Monthly Archives: February 2010

Coffee Maker - Cleaning

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Your coffee maker could be killing you. Well it is if your morning cup of coffee is a matter of life and death and you have a filthy coffee maker. When was the last time you thoroughly cleaned your coffee maker? Washing the pot is important but getting the internal components of a coffee maker clean is a task that shouldn’t be skipped. Did you even know that you were supposed to clean it? A clean coffee maker can be the difference between a good cup of coffee and a nasty cup of sludge. A clean coffee maker really makes a big difference in how your coffee tastes. Left over coffee oils can accumulate inside your coffee maker. Also mineral deposits can form especially in areas with hard water. These deposits are called scale? There are two kinds of scale, lime scale and mineral scale and you don't want either one. Scale can affect the heating unit and the water flow of your coffee maker and reduce it’s efficiency. How quickly scale forms depends on the quality of your drinking water.

Cleaning your coffee maker is not a hard task to accomplish and in fact it's as easy as making coffee. All you have to do is pour a pot of half vinegar and half water into the coffee maker’s water reservoir. It goes without saying that white vinegar should be used. Steer clear of the red wine or apple cider vinegar varieties. Then just turn on the regular brew cycle. You're kitchen will probably have a nice salad smell while it's brewing which you may even like. If you're not a salad fan though, just remember that it's a small price to pay for a good cup of coffee. Now rinse the coffee maker out by using only water this time in the water reservoir and running the brew cycle again. You may have to do this a few more times if you still smell vinegar.

Another easy way to keep the coffee maker clean is to put a glass marble in the water chamber. All the mineral deposits that would usually accumulate inside the coffee maker will instead accumulate on the marble. Every once in a while just remove the marble, wash it and then place it back in the chamber. How much easier could that be? The best solution would be to clean your coffee maker with vinegar monthly while also using the marble method. Change the marble once a week and you’re coffee maker will be in great shape.

The author is a doctor and his latest ebusiness is selling carpet cleaner and contact lenses at http://buycontactlens.co.nz

Homemade Spray Cleaners and Scouring Powder

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Granny managed to clean her home without the benefit of strong smelling chemical cleaners. The various expensive chemical soups that are used to ‘clean’ surfaces can leave you wondering if it’s really worth the expense.

Thankfully, it isn’t very difficult to save your money and avoid the harsh chemicals while having a clean home. You can use the following four formulas in a multitude of cleaning applications.

SCRUBBING POWDER
Sprinkle this no-scratch formula onto a wet sponge and apply with a circular motion onto a surface. Baking Soda alone works well, but I use the following formula for extra water-softening and germ-fighting: 2 parts Baking Soda, 1 part Borax and ½ part salt. This will take care of some stubborn stains. For storage and convenience, I keep mine in a shaker container with a tight-fitting lid.

VINEGAR SOLUTION RINSE/SPRAY
Used with your homemade scouring powder, this mix will foam as you clean. Mix equal parts water and vinegar together. Keep this in a sprayer with a pistol grip for ease of application and storage. Spray surfaces you’ve used the scouring powder on, wipe with a damp sponge and rinse. Surfaces are left shining. The vinegar cuts the grease and also has anti-bacterial properties. This spray alone is useful for wiping down surfaces like tables, counters and glass. If you use this as an after shower/bath spray it will also discourage mold on your grout.

GLASS, METAL & HARD SURFACE CLEANER/DISINFECTANT
Use a solution of equal parts rubbing alcohol and water to wipe down surfaces to be kept germ-free without streaking. For every 2 cups of this solution add 2 tablespoons of vinegar. This doesn’t spot and it dries quickly. I also like to use it on light switches, doorknobs, and other surfaces that have a multitude of little hands on them.

MOLD AND SOAP SCUM TREATMENT
Water that is hard contributes to mold and soap scum stains. A spray-on treatment for this is to use one part Hydrogen Peroxide and two parts water. Place it into a spray bottle and spray onto the surface. After an hour, use your scouring powder to finish the job.

This article is for the information of the reader. Using any of these suggestions must be done with good judgment at the risk of the reader. {Discover more tips about homemade cleaners that you can make yourself at http://learnandlivewell.blogspot.com/}

Where Do You Turn If You Need To Have Help With Your Drugs?

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Prescription medicine help is available to millions of Americans. You have doubtless heard or seen ads or commercials that individuals can obtain their prescription medication for free, or at a low cost. Have you seen the Help For Prescription bus? TV personality Montel Williams talks about an organization who assists residents find assistance if they can’t come up with the money for the prescription drugs they are prescribed. These prescriptions help them with their illness. There is even an orange van which crosses the nation to advance free prescription drugs programs. When cost saving measures aren’t adequate to help meet the cost of prescription medicine, there are a number of plans intended to assist the individual stretch your healthcare dollar. Hospitals, medical schools, government agencies, and maybe drug companies themselves offer a range of strategies to assist those in need of assistance. You’ll probable need some help applying for these plans, and may possibly have to offer specified personal financial details, but the benefits might be enormous.

It is awfully hard for many people to pay for their prescription drugs if they don’t possess medical insurance. For stomach cancer patients, this is more than ever true.

For people that are undergoing chemotherapy treatment, the need for anti-nausea prescription drugs is pretty high because of the upset tummy that the chemo creates. Then, the chemotherapy has caused you to become anemic, so you have a prescription for an iron supplement. You feel like a Yo-Yo. It is not uncommon for a cancer patient to have prescription costs as sizeable as their house payment..or bigger!

What to do if you need to have help with your medicine.

Not taking your prescription medication is one of the very last things you want to do. There are a lot of programs accessible that provide free and reduced cost prescription drugs assistance.

• Social Services- Nearly all hospitals boast a social worker which will help you obtain grants and other plans aimed at helping you with your healthcare needs. This can be your earliest stop in searching for relief. Always inform your medical doctor if you cannot pay for prescription medicine or care. He or she could know of a plan personally to support you, also.

• PPA- The Partnership for Patient Assistance is a group designed at serving people that can’t afford their medications. They have created a database of over 400  plans and over 5000 prescriptions available for reduced or no cost help. They lend a hand in determining what you are qualified for and applying for the help. The assistance is free and offered online.

• Drug Companies- A great number of persons would not assume pharmaceutical companies provide assistance, nevertheless some will. Lilly gives a prescription medicine program for those taking their prescription drugs and cannot afford them. Trace the producer of your drugs by asking your general practitioner or pharmacist and check the web site for patient assistance programs.

Apart from how you might feel; you are not by yourself. There is no cause to be ashamed.