Are Monthly Rental Home Inspection Desirable

Benefits of a home inspection for Home Buyers

know there are multiple steps in the process of buying a single-family home. You start out by engaging the services of an experienced realtor and making your list of priorities for the home and the neighborhood. You look carefully at your finances and financial goals for the future to see what price range makes sense for you. Next, you get excited as you look at listings, go to showings and feel the reality of homeownership getting closer.

As you narrow in on your choices and make an offer, a reasonable next step is to engage the services of a home inspector. You might ask why that’s important when you’ve already spent a good deal of time looking at the property with your realtor and checking to make sure everything is in good shape. Because the reasons go far beyond that (and in the end, unknowns can affect your checkbook and raise your blood pressure), this article will discuss some of the common-sense reasons for having a home inspection. Let’s dig a little deeper.

Since buying a single-family home is the largest single purchase made by most people, it’s important to make sure nothing is glossed over. We can’t afford to make assumptions, or we might pay dearly for it later.

Sure, some people have more knowledge than others about construction, structural issues, mechanical fundamentals, and appliances. Let’s face it — most of us, even when combining forces with a well-informed family member or friend, can’t see everything in enough detail to warrant confidence in the true condition of the house. It’s best to hire a professional who has the experience and the specialized tools to do the job thoroughly and correctly.

It seems basic, but the first step is to find a home inspector who is knowledgeable, experienced and has the time to help you. Inspectors can be busy, especially in peak season, so be sure to ask if the inspector has time to do a thorough job to meet your deadline. This isn’t the time to skimp on information.

questions to ask before a home inspection

this doesn’t mean a homebuyer can neglect their own due diligence. This new legislation proposes to set minimum licensing standards for the roughly 1,500 home inspectors that work in Ontario, and will include a regulations on what information needs to be disclosed to home buyers, as well as regulate the language inspectors can use in their contracts.

Be present during the home inspection

The most important rule is to be present during the home inspection. This means scheduling time off from work and family responsibilities, and shutting off the phone, during the couple of hours the inspector is present at the home you hope to buy. It’s not enough to be physically present, you also need to be engaged in the process. This allows you to observe and, when necessary, ask questions.

How do I pick a home inspector?

In this highly competitive real estate market, most buyers simply call up a few home inspectors and ask how much they charge and when they are available to do an inspection. “That should be the last question,” says

What problems should raise flags?

There are a number of issues that should raise a flag for homeowners. One is asbestos. But that doesn’t mean that you should run for the hills if you hear the “a” word. Instead, ask questions: “Does the asbestos need to be removed immediately to prevent harm?” and “Is it a problem if I leave it untouched?” are two questions you need answers to. Quite often, old pipes will be wrapped with asbestos; while this will mean remediation, at some point, it may not be an immediate issue. Rather than run for the hills, you could use this as a negotiation tactic: Asking the sellers to reduce the price to account for the cost of remediation.

Are there risks I should consider when buying a foreclosed home?

When a home is foreclosed it’s usually because the owner fell into hard times; this not only translates into financial trouble, but often a lack of incentive in maintaining the house. As such, make sure you really check and double-check the plumbing—making sure that all pipes are free and clear of obstructions, there are no leaking fixtures, and that older clay pipes are still intact. While a bank won’t fix any damage in a foreclosed home, evidence of damage or needed repairs, as found in a home inspection report, can be used to negotiate a lower sale price. (Keep in mind, however, that some banks will deny requests for home inspections, stating a property is sold “as-is.”)

Key Things to look for during a Property Inspection

Have you ever inspected a property on a Saturday? You arrive at the property, you get out of the car, you shake the agent’s hand, you leave your details as you go for a wander through, and you get back in the car. And then later that day, you try and recall some of the things you remember about that property, and you go totally blank.

If so, you are not alone because people do this all over this country, every weekend. It’s large because you go into these properties with a bit of an emotional journey throughout, but it’s proudly that if we are going to part with a lot of money to buy this real estate, we need to have a bit of a method or framework that we go through. As a buyer’s agent who sees scores and scores of property on a monthly basis, for me to differentiate it and to remember on behalf of a client, it’s important that I have that sort of mental checklist that we go through.

The first one is all about location. And a lot of this homework can be done in advance because there’s so much really good information that you can get on the internet. You can go to Google Earth to check things out, just to make sure you have a good understanding of the particular location that you’re going to look at but nothing actually beats driving around yourself and having a bit of a look. Because you want to observe the people. You want to observe the types of cars people drive because it gives you a hint as to the demographic of the area. You want to observe the smells in the area because if it’s too offensive people won’t want to be there as it might be an indication that there might be a factory that’s upwind that’s bringing it down. So there’s nothing that actually does replace that sort of, looking around the suburb yourself. I encourage you to drive around beforehand

But I also encourage you to go at different times of the day because typically you’re looking on a Saturday morning when everyone’s home. Everyone’s home from school, home from work, but you do want to check it out during peak hour, and you also want to check it out during kids’ school pick-ups and drop-offs just to see if your street becomes a cut through or a bit of a thoroughfare. It’s important to not just check it out on a Saturday morning. And equally, you need to have some familiarity of where the schools and all of the lifestyle drivers are if you are coming to that area. Where am I going to get my latte? Where am I going to get my smashed avocado on gluten free toast? Where are the cafes that I’m going to spend my time when I am not working? But also, when I do go to work, how am I going to get there? Do I go by public transport, can I get to the train easy? Or do I need to catch a bus? Or perhaps I need to catch a tram to get to the train station? All of these things are really important considerations. So when it comes to location, some of it can be done in advance. But it doesn’t mean that you can’t not do that when you get there.

The second thing that I do when I get out of the car is looking at the street appeal. I would actually stand back from the property, just have a look, and get some context from that property compared to the others. Am I looking at a brick house when everything else is weatherboard? Or am I looking at a weatherboard when everything else is brick? I really want to get an understanding of what is up and down the street so I can get an idea of where this one that I am looking at fits into the overall picture of the suburb. And equally, I want to know is there any street appeal at all? Do I look at this property that stands proudly in the street or is it on the low side of the street so you have to look in? Or you are at the high end of the street and you have to look up? Or is it just on the flat? So, there’s lots and lots of things that you are trying to get a handle on in a short amount of time. What about the roof? Is it a terracotta roof where everything else is colour bond or vice versa. So getting that context is really, really important. But the other thing to keep in mind

Choosing Your Home Inspection Company

Buying a new home is a great investment. However, before you spend your hard-earned cash in buying a home of your dreams, you need the services of professional home inspectors to check every part of it. You should get your complete home inspected before signing any contract. Home inspection industry is full of reliable home inspectors.

Several companies are providing these services to their clients. Unfortunately, the industry is also filled with fraud companies that offer these services. Therefore, it is necessary to screen and interview an inspector before hiring his or her services. You need to keep in mind when choosing a home examiner to inspect your new house.

Experience

It is a good idea to hire an expert that carries out hundreds of inspections every year. A house inspector with several years of experience is desirable for work of home inspection. Knowledge A home inspection company you select should be knowledgeable enough to know each system in your home. Hire a professional that has a relevant degree in the field of architecture or engineering. These professionals are known to provide the best assessments. Others include professionals in the general construction industry.

Reputation

When dealing with professional companies, you need to check the reputation of the company and inspectors that carry out the work of inspecting houses. Thus, you should request the company to provide you with reputed and trained inspectors to inspect your home.

Relevant reports

The company you hire should provide you with reports, which cover various aspects of home inspection. Moreover, you should get a signed report, which describes the inspection that was carried and its current condition. Nowadays, several assessors provide a checklist of different items, which need to be inspected. They are also professionals that give a written description of various items, which should be inspected.

HOME INSPECTION

Buyer’s Home Inspection

Buying a home is one of the biggest investments you will ever make. Before you buy, you should have a buyer’s home inspection to avoid potentially costly repairs that would otherwise go undetected until they become even more costly. Additionally, the home inspector looks for safety issues that could harm you, your family, or your guests.

Seller’s Pre-Listing Home Inspections

Prior to listing your home for sale, a pre-listing home inspection can find things that may otherwise cause a potential buyer to walk away from your property if not properly addressed. The home inspector will provide a deficiency report highlighting all of the major deficiencies found during the inspection. This enables you to resolve major issues beforehand to help facilitate a smoother sale.

Periodic Home Inspections

Even if you’re not buying or selling your home, issues may develop over time that could affect the safety of your family or cost you money if unaddressed. Having a home inspection done every 2-3 years helps ensure the value of your investment. Deferring maintenance on your home will lead to more costly maintenance later on.

Tenant Move-In/Move-Out Inspection

As a landlord, being able to prove the condition of your property when a tenant moved in and again when the tenant moved out can mean the difference between a judge finding in your favor or not if you must go to court. The home inspector will meet with the tenant to do a move-in and/or move-out inspection, as well as provide a video and/or pictures to document the condition.

Offshore Bank Accountant Pros Cons, Interest Benefits

What are the different types of branch account?

Accounting, as we all know, is the backbone of every organization. There are several branches of accounting, and without accounting, companies wouldn’t be able to flourish and grow. The accounting process holds together all the financial functions of an organization, leading to accountability and order.

Not many know that accounting as a practice was established in medieval times in response to the development of trade and commerce. The presence of accounting can be found as back as the mid-1400, with the first accounting work published in 1494 in Italy by a Venetian monk. Therefore, it is evident that accounting as a means of bookkeeping has been around for centuries at a stretch. Another important fact to remember is that the principles on the basis of which accounting was developed, haven’t changed much since they were first introduced. Assets, liabilities, income, and reconciliation are still the fundamental basis for all accounting processes.

Though the fundamentals haven’t changed in a long time, with the passing years, new accounting fields and branches have come up. Reports compilation and transaction recording have evolved, thanks to the introduction of technology, and many other new functions such as data entry and reports building have cropped up. However, the fundamental use of accounting still remains the same­: to receive a complete financial health snapshot of the business. As a result of the many financial, industrial and technological advancements, different specialised and niche branches of accounting have emerged.

Financial Accounting

Financial accounting involves recording and categorizing transactions for business. This data is generally historical, meaning it’s from the past.

It also involves generating financial statements based on these transactions. All financial statements, such a balance sheet and income statement, must be prepared according to the generally accepting accounting principles (GAAP), according to Accountingverse.

Public companies have to follow a set of rules set out by the government (this is the Securities and Exchange Commission in the U.S.).

Financial accounting is performed to conform to external regulations and is not for internal employees to analyze and make financial decisions—managerial accounting is used for this purpose.

Cost Accounting

Cost accounting is considered a type of managerial accounting. Cost accounting is most commonly used in the manufacturing industry, an industry that has a lot of resources and costs to manage. It is a type of accounting used internally to assess a company’s operations.

Cost accounting concerns itself with recording and analyzing manufacturing costs. It looks at a company’s fixed (unchanging and constant costs, like rent) and variable costs (changing costs, like shipping charges) and how they affect a business and how these costs can be better managed, according to Accounting Tools.

Auditing

There are two types of auditing: external and internal auditing. In external auditing, an independent third party reviews a company’s financial statements to make sure they are presented correctly and comply with GAAP.

Internal auditing involves evaluating how a business divides up accounting duties, who is authorized to do what accounting task and what procedures and policies are in place. Internal auditing helps a business zero in on fraud, mismanagement and waste or identify and control any potential weaknesses in its policies or procedures, according to Accounting Tools.

 Managerial Accounting

Also known as management accounting, this type of accounting provides data about a company’s operations to managers. The focus of managerial accounting is to provide data that managers need to make decisions about a business’s operations, not comply strictly with GAAP.

Managerial accounting includes budgeting and forecasting, cost analysis, financial analysis, reviewing past business decisions and more. Cost accounting is a type of managerial accounting.

Accounting Information Systems

Known as AIS for short, accounting information systems concerns itself with everything to do with accounting systems and processes and their construction, installment, application and observation. This can include accounting software management and the management of bookkeeping and accounting employees.

Tax Accounting

Tax accounting involves planning for tax time and the preparation of tax returns. This branch of accounting aides businesses be compliant with regulations set up by the IRS.

Tax accounting also helps businesses figure out their income tax and other taxes and how to legally reduce their amount of tax owing. Tax accounting also analyzes tax-related business decisions and any other issues related to taxes.

Forensic Accounting

This specialized accounting service is trending in accounting and is becoming increasingly popular. Forensic accounting focuses on legal affairs such as inquiry into fraud, legal cases and dispute and claims resolution.

Forensic accountants need to reconstruct financial data when the records aren’t complete. This could be to decode fraudulent data or convert a cash accounting system to accrual accounting. Forensic accountants are usually consultants who work on a project basis, according to Accounting Tools.

Fiduciary Accounting

This branch of accounting centers around the management of property for another person or business. The fiduciary accountant manages any account and activities related to the administration and guardianship of property.

What Are the Three Types of Accounting?

Tax accounting

In this type of accounting, all records and reports are made according to regulations established by the tax authorities. Small businesses can hire a tax accountant who specializes in making sure the accounting records are IRS-compliant and who transfers that information to the business tax return.

The IRS requires that businesses use one accounting system and stick to it (see below for an exception). Whether they use the cash or accrual method determines when they report revenue and expenses.

FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING

Financial accounting is performed with potential lenders and investors in mind, as well as GAAP (generally accepted accounting principles). Using this standard accounting methods helps investors and lenders get an accurate read on a business’s financial health if a company is looking to finance a new purchase or venture.

It also helps businesses be transparent by reporting management’s income.

That said, small businesses usually aren’t required to use GAAP and its accrual method. Any business that makes, buys or sells products must use GAAP, according to the IRS.

Larger businesses often employ accountants in-house to help them comply with these standard accounting principles.

Management accounting

This category of accounting doesn’t follow GAAP but it does follow standard accounting practices taught in accounting school.

The focus here is on generating financial statements like budgets, product costings, cash flow projections and business acquisition analysis reports. Standard reports like balance sheets, profit and loss statements and cash flow statements are generated in a way to help managers analyze past decisions and plan for the future.

Small businesses may only use cash projections. Larger companies, especially manufacturers, will use many more reports.

Types Of Branches

Branches may be classified as under from the accounting point of view:

1. Inland Branches

2. Foreign Branches

1. Inland Branches

The branches opened in the different parts of the nation, where the original undertaking being registered are called inland branches. These types of branches are also called home branches or national branches. There are two types of inland branches, which are:

a) Dependent branch

b) Independent branch

a). Dependent Branch

Dependent branches are the branches that do not keep their records but all the records are maintained by head office. They are not authorized to act solely without the prior permission of the head office. All the plans, policies, rules and regulations of these branches are totally formulated and executed by the head office. In other words, all the functions of dependent branch are totally controlled by head office.

Under dependent branch, two types of branches are included, which is termed as service branch and retail branch.

* Service Branch: All the branches which are booking or executing orders on behalf of head office are called service branches. These are the branches which are busy in execution all the orders for the sake of head office.

* Retail Branch: Retail branches are also dependent branches, but they are concerned with the head office for selling goods, produced by the head office itself or purchased from outside in a bulky position and are sent to the retail selling branches for selling them out as like.

b). Independent Branch

The branches that can keep their accounts themselves and sell goods that are sent by the head office as well as those purchased by themselves are known as independent branches. These are the branches which can sell the goods to head office too. They can pay their own expenses and can deposit their collection in their own name in the bank. These branches record separately

and independently all the transactions which are even recorded by the head office.

2. Foreign Branches

Because of the rapid development of trade, commerce and industries and with the growing tough competition, the business enterprises are opening their branches abroad in order to capture the potential market and accelerate their business globally. Therefore, the branches established abroad is called foreign branch. The accounting procedure of foreign branch is just like an independent branch except in the following cases:

  • Exchange rate and conversion of foreign currency into home currency
  • Effects of foreign exchange rate are to be incorporated in the books of head office.

Carpet Cleaners And Other Ways To Deep Cleaning Your Carpet

A housecleaning routine you can actually stick to

The problem is that I have essentially set myself up for failure by saving all my cleaning for one day and without any kind of a plan. The trick is to create a cleaning routine that I can actually stick to. What might such a routine look like? Here’s what the experts helped me come up with.

Assess the mess and prioritize with a physical checklist

Nailing down the specifics should be your first step. What needs to be cleaned and how much time will it take? “Look around and ask yourself which areas of your home bother you the most when they’re dirty? These will be the highest priority,”

suggestion of looking around the house and assessing what needed to be done, but I still found myself overwhelmed, because basically everything is overdue for cleaning. This is where getting super organized can help. Start by writing tasks down, room by room in a checklist format. “Writing out each room’s chores will assist in staying organized and create a visual kudos as you begin to check off each task,” says

It’s a good idea to type up this list and print it out so that you (and everyone else in your house) can refer to it later. “I have a bathroom cleaning checklist inside of a cupboard in each of our bathrooms,” says

It’s crucial to be realistic with your goals. “A consistently sparkling home would be great, but it’s not always sustainable and one of the most common reasons people give up after a short time,” says

How To Get The Most Out Of Your House Cleaning Company

Everyone wants a clean, comfortable living space, but there are better ways to spend your spare time than dusting and mopping. It’s no wonder so many people hire a house cleaning company to handle their dirty work! Between managing work, family time, and maintaining a social life, housework is bound to fall off the radar on occasion. We’ve all been there. That said, time is money. So, if you choose to hire a house cleaning company, you’ll want to make sure you get the most value possible from every moment they spend in your home.

Remove Clutter and Tidy Up

Have you ever been guilty of leaving dishes in the sink? Tossing dirty laundry on the floor or a chair? Forgetting to put your shoes in the closet when you come home? Of course! You’re human and, by virtue of going about your life, you create clutter in your house.

Clearly Communicate Your Priorities

While you don’t want to micromanage every aspect of the cleaner’s job, it’s a good idea to outline what you expect from their services. Prioritize what you want to be cleaned by room, objects and surfaces within a room, and the type of cleaning you’d like done. For example, if you want the entire main floor cleaned, should the cleaner focus on vacuuming the carpets, mopping the floors, dusting the floorboards, or cleaning certain objects and surfaces?

We recommend prioritizing your least favorite cleaning chores and those that take up the most time. These might include:

Cleaning the windows, including both sides of the pane, the sills, blinds, shutters, and curtains

Dusting hard-to-reach ceiling fans and light fixtures

Flipping and steaming your mattress

Vacuuming under the beds

Scrubbing toilet bowls, showers, and bathtubs

Unclogging sink and shower drains

Stock Up on Cleaning Supplies

Most professional house cleaning companies come fully equipped with their own supplies, but it doesn’t hurt to have a few extra rags, towels, and mop heads on hand. It’s also a good idea to keep extra cleaning spray, garbage bags, and cleaning gloves in the house just in case. If you want the cleaners to use a specific product for certain surfaces, be sure to tell them ahead of time.

The Deep Cleaning House Checklist to Follow & Room-by-room Chores

A clean and happy home is what we all strive for. But deep cleaning a house can be an overwhelming task (and it sure is). That’s why we often postpone the checklist of chores for the indefinite future. But it doesn’t have to be that way.

without further ado, the deep cleaning house checklist starts with:

A few Main Tips:

Use this checklist and guide to turn deep cleaning into a pleasant exercise. Use our template for your personal cleaning checklist.

Spend more time on items and areas around the house that you rarely clean, such as the oven. Bear in mind, that professional oven valeting comes with the dismantling and separate cleaning of racks, which is always the better choice.

If you live in a house with over one storey, gather all cleaning products and tools so you save time up and down the stairs only to get something you forgot.

An extensive clean needs the right set of tools:

Cleaning cloths or old towels;

1 bucket for dirty water and 1 bucket for clean water;

Degreaser and dish soap of your choice;

1 spray bottle to prepare a solution of 1 part vinegar and 1 part water;

1 set of rubber gloves;

An old toothbrush – it’s a great way to give a second life to your old toothbrush since it’s perfect for scrubbing dirt, mould and tile grout.

A regular household detergent. Just mind the dangers.

Main House Areas Deep Cleaning

First, you should deep clean the main areas in the house or apartment. Here’s what the domestic cleaners’ team had to share:

Use a stepladder with caution to wipe down surfaces hard to reach and usually skipped during the weekly cleaning routine: top of wardrobes, bookshelves, and cabinets; window frames, light fixtures, paintings, and framed photos.

Ask a family member to help you move and clean big and heavy furniture and appliances (sofas, wardrobes, washing machine, dishwasher, fridge, etc.) so you can wipe the floors and walls below and behind them.

Remove limescale from faucets and showerheads in the entire house using vinegar.

Dust and polish all pieces of furniture with the right products depending on the material they’re made of.

Take care of the cooling and heating systems around your home: dust the blades of the ceiling fans, remove the AC filters and wash them with lukewarm water and dish soap.

Clean doors and door frames from smudges, get rid of bugs and cobwebs that have accumulated in the corners of windows and doors.

Spray the blinds in your home with the 1:1 vinegar and water solution, then scrub them thoroughly.

Remove any stains from carpets and upholstery. Check our guide on cleaning wool carpets.

Vacuum or mop all floors: carpets, hardwood, tiles, linoleum. Consider booking a professional service for hot water extraction or dry chem cleaning of your carpets/rugs.

Polish hard floors if present. This is best done by a hard floor cleaning service.

Pull out the cushions of chairs and sofas and vacuum underneath them.

Clean the sofa cushions. Wash via dishwasher or by hand.

Throw out the trash and then pay special attention to the recycling bins and garbage cans. You have to wash and sanitize those at least several times per year.

Take all items out of drawers and cabinets, wipe them both inside and outside.

Check the expiration date of food products in cupboards and fridge, of cosmetics in bathroom cabinets, of medication and vitamins. Throw away anything that has already expired and place the items close to their expiration date in front of others.

If you have children, clean and organize their clothes and toys.

If you have pets, make sure to wash their food and water bowls, as well as clean their bed or aquarium.

Wipe all remote controls, smartphones, and other small appliances.

Office safety checklist – Creating healthy spaces with an office cleaning plan

Why are we talking about this? Cleaning may not be our focus, but it is an important part of the story for returning to the workplace after the COVID 19 pandemic. We’ve collected some of the most useful research to help you navigate the right way to manage some of the common safety concerns as you go from remote work to reopening the workplace.

Once everyone returns to work, we’ll find ourselves thinking differently about the equipment and surfaces around us, reaching for disinfectant wipes where we’d never give a second thought before. While it’s understandable to experience a little apprehension as we venture back to the office, it’s achievable and valuable to keep our common spaces healthy. Whether engaging in maintenance cleaning, or CDC-advised disinfection for exposed spaces, office cleaning practices come down to the same basic tenets: The right equipment, a solid plan, and a team

Use the right office cleaning process

While our reaction to the virus has been (understandably) to default to “disinfect everything,” in everyday situations the CDC guidance recommends cleaning rather than disinfection. What’s the difference? In short:

• Cleaning is for routine health and wellness. Washing down surfaces using a green cleaner or a simple soap-and-water solution can make them safe by removing dust and dirt. This also physically removes germs by picking them up (either in a paper towel or cloth) to safely remove them.

• Disinfection, on the other hand, kills germs by means of a chemical process. The CDC recommends disinfection only when when a risk is present someone has been working in or visiting the office while carrying a contagious illness; it doesn’t have to occur for routine cleaning.

Gather the right cleaning tools

Depending on the reason for cleaning (simple cleaning, deep cleaning, or disinfection) you’ll have a few items on your checklist:

☐ Nitrile gloves (latex can cause allergic reactions in some individuals)

☐ Paper towels, or microfiber cloths (if you can wash and sanitize them after use)

☐ Green cleaning spray

☐ Disinfecting wipes, spray, or a correctly-diluted bleach solution

☐ Trash bags

☐ For disinfection: A properly-rated respirator mask and protective gown

Create an office safety and health plan

To create a cleaning routine, it helps to think about the typical hotspots that transmit bacteria and viruses.

1. Make a note of the traffic through certain areas of the workplace, and the ways in which space is used-or not. In the course of this mental inventory, you may even uncover ways to improve or maximize your space usage as a side-benefit to your cleaning plan development. For instance, you may find areas you don’t need to attend to for cleaning purposes. They may turn out to be underutilized real estate.

2. Look through your office one area at a time, and note the high-touch areas in each. Some of the typical transmission vectors in spaces include:

• Tables and desks

• Countertops

• Chair-backs

• Doorknobs

• Light switches

• Cabinet pulls and handles

Some of the other high touch areas in your office spaces to consider:

Front desk and reception areas

• Phones, computer mice, and keyboards

• Desk accessories such as staplers, tape dispensers, and pen-cups

• Digital touch screens

• Elevator buttons

• Coat-racks and hangers

Kitchen and break rooms

• Appliance handles and controls (fridge, toaster, oven, dishwasher)

• Fixtures

• Chair-backs at seating areas

• Coffee station and coffee/tea service items

Bathrooms

• Bathroom fixtures (toilet handles, faucets, soap and towel dispensers)

• Waste-bins

• Door and stall handles

• Changing stations and convenience item dispensers

Conference and meeting rooms

• Technology controls such as speakerphone buttons, remotes

• Televisions, touch screens, and projectors

• Whiteboard accessories such as pens and erasers

Mail and resource rooms

• Postage meters, scales, and dedicated shipping computers

• Packaging and mail tools such as tape guns, letter openers, box cutters

• Rolling package bins, trolleys, and carts

Things You Should Deep Clean in the New Year

After the holiday parties are over and the decorations are put away, a deep cleaning is just what your home needs. And since you’re stuck inside anyway, there’s no better time to take on the overlooked areas of your home (like the grout in your shower!). We’re here to help you start the new year off right with a clean home, so we’ve put together this list of things you should deep clean this month.

Fridge: After tossing old holiday leftovers, wipe the shelves and door with a microfiber and an  all-purpose cleaner made with plant-based ingredients. Pull your fridge out from the wall and unplug it. Then use your vacuum’s brush tool to gently clean the coils. (If your fridge has a removeable grille in the front, unsnap or unscrew it to get to the coils from the front of the fridge.)

Oven: Corrosive chemicals in oven cleaners may cause breathing difficulty or skin irritation. Fortunately, you can make a surprisingly effective oven cleaner with a paste of ½ cup of baking soda, 1 tablespoon of dish soap, and water (about the consistency of toothpaste). Rub the paste into the turkey drippings and other grime on the walls and bottom of your oven. Leave it for 5 minutes, then wipe clean with a wet rag or microfiber. To reach the back of the oven, wrap the microfiber around a spatula or long-handled spoon.

Cabinets: Dish soap isn’t just for pots and pans — it’s also an efficient (and inexpensive) degreaser for the rest of your kitchen. Clean spattered oil and gummy fingerprints on cabinets with soapy water and a microfiber cloth. Don’t forget to wipe the hardware, corners, and inside edges of the doors.

Bathrooms: In addition to your regular cleaning, your shower and tub might need extra attention after holiday guests. However, deep cleaning shouldn’t involve breathing in harsh fumes. Saturate your tile and grout with Seventh Generation tub & tile cleaner, which is made of plant-derived cleaning agents. Let it sit for 5 minutes, then scrub buildup with a stiff brush.

Windows: Window cleaners may contain ingredients like ammonia and  isopropyl alcohol that may irritate your lungs. To remove gunk without these ingredients, rub a dollop of mayonnaise into sticky spots from window decals and scrape with a plastic spatula (never use a razor blade, which can scratch the glass!). Spray Seventh Generation Glass and Surface Cleaner on the frame, ledge, and hardware and wipe clean. Then spray the cleaner on a microfiber cloth and wipe the window top to bottom in a “Z” pattern. If the weather allows, wipe the outside of windows and glass doors, too.

Vent covers: In addition to choosing cleaners with low levels of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), cleaning your vent covers is an easy way to help protect your home’s indoor air quality. Get rid of dust bunnies and allergens by unscrewing vent covers and placing them in a sink filled with hot water and a squirt of dish soap. Wipe the covers carefully with a microfiber, dry, and replace.

Carpet: Carpet can trap (and hold) dust, dirt, pet dander, and allergens. To freshen and deodorize your carpet, you don’t need special cleaners — just sprinkle baking soda on the entire area and let it sit for at least an hour (the longer, the better). Vacuum it up and repeat if needed.

Mattress: Baking soda actually neutralizes odor-causing acids to eliminate the funk — so it’s great for freshening up your mattress. Toss sheets in the wash and sprinkle the mattress with baking soda. (You can also combine 1 cup of baking soda and 2-3 drops of your favorite essential oil in a jar for an aromatherapy boost.) Let the baking soda sit for an hour, then vacuum it up with your vacuum’s upholstery tool.

Bedding: While your mattress is airing out, machine wash blankets and pillows on the delicate cycle with cold water and biobased detergent. Add an extra rinse cycle to get out any lingering detergent, and wash two pillows at a time to keep the machine balanced. For bulky comforters, a large machine at the laundromat might be your best bet. When it’s time to dry, choose the low setting and add a few tennis balls to fluff everything back up.

Washing machine: To get rid of mineral deposits and detergent buildup without the “bleachy” smell,  add 2 cups of vinegar to the drum and 1 cup of baking soda wherever you normally add your laundry detergent. Run the machine on the longest cold water cycle. Use a rag and all-purpose cleaner to wipe the rubber gasket around the door (if you have a front-loader) or under the lid and rim of the tub (if you have a top-loader).

Things You Should Know When Choosing A Chiropractor

How long after chiropractor will I feel better?

Your pain experience is unique to you, so your relief time is individual as well. However, published clinical outcomes can give you an idea of what to expect with Groton chiropractic care.

General Healing Time

Bones heal rather quickly if they have a good blood supply: 5-6 weeks.

Ligament and tendons take a bit longer: 6-8 weeks.

Discs and cartilage take the longest: 3 months or more.

If you have a mixture of these factors, it may take some time. If you smoke, drink alcohol or have a surgical procedure, your mending time may be a bit more time intensive as well.

Disc Healing Time

It takes 3 months to heal a disc before you can expect to go about your activities of daily living like an extended amount of sitting, bending, lifting and twisting. (1) Like a broken arm that quits having pain after a few days in a cast, you still have to wear the cast for many weeks to allow healing. Your back will also stop hurting early on in the treatment care plan, but you will have to give space for your disc to heal for at least 3 months before challenging it with more strenuous activities. “Allowing the disc to heal” chiropractic activities may include simply remembering that you are mending even though you don’t hurt, doing your exercises, avoiding bending/lifting/twisting, not sitting for long periods of time, etc.

The Spine is Your Lifeline

Chiropractors look for what’s wrong in the spinal alignment and fix it, based on the premise that your spine supports your body and becomes the foundation for excellent health. Your spinal cord’s primary job is to communicate between your brain and body. Every spinal nerve has a special job for movement and feeling. These nerves tell your muscles how and when to move. They also carry messages back to the brain about sensations including pain.

When we refer to the nervous system, we’re referring to the central nervous system and the peripheral nervous system. If you were to touch a hot stove, the peripheral nervous system sends pain signals through the central nervous system to your brain. Your brain returns the message to pull your hand away. Both systems are important, yet the central nervous system itself carries everything from movement, sensation, and thought processes from the brain to your body and back again.

This entire system is enclosed within and protected by the vertebrae of the spine. An adult spine contains 24 vertebrae, extending between the skull and the pelvis:

  • The seven cervical vertebrae (C1 – C7) create a gentle inward curve at the base of your head.
  • The 12 thoracic vertebrae (T1 – T12) move outward at the shoulders and back in toward the lumbar spine.
  • The five lumbar vertebrae (L1 – L5) create the gentle arch of the small of your back.

Will You Feel Better Right Away?

This really depends on the individual, but many people do feel better right after their adjustment. If your body has spent a long time out of alignment then being aligned again will feel good, and you might feel more relaxed and flexible afterward as well. Just know the relief you feel may not last, though. It may take a while for your muscles to be trained to hold your joints in proper alignment so don’t be discouraged or think it’s not working if the relief doesn’t last.

Will You Feel Discomfort?

The other side of the instant relief coin is feeling uncomfortable after an adjustment. Your body may not recognize being in alignment for the first time because it has gotten used to less than perfect postures. You might even feel a little achy or sore in your joints. It shouldn’t last longer than a day, but if you’re concerned about it, ask your chiropractor what you might be able to do to relieve the discomfort after your adjustment.

What If You Don’t Feel Anything?

There’s always this option – that you won’t feel any different after an adjustment. This doesn’t mean the adjustment didn’t do anything for you; it’s simply how your body has responded to it. It may take a day or two for you to notice any changes in your body, but it’s really important to stick to your chiropractor’s treatment plan so don’t let this keep you away!

Here are the best things to do after your chiropractic adjustment:

I am often asked, “what should I do after my adjustment?” “Can I go to the gym now?” etc. Giving  yourself a little time and space to fully experience the changes in your nervous system is the best strategy. While many people rush right back to work or back to the car or back to a hectic life there are choices we can make. Read the suggestions below in order to get the maximum benefit from your care. Keep in mind there is no magic answer.

For this reason, we really recommend that you pay close attention and follow these steps for the next several days to assist your healing.

TO GET THE MOST OUT OF YOUR ADJUSTMENTS: CLEAR YOUR SCHEDULE.

After an adjustment that re-organizes the nerve system, I highly recommend people don’t do much after. At least for a little while.  It’s a common mistake for people to schedule a chiropractor’s adjustment along with a massage session, a reiki session, or some other healing activity. I highly recommend that the first few chiropractic adjustments be done separately from any other healing activity. I would not recommend utilizing any other healing practice on the same day as having a chiropractic adjustment. That way you can really get the benefit and impact on your nervous system, and your body can utilize the forces that were applied without having to integrate another healing art. You can also save money by not going to so many practitioners on the same day or even in the same week. If you are sore or if you are better, it is easier to know what is affecting the changes. If you are doing 2 or 3 or even 4 different modalities in one week, you may be wasting your money when there is a good chance that chiropractic might be able to help you more than you can imagine.

GIVE IT A BREAK

(short break) If you regularly exercise or work out, I recommend scheduling your first few chiropractic adjustments several hours away from your exercise routine. I would not recommend you exercise immediately following a chiropractic adjustment. Try to have at least 2-6 hours break before any heavy workouts in the beginning. That way you get the most out of both activities as well as a better sense of what changes are happening. Going for a walk after having a chiropractic adjustment or other light exercise is welcome.

Get checked again within 24 or 48 hours.

The first couple of visits when seeing a chiropractor are focused on the organizational responsiveness of your spine and nerve system. The chiropractor should be checking and comparing how your body is responding to adjustments. In many ways, a person’s first session, or even first couple of sessions, are test signals to the nerve system. Tracking the body’s responses within the nervous system is part of understanding your care and creating a custom plan designed specifically for you. Adjustments are carefully applied to the nervous system to make changes toward a better structure, better structural positioning, and better neurological behavior to alter a person’s perception of him/herself.

Make sure that your second visit is scheduled within 24 or 48 hours of the first if at all possible. A week later is not recommended or optimal in any way, especially in the beginning. Most people, when doing something new for their health and well being, need an immersion period. If you’re going to change your body with exercise, and you really want to create momentum, going to the gym once a week is not going to do it right? The same principle applies when it comes to changing your spine and nerve system. An immersion period is needed to help you gain momentum. This momentum is crucial to the healing process. Without momentum your body will very quickly return to old patterns and behaviors.  If a spinal system is going to rediscover connection, transform its structure, behavior, and perception, and awaken to the capacity to heal from within, momentum is the key.

Healthy changes

Chiropractic is a part of a healthy lifestyle. In order for it to work properly, we must make changes at home and at work to relieve the stressors that cause pressure on our spine and nerves. Change unhealthy behaviors that we know are blocking us from the best health.

You are what you eat.

Eat properly, drink lots of good water, rest well and sleep well.  Exercise and stretching can be a part of a healthy lifestyle. (I do not recommend stretching during time of acute pain) While none of these activities can replace an adjustment, they can help you need fewer adjustment and get well faster. Eliminate unhealthy habits from your routine. Seek professional help if you feel any of these are beyond your willpower or abilities.

New & Used Car Dealer

How much can you expect a dealer to come down on a used car?

A Typical Negotiation Scenario

When you are sitting with a salesperson, a typical conversational opener might be something like: “What monthly payment would comfortably fit into your budget?”

It’s important that you sidestep this question because it’s hard to track the price of the car when the salesperson presents it as a monthly payment. Instead, tell the salesperson you will talk about financing later and you just want to discuss the purchase price of the car for now. The salesperson will usually check with the manager then come back with a price. You may not like that price, however, and this is where the negotiation begins.

How Do You Ask for a Lower Price?

After the salesperson presents the price, you could respond with: “We’ve done a lot of research on the market value of this vehicle, and we have a good idea of what it sells for because we’ve shopped around a bit. If you can beat this price (here’s where you present your best price quote printout from another dealership) we will have a deal.”

A response like this accomplishes a couple things. First, it lets the salesperson know that you’re an informed buyer. Your goal is to justify the drop in price, rather than present an offer without context. Second, the salesperson knows there are offers to beat. So there is a good chance the salesperson is going to jump to the low end of the dealership’s pricing structure, which works for both new cars and used cars.

How Much Can I Haggle? Isn’t the Price on the Car the Actual Price?

No, it’s not. Purchasing a new vehicle is not just a big expense, but an investment, and it is definitely a negotiable endeavor.

Certain purchases are non-negotiable. Like when you walk into Walmart, you can’t walk up to the guy and say, “Hey, I know that TV has a $2,000 price tag, but I’ll give you $1,500 for it.” They will simply say “No.” and let you walk. Same thing at the supermarket, and so on. They know someone will be along in the next minute paying the posted price.

But when you’re spending tens of thousands of dollars on something, you better believe you should be negotiating, and they do not want to let you walk.

Tips on How to Negotiate the Price on a Used Car

If you are shopping for a used car, where apples-to-apples comparisons aren’t possible, your goal is to make an offer that is as low as possible but still in the ballpark. Use the vehicle’s TMV trade-in value as a guidepost for what the dealership might have paid for the vehicle.

If you’re the first to make the offer, give yourself room for the dealership to make a counter-offer. You should know ahead of time what your opening offer will be, how you will counter the dealer’s offer, and what your highest price will be. Then when you’re in the heat of the moment, you won’t get flustered. You will negotiate like a pro.

Many car buyers seem reluctant to make a low offer. Often people say they are afraid the car salesman or saleswoman will laugh at them or become angry or act insulted. And yet if you think about it, the salesperson is really doing the same thing with you, but starting with a higher offer and working down. Knowing that you’ve done some research should give you a bit more confidence in recognizing a good price and knowing when to counter.

Here are a few additional tactics to help you get a good deal on your next car:

  • Don’t buy a car in a hurry (unless you have no choice). And don’t go into the car dealership unprepared. The salesperson may draw you into offer-counteroffer negotiations before you are ready.
  • Check all the numbers and ask for the out-the-door price.
  • Read online reviews of the dealership before you begin negotiating. Start with a dealership that has good customer reviews.
  • Plan to spend a chunk of time at the dealership. With the test drive, a possible trade-in, the negotiating and the financing process, you might be there for four hours or more. Eat before you go: You want to be able to think clearly. You can speed things up by being prepared for all the car-buying paperwork. Shopping midweek rather than on the weekend will cut down on the time you spend at the dealership.
  • While it is easy to focus on the negotiation of the MSRP (also called sticker price), don’t forget you can also negotiate your interest rate, trade-in and the other products that are available for sale, such as undercoating or an extended warranty. 
  • If you’re planning on financing, getting preapproved from a bank or credit union before visiting car dealers is a smart move.

But Don’t Show Your Hand

  • Don’t get swept away right off. Supposing he shows you the vehicle of your dreams. It’s perfect, it’s amazing. You think, “I NEED IT!” But what should you say? Something like, “OK, I see it comes with leather seats . . . that’s pretty nice. The color is okay, not the exact color I was thinking. Not bad.” Do yourself a favor and do NOT gush over the vehicle and beg to drive it. Wait for the salesman to offer the test-drive. You want to appear logical, calculating, and in control the whole time. Someone who is emotional is more inclined to throw logic to the winds. And they know this, and feed off of it.
  • Be ready for this question, which they will definitely ask: “So what are you looking to spend?” Here, you have the advantage, because you know the answer. You know what you can spend, and you know what you want to spend. And they have nothing; that’s why they’re asking the question. So don’t give up all you have unnecessarily.. If you can spend $25,000 to $30,000—the former being what you’d like to spend, and the latter pretty much breaking the bank—tell the salesman something like this. “Well, I really like this model, and this year, but this [other] model has this option that I really like. And you know, I’d like to come in right around twenty-two or twenty-three, depending on options and availability.”

Be Upfront About Some Things

They will play psychological games with you. They’re sizing you up, trying to figure you out, and trying to get you emotional about your purchase. Stay cooperative and down-to-earth. Let them know your intentions, and be honest about some facts. Tell them your name, and what you’re looking for, and answer any general questions they might have.

  • For example, “I am going to buy a Toyota Camry today,” is an honest statement. It clearly shows your intentions, and answers an unspoken question the salesman has: Is this person buying, or just shopping? Think about it. If a salesman is trying to make a profit, and he thinks he is getting shopped, are is he going to offer his best discounts? Probably not. He offers his best deals when he knows a purchase is going to happen.
  • “I’m working with several dealers right now, and I just want to be upfront about that. And, so far, I’m enjoying working with you.” The first half of this statement had better be true, or I’m going to be very disappointed in you. If the second half of this statement is not true, do not buy from this dealership!

Why Hire An Exterminator For Your Pest Problems

Tips To Keep Your Pets Safe During Pest Control Services

pest control company to help them get rid of these uninvited invaders quickly. In order for our exterminators to do their job efficiently and effectively, before their arrival, you may be asked to prepare a few areas of your home, such as removing all items from under sinks and from the shelves in pantries and cupboards and pulling furniture and other items away from baseboards. One thing you may forget to mention in your frenzy to schedule your pest control service is that you have pets and on the morning of your scheduled service, you are in a panic wondering; will Rover, Tweety and your other lovable friends be safe? With American, the answer is yes, but here are a few things to remember to keep your pets safe during your pest control services

understand that an unexpected pest problem can be stressful and that you may forget to mention your plethora of pets; don’t worry, we’ll ask. Fortunately most pest control techniques are safe for homes with pets, but if possible you should take a few minutes to talk to pest control professional about what pets are in your home, where they will be when he/she arrives and any special precautions you may have to take after they leave.

Like children, pets are curious and may be overcome with the need to investigate the new sounds and smells in their home and as “man’s best friend” they may take a minute to make friends with professionals. Don’t be fooled, love your pets, but their curiosity can bring them entirely too close to the materials use during pest control services. It is best to keep your 4-legged friends in a kennel or pet carrier.

If one is not available, close them into an area of your home not scheduled for service, such as the garage, basement or bedroom. Although most treatment solutions for common household pests are confined to targeted areas where pests travel (i.e. behind baseboards, wall voids, and beneath counter tops), treatment for fleas and bed bugs will require special consideration for pets as well as preparation

Feathery And Fishy Friends

Fish, birds and reptiles may require a little special preparation in advance of indoor treatments for pests such as fleas and bed bugs. Cover up their tanks and cages with a blanket or towel to prevent any overspray, air-borne mist or droplets from getting in. Depending on what species of bird you may have, you may want to make a quick phone call to your veterinarian for advice. Many birds have a sensitive respiratory system and may be more susceptible to problems

Natural Pest Control Methods

I have had SO many people asking me through email and Facebook lately about how to keep pesky pests at bay this summer….I decided it was time for a full on attack! First of all…..the best way to control pests is to not invite them inside in the first place. Most bugs are attracted to food and water, so keeping your kitchen clean, taking out the garbage regularly, and storing food and drinks in tight containers will deter most insects, and other pests. Removing water sources will also go a long way towards solving your bug problem, as will sealing off their point of entry.

The PEST I have had the most questions/concerns raised about is ANTS!  For being such a TINY little thing…ants sure can be a nuisance!!!  Here are some tips to keep them out of your house and away from your picnics

ANTS

KEEP IT CLEAN FOLKS!  Keep your kitchen counters free of crumbs and sticky spots, cover the sugar and honey jar. Wiping down surfaces can go a long way toward keeping your home pest free!

CUCUMBER  Set out cucumber peels or slices in the kitchen or at the ants’ point of entry. Many ants have a natural aversion to cucumber.

MINT  Leave a few tea bags of mint tea near areas where the ants seem most active.

BLOCK THE ENTRY  Trace the ant column back to their point of entry. Set any of the following items at the entry area in a small line, which ants will not cross: cayenne pepper, citrus oil (can be soaked into a piece of string), lemon juice, cinnamon or coffee grounds.

LIGHT IT UP  Leave a small, night light on for a few nights in the area of most ant activity. The change in light can disrupt and discourage their foraging patterns.

BUILD A MOAT  If ants are attacking your pets’ food bowls, clean the floor thoroughly with hot, soapy water to eliminate the ants’ trail, then keep them from finding the food dish again by placing the food bowl into a shallow pan of soapy water.

DE  Diatomaceous Earth (often referred to as “DE”) is a talc-like powder that is the fossilized remains of marine phytoplankton. When sprinkled on a bug the fine powder absorbs lipids from the waxy outer layer of insects’ exoskeletons, causing them to dehydrate.

CORNMEAL   Put small piles of cornmeal where you see ants. They eat it, take it ‘home,’ can’t digest it, and expire. It may take a week or so, especially if it rains, but it works and you don’t have the worry about pets or small children being harmed!

HOMEMADE ANT BAIT  Dissolve 1 teaspoon of boric acid and 6 tablespoons of sugar in 2 cups of water. Soak cotton balls in this bait solution. (Boric acid is a low-toxicity mineral, but do keep it away from children and pets because it can cause skin, mouth, stomach, and eye irritation.)

MOSQUITOES

BLOCK THEM  Mosquitos are most active in the early morning and early evening. They seek areas of still air because they are hampered by breezes. Close windows and doors on the side of your house which are opposite the breeze.

REMOVE WATER  The most important measure you can take is to remove standing water sources. Change birdbaths, wading pools and pet’s water bowl twice a week. Keep your house gutters clean and well-draining. Remove yard items that collect water.

COVER THEIR TRAIL  Ants leave a scented trail so other ants can find their way to food. Routinely wash away these invisible trails with a vinegar-based cleanser made from 1?4 cup vinegar, 2 cups water and 10 to 15 drops of peppermint, clove, eucalyptus or tea tree essential oil.

BBQ HELPER  If you’re using the barbecue, throw a bit of sage or rosemary on the coals to repel mosquitos.

GARLIC  An effective natural bug repellent, mix one part garlic juice with 5 parts water in a small spray bottle. Shake well before using. Spray lightly on exposed body parts for an effective repellent lasting up to 5 – 6 hours. Strips of cotton cloth can also be dipped in this mixture and hung in areas, such as patios, as a localized deterrent.

BUILD A BAT HOUSE  Some bat species can eat up to 1,000 mosquitoes in an hour! You can attract these beneficial bug eaters by installing a bat house in your yard.

NEEM OIL  Neem oil is a natural vegetable oil extracted from the Neem tree in India. The leaves, seeds and seed oil of the Neem tree contain sallanin, a compound which has effective mosquito repelling properties. Neem oil is a natural product and is safe to use. Just add a few drops of oil to your favorite lotion and apply the mixture to your body.

PLANT MORE FLOWERS!  Plant some catnip (Nepeta cataria) in your garden; not only will it repel mosquitoes, but you’ll get some pretty flowers, too. Other mosquito-repelling plants include rosemary, marigolds, citronella grass, and lemon balm.

LIGHT A CANDLE  Make your own mosquito-repelling candles using a mixture of essential oils and melted wax. A good rule of thumb is to use about 1/2 ounce to 1 ounce of essential oil per pound of wax.

How Long Does Pest Control Treatment Normally Last?

It is normal to wonder how long pest control treatments last. After all, you are spending good money on having a professional come in to take care of your pest problem. Unfortunately, there is no universal answer to this question.

The truth is, how long pest control treatments last is largely contingent on the type of pest you have in your home. General pest control treatments typically last a few months. This type of treatment usually targets common insects found in most households, such as roaches, spiders, moths, silverfish, and woodlice (roly-poly), among others. However, they do not target pests like termites (which will be covered later).

General pest control treatments usually involve a technician spraying high-grade pesticides to the baseboards of your home. Sometimes, they will also spray the exterior of your home. Exterior sprays help prevent insects from entering your property.

While general pest control treatments can last a few months, one treatment does not guarantee lifetime defense from typical household insects. It is best to have the treatments done regularly over a scheduled period. Most companies recommend quarterly visits. To ensure your house is protected year-round, it is best to consult a pest control professional.

Note: Pest control companies offer varying guarantees on how long their services will be effective so you can always check for and take advantage of these.

It depends on the kind of pest you are dealing with. However, in general, pest control treatments that target common insects around the house can last a few months. These include pests such as roaches, spiders, moths, and the like.

Expert Pest Control Resources You Can Trust

Facts about Bugs, Insects, and Pests from Trusted Experts

official consumer education website of the National Pest Management Association (NPMA). In addition to pest control information and facts, you can search for exterminators in your area, browse insect pictures, and find detailed information on specific household pests to help you prevent infestations.

your main resource for credible information on bugs, rodents, pest control, and the growing professional pest control industry. Browse the latest pest news, read facts about insects and bugs, or find pest control professionals in your area. Get the most up-to-date pest control resources straight from the experts

Common Kitchen Bugs & Insects

For most of us, the kitchen is the heart of the home, filled with love and delicious food. While the appetizing aromas that come from this room can bring together the closest of family and friends, people are not always the only ones that you might find gathering in the kitchen. Pests – including ants, cockroaches, rodents, house flies, fruit flies and pantry pests – can all be found in this part of the house. Learning how to get rid of insects in the kitchen is key to your family’s health and safety.

Ants in the Kitchen

If ants are found marching one-by-one across the kitchen counter, they are most likely odorous house ants, Argentine ants or pavement ants. All three species have ambitious appetites and are attracted to food and moisture, making kitchens an ideal gathering spot. Odorous house ants prefer sweets, while Argentine ants and pavement ants have been known to eat meats, bread, oils and fats. Commonly nesting near moisture sources, ants can be found in wall voids near water pipes and beneath leaky fixtures, including those under the sink.

Cockroaches in the Kitchen

Cockroaches are one of the most common kitchen insects and health code violations in restaurants and other commercial kitchens, but they frequently infest household kitchens, too. These skilled hitchhikers can make their way into the heart of the home via cardboard boxes, grocery bags and beverage cartons.

What to do after Pest Control Sprays

Can I clean after the application of pest control sprays?

Pest control comes in all sorts of varieties, and the way in which you can clean depends on the type. For example, dealing with rodents often involves mechanical traps or solid, poisonous bait. But managing insects typically calls for liquids, gels, fogs, or sprays — treatments that depend on adhering to a particular surface to work.

Is food safe after pest sprays?

In order to make sure that breakfast, lunch, dinner, and tea-time grub stays safe, make sure to put it away in a cabinet or cupboard prior to a treatment. Afterward, wipe down any place where your food might touch with soap and water or your preferred cleaning product. If you follow these steps, your food should stay safe.

Monitor your (and your pet’s) health

Most of us will know if we’ve come into contact with a pesticide or similarly caustic chemical. Symptoms may include:

Burning eyes

A persistent cough

Breathing difficulties

Changes in heart rate

The above symptoms are rare, but not entirely out of the realm of possibility. Most in-home pesticides aren’t particularly dangerous for humans. Unfortunately, the same isn’t always true for pets. Some residential pest control companies may use chemicals or solutions that could potentially be dangerous to pets

Follow-up & check for continuing signs of pests

One of the advantages of current-generation pesticides is that they’re less potent, meaning they put you and your pets at less risk. The flip side is that they can take longer to work. After a spray, expect anywhere from four to six weeks to pass before your pest problem vanishes