Prepare Your Home For The Holidays

Christmas is just around the corner and as family and friends congregate in your home, there are some important tips to keep in mind to prepare your home for the holidays.

We would like to share a few of those “Preparing Your Home For The Holidays” tips from Popular Mechanics with you:

1. Clean the microwave. Appliances take a beating during this holiday, but there’s still time to make a few pre-holiday adjustments. Take out the microwave’s rotating tray and scrub it or pop it into the dishwasher. Wipe down the microwave’s interior with a soft cloth and a little soapy water. Make sure its air vents are clear of dust and grease.

2. Don’t clean the oven. The self-clean cycle is so stressful on the appliance that it could cause it to fail, right before you need it most. Give a quick cleaning around the top burner elements and leave the rest be. Save the big cleanup until leftovers are safety nestled in the fridge.

3. Inspect the refrigerator. It’s liable to be opened and closed more times on this one day than it is in a couple of weeks of normal use. Check for the following problems:

* Tighten screws on any loose door handles.

* Fix loose or misaligned door gaskets. Take a nut driver or socket and wrench, loosen all hex head gasket screws, reposition the gasket using a putty knife to shove it into position and retighten. Consider installing a new gasket after the holidays.

* Clear blocked freezer vents. Reposition food in the freezer compartment to clear area around vents.

* Clear cold air vents. Reposition food in fresh food compartment to allow cold air from freezer to move more freely. Gain critically needed space by putting all drinks on ice in a cooler.

* Replace burned out lights with an appliance bulb, typically a clear 40-watt bulb sized for appliance use–a $3 item at hardware stores and home centers. If the fresh food compartment is still dark after its replacement, that usually indicates a failed door switch.

4. Prepare vacuum cleaners. Empty canisters or replace bags on these appliances and position them in a hall closet or other location for rapid deployment.

5. Clean drip coffeemakers. If you haven’t recently checked the drip opening (and the area around it), you may be unpleasantly surprised. Unplug the coffeemaker and turn it upside down. If the drip opening looks like it’s covered in asphalt, clean it with a soft cloth and a solution of warm water and dish detergent. It may take several tries to get the crud off.

6. Inspect the dishwasher. Check the strainer/drain area in the bottom of the wash tub (it’s located under the spray arm). Remove food debris and wipe off detergent residue. Remove utensils and any bits of plastic or glass that you find in the bottom of the dishwasher tub. Wipe detergent residue, mold and slime off the door gasket and around the rim of the door, as well as the latch arm that locks the door.

7. Sharpen knives. Tuning up kitchen knives is easy, so don’t settle for hacking the bird when you can carve it like a pro.

8. Tune up cabinets. A few minutes with a screwdriver is all it takes to whip loose parts into shape. Tighten loose cabinet hinges. Tighten the screws that mount to the door and to the cabinet wall. While you’re at it, tighten loose drawer and door pulls and drawer slides. If kitchen drawers are over-stuffed and liable to jam in the middle of the cooking frenzy, now’s the time to take out some of the clutter.

9. Take care of the toilet. Not to get too graphic here, but toilets see a tougher workout than any other fixture in the house, especially when guests pull up a seat. Now’s the time to take care of poor flushing action or a toilet that flushes by itself by replacing the flapper valve or the entire flush mechanism. If the toilet rocks slightly, try tightening its mounting bolts. If you lift the bolt caps and find severely corroded fasteners (don’t be surprised) leave well enough alone and let it go until after the holidays.

10. Replace burned out light bulbs. Pay close attention to lights that serve the front entrance and walkway that leads to the front door or other busy entrances.

11. Make your home slip- and fall-proof. Fix loose treads on exterior steps, loose deck boards or loose pavers on front walkways. Take care of all other tripping/falling hazards while you’re at it, like using double-sided tape to stick down slippery rugs. Tighten the mounting screws on loose handrails.

12. Bring in firewood. Stack it and let it dry for a few days before lighting that cheerful holiday blaze. Test run gas fireplaces before the big day, especially if they haven’t been used since last winter. Split kindling for the holiday fire safely. Hold the kindling in place using a scrap of wood with a roofing nail driven through its end. Jab the nail into the kindling you’re splitting to hold it in place and to keep your hand safely away from the hatchet or axe.

13. Child-proof your home. Make all child-safety preparations in advance, such as covering electrical outlets, moving lamps and vases away from table edges and making provisions to block stairways to prevent hazardous falls.

14. Change smoke detector/CO detector batteries.

15. Keep jumper cables on hand, especially if you’re expecting a big crowd. Always seems somebody’s got a bad battery, and it’s usually the car that will block everybody in the driveway.

16. Double-check your first aid kit. At the least you should have burn cream, ice packs and bandages to deal with kitchen-related cuts.

17. Keep a fire extinguisher handy in the kitchen.

Eliminate Odors In Your Home

Are you expecting company this Holiday season? If you’d like to get your house smelling its best, we have some helpful tips.

No matter what odor may be lurking in your home, we guarantee we will eliminate it. Please visit our website to order.

Directions to Eliminate Cigarette and Cigar Smoke Odors:

• Hang 1-2 Earth Care Odor Eliminator Bags in each room that smells like cigarette smoke. One bag will cover 50-100 square feet. Odor will be eliminated in 24 hours.
• Bag will last 1-2 months, if room is heavily permeated with smoke odor the bag may need to be changed more often at first.
• If odors are particularly strong or room has been smoked in for years sprinkle Clear The Air Odor Eliminator for Carpet and Furniture granules on carpets and furniture. Leave down 24 hours and vacuum. Odors will be completely eliminated.
• One canister of Clear The Air Odor Eliminator for Carpet and Furniture covers 100 square feet; one bucket covers 900 square feet.
• Granules can also be placed in ashtrays and cigarette butt receptacles.

Directions to Eliminate Dead Animal & Related Urine/Feces Odors:

• It is not necessary to remove dead carcass to remove the odor.
• More bags =better faster results, we recommend a minimum of 3 bags.
• Hang a bag in every room you smell odor.
• If you believe dead animal is in attic or crawl space hang one bag there also.
• Bag will outlast odor from carcass and handle any urine or feces odors that may exist from previously infested areas.
• One bag covers up to 100 square feet. It will last 3-4 months in use, or indefinitely in plastic wrap.
• Minimum of three bags needed to remove dead Rodent/Animal odors.

• Remove feces and excess urine.
• Sprinkle granules over area until dry granules are present on top. Also works well on old dry urine odors.
• Leave overnight, then sweep or vacuum.
• Clear The Air pulls odors from carpet, padding, and subfloor.
• Typically one application will eliminate all odors; occasionally a second application is necessary.
• One canister covers 100 square feet.

Directions to Eliminate Musty Mildew Odors from your Basement:

• Hang 1-2 bags in basement. One bag cover up to 100 square feet.
• Bags will continue to eliminate musty odors for up to 3 months.
• If odors are strong (or you have had a flood) also sprinkle Clear The Air Odor Eliminator for Concrete or Carpet granules on floor, leave down 24 hours and sweep or vacuum. Odors will be completely eliminated.
• One canister of Clear The Air Odor Eliminator For Concrete or Carpet granules covers approximately 100 square feet.

Hastings Needs A Home!

Clear the Air always likes to feature pets in the spotlight at the San Diego Humane Society. Hastings is a recent employee favorite and in need of his forever home.

“Hastings is very loving and loves to snuggle in your lap or next to you,” says Kelly R., Chief Financial Officer of the San Diego Humane Society and SPCA. Kelly chose Hastings as her Employee Pick because of his winning personality and adorable little idiosyncracies that were quick to steal her heart, like the squeaky little chirping sounds that he makes when he is ready to play or have dinner.

Hastings is a Hidden Gem, which means that he tends to do better in an environment outside of the public adoption area. He is currently being housed in the Finance Department; and Kelly, along with the rest of the Finance team, couldn’t be happier about it! They are constantly taking photos of the sweet kitty playing peek-a-boo, or curled up in a ball, or just looking as handsome as ever. Adding to his handsomeness, says Kelly, is his “…beautiful soft coat and sparkly white belly fur.

He also has the cutest freckles on his nose!” We asked Kelly if there was anything else that makes her Pick awesome and she was quick to tell us, “Hastings is enough company to be the only kitty in the family, which will suit him just fine. He is all you would want in a cat and more! And maybe best of all, he has a TERRIFIC purr motor!!”

If you are interested in meeting Hastings, or in getting some more info about him, please call the San Diego Humane Society at (619) 299-7012.

Cats and Christmas Trees

The Christmas Tree vs. The Cat.

Christmas is here and it is time to set up your Christmas tree. Who has experienced their fun little feline charge up the top of their tree, knocking over ornaments and causing destruction?  We have!!

We would like to share a few tips on keeping your cat out of the tree this year.  Keep in mind, however, it is a cat’s natural behavior that your cat is going to enjoy doing.  He is probably thanking you for putting this entertainment right in your home for him to enjoy!

One of the best solutions is to take a spray bottle with water and spray your cat every time it approaches the tree. This would act as a form of discipline or as a deterrent. It does not take much. After spritzing a few times, all you have to do is shake the bottle at them. They learn fast!

Here are a few other things you can try to discourage your cat from scampering up your Christmas tree.

• Place orange peels around the base of your Christmas tree. Cats do not like the smell of orange.
• Spray your artificial tree with some Citronella oil that is mixed in a spray bottle with water. Again, cats do not like the citrus smell.
• Spray pine cones with the Citronella oil/water spray. Spread the pine cones under your tree.
• Use an artificial tree. Maybe your cat will not be tempted to climb the metal branches.
• Place bells around the bottom of your tree. No, the sound of the bell does not frighten the cats, but it does sound an alarm for you! Once you hear the bells, you get the water bottle. Before you know it, the kitties learn the connection.

Do you have any funny Christmas tree Vs. The Cat stories from Christmas’s past?  Please share them on our blog!

Hurricane Sandy – We Want To Help

Our hearts go out to Hurricane Sandy victims…there is still so much clean up to be done on the East Coast and we want to help. Please watch our special Hurricane Sandy video:

Why Do Dogs Chew?

Do you have a dog who loves to chew at home? Read our blog article:

We can’t believe it has been over a year now since we acquired our youngest addition to the family, Zimba.  While it has been so much fun watching him grow into his over-sized body and bumble around, he sure has caused some minor destruction with his need to chew.

Bill’s nook has been chewed so it no longer can be turned off, shoes have been chewed, furniture, etc.  But, of course we still love the big guy.

We are sharing an article on Why Dogs Chew from the ASPCA.  If you are looking to get a puppy or even adult dog for someone this Christmas, these tips on why dogs chew will definitely be useful reading material.

Do you have a chewer at home?  Please share with us by commenting on our blog.

It’s perfectly normal for puppies and dogs to chew on objects as they explore the world. For young dogs, it’s a way to relieve pain that might be caused by incoming teeth. For older dogs, it’s a way to keep jaws strong and teeth clean.

But sometimes natural chewing can become destructive for dogs seeking to combat boredom or relieve mild anxiety or frustration. Dogs who chew to relieve the stress of separation anxiety usually only chew when left alone or chew most intensely when left alone.

So what can you do if your best friend’s chewing turns destructive? Puppies and adult dogs should have a variety of appropriate and attractive chew toys. However, just providing the right things to chew isn’t enough to prevent inappropriate chewing. Dogs need to learn what is okay to chew and what is not.

What to Do If Your Dog Is a Destructive Chewer

• “Dog-proof” your house. Put valuable objects away until you’re confident that your dog’s chewing behavior is restricted to appropriate items. Keep shoes and clothing in a closed closest, dirty laundry in a hamper and books on shelves. Make it easy for your dog to succeed.
• Provide your dog with plenty of his own toys and inedible and edible chew bones. Introduce something new or rotate your dog’s chew toys every couple of days so he doesn’t get bored with the same old toys.
• Discourage chewing inappropriate items by spraying them with chewing deterrents.
• Do your best to supervise your dog during all waking hours until you feel confident that his chewing behavior is under control.
• Provide your dog with plenty of physical exercise (playtime with you and with other dogs) and mental stimulation. If you have to leave your dog alone for more than a short period of time, make sure he gets out for a good play session.

Full article can be viewed at: http://blog.aspca.org/content/why-does-my-dog-chew

San Diego Humane Society’s Hidden Gem Spotlight

This week we are promoting Benji!  He is looking for his forever home…do you have room in your heart for Benji?

Watch Benji’s video and see his goofiness & enthusiasm come to life!

Benji is a sweet, one-year old Pit Bull/Lab Retriever mix who is as lovable as he is cute! Still an exuberant pup, Benji approaches life with enthusiasm and plenty of curiosity. Although he had a tough start in life that has left him a bit shy, he is becoming more and more social daily, and Benji’s current foster mom reports that he is doing very well, having fun, and wagging that tail of his more than ever!

This sweet guy will need some extra time and patience from the lucky family who adopts him. The world around him can seem very new and scary, so Benji appreciates slow introductions and lots of love to help him overcome some of his fears. In addition to playing with tennis balls and being his energetic and goofy self, Benji also knows how to relax with the best of ’em and enjoys spending plenty of quality time snuggling on the couch.

Benji’s adoption fee of $75 includes his neuter, current vaccinations, permanent microchip identification, a certificate for a free veterinary exam, a bag of food from Hill’s Science Diet and a license if residing in Oceanside or Vista! This very special hidden gem of ours is currently in foster care. If you are interested in meeting him or getting more information, please contact Customer Service at (619) 299-7012.

Animal ID 94566

Adopt A Senior Pet Month is NOW!

Adopt a senior pet this month for a reduced adoption fee.

The month of November is dedicated to “adopt a senior pet”. When you adopt a senior pet, you are adopting a homeless pet that is already house trained, doesn’t chew up furniture, and as already settled into its personality so there are no surprises as time goes on.

Many people might think that a senior pet is an old pet with no life left, but quite the opposite is true. Most senior pets end up in shelters and rescue groups because they were once in a home and something happened in the family that prevents them from keeping the pet.

For example, the death of a pet owner is the most common reason for pets to become homeless. Divorce often leads to split families and turmoil and the pets can get “forgotten” in the midst of human emotional turmoil. No matter the reason, senior pets are not to blame for becoming “homeless”, they are simply the victims that get left behind. Anyone who has adopted a senior pet can tell you that it’s the best adoption you can ever choose.

At animal shelters and rescue groups everywhere, there are loving, healthy senior pets looking for that one special home to cherish them for the rest of their life, and they don’t ask for much: just a warm place to sleep, good meals and plenty of love.

During the month of November, the San Diego Humane Society and SPCA is honoring its ‘Sensational Senior’ animals with reduced adoption fees!  senior pets in need of homes are looking for that one special family that will cherish and love them in their golden years, and they don’t require much more than a warm place to rest and plenty of love.

From now until November 30, the adoption fee for all senior animals (over age 7) will be reduced to $25.  If a second ‘animal buddy’ is adopted, the fee will be waived entirely!  Special discounts are also available to adopters over age 55 who choose to adopt a senior animal.  These fees include microchipping, spay/neuter, vaccinations and veterinary exam. Don’t delay—curl up with a sensational senior animal today!

Thanksgiving Safety For Your Pets

The ASPCA has shared some helpful Thanksgiving tips for the Turkey Season!

Do You Smell A Dead Rodent In Your Home?

The Holidays are upon us and it is time for house guests, both family and friends, to visit and stay with you.  What could be worse than having an animal die in your walls and you are now left with a horrible odor right before company arrives.

Instead of having to break down your drywall and removing the carcass, Clear the Air’s Odor Eliminator Bags will remove the odor without even having to come in contact with the odor producer.  Don’t let a terrible odor ruin your holiday season.

Dead rodents can die in your wall and often you are unable to find the carcass to remove it. Earth Care Odor Remover Bags are used by Pest Control Professionals to remove dead rodent odors, and urine and feces odors associated with rodents. The carcass does not have to be removed to remove the odors.

Earth Care Bags do not have to come into contact with dead rodent or odor causing agent. Simply hang the bag near the odor and in 24 hours the odor will be gone. Earth Care acts like a magnet by attracting and neutralizing smells. It is made from an all natural mineral, is non toxic and biodegradable and safe for Planet Earth. It is also safe around children and pets, even if eaten. Earth Care adsorbs odors rather than masking them with a fragrance.

How to Eliminate Dead Animal & Related Urine/Feces Odors:

• It is not necessary to remove dead carcass to remove the odor.
• More bags = better faster results, we recommend a minimum of 3 bags.
• Hang a bag in every room you smell odor.
• If you believe the dead animal is in attic or crawl space hang one bag there also.
• Bag will outlast odor from carcass and handle any urine or feces odors that may exist from previously infested areas.
• One bag covers up to 100 square feet. It will last 3-4 months in use, or indefinitely in plastic wrap.
• Minimum of three bags needed to remove dead Rodent/Animal odors.

Would you like to order?  Please click here.