What does the H1N1 virus fear the most? If you guessed "a vaccine," "the World Health Organization" or "Purell," you are wrong. No, the unfortunately-named Swine Flu's greatest enemy is a hand-held vacuum-cleaner.
The new Raycop is no ordinary Dust-buster (it retails for about $199). This stingray-shaped sucker of soot has a built-in UV-C sterilizing lamp that allegedly kills 99.9% of the H1N1 virus, as well as other germs, dust mites and bacteria. It also has a vibrating pad that helps agitate the dust mites to release them from bed mattresses and other furnishings and a 2-stage micro allergy filtration system that eliminates the pesky purveyors of asthmatic allergens and their feces.
So while the surviving .01% of H1N1 may go on to mutate into a new "bison flu," "chicken flu," or "what-have-you flu," at least your home will be pretty safe against The Swine.
The company that redefined "clean" is taking the flu head-on, by giving away 1,500 free shots at the South Central Family Health Clinic in South Central, Los Angeles, on Wednesday, October 21. The free flu shots will be available from 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM, and both adults and children will be eligible.
Clorox seems intent on preparing its faithful customers for Outbreak 2010, with an entire page on their site devoted to the latest flu strain.
With homeowners sealing up their windows, doors and walls against the oncoming winter and all its accompanying germs, viruses, and what-have-you, it's a good time to evaluate the indoor air quality (IAQ) of the home. Now might be a good moment to consider an air purifier, or run down this list of the top 10 contributors to poor indoor air quality.
In the meantime, are you getting the flu shot and/or the H1N1 shot this season?
I am writing this blog on a bit of a self-congratulatory high. I dug headfirst into the home improvement projects I had left over from last year. Late fall was consumed with the downstairs bathroom renovation in which we took down the wallpaper (last room in the house with it! yippee!); re-plastered the walls; painted the walls, ceiling and trim; installed a new toilet and faucets; and bought a new shower curtain, rug and towels. Overall, we were happy with the affordable changes that certainly made a noticeable difference.
The holidays put all projects on hold but once the decorations were stored away again this weekend, it was time to get started on home improvements again. I had bought three sample paint colors from MyPerfectColor.com to try to find a better brown than the one we had painted on our master bedroom walls a couple of years ago. The color we selected ended up having a pinkish undertone, and we have never been happy with it. So, I painted my three sample brown hues on the wall and began the discussion with my husband and son. Luckily, we all eliminated the brown color that had a grayish tint to it, but it took 24 hours of discussion to decide between what I called a "dark chocolate" and the "milk chocolate" colors. Milk chocolate won, and my full gallon is on its way. (If painting is on your list of to-do projects, don't miss our extensive collection of painting How-To, Step-by-Step Videos with easy-to-follow written instructions, which can be found here.)
I started another project this weekend, which is an affordable way to refinish my outdated countertop in the bathroom we began this fall. I am using the Bath, Sink & Title Refinishing Kit for Dummies by Armorpoxy, which contains a heavy-duty, bright white epoxy (tintable if you want to color it) that can be used to refinish baths, tile, tubs, sinks, counters, floors and more. If it works, I can rid my bathroom of the gold-speckled, 1970s style countertop and create a clean, white, modern surface. I'll let you know how both projects go and be sure to post photos.
Write a comment below and let me know what your new year's home improvement resolutions are or if you have any affordable solutions for DIY renovations.
If you're staying home for the holidays, you're probably preparing for company. Tom Kraeutler, AOL Home Improvement Editor and host of radio's The Money Pit, offers some good ideas on how to make your visitors feel at home when they're away from home for the guest bedroom and bath here. Bob Vila himself has some other useful tips. Hear them here.
I am in love...with my new duvet cover from Crate and Barrel. Some women have an obsession with shoes or handbags. I have a love affair with bedding—duvet covers in particular. They are one of the easiest and affordable ways to change the look of your room. I am very particular about my bedding and like to change it quite often. I have preferred thread counts for sheets, mattress firmness, length of bed skirts, you name it. If you never realized how much goes into thinking about bedding—or if you're ready for a change—check out this article on The Home Know-It-All. Oh, and don't forget to check out the bedding selection at Overstock.com. I got the sweetest, softest sheets there recently...but I could go on and on....
Preparing to sell your house can be an overwhelming time. One of the biggest worries is whether you'll get the sale price on your home. HGTV.com suggests four home updates every seller must do. They are:
1. Minor Bathroom Remodel 2. Siding Replacement 3. Minor Kitchen Remodel 4. Attic Bedroom
For each remodel, the article includes the cost of the project, the average resale value and the percentage of the cost recovered. Very useful information if you're considering a renovation and planning a future resale.
I was discussing mattresses today with a BobVila.com colleague, and she mentioned that she was thinking about buying a new one. Coincidentally, I stumbled across this article tonight from BestStuff.com, a site devoted to consumer product news and reviews, which lists the top 10 things you should look for when selecting a new mattress. eHow.com also has a 10 tips list. With a quick search, I found Back Designs Inc., a site that includes a detailed explanation of finding a mattress that truly fits you. All this useful information should let my colleague have a good night's sleep and not worry too much about finding a mattress.
