Everyone enjoys a nice, roaring fire, but very few of us like the black build-up that can accumulate over time. Smoke and soot can billow out and coat your brick or stone. The mantle, the firebox and every other area can become dingy and ugly over time. Most people think this is an impossible cleaning chore due to the dark black stains and the surface they are on, but as with any job, if you have the right tools, it is easy. Follow these easy steps to ensure you always have a clean fireplace.

Fireplace Maintenance:
In order to ensure safe efficient use of your fireplace, it will need regular care and cleaning. Creosote, a flammable tar like substance, accumulates in the chimney and flue and can be hazardous if it is not removed. Give your fireplace and its accessories routine cleaning throughout the wood-burning season to eliminate an accumulation of soot, ashes, and creosote tars. Here are some easy steps to take to keep you fireplace clean longer:

This is a great list of the most germ ridden places and things. Some of these are a little surprising, but for the most part it seems you will find the most germs in high-traffic, public places. It is important to prevent prolonged contact with these germs in order to remain healthy. This list was originally reported in Health Magazine and can be seen in full detail there. Here is the list:

1. Your kitchen sink
2. Airplane bathrooms
3. A load of wet laundry
4. Public drinking fountains
5. Shopping cart handles
6. ATM buttons
7. Your handbag
8. Playgrounds
9. Mats and machines at health clubs
10. Your bathtub
11. Your office phone
12. The hotel-room remote control

PlaSmart’s PLASMACAR , the toy industry’s leading ride-on Kid-powered toy, is nominated for both the Outdoor Toy of the Year and Specialty Toy of the Year awards by the Toy Industry Association, Inc. (TIA). The Sixth Annual T.O.T.Y.s (Toy Of The Year) are the “Oscars” of the Toy Industry.

“The PLASMACAR creates an environment of imagination for ages 3 and up” says Tim Kimber, President of PlaSmart.

“The innovative design uses a child’s own strength to power the PLASMACAR by simply turning the steering wheel right and left”.

“Pretending finally becomes reality with attractive colors and comfortable design” says Kimber.

A child controls his own world on a PLASMACAR. Speeding down his own freeway, flying through his own sky, safely stopping without effort, a child builds confidence in his own actions, builds muscle and strength, and improves his coordination and sense of responsibility.

Many people choose hardwood flooring because it is easy to maintain and keep looking great. True, you will not have to worry about hardwood staining if you spill grape juice on it, as you do with carpet. However, there are a few things that you need to remember when you are dealing with hardwood. Once you have spent a great deal of time and money on your beautiful hardwood floor, you will want to keep it looking fantastic. Many people choose hardwood flooring because it is easy to maintain and keep looking great. True, you will not have to worry about hardwood staining if you spill grape juice on it, as you do with carpet. However, there are a few things that you need to remember when you are dealing with hardwood.

Is It Just Another Marketing Tool?

Many of you may have noticed the plethora of organic foods in the supermarkets these days. From the produce department to the frozen food section, it seems like everything is an organic food.

This is not surprising since consumers are buying more and more organic foods. The trend started small back in the 70’s when people started realizing how many preservatives and chemicals were starting to be a part of our food supply. Many organic food producers that are seeing such rapid growth today started back then. As people become older and more concerned with their health, demand for organic food is on the rise. Parents concerned about their children’s health are also demanding more organic food since even some brands of baby food have the organic label on it.

Natural and Creative Toys Alternatives to Plastic

Plastic toys seem to be the most popular choice for the consumer these days as the shelves of stores are filled with them. Maybe it is time to consider some alternatives. There are many natural and creative ‘toys’ that can be found in your home and nature.

Here are some alternatives to the toxic, sometimes noisy, plastic toys that you and the kids might enjoy more:

1. Small kids like to mimic what we do. Do you ever notice how they like to play in the cabinets and explore what is in there? Why not give them a cabinet and drawer in the kitchen filled with a wooden spoon, colander, wooden bowl, pot, lid, rolling pin, towel, washcloth, broom, dustpan and a fabric shopping bag. My one year old son spends so much time playing in this space and I always put in a few surprises for him to enjoy.

Mossworld Enterprises, Inc. of Troy, Michigan has been awarded the prestigious 2003 Seal of Approval by The National Parenting Center for their revolutionary children’s snack-cup. The Snack-Trap™ allows infants and toddlers to feed themselves finger snacks without the normal mess and spills usually left for parents, grandparents, and caregivers to clean up. The compact, handled cup is ideal for use at home, in the car, at the restaurant, in Church, or on the go. Parent reviews and additional information can be accessed at www.snacktrap.com.

The National Parenting Center’s Seal of Approval program is an independent testing procedure conducted to judge a variety of products introduced and marketed to the parent/child consumer market. Testing involves a multi-step process conducted over an eight-week period. Staffed by volunteers, the testing facility of The National Parenting Center gives parents, children, and educators the opportunity to examine a variety of submitted products. The testers are encouraged to play with, build, read about, and judge by the reactions of the children, each product’s quality. Evaluated are each product’s level of desirability, sturdiness, interactive stimulation and other ingredients essential in the make-up of a quality product. Test results are based on both statistical averaging and comments received from the parent/testers.

Having a backyard barbeque with friends and family is one of life’s great pleasures. Whether you own a gas grill or charcoal grill, barbequed foods taste great. To help make your cooking experience even more enjoyable, I’ve listed some tips that all backyard chefs should be aware of.

• Before firing up the grill and cooking on it, be sure to spray the grill with a non-stick spray. The last thing you want to have happen is for your chicken to stick to the grill and tear all apart when attempting to turn it over. Another benefit of using a non-stick spray is that it makes clean up so much easier.

• Before you cook your foods on the grill, make sure the grill is properly heated. You want your food cooked throughout. If you are going to be cooking on a gas grill, let it heat up for at least 5 minutes before putting the food on it. For charcoal grills, wait until all of the coals have turned gray before cooking. This usually takes approximately 20-30 minutes.

One of the most common things I get asked is how to safely clean a laptop screen. By far the best way is to use a microfiber cloth. These can be found cheaply, and do an excellent job. Here’s how they work….

Microfiber cloths do an excellent job of picking up dust and removing smudges. They will even remove oily fingerprints from a surface without spreading it around and without any additional cleaners. They are environmentally & economically friendly by reducing money spent on cleaners, paper towels and trash that has been generated.

[ LCD Cleaning Cloth ]

Please note: Treat any of the following screen types as you would an expensive camera lens, using high quality cleaning materials and tested techniques.

• LCD screens are not glass! The LCD surface is made of a soft film that is vulnerable to scratches, damage by sharp articles and/or improper cleaners.

Question:
I just had the windows on my car tinted. I heard that there are some cleaners you shouldn’t use on tint. My question is: What is the best way to clean tinted windows?

Answer:
Many car owners choose to customize their vehicle with after market window tint. This is especially true in warm, sunny climates. This will make your car look great and provide some protection, but when it comes time for cleaning, you will need to take special care. Many everyday cleaners and techniques will actually damage your newly tinted windows over time.

What is it?
Window tint is actually a thin film that is applied to the inside of your vehicles window. THere are several different shades to choose from, but all provide some degree of shade and privacy. This thin film is a plastic material called mylar. Some characteristics of this material are that it is prone to scratching or tearing, and can fade over time if ammonia is used on it.

Your office is a home away from home for you and your employees, so the right office environment is very important. After all, most people spend between eight and ten hours a day at the office, usually five days a week. That’s a lot of time spent with colleagues and office furniture instead of relaxing on a sofa with their loved ones at home!

If you design your office properly and decorate it with some unique touches, however, you’ll soon discover that your co-workers are less stressed, more productive and generally in a better frame of mind. Why? Because the right office environment affects your mood. Here are some tips for creating a unique office environment that make coming to work a lot more enjoyable.

1. Create balance - To get a feeling of harmony in your home create balance in your decorating. Pay attention to the details! It could be a theme, a fabric or a color that you repeat. If your favorite color is red,(but the family think that is to much to paint the living room wall in that color), add some red details to the area instead, red pillows, red curtains, a painting with red in it, red area rug… Do not clutter, keep it simple.

2. Choose some encouraging words to put on your wall - Make your home personal. What inspires you and your family? Decorating should be personal and what is more personal than an inspiring message on the wall. It could be a classic message or words you put together yourselves. I personally have - Do the thing you think you can not do, by Eleanor Roosevelt inspiring me daily, on my wall. You can paint them your selves or use templates. You can also order online.