Archive for February, 2010
February 26th, 2010 | 
Author: There are many reasons people choose to humidify their homes. Dry air caused by winter or living in a dry climate is responsible for a range of problems. Physical symptoms of dry air include: a dry nose and throat, which can make you feel sick. Other physical problems include chapped lips and tight, dry skin. Dry air can wreak havoc on your home as well. Static electricity is caused by lack of moisture in the air. This lack of moisture causes the air to pull moisture from your wood furniture and floors, causing cracking and splitting.
You can choose a room humidifier or a whole house model. Whole house machines are only available if you use a forced air heating system in your home. Your basic choices for humidifying your home are warm mist, vaporizer, or cool, pure mist humidifiers. Vaporizers cause the least amount of health problems, while cool mist models spread the most germs.
Benefits of Humidifier Filters
For many years, people with respiratory problems have been advised to use a humidifier. This advice is changing, as more is learned about potential dangers associated with these products. Humidifiers can cause respiratory problems, even in people with no history of difficulty. The main causes of these problems are bacteria and mold spores.
Improper use of a humidifier can spread bacteria and mold through the air. These particles are then breathed into the lungs, causing breathing problems and illness. To prevent this, you need to use care when using one of these products in your home. Many cool mist humidifiers are now being made with humidifier filters to help prevent the spread of these particles.
Materials used in Filters
A variety of absorbent materials are used in humidifier filters. Some have microbial coatings. These help reduce bacteria, but can clog easily. To be efficient, they must be changed regularly.
The best choice is a machine that uses High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA). People with allergies or asthma need these products, which are the air filtration option most often recommended by doctors. The material used in making HEPA filters is fiber glass and synthetic resin in a tight weave. This construction traps tiny particles as small as .3 microns. More particles are removed with HEPA than any other filter on the market.
There are a few models on the market that are combination humidifier and HEPA air purifier. People with severe respiratory problems sometimes use a separate air filtration system to keep the air clean. Both machines can be used simultaneously to both moisturize and clean the air without making you ill.
Replacing a used filter
In most cases, you can purchase a replacement filter in the store where you bought your machine. Depending on the store, there may be a less expensive option. Replacements are easily found on the internet for all humidifiers. You need to make sure you get the right product and size for your machine.
Pictures are available on most websites. Look at the brand and model number as well as the picture to be sure you are getting the correct size. Find out if the vendor has a return policy, in case you accidentally order the wrong item. Many companies charge a flat rate for shipping. To save money in the long run, purchase a few at a time. You will always have a spare when you need one.
It’s important to change filters regularly. Check the manufacturer’s directions to determine the frequency. This information is only a guideline. If your machine gets heavy use, replace the filter more often. With even the most minimal use, it should be changed at least once a year, at the end of the season. Discard the old filter before you pack the machine away and put in a new one for the next season.
Humidifier bacteria treatment products are said to extend the life of humidifier filters. These solutions kill bacteria in the water, keeping the filter healthier. You place the solution in the water before every use. A large bottle will last the season because you only need one capful for each application. These products can be purchased in many stores selling humidifiers and at most hardware stores.
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Posted in Air Filters | 
Tags: air purifier, c, filters, humidifier filters, humidify, pure mist, room, room humidifiers, vaporizer | 
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Is one of more of the rooms in your house smaller than you would like? There are several different home interior tricks to making a small room seem larger than it really is. Changes can be made cosmetically (painting, lighting) as well as physically (furniture, organization) to maximize the appearance of your room.
No matter if the small room is a bedroom, the living room or kitchen, several basic principals need to be followed for the perfect home interior. One ? Keep clutter to a minimum. This may mean buying drawer organizers to keep “things” neat in their places in a drawer instead of on a countertop. Buy a bookshelf to stack books up instead of on the floor or table. Limit the amount of knick knacks to only what fits comfortably on your current shelving.
Second home interior tip ? Keep only what you need. If you haven’t used it, worn it, opened it, tried it, tasted it or needed it in 18 months, get rid of it. This helps keep the clutter under control also.
To cosmetically alter the appearance of a small room, cover the walls with a light color, such as beige, cream, pale yellow, mauve or pastels. Light colors reflect light from the sun and lamps, thus making a room appear more open and roomier. A white or very pale beige on the ceiling also reflects back more light and enlarging the presence. Dark colors can make a room feel closed in and small from limiting the light sources. Light colored rugs or carpeting also extend the appearance of a larger area.
Tricks that can make a room appear bigger include vertical stripes in wallpaper or paint. If painting, use thin strokes that compliment the wall or furniture colors. Stripes can run from floor to ceiling or start from a chair railing and either go up or down. When choosing wallpaper, choose a small print or thin stripe to use. Small prints are easier to match up also.
Lighting also plays an important role in room’s appearance for the perfect home interior. Use lamps with light colored shades to adequately filter the wattage from the light bulb. Dark shades can hinder reflection, giving a dark appearance, which makes a room poorly lit. Use light bulbs with 75 watts or power or higher, but allows follow guidelines recommended by the lamp manufacturer.
When placing furniture in a small room, try groupings of a large piece followed by a small piece. For example, a tall lamp next to a short backed chair. A tall bookcase next to the couch. If you are limited in budget and have to make do with furniture already bought, arrange it in conversation style as best as possible. A couch with an end table, facing one or two chairs with an end table and lamp.
If your budget allows, buy tall furniture to give the added appearance of height to the walls. Add real or fake plants to sit atop for an extra few inches. Buy a loveseat instead of a full sized couch to save on room. Use narrower end tables or none at all if possible. Floor lamps work well beside or behind a large piece of furniture and reflect the light off the wall and down from the ceiling in one piece.
Buy baskets that can be placed inside shelves or under couches and beds to store extra items and knick knacks. Clutter takes up a lot of precious room, and by maintaining its organization, a room will appear more open.
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When it comes time to clean your cuckoo clock, it is essential that you take the proper steps to ensure any potential damage to the timepiece. Clocks that are cleaned by improper methods can cause these items to shift, break, or become damaged so that the clock will fail to keep the proper time or stop working completely. If you are concerned about the status of your clock, consider taking it to a professional clockmaker or a jeweler who specializes in clocks for a cleaning or repairs so you can be certain your clock will last to cuckoo again.
When it comes time to clean you cuckoo clock, consider the clock itself is two actual pieces. The first piece of the clock is the case. Typically made of solid hardwoods, the case of your clock should be properly maintained to keep the beauty of the wood. Additionally, most cuckoo clocks are decorated with heavy carvings or wooden figurines, so you should take great care in cleaning the more decorative clocks due to the fragility of these items. Finally, clocks that have painted details or decorations should be carefully cleaned, since some cleansing agents can remove or damage the wood’s finish or the paint itself. Turn to products that will gently remove and dirt, grime, and build up accumulated over the years of display or storage. For general cleaning, avoid using furniture polishes or waxes that can add to your problem. Instead, consider dry dusting or use products made with natural oils like lemon oil or orange oil to keep the wood properly nourished to prevent cracking.
The main workings of the clock are held within the case. These workings are often tiny and intricate, proving to be easily lost or damaged, so take the cleaning process with the utmost care. Before you begin the cleaning process, assemble the necessary cleaning tools. Often, the best tool you can use to cleaning clocks or any other items with small working parts is a simple Q-tip and soapy water. Take care not to soak the clock or any materials with water or any other liquid. Also, use a gentle touch to swab the piece instead of scrubbing the items. Although dirt or grime can stop a clock from running, the workings of a clock do not need to be scrubbed clean in order to work. Unless you have experience working with clocks, it is strongly suggested that you leave the heavy cleanings to the professionals.
A cuckoo clock is a great piece to add character and beauty to any home. Having a clock in clean and working condition is essential for any owner of a cuckoo clock, especially if you are looking to keep the clock as an heirloom piece for future generations.
