Summer is here! (and so is allergy season)

Summer has finally arrived! People are outside enjoying the warm weather and having fun in summertime activities. Unfortunately for many, this is just the beginning of another grueling allergy season, which plagues its victims with itchy, watery eyes, sneezing and runny noses. Fortunately, Dyson’s machines and carpet cleaning formulas can help to rid your home of allergens. With a combination of using your Dyson products and these helpful tips, you can assist your family in being sneeze-free this summer. 

• Clean Carpets: You may not be aware, but your carpet lodges the pollen, pet hair, and dust mites between its fibers. The most efficient way clear these pesky allergens from your carpets is to use Dyson’s carpet cleaning kit with Zorb powder for a deep clean, every three to six months. In between deep cleanings, vacuum the carpets in your home three times a week to keep allergens at a low quantity.
• Organize Your Space: Allergens have less space to claim when your home is kept clutter free. By keeping clothes, toys and other household items neatly stored, you’ll not only have a spic and span home, but will have shot down attempts for ragweed, pollen and dust to hide within your things. 
• Maintain Clean Air: Every three months, you should change your air filters and clean your air vents. In doing so, you will ensure that your air filter is properly catching any allergens that come through before they meet your family’s airways. 
• Keep your Sheets Clean: While out for the day, your clothes and hair are going to collect allergens. So when you lie down to go to sleep, they will be right there with you, sticking to your sheets. To help fight these off, be sure to wash your sheets in hot water on a weekly basis. To further ensure the least amount of allergens sleeping with you or the chance of them passing to other parts of your home, consider showering and a change of clothes when you return from being outside.

With these tips and ideas in tow, you’ll surely be enjoying your warm weather seasons allergy-free. Of course, in addition to all of these tips, remember that your physician can best determine what exactly you are allergic to and the best course of action to handle your symptoms. 

Vernel Fabric Softener by Henkel, now in Fresh Morning Scent

Vernel Fresh Morning

If you have ever used detergents from the Miele Care Collection then you know the difference well-crafted laundering agents can make on the quality of your wash and the lifespan of your clothing. Henkel products, imported from Europe and recommended by Miele, are the ideal choice for consumers looking to protect their clothing in high-efficiency washing machines and dryers as well as reduce overall waste by using a concentrated formula. This premium quality fabric softener is concentrated, meaning adding a small amount to your laundry will deliver big results in softness, anti-static properties and color protection. 

Vernel fabric softener is now available in a new scent, fresh morning. The aromatic fragrance is fresh and pleasant without being over powerful to the senses. The fresh and unique scent leaves laundry smelling pleasant and clean long after the laundry is cleaned. Like all Miele detergents, Vernel Fabric Softener is dermatologically tested to be safe for most skin types and reduces irritation. For sensitive skin, Vernel also offers a sensitive skin fabric softener. Vernel fabric softeners are also environmentally friendly, without containing zeolites or phosphates.

Pool Cleaning

It's almost summer time and we all know what that means. Time for spending fun days in the sun by the pool. Anybody with a pool would rather spend more time splashing and having fun and less  time skimming and scrubbing and keeping it clean. Luckily, the market is full of options to help keep your pool clean. From basic pool vacuum systems to automatic robot cleaners to hiring help, you’re sure to find the best option to suit your pool and your budget.  

Robot cleaners are an excellent solution, do not require an exorbitant amount of money and leave you more free to enjoy your pool. A few points to evaluate before purchasing:

Does the robot climb?  Pools with graded deep ends need a climbing robot, and if your pool has steps, consider if a stair climbing is important to you as well.

How long is the cable?  Nearly any residential robot will have enough cable for up to a 20x40 swimming pool. But only get as much cable as you need, and you’ll thank yourself later when you’re coiling it up for storage after every use.

How fast is the robot and what kind of debris does your pool collect?  If your pool tends to have heavy sand or silt accumulating, a faster robot might glide over it too quickly to suction it up.  A slower robot with a large volume pump will work better in this case. Pump water volume is more important than robot speed when it comes to heavy silt and sand.

7 Allergens in Your Home [infographic]

Allergies are a major problem for millions of people in the US, and the allergy fighting industry is quite successful. The following infographic was published by www.dailyinfographic.com, and the link at the bottom of the page will take you to the original source.

7 Allergens in Your Home [infographic]

Cleaning & Caring for Hard Floors

Hard floors each require a different kind of attention. The most common hard floors are: wood, linoleum and tile.

I-Wood flooring:

Along with a hardwood floor comes the responsibility of keeping it clean. The better care you take, the longer your floor will keep its original beauty. 

The basics:

A high quality broom to sweep high-traffic areas daily. Sweep regularly with a high-quality broom for dirt, dust and other particles.

A vacuum cleaner without a beater bar to help get between the boards & other hard-to-reach areas.

A professional hardwood floor cleaner & mop.  Mop high traffic areas once or twice a week, and less used areas once a month or once a season.  Note that “pre-finished” wood floors may have a cleaner recommended and made by the manufacturer.  Be wary of other floor cleaners that may contain ingredients that violate your floor's warranty. Plain soap & water or vinegar & water will often do the trick when other cleaners are unavailable or cost-prohibitive, but these may lead your floors to become duller sooner.  

When mopping, be sure to wring out the mop completely, mop in the direction of the wood grain, mix a fresh batch of solution as needed, and finish with clean water to rinse.  Never use a wet mop or excessive water on hardwood - water is wood’s natural enemy and causes it to expand, which risks cracking and splintering.

Central Vacuuming

Image courtesy of thecentralvacuum.com

A central vacuum system is essentially a vacuum cleaner that’s semi-permanently installed into a building and connected to other rooms via ducts and tubes. Central vacuum systems are often compared to central air conditioning systems for the sake of analogy, their setup and utilization are very similar.

The main power unit of the appliance is typically installed in an out-of-the-way location like a garage, basement, or utility room. The system provides suction via tubes that connect to inlet valves installed in walls throughout the home. Tubing can run through the basement, attic, or cold air returns.  When it’s time to vacuum, you simply attach a portable vacuum hose to one of these inlets. Debris collects in a container typically located near the main unit. Power control is typically located on the handle of the power hose, so control is right there at the fingertips.

The concept was first introduced in the late 19th century as a bellows chamber most commonly installed in the basement and connected throughout the building via ductwork. These first systems were rare due to cost and were not very efficient.

It wasn’t until the early 1960s with the invention of PVC vacuum tubing that central vacuum systems became affordable in American homes. These systems achieved peak popularity in the 1990s for those with allergy concerns and also for adding value to a home on resale. Many of these systems release their exhaust completely outside the home, meaning dust and allergens cannot be re-circulated throughout the home as can happen with traditional vacuum cleaners, providing a very attractive prospect for those with allergy concerns.

Announcing the new Miele S6 Canister Vacuum Series

Miele S6 Red Velvet Vacuum

This past fall, Miele launched their latest and greatest in the world of vacuum cleaner innovation. Today we welcome a new series of Miele vacuums to our family of great cleaning appliances, the Miele S6 canister vacuums. Each machine in this series is named after a precious gem, highlighting the thoughtfully considered, brilliantly refined nature of these “jewel-like” cleaning machines.

The S6 series represents the greatest in design and feature accomplishments in Miele vacuums to date. The luxurious, full-featured vacuums included in the S6 series come in a wide array of fashion colors, a feature Miele has become known for the world over. This important new series is the perfect complement to the ever-popular and innovative S7 upright vacuums Miele brought us a few years back. The S6 line leaves nothing to be desired, and even new Miele owners will covet some of the sexy new attributes found in these great canister vacuums.

Every machine in the S6 series has been engineered to maximize performance and efficiency in an elegant, space-saving design. Weighing less than ten poinds, its durable, innovative skeleton construction is built to capture and securely retain more than 99.9% of dirt, dust, and allergens. Meanwhile, its efficient, near-silent motor delivers significant noise reduction without sacrificing power. Engineered with a unique, highly desirable design, the S6 delivers unparalleled strength and durability for years with superior performance on any surface. This is why the Miele S6 vacuums are being referred to throughout the industry as thoughtfully considered, flawlessly fashioned, and timelessly desirable.