February 2012 Newsletter is Available: Carbon Monoxide, The Silent Killer!
The Silent Killer During the cold months in Tennessee it is important for all of us to evaluate the concerns of Carbon Monoxide poisoning and the steps we all can take in reducing the risks of the Silent Killer.
Carbon Monoxide (CO) Carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless and toxic gas. Because it is impossible to see, taste or smell the toxic fumes, CO can kill you before you are aware it is in your home. At lower levels of exposure, CO causes mild effects that are often mistaken for the flu. These symptoms include headaches, dizziness, disorientation, nausea and fatigue. The effects of CO exposure can vary greatly from person to person depending on age, overall health and the concentration and length of exposure.
Source: Carbon Monoxide, The Silent Killer, Bargers Solutions monthly newsletter; Blog distribution provided by Kenneth Bargers and Bargers Solutions, a proud member of Pilkerton Realtors, residential real estate services located in Nashville, Tennessee
March’s Monthly Tip: Get a Jump on Spring Cleaning!
SPRING CLEANING? 8 MAJOR HOT SPOTS YOU SHOULDN’T MISS – Get a jump on spring-cleaning this year by focusing on these essentials.
Ready to give your home a top-to-bottom buffing? Start by focusing your efforts on the big pieces and on the places that make the most difference to you: furnishings, appliances, and carpeting. Once you’ve covered these major tasks, you’ll have your home spring-cleaned in no time.
1. Make doormats welcoming. Shake ‘em, wash ‘em, swat ‘em with a broom. Give them the toughest cleaning they can take. They’re your front line against tracked-in dirt — so keep them clean enough to function at peak efficiency.
2. Clean carpets and upholstery. Fabrics that have absorbed a winter’s worth of dirt, body oil, and germs will need a deep cleaning to get them ready for another year of wear — and for that close inspection by your relaxing guests.
When you’re shampooing carpets or cleaning or cleaning upholstery with a rented carpet cleaner, practice first in an unobtrusive area to make sure you have the knack of the machine and that the treatment won’t discolor fabrics or cause dyes to run. Save time by moving furniture just slightly — not out of the room or against the wall, as the old rules dictated — and place the legs of each piece back on top of small wax paper squares after shampooing. The wax paper will protect your carpet and keep the furniture legs from getting wet as the carpet dries. Open the windows to speed the drying process, which can take a day or more. If you’re not the furniture-shifting and machine-renting type, make it easy on yourself. Call in a professional carpet and upholstery cleaner to do the work and take the morning off.
3. Finish your floors. To protect the floors in your kitchen from another year of wear and tear, wax or apply a sealer following label directions. The simplest method: Use a combination wash-and-wax floor cleaner. Don’t feel guilty about saving time!
No-wax floors don’t need a polishing treatment, but an occasional makeover will keep them looking fresher — and add a protective buffer that could help them last longer. Use a floor cleaner that cleans, shines, or both. It’s best to follow label directions for proper use of each product. If you have wood floors, move furniture and rugs aside, then apply a wood cleaner and either liquid or paste polish to clean and add a new wax coating.
4. Wash walls, cabinets, baseboards, and woodwork. The walls may not look as if they need a bath — after all, dust and soot fall to the floor, right? Most of it does, but just enough clings to vertical surfaces to warrant a seasonal or preholiday bath. Use a sponge and hand dishwashing detergent, washing the surface in sections. A sponge mop makes it easier to reach higher spots. Use two buckets: one for dishwashing detergent solution and another for wringing your sponge. Dry the walls and woodwork with a clean cloth.
5. Vacuum with intelligence. The old rules mandated that you go through the labor-intensive task of dragging every stick of furniture off the carpet, just so the vacuum cleaner could cover every nook and cranny. The new rules will save you time, and you’ll still get the corner-to-corner cleaning done: Simply move those big items a little to the left or to the right. Vacuum the area previously occupied by the furniture and then move it back into place.
6. Clean ceiling fixtures. Remove dust and dirt from ceiling fans and air-conditioner vents with a cloth and a vacuum with a soft nozzle attachment.
7. Clean your light fixtures. A few minutes with a stepladder, all-purpose cleaner, a sponge, and a polish cloth will give new light to your life. If your home has skylights or tall ceilings, consider investing in a stepladder and extended-reach dust-and-dirt-removal tools, all of which are available at your local hardware store and at home — and janitorial — supply stores.
8. Check your coils. You should clean the refrigerator’s condenser coil, usually found behind the toe grille, with a long handled bottle brush and a vacuum cleaner with an attachment hose to remove dust and lint. Built-up dust can shut down the unit by causing it to overheat.
To remove dust from coils attached to the hard-to-reach back side of the fridge, carefully pull the refrigerator out several feet (newer models roll on casters) and vacuum thoroughly; finish by sweeping or vacuuming the floor area you’ve revealed. Expect to rediscover coins, bottle caps, and twist ties that you and the cat knocked over the past year.
Source: Reader’s Digest.
November’s Monthly Tip – Deep Fried Turkey; A southern favorite.
Many of us have enjoyed the taste of deep-fried turkey at Thanksgiving. A longtime food favorite in the southern United States, the delicious deep-fried turkey has quickly grown in popularity.
While some people rave about this tasty creation, Underwriters Laboratories Inc.’s safety experts are concerned that backyard chefs may be sacrificing safety for good taste. I thought November’s Monthly Tip is a timely opportunity to focus on how careful we should be when preparing the bird!
Tips for Safety
Turkey fryers should always be used outdoors a safe distance from buildings and any other material that can burn.- Never use turkey fryers on wooden decks or in garages.
- Make sure the fryers are used on a flat surface to reduce accidental tipping.
- Never leave the fryer unattended. Most units do not have thermostat controls. If you don’t watch the fryer carefully, the oil will continue to heat until it catches fire.
- Never let children or pets near the fryer when in use. Even after use, never allow children or pets near the turkey fryer. The oil inside the cooking pot can remain dangerously hot, hours after use.
- To avoid oil spillover, do not overfill the fryer.
- Use well-insulated potholders or oven mitts when touching pot or lid handles. If possible, wear safety goggles to protect your eyes from oil splatter.
- Make sure the turkey is completely thawed and be careful with marinades. Oil and water don’t mix, and water causes oil to spill over, causing a fire or even an explosion hazard.
- The National Turkey Federation recommends refrigerator thawing and to allow approximately 24 hours for every five pounds of bird thawed in the refrigerator.
- Keep an all-purpose fire extinguisher nearby. Never use water to extinguish a grease fire. Remember to use your best judgment when attempting to fight a fire. If the fire is manageable, use an all-purpose fire extinguisher. If the fire increases, immediately call 911 for help. Even after use, never allow children or pets near the turkey fryer. The oil inside the cooking pots remains dangerously hot, hours after use.
Deep Fryer Units
Many units easily tip over, spilling the hot oil within the cooking pot.- If the cooking pot is overfilled with oil, the oil may spill out of the unit when the turkey is placed into the cooking pot. Oil may hit the burner/flames causing a fire to engulf the entire unit.
- Partially frozen turkeys placed into the fryer can cause a spillover effect. This too, may result in an extensive fire.
- With no thermostat controls, the units also have the potential to overheat the oil to the point of combustion.
- The sides of the cooking pot, lid and pot handles get dangerously hot, posing severe burn hazards.
Source: Underwriters Laboratories, Inc., Bargers research
October is National Fire Safety Awareness Month
This year’s fire safety awareness theme is Stay Fire Smart! Don’t Get Burned!
Testing the water before putting a child in the bath may sound like common sense. Wearing short or close-fitting sleeves when cooking on the stovetop may show foresight. This and other simple actions may be all it takes to prevent devastating burns.
Fire Prevention Week 2009 is October 4-10 and focuses on burn awareness and prevention, as well as keeping homes safe from the leading causes of home fires.
During Fire Prevention Week fire and life safety educators across the country will bring important safety messages to their communities, showing them simple ways they can “Stay Fire Smart! Don’t Get Burned.”
What is your local community planning? Read the full story…
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