Camping Tips – How To Stay Dry While Camping
January 24, 2012 | 
Author As we start the new camping season its always good to review some tips on keeping dry. Nothing makes a campout more unbearable than getting your gear all soggy! Although most people camp during the summer months when it’s warm and dry there are times during the season when you will get rain. But, fear not! Here are some tips to staying dry that I have learned from my 25+ years camping with the Boy Scouts.
TIP #1
o Did you use seam sealer on your tent? Remember to seal all tent seams on an annual basis. Purchase some “fresh” sealer from a sporting goods or camping store. During your first outing in the spring, re-seal all your seams with a liberal amount of sealer.
TIP #2
o Are you putting a ground sheet or cloth under your tent when you camp? It’s not just enough to put the ground sheet under the tent, you’ve got to tuck the edges under the tent so when it rains the water will not collect on the ground sheet and run under the tent. 
So, if your rain fly is installed correctly, the seam sealer holding and the ground sheet properly tucked under the tent you should be go to go! – at least from moisture getting into your tent.
TIP #3
o When inside the tent during a rainstorm, make sure your gear, sleeping bags, mattress, etc. are not touching the tent walls. Why? Well, the tent walls and rain fly are designed to deflect the water droplets off the tent and onto the ground. If you upset this design by putting your pack, sleeping bag or other gear against the wall, water will pool and soak through the tent wall!
I learned this the hard way! I was in a small tent and didn’t realize that my sleeping bag was resting against the tent wall. During the night it rained and I slept through it. In the morning I had a wet spot at the foot of my sleeping bag and a puddle on the floor of my tent.
TIP #4
o When you enter the tent after being out in the rain, take off your wet clothes and put them in a corner or at the front of your tent with your wet shoes. Some tents have a small vestibule that is ideal for this. By using this tip, you will “localize” all your wet gear and keep the other gear dry.
TIP #5
o Bring rain gear or a poncho. Ya, I know that sounds pretty obvious, but you’d be surprised at how many campers are ill prepared for rain. You can get a $2 poncho at Target that will keep most of the rain out. I have a lightweight rain suit, top and pants that I found to be a lifesaver a number of times. In a pinch, you can take a large, green garbage bag; cut three holes in it for your head and arms and it will keep you dry too! I know, my son does it all the time. He’s so fashionable! 
If you are prepared and follow these Tips you can enjoy even the most inclement of camping days. It can be fun to be inside the tent play a card game or reading a good book while you listen to the pitter, patter of the rain on your tent. Make some hot chocolate, tea or soup and enjoy!
How To Use Your IRA To Buy Real Estate
In life there are a lot of things we learn by accident, which can be very beneficial to us. Sometimes understanding these processes can take a while. Sometimes after proper explanation …BLAM, you get it. That is exactly what happened to me. When I first heard about the topic, I will discuss in this E-book, it was perplexing, however, I knew that it could reap huge rewards in the future. It took a while for me to understand the process. I remember trying to tell a buddy who owned an apartment building about _________ and what it could do for him. I remember getting it all confused (like telling someone a good joke, but while you are trying to say the good joke, in mid sentence you realize that you don’t remember it all and it is not coming out right, so you just say forget it because you are screwing the joke up). Fortunately, by mistake I came across the company Pensco Trust who has educated me on this great opportunity of____________. I am considered one of their “Preferred Professionals.” My learning curve is your benefit. Enough with my teasing games, the purpose of this E-book, is to educate you on Self Directed IRAs. So buckle up!
This publication is made to provide basic information in regard to Self Directed IRA’s. It is presented with the understanding that I am not engaged in rendering accounting or legal advice. If you need legal advice services of a proficient professional should be contacted. I can not in any way guarantee that this material will be properly used for the purposes intended and I assume no responsibility for its correct and proper use.
We all know that Social Security (SS) is struggling and the money there will eventually disappear. Prior to 1935 there was no personal SS. All that existed were people saving their money in their bank/under the mattress. In 1935 SS was created. Remember that this was the same time period of the Great Depression. Keep in mind the life expectancy back then was like 62 years old. Now it is 76. Baby Boomers make up a huge portion of the population. Baby Boomers are retiring everyday. You want some hard facts? Well according to Research Corporation Study: The New Landscape of IRA Rollover © 2005 BISYS Retirement Services.
o The first of the baby boomers reached age 59.5 in July 2005
o 4 million more will reach age 59.5 each year
o 24 million people will reach age 65 by 2010
o 55% plan on to work after “retirement”
Now on the flip let’s say there was no problem with SS. Have you ever talked to someone who gets SS checks? They don’t get a lot of money. It is sad sometimes. I am not trying to offend anyone, but the majority of the older people you see at Wal-Mart greeting you and marking your receipt didn’t have a “nest egg” to rely on when they “retired”. The topic I will discuss will prevent that from ever happening to you and I.
1974 congress created IRA (Individual Retirement Account) to supplement Social Security. We know these are programs to help shelter money away for tax benefits. Typically people go after the traditional investments. We always hear about stocks, bonds and CD’s. Yes all investments have risks, but the thing about these investments is that you can not affect the outcome of the business/your return. You are a spectator, watching the game. Also, you can’t use leverage (an example of using leveraged will be discussed later). Also, with stocks if any little blip in market occurs, like oil, war, scandal, etc. your value could go down. Real estate does go up and down but generally you don’t lose all of your money in worst case scenarios. Real estate appreciation has kept pace or exceeded inflation. It is a cycle. When it goes down, the value does not go down instantly (like Enron).
Self Directed IRA (SDI) an overview. Now I am not bashing stocks, I have them, if you talk to any financial planner, they will tell you to always be diversified in your investments. This is what SDI does for you. Ideally you should have SDI, stocks, bonds etc.
SDI has been a well kept secret. Why? I think it is because of ignorance, and I also the folks on Wall Street don’t benefit. A broker at an investment company will not tell a person about it, because they can’t make money off of the transaction (let alone having them understand how it works). The last reason is because there are “professionals” who don’t have a clear understanding on its use.
To get a SDI, you would either have to go through an Administrator, or a Custodian.
What is an Administrator? Banks, brokerage firms (like Charles Schwab) and insured credit unions.
What Is A Custodian?
There are very few self-directed IRA/401k custodians in the United States. In order to be a custodian for self-directed products, the custodian is known as a “passive custodian.” This simply means that they are obligated by law to provide only custodial and administrative services for the qualified plan. They can provide NO investment advice. This tremendously reduces the fees associated with traditional investments because you, the investor, make all of the investment decisions. They are also FDIC insured.
What is the role of the custodian
o Holds your IRA assets
o Performs all IRA transactions
o Keeps all IRA records
o Provides all IRS required reports
o Keeps IRA plan in compliance
o Provides access online access
There are only three things your SDI can’t invest in and they are
o Collectibles/antiques
o Life insurance
o Stock of a sub-chapter “S” corporation (these are companies that are traded publicly on the stock market)
As long as the transaction is for investment purposes and you have not created a “prohibited transaction” (will discuss later) the list of investments are endless.
The beginning of a long list of real estate you can buy with your SDI
o Foreclosures, Options, Pre-construction, raw land, apartments, offices, strip malls, mobile homes, public storage, any type of investment property
o Trust deeds/mortgage notes
o Privately held C-Corp stock, LLC membership
.
The rules on prohibited transactions
o Cant buy from or sell to a disqualified/prohibited person
o Cant make personal use of property
o Cant use SDI as collateral for personal loan
Personal use prohibitions
You can’t personally use a vacation home. Even if you rent it out for 354 days and spend one day in it, this is illegal. You can’t perform maintenance on the property. You can hire a maintenance crew using the money coming out of your SDI, but you can’t physically work on the property. You also can’t hunt on raw land, dock boat at a SDI owned boat slip. There was a person, who worked with Pensco, that bought a specific area of a water fishing spot in Alaska. The person, couldn’t fish there, so she leased out the area to other fishermen and received profit.
More on disqualified persons
You can’t buy from a person providing services to the investment. It has to be a clean slate. It can’t be business between employer and employee. If you have your SDI in an LLC and you want to buy property, you will not be able to if you own more than 50% of the company. You can’t buy/sell to a member of your family including spouse, ancestor, lineal descendant and any spouse of a lineal descendant. Meaning, not you parents, children, your son in law etc. But, you can buy/sell to a sibling. There can’t be a sale/exchange/leasing of any property or providing a loan between a plan and a disqualified person. Lastly, you can’t buy something you already own (SDI can’t be used for funds to pay off your mortgage. There should be no perceived direct or indirect personal benefit to the account owner).
Basic rules
o Can’t involve the account holder, his/her spouse a lineal ascendant/descendant of family nor the spouses of your children and you can’t use SDI funds to pay off a personal mortgage
o Can’t make personal use of property (must be for investment purposes only)
o Can’t personally guarantee the loan for your SDI nor use the SDI as collateral for a personal loan
o Can’t work for or take income from an SDI investment
o Can’t have your spouse, nor your family members (your siblings are ok) own the property prior to its purchase by your plan
o Can’t have your business lease or be located in or on any part of the property while it’s in your plan. You may receive any property as a distribution from your plan as a retirement benefit
What transactions are prohibited?
The following are defined as prohibited transactions when they involve the account holder:
o Borrowing money from the SDI
o Selling property to the SDI
o Receiving unreasonable compensation for managing assets for the SDI
o Using the SDI as security for a loan
o Buying property for personal use with the SDI
o Collectibles/antiques
o Life insurance
o Stock of a sub-chapter “S” corporation
50% rule
If a disqualified person(s) owns 50% or more collectively of an entity, then the SDI can’t engage in a transaction with the entity because the company is considered a disqualified person.
Using IRA as collateral
You can’t use your SDI as collateral for a loan. If you will get a loan it must be an unsecured loan. If you default in paying the loan, the lender can’t go get the money out of your IRA, nor can they go after personal assets.
Any type of prohibitions have penalties, if you violate them. SDI is no different. Here are the consequences if you do not comply:
o Loss of IRA status resulting from prohibited transaction
o Loss of tax exempt status
o Income tax on account value
o Penalties and interest
o Possible audit to determine extent of prohibited transactions
If you really want more information on the rules check out:
o IRS code 4975
o UDFI/UBTI: IRS code 598
o Department of Labor (DOL) 2004-8
Tax court cases
o Swanson 1997
o Rollins 2004
o Rousey v. Jacoway 2005
Ways to invest by using your SDI
o Property purchase all cash
o Property purchase using a loan (NOTE this has not always been the case where you can get a loan from a bank for your SDI. These past couple of years a few establishments are offering loans to SDI. I have those contacts, contact me and I will explore options for you)
o As a member of an LLC or “C” Corp.
o As a lender on a trust deed (mortgage note)
o As a partner in a joint venture
o As a Tenants in Common T.I.C. member (if any of the terms I use are unfamiliar to you, look them up online)
o Make a private loan to an entity or person (hard money loans)
To give you ideas of what investors have bought through Pensco:
o Largest US massage school
o Cypress tree farm in Costa Rica
o Fish farm in Salinas, CA
o Interests in movies, plays
o Condo in Lithuania
o House on a private lake in Colorado
o Thoroughbred race horse
o Nudist resort in Virgin Islands
o Over 35 U.S. banks
o Napa Valley B & B
o Biotech company
Pensco’s top investor success story is going to amaze you on the potential your SDI can have. In March of 1999, four men opened up SDI accounts. They each invested individually and through their IRA’s in a company they were starting. They brought in other unrelated investors. That company is bought out a couple of times. The company goes public and sells out in June 2002. Well how much did they make? CEO made $34 million (12,000% return). Chief scientist made $22 million. CFO make $17 million. Marketing VP makes $8 million (4,000 return) What is better than that? They all invested $2,000 through their IRA’s except the CEO who invested $1,800. Pensco explained the features of the 1 year Roth IRA and they all chose to invest with a Roth IRA. If the CEO gets an average return of 12% until he is eligible to withdraw tax-free at 59.5 he will have $1 billion, $100 million tax free! Yeah that is right…show me the money!
Let’s compare
Real Estate Investing – with SDI
o Tax deferred growth on income and cap gains
o No 1031 requirement!
o No annual tax reporting
Taxable investments non SDI
o Tax deferred cap gains (if 1031)
o Tax on net earnings
o Annual reporting required
How it works
You have an account with Pensco (you can roll over your current IRA account to them) you tell them what you want to invest in, they do all of the paper work, make out the check and now it is in your trust account. All money that is needed for expenses and all profits go into/taken out from the trust account. The title of the property in your IRA will be held with Pensco Trust as follows: “Pensco Trust Custodian, FBO (client name) IRA, (Acct #). All documents will be reviewed and initiated by the you (the IRA owner) and signed by Pensco Trust.
Introducing SDI on steroids in the neck…Solo 401(k)
A solo (k) is a combined salary deferral and profit sharing retirement plan for sole proprietors, small business owners with no employees (other than part timers working less than 1,000 hours per year or their spouses).
Roth contributions can increase tax free $15,000 to %20,500 per year or 30k to 41k per married couple (for 2007). Unlike a Roth IRA, there are no income limitations placed on the contributor. You could be a zillionaire and it would not matter! Currently a single person making over 110k can’t contribute to their Roth married couple is 160k.
Who can benefit from Solo (401)k
o Real estate brokers
o Consultants
o Contractors
o Lawyers
o Electricians
o Any sole practitioner
o Even if you work full time for an employer and have a business on the side where you are a sole proprietor you can establish a solo K
The difference is…
o You can borrow up to 50k (or up to 50% of balance, if less) from your Solo 401 k
o You can invest in life insurance
o You can invest in “S” corporations
o You can avoid UDFI and capital gains UBIT (UDFI and UBIT will be discussed later) when using leverage to buy real estate
o A portion of your savings can grow tax free for life
o You can put away more money faster with larger contributions
o No income cap on contributing to the Roth component
o Above 50 year old employee has the option to put up to $20,500 per year away, to grow tax free
Why appealing
o Allows the sole proprietor funds to grow tax free
o While Roth IRAs allow similar contributions they are limited to $4,000 in 2007 ($5,000 if over 50), and to those earning annual gross income of less that $110,000 for that year
o You can increase tax free growth opportunities by also contributing to a Roth IRA ($4,000/$5,000) in addition to the Solo (k) (15,500/$25,000), if you are eligible (check with Pensco for details)
o A married couple in business together can put up to $51,000 ($25,500 each ) per year of after tax money into retirement accounts that will grow tax free for their lifetimes and those of their heirs (including $5,000 Roth IRA contributions) and another $59,000 ($29,500) each that will grow tax deferred. That is a total of $110,000 as a couple of which $51,000 will grow tax free (assumes each is over 50 and earns less than $100,000
o And there is no income limit on contributions
o May roll pre existing plans and IRAs into it
Types of purchases of SDI
All cash
Your SDI buys one property all cash. No debt, LLC, and partners. When you do this your SDI needs to have enough funds to cover purchase price, all closing costs, custodial fees and ongoing property expenses. If you run out, you can loan your personal money to your SDI (with interest and principal).
Multiple SDI – All cash T.I.C.
SDI may belong to anyone – even prohibited people. All SDI go on contract, and on title, as “tenants in common.” Ownership percentage must be identified and all costs and proceeds prorated correctly according to these percentages.
Multiple Parties – IRAs & People all cash T.I.C.
Same as multiple IRAs, as long as there is no loan (as an all cash deal) it does not matter who the SDI belongs to, or who the people are. All names must be on contract and title for unique percentages.
All cash
Buy/sell, with/without, friends/family is by far the easiest and most common transaction. When this happens all income comes back to SDI, so having a1031 exchange is not required to defer taxes. The money in your trust account is also used to pay any expenses incurred. Real estate investment related expenses are paid out of the SDI.
Getting a loan to buy
In the past there were NO banks lending to SDI. Only until recently a few banks in the nation offer this service. The loan that is offered is a non-recourse loan. This is great news, because now investors could use leverage.
When you get a loan for your SDI you:
o Can’t guarantee the loan personally.
o Can’t co-invest with your IRA.
o Pay the tax on any income or capital gains derived from leverage.
o Increase the returns and growth of your SDI two to three times.
What is a “non recourse loan?”
o You are not personally liable for repayment of the loan. In the event of a default/foreclosure the lender can only recover the property and your equity.
o Typically requires 30-35% down payment. If there is low cash flow or the condition of the property is bad then they may require a larger down payment.
Non recourse loan process
o After setting up the SDI, it will typically close in 30 days.
o Cash out refinance: funds are distributed back into the SDI.
THERE IS NO PRE PAYMENT FOR A NON-RECOURSE LOAN!
Property Eligibility
o Single family residential
o Condo’s (100% complete, 33% or more sold, and HOA turned over by developer)
o Duplexes
o 4-plexes
o Multi-family (5 or more)
o Commercial property: including retail, warehouses, and office buildings
Ineligible properties include:
o Residential with large acreage
o Raw land
o Farms
o Manufactured homes
o Hotels, condo-hotels
o Co-ops, timeshares
o Senior or assisted living facilities
o Non-franchise restaurants
o Entertainment properties
o Mini-storeage
Requirements for debt financing must be verified for purchase along with reserves (10-20% loan amount).
Documentation required for loan approval:
1. Completed loan application
2. Most recent asset statement verifying IRA assets for purchase and reserves.
3. Purchase sales contract
4. Acceptable real estate appraisal for the property to be financed. The appraisal must come from lender.
5. Copy of drivers license
6. Property insurance should read the IRA/LLC as the insured
Income requirements for homes
o The financed property must generate sufficient net operating income to exceed debt service payments by:10%single family (less then 10% or negative cash flow is acceptable with sufficient reserves on SFR). For 2-4 unit properties it is 10-15%
o IRA assets must be verified for purchase along with reserves
How the closing process works:
1. Title company prepares closing documents.
2. SDI owner initials for approval.
3. Originals sent to Pensco for execution by the tile company or broker.
4. Pensco signs, notarizes and returns package. They overnight and wire balance of funds for closing.
5. Title company forwards recorded grant deed to Pensco.
6. Through your trust, you now own the property.
Another way to invest using IRA
This is a true story from a Pensco client. One investor wanted to buy a property in San Francisco. They buyer didn’t have all of the money for a down payment. So, he approached his friend and asked about him if he was interested in earning a certain percentage return on his IRA. He agreed. So, the buyer took his portion and combined it along with his friends SDI, to purchase the property. His friends SDI issued him a second on the property. This created a “win” situation for everyone. The buyer gets the property. His friend gets a great return on his IRA (that is secured by real estate) the sales agent wins because the deal closed. The owner of the property is happy, because they sold the property. The bank, is happy because they are making a return by giving a loan. All of this is possible because the SDI was used.
There was another person, who used his SDI to buy pre construction property. In Las Vegas, there was a developer who was forming a community. The investor approached the developer and solved a problem for them. Apparently there were some fall outs with buyers. The investor, said (paraphrasing) “I will buy any homes that fall out of escrow for a discount.”
If you would like to read upon an investor who used their SDI, look up: Time June 14th 2005. Investor used $195,000 to invest in property on Marco Island FL. Sold resulted in a $500,000 profit going directly to IRA
Rental property purchases
Question:
I want to purchase a rental property for $100,000 can I use:
o A. $30,000 of my IRA funds
o B. $65,000 of my personal funds
o C. $5,000 loan from my brother to do this?
o D. All of the above
o Answer: D
In the begging of this E-book, I expressed that using SDI has been kept a secret. One of the reasons is because of misinformation from “professionals” is from CPA’s. Some CPA’s say not to use an IRA to invest in real estate because:
o You will lose tax benefits e.g. depreciation (not quite)
o Using SDI “destroys” tax deferred compound growth in IRA (wrong)
o You have to pay ordinary income tax versus capital gains tax at the end of the line (true just like any other IRA investment)
Some CPA view points do not take into consideration the following:
o They do not address need for diversification in the retirement portfolio to hedge against other assets
o Broadly implies that even if you know that you can get better results investing in real estate through your SDI you shouldn’t do it
o It is IRRELEVANT if real estate out performs other IRA investments
o IGNORES the facts that 44% of net worth in US is in real estate
o Does not recognize that after tax yield is the primary goal of the investor
Unrelated Business Taxable Income (UBTI)
If your SDI produces income from activity not “substantially related” to the exempt status UBTI comes into play. The purpose of UBTI was to alleviate unfair competition by exempt organizations with taxable enterprises. Basically when you conduct business and it is not passive income, you come across UBTI. Further explanation; if your SDI is going to open up a restaurant, you are going to have ordinary income. The IRS feels that is fair that you pay tax on the money you make everyday. Because it is not fair for you to open up a restaurant and for someone else to open up a restaurant down the street, but you don’t pay tax. If it is “ordinary income” UBTI applies. If it is passive income UBTI does not apply, such as rent, interest and capital gain.
Unrelated Debt Financed Income (UDFI)
Income generated by activity that had debt financing. Tax is applied to that portion of gain/income that is debt financed. Most “passive” investments income such as rents from a property are normally excluded from taxes, but such investment income is going to get taxed if derived from debt financed property (UDFI). Basically, if you buy a property for 5 million. You have your SDI, put up 2.5 million and you get a loan for the other 2.5 million. Well the gains you get from the borrowed 2.5 million from the bank will get taxed (UDFI). You will not get taxed on the portion that comes out of your SDI.
The Most Comfortable Pillows in the World
Deciding on the most comfortable pillow in the world is pretty subjective. Some folks swear by their synthetic fill ones, claiming they are better than down ones because they have more support or are less expensive or they are hypoallergenic.
There is another group of people that would never consider buying anything but a memory foam model for their bed. Foam ones are known to provide a lot of support and can actually shape to the contours of your neck, preventing aches and pains from sleeping in a bad position. This is also a good choice if you are allergic to feathers.
But probably the first choice for most people would be the down version. Laying your head on a down pillow is like sinking into a cloud. If you are the type that looks forward to the comfort of your bed after a long, busy day, then you owe it to yourself to try out one of these. When properly cared for, down pillows can last for many years, so it is often a good investment to purchase a high quality pillow.
The next big question is how much to spend on a down product. You will find choices from $20 to $200. Watch out for the ones that are very inexpensive. They are often filled with mostly regular feathers with a little bit of down included. You should be able to see the percentage of down in the product before you purchase.
Down feathers are the small, silky feathers that make a pillow soft and fluffy. They do not have quills that can poke through the ticking. More expensive pillows will often be stuffed with only down feathers. While some people believe that you must spend over a $100 for a quality down product, you could probably find a very comfortable model in the $50 – $60 price range. If you want to spend less than that, look for a good quality down alternative version.
Considering how much time we spend sleeping, it is well worth the time and expense to find a great pillow that will help us get a good rest at night. Many people will spend a lot of time and effort shopping for a new bed. It is a good idea to take an inventory of your bedding at the same time. Why not upgrade that pillow and comforter at the same time? You deserve to be sleeping on the most comfortable pillow in the world.
JC Penney Outlets
JC Penney is one of the most popular mid-range retailers in the United States. Providing quality apparel, shoes, heavy-duty work clothes, children’s clothing, home furnishing and more, the company enjoys a strong position as a favorite place to shop for Americans. Adding to the attractiveness and value that can be enjoyed by shoppers are the JC Penney outlet stores and JC Penney’s online outlet. Here, bargains can be found in abundance and the same great quality that shoppers have come to expect from JC Penney is also found at JC Penney outlets.
In the U.S., there are twenty actual JC Penney outlets that shoppers can visit. These stores offer an incredible array of bargains, and reviews of these stores are very positive. People find clothing from jeans to party dresses and suits, and housewares and home furnishings from coffee makers to dining sets. Price reductions can be quite extreme. If you live near or are visiting a city with a JC Penney outlet store, you’d do well to stop for an afternoon of shopping. You never know what kinds of great deals you’ll find.
If you prefer to shop from the comfort of your own home, it’s easy to do by visiting the JC Penney outlet online via the JC Penney website at http://www.jcpenney.com. Here you will find that same excellent discounts on quality merchandise for your home and the entire family. Shopping from the online version of JC Penney outlets is a relaxing way to spend some time and find just what you are looking for.
As a highly regarded retailer, JC Penney has a reputation for quality and value. This reputation extends to its great JC Penney outlets and outlet stores online. If it’s value at a discount that you’re looking for, you need look no further than JC Penney outlets.
5 Cheapskate Tips For Staging Your Spare Room
Why stage your spare room? A staged bedroom helps emphasize the size of the house and number of bedrooms, not to mention giving the impression of a well-rounded residence. Also, a clean bedroom looks a lot better than a cluttered spare room. Since a proper home staging can lead to a quicker sale and higher sale price, the time and money you spend on this can net you significant returns.
1. Dig Into The Pile
If you have a spare room in the house you’re planning to sell, you may well have something that you can use to stage it with. Is that a lamp hidden under all those old suitcases and the clothes you can’t quite bear to throw away? Drag it out and see if there can’t be something done with it. If you have an old set of drawers awaiting a visit from your local Salvation Army, ask them to hold off and see if you can use it to complete the illusion that this is a guest bedroom. The same goes for any old bed, painting, etc. that you can temporarily repurpose from your belongings.
2. Borrow
You probably know someone, family or friend, who has a spare bed, furniture or tasteful art that you can temporarily place in the room to create the illusion of a happy bedroom. Many people will happily give you castoff furniture in return for you taking it to the local thrift store upon the sale of your home. If the item is to be returned, however, make sure it gets returned clean and in the same (or better!) shape it was when you first borrowed it.
3. Freecycle, Craigslist and thrift stores
Freecycle.org is a non-profit organization that began for the purpose of enabling people to get rid of unwanted items without sending them to a landfill. There are groups all over the world. Craigslist and other ad sites are another alternative. Many people are just trying to get rid of their stuff, hopefully for a few bucks. Much of this is perfect for staging purposes. Thrift stores are another cheap option.
4. Redecorate
A coat of paint or an inexpensive slipcover can make dingy walls and old furniture look much more attractive. Choose a bright, airy color for the walls, perhaps a white, blue or pale yellow. Furniture can be given a quick coat of paint that perhaps matches the room’s trim or complements the color of the walls. Make sure your blankets, rugs and curtains are in a solid neutral color, which will pull the room together without distracting the eye.
5. Re-purpose
What you’re aiming for is the look of a bedroom, not necessarily the actual article. This means that your coffee table could actually be a box covered with an attractive looking tablecloth. It may surprise you how well a blanket or throw can help disguise any furniture dings, rips or scratches. Your bed doesn’t have to be an actual mattress; air mattresses set up underneath some art with a comforter and plump pillows are all the bed you need.
Colors: Their Connotations and Perceived Meanings
Throughout the ages, colors have been used to evoke certain emotions, and an examination of the history of color offers fascinating insights into the human condition, as well as showing how different cultures have developed different attitudes about color. Here are a few examples of what various colors have come to represent over the years:
Red
Red has traditionally been associated with courage and love in Western culture, but in China, red is the color of happiness and good fortune. In fact, white has traditionally been the color most preferred for wedding dresses in America, but the Chinese prefer to dress their brides in red.
Orange
Orange is considered a warm color, perhaps because it has evoked the feeling of fire, all the way back to mankind’s earliest beginnings. Painting walls a subtle orange, leaning toward a warm brown, stimulates the appetite and can reduce tension. However, as the orange color becomes brighter, it begins to take on a high energy feel and can lead to anxiety.
Brown
Brown is another warm and comforting color, stimulating the appetite and actually making food taste better. That makes coffee brown, in all intensities, with or without the cream, an ideal candidate for dining rooms.
Yellow
Since it’s always been associated with the sun, yellow has traditionally been considered a cheerful color. Yellow is also the first color most people see in early spring, when the daffodils begin to bloom. However, there seems to be an East/West cultural difference when it comes to yellow. The Chinese revere yellow enough to have considered it the imperial color since the 10th century, yet several Western studies have shown that yellow is many people’s least favorite color.
Green
Green is another color that has both an up and down side. It’s associated with the new growth of spring, prosperity, and clean, fresh air, yet it can also carry a negative connotation, in terms of mold, nausea, and jealousy. Throughout the ages, green has most often been considered to represent fertility, and during the 15th century, green was the most popular choice of for the wedding gowns of European brides.
Blue
Because it’s associated with the color of the sea and the sky, blue has come to symbolize serenity and infinity. That’s especially true of the more greenish shades of blue, such as aqua and teal. On the other hand, cooler shades of blue can have a tendency to cause feelings of sadness.
Purple
Over the millennia, purple has been associated with royalty in Western civilizations, due to the difficulty and expense involved in producing purple dye, which was made from a particular species of mollusk shell. Even today, when purple can be produced just as inexpensively as any other color, the use of purple is still considered to represent elegance and sophistication.
There are stories and connotations for every color, and different cultures assign different meanings to colors. For instance, American brides generally prefer white wedding dresses, while many Asian cultures dress their brides in black, reserving white for funerals. But regardless of what culture on is from, one thing is certain: colors will always have effects on human beings and should be carefully considered when decorating a home.
(c) Copyright 2004, Jeanette J. Fisher. All rights reserved.
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Tags: Colors, Connotations, Meanings, Perceived | 
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Prefabricated Home Packages
This is by no means an exhaustive list of what’s available in the area of prefabricated homes and buildings. This article is to introduce you to the world prefab. If you’re in the industry, you’ll probably be cringing about now at the word “prefab”. But, the word is one that has become synonymous with homes and buildings that have been partially or fully assembled in a factory setting.
I for one am excited to see the latest versions of modern prefabs emerging globally. They’re well thought out, beautiful, and energy-efficient.
And to anyone who has any doubts about the quality of today’s prefab homes, I’d ask, would you rather buy a house whose parts have all been crafted outdoors exposed to the elements — by hand. Or, would you rather buy a house built in a factory setting to tight specs exceeding that of site-built homes. I say exceeding, because a normal site-built home doesn’t have to endure the rigors of transportation.
For your review, here are quick descriptions of 10 of the many categories of prefab homes available for exploring at http://PrefabExpo.com – in no particular order:
1. Manufactured
Single-family residential dwellings consisting of one, two or more sectional units and constructed to Federal HUD code. Zoning regulations and ordinances of the local Municipality or County might not permit use of mobile and manufactured homes in all areas of their jurisdiction.
2. Modular
Modular refers to a method of building a home, rather than a type of home. A modular home can be built in a factory from a stock modular home plan or from a customized plan, to the state, local or regional codes of where the home will be set up. Modular homes have not typically experienced the zoning restrictions and discriminative ordinances applicable to manufactured and mobile homes.
3. Panelized
Panelized homes are factory-built homes in which panels — whole walls with windows, doors, wiring, and outside siding — are transported to the site and assembled. Panels are made from insulating foam sandwiched between two layers of structural material. The panels are lightweight and might already be filled with insulation when they arrive on the site. The homes must meet the state or local building codes of where they are sited.
4. Steel-frame
Steel framing is an equivalent to conventional stick frame or post & beam home design where the structural lumber is replaced by steel studs and trusses or steel posts and beams. Light-Gauge Framing System features screw-together, galvanized stud-and-truss, grid-type construction system built on 4-foot center.Red-Iron Metal Post & Beam Systems features bolt-together, pre-engineered post-and-beam-type framing system that uses the red-iron steel “C” beams on 8-foot center. The prefabricated home built with this method can be single-story, two-story, and even tri-level home.
Unlike conventional wood framed home that requires interior walls to support the roof, the higher strength-to-weight ratio of steel house allows to span greater distances with less material and fewer supports. The result is higher floor layout and interior design flexibility.
Unlike wood, steel won’t shrink, rot, warp, buckle, split, or be attacked by insects. This results in greater durability, lower long-term maintenance, higher energy efficiency and overall greater quality of this prefabricated home.
5. Precut
This category includes wood-framed factory-built houses or cabins where building materials are factory-cut to design specifications and transported to the site to be assembled. PrefabExpo.com presents prefab building kits designed as wood-framed (also known as balloon-frame, 2 x 4, 2 x 6 or stick-built construction) as well as prefabricated home kit / cabin kit using post-frame method. The homes or cabins must meet local or state building codes of the area where they will be sited.
6. Cedar
According to Katahdin Cedar Log Homes, cedar is aromatic to people, and problematic to insects: The heartwood of northern white cedar produces organic compounds called thujaplicins – which create that fresh, pleasant cedar aroma. But to insect pests, such as moths and termites, cedar just plain stinks. They’ll avoid cedar homes and instead search out inviting, tasty pine structures.
Cedar home kits include everything you need to build the home, itself. That is to say, the walls, the floor, the ceiling, the windows and doors. But your foundation, plumbing and electrical system are not usually included in a kit.
7. Timberframe
Timber framing is a specific type of post and beam construction in which a frame is created from solid wood timbers that are then connected by any one of the following wooden joints: mortise and tenon, dovetails, or scarfs secured with hardwood pegs. The frame is covered with any one of a number of enclosure systems. Normally the timbers remain exposed to the interior of the building.
Timber frame structures exhibit a strength and aesthetic quality not found in conventionally framed houses. The timbers are pre-cut, shaped, and finished at the factory, then sent to the construction site, where they can be quickly assembled by a crew, routinely using cranes to lift the bents and beams into place. The use of quality wood, enhanced by joinery that compares with fine cabinet making, maximizes the strength of the timberframe structure. Joinery is the heart of the entire structure.
8. Log
Log homes provide their owners with a comforting and relaxing sense of informality and simplicity. The mass of logs produces heating and cooling benefits, and reduces noise transmission into and throughout the home. These are very attractive characteristics, but there are also challenges in construction and limitations in decorating. These aspects require special design considerations and have unusual maintenance requirements.
Basic Kits Are…
WALLS ONLY: The walls-only log home package includes all the logs for the outside walls, including fasteners. Roof beams and staircases may be added.
STRUCTURAL SHELL: Shell This package includes everything that’s in the walls-only package, plus all components necessary to keep the weather out, such as exterior doors, windows, and the roofing system.
THE COMPLETE PACKAGE: Complete packages also includes interior components required to finish log homes. Such items include interior walls, stairs, closets, interior doors and trim.
9. Circular
The circle is the strongest geometrical shape we recognize, and this factor likely influenced builders of circular homes for thousands of years. Prefabricated circular buildings have been built as cabins, studios, homes, offices or community halls and convention centers.
Most of today’s prefabricated circular homes and cabins offered across the country use conventional wood-frame or post & beam construction method. These homes and cabins are ideally suited to take the full advantage of locations offering exciting panoramic views, and to incorporate factor of the surroundings into the home design.
10. Dome
Geodesic Dome is using triangular networks forming hexagons and pentagons and creating a free-span, spacious environment of spherically shaped structure requiring no internal supports. This results in large flexibility for utilizing interior space to implement floor designs not limited by structural restrictions. Because of the structural strength of the shape, the domes have a far better record of withstanding tornados, hurricanes and earthquakes than cube-shaped structures of conventional homes.
Advantages…
MATERIAL COSTS: Geodesic domes provide the greatest amount of floor area with the least amount of surface area, reducing the quantity of needed building material by as much as 30-50%.
ENERGY EFFICIENCY: As a result of the shape, the dome has approximately 30-50% less roof and wall area than cube-shaped home of equal floor space. This results in lesser area being exposed to the elements, resulting in reduction in heating and cooling costs of dome shaped structures. Also, the spherical shape of the dome facilitates natural air flow yielding more even temperatures maximizing overall interior temperature comfort.
Disadvantages…
As a result of complicated angles, the interior and exterior finishing of the dome (after speedy assembly of the prefabricated shell) is significantly more labor intensive than finishing the conventional house. Also, the finishing work requires highly skilled or specialized tradesmen which might not be available at every location. These factors might present welcoming challenge for skilled handyman – homebuilder, but would create substantial cost outlay if the hired labor is considered.
Top Ten Things to Do in Spring
It must be serendipity that I am in currently in the janitorial industry and that I enjoy cleaning. I use my skills as a sales and marketing director to sell my ritual of welcoming spring.
While some people enjoy lounging, daydreaming or reading when the days are still cool but sunny I enjoy tying up loose ends and starting with a “clean” slate. So what if others do not share my enthusiastic spring dance in honor of mother-nature! Why do they insist on their own dance and will not applaud my magnificent performance? Here are my favorite things to do in spring:
1. Spring clean & de-clutter home & office:
Make a caddy of your basic tools. I use multi-purpose cleaner, microfiber cloths, lamb’s wool extension duster, furniture polish, disinfectant spray, trash bag and a laundry basket to put items I am removing from the room. If your ceilings are high you may need a small step ladder. I also have a broom to get behind furniture I can’t move and for carpet edges and corners. A vacuum with attachments is also very handy. Place your equipment outside the entrance of the room you are cleaning. Give each room a thorough, top to bottom cleaning. This is the perfect time to launder the curtains and bedding. If you are up to the challenge you can also flip furniture cushions, mattresses and rearrange the furniture. The best approach I have found is to start each room at the entrance door and circle the room. Start your high dusting, touching all surfaces on the walls such as picture frames, shelves, etc. If the curtains are not going to be taken down, remove the dust on the tops & fabric folds. Cobwebs can get anywhere, including the flat walls. Get under and behind the furniture with the duster and/or broom. Dust inside the window frame. Wash the windows. Use a microfiber with just a mist of all-purpose cleaner and dust the surfaces you can reach. The last thing I do is use my disinfectant spray and vacuum.
2. Get rid of clothes not worn:
I bring storage containers or boxes and kitchen trash bags and a black marker. First go through the shelved clothing, second the clothes that are hanging and third clothes that are in drawers. Make a pile on the floor of clothes that should be place in the garbage. Box up the seasonal things you are going to keep. Things you are giving away put into the trash bags. Use the marker and put your name and season of clothes on the boxes. Label the bags with the person’s name you are giving them to, yard sale or Goodwill. Store away the seasonal boxed clothes, put the give-away clothes in your garage or auto so you will not forget to take them away.
3. Clean yard, porches & garage:
All of these are good for family team work, but this one especially is. The garage needs and occasional de-clutter and cleaning. You will need a broom, plenty of boxes or plastic containers, a black marker and maybe some white mailing labels to write on. If you have a large major crisis in there you may want to copy the show “Clean Sweep” and get out three tarps on the drive or yard. Tarp number one is for things to keep, tarp number two is for giving away or yard sale, tarp three is trash. When you have everything out that you can, you may now dust, sweep and/or pressure wash. Organize tools by their use and season. Keep the yard tools together, garden tools and the basic repair tools together, etc. The sports equipment and toys are also organized and the off season sports equipment and toys should be boxed and put up. Tarp number one “things to keep” will be boxed up and labeled and neatly put back into the garage. Tarp number two “things to give away or yard sale” should be boxed, bagged or price tagged for yard sale. Label the give-away or yard sale items and neatly put back into the garage. Tarp number three “trash” items need to be bagged if they can fit into garbage receptacle or hauled to the dump if necessary. Now the garage is neat and clean!
4. Thoroughly detail autos:
Have a contest with someone if you are detailing two autos! Guard yourself from the sun. Tools needed are a vacuum with attachments, trash bag, towels, paper towels, 2 microfiber cloths and a large terry cloth, two old large beach towels, a long handled car wash broom if you have one, and a stiff brush for the wheels & tires and bucket & sponge. I also fix a small caddy with window cleaner, Mr. Clean, some Q-Tips, Armor-all, Febreze, car wash, wax with an applicator or soft cloth and tire “black” spray. Start on the inside and fill up your trash bag with any garbage in the auto. Look under seats and in the cracks of the seats. Pick up items that will hurt your vacuum. Take out all the carpets and lay them down to vacuum. Then fill a bucket with about a gallon of water and an ounce of Mr. Clean. Use this water first to scrub the seats with a very damp cloth, it may remove some stains and it smells good. Then wash the dash, wheel, seat dividers and inside the doors. Constantly clean your cloth in the bucket. Dip Q-tips in the water and use to get the dash cracks, corners and areas the cloth couldn’t get into. Spray Armor-All on a microfiber cloth and wipe down the dash and hard smooth surfaces made from similar material to shine up and make like new. When finished put that cloth away from the others so you will not use it again. Time for the inside windows! I use a window cleaner and paper towels to wash all the inside windows, then I go back over them with a microfiber cloth and it really polishes good. The last thing I do is vacuum the carpet. Be sure to adjust the seats forward and backward to get all areas. Last I give the fabric and carpet a spray of Febreze, carefully avoiding my windows. Vacuum the carpets that you took out. If you want to organize the trunk and vacuum, this is a good time. Now get the windows up and shut the doors. Empty your bucket and refill with plenty of water and a little carwash. Hose down the entire auto and wash by sections. Immediately rinse off each section as you go around the auto. When you think you are done walk around the auto for any touch-ups. Now use your stiff brush and scrub the wheels and tires a few times, then rinse. Hose off the carpets you removed and let air dry. Use a beach towel to dry off all areas of the auto. After drying and no water spots it is time to wax. My favorite auto wax is the new spray on wipe off type, but if you are using the paste wax it is done the same way. Put wax on a section at a time, and then remove it with the second beach towel. Let the paste wax dry before buffing off. Again check all around the auto for any areas that need touched up. After waxing I wash the windows with paper towels and then polish with the microfiber cloth. Your wheels and tires should be dry by now so you can spray your “black” spray on them. Now that is a sparkling beauty!
5. Get planting beds & flower containers ready:
You can start seedlings indoors or wait for the nursery centers to stock your favorite plants. Guard yourself from the sun. Tools you may want for the large planting beds are a tiller (if large area) rake, shovel, garden claw, landscape fabric or plastic, gloves, trash bag potting soil (my favorite is Miracle Grow with the water holding material). First pull all weeds and place in trash bag. Rake the surface of leaves, old mulch and debris, put in trash bag or compost bin. Use shovel or garden claw to turn the soil (till if large area) and mix in your potting soil. After the area is complete, cover with the landscape fabric or plastic. When you are ready to plant, cut holes in the landscape fabric or plastic and place plant where you want. To finalize your flower gardens, cover the fabric or plastic with mulch or rocks. For the flower containers, if they have previously been used they must be washed and let air dry. When the weather is warm enough you can plant. Place some large stones or broken pottery pieces in the bottom for drainage. Fill pots ¾ of the way full. Decide where to place your plants and surround them with potting soil and firmly press down. Give a good drink of water. Check on weekly to remove dead material and water if needed.
6. Start seedlings indoors:
Pick a few seeds you want to start, veggies, herbs, flowers (Burpee is my favorite brand). You can use a sun lamp, although I never have. Just don’t start too early or they will grow too large before you can transplant. The easiest way is to get the jiffy pots ready for water and seeds. You can also use a rectangle receptacle like a cake pan and fill with potting soil and sprinkle on the seeds and water. Pour off excess water. Save your seed envelopes to mark your plants or you won’t remember what you are growing and where. When the weather is warm enough and all chances of freezing are over they can be transplanted either in a prepared bed or container.
7. Write down new things to do in the summer and fall:
I like to write down things I haven’t done in a while, new things or things to do with particular friends and family; go to museum with mother; watch movie with Linda. Learn how to rollerblade, take a painting class, run a marathon, go boating and so forth. I have things to do indoors for rain and outdoors for sunshine. Keep your list next to your calendar and when you want something to do check one off. Make arrangements a week or so ahead so you will have a full social calendar.
8. Begin a customized fitness plan:
First schedule a check up with your family doctor and make sure you are okay to become more active. Define what you want to accomplish and a date to accomplish this by. If you have more than one goal, do this for every goal. Example: I want to lose 30 pounds by August. Next step is to plan out how you will accomplish this. Example: I will clean out my kitchen and replace with healthy low calorie foods. I will walk one mile every day. I will lift weights thirty minutes every other day and so on. Keep positive affirmations and motivational post-its on your bathroom mirror and refrigerator.
9. Get a new hair cut, hair style or color:
Be browsing the magazine for cuts and color you like to get an idea or two. Visit your favorite hair salon or one that a friend refers. Ask the stylist to recommend a cut and or color for your complexion, lifestyle and budget. Ask questions regarding maintenance before you decide. Your cut must be quick and easy to maintain if you lifestyle is very busy. If you are young you can easily go more dramatic and bold. If you are more mature or have a career you may want to stick with some classic styles and color, but different than you usually get. This is a great ego boost and when you are confident and happy, it will rub off on everyone around you.
10. Take a long walk, hike or bike ride in a scenic area:
This is a great family outing, or couples and friends outing. Bring your dog if you can. If you have a favorite park or recreation area, plan a day and a picnic for this event. This could ba a great way to scout out a camping area. Take the basics, sandwiches, fruit and water. Dress for the occasion and don’t forget sun protection. Bring a rain jacket or wind breaker in case the weather suddenly changes. Let someone know where you are going and bring a cell phone. Bring a Frisbee or football to mix things up. Just enjoy the time to spend with good company and appreciate the beautiful earth.
With a “clean” slate completed there is still ample time to soak up all the crisp air and sunshine. I feel I have accomplished something great and it makes me feel terrific about the next great season!
Look for more articles coming soon!
How to Get Rid of Bed Bugs Yourself
Although a licensed pest control operator will probably perform these tasks more effectively, safely and legally, they can be expensive, especially for a whole house.
If you want to do it yourself, these steps to getting rid of bed bugs will help you:
Start off by finding the bed bugs. Sometimes easier said than done; their flat shape enables them to fit into barely noticeable crevices the width of a credit card.
Instead of ineffectual generalised spraying, arm yourself with a bright flashlight and target their nests. Search for adults, juniors and eggs, noting that sometimes individual eggs are scattered all over the home.
Dismantle bed frames and stand the components on their edges. Look for the bugs themselves and the light-brown molted skins of the nymphs. Remove the gauze fabric under the box spring in order to inspect and treat because there is a good chance they are inside your mattress. Check under the fabric stapled to the frame in the box springs.
Holes or tears in the gauze or fabric of the mattress probably means bed bugs and eggs will be inside. Because restrictions apply to treating mattresses with insecticides, pest control firms recommend infested beds be thrown out. But even if you do that, you need to get rid of the bed bugs already in your home, otherwise the new mattress will become infested too.
Cracks and crevices of bed frames, attached side railings and supports, head and foot boards all need to be closely examined, especially if the frame is wood. Bedbugs prefer fabric, wood and paper more so than metal or plastic.
If you cannot afford to replace the bed, vacuum it thoroughly. Brushing also helps. Try treating your bed with a portable steam machine. It helps but will not kill the bugs and eggs hidden inside the box spring or mattress.
Apply insecticide on the mattress, box springs and bed components without spraying the mattress surface, bed sheets, blankets or clothing.
After spraying and dusting, encase your mattress in one and the box spring in another sealable cover. If you just cover your mattress and box spring with plastic, the bed bugs will chew right through it. Cloth is probably more comfortable and more secure. Allergy supply companies sell zippered encasements for dust mite prevention.
Keeping the mattress covers sealed for a year or 18 months ensures you destroy the bug’s life cycle. Inspect the bag regularly for damage; if you find any holes or tears, seal them with permanent tape and any trapped bugs will eventually die.
Only apply insecticide to a mattress if the product label specifically mentions it, and very few do. Should you find one, apply it as a light mist to the entire mattress, opening seams, tufts, and folds so the chemical penetrates these hiding places. Allow it to dry completely before using. Never sleep directly on a treated mattress without bed linen and do not treat mattresses of infants or ill people.
To stop bed bugs from crawling onto a bed, pull the bed frame away from the wall, tuck sheets and blankets in so they are off the floor and stand the legs of the bed in little dishes of mineral oil, or water with a drop of dish washing liquid.
Remove and inspect headboards secured to walls since this is one of the first places the bugs head for. They also hide among stuff stored under the bed.
Empty night stands and dressers, remove drawers, examine them inside and out, then turn them over to inspect underneath, looking for cracks, corners, and recesses.
Check upholstered chairs and sofas, carefully inspecting seams, tufts, skirts, and crevices beneath cushions, especially when used for sleeping.
Bed bugs like crawling upwards to hide in pictures, wall hangings, drapery pleats, loosened wallpaper, cracks in the plaster and ceiling-wall junctures.
Other common places to find bed bugs:
- Electrical boxes
- Floor cracks
- Cracks in wood molding
- Wall paper seams
- Beneath loose wallpaper near the bed
- Inside radios, phones, clocks, television sets and smoke detectors. When open, tap the smaller appliances into a bag or on sticky tape so the bugs do not jump and hide
- Under the tack board of wall-to-wall carpeting, especially behind beds and furniture.
- Amongst clothing stored in closets
- In laundry
- Within wicker furniture
- Secondhand beds, bedding and furniture; newer mattresses offer less hiding places.
Since infested bedding, curtains, pyjamas, garments and soft toys cannot be treated with insecticide, they need to be bagged and laundered in hot water, 120 degrees Fahrenheit minimum and dried using the hot setting, or discarded. When fully dry and very hot, dry them for another 20 minutes in the dryer and not naturally on the clothes line.
Dry cleaning works too but either tell the dry cleaner they are infested, or before you take the items to him, place them dry into a clothes dryer at moderate setting which will be below 160 degrees Fahrenheit for 20 minutes.
The same with toys, shoes, backpacks and items not washable; heat them in a clothes dryer for 20 minutes. Or wrap them in black plastic bags and expose them to direct sunlight for at least a few days.
After washing, drying and dry cleaning, bag the items in sealed, airtight bags until you next use them.
Bedbugs also die when exposed to below freezing temperatures for at least two weeks. So if you have the space you can put some items in the freezer. Raising or lowering the thermostat is not good enough.
Overall cleanliness is key, so start by thoroughly cleaning the infested rooms as well as adjoining ones. Vacuum accumulated dirt and debris. Dislodge eggs by scrubbing infested surfaces with a stiff brush and reduce clutter to limit places they can hide.
With a powerful suction to remove bed bugs from cracks and crevices, vacuum along baseboards, around bed stands, headboards, footboards, mattress seams, tufts, buttons, edges of the bedding, edges of carpets, especially along the tack strips to remove bugs and eggs. When finished dispose of the vacuum cleaner bag by sealing it in a trash bag.
Steam clean the carpets to kill bugs and eggs which vacuuming may have missed. Steam cleaning does not work for mattresses though; it can lead to mold, mildew and dust mites.
Treat your home with a product whose label specifies bed bug control and it must have a long lasting residual effects, otherwise they will return.
Carefully read the label and apply only if you fully understand the instructions. Do NOT apply any insecticide or pesticide to mattresses or surfaces which are in direct contact with a person unless the label specifically says so. Some products contain chemicals not safe for people and pets.
Bug treatment products are usually one of three types:
1. Insecticidal dusts
Contain finely ground glass or silica powder and cause the bugs to dry out. Apply only to cracks, crevices, wall voids, attics and hollows, for example a tubular bed frame; these are places where bed bugs hide. Do not spread dust over carpets or under carpets where people or animals tread.
2. Contact insecticides
Contain one or more pyrethoids which knock down and kill bugs shortly after contact. Should be applied as spot treatments to cracks and crevices where bed bugs hide.
3. Insect growth regulators
These affect the reproduction cycle of insects and reduce populations. They do not kill quickly so often supplement other insecticides as part of the overall bed bug treatment plan.
Products available to consumers with the ingredients pyrethrin, resmethrin (0.3% spray) and allethrin are effective. Others even more potent may only be used by professionals.
Protect all food and eating utensils from insecticides. After ten days, apply a second treatment to kill the hatching nymphs. And after another ten days, a third treatment.
Changes you need to make around your home
Caulk and seal all holes. Fill all cracks and crevices in the walls, around baseboards and moldings. Repair cracks in plaster and glue down loosened wallpaper.
For your protection, remove nests or roosts of birds and bats in and on the home, and seal all screen openings.
As a home remedy you can try sprinkle boric acid powder in their nests but not directly on your mattress.
Inorganic materials, such as diatomaceous earth, also known as silica dioxide or silicone dioxide, and silica aerogel may kill them but are unlikely to sort out your whole problem. Try spreading this non-toxic powder you buy from feed and supply stores, around the perimeter of your room and when the bed bugs cross the powder, they coat themselves in it, become dehydrated and die. Also insert in crevices and cracks.
Baits and adhesive-based traps do not work for bedbugs. Neither do foggers, bug bombs or total release aerosol insecticides; they actually scatter the bedbugs and make extermination more difficult.
Natural remedies like undiluted tea tree oil may give limited relief but are unlikely to eliminate a bed bug infestation.
Some home remedies include applying bleach which kills on contact and spraying hot steam from a high powered steam cleaner into cracks for three seconds at a time.
But bed bugs are persistent, resilient insects. They can withstand the heat up to 100 degree temperatures, a short spell in your freezer, multiple pest control treatments and can live for a year without eating. If you want to completely get rid of them, you need to aggressively persist until you no longer get bitten and there are no longer any signs of habitation.
Are You Looking For Aspen Home Furniture?
Aspen home furniture is universally known as one of the best home furniture manufacturers the world over. The company develops high quality wood products and furniture specially built to provide maximum comfort. They create a variety of products classified according to name selection.
One popular line is the Barolo Collection, which features an exquisitely colored collection of fixtures rooted in Celtic styles. The furniture, consisting of bedroom sets, dining tables, entertainment centers, and more, surely offers a complement to any household. The Centennial Collection has a classic European design and embraces the colors and tones of yesteryear. Many consider this one of the more versatile furniture lines. Another option is the Chambord Collection. This line of Aspen home furniture utilizes classic French design, and provides its line of furniture with a warm cherry finish. Inspiration for the Chateau de Vin Collection lies in the French Louis Philippe style, while the Napa Collection owes much to the Napa wine country’s distinctive looks and tones. The Potomac Collection consists of period piece furniture with urban and rural sensibility, while the Seasons Country Cottage Collection is inspired by seaside living. The Weekender Collection is reminiscent of mountain turf and the Young Classics has an unmistakable American flavor.
A great place to find Aspen home furniture is on the Internet. Key Home Furnishings, headquartered in Oregon, is one of the largest distributors of Aspen products. It offers high-quality customer service, 24-hour service, long warranty coverage, and the lowest prices available online. Most furniture ships free with a purchase of over $999. If you are looking for the best in sofas, sectionals, chairs, or entertainment centers then visit Key Home Furnishings at their official website, KeyHomeFurnishings.com