Happy Housekeeping: Home And Garden Tips

Every year, thousands of people purchase mattresses, only to find that their new mattresses are as uncomfortable as the old ones. You can avoid this problem by assessing your personal needs before you go to the store. Depending on your tolerance to certain aspects of a mattress, you may find that you need to purchase a specific type, rather than simply shop based on brand name or price.

Pressure Sensitivity

While many people assess the firmness of a mattress, few think about how this will affect sleeping posture. For example, a box spring mattress that’s too soft may wreak havoc on side-sleepers – the last thing you want is to try and arrange your body around bedsprings just as you’re trying to fall asleep! On the other hand, a mattress that is too firm is bound to feel like a board, and leave you wondering how you will arrange your knees and shoulders. The best way to assess your pressure sensitivity is to lie on a number of mattresses at the store to determine which is most comfortable for you and your sleep style.

Tolerance to Springs

Some people just hate box-spring mattresses. While the springs provide flexibility in a mattress, they also have a tendency to be in all the wrong places – so you could spend hours looking for a position where the springs aren’t poking into your back. It’s important to know if you have a low tolerance for springs before purchasing a new mattress. There are plenty of alternatives on the market today, including adjustable bed mattresses – so don’t feel that you’re trapped if you don’t like springs.

Back Support

Without question, your back needs the proper amount of support while you’re sleeping, since mattresses that are too soft or too hard can aggravate existing back problems. Today, there are a number of mattresses available that can be adjusted to fit the shape of your back. While these mattresses may be more expensive, you might find that you sleep more comfortably on them. For a low cost option, try purchasing a memory foam cover that “remembers” the shape of your back. If you find this helpful, consider it a sign that your next mattress should be one that adjusts to fit your back.

Mattress Odor

Surprisingly enough, the way a mattress smells can make it very difficult to sleep on. In particular, if the mattress has a strong vinyl odor – or does not air out well – you probably won’t be able to sleep well. Therefore, before purchasing a mattress, you may want to smell its surface carefully to make sure it does not have a strong vinyl or chemical odor to it. Even a mattress that does not have much odor in a store can accumulate a stronger odor in an enclosed space – like your bedroom. When in doubt, find a different mattress.

Before looking for a new mattress, it’s especially important to identify your personal needs and sensitivities. Even if you think that your old mattress needs replacing because of worn out springs, you might want to consider why and how the springs are causing you distress. In some cases, it might be best for you to purchase a different type of mattress, rather than find yourself unhappy with the new one a few months down the road.

Dust mites are tiny eight-legged insects that live in just about every home. They are so tiny that you can only see them with a microscope and even then only when you have them on a dark background. Although these mites do not pose a threat or biting or carrying disease, they are pests because they cause allergies. They do pose a threat to anyone who has as the=ma because their presence makes the symptoms of the condition worse. 

They are usually found in bedrooms, in the dust bunnies under the bed and in the pillows and mattress. You can also find them in sofas and in carpeting because this is the environment that provides them with what they need to survive - dust, warmth, and moisture. They come from the same class of arthropods as spiders and ticks. They feed on the scales of dead skin that comes off the human body, which is why they love beds so much. 

It is not the dust mites themselves that causes a problem for humans. When they do eat the particles of skin, they must secrete a fungus that will digest the food before they eat it. This is necessary because they do not have a stomach to digest the food for them. Of course, they secrete more fungus than necessary and the food that is left behind has fungus left on it. Like all living things, they do excrete waste and it is the waste that causes allergies. When you realize that there could be a million or more of these dust mites in your mattress, than adds up to an enormous amount of waste.

If you lie on a rug or carpet containing dust mites, you may feel as if your skin is itching. This is one of the reactions they cause and of course, when you scratch, you provide them with more food. One of the ways you can combat this unseen problem is to make sure that you vacuum the carpeting on a regular basis. Take your rugs outdoors to beat them out and if the weather is suitable, leave the rug outdoors in the sunlight. Sunlight is one of the enemies of dust mites and is one step you can take to getting rid of them. 

In the bedroom, experts recommend placing dust covers over your mattress. And pillows. All bedding (blankets, bed sheets and pillowcases) needs to be washed in really hot water at last once a week. Washing in cold water may save you money on your water or electric bill, but it will not do anything about getting rid of the dust mites. Even with the dust proof covers in place, you do need to vacuum these as well - at least once a week. They keep the dust from getting on the mattress and pillow, but they do collect dust too. 

Everyone knows that children love stuffed toys. However, this is another area where dust mites live and breed. You should not have any stuffed toys in a child’s room and if your little one does have a favorite toy or blanket that he/she carries everywhere, it will need to be laundered more often than the regular bedding.

Even if you don’t have kids or pets, chances are you’re concerned about the buildup of toxic chemicals on your lawn. Unfortunately, it’s hard to avoid pests like nematodes and other underground insects that can cause serious damage to your lawn. However, instead of running straight for the chemical section of your lawn and garden store, put in a little time and effort and use one of the many organic products available to you. You’ll feel better about your lawn and help protect the environment at the same time!

Shellfish Fertilizer

Even though crushed seashell is classified as a nutrient product, it also helps to promote the development of organisms that discourage harmful nematodes. Not only will your lawn have the advantage of additional calcium, you will also be providing a safe, natural way for your lawn’s ecosystem to manage a harmful parasite issue.

Predatory Insects

One of the best kept secrets of lawn care tips are ladybugs, the praying mantis, and aphid predators. These are some of the most powerful hunters of annoying insects – so use them to your advantage! Even a handful of these naturally occurring insects can protect your lawn for years. You may also want to try lacewings and spined soldier bugs, depending on which pests are plaguing your lawn. In addition, red earthworms can be used to control insects that lay eggs in the soil. As the earthworms consume the eggs, they’ll also provide valuable nutrition and aeration for your lawn.

Garlic Extracts

Many natural pesticides include garlic extracts – and for good reason. Despite what you may expect, these solutions don’t have a strong odor and can prevent leaf and blade chewing insects from attacking plants. Feel free to experiment with fresh garlic cloves and other natural materials to come up with your own pest-fighting formula.

Milky Spore Powder

Japanese beetles are the bane of any lawn owner – and chances are if you see one, there are hundreds more lurking around. These obnoxious insects can devastate a lawn or shrubs in a matter of days. Japanese beetles have developed a resistance to most of the chemically-based pesticides on the market, so going organic is definitely to your advantage here. Milky spore powder is a safe, natural, and easy way to rid your lawn of these unsightly insects.

Attract Birds

Whether they’re lovely songbirds or irritating crows, most birds rely on insects for their diet. If you can attract them to your lawn, they’ll naturally go after mosquitoes, houseflies, slugs, nematodes and other pests found around your yard. Set up bird feeders and bird baths around your lawn to help control your insect population. Just be careful – a bird bath full of standing water can be a breeding ground for mosquitoes, so empty and clean it regularly!

Although there are many different organic pesticides available, do your research before purchasing them. It’s important to remember that any compound – even natural ones – can be a form of poison, depending on the dose you expose your lawn to. If you can identify the specific insect that you are having trouble with, find a natural solution that targets only that problem and be sure you apply a safe dose. Over time, as these compounds build up, you may find that you need to apply less and less to manage your pests – protecting your lawn and the environment for years to come.