Keeping Your Family Safe From Bathroom Germs, It’s Crucial!

Posted on January 15, 2012 by admin

If you’re anything like me, you worry about bathroom germs all the time. It’s safe to say that public bathrooms are one of the scariest places on Earth. But what about the bathroom in your own home, how safe is it? You want to keep your home safe and your family healthy but the truth is, your own bathroom could be just as scary as those public bathrooms.

Bathroom germs can hide pretty much anywhere in your bathroom from the expected to the unpredictable. Here are 4 places germs like to hang out in your bathroom:

Your toothbrush:

This is the grossest of the gross! Did you know that every time you flush your toilet germs and “particles” are released into the air? Eventually those particles will find a place to land and if your toothbrush is exposed on the counter they will find their way to it. Closing the lid to the toilet is a great start to reduce the amount of germs floating around your bathroom. Even if your toothbrush is safely hiding out in a drawer or cabinet, closing the lid before you flush is a good habit to pick up on. Do you really want to be breathing that stuff in?

Your toilet:

While it is obvious that the toilet bowl is not the cleanest place in your home, many people overlook the other areas of the toilet when it comes to cleaning. Your toilet’s handle, seat, and lid are a breeding ground for dangerous germs. Extra special attention should be given to these spots when cleaning your bathroom. And just like you learned in Kindergarten, you should ALWAYS wash your hands after using the bathroom and touching the toilet. Bathroom germs are nothing you want living on your hands, that’s just not healthy.

Your bathtub and shower:

Black mold is one of the most common problems in the bathroom, and one of the most dangerous. Black mold grows and lives in the nooks and crannies of your bathtub and shower. The moisture, dirt, and bacteria that your shower is subjected to daily make it the perfect place for mold to grow. Black mold, when touched or breathed in by you and your loved ones, can make you seriously ill. It can spread to your walls and other surfaces of your home. Keeping your bathtub clean and dry is a great start for preventing mold.

Everywhere else:

I already mentioned the germs and bacteria that are released when the toilet is flushed, and the mold that lives in the shower. That bacteria and mold can live pretty much anywhere in your bathroom, including in the air. If your bathroom isn’t properly ventilated your health is especially at risk because bacteria thrive in moisture. If you don’t have a fan or ceiling vent in your bathroom, consider using an air purifier. As for the floor and other surfaces, scrub regularly and consider steam cleaning to help kill even more bathroom germs.

I hope I didn’t freak you out too terribly, but bathroom germs are nothing to mess around with. Crucial Vacuum cares about the health of you and your family. Helping other breathe easy, feel better, and stay healthy is just what we do.

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4 Things You Can Do To Improve Your Indoor Air Quality

Posted on January 11, 2012 by admin

At Crucial Vacuum we talk a lot about indoor air quality, which should serve as a sign as to how crazy important it is to us. Like I’ve said before, your home should be your safe place. You shouldn’t have to worry about silent and invisible dangers that could be making you and your family sick. But if your home has poor indoor air quality, it could be doing just that.

Indoor air pollutants can be hazardous to your health. Babies and children can develop respiratory problems, allergies, and asthma, which will affect them for the rest of their lives if they are breathing in harmful pollutants on a regular basis. Poor indoor air quality can have just as much of an impact on the health of the elderly as well. Your home could be making the people that you love the most sick.

So now that I have your attention, are you wondering what you can do to maintain good indoor air quality in your home? I’m so glad you asked!

Vacuum Maintenance

One of the simplest ways to keep your home clean and your breathing air free of dirt, dust, and allergens is to vacuum regularly. But if you aren’t taking care of your vacuum you are only wasting your time. A quick check of your vacuums bag, roller bar, belt, and filter every couple of uses goes a long way. Just make sure everything is working the way it should be and that your bag and filter don’t need cleaned.

Change Your Vacuum’s Bag

If your vacuum’s bag is full it may not only fail to pick up, it will also more than likely stir up all the harmful pollutants in the air. This will cause your indoor air quality to be even worse than when you started. So take my advice, be sure to change your bag before it’s full. If you are going to vacuum with a full bag, you may as well not vacuum at all. Stock up on vacuum bags, they fill up fast.

Replace or wash your vacuum’s filter.

The filter on your vacuum is a wonderful thing. It traps all those harmful pollutants that your vacuum would otherwise toss back into the air. It is one of your very best allies in the war against allergies. But if you don’t take care of your filter, it can’t take care of your air quality. Make sure that your filter is clean. Replace or wash your vacuum’s filter regularly to ensure that it can work to it’s full potential.

Consider an air purifier.

Air purifiers purify and clean the air you breathe. They are great for filtering common allergens like mildew, dirt, and dust and reduce odors. If vacuuming doesn’t seem to be doing enough to help improve the air quality in your home, these could be a huge help. Crucial Vacuum offers a wide variety of air purifiers from the small and portable to the large installed systems.

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Beware of Bedbugs!

Posted on January 7, 2012 by admin

If you pay any attention to the news whatsoever you’ve probably heard something about the disgustingly scary phenomenon of bedbugs. You would think these creatures are a new breed of bug the way the news has been going on about them in recent years. While I am sure they have always been around, I still get freaked out every time I see an undercover story on bedbugs in hotels.

If you’re like me, you want to do as much as you can to protect yourself and your family from bedbugs. Did you know there are proven sprays and powder formulas that can kill bedbugs and get rid of them once and for all? Well there are, and Crucial Vacuum has them!

While I know there isn’t much I can do about the presence of bedbugs in hotels, you better believe I can try. While my husband likes to pull up the sheets and inspect every mattress in every hotel we stay in, I just prefer to kill bedbugs and get it over with. The least I can do is keep my luggage protected so that I’m not bringing them home in my suitcase. Doesn’t the thought just make you cringe?

But even more importantly there is no way I am letting those nasty things live in my house. The last thing I need is bedbugs living in my mattress feasting on me and my precious baby when we sleep. I don’t want to have to worry about whether or not there are bedbugs in my baby’s closet or mine.

Hotels aren’t the only place bedbugs can be picked up. Did you know that they often live in clothes and products in stores? This past shopping season I heard a major retailer had a bedbug outbreak and was recommending putting any items purchased from them into the dryer for an hour. Gross! That wasn’t enough for me. I wasn’t taking any chances with my baby’s new clothes so I used my bedbug killer on them first, and then washed them. Take that, bedbugs!

If you travel often, or shop, I seriously recommend having some bedbug killer on hand, unless of course, you don’t mind sharing your bed. But I can assure you there are none of the bloodsucking bed hogs in my house, that’s for sure!

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Are You Steam Cleaning Yet?

Posted on January 3, 2012 by admin

Recently, my husband decided that we needed a steam cleaner. I resisted at first. Why did we need to spend all that money on something when a mop and a rag did just fine? But all the hype and infomercials must have gotten to him and he persisted. Eventually I caved, but I was convinced that I would be selling an unused steam cleaner at my next garage sale.

It isn’t often that I admit when I am wrong, but I have to give it to my husband on this one. I love that steam cleaner. As a mother to a baby and a long sufferer of allergies, I don’t know how I ever lived without my steam cleaner.

I know that steam cleaning has become the “hot” new thing to do lately. But if you are like me and are just catching on, or if you haven’t bought into the hype yet, let me break it down for you. Steam cleaners simply use water to produce super hot steam vapor, which works to remove dirt and stains from multiple surfaces throughout your house. The hot vapor is able to penetrate the porous surface of your floors and other surfaces to weaken the bond between the dirt and your surfaces.  The vapor is hot enough to destroy germs, dust, bacteria, mold, viruses and all the other gross things that you don’t want living in your home.

I specifically remember talking my husbands ear off about how we would never use our steam cleaner once the newness wore off. We brought it home and tried it out and were pretty impressed by what it could do. It left our kitchen floors squeaky clean. But I was convinced that it would never be used again.

And again, I was wrong. I am constantly finding new uses for my steam cleaner. Just the other day, I used it to clean the walls of my shower. I couldn’t believe how easily the soap scum and water spots came off with steam. I could have scrubbed until my arms fell off and never got my shower that clean.

I use my steam cleaner for everything from the typical jobs like floors and counters to steaming our baby’s new car seat before we put him inside. When we got new carpet, we steamed it before we let the baby crawl on it. When we bought a new mattress, we steamed it in case of bedbugs. I can’t believe how many times my trusty steam cleaner has been put to good use.

I don’t even bother buying harsh chemicals to use on my floors and counters anymore. Before being a mom I didn’t mind using chemicals to clean but now it makes me feel good to know that it’s safe when my little guy gets the urge to lick the kitchen floor.

Not to mention, the benefits that the steam cleaner has had on our allergies are remarkable. Dirt, dust, and all the other nasty things that clog up our sinuses stick to the rag on the steam cleaner like glue. It is very satisfying to know those particles aren’t floating around my house.

So I will say it one more time… I was wrong. Steam cleaning is where it’s at. Haven’t joined the rest of us in the wonderful world of steam cleaning yet? Lucky for you, Crucial Vacuum offers one of the best steam cleaners on the market along with an extensive line of steam cleaning products. Trust me, you don’t know what you’re missing.

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Worst Chore Ever, or Not So Bad? Where do You Rank Vacuuming?

Posted on December 30, 2011 by admin

Crucial Vacuum recently asked on Facebook where vacuuming ranks among your favorite and least favorite household chores. As is to be expected, the answers varied. There werethose who absolutely hate to vacuum, and there were those who don’t mind it at all.

One response was, “ I despise it. Love the house when it’s done, but hate the chore.”

Another Facebook friend said, “My favorite chore too. Instant gratification. That’s my kind of cleaning.”

In fact, about half of the people who responded said it was their favorite chore. But just as many people claimed to not like vacuuming at all.

As for me, I love it. There is nothing better than freshly vacuumed carpet. I love the lines that my vacuum leaves behind as if to say, “why yes, my lovely owner did just vacuum”. I love knowing that there are no tiny little choking hazards for my baby to get a hold of. I even enjoy the actual act of vacuuming, it’s kind of fun honestly. My dog goes crazy chasing the vacuum, which always makes the baby laugh, and it’s a little bit of a workout. So, as far as household chores go, I really can’t complain about vacuuming.

The only problem that I have with vacuuming is that I have to do so much work before I can vacuum. You know, all the picking up, putting away, and dusting that comes first? Those are among my least favorite chores along with dishes and laundry and pretty much every other chore. Sorry to disappoint, but the domestic goddess you see above is not me.

It is because of all the putting away and picking up that my living room has not been vacuumed in a few days. At this very moment, my house is a complete disaster thanks to Christmas. I now know why my parents used to dread bringing home a car full of new toys from every grandparent. I have no idea where any of this stuff is going to go and no desire to start trying to figure it out.

But my husband and I are both already starting to sneeze and sniffle, a telltale sign that it is past time to vacuum. Unfortunately for us our allergies don’t stop when winter comes around. I have to constantly keep our house dusted and vacuumed or we are miserable. So while I would love to put off sorting through these toys for a few more days, I know I can’t.

On the bright side, I have a brand new filter for my vacuum and I am not ashamed to admit that I am super excited to put it to use. Until recently, I had no idea how important it was to keep my vacuum in tiptop shape for my own health. Since I have started changing my vacuums bags before they are completely full and maintaining a clean vacuum filter, I have been able to breathe much easier. My husband and I have both noticed that our allergies are less irritated and we are hoping that by keeping the air clean in our house we are helping to keep our son from developing the same problems.

So the rest of my day will consist of sorting through toys new and old, putting things away, dusting, and last but not least… vacuuming. Maybe that is why I like vacuuming, because it means I am finally done cleaning.

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How Often do You Change Your Vacuum’s Bag?

Posted on December 27, 2011 by admin

So, how often do you change your vacuum’s bag? If you’re like me, and millions of other housekeepers who mean well, the answer is probably not often enough. Vacuum bags fill up much quicker than most people realize. Once the bag is full your vacuum is unable to perform to it’s full potential and is left struggling to pick up. You’re left angry with your vacuum for not working right, and let’s face it, your vacuum is probably not too happy with you either.

But this is a problem that is easily avoided; you simply need to know when to change your vacuum’s bag. I bet a quick check of most people’s vacuum bags would uncover a bag that is too full. I can’t promise that my own vacuum’s bag isn’t ready to be changed again. But how full is too full? How do you know?

When we bought our house we didn’t have much carpet. I vacuumed only occasionally. But hardwoods turned to a large area rug when we brought home our first baby. I began vacuuming regularly but honestly, I didn’t give the vacuum’s bag much thought. When our baby started crawling I talked my husband into wall-to-wall carpet. I loved my new carpet and became a huge fan of vacuuming. I loved the lines that the vacuum left in the carpet, I felt like they made me look like a good housekeeper. I didn’t even pay any attention to whether or not my vacuum was actually picking anything up, oops.

But one day, as I was vacuuming the rug in our entranceway, I realized that my vacuum was actually spitting stuff back out at me. It was a fairly new vacuum so I was not happy that it wasn’t working properly. For the first time since I had bought the vacuum, I opened it up and discovered a bag that was practically bursting at the seams. Hmmm, so that was the problem. Upon further investigation, I realized my vacuum even has a handy little light that indicates when the bag needs changed. Who knew?

I know I should be embarrassed to share that story but 1) I have no shame and 2) I am trying to help others learn from my mistakes. Oh, and it helps that a certain head-honcho at Crucial Vacuum, whose name I am not at liberty to disclose, shared a similar experience with me the other day. He was recently vacuuming his office and couldn’t figure out why his vacuum wasn’t picking up. Sure enough, a quick check of the vacuum’s bag revealed a bag in desperate need of changing. So if even he forgets to change his vacuum’s bag sometimes, it’s ok for the rest of us to do it!

A good rule of thumb for when to change your vacuum’s bag is to change it before it’s completely full. Once the bag is full it won’t be able to pick up anything else. We both know your time is way too valuable to waste running a vacuum that isn’t picking up. If your vacuum has an indicator that tells you when the bag is full, learn from my mistake and don’t ignore it.

Oh and one more thing, make sure you actually have extra vacuum bags. Crucial Vacuum offers the best selection of vacuum bags on the internet. From Bissell to Oreck, we carry bags for all brands and offer free shipping. Now that you will be changing bags regularly you will need to stock up, it’s crucial!

 

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And the Winner is… Vapamore Named “Consumers Digest Best Buy”

Posted on December 23, 2011 by admin

Crucial Vacuum has exciting news! While we already knew that Vapamore products were the very best steam cleaners around (why else would we offer them to our beloved customers?), we now have some pretty solid proof to back us up.

We are happy to announce that the Vapamore MR-100 Primo Steam Cleaner has been named the “Consumers Digest Best Buy” for a canister style steam cleaner. After a year of comparisons and testing, Consumers Digest names its picks for the best buys in its upcoming February issue, on stands in mid-January.

Steam cleaning has become increasingly popular in recent years. It seems that every manufacturers is producing its own version of the “best” steam cleaner to tackle those dirty floors and counters. As a matter of fact, Consumers Digest reports that there are now 24 different manufacturers making steam-cleaning products.

With products ranging in prices from $40-$500 or more, all claiming to be the best, shopping for the perfect steam cleaner can be overwhelming. But Consumers Digest looked at them all and talked to the experts to find out once and for all which steam cleaner deserves to be called the best buy.

The results are in and according to Consumers Digest our friends at Vapamore have the canister category in the bag. Consumers Digest had great things to say about the MR-100 Primo.

“No other canister has a better warranty than the MR-100 Primo has. It’s also the least expensive model that has a stainless steel boiler tank, which means that it’s less likely to corrode than are the aluminum boiler tanks that are used in less expensive models. And no other model that costs less than $300 has a longer cleaning time (50-60 minutes) than this model has.”

It’s true. The MR-100 Primo comes with a lifetime boiler tank and labor warranty and a 1-year warranty on parts. It also comes with a ton of great features and attachments for all your steam cleaning needs.

Vapamore listened to the customer and built this steam cleaner from the ground up. We knew they got it right, and now they are finally getting the recognition they deserve. Congratulations to our favorite steam cleaner!

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Cleaning for Baby: A Job That Never Ends

Posted on December 19, 2011 by admin

Here’s the understatement of the year; having a baby changes everything. I knew prior to having my son that my whole world was going to change, and it has. My priorities, my interests, even my career has changed since becoming a mom.

But by far, the biggest difference that being a mom has made in me; I’m a better housekeeper. It’s funny because I have no time for housework with an ornery little baby chasing me around. But it’s because of that sweet little guy that I have become a stickler for keeping my house clean. There are enough bad things that can happen when we are out and about. Our home should be a place where we are comfortable and safe.
So, because my little guy is fascinated with putting anything that he finds on the floor directly into his mouth, I try to vacuum every day. Between dirt being tracked in from outside, our dog chewing his bones and leaving little pieces all over, and the random carpet fuzz there is always a mess to clean up. Hearing my vacuum suck up all the tiny little choking hazards is like music to my ears.
And then there’s the dust. I have a confession; I once caught the baby playing in dust. His dad and I both have terrible allergies, and because allergies are often inherited, the chances of our little guy getting them are high. I can’t clean a dusty room without feeling like my throat is closing and I desperately want to do all that I can to keep my baby from feeling that way. If I told you there was never dust in my house I would be lying, but I try my best to keep up for his sake.
When I have time, which I admit isn’t often enough, I love to steam clean. I use the broom on the kitchen and bathroom floors regularly. But it is such a great feeling to be able to kill germs and leave my floors shiny and clean without using harsh chemicals. As much as I hate to admit it, my little one has been known to eat off the kitchen floor and much to my horror, he is obsessed with the toilet. So I am forever grateful for my steam cleaner when it comes to killing germs the safe way.
I’m not going to lie, before I had a baby I wasn’t the world’s greatest housekeeper. Ok, I was awful. So now that I am cleaning on a regular basis to keep my baby healthy and safe I am learning as I go. I can’t believe how quickly my vacuum’s bags fill up. Until I started blogging for Crucial Vacuum, I wasn’t even aware that my vacuum had a filter, let alone that I needed to change it regularly.
Crucial Vacuum honestly came into my life at the perfect time. It is my one stop shop to stock up on vacuum bags, filters, dusters, and other cleaning supplies. I am so excited to share the convenience and great deals with everyone I know, especially fellow mommies.  With free shipping and the best prices on the Internet, Crucial Vacuum just can’t be beat. Tell your friends!

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The Holiday Host: Preparing Your Home for Holiday Guests

Posted on December 14, 2011 by admin

Ah, the holidays… ‘Tis the season, the season of giving, a time of love and laughter, family gatherings, holiday meals, warm cookies, chestnuts roasting on an open fire… What’s not to love? It’s the most wonderful time of the year!

Unless of course, you are the one who is expected to make it all happen. Are you the host or hostess with the “mostest”? Are you expecting dozens of hungry visitors at your house this holiday season? Has the shopping, gift-wrapping, grocery shopping, cooking, and cleaning been left to you? If so, chances are that at this point you aren’t feeling quite as festive as your guests who are eagerly waiting to show up at your house for the holidays.

But fear not, gracious hostess, Crucial Vacuum is here for you when nobody else gives you and your mile-long to-do list a second thought. We appreciate you and all the hard work you do time and time again to make it all happen. So, the clock is ticking… Let’s get to it. Crucial Vacuum is your one stop shop for all your cleaning needs. Just because we have vacuum in our title, you didn’t think that’s all we had did you? We have everything you need to get your house spic-and-span before your company arrives!

Dusting is one of the most dreaded household chores. Does it seem like all you do is stir dust up, only for it to settle back where it was in the first place before you’ve even made your way around the room? If so, may we recommend lambswool? Lambswool is great for dusting because it’s incredibly soft and gentle on even your most delicate surfaces. The fibers are great for grabbing dust rather than just flinging it around. We have an awesome selection of lambswool dusting products for all your dusting needs.

Do you have tile or hardwood floors? Aren’t all the compliments on your gorgeous floors nice? Keeping them clean, not so nice, right? Crucial Vacuum offers great cleaning supplies and mops to help do the dirty work for you.

Of course, we have to mention your carpets. Just before your guests arrive, a nice thorough vacuuming will go a long way to ensure your house is ready for the holidays. So make sure your vacuum is ready, beforehand. You don’t need the stress of changing bags and filters at the last minute so stock up now. Remember, your trusty vacuum needs to be prepared and taken care of just like it’s lovely owner.

So as the holidays approach at a rapid pace, try to relax and enjoy them. The gifts will be wrapped, the ham will be juicy and delicious, and your house will shine, as always. You’ve got this!

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Our Beloved Pets and the Mess They Leave Behind

Posted on December 13, 2011 by admin

Pets are so much more than just four legged creatures who take up space. For many of us, are pets are our family. Some people even think of little Fido or Fluffy as their children, and like our children they love to keep us on our toes.

From knocking over plants, to dragging things in from outside, to tracking in mud, our mischievous pets could single handedly keep the vacuum industry afloat. But one of the biggest problems caused by our lovable little friends is something they have no control over; they shed!

Unless you are a proud owner of one of the few breeds of dogs who don’t shed, or you have one of those hairless cats, you have undoubtedly battled pet hair issues. Sometimes it doesn’t matter how many times you vacuum your carpet and furniture, those fine little hairs just won’t come up.

Crucial Vacuum knows you love your pet. But we also know you would love to be able to sit down on your couch after your pet without being covered in fur when you get up.

Not to mention, pet hair can wreak havoc on our sinuses and allergies. Nobody wants to own the house that guests can’t visit without sneezing.

Many pet owners are unaware that they are leaving pet hair behind when vacuuming. If your pet’s hair blends in with the carpet or furniture it is easy to assume that running the vacuum is efficiently cleaning up any hair that is shed by your pet.

But those of us who have an up close and personal relationship with our carpet (having a baby who eats anything he can pick up off the floor will do that) are often disappointed to see that our freshly vacuumed carpet is still covered in pet hair.

Many pet owners would take this as a sign that their vacuum needs replaced. After all, if it can’t pick up something as simple as pet hair it must be junk, right? Wrong!

Crucial Vacuum offers quick and simple fixes to help your vacuum get it’s suction back and to help you get your clean floors and furniture back.

The first thing you want to do is to make sure your vacuums roller bar is working. Often, wads of hair or string can get stuck and prevent rolling. Simple fix – take a razor blade and cut off the hair that may be preventing the beater bar from rolling. If that doesn’t fix it, you may need to replace the belt.

If that’s not the problem, make sure the bag isn’t full. If you vacuum in high traffic areas often, your bag will fill up fast. Replacing the bag will allow your vacuum to breathe and get it’s suction back.

Last but not least, check your filters. A clogged filter will need cleaned or replaced to allow your vacuum to function properly. Replacement is easy. Or try our washable filters to get more for your money.

So don’t take it out on Fido the next time you are covered in dog hair.  Find out why your vacuum isn’t sucking it up, and fix the problem so you can get back to loving your furry friends.

Also, check out these other great products Crucial Vacuum offers to help with pet hair: The Gonzo Pet Hair Lifter  and Pet Grooming Vacuum Attachments are must-haves!

 

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