5 New Year’s Resolutions for Your Home

Of folks who make a New Year’s Resolution, 46 percent are successful at their resolution six months later, a study from the Journal of Clinical Psychology reports.

If you’ve been dragging your feet on putting the finishing touches on your home, why not make it a New Year’s Resolution to really create good cleaning and de-cluttering habits?

Use these 5 New Year’s resolutions to get your house in good order.

1. Schedule biannual deep cleanings: The proverbial deep clean is a mainstay of keeping a clean, comfortable house. Early January, when the weather is chilly and you’re full of resolve to stick to your resolutions, is the perfect time for a deep clean. Work room by room, cleaning out all the nooks and crannies. Wash the walls, steam the shades, clean out clutter and donate things you no longer need to Goodwill. When you put away winter clothes for the spring/summer, do another deep clean. For tough smells, Clear the Air odor eliminators will refresh your home so you can start the new year off right.

2. Replace home goods: Over time, you may forget that you never got around to buying curtains for the dining room or fixing the rips in the screen door. You simply don’t see these home flaws. As you deep clean, inventory all of the little things that need fixing — and then fix them. For example, if you’ve been putting up with cracked blinds or ugly, stained window treatments, make replacing them a top priority. You can learn more about the 11 common types of window treatments online at Theshadestore.com, and then buy the right ones with confidence. When you enjoy your shades, you’ll be more motivated to keep those windows clean.

3. Personalize your home: Paint instantly adds character to a house. If you’ve been living with white walls for too long, personalize your living room, dining room or bedroom with a fresh coat of paint. The Augmented Colors app for Windows Phone ($1) comes in handy when picking paint colors. Just point and shoot to capture a color and get its hexadecimal code and RGB profile. Then head to your local paint store to grab a gallon and some brushes.

4. Maintain appliances: It’s all too easy to take your dishwasher or hot water heater for granted. However, preventative maintenance can keep your appliances operating at maximum efficiency, which in turn will save you money off your utility bill. Schedule an appointment with your plumber, HVAC specialist or other appliance repair person. When the seasons change, have your home heating and cooling systems professionally serviced. Seasonally, clean out the dryer vent, change the filters for your air conditioning and home heating, caulk any leaks around your windows and doors, and clean out dishwasher drains to prevent clogs.

5. Keep it up: It’s all too easy to devote a whole weekend to cleaning your home, yard, closet or basement and then let things get messy again. To realize a clean home in June, you’ll need to keep it up. Try setting reminders on your calendar or in an app to perform the big tasks. Perform small tasks, such as loading the dishwasher or wiping the counters, while tackling larger projects like cooking a family meal.

How To Eliminate Cigarette Smoke Odor

Need to get rid of that pesky cigarette odor? Read on!

If you have bought or rented a new home and the previous dweller was a smoker, you are probably fed up with trying to get that sultry cigarette odor out of the house.

Did you know Clear the Air will remove cigarette odor from ANYWHERE? Cars, homes, carpets, rugs, clothes, offices and anywhere else cigarette odor has crept in to.

Unfortunately, cigarette odor has a way of creeping into the walls making it almost impossible to remove the odor completely.  Earth Care’s Clear The Air Odor Eliminator will pull these odors out of your house, 100% guaranteed!  Our product doesn’t even need to come in contact with the odor and it will remove the odors out of carpets, drapes, furniture, clothing and bedding.

Clear the Air is simple to use and is an inexpensive solution to odor elimination.  Here are the directions to removing cigarette smoke odor out of your home:

• Hang 1-2 Earth Care Odor Eliminator Bags in each room that smells like cigarette smoke. One bag will cover 50-100 square feet. Odor will be eliminated in 24 hours.
• A Bag will last 1-2 months, if room is heavily permeated with smoke odor the bag may need to be changed more often at first.
• If odors are particularly strong or room has been smoked in for years sprinkle Clear The Air Odor Eliminator for Carpet and Furniture granules on carpets and furniture. Leave down 24 hours and vacuum. Odors will be completely eliminated.
• One canister of Clear The Air Odor Eliminator for Carpet and Furniture covers 100 square feet; one bucket covers 900 square feet.
• Granules can also be placed in ashtrays and cigarette butt receptacles.

Of course, if you have any questions on removing cigarette smoke odor, please do not hesitate to call our helpful Customer Service Agent, Pat, at (800) 611-1611 or (760) 941-5302 or via email: pmolina@cleartheair.com

Mutt Monday’s Dog Of The Week

Check out Duke from the San Diego Humane Society.

Duke (#124538), is an American Pit Bull Terrier/Great Dane. He is 4 years and 6 months old and his Adoption Fee is only $95.00. Check him out:

Why I’d make a great companion: To know me is to love me or so I’ve been told! My name is Duke and I am an independent thinker who enjoys a bit of adventure. I am also devoted, loving and mellow as well. In short, I have a multifaceted personality that I believe that as you get to know me you will come to adore. I am well-mannered on walks and I take everything in stride, including passing dogs, skateboarders, bikes, cars and other distractions. Prepare yourself, as I am generally the center of attention when I am out and about because of and I quote ” stellar good looks and gangly long legs.” Although, I enjoy a moderate activity level, I am perfectly content with the occasional lounge session at the feet of my beloved pet parent where I can enjoy a chewing session with my tennis ball. I absolutely enjoy a good rub down and I L-O-V-E the sensation of ‘collapsing’ tennis balls in my mouth. But what I would really enjoy, is a family to call my own. I have been waiting to give my heart completely to my forever family and if that is you, than you can expect to rewarded a hundred-fold.

Type of home I’m looking for: I will do best in a house with teenaged children and without cats.

Other things you should know about me: My adoption fee includes my spay / neuter, current vaccinations, permanent microchip identification, a certificate for a free veterinary exam, a gift from Hill’s Science Diet, a license if residing in Oceanside or Vista, and limited veterinary medical coverage from VCA Hospitals up to $250!!

During the adoption process a San Diego Humane Society Trainer will be present to answer any questions and share how to best care for me and tips for continued training in the future.

Thanksgiving Foods Dangerous For Your Pets

Are you cooking at home for Thanksgiving?

Tomorrow is the big Turkey Day and if you are planning to cook at home, make sure to check out our list of top ten Thanksgiving foods that are toxic to your pet.

A very Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at Clear The Air!

• Sage – Cats are especially sensitive to this herb, which can cause stomach upset and central nervous system depression
• Bread Dough – Raw dough could actually rise in your pets’ sensitive tummy, causing discomfort or an even more serious emergency.
• Cake Batter – Raw eggs can cause salmonella infection in your pet, just as it can for anyone in your family. Stick to dog biscuits and kitty treats instead of this sugary concoction.
• Wrappings – Dispose of aluminum foil, plastic wrap and wax paper. While licking up food left on these wrappings pets can ingest some of the wrapper, leading to intestinal obstructions. Also, look out for tooth picks, skewers and used silverware.
• Walnuts and Macadamia Nuts – These can cause weakness, depression, incoordination, and tremors. In addition, the high fat levels of these nuts may cause pancreatitis in dogs, resulting severe vomiting and diarrhea.
• Bones – It seems counterintuitive, but bones are bad for dogs. Bones are unsafe, no matter what their size. Giving your dog a bone may make your pet a candidate for a trip to your veterinarian’s office later, possible emergency surgery or even death.
• Raw or undercooked turkey – Turkey Day’s main dish is dangerous for one reason: salmonella bacteria. Even though you may believe your dog’s stomach is iron-clad, it’s not.
• Turkey skin – Seems harmless enough, right? It’s just the skin. But fatty foods like turkey skin and gravy are difficult for dogs to digest. Your dog’s pancreas can even become inflamed, resulting in pancreatitis, a very serious disease. Turkey skin isn’t good for you, either, so it’s best to throw it away and make more room for the mashed potatoes and gravy.
• Beer – Some dogs love beer, but this doesn’t mean you should share a cold one with your dog. It can really do a number on your dog’s stomach. Depending on how much he consumes, the hops can cause your dog to have a fever, rapid heartbeat, seizures and liver damage. It can even be lethal.
• Onions and garlic – These two culprits are always on the list of foods your dog should not eat, and for very good reason: they can make your dog very sick. Both onions and garlic contain sulfides, which are toxic to dogs and can cause the destruction of red blood cells, leading to anemia.

How To Eliminate Cigarette Smoke Odor

Need to get rid of that pesky cigarette odor? Read on!

If you have bought or rented a new home and the previous dweller was a smoker, you are probably fed up with trying to get that sultry cigarette odor out of the house.

Did you know Clear the Air will remove cigarette odor from ANYWHERE? Cars, homes, carpets, rugs, clothes, offices and anywhere else cigarette odor has crept in to.

Unfortunately, cigarette odor has a way of creeping into the walls making it almost impossible to remove the odor completely.  Earth Care’s Clear The Air Odor Eliminator will pull these odors out of your house, 100% guaranteed!  Our product doesn’t even need to come in contact with the odor and it will remove the odors out of carpets, drapes, furniture, clothing and bedding.

Clear the Air is simple to use and is an inexpensive solution to odor elimination.  Here are the directions to removing cigarette smoke odor out of your home:

• Hang 1-2 Earth Care Odor Eliminator Bags in each room that smells like cigarette smoke. One bag will cover 50-100 square feet. Odor will be eliminated in 24 hours.
• A Bag will last 1-2 months, if room is heavily permeated with smoke odor the bag may need to be changed more often at first.
• If odors are particularly strong or room has been smoked in for years sprinkle Clear The Air Odor Eliminator for Carpet and Furniture granules on carpets and furniture. Leave down 24 hours and vacuum. Odors will be completely eliminated.
• One canister of Clear The Air Odor Eliminator for Carpet and Furniture covers 100 square feet; one bucket covers 900 square feet.
• Granules can also be placed in ashtrays and cigarette butt receptacles.

Of course, if you have any questions on removing cigarette smoke odor, please do not hesitate to call our helpful Customer Service Agent, Pat, at (800) 611-1611 or (760) 941-5302 or via email: pmolina@cleartheair.com

How To Keep Your Pet Warm During The Rainy Season

Pet care tips during winter.

We’re getting into the colder months of the year and don’t you love to be able to go home out of the cold and curl up with your pajamas and sit by the fire.

What about your dog? Don’t you want to make sure he is as warm and cozy as you are when you’re at home?

Clear the Air would like to share some helpful tips to keeping your dog warm this winter:

Keep them indoors. This is the surest way to keep your pets warm. Dogs, while they enjoy outings, are often happier indoors as well so they can dote on their owners. Cats enjoy being able to snuggle up somewhere warm indoors.

Get your dog jackets and sweaters. If your home is a little chilly, cute jackets and sweaters can keep them warm. If they are going outside with you into the snow (dogs more than cats), it’s better to choose something that has a waterproof nylon covering.  Make sure the sweater or jacket fits them properly and they are comfortable enough to maneuver in it.

Check the temperature before going out. In winter, as in summer, the temperature can feel worse than what the thermometer reads. Check the temperature and the wind chill factor to keep your dog from getting a chill.

Proper outdoor housing. If your dog spends a lot of his time outdoors, make sure he has the right housing. His doghouse should have a sloped roof, insulation and even a heater if he is expected to live in there.

Bedding. His bed should be at least 3 inches off the cold floor to avoid drafts. Low platforms made of a light wood or aluminum frame with canvas stretched over it suit these pets just fine.

Booties. Your dog regulates his temperature through the soles of his feet (as well as his tongue, of course). When walking in the snow, booties can help keep him warm. This will also protect him from salt and other products used to melt ice.

Increase feeding. Pets use up more calories in the winter trying to stay warm. Feed them a little more in the winter months, especially if they spend a lot of time outside.

Use a hot water bottle or snuggle disk. If your home is chilly, you can keep your dog or cat warm by using a hot water bottle under his bed or even a snuggle disk, which is a manufactured disk that is heated in a microwave oven and can maintain heat for hours.

Don’t forget the occasional special treat , belly rub or scratch on the head. Nothing warms your dog and cat’s hearts more than special food and attention, so give him both.

Crazy Cat Facts For The Crazy Cat Lady!

Think you are a “crazy cat lady”?

Did you know about these crazy cat facts? Check out some of the facts about cats Clear The Air would like to share:

• One litter of kittens can be produced by more than one father.
• A cat’s heart beats up to 140 times per minute, or about twice as fast as a human’s.
• Many people think that cats are colorblind, but it’s a myth. Now we know that cats can see blues, reds and greens. Also, many cats don’t have eyelashes.
• Cats will spend about a third of the day grooming. The process is helped along by the backwards-facing spikes on their tongues. Now you know why it feels like being rubbed with sandpaper when they lick you. They will also spend about 16 hours a day sleeping.
• Puss, a cat from England, lived to be 36 in human years: the oldest cat on record.
• Ancient Egyptians shaved their eyebrows in mourning when their cats died. And if someone killed a cat, he or she could get the death penalty.
• Cats weigh an average of 12 pounds. The heaviest cat on record weighed nearly 47 pounds. The lightest was one pound, eight ounces.
• When kittens are born, their eyes are blue – but they often change color as the babies grow. The will also start dreaming when they’re about one week old.
• Cats can be trained to use the toilet as their litter box. Some can even be taught to flush when they’re done.
• Researchers have tried mouse-flavored cat food. The cats who were introduced to it refused to eat it.
• You might think it’s disgusting when your cat brings you dead prey (like a bird or mouse), but you should thank her anyway. She thinks that she’s bringing you a present.
• Cats rarely meow at other cats. Often a cat meows to his human when you come home or even to greet you when you see each other in the house or yard.
• And our favorite – our cats don’t think of themselves as small humans. Rather, they think of us as large cats.

How To Care For Your Pets In Cold Weather

Cold weather care tips for you and your pets.

In Southern California our “cold weather” is usually pretty mild compared to other parts of the country.

But keep in mind it does still get cold at night. Cold enough you need to take precaution for your pets.

Clear The Air would like to share some tips on how to care for your pet during the colder winter months:

• Don’t leave pets outdoors when the temperatures drop. Of course dogs need outdoor exercise however keeping them outside for lengthy periods of time during freezing conditions can cause health hazards.
• Make sure shorter coated dogs don’t spend too much time playing outside in the cold weather. If your dog will wear a comfortable sweater during walks and outdoor playtime, we recommend it.
• Dogs and cats are safer indoors altogether. Animals left outside unattended pose the risk of being stolen or otherwise harmed.
• Look for signs of hypothermia during cold weather conditions. These include weak pulse, dilated pupils, decreased heart rate, extreme shivering, pale or blue mucous membranes, stupor or unconsciousness. Consequences of sever hypothermia can cause neurological problems including coma, heart problems and kidney failure.
• Don’t let your pet be exposed to wind chill. If you must keep your pet outdoors, protect him with a dry, draft-free doghouse large enough for the dog to sit and lie down comfortable but small enough to keep in his body heat.
• Pets that spend more time outdoors need more food in the winter. Routinely check your pet’s water dish to make sure his water is fresh as well.
• Don’t expose your pets to antifreeze. This is a deadly poison that has a sweet taste which attracts animals. Wipe up spills and store antifreeze out of reach of pets and children.

How To Safely Eliminate Home Odors

Clear The Air is non toxic and all green.

Earth Care’s Clear The Air is a naturally green product and 100% safe to use around pets and children.

We pride ourselves on not only the amazing things it can do, but also on the safety of Clear The Air. Check out why it is safe:

Earth Care is made from an all natural mineral. It is non toxic, non hazardous, non-caustic, and biodegradable. It can safely be used around pets and children. It is safe to sprinkle in your pet’s cage; it will not hurt your pet even if eaten. It can be applied directly to you pets fur; this is excellent if your pet has encountered a skunk, or to get rid of the “doggie” smell.

Many of the odor and pollution control products on the market today act merely as masking agents. This means they add chemicals to the air to cover up odors and actually increase the level of indoor pollutants in the process. Earth Care, on the other hand, truly eliminates odors and cleans the air by adsorbing and neutralizing odors. Earth Care Products are especially beneficial to those that suffer from chemical sensitivity which can be aggravated by fragrances.

Earth Care is safe for Planet Earth. To dispose of Earth Care simply add to your soil, it is an excellent nitrogen soil amendment.

How To Prevent Flood Waters From Entering Your Home

Don’t let your home become a victim of a flood.

Clear the Air knows how devastating a flood can be. We would like to share some helpful tips to keeping flood waters out of your home.

Please remember to use our Clear The Air Odor Eliminator Bags to eliminate musty mildew odors you may experience as the result of a flood.

• Give the water an opportunity to disperse before it reaches your home. Clear ditches and deans to make sure they are free flowing.
• Use silicone sealants around all gaps in your windows and doors. Pay special attention to pipe and cable entry points.
• Walls and floors can be made more water-resistant by having extended concrete footings and a waterproof membrane put in the foundation.
• Install anti back-flow valves by a plumber.
• Keep an ample supply of sand bags ready to use. During flooding you can guarantee they’ll become sparse. If you are in dire need and cannot find sand bags, you can use plastic bags or pillow cases filled with soil.
• Place a half filled bag lengthways against a door and parallel to the direction of the water flow. Tuck the open end of the sand bag under the bag and turn it towards the water flow.
• Sand bags placed in layers, like a brick wall so each layer overlaps, will help create a strong barrier.
• If you live in a condo or town-home, discuss with your neighbors your plans for a potential flood.

Please make sure to use Clear The Air to keep any musty mildew odors out of your home.