The New Year is a time for a fresh start to get healthier, exercise more and get organized.  Start by making a list of goals, be specific.  List what needs to be organized or de-cluttered. Do not feel overwhelmed; do a little at a time.

Regular exercise will keep you healthy and you will look and feel better.

Organize your closet and pack up the clothing, toys, and other items that you do not need, or use and donate to goodwill or charity.  Use containers to organize items that would clutter your home.

Check your freezer and canned goods for out of date items.  Throw out anything that is expired. Clean the shelves and restock by category.  Have a well organized kitchen; reduce trips to the supermarket by stocking your pantry for convenience and protection against an unexpected natural disaster.

Now that you de-cluttered, organized and downsized cleaning will be easier.  Carpeting lasts longer if maintained by frequent vacuuming and regular carpet cleaning.  You can maintain your vacuum cleaner by remembering to change the vacuum belt at least twice a year.  This will keep the brush roll working properly.  Regularly change the filter, and vacuum bag.  To maintain your vacuum cleaner, take it to be serviced every one or two years. To protect your investment have a professional give the vacuum a tune up.

Save time and reduce stress shop online.

                 Fresh Christmas trees are still a favorite.  There is nothing like the smell of pine for the holidays throughout the home.  The beauty and fragrance of a real tree brings joy to you and your guests as you prepare to celebrate the holidays.  A little planning can prevent many clean up problems.

                Before you bring the tree into your home make a fresh cut on the base of the trunk, then shake the tree to remove any loose needles.   Before you place the tree in a sturdy stand put a Christmas tree removal bag under the stand, cover with a decorative tree skirt.   When the holiday is over, remove the stand and just pull the bag up over the tree and you will trap most of the needles.

                Place the tree away from heat registers, space heaters, fireplaces, and other heat sources.  Use a tree mat or tray under the tree stand to prevent stains on the carpets or watermarks on your hardwood floors. Make sure the tree receives plenty of water to keep it fresh and not dry.  When you are bringing the tree into your home you will most likely leave a trace of needles from your front door to the place in the living area where the tree will stand.  There are a few tips when using your vacuum to pick up needles.  Pick up large pieces by hand, and use the hose attachment to pick up the remaining pine needles.  The attachment keeps the pine needles out of the base of the machine.  While vacuuming look for ornament hooks and broken glass bulbs, so they don’t clog the machine.   Put the rotating brush on the lowest setting.  Check the brush bar on your vacuum to remove any needles that are stuck and cut loose any tinsel that may be around the bar.  To remove tree sap from your carpet, use an all purpose stain remover.

                Real trees are biodegradable and can be easily reused or recycled for mulch or other purposes. Check with your local communities for this information.

There is a wide range of choices when choosing a vacuum cleaner for your home.  New technologies make cleaning your home easier and faster.  The first question to ask is what type of vacuum will serve your needs.  You must consider the size of your home, flooring, carpeting, stairs, allergies, and/or pets to help you determine what type of vacuum cleaner you will need.

Questions to ask:  What attachments come with the vacuum?  Does the machine have filters?  Does the model work on floors, as well as carpets and upholstery?  Is there an attachment to clean pet hair effectively?

If you have a lot of floor and uncarpeted areas, look for models with hard floor attachments that use brushes.  Canister vacuums are light and easy to maneuver.  A canister vacuum is great for hardwood floors, tile, linoleum, and carpets.  For a home with carpets look for a vacuum that has high suction power, and two motors.  Choose an upright or canister based on your existing needs, both vacuums are multipurpose.

Is the vacuum green friendly?  Green cleaning is healthier for the environment.  Electrolux Ultra Silencer Vacuum Cleaner is a product that is made from 55%recycled plastics.  Some features are above floor tools stored at your finger tips; a washable Hepa filters that captures 99.97% of dust and allergens; low noise output only 60 decibels.

HEPA [High Efficiency Particulate air] vacuum cleaners and filters are beneficial for asthma and allergy sufferers because HEPA filters trap the fine particles such as pollen and dust mites from entering the air.  If you own a pet or have persons with allergies a HEPA  Filtration Vacuum Cleaner is important to minimize the effects of allergens and other air pollutants.  HEPA vacuums come in both upright and canister models.

Commercial vacuums are designed for heavy duty high traffic areas and are more durable than an ordinary residential vacuum cleaner.  Most major commercial vacuum brands carry green label certified with HEPA filters.   

Proper cleaning and maintenance of your home makes all the difference in the world.  Using the right products for your needs is an important part of your life style.  So make the right choice for you!

Fall is a great time to prepare your fireplace for winter. A wood burning fireplace requires constant maintenance.  Just take the cleaning step by step.

First check the outside of your chimney for cracks that need to be repaired.  Shine a flashlight up the chimney to check for bird’s nests or other animals.  Call a chimney sweep if needed.

Do-it-yourself cleaning supplies:  

·         As scrub brush

·         Plastic goggles for eye protection

·         Plastic drop cloth

·         Plastic bucket

·         Old clothes

·         Rubber gloves

·         Wire brush

·         Fireplace vacuum

Remove andirons and grates.  Remove all large debris that will not fit in a vacuum cleaner into a trash can. During cleaning remember that ashes can smolder for up to two weeks. Everything inside the fireplace should be removed.  Open the damper.  Fireplace Tools, andirons and grates should be cleaned outside. They should be washed with a brush, soap and water, and then sprayed with a hose.  If you have brass andirons, polish with a brass cleaner.

Place the plastic drop cloth and newspapers on the floor to protect rugs and carpeting.   Remove accumulated ashes with your fireplace shovel into a trash can.  Vacuum loose dust.  Use wire brush to scrub inside walls and floor of the fireplace.  You can clean glass screens with a glass cleaner.  Mesh screens can be vacuumed.  When all is cleaned put your andirons and grates back into place.

Select your firewood with care. Properly seasoned hard firewood eliminates smoke associated with green wood.  Give your fireplace and accessories routine cleaning throughout the wood burning season.  Use a fireplace vacuum weekly to clean ashes and to prevent dust and soot buildup.

Black Friday the day after Thanksgiving is a time for the best deals possible for shoppers. Black Friday comes once a year, so when you plan on shopping for bargains on this day anticipate large crowds and pre-dawn hours.

Cyber Monday is the biggest online shopping day of the year. Take advantage of specially priced products and great deals. No need to wait in long lines. Save time and money and never leave the comfort of your home. Look for exciting products to clean your home for the holidays, or to give as gifts.  Now is the time to buy a new vacuum cleaner with new technology and new features.  Stock up on your cleaning needs, bags, filters, carpet cleaning supplies. 

            Severe weather is not always predictable so you should be prepared for a disaster at any time.  Use common sense.  Be cautious about travel.  Listen for radio or television travel advisories.  If there is a power failure use battery powered flashlights. Never leave candles unattended. If electrical circuits and electrical equipment have gotten wet, turn off the power at the main breaker.  Never turn on power or use electric tools while standing in water.

           Never use generators, gasoline, propane, natural gas, or charcoal burning devices inside your home, basement, or garage.  Carbon monoxide is odorless, colorless gas can cause sudden illness and death.

           If there is water damage, open windows and using fans can help as well as dehumidifiers.  Surfaces should be cleaned and disinfected with bleach.  Never mix bleach and ammonia; this will produce dangerous toxic fumes.  Clean and disinfect floors.  Replace rinse water frequently.  Thoroughly clean all hard surfaces; countertops, appliances, and metal furniture.  Remove and discard items that cannot be washed and disinfected such as stuffed animals, paper products.

           Use a wet-dry vacuum a sump pump to remove standing water.  Do not try to vacuum wet carpets. After the carpet is dry thoroughly vacuum to get rid of dirt. The carpet may need to be shampooed, or steam cleaned.

           Mosquitoes increase greatly after rain or flooding.  The mosquitoes carry dangerous diseases such as West Nile Virus.  Use insect repellant and wear long sleeved clothing outdoors.  Empty water out of bird baths, flower pots, and other containers to reduce mosquito breeding.

Outside:

• Store patio furniture
• Wash exterior windows
• Check gutters and downspouts 
• Drain and store garden hoses 
• Clear out weeds and garden debris, this will prevent your plot from becoming a winter haven for insects and pests. 
• Remove and store garden equipment. 
• Taking good care of your Lawn equipment(lawn mower,etc.) will help keep replacement costs down. 
• Till your Garden 
• Plant spring bulbs, like daffodils and tulips 
• Fall is a good time to add compost 
• Check the caulk and weather stripping around the windows

Inside:

• Wash all windows
• Vacuum dusty areas using your brush attachment
• Vacuum drapes and window treatments 
• Use your upholstery attachment for drapes 
• Use your brush attachment for blinds 
• Vacuum upholstered furniture 
• Clean and organize kitchen cabinets 
• Use your vacuum attachments to vacuum refrigerator coils 
• Clean oven Check and vacuum dryer exhaust 
• Clean carpets 
• Replace batteries on smoke detectors 
• Vacuum your air vents

For most students living in a dorm room it will be the first time that you will live on your own. You will pick your courses and try to figure out how you will cover your tuition costs, and furnish your dorm room.  Now the question “what to bring to college”? Your dorm room will be your home. You need a list of supplies to get organized.  It is a good idea to check with your new roommate to lower the possibility of a duplicate supply of items to save you money.   Check out your college website that will list items that are not permitted on campus.

A dorm room check list can include the following:

·        X-long sheets

·        Pillow

·        Blanket/comforter

·        towel

·        Coat hangers

·        Alarm clock

·        Extension cord

·        Surge protector

·        Desk lamp

·        Hamper

·        Iron

·        Dorm fridge

·        Microwave

·        Laptop

·        TV and DVD player

·        Disinfecting wipes

·        Paper towels

·        Dishwashing liquid

·        Laundry basket

·        Bleach

·        Softener

·        Laundry detergent

·        Band aids

·        Shampoo, and conditioner

·        Soap

·        Toothpaste and toothbrush 

·        Reusable/recyclable utensils

·        Plates and mugs

·        Vacuum Cleaner

You want to feel comfortable in your new surroundings and have a relaxing place to study. Dorm rugs are a plus and are easy to clean. Light vacuuming will help to keep the rug and other areas clean.  The Eureka Mighty Mite, Eureka Quick-Up, and Eureka Optima vacuum cleaners are good dorm room vacuum choices and are great for small living places.

Good luck, stay focused and have a great year.

Use the wiring diagram below to wire you Electrolux vacuum cleaner correctly.

*In some models wire colors will vary, but they all lead to the same place.

The Aerus Lux Legacy Vacuum cleaner is a high performance machine.  I have had my machine for years and I am very pleased with it.  Cleaning using my Legacy vacuum is simplified by the use of convenient parts and attachments. Some of the features include carry handle, on/off toe switch, hose receptacle, side bumper, automatic cord winder, power nozzle with headlight, wands, crevice tool, combination dusting/upholstery tool, vacuum filter bag, and deluxe floor tool.

The machine is light weight and has powerful suction.  To operate just pull the long power cord out to the length required, the cord winder automatically rewinds when given a light tug.  To start the cleaner all that is necessary is to press the toe switch.  To stop just press the toe switch again. The power nozzle maneuvers around furniture easily.  If an object becomes caught in the power nozzle, it will shut off automatically.

I use the Aerus Lux Legacy on my carpets, tile floors and hardwood floors. The power nozzle‘s self adjusting action adapts to different carpet heights as well as hard wood floors.  The crevice tool, the long skinny attachment works great inside cabinets, reaches into small narrow spots, under your refrigerator, also to dust off heating vents and radiators.  The Sidekick accessory is designed to clean in hard to reach areas such as stairs, car interiors, bathrooms, upholstery, and mattresses.

My vacuum cleaner doesn’t need much attention but simple maintenance will keep it working and cleaning efficiently.  Maintaining your vacuum cleaner properly can avoid more costly repairs and replacements.  Unplug your vacuum cleaner before performing any maintenance on it.   I check the bag often.  A full bag means that the machine must work harder, or it will not clean as well.  So I change the bag when it is half full because it improves air flow and vacuum performance.  I never attempt to reuse the bag.  I clean the brush roll often to make sure it doesn’t have any string or carpet remnants that will clog up the brush and slow down its motion.

I check the belt and look for worn spots, tears or cracks.  If loose you should replace the belt. I can check the owner’s manual on how to replace this part as well as the filter and other parts that I need.  I had my machine for years and would not buy any other brand.