Protecting Yourself and Furniture from the Sun in these Summer Days

As summer approaches, and as I get older, I realize how damaging the sun can be to our skin. When I was younger and my parents took me on vacation I would watch my mother and her friends lather up with bronzer with no SPF in it. Growing up I did the same. I remember going to my friend's house and applying baby oil and using sun reflectors. I didn't know the damage I was doing to my skin. Having a rich, deep tan made me feel good - but at what cost?
As I got older I still tanned. As we know the ozone layers that protect our earth are diminishing and the sun is stronger than it was 20 years ago. In fact tanning is so popular that they have tanning salons. The damage take years to accumulate but it can become serious. By tanning you are increasing the likelihood of acquiring many skin disorders.
Recently, someone very dear to me had a scare with her skin. This newsletter is taking a different approach this month. Below are some preventative ways to protect yourself through these summer days.

The Importance of Sunscreen

Many people think of sunscreen as something that's needed only for long days at the beach or hiking in the bright sun. But given the fact that even moderate exposure to ultraviolet rays can seriously damage skin, it's far wiser to get into the habit of using sunscreen, and other sun-blocking strategies, on a daily basis.

Here explains why sunscreen is so important to healthy skin:

• Sunscreen helps prevent skin cancer. Sunscreen is a topical product that's applied to the skin to protect against sunburn and the harmful effects of ultraviolet light. Using sunscreen regularly can help prevent skin cancer and photo aging, which is a change in the skin that gives the appearance of aging.
• Use it even for short stays in the sun. Anyone planning to be out in the sun for thirty minutes or longer should apply sunscreen to all of their exposed areas.
• Use it even on cloudy days. The very best way to protect the skin from ultraviolet light is to wear sunscreen every single day. Even when the sky is cloudy, the harmful rays of the sun are getting through.
• Cover up in the sun. Even more important is developing a complete sun protection regimen which includes sunscreen, wearing wide brimmed hats, and seeking shade whenever possible. Wearing sunglasses that contain UV protection is also a good idea, as UV light can damage the retinas.

For more information about skin protection and the sun, check out the following organizations or websites:

American Cancer Society: Don't Forget the Sunscreen
www.cancer.org/Dont_Forget_The_Sunscreen

Center for Disease Control: How to Use Sunscreen
www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview
What You Can Do - How to Examine your Skin


Protecting Furniture from Sun Damage

We all know that the sun can damage skin and promote aging. Well, it can do the same thing to furniture, placed near windows. When it comes to furniture, you probably don't think much about sun damage, but even strong indirect rays can take a toll on your upholstered fabrics. Ultraviolet rays from the sun are damaging to everything that they hit. Most sun damage goes unnoticed until it is too late.

Take the time to analyze the suns exposure in different areas of your house. Skylights can be the most damaging because they can allow extended exposure to your expensive belongings. Also, there are many treatments that are designed to protect your possessions from the sun.

Is Going Green Right for You?

Those of you who know me know how passionate I am about carpet cleaning and the products we clean carpets with. I have been cleaning carpets for over 40 years and eating organic foods for over 25 years. It dawned on me one day…why not take the philosophy of the way I eat and take care of myself and apply it into my passion, which is taking care of indoor environments, whether it be your home and work environment.
You hear people talk about the pollution outdoors. Well, did you know that the air we breathe indoors in 60% more contaminated than it is outdoors? Can you imagine walking around breathing into a paper bag all day? How healthy is that? Not too healthy if you ask me.

About 25 years ago I started questioning some of the cleaning manufacturers. Why don’t they have healthier, safer products? Their answer was that it cost more to make them and people just don’t care enough. With my persistence, and others like me, we pushed the manufacturers of cleaning agents to start making healthier products.
What affects are the chemicals you are buying with the rental machines at the supermarket or your local box stores (Lowes, Home Depot, etc.) having on your health and home? There are many chemicals that are sold to the box stores, supermarkets, and supply houses that we buy our products that have a detrimental affect on your carpets and health. Some of these products cause a molecular change in the fibers and cause gassing off of the fibers (not good!). I know this sounds technical, but here is a simple example. What happens when you put vinegar on baking soda? It has a chemical reaction, it bubbles up. Just because you can not see this chemical reaction happening in your carpet, it does not mean it is not happening. I can promise you it is. This can have a serious affect on one of you loved ones. Have you ever seen a dog lick its paws after walking on the carpets or a baby crawl on the floor and put their hands in their mouth? This prompted me to search out other alternatives that are safe and healthy. So yes, we have helped pioneer some of the green products. We at JMS Enterprises are proud to offer and use Green Products. We know that we are doing a good service by offering these green safe products.

If you any questions about any cleaning product you use in your home from your bathroom cleaner, window cleaner, upholstery cleaner, etc. please feel free to contact us 800-719-0200 so that we can help you go in the right direction.
How Green Are You?
Team Leader
JMS Enterprises
Please visit us on the web
http://jmscarpetcare.com/

How to get rid of skunk odor.

What to do when you or one of your dogs get sprayed by skunk

My dog and two children where playing out back near the woods when I heard all this racket going on. My kids ran to get me as we watched these events unfold .The skunk was giving clear signs to my dog to get away but my dog proceeded to move closer to the skunk.

The skunk started to stamp its front feet, arch his back and then move away. Now if you do not move immediately the skunk will turn around with his posterior facing towards you, raise its tail and spray the smelly musk odor, which is a sulfur-alcohol compound, from special glands near the anus.

But NO! my dog decided to put his face right to the skunks raised tail. Well what happened next was a little disturbing when you see this happen to one of your loved ones. He got sprayed directly in the face. He stared to foam at the mouth and ran to me for comfort; I in turn closed the back door to keep him out of the house, and ran from him. Well that did not last to long and now the both of us then were stinking like well you can imagine.

If the dog gets in the house the first thing the dog is going to do is rub his face and body on the carpets upholstery, bedding, drapes and anything else that feels comforting for the dog. The dog also might loose eye sight for a short period of time due to the sulfur. The eye sight will return and the foaming of the mouth will reside.

Please be careful of applying the receipt below always test in an inconspicuous area on the item to be cleaned to make sure that it will not cause damage to the fabric

Unfortunately the list below is not an affective measure in removing skunk WILL NOT work very well:

• Bath in tomato juice
• Spray with lemon or orange citrus
• Masking agents like perfume or Fabreze

How do you eliminate the odor once you have been sprayed by a skunk?

Well first of all, you or your dog should have known the warning signs ahead of time. A skunk will give many clear signals before it sprays. If threatened, it will stamp its front feet, arch its back, and shuffle away. If you don't leave right away, it will turn its posterior toward you, raise the tail, and release the smelly musk, a sulfur-alcohol compound, from special glands near the anus. This spray not only stinks, but burns and can cause temporary blindness if it is sprayed directly into the eyes. Since you didn't take heed and got sprayed, here is how to get rid of the smell:

Here is the secret recipe that WORKS. Mix the following:

• 1 quart 3 percent hydrogen peroxide
• 1/4 cup baking soda (sodium bicarbonate)
• 1 teaspoon liquid soap or dish detergent

Mix these together and bathe ("shampoo" in or rub down) the spray victim thoroughly.
Be sure to use this mixture immediately after it is made, as it is unstable.
Rinse with tap water afterward, and repeat if necessary.
For spray in the eyes, flush with water as soon as possible.

If this over whelming I recommend that you call a certified carpet and upholstery cleaning service that specializes in skunk odor removal they should be able to assist you in removing the odor from the house hold items carpets, upholstery, drapes and what ever else the dog rubbed up against.

If you have any questions please do not hesitate to call JMS Enterprises 800-719-0002 http://jmscarpetcare.com/

Spot Removal Tips for Carpets And Rugs

It snowed 1 week ago then rained for two days. My 2 dogs and 4 children where playing out back, before I had a chance to react the two dogs ran in the house full of mud, to make matters worse one of my twins decided to help me and proceeded to run after the dogs with mud on her feet too. . I did not know where to turn. First I contained the dogs washed there paws whoo that was not easy! the children took care of themself's, which left me with horrible looking carpets. Below are some cleaning tips on what to do when the unexpected happens to your carpets or rugs

Spot Removal Procedure

General Cleaning Rules
Always read and follow the care instructions and any warnings provided by the carpet manufacturer. Rugs and carpets with natural fibers and/or certain dyes may require special treatment. If in doubt, contact a cleaning professional for advice/service. http://www.jmscarpetcare.com/ Call 800-719-0002

Some items to have available to remove spots:
White paper towels or white terry towels.
Dish washing solution. To make a detergent solution, mix 1/4 teaspoon of a hand dishwashing detergent, which does not contain lanolin, or bleach with 1 quart of water. (Examples of safe detergents are Dawn® and Joy®.)
· Spray bottle for applying detergents and special solutions.
· Household ammonia solution, which is one tablespoon of clear household ammonia to 1/2 cup of water.
· Isopropyl rubbing alcohol.
· 3% hydrogen peroxide.
· WHITE vinegar solution made of 1/3 cup of WHITE vinegar and 2/3 cup of water.
· Spoon and dull knife.

The key to keeping your carpet looking great depends on the care you give it. That care centers around three basic steps:

· Removal of soil by frequent vacuuming.
· Periodic cleaning.
· Prompt correct removal of spots and spills.

Spot Removal Procedure
Removing spots from carpets can be simple or tedious depending on the spot and how long it has been on the carpet. At times multiple applications of the spot removal solution or a second solution are required. Listed below is a general spot removal procedure. Some spots will require specialized treatment.
If the origin of the spot is unknown, Begin with
Step 1
Unknown and Greasy Spots
Remove as much of the foreign material as possible by blotting with a white paper towel or scraping with a dull knife.
Apply isopropyl rubbing alcohol to a clean white cloth, white paper towel, or cotton ball. If the spot extends deep into the pile, use a blotting motion until the spot is removed or no color is transferred to the cloth. Do not allow the alcohol to penetrate into the backing, as this will cause delamination which destroys the latex bond. If the spot is on the surface only, rub in one direction at a time. Never use a circular motion to remove spot as this may cause abrading of the fiber which destroy the texture of the fiber.
Stop if the spot is removed.
Step2
Water Based Spots
Blot up as much of the spill as is possible. A wet vacuum is useful if a large quantity of liquid was spilled.
If the spot has dried, saturate the tufts in the affected area with tap water (do not over wet). Allow to remain for about 1 minute and blot.
If the spot is being removed using water, continue until the spot is completely removed. Blot dry and apply the paper towels and brick. If not completely removed.
· Never use a circular motion to remove a spot as this destroys texture. Instead, blot by pressing a white paper towel down onto the affected area.
· To prevent wick up, the final step should always be to rinse with clear water; blot dry, and put a thickness of several white paper towels over the damp area. Put a brick or other suitable weight on the pad of towels to keep the pad in contact with the carpet. This allows any stain wicking up from the backing to go into the towels. Allow to dry, remove the brick and towels and brush the piles.
· Be certain to try any solutions you plan to use on an inconspicuous area of your carpet, as it may affect the color or texture of the carpet. Do not use if color in the test area marks off on a white paper towel.
Step 3
Remove as much of the foreign material as possible by blotting with a white paper towel or scraping with a dull knife.
Apply a small quantity of detergent solution to the spot. Use a blotting motion to work the detergent into the affected area. If the spot is being removed, continue applying detergent and blotting with a white paper towel until spot is removed.
Rinse with tap water using a spray bottle, blot to remove excess moisture, spray lightly with water, do not blot this time; apply pad of paper towels and brick and allow to dry.
If there is still some stain on the carpet and blotting is not removing it, then moisten the tufts in the stained area with 3% hydrogen peroxide, Let stain for one (1) hour. Blot and repeat until carpet is stain free. Light will cause peroxide to change back to water, so no rinsing is necessary. Apply pad of paper towels and weight down brick.

Some spots will require specialized treatment

If you have any questions please feel free to visit our web site @ http://www.jmscarpetcare.com/ Call 800-719-0002

Helpful tips on Cat and Dog Urine odors

Clean cat and dog urine from your carpets inexpensively and easily using this homemade cat urine removal recipe. It will clean and deodorize cat urine odors from your carpet or rugs without purchasing cleaning products.

If your cat or dog has urinated on your carpet you know how hard it is to get rid of the lingering smell of cat or dog urine. Cleaning cat urine can be quite a challenge. Don't waste a lot of money trying different urine removers. Here is our free cat urine cleaner home remedy recipe. the ingredients, most of which you will already have in your house. You can deodorize and clean cat and pet urine odors and stains from your carpets and rugs using common household products.
When a cat urinates on carpets, rugs or furnishings it can leave a very unpleasant distinctive smell that is hard to get rid of. This urine odor stimulates the cat to spray in that area again this will perpetuating the problem. Once you remove the odor permanently the cat will no longer keep going back to the same area to re-offend.

Dog owners also have problems from dog urine smells on furnishings and carpets. A puppy can have many accidents on the floor before they are housetrained or an incontinent older dog can leave dribbles of urine on the carpet. This homemade recipe works just as well on dog urine as it does on cat urine. It will also work to remove human urine odor.
1. If the cat has recently urinated on the carpet, first absorb as much of the cat urine as possible using paper towels or an old white terry cloth towel do not use any towels with any color. Place clean paper towels or white tery cloth over the cat urine area and step on them so as to absorb as much of the urine as possible. Repeat with dry towels until no more moisture can be absorbed.
2. Next, wet the area with a solution of 50% white vinegar and 50% water. Make sure you use enough of the solution to penetrate the fibers deep down to the base of the carpet . Allow it to dry. You can assist drying by blotting with absobant white terry cloth towel. A fan can also be used to assist drying. If you own a wet and dry vac use that to remove excess moisture.
The acidity of the vinegar will neutralize the ammonia in the cat urine.
3. Apply a liberal amount of baking soda over the affected area and drizzle lightly with a quarter of a cup of hydrogen peroxide mixed with a teaspoon of dishwashing detergent. Work it in with a scrubbing brush not to hard as not to abrade(damage) the fiber or your fingers (be sure to wear rubber gloves) to dissolve the baking soda and work it down into the carpet. Allow it to dry. Then vacuum.

The vinegar will neutralize the ammonia and hydrogen peroxide is a powerful oxidizer capable of killing bacteria and help removes the stain and smells. Baking soda is a well known deodorizer which absorbs odors. Important.

Never use ammonia or ammonia-based products on the carpet.

One of the ingredients of urine is ammonia and your cat may be encouraged to re-offend in the same area if it detects the smell of ammonia.


If you need futher assistance please call JMS Enterprises 1800-719-0002 http://jmscarpetcare.com/

Dust mites up your nose

Dust Mites...Yikes!!! House dust mites are microscope bugs that primarily live on dead skin cells regularly shed from humans and their animal pets. Dust mites are harmless to most people. They don't carry diseases, but they can cause allergic reactions in asthmatics and others who are allergic to their feces.

Skin cells and scales, commonly called dander, are often concentrated in lounging areas, mattresses, frequently used furniture and associated carpeted areas, often harbor large numbers of these microscopic mites. Since the average human sloughs off 1/3 ounce (10 grams) of dead skin a week. That gives dust mites a lot to eat. Cats and dogs create far more dander for dust mites to eat.

A typical mattress can contain tens of thousands of dust mites. Sick yet? Nearly 100,000 mites can live in one square yard of carpet. Ready to convince your spouse to start bathing regularly? Did you know a single dust mite produces about 20 waste droppings each day, each containing a protein to which many people are allergic.

Yuck! The proteins in that combination of feces and shed skin are what cause allergic reactions in humans. Depending on the person and exposure, reactions can range from itchy eyes to asthma attacks. And finally, unlike other types of mites, house dust mites are not parasites, since they only eat dead tissue. Gross, but true, when you are sleeping what is happening to your body? You are breathing in little critters that may harm you or may not every bodies sensitivity is different.

Where do they live?

Beds are a prime habitat (where 1/3 of life occurs). A typical used mattress may have anywhere from 100,000 to 10 million mites inside. (Ten percent of the weight of a two year old pillow can be composed of dead mites and their droppings.) Mites prefer warm, moist surroundings such as the inside of a mattress when someone is on it. A favorite food is dander (both human and animal skin flakes). Humans shed about 1/5 ounce of dander (dead skin) each week. About 80 percent of the material seen floating in a sunbeam is actually skin flakes. Also, bedroom carpeting and household upholstery support high mite populations.

Are they harmful? What do they do?

For most people, while they are disgusting, house dust mites are not actually harmful. However, the medical significance of house dust mites arises because their microscopic cast skins and feces are a major constituent of house dust that induces allergic reactions in some individuals. There is a genetic predisposition to dust mite allergies, but like many allergies it can also develop over time.

For those individuals, inhaling the house dust allergen triggers rhinitis allergica or bronchial asthma. People with allergies to house dust usually also have allergic reactions to house dust mite fecal material and cast skins. Studies have shown that the most potent house dust allergens can be extracted from the feces produced by dust mites.

One of the most strongly allergenic materials found indoors is house dust, often heavily contaminated with the fecal pellets and cast skins of House Dust Mites. Estimates are that dust mites may be a factor in 50 to 80 percent of asthmatics, as well as in countless cases of eczema, hay fever and other allergic ailments. Common causes of allergy include house dust mites, cat dander, cockroach droppings and grass pollen. Symptoms are usually respiratory in nature (sneezing, itching, watery eyes, wheezing, etc.), usually NOT A RASH. However, there are reports of a red rash around the neck. Other allergic reactions may include headaches, fatigue and depression.

The wheeze-inducing proteins are digestive juices from the mite gut which are quite potent. An exposure to the mites in the first, crucial year of life can trigger a lifelong allergy. There is no cure, only prevention. One must control house dust mite levels.

Beds are a prime habitat (where 1/3 of life occurs). A typical used mattress may have anywhere from 100,000 to 10 million mites inside. (Ten percent of the weight of a two year old pillow can be composed of dead mites and their droppings.) Mites prefer warm, moist surroundings such as the inside of a mattress when someone is on it. A favorite food is dander (both human and animal skin flakes). Humans shed about 1/5 ounce of dander (dead skin) each week. About 80 percent of the material seen floating in a sunbeam is actually skin flakes. Also, bedroom carpeting and household upholstery support high mite populations.

How to Recognize the Symptoms of Allergies to Dust Mites

The protein substances in the dust mite feces produces antibodies in humans who are allergic when these are inhaled or touch the skin. These antibodies cause the release of histamines which causes to nasal congestion, swelling and irritation of the upper respiratory passages. Typical symptoms of an allergy to dust mites includes some or all of the following:

Hay fever, Watering eyes, runny nose, itching, sneezing, asthma, difficulty in breathing, infantile eczema.

A doctor can use skin tests and blood tests to confirm a suspected dust mite allergy.

Since dust mites are present all year round, the symptoms of the allergy can be present at any time of the year, but are worst in months and seasons when the house is closed and the indoor humidity and temperatures are high (which, depending upon the household's use of heating and air conditioning, can be any time of the year). The dried dust mite feces becomes airborne when someone walks over a rug, sits down in a chair, or shakes the bed clothes, making allergic person's symptoms worse. (Environment, Health and Safety Online, 2009 EHSO).

Prevention:

Put your pillow in dryer for 10 minute on gentle cycle. This will eradicate the dust mites from the pillow. Vacuum your mattress on a regular basis or get a plastic mattress pad which will eliminate dust mites from harboring in your mattress. Also have the mattress, upholstery and carpeted areas cleaned by a professional carpet and upholstery cleaning specialist. The recommended cleaning process is the hot water steam extraction. A dry cleaning process will only distribute the dust mites throughout the environment.

If you have any questions please do not hesitate to call JMS Enterprises @ 800-719-0002. http://www.jmscarpetcare.com/