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Apr 28

Top Ten Things in Gio spring

It must be serendipity that I am in currently in the janitorial industry and that I enjoy cleaning. I use my skills as a sales and marketing director to sell my ritual of welcoming spring.

While some people enjoy lounging, daydreaming or reading when the days are still cool but sunny I enjoy tying up loose ends and starting with a “clean” slate. So what if others do not share my enthusiastic spring dance in honor of mother-nature! Why do they insist on their own dance and will not Applause my great performance? Here are my favorite things to do in spring:

Before Spring Clean & de-clutter and Home Office:

Take a Caddie of your basic tools. I use multi-purpose cleaners, microfiber cloths, wool duster extension, furniture polish, disinfectant spray, trash bag and a laundry basket on the items that I did leave the room clock. If your ceilings are high, you may need a small scale. I also have a broom behind furniture, I can not move and himselfcarpet edges and corners. A vacuum with attachments is also very handy. Place your equipment outside the entrance of the room you are cleaning. Give each room a thorough, top to bottom cleaning. This is the perfect time to launder the curtains and bedding. If you are up to the challenge you can also flip furniture cushions, mattresses and rearrange the furniture. The best approach I have found is to start each room at the entrance door and circle the room. Start your high dusting, touching all surfaces on the walls such as picture frames, shelves, etc. If the curtains are not going to be taken down, remove the dust on the tops & fabric folds. Cobwebs can get anywhere, including the flat walls. Get under and behind the furniture with the duster and/or broom. Dust inside the window frame. Wash the windows. Use a microfiber with just a mist of all-purpose cleaner and dust the surfaces you can reach. The last thing I do is use my disinfectant spray and vacuum.

2. Get rid of clothes not worn:

I bring storage containers or boxes and kitchen trash bags and a black marker. First go through the shelved clothing, second the clothes that are hanging and third clothes that are in drawers. Make a pile on the floor of clothes that should be place in the garbage. Box up the seasonal things you are going to keep. Things you are giving away put into the trash bags. Use the marker and put your name and season of clothes on the boxes. Label the bags with the person’s name you are giving them to, yard sale or Goodwill. Store away the seasonal boxed clothes, put the give-away clothes in your garage or auto so you will not forget to take them away.

3. Clean yard, porches & garage:

All of these are good for family team work, but this one especially is. The garage needs and occasional de-clutter and cleaning. You will need a broom, plenty of boxes or plastic containers, a black marker and maybe some white mailing labels to write on. If you have a large major crisis in there you may want to copy the show “Clean Sweep” and get out three tarps on the drive or yard. Tarp number one is for things to keep, tarp number two is for giving away or yard sale, tarp three is trash. When you have everything out that you can, you may now dust, sweep and/or pressure wash. Organize tools by their use and season. Keep the yard tools together, garden tools and the basic repair tools together, etc. The sports equipment and toys are also organized and the off season sports equipment and toys should be boxed and put up. Tarp number one “things to keep” will be boxed up and labeled and neatly put back into the garage. Tarp number two “things to give away or yard sale” should be boxed, bagged or price tagged for yard sale. Label the give-away or yard sale items and neatly put back into the garage. Tarp number three “trash” items need to be bagged if they can fit into garbage receptacle or hauled to the dump if necessary. Now the garage is neat and clean!

4. Thoroughly detail autos:

Have a contest with someone if you are detailing two autos! Guard yourself from the sun. Tools needed are a vacuum with attachments, trash bag, towels, paper towels, 2 microfiber cloths and a large terry cloth, two old large beach towels, a long handled car wash broom if you have one, and a stiff brush for the wheels & tires and bucket & sponge. I also fix a small caddy with window cleaner, Mr. Clean, some Q-Tips, Armor-all, Febreze, car wash, wax with an applicator or soft cloth and tire “black” spray. Start on the inside and fill up your trash bag with any garbage in the auto. Look under seats and in the cracks of the seats. Pick up items that will hurt your vacuum. Take out all the carpets and lay them down to vacuum. Then fill a bucket with about a gallon of water and an ounce of Mr. Clean. Use this water first to scrub the seats with a very damp cloth, it may remove some stains and it smells good. Then wash the dash, wheel, seat dividers and inside the doors. Constantly clean your cloth in the bucket. Dip Q-tips in the water and use to get the dash cracks, corners and areas the cloth couldn’t get into. Spray Armor-All on a microfiber cloth and wipe down the dash and hard smooth surfaces made from similar material to shine up and make like new. When finished put that cloth away from the others so you will not use it again. Time for the inside windows! I use a window cleaner and paper towels to wash all the inside windows, then I go back over them with a microfiber cloth and it really polishes good. The last thing I do is vacuum the carpet. Be sure to adjust the seats forward and backward to get all areas. Last I give the fabric and carpet a spray of Febreze, carefully avoiding my windows. Vacuum the carpets that you took out. If you want to organize the trunk and vacuum, this is a good time. Now get the windows up and shut the doors. Empty your bucket and refill with plenty of water and a little carwash. Hose down the entire auto and wash by sections. Immediately rinse off each section as you go around the auto. When you think you are done walk around the auto for any touch-ups. Now use your stiff brush and scrub the wheels and tires a few times, then rinse. Hose off the carpets you removed and let air dry. Use a beach towel to dry off all areas of the auto. After drying and no water spots it is time to wax. My favorite auto wax is the new spray on wipe off type, but if you are using the paste wax it is done the same way. Put wax on a section at a time, and then remove it with the second beach towel. Let the paste wax dry before buffing off. Again check all around the auto for any areas that need touched up. After waxing I wash the windows with paper towels and then polish with the microfiber cloth. Your wheels and tires should be dry by now so you can spray your “black” spray on them. Now that is a sparkling beauty!

5. Get planting beds & flower containers ready:

You can start seedlings indoors or wait for the nursery centers to stock your favorite plants. Guard yourself from the sun. Tools you may want for the large planting beds are a tiller (if large area) rake, shovel, garden claw, landscape fabric or plastic, gloves, trash bag potting soil (my favorite is Miracle Grow with the water holding material). First pull all weeds and place in trash bag. Rake the surface of leaves, old mulch and Debris, put in trash bag or compost. With a shovel or garden claw down (if a large area) and mix into soil. After the area is full coverage of landscape fabric or plastic. When you are ready to plant, cut holes in the landscape fabric or plastic system where you want. At the end of your flower gardens, cover with fabric or plastic mulch or rocks. For planters if used before they have been washed and dried in air. Whenthe weather is warm enough you can plant. Place some large stones or broken pottery pieces in the bottom for drainage. Fill pots ¾ of the way full. Decide where to place your plants and surround them with potting soil and firmly press down. Give a good drink of water. Check on weekly to remove dead material and water if needed.

6. Start seedlings indoors:

Pick a few seeds you want to start, veggies, herbs, flowers (Burpee is my favorite brand). You can use a sun lamp, although I never have. Just don’t start too early or they will grow too large before you can transplant. The easiest way is to get the jiffy pots ready for water and seeds. You can also use a rectangle receptacle like a cake pan and fill with potting soil and sprinkle on the seeds and water. Pour off excess water. Save your seed envelopes to mark your plants or you won’t remember what you are growing and where. When the weather is warm enough and all chances of freezing are over they can be transplanted either in a prepared bed or container.

7. Write down new things to do in the summer and fall:

I like to write down things I haven’t done in a while, new things or things to do with particular friends and family; go to museum with mother; watch movie with Linda. Learn how to rollerblade, take a painting class, run a marathon, go boating and so forth. I have things to do indoors for rain and outdoors for sunshine. Keep your list next to your calendar and when you want something to do check one off. Make arrangements a week or so ahead so you will have a full social calendar.

8. Begin a customized fitness plan:

First schedule a check up with your family doctor and make sure you are okay to become more active. Define what you want to accomplish and a date to accomplish this by. If you have more than one goal, do this for every goal. Example: I want to lose 30 pounds by August. Next step is to plan out how you will accomplish this. Example: I will clean out my kitchen and replace with healthy low calorie foods. I will walk one mile every day. I will lift weights thirty minutes every other day and so on. Keep positive affirmations and motivational post-its on your bathroom mirror and refrigerator.

9. Get a new hair cut, hair style or color:

Be browsing the magazine for cuts and color you like to get an idea or two. Visit your favorite hair salon or one that a friend refers. Ask the stylist to recommend a cut and or color for your complexion, lifestyle and budget. Ask questions regarding maintenance before you decide. Your cut must be quick and easy to maintain if you lifestyle is very busy. If you are young you can easily go more dramatic and bold. If you are more mature or have a career you may want to stick with some classic styles and color, but different than you usually get. This is a great ego boost and when you are confident and happy, it will rub off on everyone around you.

10. Take a long walk, hike or bike ride in a scenic area:

This is a great family outing, or couples and friends outing. Bring your dog if you can. If you have a favorite park or recreation area, plan a day and a picnic for this event. This could ba a great way to scout out a camping area. Take the basics, sandwiches, fruit and water. Dress for the occasion and don’t forget sun protection. Bring a rain jacket or wind breaker in case the weather suddenly changes. Let someone know where you are going and bring a cell phone. Bring a Frisbee or football to mix things up. Just enjoy the time to spend with good company and appreciate the beautiful earth.

With a “clean” slate completed there is still ample time to soak up all the crisp air and sunshine. I feel I have accomplished something great and it makes me feel terrific about the next great season!

Look for more articles coming soon!

Tagged with: Spring • Things

Apr 28

Road Safety Tips – Are you ready for your car break down on the highway?

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Breaking down on a busy road is never a pleasant experience. However, it is even worse if you are not prepared and do not understand the basic guidelines for road safety, if you sit on the side of the road is fixed. This article examines some preventive measures to be ready to fail, and some tips on how to handle yourself when you sit on the shoulder of the road.

If not before, is preparing to preparefail

Long before even realizing that the vehicle would no longer be able to further down a certain street, make sure that you have to be prepared for this situation. Here are tips for preparing road safety to help the inevitable occurrence is a bit 'less than a nightmare:

The preparation starts with maintaining a healthy vehicle:

– Make sure the service plan stick!
– Check your oil
– Check your water
– CheckTyres
– Check the spare wheel

All the above steps should be executed before every long trip

Prepare a road safety kit, which you can take with you in your car at all times. The kit should contain:

– Flashlight
– Road Safety Triangle Warning Sign
– Traffic cones
– Mobile
– Jumper cables
– A tow
– Portable Air Compressor
– Waterproof
– First aid kit

According Know how behavior on the side ofRoad

If you do you stand on the side of a busy street, be sure to get some tips on road safety is not the safest place to be found on road safety campaigns throughout the country are looking for a long time, no alarm liable to the public on these suggestions on how many people are victims of accidents related to road safety tips ignored when attacked on the street.

So here we go, to remember a few things, if you are stuck on the sideRoad:

– Do not panic!

– If possible, make your way to the left side of the road and not stop on the right shoulder (this applies to drivers, where you drive on the left side of the road).

– Avoid stopping near or on street corners. Make sure that ideally visible from 100 meters in any direction.

– Stop all possible. You'll get the car found parked at a street to be surprised.

– When to change atyre, do your best to stop on a flat road that is not on an incline.

- Stop with you wheels pointing towards the barrier (A very important road safety tip). In the event that your car starts to roll, this way it will roll into the barrier and not into the line of traffic.

- Turn on your hazards immediately

- Make sure all passengers get out the car and stand at a safe distance from the road.

- Open your bonnet to show other drivers that you are broken down and not just stood by the road, so, road safety officials must identify the user of the situation and come to your rescue.

– Tie a white cloth or T-shirt of the driver's side door handle can be used to warn other motorists.

– Use safety traffic cones and reflective triangles that you in your road kit. Set this at a considerable distance behind the car so that incoming traffic has to react very long time.

– If the problem is serious, and you can not solve the problem in a shortAmount of time, do not try to be a hero, call roadside assistance and get right to solving the problem, as they are better equipped with safety equipment road for exactly these situations.

Remember, it's all about preparation, not only with the right equipment, road safety, but also knowledge to manage these situations. Spread the word to distribute this article to your friends and family and you can guarantee your next division will be run much moresmoothly.

Tagged with: Highway • safety

Apr 26

The Passing of the Classic Muscle Car?

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Although there is a lot of buzz out there regarding internationally produced autos, in my opinion, they merely don’t have the comparable feeling as classic American autos. Yes, there are a good lot of foreign autos that can go fast, and last longer than some American cars, but none of them have the elegance and looks of a Mustang or a Camaro. These American muscle cars are the things that the fantasies of many were shaped by, with their acceleration, their horsepower, their luxuriousness, and their hot styling. Well ahead of the days of the compact and efficient rice burners, highway hugging, gas gulping American autos really dominated the entire world, as the American empire did.

Of course, in some means those days are gone, and I guess that it is accurate that they won’t arrive ever again. Chrysler was taken over by Daimler Benz, and the other American car corporations do so much of their constructing over seas that it has become a big challenge to even imagine their automobiles as American. Positively, they are American corporations in the sense that they started here, but in reality they are today multi-national organizations that have no feel of national loyalty at all, and are merely in it to make money. However, despite the cut backs and the downsizing, and what not, a bit of the spirit of American automobiles still remains on the highways today.

Look about you next time you get out, and you are likely to see a couple of older cars. However, they are unluckily going by the wayside, and being replaced with modern day knock offs of the antique autos. Take a look at the modern-day Camaro, Mustang, Charger each of which have recently been redesigned by their designers in order to bring more “classic styling” to them. Sure they seem good, but it’s merely not the same as experiencing a authentic piece of American iron to make the tires squeal and not beg for forgiveness.

In my opinion, if you are a lover of American muscle cars, you shouldn’t purchase the pc controlled, excessively sleek cars of today, but get one of the more classy cars of yesterday. The fifties, and to an extent, the 1960s were where it was at as far as American automobiles was concerned. That was the age of the very strong steel frames that could hold together like nobody’s business, of the large, stout solid American cars that did withstand up to years and years of misuse. That was a long time before the travesty of uni-body construction kicked in, when men were men, and American automobiles were cars. Maybe those times are past, but the cars from those days – at least many of them – are still on the highway now, and several of them can be bought by any fairly better off collector. There is nothing better than the roar of an old, decked out v-8 engine under the bonnet of a older American automobiles, and that is no lie.

Tagged with: Classic • Muscle • passing

Apr 26

Interesting Facts About Auto Transport

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Gone are those ancient days when transportation was considered as a luxury, today it has become an actual necessity. However, as man is considered as a technological animal he has developed enough modes for transportation. Among which auto transport stands out to be the most striking one. More towards the development vehicle shipping came into existence.

Vehicle shipping is actually not an easy task, just before vehicle transport came into existence; people were helpless about transporting their cars/autos. So in case they required moving out of their place or country their vehicle moving was simply impossible. But now auto transport served to an actual remedy for such problem and now people feel relaxed when it comes to moving vehicle. Any car transport company will transport your vehicle across country or with in city limit. In case, you are planning to leave the city or country then you could now take your vehicle along without any issues. This service is very economical when compared to selling your vehicle in one place and buying another one at new place.

This is one of the proven best ways or you could say the only way of transporting your loved vehicles securely. However, there are few basic steps to be checked before choosing an auto transport company.

1. First and foremost you require checking whether your vehicle is in secure hands, so that the vehicle remains unspoiled in the transportation procedure.

2. In spite of the mode of shipping engaged you have to attain auto transport insurance for your vehicle. This establishes to be a defensive method.

3. The services provided by the car shipping company must be taken into thought. Their delivery dates and your conveniences must also be considered.

4. If your vehicle requires being stored, being it short and long terming, your need to check whether any such storage facilities are available and are up to the mark.

5. If you require checking whether any transport company is correctly licensed then you can go through the website of Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration for further clarification.

6. Before you go with any shipping company check weather they offer you time in advance services and check out whether the group also provides you with speedy vehicle shipping.

7. Verify with the company about their assessment services.

8. Finally choose a company that demands a decent shipping price in line with their services, check with three or more companies and then decide.

Tagged with: Interesting • Transport

Apr 25

Convert Car to Run on Hydrogen – Truth Or Scam?

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Many of you must have heard about this thing, I mean running car with the help of hydrogen. Basically it means it is possible to run any car on water. But is it true? Or just all of them are pure scam?

Believe me or not, but it is true! I was eye-witness of such process. One friend of mine converted his car and now is car runs on hydrogen. He produces hydrogen at home. And he already saved so much money on gasoline, that he is thinking about buying new car. But I remember he used to stop driving home for lunch time, when gas prices started to increase, just because it was not lucrative to him.

With the lately high gas prices increase, the whole idea of using hydrogen as a vehicle fuel became very popular nowadays. It is a lot cheaper and environmentally friendly. It is also known and proven fact, that such kind of invention almost doubles your mileage, if we compare it to use of a standard gasoline. But still the most important fact is the gasoline price. They increase with every hour. And experts believe they will rise by up to 30% till the end of 2008. That would be approximately 5$ for a gallon.

The whole convert process and work could cost you roughly less than 100$. No specific requirements or skills are required. You will just need to do a small modification to your car’s engine – attach a small kit to it. But don’t worry, it’s not that hard as it sounds, actually even a kid will be able to do this. After you have modified your car, you will need a hydrogen generator for automobile. With the help of generator, you will be able to produce hydrogen from water yourself! Just imagine the money you will save.

Tagged with: Convert • Hydrogen