Fence Cleaning and Maintenance

Fence maintenance can be frustrating if you are not sure how to clean a fence. Regardless if you're looking for tips on how to clean a vinyl fence, wood fence, chain link fence or steel & aluminum fences; This article should teach you everything you need to know for proper fence maintenance. Each section will explain the materials needed for cleaning your fence, how to clean your fence, level of difficulty (based on a 1-5 scale with 1 being easy and 5 being hard) and the recommended time frames for cleaning... Let's get started.

HOW TO CLEAN VINYL FENCE:

Strain

Materials Needed:

* Water hose

* bucket of soapy water or spray bottle of vinyl cleaning solution.

* Soft cloth rags

* Soft scrub brush (for tougher stains or dirt)

Level of Difficulty:

* 2 - Vinyl fencing is relatively easy to clean but can require a little "elbow grease" or extra scrub for some tougher stains and dirty spots.

Recommended Time Frame for Cleaning a Vinyl Fence:

* For maximum results; you should clean your vinyl fence at least once every 3 - 6 months.

Cleaning:

A few reasons why you would need to clean your vinyl fence would be: dirt and/or grass from the ground accumulating on the fence due to cutting the grass, leaves or other debris after a storm and rarely; you will notice a type of chalk build up develop on parts of the vinyl fence. These reasons are not major and are easily cleaned as explained below.

The majority of vinyl fences can be cleaned very easily by just spraying the fence down with a water hose; however, if there are some tough stains that a water hose does not take care of, just follow the method below and your fence will look brand new every time you clean it!

To prepare for cleaning a vinyl fence, you will want to decide if you are going to use a bucket of soapy water or a vinyl cleaning solution (can be purchased at your local hardware store) or a combination of both. If you are using a bucket of soapy water, you will want to fill the bucket with water to your desired amount and mix an environmentally safe cleaning solution in the bucket. (TIP: If it is environmentally safe,... It is vinyl fence safe)

After you have your bucket of soapy water, all you must do now is get your soft cloth rag wet via the water in the bucket and wipe down the areas of the fence that need wiped down. If you are using a spray bottle of vinyl cleaning solution, just spray the areas of the fence that need cleaned and wipe with a dry soft cloth rag. When you are finished cleaning an area of the fence, rinse it off with a water hose and allow it to air dry.

HOW TO CLEAN & STAIN A WOOD FENCE:

Materials Needed:

* Water Hose or Power Washer (for deep cleaning and removing old paint)

* Wood Stain, NOT PAINT (desired color)

* Bleach or wood cleaning solution

* Plastic Sheets (to protect grass under fence) OPTIONAL

Level of Difficulty:

* 4 or 5 - Cleaning a wood fence can be a little easier than our mentioned level of difficulty depending on the type and amount of cleaning that will be taking place.

Recommended Time Frame for Cleaning a Wood Fence:

* For maximum results we recommend that you clean/re-stain your wood fence once every 3-5 years.

Cleaning:

IF you have a cedar fence, you may notice that it will begin to turn a grayish color or the paint/stain will begin to lose its brightness and regardless of what kind of wood fence you have, you may notice a mold begin to develop on the fence. This section of the article will explain how to take care of these problems and get your wood fence looking new again!

If you decided to use plastic sheeting to protect your grass, you will want to lay that on the ground underneath the fence prior to starting any cleaning. (Using plastic sheeting will protect your grass from any harmful chemicals that may be in the cleaning solutions).

A mixture of "1 part bleach and 2 parts water" is very common when cleaning wood fences; however, you may also purchase wood cleaning solution from your local hardware store. What you will want to do first is apply the cleaning solution to the fence and allow it to soak in until you notice that the fence is becoming brighter and/or clean. You will then want to spray the fence off with a water hose (use a power washer for removing old paint or tough stains - make sure power washer is on the widest spray setting and held about 12 inches away from fence).

After the fence has been cleaned and sprayed off you will want to allow it to air dry. If it still needs cleaning in certain spots after it dries, repeat the above mentioned process. Once the fence is clean and dry you are ready to apply a strain. (If you do not wish to stain a certain color, you can use a wood sealant to ensure that the fence will look new for a long time). NOTE: DO NOT USE PAINT ON YOUR WOOD FENCE, INSTEAD USE A STAIN.

Properly apply the strain and allow the stain to dry. Your wood fence should now look beautiful and brand new. If you apply this process at least every 3 - 5 years, your wood fence will look beautiful and brand new for a long time!

HOW TO CLEAN CHAIN LINK, STEEL AND ALUMINUM FENCES:

Materials Needed:

* Water hose

* Soft scrub brush

* Bucket of soapy water OPTIONAL

Level of Difficulty:

* 1 - Cleaning metal fences such as chain link, steel and aluminum is very easy and does not require much time/effort to complete.

Recommended Time Frame for Cleaning a Metal Fences:

* For maximum results, we recommend that you clean your metal fences once a year or as needed.

Cleaning:

If you want to give your children a chore to do around the house, now is the time. Cleaning a chain link, steel or aluminum fence is very easy and can be performed by almost anyone. Most of the time you can clean your metal fence by simply spraying it off with a water hose; however, if you come across some tough stains or areas that need a little scrubbing, the following advice should do the trick.

First you will want to prepare a bucket of soapy water. To do this, simply fill a bucket with warm water and mix with any cleaning solution that will not increase chances of rust development. You will then want to take your soft bristle scrub brush and dip it in the soapy water. After the brush is wet, simply scrub the areas of the fence that need cleaning and rinse by spraying off with a water hose... Its that easy.

Fence Cleaning and Maintenance

This article was written by John Burke, General manager of Boundary Fence and Railing Systems' Rochester manufacturing facility (Boundary Fence of Rochester). Boundary is a fence and railing manufacturing specializing in vinyl fencing as well as all other types of fencing, accessories, hardware, and tools.

See Also : What is Pregnancy Yoga The stress no more

20 Best Ways to Relax Your Body and Mind

If you follow these simple tips to relax your body and mind, you are on the best way to find relief from tension and anxiety, cope better with everyday problems, be emotionally stronger, and improve your concentration. You can become more positive, more tolerant and get more out of life. Generally the most effective way to overcome stress and anxiety is not so much to try to change the situations themselves, but simply to change the way you deal with them.

There are many ways to relax body and mind, ranging from the physical (massage, acupressure etc), to the emotional (influencing the subconscious) and spiritual (tapping into the universal life force and your inner spirit). In this article I will give you a few starters so you can instantly begin to relax. There is always more to learn!

\"stress Management\"

1. Improve your fitness - a fit body is much more able to cope with stress and there is a lot of satisfaction to be gained from physical fitness and achievement. Start slow and don't overdo it - but steadily build up your strength.
2. Improve your eating habits - You are what you eat - try eating more vegetables and less fat and see how quickly your body will react and your ability to relax will improve.
3. Improve your drinking habits - instead of coffee, have a glass of water or herbal tea. If you are feeling anxious, try to cut down on stimuli like caffeine or alcohol which will stress your body even more.
4. Improve your posture: slumped shoulders and a dropped neck inhibit breathing properly. Straighten up and feel how good it feels to stand up to yourself.
5. Get comfortable: To be able to calm and relax, remove your shoes, undo your tie or neck button, loosen your belt, unclasp your bra, slip into something comfortable. This is the prerequisite of any relaxing exercise.
6. Fresh air: Open the windows and breathe in the fresh air.
7. Slow down: Instead of talking and searching for company at any cost, take a couple of minutes outdoors to slow down. Nature has its own way of calming your mind.
8. Silence: find a place in silence - treasure it, absorb it, immerse yourself in it, hang on to it as long as possible. Many relaxing exercises will start with a place of silence.
9. Control Your Breathing: Straighten up and take a deep slow breath through your nose, deep into your tummy, do not let the chest rise, relax your shoulders - then release the breath slowly through your mouth.
10. Muscle relaxation: Sitting or lying comfortably tense the muscles of one arm - hold it - then let them go limp and feel the difference. Savour the relaxed feeling. Do the same with the other arm and the legs one at a time
11. Shoulders and neck: Slowly rotate one shoulder backwards and forwards, then up and down. Do the same with the other shoulder. Gently let your head fall down on your chest, then bring it up and backwards. After that, tilt your head on the left and right shoulder. Repeat this slowly.
12. Jaw release: Open your mouth wide, then close. Repeat this a few times. Then put your fist under your chin, open your mouth and press the lower jaw against the fist. Hold this for a few seconds, then release.
13. Hands: Clasp fingers tightly and press, then release. Become aware of how tension feels. Then nestle your left in your right hand, the thumbs gently touching each other. Remain like this and relax.
14. Motivation: motivate yourself to continue on your path to calmness. Actively seek it; if you are certain that you can achieve it the positive energy will push you forward.
15. Reject stress: Distinctly reorganize your priorities. Reject anything that will put pressure on you. Learn to say no and become more positive and energetic.
16. Affirmation: This is a whole wide field of possibilities. Try to visualize a certain situation (you being able to cope with a stressful situation for example), then imprint this picture onto a stone or small object you can fit into your pocket. Then every time you touch it you will see this picture and affirm yourself that you can achieve it.
17. Autogenic Training: This as well is a big field and is a good method for emergency stress response. Lie down and think of your arms. Feel them getting heavy. Think: "My arm is getting heavy", again and again. Do the same with the other arm and each leg. You can also think: "My arm is getting warm" and repeat that. Feel it getting warm.
18. Influence your subconscious: To reinforce messages to your subconscious, like "I am calm and can cope with this situation", there is no way like this: repeat, repeat, repeat.
19. Visualization: Go to sleep with a picture in your mind how you would like to be. Do this again and again, every night. Try to wake up with this picture in your mind.
20. Concentrate on the task at hand: If you immerse yourself totally in a task, so that you achieve the very best result you are capable of (this can be anything at all, for example washing the dishes, ironing, driving a car or mowing the lawn), you will find that task becomes like a meditation in itself. Time flies, you derive satisfaction from your efforts and you spend at least this time completely in the here and now, not worrying about past or future.

20 Best Ways to Relax Your Body and Mind

Anna R. is author of the website http://www.windrose.com.au

Thanks To : What is Pregnancy

Stress Management - Understanding the 4 Different Types of Stress

We all deal with stress in one form or another. Whether it comes in the form of a small problem, like having to wake up on a Monday morning for work, or a huge issue such as dealing with a family crisis, our bodies take a beating from this type of tensions on a daily basis. How each of us deals with each of these stressful situations is what decides how adversely or positively we are affected in the long run.

Psychologists state that there are four types of mental stress and people from all walks of life have dealt with at least one of them in their lifetime.

\"stress Management\"

1. Eustress is a healthy and positive form of stress and it is experienced when a person achieves a goal or is rewarded for having succeeded in something. Generally it leaves one feeling fulfilled.

2. Distress is the total opposite of Eustress and is the most common form of stress. It often gives one a feeling of anxiety or mental strain. This is something we all go through in our daily lives and often we don't even notice it happening.

3. Acute Stress comes immediately and is intense but often subsides quickly and is the body's way of getting you to take control of a situation. This may occur when a person is threatened in some way and may even occur even if there is just a perceived threat. Symptoms may include anxiety, bad judgment and depression.

4. The worst form of stress is Chronic Stress which is a result of the body being under constant strain. Our bodies can handle a certain amount of tension in order to help us cope in dangerous situations. When the body is under strain due to pressure at work, busy traffic, family pressures, money worries and health concerns and this goes on for a prolonged period of time, it becomes dangerous and can lead to serious illnesses.

There are very many different ways to combat stress, some more helpful than others. Most people talk with a therapist about their issues and at times their therapist will prescribe medicine to aid in reducing stress. But medicines typically only dull the pain and the symptoms relating to their anxiety occur again once the medication wears off. There are of course more holistic stress relief and management options, which should in our opinion be explored first.

No matter what pressures you may be under it is not good for you to strain yourself all the time. Our modern lifestyles force a certain amount of stress on us but you need to be aware of what stress you are under and how it is affecting you. Pay attention to your body and if you need help to get through a stressful situation then don't wait. The quicker you can relieve your tension the fewer symptoms you will suffer from in the long run.

Stress Management - Understanding the 4 Different Types of Stress

Stress can be a debilitating condition. Discover more info on stress management and stress relief. You can also check out the Totally Tranquil Program - free downloadable demo.

See Also : World Health Club

Strain Or Sprain - What's the Difference?

As you can imagine some of the most common injuries we treat are strains and sprains. But what's the difference between the two? How do you know which is which? Let's take a look at both types of injuries to make the clear distinction.

The strain
More common than sprains, these overuse injuries happen when a muscle or tendon (that connects the muscle to the bone) gets stretched too far. For example, when you're running too fast or trying to jump over something.

Strain

This over stretching causes some pain. But after some rest the muscle heals and returns to its original shape.

But not if you go too far
Every time there's an injury, you actually strain the muscle first. Since it's the first line of defense. So if you were to roll your ankle the muscle tries to stabilize that movement. But if the muscle isn't strong enough it tears and moves to the ligament.

If the ligament tears you get a sprain.

So a strain and sprain actually always happen together. Meaning if you sprain something you've actually strained the muscle or tendon in the area first.

How do you heal a strain?
The first thing is rest and ice. Then you slowly introduce stretching and strengthening. This is where people make a mistake because they try to get to the stretching/strengthening too soon.

You need to rest and allow the pain to go down. You can actually makes things worse by not allowing enough time to rest.

Unfortunately, the sprain can't be healed
But with most ligaments there's a muscle that helps do the same action. So to compensate you can build up those muscles. Otherwise known as the first line of defense to protect the sprained ligament.

When you sprain or rupture a ligament you've permanently lost your second line of defense. Elite athletes turn to some type of surgical procedure because they need to do an advanced activity. But most people wouldn't necessarily need to have the ligament repaired because they don't use it as frequently.

The sprain won't heal but there won't always be pain.
Ice reduces the pain and inflammation. But the ligament is always in a weakened state.

To Summarize:
A strain happens to a muscle or tendon from overuse or a sudden movement like darting towards the net while playing tennis. After plenty of rest the strain will heal.

A sprain happens when you get past the first line of defense and into the ligament. This happens if you step on a ball and roll your ankle. The ligament itself doesn't heal. But the pain goes away. The support muscles must be strengthened to compensate for the weakened state. As always a strength and conditioning routine can help you lessen the chances of these types of injuries.

Strain Or Sprain - What's the Difference?

Pete Schultz is the co-owner of Dynamic Sports Physical Therapy in NYC. He is a board certified specialist in orthopedic physical therapy. A certified personal trainer since 1992, his specialties include cancer rehabilitation, flexibility and certified strength and conditioning. He invites you to visit http://DynamicSportsPT.com for more information.

Tags : What is Pregnancy The stress no more Yoga

Diseases from House Flies

I am writing this article as a way of promoting our fly killer machines. It provides information on diseases that can be caused by house flies.

Houseflies frequent dung heaps and other fecal sources. They also visit decaying matter including dead animals. When landing on food that is prepared for human consumption, contaminated material is often transferred to the food.

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There are a wide range of diseases that can be transmitted by flies. Here are some of them:

Typhoid Fever (Salmonella typhi)

Symptoms: High temperature (up to 104 deg F or 40 deg C), loss of appetite, headache, stomach pain and usually some weakness. Sometimes a pink skin rash appears.

Treatment: A doctor will usually prescribe an antibiotic and the symptoms will cease in a few days. If no treatment is given, the subject may become seriously ill and even die from secondary problems (up to 20% typhoid fever sufferers die without treatment).

Cholera (cause by Vibria cholerae, a bacterium)

Symptoms: unexpected episodes of watery diarrhoea that contains flecks of white mucous material, stomach pains, dry or sticky mouth, sunken eyes, concentrated coloured urine, in a child a markedly sunken fontanelles (the soft spot at the top of the head), dry skin, nausea and vomiting (usually).

Treatment: Cases can vary from mild to serious. If untreated, serious cases can lead to imminent death. Drink plenty of fresh water, mixed with small quantities of salt and sugar. This will restore the body's fluid. Treatment must be given immediately.

Escherichia coli

Symptoms: This depends on the strain of Escherichia coli. Most strains are harmless and result in no detectable symptoms. Other strains, such as O157:H7 can sometimes cause bloody diarrhea. In a very small number of cases Escherichia coli O157:H7 can lead to hemolytic uremic syndrome that can lead to kidney failure in young children. For most of us, and for most of the time, Escherichia coli causes no problems.

Treatment: No treatment is necessary, unless uremic syndrome occurs, in which case a blood transfusion and kidney dialysis may be required.

Shigellosis (cause by Shigella, a bacterium)

Symptoms: Diarrhoea (often bloody), fever, and stomach pains. Most cases are mild and may not even be noticed. In a small number of cases, the very young and very old may be vulnerable to high temperature fever, possibly (and rarely) leading to a seizure in a toddler.

These are just some of the illnesses that can be spread by houseflies. Be on your guard. To be safe you may wish to install a fly killer machine (details follow).

Diseases from House Flies

Fly Killers can be purchased on line here

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