Reasons To Invest In A Steam Cleaner

Are you fed up having to use a whole host of nasty chemicals to remove grease and grime from your kitchen at home, or maybe you run a food business such as a burger van or café and constantly have to battle against the fat that seems to appear on every surface.

Yet it can be very time consuming to do this using chemicals and often they can produce vapour that requires a lot of ventilation, meaning that they cannot be used when the catering unit is open, and in such catering businesses, most often time is money and opening an hour later in the morning due to having done a deep clean can mean you may well have missed out on a lot of trade.

So why not consider using a steam cleaner instead? Whereas once they only came in huge sizes and virtually required two people to operate them because of their size, you can now buy very compact units for use at home or work. Indeed smaller domestic steam cleaners are actually great for use in businesses as well, as they can be used for spot cleaning during the day without you having to stop work due to the use of chemicals.

A steam cleaner will easily remove layers of grease leaving the surface fully sanitised, and it will do this on virtually any surface. Even tiles will be left sparkling clean, and they are ideal for cleaning ingrained stains on the grout in between tiles.

Large ones will come with a water tank to run for around an hour and a half without stopping, and feature adjustable steam pressure for dealing with particularly bad areas.

Commercial steam cleaners are now available in compact sizes and at prices that are cheap enough to mean that it can be more cost effective to buy one than rent one if you regularly need to deep clean a kitchen to maintain food hygiene standards.

They vary in size from compact units about the size of a Dyson vacuum cleaner, to substantial four wheeled units that can be used hour after hour.

One thing to consider is that a good supplier will be able to offer good leasing rates on the majority of the larger commercial steam cleaners. A typical rate may start from under £30 per month, which is good value compared to hiring one out monthly and having your own steam cleaner means it can be used anytime you need it.

SentrySafe SFW123DSB
Danby DAR195BL
AR Blue Clean AR118
Wagner 518080
Suncast DBW9200
Werner MT-22
Hayward SP1580X15
AR Blue Clean AR383
Black & Decker LST220
DeWalt DCT410S1

If You Do Any Home Improvement You Need A Stud Finder Tool

If you do any home improvement yourself, you need to have certain tools, including a stud finder tool. If you are planning on hanging heavy artwork or you want to install a new chandelier from the ceiling, you need to make sure that these things are hung on a stud so they are going to be secure and not fall down. In order to find the studs, you need to have the right tool. Otherwise, you could end up banging on the walls and making marks or even holes in spots while you are trying to locate the studs.

Using a stud finder is really easy. You can get different models, which are all hand-held. Some will flash a light when a stud is detected, while others will emit a beeping noise. It may take a few minutes to figure out how to use this tool properly, but after that you will have no problems find any studs in your home. Here are some simple tips that make it easy to find studs using one of these tools:

• Make sure the wall is clear. If there are any paintings or photos hanging, remove them before you start trying to locate studs.

• Turn the stud finder tool on, hold it against the wall and press the button until the light flashes or you hear a beep. This will calibrate the tool. If you are doing this against a stud, it will not work, so you may have to end up doing it again to make sure that it is properly calibrated. Basically, this tells the device which parts of the wall are actually wall, and which parts have a higher density and are studs.

• Place the device flat against the wall, and start running it around the area where you are going to be hanging something. You should move it slowly, in a horizontal direction to get the best results. Make sure that you have the button pressed, or you will not get a flash or beep when you pass over a stud.

• When you hit a stud, the device will beep or flash at the outer edge, and again at the other edge. These are the places you need to mark with a pencil so you know where the studs are later on when you begin working. Once you have completed scanning the area, you can get to work hanging your artwork, photos, light fixtures and more.

The thing you need to remember about these tools is that they are all different, and they are not all used in the same manner. This is why it is important to read the directions before you set out to work. There are also some models that are more complicated than others. You can ask someone at your local hardware store which model they recommend. If you have never used a stud finder tool before, make sure that you get the simplest model that is going to be easy for you to use.

NLP1800
Carmd 2100
100XE
Milwaukee 6519-31
Earthway 1001-b
Weller Wes51
Frigidaire FRA052XT7
DEWALT DCD760KL
Porter-Cable 7424XP
DEWALT DW087K

Director Gary Ross says no to ‘Catching Fire’

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Gary Ross says he won’t direct “Catching Fire,” the second installment in Lionsgate’s blockbuster “The Hunger Games” franchise.

In a statement Tuesday, Ross says “after difficult but sincere consideration,” he decided not to direct the film. He blames limited time to write and prep the film because of the fixed, tight production schedule.

Ross says making “The Hunger Games” was the happiest experience of his professional life. He also denies reports that negotiations with Lionsgate had been problematic.

Lionsgate officials say in response that they’re “very sorry” Ross has chosen not to direct “Catching Fire” but they look forward to working with him on future projects.

“Catching Fire” is the second installment in the franchise based on Suzanne Collins’ book series. It’s scheduled for release in November 2013.

Lionsgate is a division of Lions Gate Entertainment Corp.

A Handyman’s Guide on Tool Safety

* Bosch 1274DVS Belt Sanders Review

Always be aware that all tools are potentially dangerous, especially to young children who should never be allowed in or around the workshop. Keep tools locked away when not in use both for safety and as a security precaution.

Hand Tools

Do not carry tools loosely in the pockets of clothing where they can fall out, especially if working on a ladder. Instead, wear a properly designed tool apron and carry nails and fittings in nail bags.

Never operate a tool that is damaged, not properly adjusted or securely assembled. Defects such as broken handles are dangerous, as are chisels with mushroom heads, spanners with spread jaws, files without handles etc. Always ensure your tools are in good condition. Sharp cutting tools are safer than dull tools.Always use the right size and type of tool for any job. Improvising is hazardous.

Wear appropriate clothing. Loose fitting clothes, jewellery, ties and long hair are dangerous around moving machinery.

Wear goggles when using striking tools. Keep tool handles clean and free of oil and grease so they don’t become slippery.

Power Tools

Always buy reputable brands and follow manufacturer’s instructions exactly.

Don’t smoke while using power tools or any flammable substance.

Do not operate power tools for long periods without a break as fatigue reduces your ability to control the tool properly.

Always turn the tool off when you leave it, even if only for a moment. Don’t carry the tool around by the cord.

Make sure the circuits in your workshop are adequate to carry the load your tools require, and that all tools are correctly earthed. Plugs must also be correctly fused and cables should be in good order.

Double insulated tools are recommended for maximum safety.

Never use power tools on a wet or damp floor.

Never leave extension leads lying around the floor after use. Coil and store them properly.

NEVER TAMPER WITH ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT UNLESS YOU ARE FULLY QUALIFIED TO DO SO

Key Points to Remember

* Always keep your workshop locked when not in use and never let children use it as a play area.
* A pair of strong gloves will come in handy on many occasions; such as when handling chainsaw blades.
* Never use damaged tools, such as a file with a loose handle or a spanner with spread jaws.
* Always carry nails and tools in a properly designed carry bag.
* Hire a professional handyman service to make sure of the quality and safety of your handyman needs

Earthwise TC70001
Milwaukee 2207-21P
Greenworks 25022
DEWALT DCK590L2
DEWALT DCF885C2
Gardena 8803
Makita 4350FCT
DEWALT DCK290L2
DEWALT DWP611

Garmin nuvi 1300 GPS Review

I recently downloaded map updates for my nuvi 1350LMT. Previously I’d had a similar model (nuvi 1300T) which didn’t include map updates and I mistakenly forgot to get my initial free download within 60 days of turning on that older unit (my fault for not reading the manual). So within a couple of years of use, that old unit’s maps were wayyyy out of date and it would send me down the wrong roads if they’d changed in the past several years. I could have spent the $90 or so to purchase lifetime map updates for that older unit, but instead I bought this newer unit that includes lifetime updates. Hard to know if that was the better choice, but it seemed like the right option at the time.

Getting updates for your GPS is not like getting a Windows Update for Word or Excel. You don’t just download the updated part. You have to download the whole entire map file for the area your unit covers (in my case, the lower 48 states of the US and also Canada). This is a VERY large file (they told me mine was around 2 or 2.5 gigabytes in size) and you’ll have to download the whole thing. How quickly that happens depends on your internet connection speed.

In my case, I have a mobile broadband unit which gives me access to the internet (instead of wi-fi) and I’m limited to downloading 5 gigabytes a month - every megabyte after that costs me money. Everything you do on the internet (web surfing, ordering something from Amazon, getting and receiving emails, etc.) involves downloading web pages. And of course you’re also downloading when you actually get Windows Updates and install new software, etc. Maybe you have unlimited downloading with your internet service, but just be aware of what your situation is as regards limitations before you think about getting map updates. In my case, I reached my limit of 5 gig several days before the end of my billing cycle for the first time ever and it was during the month that I downloaded the map update.

Anyway, my 3G mobile broadband unit (it turns out) is a very slow way to download a big file like that, and it took over 12 hours to download. It did download successfully however. I let it run overnight and made sure the machine wouldn’t turn off due to inactivity (I usually have the power setting so it will after a while). I seem to recall Garmin said you could opt to receive a CD in the mail instead of downloading, but maybe they charge extra for that. I will investigate that option the next time I want a map update.

Anyway, I thought I’d mention these details about downloading, since people might think it’s as easy as getting Windows Updates. The Garmin guy said the download should take around 2 or 3 hours but that was not my experience. Maybe if I had wi-fi, the download would have been faster. I’d be interested to hear other people’s experience with that.

Be careful to clean the area where you stick the suction cup to the windshield (and also wipe the suction cup itself) because after a while, they both get a little dusty/dirty and the unit will suddenly fall to the floor of the car during use because the suction cup won’t hold as well as it needs to. I assume this is true with all GPS’s.

Also, don’t leave the unit plugged in and attached to the windshield all the time (when you’re not using it and the car is parked). It’s not meant to spend a lot of time in a very hot car in the sunshine without the A/C on. You’re fine in the sunshine in a hot car while you’re driving on a trip however long, since you’ll either have the A/C on or the windows open. Apparently some people want to plug it in, attach it to the windshield and just leave it there forever. And then they may have charging problems or other problems with it. Leave it in your console or glove box and only take it out and plug it in when you’re going to use it. When you get to your destination, turn it off, unplug it and store it back where it was. If you do that, you should not have problems with charging. Another reason not to leave it out is that units get stolen when they’re visible - people can smash the windshield and take it. Since you should put it away anyhow so it doesn’t get too hot, why leave it out?

Another tip the Garmin guy on the phone told me was that if your unit contains maps for the US and Canada (for instance), you can’t expect to download maps for the US, Canada, Mexico, and also Alaska on your unit - it may run out of space before it finishes. I believe Alaska isn’t automatically included with the US states since it’s so large. It makes sense to only include that if you need it. Some people in their reviews have mentioned that their unit couldn’t hold the downloaded update, and I feel sure that’s why. When I did my download, the Garmin website was smart enough to only allow me to download the US and Canada, so maybe this issue has been fixed by only allowing people to download updates to the maps which their unit already contains.

FYI, my unit did come with a USB cord included to connect it to a computer to get updates. Other reviews have complained that theirs did not, so I suspect Garmin has started including them. If you have a digital camera, it surely came with a USB cord which you can use with your GPS. Garmin probably figured anyone who buys a GPS already has one of these around which can be used.

Another issue is that the Traffic information is not reliable. I understand this is a problem with all GPS’s which claim to give you real-time traffic information (and re-route you around it). My understanding is that GPS’s get traffic information from a traffic service which gets info from the police (or something like that). One problem is that there can be gridlock simply due to too many cars on the road (typical commuter problems), or 3 lanes narrowing down to 2, etc. I think the GPS is unaware of problems like that. And even if there’s an accident involving the police, the traffic service doesn’t always get notified when everything is now clear, and it shows the problem much longer than it needs to. So, I never pay attention to the Traffic information and from what I understand, most people don’t either. I would never buy a unit because it provides traffic info. It would be good if it worked well, but until the unit can get its information in a more real-time fashion from traffic cameras or something, GPS manufacturers may just as well omit that option IMO.

Other than the difficulty of downloading updates and not being able to rely on the traffic option, I do like the unit and I liked the older unit I had also. If Garmin comes up with a way to make downloading a faster/simpler thing (more like a Windows Update) and to provide realtime traffic information, I will give this unit 5 stars definitely. You could say I have 2 fairly significant gripes about this unit, but really I think they are gripes about GPS’s in general and not specifically this unit. I really do like the unit and that’s why I gave it 4 stars.

Nuvi 3490lmt
Nuvi 50lm
Nuvi 2595lmt
Nuvi 40lm
Nuvi 2555lmt
Nuvi 2495lmt
HP Touchpad Sale

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