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4 Spots You Should Clean in Your Kitchen Every Day

Don’t all of us love a clean and tidy kitchen? But, the amount of effort and time taken to achieve this clean and tidy kitchen? Not so much.

If you consider your kitchen design, there are different parts to it: there’s the kitchen counter, cutlery, cabinets, dishes, and so on. In short, cleaning your kitchen is quite an elaborate task.

“Another thing to add to my chores list?” – If this is what you’re thinking, sadly yes. It’s important to clean your kitchen to protect your family and yourself from potential diseases. However, we are asking you to be smart about it.

There are a few spots that need to be cleaned daily in a kitchen. If you are particular enough to do this, not only will you be able to give your kitchen a tidy appearance, but you will also save a lot of time without any compromise on hygiene. Read on as we tell you more about these spots below.

Spots You Should Clean in Your Kitchen Every Day #1: The Sink

If you are under the impression that your kitchen sink is clean just because you have cleaned your dishes, we got news – the bad kind – for you.

In reality, the task is far from over.

Researchers have found out that a kitchen sink is one of the dirtiest places in your kitchen – actually in your home. Whenever you do the dishes, you leave a layer of bacteria and sticky grease to the walls of the sink. This, in turn, creates a demand for you to clean it pronto.

But don’t you worry; cleaning your kitchen sink is actually easy. For this purpose, you need to buy a good-quality eraser-type sponge to give it a good scrubbing with either vinegar or disinfectant. A good tip would be to use hot water to loosen the grime layer against the walls and then proceed to clean, as it will help you save time.

Spots You Should Clean in Your Kitchen Every Day #2: The Stovetop and the Kitchen Counter

Your stovetop and kitchen counter face the maximum brunt whenever you cook. This is why cleaning the exterior surfaces of your kitchen is something you need to add to your to-do list.

Whether you are making your breakfast or cooking dinner, there might be splatters or spills that attract bacteria and bugs in your home. Also, if you quickly clean spills, scattered crumbs, or any dirt, you won’t have to slave away the next day to clean them. If left overnight, the spilled layer can harden making it difficult to remove it with one swipe.

You can leave the thorough cleaning of your kitchen counter and stuff top once a week, but a basic swipe cannot be avoided. Plus, it is also better to start with a clean kitchen instead of one that looks greasy. This way you will have more motivation to cook.

Spots You Should Clean in Your Kitchen Every Day #3: The Floors and the Cabinets

In this case, you don’t need to clean the entire floor or cabinet. What we are suggesting is spot cleaning.

Whenever you use the kitchen, you are bound to cause spillage of various kinds. You do hence, need to be vigilant in cleaning them as soon as it takes place. Otherwise, the cleaning task will only become more difficult for you in the end.

Whenever you see a stain or spill, get to spot cleaning it with your disinfectant as soon as you can. In fact, in addition to the floors and kitchen cabinets, there might be certain appliances that could benefit from some spot clean treatment as well. This includes your fridge, water filter pitcher, dishwasher, rugs, dining table, and other surfaces as needed. Take a quick look at your kitchen to figure out things that need cleaning.

Spots You Should Clean in Your Kitchen Every Day #4: The Sponge or Washcloth

While your kitchen sponge isn’t necessarily a “spot“, it is most certainly something you should be cleaning every single day.

The fact that almost everything you clean in your kitchen is done using sponges or washcloths already highlights the importance of washing it. After all, it doesn’t make any sense to use a dirty sponge and washcloth to clean something.

To clean your sponge or wash clothes easily, you can either soak it in bleach or vinegar, give it a good wash using a gentle detergent or simply place it in your dishwasher. A new technique has recently emerged where you only need to zap your sponge in the microwave for a quick cleaning as well. Trust us, it works!

Although there are people suggest that sponge cleaning can be considered as ‘a once a week task’, it is recommended that you be more vigilant and clean it on a daily basis.

So, there you go! These are the four spots that could do well with some good ol’ cleaning every day. The other thing that we would also like to discuss is doing your dishes. We know that cleaning your dishes after making your meal can be a task that nobody enjoys. This is also why letting dirty dishes pile up in the sink is quite a common sight.

In addition to being not aesthetically pleasing, the dishes can also become a hotspot for bacteria growth, bad odor, and a point of pest attraction. Hence, instead of leaving them overnight in the sink, load the dishes in the dishwasher, skipping the kitchen sink, and clean them pronto. Try to instill this habit in your family as well, since it’s essential for them to know the importance of a spotless kitchen.

If you are successful in achieving the above, you will always enjoy a clean and sparkling kitchen all day long which is of course, important for hygiene reasons. The only key to achieving this? Immediate and swift action.

4 Most Common Reasons Couples Get Divorced

Most people don’t get married with the intention of it ending in the future. In the beginning, things seem hopeful, and the idea of spending forever with the person you love brings you joy and comfort. In many cases, however, as the years progress, they become more and more estranged.

As things start to degrade in their relationship, they begin to lose sight of why they got married in the first place. At this point, as many as 2 out of 4 couples wind up opting for divorce. So, what is it that leads to the demise of their relationships?

Take a look at some of the most common reasons why couples wind up calling it quits.

Cheating

While many experts believe that cheating is a symptom of a bigger problem, it’s usually the straw that breaks the camels back. When couples start to feel so angry and resentful with their partners, they may begin to look for other relationships to bring them the intimacy that they lack in their marriage.

Infidelity is rarely sought after, but rather happens gradually either through a seemingly innocent friendship, or often a co-worker. Unfortunately, it often leads to a nasty and drawn out divorce full of length litigation and expensive legal fees.

Finances

When two people get married, they make the commitment to pool their resources together. Unfortunately, in many cases, their different spending habits create distance between them. When one person feels like the other is dwindling away their resources, they may feel resentful and disappointed. The same goes for one person in the relationship who feels the other may be too conservative with their spending habits.

Since money plays such a big role in our day to day lives, it can eventually destroy the trust and bond of a relationship, ultimately ending in divorce.

Arguing

Many couples find themselves bickering every day about the same things over and over. Usually, their bickering is over trivial things like housework or a misinterpretation of words.

Although small bickering may not seem as serious as full-fledged arguments, over time, it can destroy the foundation of a relationship. Bickering over and over, day in and day out will usually end in the demise of the relationship since they can’t find a resolution to their disagreements.

Change in Appearance

Unfortunately, aging is an inevitable part of life. It’s not uncommon for people to gain weight or lose the same physical charms they once had in their younger years. When one person in the relationship starts to feel like they’re not attracted to the other anymore, it can lead to all sorts of issues, from infidelity to lack of intimacy, driving them to the point of divorce.

 

5 Signs You’re Ready To Buy a Home

A lot of people are renters for decades without ever realizing they could be homeowners. The idea of buying your first home can be overwhelming, and the costs downright frightening, which is why so many people don’t even consider they could be capable of it.

However, the truth is that you may be more ready to own a home than you think. Put your fears aside and take a look at some of the biggest telltale signs that you’re ready to buy your first home.

You Can Fit a Mortgage Into Your Budget

Take a look around at mortgage costs for the type of property that you’d be interested in. You may be surprised to find that some mortgages are only slightly higher than your rent, and you’re actually gaining equity at the same time!

Using a loan calculator is a simple way to see how much of a mortgage you’d be looking at and whether you could afford it.

You’ve Got Some Money In Savings

Although most people need a loan to be able to pay for a house, you’ll still need to put down some money initially. The higher the downpayment, the better that your loan rates will be.

Don’t make the mistake of thinking that you have to put down as much as 20% of the price of a home, however! Some people pay as little as 3% of the total cost as a downpayment. If you’ve put some money in savings over the years, then you may be surprised to find that it’s plenty to be a homeowner!

You Have a Favorable Credit Score

If you have a credit score over 700, then you have a considerably good chance of qualifying for a loan with a reasonable down payment. If you’ve always paid on time and don’t have a significant amount of credit taken out of your total allowance, then this is a good sign that you’re ready to buy a home!

You Plan On Staying Where You Are

Some people may not be ready to put down roots any time soon, and that’s perfectly fine. However, if you’re the type of person that’s planning on settling down where you live currently, then you are probably ready to buy a house.

Inflatino and home prices are going up, so buying a house where you live can be a fantastic investment in your future.

You’re Planning on Expanding Your Family

Owning a home when you have children is one of the most logical routes. Renting is only draining your bank account and giving you no return on your investment. If you have kids or are anticipating kids in the future, then it’s a huge incentive for buying your first home and cutting your costs.

 

The Hilton Garden Inn Roseville, CA

Hilton Garden Inn Roseville is within a short drive from attractions in Sacramento, as well as key destinations of Lake Tahoe and Reno. In every guestroom, travelers can find amenities to help them work or relax. Enjoy your access to free Internet, remote printing, and cable TV. There’s a 24-hour snack bar for quick eats during the wee hours of the day.

Reserve your hotel room at Hilton Garden Inn Roseville with Reservations.com

You Should Know:

  • Stylish guestrooms appointed with refrigerator, microwave, coffee maker and a flat-screen TV
  • Complimentary WIFI Internet and ergonomic work area inside the rooms
  • Convenience store at the guest’s disposal
  • Wind down in the hotel’s outdoor swimming pool or fitness center
  • Complimentary parking provided in the property
  • Business center offers remote printing service from the rooms
  • Restaurant is included in the hotel

In and Around:

  • Located off Interstate 80, near Westfield Galleria
  • More shopping options await at nearby Creekside Town Center and The Fountains
  • Diamond Oaks Golf Course is a couple of miles from the hotel
  • Within half an hour’s drive to Sacramento International Airport

3 Ways To Prepare Your Kids For Getting A Family Dog

For many families, their family unit just isn’t complete without a pet. But for many parents, bringing in a pet like a dog is almost like having another child. So when your kids start pestering you for a dog, it can go a long way to have them prepare for this arrival well in advance of actually getting the dog.

To help you see how this can be done, here are three ways to prepare your kids for getting a family dog.

Teach Your Kids How To Safely Interact With Dogs

The most important thing to teach your kids before bringing a dog into your home is how to safely interact with dogs. Without this skill, even the tamest dogs could lash out at your children and bite them or others.

To avoid this, it’s a good idea to teach your kids how to be safe around dogs. According to Louis Anthony Loftus, a contributor to Fatherly.com, one of the most basic rules to teach your kids about interacting with dogs is to treat them the same way that they would treat another child. This includes being soft to them, not picking on them or bugging them, and leaving them alone when they’re sleeping, eating, or playing with their own toys.

With these rules in place, your children will be able to avoid a lot of situations when dogs have been known to be rough or aggressive.

Practice By Dog Sitting

Once your kids know what’s expected of them when they’re around dogs, you should allow them to practice these skills without actually bringing your own family dog home yet.

One great way to do this, according to Katharine Stahl, a contributor to PopSugar.com, is to volunteer to dog sit for a friend or family member that has a dog. This will allow both you and your kids to see what your life would be like if you had a dog of your own. You’ll be able to see what areas your kids need to gain a better understanding of as well as how much responsibility your kids are actually able to take on at this point in time.

Prep Your Home Together

When you’ve decided that your family is ready to get a family dog, the final thing you need to take care of before bringing the dog into your home is prepare your home for the dog’s arrival.

In doing this, Jen Hubley Luckwaldt, a contributor to Parents.com, part of prepping your home consists of removing or hiding anything that could harm your new dog as well as bringing in things like dog bowls, a kennel, dog food, and more.

If you’re considering getting a family dog, use the tips mentioned above to help prepare your kids for this new phase in life.

 

The Best Strategies to Keep Your Kids Safe in a New Neighborhood

When moving to a new neighborhood, it’s important to keep safety in mind. If you’re able to bring your kids into your safety strategies, it’ll make those strategies even more effective. Your best option for keeping your kids safe, regardless of your kids’ ages, is to make sure your kids know how to keep themselves safe as well. These tips will help you keep your whole family safe.

Set Up a No-Questions-Asked Code

One reason some kids don’t call parents when they find themselves in a potentially dangerous situation is that they don’t want to face their parents’ wrath if that situation includes bad choices. The best way to avoid that and make sure your kids call you if they need help is to set up a no-questions-asked option where your child can call on you for help at any time.

The way this works is you set up a specific thing your child can text you. It may be a specific emoji or letter. When your child texts you that symbol, you call them and let them know you’re going to pick them up for a made-up reason; for example, you found out they hadn’t finished all their homework. If your child wants to let you know what happened, they can, but otherwise, you’re getting them out of a potentially-dangerous situation, which is good parenting all on its own.

Talk to Your Kids About What Constitutes an Inappropriate Situation

This is especially helpful for young kids who might not know how to identify an inappropriate situation in the first place. Educating kids about “bad touch” areas of the body and helping them identify potentially unsafe situations is a good way to make sure your kids don’t stay in a dangerous situation, which can expose them to further dangers.

It can be difficult to have this conversation with your kids, but it’s important. Have these conversations at age-appropriate levels; for example, you may want to help your toddlers understand “bad touch” while giving your teens tools they need to avoid being pressured into underage drinking. Always keep that conversation open, so they can ask you for more information when they need it.

Vet Neighbors Before You Visit Them

Obviously, you want to make sure your kids have friends in the neighborhood. However, it’s not enough to just meet neighbors in person before you let your kids visit. You should have an extra layer of protection in place to really know your neighbors before you let your kids go over on their own, and a public search engine can help.

With a public search engine like PeopleFinders, you can more easily understand a person’s whole backstory before you actually let your kids go over to that person’s house alone. Public search engines can make it easier to get someone’s criminal history, which can include domestic violence and other criminal information. That way, you can feel more comfortable letting your kids visit that home without supervision.

Conclusion

There are plenty of ways to invite your kids into the safety net you’re building for your family in a new neighborhood. If you’re interested in making sure your kids stay safe, it’s important to use all the tools at your disposal, and that includes your kids themselves. When you’re creating a safety plan for a new neighborhood, it’s important to pay attention to how your kids can help.

 

5 Tips For Dealing With Aging Parents

If you have parents who are getting older, leaving you feeling helpless about how to proceed, you’re not alone. Millions of Americans have to find ways to provide care for their senior parents without any previous experience or know-how.

It can be a lot easier to take on when the whole family gets involved in doing their part. However, if you’re an only child or the only one pitching in, it can be a lot for one person alone. It’s natural to worry about everything from their mental well-being to how they’ll feed themselves. After all, you have a day job and can’t do everything yourself.

Whether your aging parents are to the point of needing assistance around the clock or are just starting to show the signs of lack of independence, here are some of the best tips to help them through.

Get Help

It’s a lot to ask someone to help you take care of an older parent. If there are no other family members around to assist, then you may be hesitant to ask friends. However, taking it all on alone isn’t going to do anyone any favors.

Try to get help wherever you can. Whether you ask a neighbor, family member, or even friends of your parents. You may be afraid that you’re inconveniencing someone, however, you’d be surprised how happy most people are to help.

Create a Long Term Plan

Unfortunately, people do not age in reverse. Things are only going to get more complicated as the months or years go by. It’s helpful to create a long term plan to prepare for things as they progress.

Making a plan in advance means that you won’t find yourself scrambling in a panic if something unexpected happens. If possible, make the plan with your parents so that they have a say in how they wish to be cared for.

Find Support

Caring for aging parents can, in some ways, be even more stressful than caring for small children. Older people who have Alzheimer’s or serious medical problems can be a lot to handle. Caring for people with extremely high needs can start to take its toll on your mental well-being. It’s helpful to find support where you can. Talking to people who are going through the same thing can be helpful. You’ll feel less alone and even likely to find advice where you felt like you had nowhere to turn.

There are support groups available often in local community centers or churches, or if that’s not an option, you can always turn to online forums. People often create support groups online where you may not be physically in front of someone; however, the bond and support can be just as impactful.

 

DIY vs Hiring Professional House Cleaning

When it comes to cleaning your house, there is not going to be very much glamour in it. This is more than likely going to be the reason that you are often times finding it very difficult to get it done in the first place. With that being said though, the cleanliness of your home is going to play a huge role and a have a very large influence on your lifestyle and your health, as pests and germs are going to thrive in environments that are unclean. On top of that, when your home is dirty, trying to entertain and be hospitable is going to be downright embarrassing, if not completely impossible.

When it comes to your home, it is going to be a representation of not just you, but also of your family and your lifestyle too. Because of this, you more than likely are going to want this to reflect well on all of the people who are living there. This is when you are going to need to make a very important decision. Should you clean your home yourself or hire a professional cleaning service. Here is what you need to know in order to make the right answer to this question.

Factors to Consider

There are actually some people who truly find leaning their home to be somewhat therapeutic, often times thinking that they are able to do a much better job than any professional cleaning service would be able too. With that being said however, there are going to be some house cleaning tasks that you are going to want to leave to the professionals. Here are the factors that you are going to need to consider when trying to figure out if you should clean your home yourself, or if you should hire a professional cleaning service.

  • Are you able to handle the time commitment that cleaning your home is going to take? Depending upon the size of your home and how many people are living in it, the potential time commitment that you are going to need to make can be very large. How many bedrooms and bathrooms does your house have? Do you have pets that seem to shed all the time? On top of that, family members are very easily able to interrupt the time that you have put aside to clean or can even delay you starting to clean altogether.
  • How valuable is your time? Depending upon how you value your time, it may be cheaper to simply hire a professional cleaning service. Now factor in that most cleaning services are going to have special introductory offers and they will definitely be worth the small fee.
  • Do you have the skills to get the job done? While you may feel that cleaning is easy and that anybody can do it, you would be greatly mistaken. With all of the different types of cleaning chemicals and instructions for using them safely, it can be very overwhelming when it comes to cleaning your home. A professional service will have all of this knowledge and more than likely be able to get the job done faster.

 

8 Foods That Will Help Boost Your Hair Health

Everyone wants to retain a healthy head of hair for as long as possible as they grow older. The rate at which your hair grows depends heavily on your genetics, age, health, and diet. You can control your diet, where you cannot control aging or genetics.

It makes sense that you would make the necessary effort to cater your diet to maintain your hair for many years to come. When you’re wearing your high-tech laser hair growth helmet, take the time to think about how what you eat can support your efforts. Start now, and take a quick look at a few tasty foods that will help support your hair health.

Eggs

Protein and biotin are two of the most important nutrients that help to promote hair growth. Eggs are rich in protein, and they are healthy for your body for more than just the purpose of hair health.

Berries

Berries of all shapes and sizes can be good for your hairline. Vitamin C and other antioxidant-rich vitamins are often present in berries, and antioxidants are known to be protectors of the hair follicles.

Spinach

A shortage of iron in your body can cause you to lose more hair than normal. Spinach is a rich source of iron, among other beneficial vitamins and nutrients. Spinach is often labeled as one of nature’s superfoods, and for good reason.

Fatty fish

If you have a palette for fatty fish, your hairline could benefit from your tactical tastes. Fish like salmon, herring, and mackerel are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, and omega-3s have been directly linked to hair growth.

Sweet potatoes

When you eat orange foods like carrots and sweet potatoes, your body is granted a healthy dose of beta-carotene. Beta-carotene is changed into vitamin A when the body processes the source, and vitamin A has long been linked to good hair health.

Avocadoes

Another well-known superfood, the avocado is an excellent addition to a hair-healthy diet. Avocados are a rich source of fatty acids, but they also contain vitamin E. Vitamin E promotes hair growth, not to mention, it is great for your skin.

Nuts

Nuts are good for your body in many different ways, and your hair is one of the beneficiaries of these tasty snacks.

One ounce of almonds will provide your body with nearly 40 percent of its total daily requirement of vitamin E. You can also get fatty acids, vitamin B, and lower inflammation from eating a variety of tasty nuts each day.

Oysters

Zinc has been proven to help the process of hair growth and support the repair cycle of the hair. Oysters are a great source of zinc. Eating oysters may not appeal to everyone, but the health benefits (and the aphrodisiac components) of oysters far outweigh the negative stigma.

 

4 Tips for Having a Healthy Pregnancy

Congratulations! Either you’ve decided to start trying to get pregnant, or you’ve already gotten pregnant! Chances are you’ve already started reading all of the advice and information out there surrounding pregnancy. After a while, your head can begin to spin from all of the rules and advice out there.

Rather than overwhelming yourself with all of the conflicting information, take a look at some of the most important ways to ensure a happy and healthy pregnancy.

Stay Active

One of the biggest fears surrounding pregnancy and childbirth is losing your body. A lot of women believe that after they have a baby, their bodies will never be the same, and they’ll require plastic surgery if they hope to regain their confidence.

While it’s true that some parts of your body will change as a result of the changes pregnancy puts you through, staying active will help reduce the changes. Most doctors encourage regular exercise without any modifications for the first few months of pregnancy. After this point, you should consult with your doctor about whether they recommend continuing to work out as you are or if you should stop for any health reasons.

Walking is usually a great form of exercise since it’s low-impact and is low risk for inflicting injury.

Take Your Vitamins

One of the first things you should start doing the minute that you decide to get pregnant is to start taking a folic acid supplement. Prenatal vitamins seriously reduce the risk of birth complications and diseases.

In addition to taking vitamins, you can also get your fill of nutrients through foods like raw fruits and vegetables and lean proteins.

Get Plenty Of Sleep

When your baby is born, you’ll be missing the days that you could sleep as long as you want without interruptions. All of that will disappear the instant that your bundle of joy is born.

During your pregnancy, you should get ample sleep so that your body has time to regenerate itself every night. As your belly gets bigger and it’s more challenging to sleep, consider sleeping on your left side to encourage proper blood flow.

Reduce Stress

As your hormones increase, it’s typical for pregnant women to become more susceptible to stress. However, stress affects your baby inside of you. It’s essential to keep your stress levels as low as possible by surrounding yourself with supportive people and situations.

If you have a stressful job or lifestyle, consider learning breathing exercises to help control your stress.

By applying these tips and choosing the right time to get pregnant, you should increase your chances of a healthy pregnancy. In no time, you’ll be holding your baby that you have been so patiently waiting for!