Covid-19 issues and decisions drone on, don’t they?  Happily, my longstanding association with top people in the cleaning industry puts me in contact with trusted sources of information on health topics.

One such source Is the Global Biorisk Advisory Council, a division of the ISSA.  ISSA is a trade organization that has lead the way in the cleaning industry to mature to the point that we focus on “Cleaning for Health.”  While Booster Shots have little to do with cleaning, experts such as Dr. Gavin Macgregor-Skinner, Senior Director of GBAC is a credible source of clarity on how to protect ourselves from Biorisk such as Covid-19.

Dr. Skinner, in a “Straight Talk” interview with ISSA official Jeff Cross helped us to see that the level of protection from vaccines diminishes over a period of about 6 months, leaving many of us vulnerable.  The good news is that we are not seeing supply chain issues with the booster vaccination supply.  

So why Booster Shots?  Back in the spring when many of us got our vaccine shots we didn’t know how long it was going to last.  Dr. Skinner says New studies by the NIH show the vaccines decrease in effectiveness over time just like flu vaccine.  We get flu vaccines annually because it doesn’t last for years, but only months during the flu season.  By the time the next flu season occurs, those who wish vaccine protection need to renew their protection.  Covid-19 vaccines are proving to be similar.  The vaccines give us protection by stimulating our immune system to fight Covid-19.  Dr. Skinner really emphasized the point that Covid-19 is “an awful disease.  You really do not want to get Covid-19.”  

Some feel they can be tested for antibodies and think they don’t need to get the booster.  Jeff Cross asked:. “Is it that easy to get tested for antibodies?”  Dr. Skinner said it is not.  That “we don’t routinely do this because you have to take a blood sample.  Going through the labs and testing and sampling challenges minimizes this from happening very much.  If you are a worker at a high risk indoor environment you can ask to be tested. Do I get tested for Covid-19 antibodies?  No, there is no reason to.  I follow the studies and publications on the studies published from CDC, NIH and WHO.  Those show the vaccines last not for years, but months and that’s why the boosters are so important now,” according to Dr. Skinner.

This time of year many are traveling for the Holidays and its been a period of time.  With that in mind Dr. Skinner recommends following the CDC guidelines and get a booster shot before you travel.

This interview gave me the clarity I needed and hopefully it helps you too!

For your protection we continue to follow vaccine and booster recommendations as well as daily symptom and temperature checks before coming to your home.

Prepare for winter by following this list!

Use this checklist to prepare your home for winter

1. Check your home’s heating and air conditioning system
2. Clean your gutters
3. Check smoke detectors
4. Drain outside faucets
5. Check your trees
6. Prepare for snow removal

HVAC

Change filters. Consider having your air ducts cleaned if it has been 2-5 years since they have been done.  Being shut up in the house for months with stale contaminants blowing through your air is not a pleasant thought! 

Gutters

Once the leaves are off the trees clean them.  When backed up with leaves they can overflow and water can run down the siding and even come in windows!  (don’t ask how I know!)  

Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors

Winter is when most house fires happen. Check for operation and replace any batteries.

Outside Water Faucets

The faucet is unprotected from the elements. I’ve seen them split the water line well inside the home, flooding the basement and ruining any below grade finished areas.  Take the time to remove garden hoses and drain the line.  You don’t have to get every drop out but you don’t want the line full so it will expand and break things.  If you don’t, you may not find out until spring when you turn on your garden hose.  Your so-called “Freeze Free” faucet will give you great grief if not drained.  I have witnessed it personally!  If you are installing one, have it slant downward toward the faucet so it can drain properly.

Check Your Trees

As the leaves fall off, make sure they are healthy, especially if they could fall on your home or a neighbor’s home.

Prepare for Snow Removal

Dig out the snowblower and fire it up before the “big one” hits!  If it won’t start, try to repair it now!  Small engine repair places usually take repairs “in the order they are received.” It’s no fun trying to start a cranky small engine with snow blowing and temps dropping!

Hope that helps you ease into winter.  It will go better if you prepare!

Technology has become a huge part of our lives and that can have both good and bad effects on our health as well as our wallet. As we make advances in technology we have energy-efficient alternatives to lots of things. Taking advantage of these advances in technology can help you save energy and money.

Changing just a few of your habits or products you use daily in your home can drastically reduce your energy usage which in turn can lower your electric costs. In this article, we will highlight just a few of the simple things you can do to make a huge difference.

Check Your Thermostat

Consider adjusting your thermostat a few degrees in the Winter and Summer, especially when you are not home. By doing this, you can save 5-15 percent every year according to Energy.gov. You might even consider a smart thermostat that can be set to a schedule to change while you are away.

Reduce Water Usage

You could save as much as $170 a year by reducing the amount of water used according to the EPA. Simple steps that can help are turning off the water when you are brushing your teeth or shaving. 

Avoid running only a 1/2 load of laundry in your washing machine. Running a full load of laundry means more clothes are washed at once and less water is used. You may also consider using cold water cycles to cut down on energy usage needed to warm the water.

Taking a shower can save water as well. A bath typically uses 30+ gallons and a 10-minute shower on average uses 25 gallons of water. Additionally, you can lower the amount of water used by installing low-flow showerheads. This simple install can cut your water usage for showers by as much as 50% in some cases.

Reduce Heat & AC Loss

You have the potential to reduce your costs in needlessly running your Furnace or Air Conditioner. Drafty windows and doors can be a big part of this. Installing a simple door sweep or adding weather-stripping around the frames to windows can make a big impact.

You can also reduce your electric bill by limiting the usage of Space Heaters. These small yet powerful heaters may help keep you a bit warmer, but they are not normally very energy efficient. Most space heaters use 1,500 watts of energy or more and will quickly cause your electric usage to go up. If you do need to use a space heater check if yours is energy-efficient and consider replacing it if not.

Increasing furnace efficiency by having your Air Ducts cleaned can increase airflow. Additionally, Pet Hair, Dust, and Debris create Allergy Issues for many people. For more information on Air Duct Cleaning go to http://old.longscleaning.com/air-duct-dryer-vents.

Replace Old Light Bulbs

If you have not done so already, consider swapping your old incandescent light bulbs. There are much more efficient and longer-lasting bulbs such as Halogen, Fluorescent, or LED. While the initial cost may be higher, swapping out the lightbulbs in the lights you use most will make a big impact to save energy.

Unplug Chargers to Save Energy

Unplugging a cell phone charger when it is not being used may not make a huge impact, but if you have multiple chargers plugged in that small amount can add up to a significant amount of wasted energy. According to the following snippet from Energy.gov

For instance, mobile phone chargers that are left plugged in after your phone is disconnected consume .26 watts of energy — and 2.24 watts when your phone is fully charged and still connected. If you start factoring in all the other appliances and electronics that are plugged in and not in use, it’s easy to see why these energy vampires could add an extra 10 percent to your monthly utility bill.

A while back we wrote about avoiding a sting, but if you haven’t already been stung, chances are you
will be some time in your future. Try not to panic.

I just got Stung, what now?

Popular Science suggest start by moving away from the area where it happened in case more insects are
nearby. If it was a bee, remove the stinger by scraping your fingernail over the sting to dislodge it.
Studies show that leaving the stinger in for as little as eight seconds can increase swelling by 30 percent,
so act quickly.

If you experience abnormal swelling or shortness of breath after being stung, you may be having an acute allergic
reaction. In that case, your first and most important priority is to seek medical attention immediately
and as fast as you can.

However, if everything looks normal, focus on recovery. First, wash with soap and water. If it itches,
use a topical steroid or oral antihistamine. The article continues to advise applying a cold compress on
the area to reduce swelling and pain.

According to Justin Schmidt, biologist at Southwestern Biological Institute, make a paste with a small
amount of table salt and water (or another liquid), and put it directly on the sting site to relieve pain. He
says he doesn’t know why, but it “seems to work.”

Finally, if you have a history of severe allergic reactions, remember to always carry auto-injectable
epinephrine with you, no matter if you’re in an urban area or in the middle to the backcountry. If a bee
or wasp stings you and you have to inject yourself, make sure to visit a nearby emergency room right
away.

In 1987, Justin Schmidt, a biologist at the Southwestern Biological Institute, found himself up a tree in Costa Rica. Hanging on a branch that extended over a cliff, he was trying to get closer to a black wasp nest hanging in the limbs of the tree to collect a few specimens for research. 

He was being careful, and had come geared up with a bee vail to prevent the flying insects from stinging his face. These wasps were much more determined than he was prepared for. They hovered as close as they could, and then, instead of stinging, squirted venom directly into his eyes.

The burning sensation and the pain were immediate. Unable to see, Justin screamed for help as he slid down the tree with two legs wrapped around the trunk, and a bag of wasps hanging from one of his hands.

“That was an adventure,” he laughs now. 

Getting stung by insects is an occupational hazard for the author of The Sting of the Wild. He’s experienced everything, from the pain of the paper wasp, to the blinding electric shock of the tarantula hawk wasp. 

All of this has taught him how much a sting can hurt, but most importantly, how to avoid them. Should you run into these insects in the wild, Schmidt’s lessons can come in handy, starting with never disturbing a wasp nest. 

Bees, wasps, and hornets, oh my!

Ninety to 100 people die yearly from allergic reactions resulting from bee, hornet, and wasp stings. This is also the most common potentially fatal animal encounter in the outdoors.

Not all stinging insects are created equal. Hornets are a type of wasp that tends to be more aggressive than bees and produce more painful stings. To make matters worse, wasps don’t lose their stingers after they jab you, so they can do so repeatedly. Bees however, are one and done. 

But no matter if it’s once or multiple times, what happens in your body when one of these insects attacks you is pretty similar. Through the sting, bees or wasps envenomate you by injecting specific toxins and enzymes. 

Your body registers the intrusion almost right away. White blood cells race to the rescue and send histamines to the injection site, causing swelling. Your immune system begins creating antibodies to combat the foreign substance, which continues to spread and breaking down cell walls in its path.

This is when those who experience highly allergic responses to bee or wasp stings should resort to an epinephrine auto-injector (like an EpiPen) and immediate medical attention to prevent anaphylaxis. The rest will only feel throbbing pain, irritation, swelling, and itching. 

It’s certainly not pleasant, but most adults can handle up to 10 stings per pound of bodyweight without major consequences. Any more than that and the venom can cause your kidneys to struggle and clog.

The amount of venom an insect injects determines how painful a sting is, and it varies depending on the species. But whether you run into a bee or a wasp, you’re probably better off with no sting at all.

How to avoid a sting

The easiest and most effective way of avoiding stings is keeping your distance from nests, colonies, and swarms. If you happen to stumble upon one, walk swiftly and calmly in the opposite direction. This will prevent you from further riling up the insects. You should also make your exit in a straight line, as running in zig-zag will just keep you in the danger zone for longer, Schmidt says.

If a swarm attacks you, run as fast as you can away from it, and preferably toward people who may be able to help. By removing yourself from the area, you may be able to prove to the insects that you’re not a threat and they’re likely to leave you alone.

However, if you are dealing with one or two stinging insects buzzing around your head, don’t freak out. Chances are, the bee, wasp, or hornet is just investigating to assess the threat. If you swat at it or violently jerk from side to side, you may seem threatening, and cause the insect to sting. 

Hiding in plain sight is also a good idea. For this, Schmidt recommends you keep still and hold your breath. 

“Breath is what tells them you’re there,” he says. 

Because most insects get cues from smells in the air, when you hold your breath for 10, 30, or even 50 seconds, they will no longer detect your presence. This will very likely result in bees and wasps leaving you in peace.

When it comes to your clothes, choose light colors, and avoid purples, violets, and blues, as bees are attracted to them. Floral prints are also ok, since fabrics don’t have those ultraviolet colors in real flowers bees love so much.

Another myth is that perfumes or scented sunscreens can entice bees, wasps, and hornets. This is not true. Lemon may be an exception, though. The citrus smell resembles a bee pheromone, which might make you attractive to these insects if you wear it hiking.  

What to do if you get stung

If they haven’t already, chances are a bee or wasp will sting you at some point in your life. When they do, don’t panic. 

Move away from the area where it happened in case there are more insects nearby. If the culprit is a bee, remove the stinger by scraping your fingernail over the sting to dislodge it. Studies show that leaving the stinger in for just eight seconds can increase swelling by 30 percent, so act quickly. 

If you experience abnormal swelling or shortness of breath, you may be having an acute allergic reaction. In that case, the most important priority is to seek medical attention immediately and as fast as you can.

On the other hand, if everything looks normal, then your next step will be to focus on recovery. First, wash the sting with soap and water to avoid infection. If it itches, use a topical steroid or oral antihistamine. Follow up by applying a cold compress on the affected area to reduce swelling and pain.

If you don’t have access to any medication, Schmidt recommends making a paste with a small amount of table salt and water (or another liquid), to put directly on the sting site to relieve pain.

“We don’t know why, but it does seem to work,” Schmidt suggests. You should also avoid applying heat, ammonia, and vinegar to the site, he adds, as they are useless at best, and can make pain more acute at worst.

Finally, if you have a history of severe allergic reactions, remember to always carry auto-injectable epinephrine with you, whether you’re in an urban area or the middle of the backcountry. If a bee or wasp stings you and you have to inject yourself, make sure to visit a nearby emergency room right away.

What should you do if your pet “Goes On The Carpet?”

If puppy puddles are giving you grief, this may help.

Understanding a little about the make up of urine spots is a good idea. If caught quickly urine spots can be dealt with effectively.

First of all, if you have a pet that is prone to urinate on the carpet, take a quick walk through your home each day when you get home.

The quicker you get to pet urine spots the better!

Surprising facts on urine: When it come out of the creature it is on the mild acid side on the pH scale and is very easily removed. However, within hours of being exposed to air it turns to an alkaline pH and removal is a whole different story! Act FAST! If you do, simply removing the urine with absorbent toweling and some clear water rinsing may do the job. Get it as dry as possible even weighting down some white toweling to absorb all the moisture you can. Additionally, if you have a little rinse and vac type machine you can use it to rinse. Follow up with the towel trick. An optional step might be some Long’s spotter, which is slightly alkaline ph.

After unattended exposure to air, alkaline salts begin to form and in time it may even develop that “ammonia” smell. At this point the dye structure of your carpet may change and color damage may occur.

To clean the spot at this stage, Mix 1 part white vinegar to 2 parts water. (If you are unsure how long the urine has been there feel free to use this mixture anyway). Clean the spot with absorbent toweling and your vinegar solution. Again, if you have a small extraction machine, it would be ideal to use in your final rinse step. Get it as dry as possible even weighting down some white toweling to absorb all the moisture you can. DO NOT USE OVER THE COUNTER SPOT REMOVERS OR ALL PURPOSE CLEANERS ON URINE! YOU MAY SET THE SPOT PERMANENTYLY! If you have trouble with it give us a call!

Check out our full list for 23 Common Spots, including pet urine spots and how to remove them!

Freshly fragranced carpets may appeal to your nose but have a damaging effect on carpet fibers.

Mark Violand Senior Carpet Inspector and Instructor with 40 years in the carpet industry recently wrote an article “Smells Sell – But at the Cost of Carpet Health.”

Violand says these products are typically used to reduce or cover up pet odors and leave a fresh smelling home, but they can leave a highly alkaline residue, cause fiber abrasion, breakdown carpet backing and even be instrumental in seams opening and carpet discoloration.

He says studies have shown that vacuuming only removes about 65% of a typical powdered deodorizer.  The rest continues to build up over time. Some users sprinkle the carpet at every vacuuming! Imagine the build-up over time! He adds these products are not just harmful to your carpet – they damage your vacuum too!

Baking soda, the most common ingredient is a water-soluble abrasive.  Another ingredient found in powdered deodorizers is calcium carbonate, dissolved rock. It comes from limestone and is a common ingredient in antacids.  As such it’s alarming to see people intentionally spreading abrasive soil – powdered rock – on carpet. It scratches carpet fibers, making it appear lighter in color in traffic lanes and causes fibers to lose their luster over time making them look unduly worn out. It can also cause grief when cleaning your carpet.  Since it is a water-soluble product it can result in a chalky residue on the carpet after drying.

Baking soda is a great and versatile green product, suitable for refreshing the inside of your refrigerator, but PLEASE, not for your carpet!

So what can I do to have a fresh smelling home? Violand says he purchases sachet packets found near the florist or laundry isle at the store and sprinkles it on a small area of carpet and then vacuums it up.  He also recommends potpourri or wax melts.  Avoid any thing like oil diffusers or sprays that would settle on the carpet and result in rapid re-soiling.

If those options don’t appeal to you, bake some cinnamon rolls or bread.  It may not too good for your waste-line but so much better for your carpet! 

And of course, you can always call Long’s to freshen up your home or business.  Our cleaning agents and deodorizer treatments are completely safe for your home, your pets, and the people you care about.

Your carpet may not look dirty, but below the surface there could be years of dirt, grime, pet dander, and so much more hiding out of sight.  With our Long’s specialized cleaning techniques we can get down deep where the soil and debris is hiding and remove much more!

At Long’s, you can be confident that we have the right solution for your needs.  Our IICRC Certified Technicians go to school, have hands-on training, and earn a degree in Carpet Cleaning. 

Depending on the type of carpet and degree of soiling, we use specialized preconditioners to treat the toughest spots and stains and then follow up with a thorough cleaning to remove the soil and excess moisture.  As a result, you Get the Most Thorough Cleaning possible!  

At Long’s, we’re not happy until you are, and that is why we were voted #1 in the Ohio Valley!  You can’t go wrong with Long’s!

Two Ways Your “Freeze Free” Outdoor Faucet May Flood Your Home TODAY!
And I do mean TODAY! The first time you use your outdoor faucet is the most dangerous time! Why?

The Freeze Free Faucet is a wonderful invention, BUT…

1. If you left your hose on it over the winter OR
2. If it was not installed with a slight tilt toward the outside of the house…you may be in for a frustrating surprise the first time using the outside “Frost Free Faucet.”  And Flooding Can Occur!  We have seen this numerous times…Take precautions now!

The faucet is designed with a long shaft inside a piece of tubing, and the faucet valve is actually safe and warm inside your house, so even in winter you can use it without freeze ups. The problem is, if water lays in the tube, it could freeze, expand and split. Now, you won’t know it until you (or your carpet cleaner) puts a hose on, turns on the valve, and pressurizes it. Now the split in the tubing will spray into your living area in the basement or wherever the plumbing is mounted, and wow!

What a mess…And sadly, it is probably in an area you may not see until it is badly flooded!

How To Test Before Disaster Strikes:

1. If the hose is still on, turn it on, and fully pressurize the hose. Once it is pressurized, listen closely to hear if water is still running. As a further check, if you know where the faucet plumbing enters the house, go there and watch and listen.
2. Another quick way is purchase a plug or a “y” at the hardware store. Screw on the plug or attach the “y” with the valves closed and turn on the water and listen for water running. Again double check in the basement or where the water faucet plumbing enters the building for any leaks. The nice thing about the plug or “y” is you won’t have to wait until the hose pressurizes, and possibly be deceived by the sound of the hose.

If you discover the leak, great! Just turn the faucet off and the leak will probably stop. Then call the plumber or get your wrenches and change out that broken faucet!

We hope that helps you to avoid a costly and negative experience as you start enjoying spring weather!

What nasty stuff is hiding in your ductwork? And what is your family breathing every day?

Furnace Air Ducts can be littered with years of dirt, debris, and allergens like pollen, dust, pet dander, and even dead rodents. New construction can cause your vents to be filled with chunks of wood, sheet rock, sawdust, and even uneaten food or garbage swept into the open vents by the construction crew.

Check out this Before and After picture of actual work completed by our technicians! Give us a Call Today to Start Breathing Cleaner Air Tomorrow!