“Formal education wi l l

make you a l iv ing; self-

education wi l l make you a

fortune.”

– Jim Rohn

HEalTHy, WEalTHy & WISE

See “Maintain Your Personal Space” on next page }

february 2014

in This issue } How To Maintain Your Personal Space

} Spot The Signs Of SAD

} Roses Are Red

} Hosting A Pet: Check Your Liability

} Recipe: Simple Baked Apples

} Good Clean Funnies and Quick Tips

Here’s the problem… It’s easy to tell when it’s time to clean the carpet in your family room, hallway or the main entrance to your house. You begin to see soil in the traffic areas, or there are those inevitable spots and spills. Despite your best efforts at vacuuming, the carpet still looks soiled. But what about the carpet in your bedrooms? Tracked in soils or food and drink spills aren’t usually a major problem in bedrooms. This may lead you to think that bedroom carpets don’t need cleaning as often as the rest of the house.

Here are a few things to consider. Your bedroom is the place where you sleep, dress and groom. Our natural body oils, perspiration, dander, hair, particles from coughing and sneezing, residue from showering and the moisture it generates make the bedroom among the most heavily soiled carpets in your home. Don’t forget all of the sprays, lotions and potions we use when grooming. It’s no surprise that much of this ends up in your carpet. And even though you can’t see these soils, they are there.

Need proof? Walk into your bedroom, master closet or dressing area and take a whiff. Chances are, you will notice a natural musky odor that is unique to that room. Discussing

the most personal space in your home may make you feel a bit uncomfortable, but there’s nothing to be embarrassed about. We clean hundreds of bedrooms every year. It’s normal. But where does the smell come from?

The two major culprits are your carpet and your mattress. Much of the body oil, sweat and dander we lose every day remains in your carpet and mattress. During the natural processes of oxidation and decay, these organic materials break down and release gases that are the source of the odors. Your bed sheets help protect your mattress, but some of the tiny dead skin cells and body oils, along with 8-12 ounces of perspiration adults lose each night make it through and end up in your mattress.

Another concern is dust mites. The highest population of household dust mites is in the bedroom. This is because the 3 things that a dust mite needs to survive are found there in abundance: Dust mites eat dead skin. They get all the moisture they need from humidity and perspiration, and warmth from your body. All of this makes your bedroom the perfect breeding ground to raise happy, healthy dust mites.

How To MainTain your perSonal Space

february is national children’s

Dental Health Month

www.ada.org/ncdhm

805-642-47844carpetclean.com

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If you are one of the millions of Americans with allergies, dust mite droppings could be a major cause of your suffering. Dust mite feces is one of the most potent allergic irritants known to medical science and is a major component of household dust. This is especially true in bedrooms.

If you really want your house to be clean and healthy, include occupied bedrooms in every carpet cleaning.

For extra protection and potential relief from allergies, we can also clean your mattresses to remove these contaminants.

Do you go to bed breathing easy, but wake up congested and sneezy? You may find our detailed cleaning helps to alleviate your symptoms. So call Four Seasons Rug & Upholstery Care today and breathe easier tonight.

} “Maintain Your Personal Space” from cover

F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 4

Simple baked applesingredients:

6 apples - peeled, cored and sliced

1/2 cup white sugar

3 tablespoons all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1/4 teaspoon ground cloves

1/2 cup raisins

1/2 cup chopped walnuts

1/2 cup whole milk

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 2 quart casserole dish, or coat with non-stick cooking spray.

Place apples in a large bowl. In a small bowl, mix together sugar, flour, cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves. Stir spice mixture into apples until evenly distributed. Fold in raisins and walnuts. Spoon into prepared dish. Pour milk evenly over apple mixture.

Bake in preheated oven for 45 to 60 minutes, or until soft and bubbly. Allow to cool slightly before serving.

* The spices, nuts and raisins can be interchanged or omitted depending upon your tastes. This also serves as a great breakfast, side dish, or dessert.

recipe courtesy allrecipes.com

Spot the Signs of SaDThe shorter and darker days of winter can cause problems for many people. Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a form of depression that increases during the winter months. SAD is often undiagnosed, with most sufferers experiencing symptoms two to three years before an official diagnosis.

In the United States, about 500,000 people suffer from SAD each year. But the scope is much wider, as researchers estimate that up to 20 percent of the population experiences some symptoms of the condition. How do you know if you have SAD? Here are some of the common symptoms:

• Lack of energy• Lack of concentration• Irritability

• Weakened immune system

• Sleep problems

• Weight gain• Social and relationship

problems

While these symptoms can occur to anyone year round, SAD tends to show an increase in symptoms as the season changes. Research shows that changes in the levels of daylight may trigger the disorder. Less light sent to the brain affects mood, appetite, sleep, and activity level. It is also thought that serotonin, a neurotransmitter in the brain, can be affected. Melatonin levels increase during the winter months as well, which can change sleep patterns.

If you believe you have SAD, talk to your doctor. Treatments include antidepressants and phototherapy, using bright lights at specific times and durations. This bright light therapy has been shown to be effective in up to 85% of diagnosed SAD cases. Other self-help strategies include daily exercise, avoidance of stress, and as much exposure to natural light during daylight hours as possible.

inTerneT TiDbiT: One of the more intriguing ways to understand history is to read accounts of it written as it was happening. LettersofNote.com is a blog-based archive of correspondence from people throughout history. In many

cases, the website features actual scans along with transcripts of letters written by famous and non-famous people alike. Letters of Note provides a fascinating insight into the history and controversy of the day, but also a look at ordinary life from times past.

H E A LT H Y, w E A LT H Y & w I S E

The Good life

Quick TipsHealthy living TipNext time you are out to eat, try ordering the salad bar as your dinner instead of the add-on to your meal. Fill up on lots of greens and vegetables. Top with a low-fat dressing to keep it healthy. Since you are usually able to return for seconds, you will feel satisfied and full at the end of the meal even when eating these healthier options.

organizing TipYou can store sets of placemats, coasters, and napkins in zipper sealed bags. These bags come in several sizes, including those large enough to hold larger linens. Place the clean matched linens in the bags and stack in a drawer. when it is time to set the table, everything is clean and together.

Good clean funniesa Day off workA man went to see his supervisor in his office. “Boss,” he said, “my wife is wanting to get some big projects done at the house tomorrow—cleaning the attic, moving some furniture, and getting the yard cleaned up. She told me she can’t do it all alone and needs some help.”

“I can’t give you the day off,” his boss replied. “we’re short-handed, and I need you here!”

“Thanks, boss,” said the man. “I knew I could count on you!”

Hosting a pet: check your liabilityIf you are pet-sitting a friend’s dog in your home, you may want to check with your homeowner’s insurance to see what liability you may have. Most policies cover you in the event that your dog bites or injures someone. But if you are taking care of someone else’s pet, and accepting money for doing that, your insurance may not cover you.

It may not seem like a big deal, but dog bites make up one-third of the payout dollars for homeowner liability claims, with insurers paying out more than $489 million for such claims last year. While most insurers don’t ask about dogs when writing your policy, if a dog bite does occur, you may face a premium increase or even exclusion of your dog from future renewals.

While laws vary from state to state, if you keep a dog for another person, you can still be found liable for harm that dog causes. If you intend to host a dog that belongs to a friend or family member, it may be wise to contact your insurance company first to be sure that you will be covered if the dog injures another person.

roses are redIf you are lucky enough to receive fresh cut roses this Valentine’s Day, you will surely want to keep them around as long as possible. These simple steps will keep your roses looking their loveliest.

Remove your roses from any packaging as soon as possible and lift them out of the water filled containers that have been keeping them moist on their journey.

Once you’ve unwrapped your roses, remove any leaves that will be below the water level in your vase. Thorns can also be removed without harming the flower if you prefer them that way. Next, you will need to recut the stem ends by about one-half of an inch. In a sink or large bucket filled with water, submerge the end of the rose in the water and make your cut underwater. This keeps air from entering the cut end.

When all of your roses are trimmed, you can begin arranging them in your vase. To ensure the long life of your roses, you can fill your vase with a special solution. Simply combine one-half cup of granulated sugar and two teaspoons of bleach in a two gallon container. Fill the container with warm (not hot) water and stir to mix. The sugar will help feed the roses and the bleach keeps bacteria from forming. As your vase needs replenishing, use this solution instead of plain water. If you notice any cloudiness in the water, it is time to change it. Be sure to remove any leaves that have fallen below the water surface.

Keep your roses out of direct sunlight and away from air conditioners or drafts. If your roses start to wilt prematurely, recut the stems again under very warm water. Let sit for about 15 minutes and then set in cold water for several minutes. Replace the roses in the sugar-bleach mixture again.

By following these guidelines, your roses should last a least a week and sometimes up to two weeks.

Four Seasons Rug & Upholstery Care2085 Sperry AveSuite A-1Ventura CA 93003

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