How to make your home bug free – Some home care tips

bug free home ideasNow that the warm weather is in, the bugs in your area will be coming out of their winter hiding. It is a time of the year for them to look for sustenance. To them, your home looks like a cornucopia filled with delectable delights. It is no wonder that many of them will be headed your way.

So, you’ll need some effective tips if you want to make your home a bug free zone. We have gathered some for you:

Keeping your eyes open

Sure, if we ever face the apocalypse, cockroaches are the living creatures most likely to survive it. But the supposed otherworldly abilities of the creepy crawlies aside, they don’t just materialize into your home out of the ether.

Thus, staying sharp can clue you into the indications that they are about to set foot inside. For instance, ants will send out scouting members to scope your home. They are there to test how ant-friendly your house is. Therefore, as soon as you spot even a few ants, get to insect-proofing.

Moreover, you can also step outside and go right to the source. If there is firewood stacked next to your house, it could be where the ants and termites are staying temporarily. Keep the stack at least 20 feet from your house. Similarly, drain any catch basins or keep the water in them fresh if there are any in your yard. They are breeding grounds for mosquitoes.

Moreover, chop them off! Not that we want to scare you, however, you’ll want to know what the Entomological Society of America says about bugs. The ratio stands at a billion bugs to every human on the planet! A veritable insect army is waiting to declare war on your home! Overhanging branches close to your windows or overgrown shrubs can be the access points bugs will use to get into your home.

Repel houseflies and mosquitoes with Basil

Basil makes pasta sauces shine, but it is also a great natural remedy for insects like houseflies and mosquitoes. Since the plant is easy to grow and container-friendly, place a few of them in your kitchen. For families who don’t eat in the kitchen, you’ll want to get those containers into your entertaining spaces too.

You’ll also benefit from a basil-based insect repellent spray. Boil water (4 ounces) and throw in the same amount of fresh basil leaves. Let the basil leaves steep in the water for a few hours before straining them. Splash in as much of supercheap vodka, and you’ll have your spray. You can even store the spray in the fridge.

Essential oils may do the trick

Essential oils aren’t just great for helping you relax. They can also be used to make a bug free home.

You’ll find the following essential oils useful for this purpose:

  1. Neem oil has natural pesticide properties. That’s why it makes a useful non-toxic bug repellent. Mix it with coconut oil (carrier oil) and apply it on your skin. It will keep biting insects like mosquitoes away!
  2. The strong scent of peppermint oil is effective against many different types of bugs. Moreover, it is excellent for both the creepy crawly and flying varieties. For the former, adding a few drops on a cotton ball will be good enough. Place peppermint-scented balls wherever you will find spiders, ticks, and ants congregating. For the latter, you will need a spray. Just 4-5 drops of peppermint oil added to a quarter cup of water, and you have your mixture. Spritz it near entry points.

Seal the entry points into your home

Do you realize that the common cockroach increases the chances of asthma attacks and allergies in children? Leaving gaps in your entrance ways can give the pesky bugs a chance to get in. Don’t think there are many such spaces around your home? Look closely, and you’ll be unpleasantly surprised!

Start by sealing the space under all the doors leading to the outside. An aluminum or steel threshold can keep the insects from crawling under your door. To fortify, you can also purchase a cheap door sweep. Most hardware stores have door sweeps. But be sure to get nylon ones instead of vinyl or neoprene for maximum bug protection.

After the base is taken care of, you can shift to sealing the door frame’s perimeter. Insects can crawl in along the sides or the top without this protection. Do it with clear caulk. Follow the frame in the direction that the door meets the wall.

Finally, get the most use of your door sealing techniques by remembering to keep the door closed! Kids can be forgetful, and the door sweep won’t be effective if the door stays open all the time.

A hydraulic device known as the door closer can be really handy. Adjust the power and the closing speed on it when you install it. If someone leaves it ajar, the door will automatically close and latch because of the door closer. You can get a door closer at your local home improvement store. It is also easy to install, so you can do it yourself too.

Monthly deep cleaning is a must

Places like the kitchen see a lot of use and traffic. We cook there and often consume food in the kitchen too. Therefore, keeping it clean can be hard.

Moreover, if you work most days, you may not be able to do deep cleaning often. But you should have one done every month to clear away any accumulating food particles, etc. That is also true for other parts of the house. Any room where food makes a regular appearance needs regular deep cleaning. Also, grab a Bug Killer or any insect repellent spray for a cleaner, bug-free home!

Remove overripe fruits and veggies from the counter

Fruit flies, ants, and other bugs are attracted to overripe fruits and vegetables, especially if the organic treats are left sliced open or cut up. Keep them off the counter and move them to the fridge. Sure, fruit flies may not be as harmful, but pests like cockroaches may find their way to ripe fruits too. Once they get in, you’ll find it difficult to get them out of your home!

Parting thoughts

Bugs are creatures who cannot be allowed in your personal space for any reason. Want to make your home bug free? Our suggestions will help you do just that. Do you have other effective remedies? Share them with us!

The Benefits of Wireless Charging for Emergencies

These days, mobile phones are instrumental parts of the daily lives of almost anyone in the world. From practical uses such as keeping in touch with loved ones or acquaintances, to entertainment purposes such as browsing through social media or gaming, there’s no denying the huge impact these devices have on human existence.

Besides all these, mobile phones may even prove to be crucial in life or death scenarios. Phones can also be used to contact necessary emergency personnel as well as function as a flashlight, compass, or GPS navigator.

Naturally, a phone with zero battery is useless. Therefore, phone chargers, especially wireless ones, are just as important as mobile phones during emergencies. With wireless chargers, you are free from the constraints traditional mobile charging methods have. Going wireless means faster and easier setup time while also being more energy efficient along with other benefits.

With all that being said, let’s take a look as to what wireless chargers are and how vital they can be during emergencies.

What are Wireless Chargers & How Do they Work?

Believe it or not, wireless charging already existed since the late 19th century, due to the technological prowess and innovations of Nikola Tesla. With his advancements in transmitting electricity through the air using the magnetic field between transmitters and receivers, Tesla essentially invented the first wireless charging system. However, for about a century, this technology was virtually useless due to minimal practical applications during the 1800s, and thus was not extensively developed. Today, conventional wireless chargers harness the same technology Tesla developed, using charging mats as transmitters to transfer energy to your phone, the receiver.

What are the Benefits of Wireless Chargers During Emergencies?

Faster to set up

During emergencies, every second counts. In these crucial situations, panic sets in most of the time and causes your body to respond much slower than usual. Laying your phone down onto the charging mat is all you need to do to charge your phone instead of wasting time, nervously fumbling over to connect the charging cable to your phone. By effortlessly putting it down on the charger mat, you’ll get to save precious time compared to using traditional chargers.

Wireless chargers are also beneficial for backup batteries. Charging your extra battery by simply placing it on a charging mat without needing to put it in a phone will come in handy during emergencies.

They fill up your phone faster

Although it’s been somewhat of an open secret over the past couple of years that wireless chargers are less efficient in charging smartphones, this is not the case now. Some of the latest smartphones with more advanced wireless-charging capabilities charge faster than traditional wired charging.

Having a full battery to use with handy phone features such as flashlights or GPS systems during emergencies is exceptionally crucial.

Easier to use

With traditional chargers, you are at the mercy of power outlets. In scenarios wherein power sockets are unavailable or are located in poorly situated areas, making short charging cables unusable, using traditional charging methods during emergencies is not recommended. These scenarios will result in instances wherein you’ll repeatedly be yanking your phone and may end up disconnecting or destroying your phone adaptor, wire, and even your phone itself.

With wireless chargers, you’ll be able to use your phone conveniently as these wireless chargers are situated on top of flat surfaces. Contacting the necessary authorities in case of emergency will be more convenient with your phone comfortably being on its right-side-up.

Additional Benefits

They’re cheaper

It is common knowledge that smartphone cables break easily. The poor quality results in constant replacements which cost more over time. With wireless charging, you’ll never have to deal with frayed and tangled charging cables again.

Furthermore, charging cables have also been known to accumulate rust as time goes by. On the other hand, wireless chargers are not corroded by liquid substances so easily, hence lasting longer and producing less waste over time than conventional charging cables.

They’re safer for you

There have been many documented cases of smartphone chargers short-circuiting and exploding. This results to damaged property or physical injuries for you or anyone near it. One of the additional advantages of using wireless chargers is that it reduces the risk of circuit sparks and electric shocks from plugging it in outlets since you only have to plug it in once and not move around with it.

They’re safer for your phone

Malware is harmful to your phone. And typically, Malware hides in cables, especially in public charging stations. With a charging mat, your phone is virtually safer as smartphone wireless charging is a relatively new technology. Hence people have yet to find a way to exploit it.

5 Everyday Items You Can Repurpose for Survival

5 Everyday Items You Can Repurpose for Survival

Lots of us think that we’re prepared for a disaster. We’ve got supplies socked away: extra food, water filters, communications equipment, clothing, fuel, and a generator, even weapons. But, you can’t expect disaster to strike when it’s convenient. In fact, you should expect them when it’s not.

The real way to prepare is to mentally prepare. You need to have a mind that is limber, creative and able to adapt to your surroundings almost immediately. That means not just having things on hand in your home to help you get through a disaster, but knowing how to turn the things around you into important tools.

We drew up a list of common, household items that you are likely to find anywhere that can help you in a survival situation. It could be the end of the world or even just a few days where you’re trapped somewhere unfamiliar during a bad storm or separated from polite society by a wildfire. In either case, knowing what you find around you can do for you could give you a big edge when it comes to increasing your odds to make it out alive.

  1. A condom

This is no joke. The latex construction of a condom gives it a waterproof membrane that could serve you in a couple of key ways. The first is that it can keep water off things you need to keep dry, like a matchbook that you use to light signal or cooking fires. You can also fill it with water to stay hydrated, but you’ll want to make sure that you don’t stretch it too far or you’ll pop it.

  1. Eyeglasses

A good set of glasses can be helpful above and beyond whether you need them to see. Depending on how thick they are, you can use them to focus the sun’s light as a kind of magnifying glass. The same quality that would allow you to use them to burn ants will let you start fires with them. In a wilderness survival situation, water and warmth are probably the two biggest challenges you have and this addresses one. The other thing you can use glasses for is to signal low-flying aircraft or search parties if you’re lost.

  1. Dental floss

The primary quality that makes dental floss such a great way to clean teeth can make it an overlooked tool with great potential during survival situations. It is really strong for its size. You can increase its strength by braiding it up and either tie things together. It’s also thin enough that it’s hard to see, which when combined with its strength makes it perfect for setting basic snares to catch food.

  1. Socks

One thing you probably don’t have to hope you luck across in a survival situation are socks. Like the other things we’ve looked at, socks have a few different uses. The first one is that they are obviously a way to transport things that are too small to carry in your hand. If you run across a blueberry bush while looking for a way back to civilization, you can carry all of that food in a sock. The second is that if you’re wearing cotton or wool socks, you can scrape off a little bit of lint and use that as tinder to start fires. Finally, you can use them as crude filters for drinking water. The pores are far too large for you to drink water without fear of bacterial or viral contamination, but you can remove solids well enough before boiling water to make it safe to drink.

  1. Aluminum Cans

One thing that aluminum cans have going for them is that they are nearly ubiquitous. Cans people dropped on the ground 30 years ago are still there. Cans people dropping into streams 30 years ago are still there. If you find yourself in a survival situation, you can count on finding aluminum cans. What they offer you is a way to transport liquid. If they are still whole, you can fill them with water and carry them around. If you find a few of them, you can also tear them apart and double up the aluminum strips to make a cutting edge. An aluminum point won’t cut metal, but it’ll cut fabric easily enough and maybe even allow you to gut and clean a fish if you can land one.

Summary

We looked at five everyday items you can find around the house that will help you in a survival situation. It’s not intended to be an exhaustive list. In fact, what we’d like to suggest is that the real lesson is that this list helps you think creatively about everyday objects. Just about everything has some kind of utility in a survival situation if you can identify what strengths it has that you can use.

This post was written by Adam from HealthyHandyman.com – Feel free to check out his blog for more resources related to finding the right gear & equipment for your DIY, Woodworking or home improvement needs.

(The image was found at https://pixabay.com/en/aluminum-can-coca-cola-drink-87966/ by the way)

How Are Substance Abuse and Anger Related?

There may be more to anger than just feelings. Sometimes, when people seek help from psychologists for their anger issues, an assessment may reveal that one of the reasons behind their anger is extensive drug or alcohol use.

In cases where substance abuse is present, feeling angry may be a symptom of drugs or alcohol affecting their brains. Often, the more you abuse drugs or alcohol, the angrier you become.

Substance abuse may lead to anger for several reasons. For instance, if individuals stop using alcohol or drugs and are going through withdrawal, they may experience guilt and relationship problems. They may be angry about these problems and worry about solving them. They may turn to alcohol or drug again because they feel that their situations are hopeless.

 

What Are the Connections Between Anger and Substance Abuse?

Anger, violent tendencies, and aggression often co-occur alongside substance abuse. In some instances, anger may lead to a drug or alcohol addiction:

  • Stresses of life may be overwhelming, leading individuals to cope with their frustration and anger by indulging in alcohol or drugs
  • Rage becomes so intense that people turn to alcohol or drugs to numb their pain
  • Anger issues may cause problems at home or work, prompting distressed individuals to use substances to cope

 

In other situations, substance abuse may lead to anger:

  • Abusing drugs such as Klonopin may produce side effects that cause aggression or anger
  • Alcohol may cause repressed anger to bypass an individual’s normal restraint
  • Cocaine abuse may cause violent and aggressive behavior
  • Substance abuse may cause problems such as financial stress, DUIs, work conflicts, job losses, or relationship turmoil that may lead to anger, particularly if any of these events occur simultaneously
  • Dependence on alcohol or drugs may create resentment and anger

 

It is important to remember that the presence of anger is not the issue. At one point or another, everyone feels angry. Sometimes, people even become enraged. Anger is a part of life, and it is sometimes unavoidable. When the furious feelings last for extended periods, occur frequently, cause violent behavior, or consume a person, then they may become dangerous.

Some people who are addicted to alcohol or drugs have problems dealing with anger and expressing it appropriately. Anger and relapsing from sobriety are often linked because addicted individuals may abuse drugs or alcohol to mask their feelings.

People who are not able to express their anger healthily may use additional alcohol or drugs as a means of coping with their strong emotions. This behavior only creates and drives a destructive cycle. If you want to abstain from substance abuse without relapsing, it is vital to learn how to manage your anger in positive and constructive ways.

 

Why Is It Difficult to Manage Your Anger If You Are Addicted to Alcohol or Drugs?

Addicted people may have learned to express their anger in unhealthy ways from those close to them when they were still young.

The addicted person may deny feeling angry about a traumatic event such as the loss of a loved one, a rape, or child abuse. As a result, they may experience increasing feelings of anger and resentment even without realizing it.

Addiction prevents individuals from healthily expressing their feelings of anger.

Although addicted people may be angry with themselves, they may also blame the people around them for their problems.

 

How Does Substance Abuse Impact Anger?

People who use alcohol or drugs to cope with their problems often do not know how to manage their anger. Rather, they express anger in negative ways, which may include:

  • Screaming violent threats
  • Emotionally blackmailing other people. They may ignore their loved ones for extended periods without letting them know why they are angry
  • Becoming aggressive whenever they are angry. They may push, punch, kick, or hit others
  • Blocking their feelings of anger and avoiding confronting the issues that are causing their anger
  • Plotting revenge on the people who they believe have wronged them

 

How Can You Appropriately Deal with Your Anger?

Here are ways to handle your feelings of anger without turning to alcohol or drugs:

  • Walk away if things seem like they are spinning out of control. Leaving gives you physical and emotional space. It may help you cool off before going back and addressing the situation more rationally and calmly
  • Take a few deep breaths until you are feeling calmer and then evaluate the circumstances. Try to look at the situation from the other person’s perspective
  • Learn how to express anger positively using assertive and nondefensive forms of communication
  • Avoid toxic people and situations that make you angry
  • Express your anger creatively. For instance, consider painting, writing a song, singing, or describing your emotions in a journal
  • Exercise to channel your feelings of anger. You may do this by punching a gym bag, running, swimming, or participating in other physical activities.

 

One worrisome yet interesting aspect about the relationship between anger and substance abuse is that many people do not realize that they have anger issues or that anger and substance abuse are linked. People who know they have trouble managing their anger may downplay it as a symptom of drug or alcohol abuse. They may assume that when they become sober, their anger will automatically fade away.

For people with anger disorders, addressing emotions is not that easy. To bring healing to the mind, spirit, and body and encourage recovery, people need to address both their anger and their substance abuse.

 

Finding Help

Anger management will be ineffective for people who are angry and continue to abuse drugs such as Klonopin and alcohol. Since they are struggling with both anger and substance abuse, the best course of action would be to seek help from a rehab center for alcoholics or a rehab facility for drug abuse.

Once people successfully complete rehab programs, they are often less angry. Occasionally, individuals may require anger management programs because different people require different treatments.

 

Using Meditation

Another way to handle anger in a healthy way is by meditation. Once you have decided to receive the help you need in a rehab center, resentment and anger may still sneak up on you, even in recovery.

When things are going well, it may be easier to maintain your resolve to be sober. When you become stressed because of a huge argument with your partner, financial problems, or a long day at work, you may feel angry and dwell on everything that is going wrong.

In the past, you may have used alcohol or drugs as a crutch to deal with such problems. The situation may feel overwhelming and you may find it difficult to maintain your sobriety.

That is where meditation may help. Meditation may help you focus on what is presently happening in your life while allowing you to leave your past behind. It allows you to release your worries and fears, even if this release is only for a short time.

As an added bonus, you do not require any special skills to do it, and you may meditate almost anywhere at almost any time. All you need to do is clear your mind, concentrate on your breathing, and relax your body. There are also a variety of guided meditation options for anger management.

Although meditation does not erase all of your problems, you may be surprised at how much it may put them into perspective. A few moments of peace and some time alone may be all you need to change your attitude and overcome your problems. Letting go of anger may help improve your mental health and aid in your sobriety.

 

 

A New Dawn for Fighting Mosquito-Borne Diseases

A New Dawn for Fighting Mosquito-Borne DiseasesThe fact that mosquitoes carry a huge number of diseases is not new. But, what is surprising and potentially worrying is the fact that many diseases which had almost died out re returning, with a vengeance.

Cases of Zika, West Nile fever, dengue, and even malaria are on the increase. Combine this with a reduction in effectiveness of many antibiotics and you’ll quickly realize that you need to become best friend with your local exterminators.

The Two Sides Of The New Dawn

On the one side, the service offered by pest control firms has never been so important. You need to use their expert advice and skills in order to keep the mosquitoes away from your home:

Getting Rid Of Standing Water

Standing water is the perfect spot for mosquitoes to breed in. One of the most important things you and your pest control company can do is locate any standing water in the area of your home and eliminate it.

Netting

Keeping them out of your house can be done by using mosquito approved netting on the doors and windows. These are surprisingly effective and will keep your house safe.

Vegetation Management

As well as getting rid of water it is important to look at the vegetation around your home and even any piles of wood you have. These are the perfect spot for mosquitoes to rest on during the day; they are most active at dusk.

By identifying likely resting spots you can eliminate them.

Chemicals

Of course, pest control companies will use chemicals and insecticides to prevent eggs from hatching, treating any standing water and eliminating them on the vegetation.

On the other hand, there are some remarkable advancements happening in medical science to help prevent mosquitoes from being an issue and spreading disease:

Vector-Control Techniques

The use of new insecticides, many of which have been spread via the use of bed nets across the sub-Saharan area of Africa, is estimated to have saved 663 million diseases from having been contracted between 2000 and 2015!

Unfortunately, due to a reduction in the use of these bed nets disease numbers are starting to climb again. Now the technology is being reapplied to help reduce the mosquito population again.

New Insecticides

The success of DDT in controlling insects led to a lack of drive to create new products. However, many of the original DDT insecticides are now banned or losing their effect?

Fortunately, new insecticides are being developed to help in the fight.

New Repellents

Mosquitoes are able to locate humans from the carbon dioxide we all breathe out. It’s only when the mosquitoes get close that they are able to locate exposed skin; this is also through skin odors.

Blocking the natural odor of the skin prevents the mosquito from being able to detect your presence. New research has made these mosquito repellents even more effective.

Gene Sequencing

Gene sequencing and cloud computing are proving to be very effective at helping to spot potential outbreaks and prevent them from happening.

By using a mixture of these techniques you’ll be able to eliminate mosquitoes from your home and help the world at the same time.