} Continued from cover
Capture – filter and contain
that which enters
When airborne particles enter your
home, they remain suspended for
a period of time. Large and dense
particles drop out of the air and
settle onto surfaces. Smaller, lighter
particles remain suspended longer
– some nearly indefinitely – and are
best removed by air filtration devices
and the filter on your home’s HVAC
system.
Grandma’s Chicken
Noodle Soup
Ingredients:
2 1/2 cups wide egg noodles
1 teaspoon vegetable oil
12 cups chicken broth
1 1/2 tablespoons salt
1 teaspoon poultry seasoning
Pay attention to the filters you use.
Use high quality pleated filters. Don’t
buy based on price alone. Get filters
that are rated MERV 7 or 8. Higher
MERV ratings may place excessive
restriction on your ventilation
system, requiring a change in
configuration. Talk to an HVAC
professional for more information
about how to improve filtration on
your ventilation system.
Clean – remove pollutants
from surfaces
Eventually, particles settle on
surfaces such as floors, furniture,
counters, window sills, shelves
and walls. Vacuuming and dusting
1 cup chopped celery
removes most of the particles, but
make sure that your vacuum cleaner
has good filtration too.
Hard surfaces can be cleaned with
electrostatic dusters or dust cloths
that attract and hold particles, or by
wiping hard surfaces with a damp
cloth and wet mopping floors. Other
surfaces such as carpet, area rugs
and upholstery will require periodic
professional cleaning to remove
accumulated soils and pollutants.
Control – maintain
equipment, humidity levels
and filters
Proper maintenance is important.
Ensure your vacuum cleaner, AC unit,
range hood and other ventilation
equipment are working properly.
Clean or replace furnace filters at
recommended intervals; usually
monthly depending on the type of
filter and environmental conditions.
A Cleaner Carpet Cleaner can help
you breathe easier indoors with
regularly scheduled professional
carpet and upholstery cleaning. Call
us today to set up your clean and
healthy maintenance program.
1 cup chopped onion
1/3 cup cornstarch
1/4 cup water
Directions:
1. Bring a large pot of lightly salted
water to a boil. Add egg noodles
and oil, a nd boil for 8 minutes,
or until tender. Drain, and rinse
under cool running water.
2. In a large saucepan or Dutch
oven, combine broth, salt, and
poultry seasoning. Bring to a
boil. Stir in celery and onion.
Reduce heat, cover, and simmer
15 minutes.
3. In a small bowl, mix cornstarch
and water together until
cornstarch is completely
dissolved. Gradually add to soup,
stirring constantly. Stir in noodles
and chicken, and heat through.
recipe courtesy allrecipes.com
OCTOBER 2015
Making Playgrounds Safer
If you have a child who has recently
headed back to school, take
some time to inspect the school
playground and outdoor activity
areas. The U.S. Consumer Product
Safety Commission reports there
are about 20 playground-related
fatalities each year, and over
200,000 children suffer injuries on
a playground annually. Eighty-one
percent of all playground injuries
occur as a result of a fall.
One proven method for reducing
these injuries is by installing softer
ground coverings. However, it is
estimated that as many as 92
percent of American playgrounds do
not have adequate ground cover.
One innovative, non-toxic surface
is made of shredded and recycled
tires. This material outperforms all
other surface materials in impact
absorption. The material can be
produced in a variety of colors and
lasts for up to 50 years, saving in
maintenance costs for schools.
If your child’s playground has a
hard, dangerous surface, take the
time to talk to your school official,
requesting that a material such as
recycled tires be used to replace the
ground cover. It is a good idea to
educate other parents and teachers
on ways the playground can be made
as safe as possible, starting from the
ground up.