/businesses in your area if they recommend and specific veterinarians. Ask why they recommend that vet so you can determine if the qualities they describe align with your personal needs and wants.

Ask for Recommendations

One of the best ways to find a great veterinarian in your area is to ask for recommendations from friends, family, and people who work with animals locally, such as your trainer, groomer or breeder, a local boarding kennel employee, or pet sitter. It’s important to find people who share your attitudes towards animals, and who have the same sort of animal, as different pets have different needs.

If you are moving to a new area, ask your current veterinarian for a recommendation, and/or check with local area veterinary medical associations for a list of active members.

Check the Websites of Local Animal Hospitals, Clinics and Practices

A slick website does not necessarily mean the clinic or veterinarian is highly rated. Conversely, it’s also possible for an excellent veterinarian to have a terrible website (or none at all). It’s useful to check online for some of the practical aspects of your search, however. Most websites should offer important details, such as hours of operation, so you’ll know if the clinic is open during times that are convenient for you.

You should also be able to see the location of the practice and if parking or public transport is available. It’s more convenient if you can find a good veterinarian who is geographically close to you, since it will be much easier if you have an emergency and need to see them quickly. Proximity isn’t the most important factor, however. You might decide that it’s better to travel farther for someone who has a better reputation or a particular specialty.

Preventing Problems During the Vet Selection

It’s probably best to leave your dog out of the equation until you find a vet you like. It will only confuse and stress the dog out if you are bringing your dog on multiple visits to meet a vet. And, if the vet you have selected is not ideal or not working out, don’t worry too much. Refer back to your research, pick a new vet, and move on. Do pick someone as soon as possible; you don’t want to be a dog owner without a vet on standby for any health problems.

The ‘Sugar Glider’ Possums

How To Get Rid of Possums / Opossums

When an opossum (or the more common name possum) bares its mouthful of jagged teeth at you, your first instinct is probably to run away, wondering how to get your yard back from these nuisance animals.

Luckily, there are a few different ways to get rid of these sneaky night dwellers, and we’ve listed them below Whether you’re looking for a “live and let live” solution or you’d rather take more a direct, engineered approach to kicking the possums to the curb, we’ve got solutions for that scenario, too.

How To Naturally Remove Opossums?

Okay, so you don’t want to hurt the opossum or do anything inhumane—you just want it off your property. Keep reading for strategies you can employ to make an opossum want to leave your home on its own in a matter of a few weeks.

Eliminate Its Food Sources

The driving force for any possum to take up residence in an area is almost always going to be food. Opossums are known to eat just about anything, and will scavenge through your backyard to find pests, dead animals, old food, rotting wood, and even snakes to eat!

Clean Up Your Garden

In addition to insects, spiders, and slugs, did you know that possums will happily munch on weeds and wilting plants? Like humans, the opportunistic possums are omnivores, meaning that they eat both plants and meat. If you keep your yard manicured and properly trimmed, you remove the opportunity for possums to nestle in your garden and make it their new home.

How to Get Rid of Possums: Comprehensive Guide

Possums and opossums seem to be cute and quite friendly when you see them in pictures. But, when they get on your territory and spoil the harvest or even settle inside your apartment, they don’t look that cute anymore.

Looking for a food source, possums can damage your crops, trees, as well as feed on your leftovers, making complete chaos while turning the trash bin over. If you faced such a small but rather disturbing problem, let me help you. As a pest consultant and exterminator, I can give you some useful advice.

How to Determine a Possum?

The possums are small marsupial mammals that look like rodents. The first representatives of this species appeared in the Cretaceous period, which is about 100 million years ago, and have not changed significantly since then. The appearance of a possum is very similar to a rat.

Possums can be confused with rats and mice due to their narrow muzzles and long bare tails, which also work like animal’s fifth paw. Because possums live on the trees, their tails help them to move around and cling to branches.

The possum itself is a relatively large animal. The length of its body is up to 45 centimeters, and another 30-32 takes the tail. The female individual has a bag on its stomach to carry the cubs like a kangaroo. A newborn possum is born completely blind and weighs only 5 grams. The mother carries its offspring in a bag for 60 days until it is strong enough.

Opossum Control: How To Get Rid Of Opossums

This page is a general Opossum control guide. Using the products and methods suggested you will get control of Possums. Follow this guide and use the recommended products and we guarantee 100% control of Possums. Consult your local and state guidelines to see if the Possum is a protected species in your location before applying control and proceed with caution as Opossums can be dangerous.

Have you been startled by the appearance of an oversized rodent? It likely was an Opossum. Opossums or “Possums” are about 2 feet long and measure about 6 to 15 pounds. They have long tails and sharp claws. They have a pointed snout and sharp teeth. Possums will often hide inside tree trunks and places that provide them with harborage. They are most commonly seen around dumpsters, close to wooded areas, and near homes and structures (like basements and garages), especially at night.

Possums are constantly on the hunt for food and will venture onto residential areas not only looking for food (garbage, fruits, vegetables, worms, etc.) but also looking for harborage areas which means crawl spaces, garages, and wall voids in the home. Possums can wreak havoc in gardens and backyards by feeding on crops and vegetables. They have been known to get into fights with pets. Aside from this, they also carry a high number of diseases such as tuberculosis, tularemia, spotted fever, Chagas diseases, leptospirosis

Identification is the first step in control. Before you can treat you need to make absolutely sure you’re dealing with Opossums. Below you can find the common characteristics that set Possums apart.

Opossums weigh between 6 to 15 pounds and are typically 2 feet long from the snout to the tail.

They have silver-colored fur with white tips, a white face, black paws and ears.

Their feet have five toes and sharp claws.

They have a long pointy snout.

An opossum will “play dead” when they are threatened. The animal will look – and even smell – like they are dead. They will not move, their mouths will be open, and their anal glands will secrete an odor. This is a defense mechanism that can last between a few minutes to a few hours.

An opossum is a scavenger and mainly feeds on carcasses and plants, but they are adaptable and will also consume small animals, insects, and sweet foods. Take caution when approaching or handling this animal. They are great climbers and are able to swim.

Where To Inspect

Indoors you’re looking in wall voids, cracks and crevices, basements, garage and attics. Possums are most likely in your basement looking for shelter. If you have any clutter or storage bins in your garage, they are most likely near these particular spots. Search the corners and crevices of the garage as well. Outdoors you’re looking in your yard, near your garbage cans, and close to trees. If you have a crawl space or any type of opening under your house, possums may be there as well.

How To Get Rid Of Possums

You have a problem. You have discovered that something new has taken up residence on your property. It’s not the typical pests that households regularly encounter, so momentarily, this critter has you on the back foot.

Pretty soon, you work it out; you have a resident, Possum. So how do you now how to get rid of a possum in backyard. You decide to look it up on the Internet and check out the implications. This may lead you to be even more confused as there are mixed feelings about Possums.

The great debate and one that should be discussed

The humane society starts the debate by telling you that Possums are not much of a problem and are often accused of doing things they never actually did. That they are no threat to humans, so you should welcome them, or at the very worst deter them, so they move on. They may seem scary when they crouch there with their mouth open and hissing at you, but it’s just a bluff.

If that fails, they usually switch to plan B and pretend they are dead. Fighting is pretty low on their agenda. Then, of course, the Pest or Opossum Control companies chip in their point of view, which is that they should all be killed, done away with, exterminated! But there again, they would say that, wouldn’t they?

Possums are not a Rodent like rats; they are the only Marsupial in the USA. They are smallish wild animals and can reach 13lbs. Possums that have become urbanized have become decidedly fatter than their country-cousins.

How to Get Rid of Possums Naturally

So, you’ve got a problem with possums. And you need to get rid of possums. Nice. Possums can be the ugliest thing you’ve ever seen, or some folks find them too cute to kill. They’re relatively quick, smart, agile, and love to eat your garbage. They’re also relatively large and can destroy your wiring, car, woodwork, and even your house.

Possums are quite distinctive from other rodents you may find in the yard. Compared to rats and mice, they’re a lot bigger, have a much longer snout, and a longer tail. They’re the only marsupial native to North America. They tend to have darker fur, typically silver and black with a hairless prehensile tail that they can use to grapple objects and hang from trees. They’re also decent climbers with their rear pair of legs.

Signs that you have possums

Possums are nighttime creatures, so finding them in the act is difficult. You’ll often find possum droppings, which are about 2-3’ long and look similar to cat or dog feces. This type of dropping typically shows up where they feed and spend most of their time at during the night time, so you can kind of gauge where to set up your traps and DIY solutions to get rid of possums.

Possums and humans

Possums aren’t dangerous by nature, but they will defend themselves when threatened. They’ll fight your dog or cat over food, and they also can transmit bacteria, parasites, and other diseases to you or your pets directly or indirectly.

They can transmit a disease to your dog, which then can transmit to you. So there’s always a risk of transmission and sanitary risks. Possums are known to play dead when threatened, where they’ll literally lie on the ground for up to 5 hours in comatose. During this act, they’ll emit a nasty smell from their body. The possum isn’t actually dead, but will do its best to pretend. So be warned. Don’t be carrying this possum sound because it’ll definitely, magically, spring back to life.

Deep Engine Rebuilding Review

What does seized engine sound like?

There are specific engine locked up symptoms, which give hint about the disaster you are going to face. However, there is also distinctive seized engine sound that foretells the impending issue.

When the problem is at the initial stage, you will hear light tapping or knocking sounds when driving the car. The noises seem to be coming from the engine. The next stage involves thundering knocking sounds barring metallic striking. This condition is known as a ‘dead knock’ and it happens when the piston rod bangs into the crankshaft.

You should take the car to a garage after spotting the seized engine symptoms. Diagnosing it sooner can spare your thousands of dollars.

Seized Engine Symptoms: How To Tell If Engine Is Seized?

It is necessary to take the car for an engine checkup in the event of subpar engine performance, the check engine oil light, and weird noises coming from the engine.

Stay alert of these seized engine symptoms:

Blaring Sound

It has already been discussed that booming knocking or clunking sounds can also be indicative of a locked up engine. The noise is the result of the state striking the flywheel.

Fumes

Fumes or even fire coming from under the hood can be another symptom of a seized up motor. As the starter is unable to start the engine in this condition, the wiring can be overheated, causing smoke and even fire sometimes.

Engine Failure

When this happens it is quite obvious that your car is in a big trouble. You should not wait for the motor to reach this condition, though. Complete engine failure means it won’t kick off under any circumstance. The battery-operated accessories such as the lights, radio, and others can still be functioning.

Loose Motor Parts

When a component of an internal combustion engine is loose such as the piston, it may pierce through the cylinder block. An inspection under the hood will make you aware of this problem.

Insufficient engine oil is the most common cause of engine locking up. Low engine oil leads to friction, overheating, and other complications that ultimately result in engine failure. Water or rust accumulation inside the engine can also be the reasons for this trouble. The failure or damage of engine parts can be another probable reason, but it is very rare for this problem to create a seized up engine.

The Signs and Symptoms of a Seized Engine

A car’s engine is like a delicate ballet or a synchronized swimming event; everything must work in perfect harmony or the whole thing is thrown off. An engine, however, does not just get up and start over. It typically causes major damages when all of its components are not working properly. One thing that can happen is that the engine can seize. Seizing of the engine is when a major component stops moving, stopping the entire engine.

Nothing

When an engine seizes, the tell-tale sign is nothing. You attempt to turn the vehicle over, and all of the electronics seem to work: radio turns on, heater fan blows and the lights turn on. When you attempt to crank the vehicle’s engine though, nothing happens except a loud clunking noise from the vehicle’s starter impacting the engine’s flywheel.

Inside-out

When an engine seizes, a lot of times it is due to an internal component coming loose and lodging against another component. Sometimes, this component — typically a piston connecting rod — can penetrate the engine block and pierce through to the outside. In some cases, the component that is now piecred through the engine block can be seen from the top.

Burning Wires

When an engine seizes and can no longer move, the starter will still attempt to crank the engine when the key is turned. Because the starter cannot turn the motor, the electric wires can overheat and begin smoking, a tell-tale sign of a seized engine.

Testing

There are a few ways to test for a seized engine, but one procedure stands out as the most reliable. Try to turn the crankshaft pulley on the engine — the large pulley in the middle of the engine. The best way to do this is to remove all of the spark plugs, place a large socket on the crankshaft pulley bolt and turn the socket with a large breaker bar. If the crank does not move, it is very likely the engine is seized.

Precursors

There are plenty of warnings given before an engine seizes. The initial stages are very light tapping noises or even a faint knocking sound. You’ll know the end is near when you hear what technicians call a “dead knock.” This is a loud knocking sound that lacks any metallic pinging sound. This “dead knock” is typically the piston connecting rod hitting the engine’s crank shaft.

Repairing

Repairing a seized engine really depends on what actually caused the seize. Typically, the best mode of repair is to replace the entire engine, as the internal damage may be very heavy. If repairing the engine is best — high-performance engines or a rare engine — you can anticipate replacing nearly all of the internal components and having the engine block repaired by a machine shop, both of which are very costly.

Can You Fix a Seized Engine?

In addition to knowing how to tell if an engine is seized, there is some confusion about whether there is a seized engine fix. Some people will say that you cannot fix a seized engine, but it actually depends on the situation.

It will depend on the cause of the problem. An engine seized due to a lack of oil where you catch the problem early may be able to fix it. The same may be true of a bad starter or seized engine. However, if the same problems occur and you do not take care of them right away, they may cause damage to other parts of the engine. If a Briggs and Stratton engine seized no oil, the damage may be too great for repairs.

Every case is different and while you can learn how to break loose a seized engine, it is not possible to know how to unlock a seized engine in every case. Sometimes, it is just impossible, even for experts. Generally, if the answer to what does a seized engine sound like is louder and more noticeable, this will indicate more extreme damage that is harder to repair.

What Causes a Seized Engine?

So, why does the engine seize like this? Well, it usually comes down to engine components that have either welded together or overheated. The most common components include the piston rings, pistons, and rod bearings.

It is hard to repair these problems after they’ve occurred. You may end up having to replace your entire engine. That, of course, will mean spending thousands of dollars that you probably don’t even have available.

Engine Locked Up Symptoms

Fortunately, a seizing engine will not mean it is already destroyed. There are some symptoms that you should recognize as early warning signs. If you can spot them early on, you may have time to take your vehicle to the auto mechanic and have them fix the problem before it causes worse problems for the engine.

Below are the top 3 symptoms of a car engine seizing up.

#1 – Check Oil Light

If your engine components are locking up, it will hinder the circulation of oil. Your engine control unit will immediately detect something is wrong with the oil flow once this happens. In response, the unit will activate the “Check Oil” light on the dashboard. Some vehicles share this warning light with the “Check Engine” light, so you may have either or both lights come on.

#2 – Weak Acceleration

You cannot have a seizing engine and still be able to drive your vehicle normally. When your engine begins to seize, you can expect its performance to diminish. This means that each time you step on the gas pedal to accelerate your vehicle, you are probably not going to go as fast as you normally would. In fact, you may not be able to pick up speed at all. It will eventually get to the point where your engine won’t accelerate and then your car will just stop for good.

#3 – Knocking Sounds

During a seizing engine situation, the piston rod knocks against the crankshaft. This will happen repeatedly, causing knocking sounds to be heard. The sounds will continue to become louder and worse unless you address the problem fast.

How to Free a Locked Up Motor

Treating a locked up motor depends on its cause. You can tell if your engine is locked by trying to turn the crankshaft with a breaker bar. If it turns, the engine isn’t seized, and you should look for a different cause.

If your engine has seized up while you’re driving, there’s nothing you can do about it short of an intensive engine repair or replacement.

If you have an engine that seized from sitting for a long time, pull the spark plugs out of all the cylinders. Fill the cylinders with engine oil and let it sit for a few days. Then, try turning the engine over with a breaker bar. If it moves, you may be able to salvage the engine. If not, you’ll have to pull it apart and rebuild it.

If your engine is hydrolocked, take out the spark plugs right away and crank the engine over. The water will pump out of the cylinders, releasing the hydrolock. That’s IF there aren’t damaged parts inside.

For a vapor locked engine, you need the fuel to cool to the point of condensing. It can happen frequently just by letting it sit and cool off. Or, if you need to get it going right away, you can cool off the fuel pump and lines by splashing cold water or ice on them, condensing the vapor back to liquid.

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