How Dirty Are Your Shoes?

Do you wear your shoes in the house or leave them at the door? It's an especially important choice for people with small children who play on the floor.

In some countries and cultures, it's scandalous to walk Best Remodeling Company into a home with shoes on. But in the U.S., most people do.

"I don't really think that much about it," said New Jersey mom Michelle Ciocon.

"Good Morning America" tested the bottoms of eight different people's shoes, as well as two dogs' paws, for bacteria. Ciocon's shoes contained the most bacteria of all -- 66 million organisms.

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It's no reflection on her; she probably just stepped directly in something.

In a recent study, researchers at the University of Arizona found nine different species of bacteria on people's shoes. These types of bacteria can cause infections in our stomachs, eyes and lungs.

The study also found bacteria live longer on o ur shoes than in other places. As we walk, we constantly pick up new debris that feeds the growth of more bacteria.

The researchers tested to see if bacteria on shoes would transfer to the tile floors in a house. More than 90 percent of the time it did. Carpeting harbors bacteria even more.

'GMA's' Test Results

"GMA's" test results were "dirtier than a toilet seat," said Jonathan Sexton, a research assistant at the University of Arizona's College of Public Health. "Toilet seats generally have 1,000 bacteria or less, and these are in the millions so there's a lot more bacteria here."

The results troubled Ciocon.

"I'm concerned," she said. "I'm going to make sure everyone takes their shoes off from now on. As soon as they get to that door, their shoes are going to be off."

Children under age 2 are the most vulnerable to the germs we track into the house, because they play on the floor and put their hands in their mouths an average of 80 times an hour.

"That Best Remodeling Houston means that your child can possibly be exposed to every single bacteria that you picked up on your shoe [...] all the bacteria from the park, the store, everywhere you went that day," Sexton said.

Out of "GMA's" 10 tests, nine contained coliform, a type of bacteria that comes mostly from human and animal waste.

Scientists blame the floors of public restrooms and bird and dog droppings. The dogs in "GMA's" test came in fifth and ninth place for dirtiest soles.

But that doesn't mean dogs are cleaner than people. One of the dogs in the test had just been for a walk in the rain, which probably cleaned his paws. Also, paws are much smaller than our shoes, so they carry fewer germs.

Expert Tips for Keeping Clean

The easiest way to ensure that you don't track the germs on your shoe soles into your home is to leave your shoes at the door or carry them to the closet. Then you should wash your hands.

Researchers found washing shoes in the washing machine on the cold cycle, with detergent, killed the bacteria. So for some shoes that might be an option. You can also wipe them with a disinfectant.

While you may be comfortable taking your footwear off before entering your home, you may not know how to ask guests to do so.

Anna Post, author and spokesperson for the Emily Post Institute, which offers advice on manners and etiquette, said when having visitors in your home, removing shoes is something you can ask of a guests. But you have to keep in mind that everyone might not be comfortable with that, she added.

Post suggested having a clean pair of slippers or socks for them to wear instead. If you are entertaining in your home and someone refuses to take off their shoes or you don't know them well enough to ask them to do so -- it might just be easier to do a big cleanup the next day, which you have to be prep ared for when entertaining, Post said.

The bottom line is that you need to make guests feel welcome in your home, she said.





Etiquette consultant Janice Gibson said it's important to remember that "proper etiquette" is about making others feel comfortable.

"I am a Southern lady who entertains frequently and would never ask a guest to remove his or her shoes before entering my home -- it's just not a gracious thing to do," she said.

"Some p eople may have a foot odor problem or maybe the ladies haven't had time for a pedicure, so this would only make them feel self conscious and uncomfortable. Keep in mind that part of entertaining in your home is cleaning up afterwards."

"So, if you absolutely insist on asking guests to remove their shoes, you should have some pretty slippers available for them to wear," Gibson said. "Of course, there are cultures around the world who expect their guests to remove their shoes due to the fact that they sit and sleep on mats on the floors. Hopefully, a guest would be informed and know in advance if this custom is practiced by the host and plan accordingly. I guess you just have to decide what's more important -- your floors or your guests?"

But at least one etiquette consultant said hosts should not not ask guests to remove their shoes.

"It's not really proper to ask a guest to remove their shoes. But if you see that other people have removed their shoes, then you s hould remove yours, too," said Tennessee etiquette expert Lois Hearn.

Click here for more advice on how to deal with your dirty shoes.

http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Consumer/Story?id=5177409&page=1

13 Things Your Landscaper Won't Tell You: Expert Landscaping Tips Add to Home Value

"GMA" is teaming up with Reader's Digest on a special series of "13 Things Your ____ Won't Tell You." Add as much as 15 percent to your home's value with these expert landscaping tips.

1. Ditch the mower bag. Those grass clippings will become food for earthworms and microbes that will help make your lawn green and healthy.

2. Sure, the view from the street is important, but don't forget to look at your landscape from inside the house. If you have a room with a big window, make sure it looks good from there too.



3. Don't fill every inch of your space with plants and flowers. By next spring, you'll have a weeding and pruning nightmare.

4. That "pretty" red mulch you love? It has been found to contain arsenic and other harsh chemicals that can be harmful to children and pets and will contaminate your soil.

5. Hate bagging leaves? You don't have to. If there's just a light layer, go over them with your mower and leave them on your lawn. As they break down, they'll help limit weeds from popping up.

6. You can send a sample of your soil to a local agricultural agency to have it tested. Dig down six to seven inches deep and then gather two cups of dirt into sample bags. Mail them off to find out what nutrients you need.

7. If you https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uRbW3ayDWVQ find a flower you like, always buy more than one. Plant clumps of species in odd numbers, such as five or seven in one area, or repeat the groupings throughout your landscape for a unifying effect.

8. Do-it-yourself landscapers tend to make their planting beds too narrow and too close to the house. You want to extend your beds out at least one to two thirds of the house's height, if not more.

9. Laying weed fabric is generally a waste of money and time for the long term; weeds just grow on top of it. I once had a customer whose beds had seven layers of weed fabric, yet she still had weeds. I guess she kept thinking, If I put down just one more layer, the weeds will stop coming.

10. Most lawn fertilizers have about 30 percent nitrogen, which is way too much. Look for fertilizer with time-releasing water-insoluble nitrogen and use it only twice a year on a steady schedule, like on Memorial Day and after Labor Day. In general, well-irrigated and older lawns need less fertilizer.

11. Watch out for a gorgeous plant called purple loosestrife, or Lythrum salicaria, which a lot of nurseries still sell. Though it's inexpensive and has a lovely flower, it's an invasive species that will spread everywhere and choke out other plants.

12. To keep from overwatering your lawn, remember that one inch of water once a week is ideal, maybe once every five days in extreme heat, depending on your soil. Infrequent watering encourages roots to grow deeper to find groundwater, creating a stronger plant.

13. Looking at https://www.reliablesprinkler.com/products/sprinklers?pctid[]=203 a color wheel is a great way to choose garden flowers. Colors that are opposite each other, like yellow and purple, look beautiful https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uRbW3ayDWVQ together.

For even more things your landscaper won't tell you, click here.

More 13 Things from Reader's Digest:

13 Things Experts Won't Tell You About Weight Loss

13 Things Your Real Estate Agent Won't Tell You



13 Things Your Grocer Won't Tell You

13 Things a Movie Theater Employee Won't Tell You

13 Things Your Pizza Guy Won't Tell You

http://abcnews.go.com/Business/13-things-landscaper-expert-landscaping-tips-add-home/story?id=16150240

The Many Functions of a Garden

A Garden on its Own



If you grew up in a house with a garden, then you would appreciate the peace and solace that a garden can give; the fun and enjoyment that a garden plays hosts to in events and parties, there are many, many ways to use a garden. You just have to learn to sit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kjreVlmEbis back and appreciate what you have in order to see how much of a difference having a garden could give. By itself, a garden is where you can rest, relax and appreciate https://www.houser.co.uk/property-to-rent/whitbread-close-london-n17-l173448 nature for itself; take a fresh breath of air, and by taking care of it, give back some of that nurturing that nature bestows upon us.

The Garden and Y ou



You do no need some elaborate plan or expensive equipment just so you can appreciate your garden. Just pull out a nice comfortable chair unto your garden, grab a book and experience the feel of reading in such a beautiful atmosphere. You do not even need a book, you can just go there and rest, the fresh clean air is always good for the lungs and is very relaxing too. If you have a large enough space, you can do some of your hobbies in the garden too. If you have pets, then a clean garden is a good place to play with them. You can even train them tricks in a peaceful garden since they will not be distracted.

If you like to draw or write, being in the presence of nature could be quite the inspiring feeling. You will not even need special lighting since sunlight is bright and easy on the eyes. Roll out a blanket and whip out some snacks to give yourself a private picnic. One way or the other, you can turn your garden to your personal vacation spot. This is how you can truly appreciate the garden on your own.

Bringing More to Your Garden

Taking your friends and your family to a garden is quite a refreshing experience. You all get to enjoy nature and its beauty together. You can hold a grill or a small party in the outdoor settings. The open air is perfect for grills and barbecues since the smoke will not stay in the confines of the house. Just lay out a few tables and chairs and you are ready to go. The added bonus of having a party in the garden is that cleanup is not as complicated and there are less chances of your things in the house getting ruined.

Gardens can host many events; you can go star gazing on clear nights just by preparing a telescope. Weddings are very romantic when held at a garden setting, and the green and white plays beautiful effects on the eyes. You can also have get-togethers, soirees, and other social functions in the garden. Just make sure that you prepare your garden with the right materials and proper maintenance to help it enhance the party instead of being a negative factor. This is why you should take care of your garden, because it can do https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kjreVlmEbis so much for you. GP

http://www.selfgrowth.com/articles/the_many_functions_of_a_garden.html

Costly Mistakes Any time Hiring Landscaping Companies

Many individuals carry out trees landscaping style as being a leisure activity, as becoming a way of decorating the backyard, or even as being a profession. the the vast majority of efficient spot to have got concepts would be to Sprinkler verify out how many other people have accomplished. having these aspects will guarantee you never dispose of the time, effort, and also finances.

With the actual assistance of landscaping experts, you can easily Sprinkler System create wonderful and also appealing landscapes on the property. But, hiring landscaping companies can always be very expensive. That will get more serious, if somebody makes costly mistakes when hiring landscaping experts. To http://www.telegraph.co.uk/gardening/ Become able To help you, below can always be a set of the particular mistakes you'll mus t be aware of.

About 68 percent coming via all architects work at different positions and amounts within the architectural, engineering, as well as associated solutions industry. Such mainstream architects plan and also design the actual construction's appearance, aesthetic appeal, layout, placement of air-conditioners and also ventilation systems, structural integrity, and also strength. The Particular role from the architect begins on the conception of the project and also ends if the project is actually complete, along with entails providing technical and additionally other sketches for that construction.

According to the company, they're specialists in every places associated with #landscapeconstruction as well as landscaping maintenance. Discussing a customers desires and needs along with working out a plan that will eventually ends up with their customer's winding up with the ideal outdoor environment for his or even her home, demands vision, expertise in the s ubject with an ability to execute tasks in the organized along with successful way. The Actual end result's an attractive back along with front yard, that's additionally healthy, clean and safe. in Orange County, nobody must settle for less.

Mowing, pruning, lawn cleanups, planting plants along with fertilization, particular seasonal associated work, and a lot more most fall into Landscaping OC's landscaping maintenance responsibilities determined by a new customer's individuals needs. during enterprise hrs a landscaping expert is mostly designed for an assessment and also cost quote, in order to lend suggestions about the possible landscaping project.

Enhance The Decor Of Your Dwelling Having A Variety Of Lds Oil Paintings

Color has this kind of great impact to people on almost every aspect of their lives. Before you can even start painting you have to pay everything to protect it from splatters and spills (not to mention taping over outlets and framework, which can be a daunting task itself. All the same, you must not plunge into it without a result oriented strategy. All you need to complete is prepare for this and know and understand well what you've to do.

Article Directory: http://www. It could have cracks about the wood base or trim. Ask these to include just as much of these details as necessary, including: .

Make certain your baseboards are clean first before you decide to apply the paintbrush to them. Providence painting companies have lots of references that you could turn to as a method of gauging precisely how good they are inside their work. You can also tape newspaper or plastic cloth material over windows and doors, including sliding glass doors, to prot ect them from drips. The finished product will probably be protected against peel offs as a consequence of direct sunlight, humidity or heat. Again, if you have employees you'll must take into account their wages and benefits inside your bids also.



The services of excellent Rhodes Island painters will definitely make your room or house look new and reformed. To protect your carpets, pry them off a floor having a wallpaper knife and pull them back to expose the floor. Add extensions to the ends of the downspouts to transport the water further away in the h ouse than https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3-gbNjp6eMo the existing distance.

To learn more about painting your house, and for a free quote on house painters visit www. To download a free of charge 10 page guide to selecting a house painter in Naperville, visit http://www. You'll find this and much more, including probably the most coordinating paint colors to use.

Orange County Landscaping Designs by Boyce Munoz - Isnare Press Releases

A wooden pergola beautifully complements a garden landscaping while adding a touch of coziness and providing a center point for family and friends to relax in. As a bypass product, additionally, it increases property value, making it an ideal do it yourself for all households to consider. Pergolas can also be built with aluminium or vinyl, and undeniably these materials are durable and low maintenance. However, it can be wood that comes out as a clear winner in terms of appeal and blending along with the surrounding landscape.



While the good news is that there's still time to salvage this with quality landscaping. The weeds haven't overrun your yard yet and there's still lots of green life left in https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CPzCddSIetg that grass. Here we will cover five good ideas , improve your yard and create an outd oor space get ready to experience for years to come.

It is best to take into consideration getting a specialist in case you are way too occupied or perhaps in case you never hold the important expertise or gear. You can actually obtain a landscaper through using a suggestion from your holder of your landscaped yard you want. You could also get guidance from family members, close friends, or neighbours.

We will probably never find out who the actual inventor with the leaf blower is. Yet, we can be quite certain that the first commercially accessible backpack leaf blower appeared in 1970 with the Japanese Kyoritsu company that we understand today as Echo. The PB-9 Backpack Power Blower was not the very first blowing machine built by Kyoritsu. The company pioneered the production of what are called backpack power dusters that have been used to spray pesticides on plants. The story goes that men and women started to dismantle mit spray unit and used the unit to blow leav es and debris out of their property. It is a realistic story. It is not difficult to reckon that the company engineers saw the need for something that blows leaves and designed the PB-9.

If undertaking trees landscaping, it's always best to grow young trees for about three causes. If you ever employ a hectic schedule, it's best to grow trees which demand small upkeeping. In many circumstances, a seedling will catch up and pass a fully developed tree in significantly less than a decade. Think about getting a skilled lawn specialist in case you possess the finances therefore you don't have time and energy to get it done on your own. A skilled landscaper knows the best location to grow, the fertilizer to make use of, the spacing involving trees, how big is the tree to plant, as well as other related concerns. Nonetheless, if these plants don't match your trees landscaping plans, cut them down.

Lawn Care - Correct Lawn Mowing Techniques

Our garden along with our kitchen can make a difference within our lives. In today's world, most folks are too busy to adopt proper care of their lawns and gardens. Lawn care can be considered a large amount of work, that is great since you could possibly get some exercise. This can be the summer season for many routine lawn care measures to be taken. Lawn Care Business Contracts- Get Professional.

Regular lawn mowing also removes many ongoing weed infestations, even though the technique will not work for all weed types, many weeds can be easily controlled by regular mowing. This avoids needing to write a fresh one. I wish you all the best and success.

This article was posted on December 07, 2005. Keep in your mind that you can find still many people who're very willing to shed expensive dollar for their lawns. This article was posted on February 08, 2006.

Nutrients are the meals that's present in correct levels inside the native environments in o ur grasses, but when we attempt to move the grass for the opposite side of the planet and grow it as a lawn, these nutrients aren't always obtainable in correct amounts in order for your lawn to thrive. Mow to about two inches through the spring, then, raise the cutting height another half inch when summer arrives. If you will leave https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=141bW_J26t8 any sort of rubbish in your lawn, it's going to severely damage the grass when left inside the cold snow. Pests are not only hazardous to your lawn, but possibly to you and also your family. If you start digging and chopping prior to the three day period you may interrupt the herbicide, as well as the weeds and grass you were attempting to kill may come back.

No matter what kind of grass features your yard, the lawn care season lasts the whole year. au which includes a variety of lawns to your needs. Add 30 pounds and that number jumps by 100. I 500 fliers telling folks I'm in operation and taking on customers. The problem is, it is still inside the grass family, and "selective" herbicides let it sit alone because it can be a card carrying person in the grass family.

One of the very most common afflictions of a lawn is growth of unwanted greenery that can hog resources of ornamental plants at the cost of greenery which is desired to grow. So don't think you have to have a bunch of ornamental shrubs about to increase the value of your home. Depending on your own location, fertilization of the lawn varies.

Follow all these tips, be vigilant and tip your gardener well. This control should connect with how well your lawn is prepared and treated so it'll look as beautiful as possible. . A well known can be placed easily having a little devotion and hard work by winning loyal customers that pays you well.