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4 kitchen cleaning hacks that aren’t really effective

4 kitchen cleaning hacks that aren’t really effective
Cleaning is a mammoth task, especially in the kitchen area, which gets pretty messy while preparing different cuisines during the day. While people try several cleaning hacks to make the job easy and quick, the results rarely meet their expectations and instead do more harm than good. With that in mind, we have listed some of the most popular kitchen cleaning hacks that don’t work, along with alternatives worth trying. Using the oven’s self-cleaning feature Although modern ovens have a self-cleaning feature, using it makes things worse. In most cases, the appliance heats up and releases harmful gases, leading to indoor air pollution. If you still wish to use this trick, turn on the exhaust fan in the room, start the oven’s self-cleaning feature, and leave it untouched for a few hours. Then open the windows and air out the room to eliminate the toxic gases and their accompanying odor. Using bleach to clean the counters Another cleaning hack that doesn’t work involves using bleach on the kitchen countertops. It’s common for stains to remain on the surface after handling poultry, fish, and raw meat. However, using bleach to eliminate them can emit volatile compounds that may trigger headaches, asthma, allergies, and other respiratory issues.

6 mistakes to avoid when renting out a vacation home

6 mistakes to avoid when renting out a vacation home
Vacation homes are used occasionally and can be great sources of income for property owners. Rather than letting it sit idle for months on end, renting it out does seem like a way to put it to good use. But renting out one’s home and inviting a revolving door of visitors comes with its unique set of challenges. Here are a few mistakes that those looking to rent out their vacation homes tend to make: 1. Neglecting legalities The laws on short-term rent can vary based on location. Not considering these laws before putting the property up for rent can lead to legal issues and even hefty fines. Homeowners must have the necessary license valid in the respective state or county before putting the property up for rent. 2. Not pricing it right This is a tricky one, especially if the vacation home is in a touristy area that attracts a lot of visitors. Overpricing to keep it exclusive can deter renters, while underpricing can attract the unsavory kind. So, the price should be competitive yet reasonable enough to appeal to renters. 3. Lack of property maintenance There’s nothing worse for those who rent out their vacation homes than receiving bad reviews for the property.

5 simple home upgrades that guarantee high returns

5 simple home upgrades that guarantee high returns
Home upgrades are a rewarding investment. They can enhance functionality, elevate aesthetics, improve utility, and provide a refreshing change. Some remodeling projects also offer higher returns while house flipping. One can tweak a few things here and there and demand a higher price for the property. But to increase the home’s value, one must make the right upgrades. Some remodeling projects help homeowners earn good returns without spending too much. Renovating the bathroom Before purchasing a home, people look at the bathroom’s overall utility and aesthetics. That’s why one should consider adding enhancements like extra storage, better ventilation, LED lights that save energy, and water-saving features like showerheads or low-flow toilets. Replacing outdated pipes and fixing rust or plumbing problems can also increase home value. Remodeling the basement People often consider the basement an added space for their needs. To increase the home’s appeal, one can turn the basement into a recreational zone, game room, or guest room. It’s also best to ensure safety, ventilation, and lighting here. Adding a deck or patio A deck or patio is an inviting area that enhances one’s outdoor living space. For these add-ons, it’s best to go for durable and sturdy materials like hardwoods or premium softwoods, pressure-treated wood, or PVC since they may require minimal maintenance.

5 causes of lithium-ion battery malfunction

5 causes of lithium-ion battery malfunction
One of the more popular choices to power electronics at home amongst consumers is lithium-ion batteries. This is because of the large amount of power they can use at a given size and weight. But occasionally, we hear about such batteries failing and bursting into flames. The phenomenon can result in mild or severe damage in its surroundings. This article discusses five top reasons why some lithium-ion batteries may malfunction. Read on to learn more. Manufacturing defect The functionality of a battery is based on the quality of its manufacturing process. Any flaws during production may lead to impure metallic particles seeping into the unit during assembly. Thinning of separators while manufacturing may also have adverse effects on the health of the battery. So manufacturers must ensure each cell is made in controlled cleanrooms and conduct quality-control tests and validation before being sold. Design flaw While the manufacturing process of a battery might be carried out without hiccups, a flaw in the design might ruin the entire batch. A poor design can cause damage to the electrodes or separate them and lead to a short circuit. Therefore, those designing batteries should check the design multiple times before manufacturing the lithium-ion battery.

5 common mistakes to avoid while doing laundry

5 common mistakes to avoid while doing laundry
Doing one’s laundry is a necessary, albeit mundane, task to ensure clean and tidy clothes throughout the week. Doing laundry regularly not only facilitates clean clothes but also maintains the fabric’s freshness and increases their durability. While modern laundry products and appliances allow for considerable ease of washing clothes, understanding some techniques and strategies can enhance the process. This article lists some common mistakes one should avoid while doing laundry: Not removing stains before doing laundry Often, hard stains may not be eliminated when clothes are directly washed in the laundry without stains being pretreated. Hence, it is advisable to remove these stains first by applying some vinegar and baking soda paste on them or blotting them with a laundry or dishwasher detergent for a while. Washing and drying clothes at extremely high temperatures Setting extremely high temperatures while doing laundry can cause the clothes to shrink or tear, reducing their quality and lowering durability. As a thumb rule, clothes should be washed in cold water to ensure that they last long. Maintaining a temperature of 30 degrees while washing works well for most clothes. It is also recommended to avoid using the tumble dryer, preferably opting for a clothesline instead.

11 ways to keep the indoor air quality clean

11 ways to keep the indoor air quality clean
The air in our homes is not perpetually clean. There are many chemicals, harmful gases, dust, and other airborne allergens that degrade the air quality in your home. These pollutants often stem from external factors and even the appliances you use at home. Furthermore, such pollutants can deteriorate health and trigger several health problems when inhaled. Therefore, here are 11 ways to keep the indoor air quality in your home clean. Open the windows Opening the window will let oxygen in and remove any harmful toxins in the air. It can even help keep the room breezy in the summers. Do not use aerosol sprays Aerosol sprays release harmful chemicals into the air. So you must use non-aerosol versions when it comes to hair sprays, furniture polish, and deodorants. Mop hard floor surfaces Mopping surfaces made from hardwood, vinyl floors, tile, or other toughened materials with a disinfectant will keep your home free of allergens. Inspect the air vents HVAC systems filter out harmful substances from the air to keep the atmosphere inside your room clean. Clean such air vents periodically to ensure they are working properly. Use exhausts Moisture in your home can lead to mildew, bugs, bacteria, and mold.

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Website building with Square Online

Square Online provides e-commerce tools and services to help businesses set up an online store. Business owners can easily build a new website with the Square and begin selling their products. If your growing newly venture needs an e-commerce scale-up, you can create a fully functional digital store in minutes. Let’s look at what you can avail with a Square Online website. Features you’ll get with a Square website When you create a webpage with the Square website builder, you’ll be able to choose marketing features, interface customisation, and social media integration. The integrative features like syncing with Square POS lets you create an e-store that is set for growth, aling with the option of setting up contactless pay options for seamless transactions. Moreover, Square Online has a to-the-point dashboard that has great analytics so that you can easily map a customer’s journey on the site. The best part is that you don’t need any coding experience to set up a website with Square Online; it’s easy, quick, and efficient. Square website building costs If you want to simply try the platform to see if it works for your business, start by building a website for free with Square Online. There’s one condition though: you have to pay when you make a sale. Square will take 2.9% + 30¢ for every purchase made. There are other options too. like Professional, Performance, and Premium. We particularly like the Performance set up because it is economical at around $26 per month. And you get to publish customer reviews on the site and send emails to potential buyers who have abandoned their carts. The Premium option is the most expensive set-up costing around $72 per month, but you get additional cost-cutting features. Good alternatives to Square Online While Square Online has amazing features, it is not the only option for setting up an online store.

Popular DIRECTV packages to avail of

DIRECTV deals on TV packages are quite popular among customers looking for affordable and reliable television services. This service provider is known to offer great value for money with their innumerable plans. Moreover, several DIRECTV promotions are offered with these sometimes. No matter the budget, there is something for everyone. Here are a few popular TV packages from DIRECTV. Entertainment Package Reasonably priced at around $64.99 per month, the Entertainment package included a total of 160 channels. These include channels for sports enthusiasts and customer favorites such as Fox Sports, ESPN, and ESPN2. In addition, this package also offers channel premium preview for three months. This feature is often a part of DIRECTV promotions. Moreover, customers can access more than 40,000 titles on demand. Choice™ Package At just around $69.99 per month, customers get a blockbuster DIRECTV promotion deal with the Choice™ package, which includes more than 185 channels. What’s more is that there is a premium channel preview thrown in as well. In addition, there are more than 45,000 titles available on demand. Along with this, customers get 2021 season’s NFL Sunday ticket. Plus, a one-year subscription of HBO Max™ is often an added plus as a DIRECTV promotional offer! Ultimate Package Customers get access to a whopping 250 channels and more with this DIRECTV promotion deal on TV package. Called the Ultimate package, it is priced are around $84.99 per month. There is an additional Regional sports fee as well. This package has more than 55,000 tiles on demand along with access to tons of films with Starz Encore and the Movie channel. In addition, there is three-month premium channel preview as well. Also, the Ultimate Package offers 2021 season’s NFL Sunday ticket as well as one-year subscription of HBO Max™, which is a DIRECTV promotional offer. Premier™ Package For those who want premier and open access to all DIRECTV deals on TV packages, the Premier™ package is the right choice.

Essential CMS and CRM software to grow businesses

Business owners indefinitely look for ways to outrun the competition with the content on their websites. A CMS (content management system) software helps create, manage, and update these websites regularly. It also acts as a foundation for an online presence. For those in search of a viable cloud-based CMS software, here are three efficient options. WordPress Based on PHP and MySQL, WordPress allows a business to create a feature-packed blog or website. The website can consist of videos, images, written content, or other things suitable for a business. It offers users full access to their theme store, unlimited storage space, and a custom domain at cost-effective prices. Magnolia The cloud-based CMS software works best for businesses that require websites to execute any task. Magnolia allows the integration of e-commerce, analytic, social media, marketing automation, ERP, and even CRM. One can always add in these features as the business evolves. Weebly Weebly is a CMS that is easy to use and allows respective businesses to set up a simple website within minutes. It also sports a drag-and-drop format that enables its users to add or remove media and features to their website with ease. What’s noteworthy is that CMS is not the same as CRM (customer relation management). However, the two can complement each other. CRM software allows businesses to improve sales and monitor customer relationships, among other features. Here are three cost-effective CRM software to pick from. Zoho CRM Zoho enables users to get a 360-degree view of their business. It also allows them to track essential sales and marketing opportunities while increasing their conversion rate. The platform is host to over 150,000 customers globally. Further, the software has stellar features, including an AI-powered sales assistant, price and quote generation, and process management. Nimble Nimble, simple by its digital nature, can function within the G-Suite inbox or Office 365.

Benefits of wet and dry cat foods

If you’re a cat parent, you’d already be aware of their eating habits. Cats prefer a variety of meals in small proportions. No wonder we find them grazing over their bowls time and again. Although, if you’re new to the concept of wet and dry foods for cats, dive right in, for we’ve got something for you. There are benefits of serving both wet and dry foods to felines. Mainly because, unlike dogs, they’re difficult to please, and one can’t trick them into things they don’t like. If your cat is a fussy eater, they may enjoy wet food better. Find out the benefits of the best dry and wet cat foods. Benefits of dry cat food While dry cat food is convenient to store and serve, cats may throw tantrums if served the same food every day. However, dry cat foods help maintain their dental health by preventing the buildup of tartar. Dry foods are also the best way to get the cat to chew its food, exercising its jaws. These foods are ideal when cats are suffering from diarrhea as it helps add bulk to their stool. Some best dry cat foods that are readily available in every kitchen include: Cooked sweet potatoes Beef Pork Lamp Dark meat chicken Cooked carrots Banana Green beans/ asparagus/ broccoli (steamed) Melon Spinach Pumpkin Peas Benefits of wet cat food Wet cat food has a potent aroma and taste, making it ideal for fussy eaters. Cats have a stronger sense of smell than taste, and that’s why they tend to lean more towards foods with a fresh aroma. Additionally, wet food is a great way to keep your feline friend hydrated, especially when they don’t consume adequate fluids in a day. Wet cat food helps induce digestion and prevents constipation. It also helps keep stomach issues at bay.

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6 best upcoming Viking Ocean Cruises in 2021-2022

6 best upcoming Viking Ocean Cruises in 2021-2022

It’s no secret that Viking Ocean Cruises is one of the best cruise lines to enjoy a luxurious cruise vacation with your friends or family. Their fleet of state-of-the-art ocean ships takes you to the most exotic destinations around the world. This article looks at some of the best upcoming Viking Ocean Cruises sailings in 2021-2022, along with Viking cruise deals and airfares. Panama Canal and Central America If you want to explore rich Caribbean diversity, this ocean cruise is the perfect opportunity. It’s a 15-day Florida roundtrip cruise that takes you to seven gorgeous countries, including Panama, Jamaica, Honduras, and Mexico, among others. Pricing: Cruise fare starts from $4,299. With Viking’s Special Cruise Savings deal, you can save up to $300 on airfare. You can also save up to $500 on basic accommodation (Veranda). Departure dates: 26th November and 10th December Los Angeles, California, to London Witness the diverse landscapes of Oahu (Honolulu), Kauai (Nawiliwili), Bora Bora, New Zealand, Tasmania, and Brisbain, among other places. This 119 days cruise could be a vacation of a lifetime for you and your family. It departs from Los Angeles, California, and its last stop is in Tilbury, London, which lasts for two days.
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Oil change coupons for your Ford Motor

Oil change coupons for your Ford Motor

Frequent motor servicing is expensive, but a Ford engine needs regular oil changes to keep it functioning optimally. Luckily, many dealerships offer coupons for a discounted oil change. Depending on your car model, your engine will require either synthetic, semi-synthetic, regular, or premium oil. Once you know the type of oil that needs to be replaced, look for a service center that has it, and check out these coupons for your Ford motor. These will make an oil change a lot more affordable. The Works® Package coupon Almost every Ford dealership is familiar with the popular Works® package coupon. With this deal, you get six quarts of Motorcraft® oil, which is a high-quality synthetic blend. The costs differ depending on if the vehicle needs premium oil; it will cost something around an additional $30 dollars. If you want to avail of this offer, get in touch with a local dealership and ask them if they accept this particular Ford Motors coupon for oil change. The Works® Package also includes brake inspection, battery test, and filter check, along with oil replacement. Santa Margarita Ford Express Service Santa Margarita Ford, based in California, is an automotive venture that specializes in Ford motor servicing.
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