Your Carpet is Bacteria’s Favorite Playground
No matter how much we try to prevent dirt and bacteria from coming into our homes, we can still unknowingly introduce pathogens that get trapped in our carpet.
Quick Fact Check: Microbiology research published in 2001 found an average indoor carpet to be about 4,000 times dirtier than a toilet seat, with about 200,000 bacteria per square inch!
Outdoor debris from clothing and shoes works deep into carpet fibres, creating a “reservoir of allergens. In addition, thousands of dead human skin cells, which, when shed, become primary food for dust mites, also add to the problem. Even more so, carpets can also trap pet hair, which is a huge source of allergic reaction for many individuals.
So, what should you do about all this? We say get your clean on!
Vacuum your carpet at least weekly to keep critters under control and every six months to a year, get it deep-cleaned with a professional service. If you have carpets in your workplace, ask your employer what their regular cleaning schedule is to make sure you are working in a healthy environment.
— Article by CIR REALTY Best My Nest vendor, Vesta Cleaning Inc. Learn more at www.bestmynest.com
Raising Your Deductible to Save on Insurance
Raising your deductible will save some money on your insurance costs, however, the amount of money you save may not be what you think. Your insurance deductible will directly affect how much you get paid in a claim, but you can save thousands of dollars if you increase your deductible using the right strategy.
If you have the money on hand and are willing to pay for damages resulting from a claim, then you can increase your deductible to save on costs. If you can afford it, then take the savings your insurance company will give you and start saving money now.
If you are in a stable financial position and would likely take care of small issues yourself (without making a claim), it can make sense to get a higher deductible. If, for instance, you would never make a claim for under $1,000 on your car because you can afford to pay for it yourself, then a higher deductible of $1,000 makes a lot of financial sense.
On the other hand, if you are worried about your ability to cover any amount of unexpected costs, then you’re better off paying a few more dollars in insurance every year to get a deductible you could afford.
