Items with most bacteria

It isn’t Barbie’s world that we’re living in, it is bacteria’s world. While it’s common knowledge that floors and public toilets aren’t the cleanest, unbeknownst to us, there are plenty of other germ-filled items in our daily lives. These include wads of cash, restaurant menus, and even our trusty earpiece. 

Before you panic and retreat back into a cave, take comfort in the fact that you can easily disinfect these things with a few simple steps. To make your life easier and safer, here are 10 common items that carry the most bacteria, and ways you can keep them germ-free. 

1. Handphone

We’re all guilty of spending too much time on our phones, and oftentimes when using them, it’s common to be doing other things like opening doors or holding onto MRT handles. Well folks, this is how bacteria from other surfaces transfers onto our phones, and to our hands.  

Not to mention, our phone screen also makes direct contact with our face whenever we make a phone call. Think about all that bacteria spreading to your skin, and the pimples that come after. 

How to clean: clean the surfaces of your phone with disinfecting wipes regularly, especially before a phone call where the phone will be in contact with your face. You can also consider purchasing a UV sanitising box for added peace of mind. 

2. Menus

Don’t lose your appetite just yet, but menus are said to contain more bacteria than toilet seats. Since the same set of menus are being passed around from diner to diner, and restaurants probably don’t clean their menus after each use, it’s likely that germs are transmitted across throngs of people daily. 

Also, plastic menus can be germier when they are wet, since the water can’t be absorbed by the plastic. This makes it a perfect bacteria-breeding surface. Yikes. 

How to clean: sanitise your hands after browsing the menu, or go the extra mile and wipe the menu after use. We’re sure the staff will appreciate this.

3. Earpiece

Earbuds might seem small and unassuming, but the gooey earwax in our ears help trap and collect bacteria, preventing them from entering our system – hence it’s naturally full of bacteria. When we put on our earpiece for a music jamming sesh, they cause a blockage of the exit for the earwax, trapping moisture and heat which is a prime environment for bacteria to thrive in.  

What’s more, we tend to leave our gadgets on surfaces like office tables or in our bags which may not be the cleanest. The earpiece might then pick up on surrounding germs and transfer unto our ears during use. 

How to clean: clean off any waxy residue with a dry tissue, then wipe it down with a cotton ball that’s dipped – not soaked – in disinfecting spray or rubbing alcohol. Or invest in devices such as the LG TONE Free FP9 which has a fuss-free auto-cleaning UVnano™ charging case that kills 99.9% of bacteria on the speaker mesh of the earbuds. 

4. Handbag

Doraemon bag, but make it junk. 

Our bags do a lot for us – they hold our everyday essentials, chope our seats at kopitiams, and they also inevitably become our dumping ground for receipts, used tissues and any other unwanted knick-knacks. Plus, it’s unlikely that we have the habit of cleaning out our bags regularly. 

The accumulation of all these – and the fact that some of us leave our bags on the floor – can lead to a dirty, germ infested and heavy bag. 

How to clean: remember to seal any food you’re carrying in a container or ziplock bag, and use disinfectant wipes to clean your bag. Avoid putting your bag on the floor wherever possible, and consider using foldable bag holders which you can hook on the table. 

5. Money

Money is the root of all evil, and the source of oodles of germs. There’s a reason why we were all encouraged to switch to cashless payments during the pandemic as coins, paper and polymer notes all hang onto germs. 

Also, these same notes and loose change are constantly being circulated around multiple people. It happens when we’re buying food, and our same cash payment is then being used as change by the vendor, and the chain carries on. 

How to clean: while there isn’t an ideal or most convenient way to sanitise money, you can always wash or disinfect your hands thoroughly after use. Or, switch to cashless payments to avoid unnecessary contact with it. 

6. Shopping basket or trolley

Whether you’re on grocery runs with the fam or stocking up on snacks for yourself, you’ve probably made use of a shopping trolley or basket when at the supermarket. Because these items are shared amongst everyone, they aren’t the most sanitary considering the countless amounts of hands that have come into contact with them. 

We might also unknowingly touch raw meat or seafood, and proceed to hold the handles of the trolley or basket with that now contaminated hand. 

How to clean: use a disinfecting wipe and wipe down the handles before and after use. To be extra safe, you can also use hand sanitiser at the end of your supermarket run. That way, you’ll be free from germs that were present on the cash you handled too.

7. Makeup

“12M” refers to a 12-month shelf life. 

Makeup junkies, here’s a question for you: how often do you clear out your vanity? If your answer exceeds more than 12 months, you’re due for a good cleaning. 

If you didn’t already know, makeup products have specific shelf lives which should be closely followed to ensure that we’re not using any expired and bacteria-loaded products. To check for the respective shelf life, look out for the open jar icon on the packaging. You’ll see a number and letter in the jar, which indicates how long the product can be used after opening. 

Additionally, products that “double dip” like mascaras, liquid lipstick and tubed concealers all use the same applicator, which touches your face and then goes back into the tub. This can be unsanitary since whatever’s collected on the applicator – including bacteria – will be deposited back into the product. 

How to clean: throw out any unused or expired makeup products. And try not to leave the applicator lying around when not in use, as this might cause airborne germs to transfer onto it. 

8. Pet toys

Image credit: Adeline Lim 

As much as we love our furbabies, their toys can be pretty nasty. Just think about it – when they’re out on walks and licking strangers or random surfaces, the germs from those points of contact will then transfer to their slobber, and in turn their toys during playtime.

Combine their germy slobber with Singapore’s warm weather and you’ll get the perfect home for bacteria to breed and spread. And if you don’t routinely cleanse your pet’s toys, leaving it on the living room floor or stuffed into a bag will only cause more bacteria to germinate and spread to us hoomans. 

How to clean: soak the toys in a solution made up of 1 part vinegar to 2 parts water, for at least 15 minutes. Then, wash with pet-safe soap or use pet-safe disinfectant wipes. 

9. Razors

Besides showering and answering to Mother Nature’s calls, shaving is also another business we get done in the loo. As such, we often just chuck our razors in the shower or leave it on the edge of our sinks after use. 

However, the damp environment in the toilet can cause bacteria to breed on the razors. This isn’t ideal since we might accidentally cause micro tears on our skin when shaving, causing the bacteria to be transferred into our system through these tiny openings. 

Rinse your razor with hot water or rubbing alcohol after use. 

How to clean: Remember to let your razor fully dry in an upright position, or use a towel to pat dry before keeping it, so excess water droplets aren’t accumulated within the blades. Don’t reuse disposable razors even if they might seem to be in good condition, and switch out reusable blades after 5-8 shaves. 

10. Keyboard

We’re trying not to cringe as we type this. 

We don’t really give much thought to the cleanliness of our keyboards, with majority of our focus going to the aesthetics and satisfying “thock” sounds they produce. But, you should know that our hands touch plenty of possibly dirty surfaces, before proceeding to type on it. All germs and bacteria are then collected on your keyboard, and spread to your fingers after. 

And with personal laptops, it’s safe to say that we don’t clean it out as often as we should. Even if there is a keyboard protector used, bacteria can still transfer and breed on that surface. 

You can also upcycle any old makeup brushes and use them to dust off your keyboard. 

How to clean: You can get a mini brush or a clean microfiber cloth – or any lint-free cloth – like spectacle cloths to sweep off any dust or food leftovers in between the keycaps. Then, wet a cotton swab or ball with disinfectant to wipe your keyboard.  

Common daily items that harbour bacteria & germs

Unlike dirt and stains, these bacteria and germs can’t be seen with our naked eyes – so it’s hard to gauge whether our phones or publicly shared items like shopping baskets are insalubrious. And if you’re living with family members who are prone to getting sick, it’s of utmost importance to maintain a clean environment free of harmful microbes. 

The earbuds are made with medical-grade hypoallergenic ear gels to minimise discomfort and irritability. 

Besides diligently disinfecting our hands after use, there are gadgets like the LG TONE Free FP9 True Wireless Earbuds that help make life cleaner and more convenient. These wireless earbuds come with an auto-cleaning UVnano™ charging case that eliminates 99.9% of the bacteria upon charging, and it takes just 5-minutes to complete. 

If your device does not have a Bluetooth option, you won’t miss out as there’s the 3.5mm headphone jack alternative, which you can use to connect to the earbuds with the given USB-C to AUX cable. 

WFO distractions won’t be an issue, with the effective noise cancellation functions. 

Besides the Active noise cancellation function which is perfect for when you’re commuting in a busy train or studying in a bustling cafe, there are also other sound modes you can explore. 

One such example would be the Ambient Mode, which is customisable to allow for some external noise to seep in which is helpful when you need to be aware of your surroundings, like when crossing the road. 

Another feature is the Whispering Mode, that allows you to use the right earbud as a microphone which you can speak – or whisper – directly into. Simply enable via the LG TONE Free app. This will def come in handy when you’re taking a call outside or doing ASMR voice overs.

Of course, the most important aspect of any earpiece would be the audio experience. The FP9 doesn’t skimp on quality here, as they’ve collaborated with renowned British audio maker, Meridian Audio, to ensure that you can hear every beat and bass of the songs you’re blasting to. 

You’ll have 5 modes to choose from: Immersive, Natural, Treble Boost, 3D Sound Stage and  Bass Boost EQ. These audio profiles have varying effects such as emphasis on vocal space or a boosted bass, to pair with your respective music choice. 

You can also download the free LG TONE Free app (LG TONE Free app on Apple | LG TONE Free app on Google Play) to customise the EQ settings. 

If you’re looking to upgrade your tech, consider getting the LG TONE Free FP9. You can get it online for $298 at LG official brand stores on KrisShop, Lazada and Shopee, or in-stores at Audio House, Best Denki, Challenger, ConnectIT, COURTS, Gain City, Goh Joo Hin, Harvey Norman, iStudio, Mega Discount Store, Parisilk, Stereo Electronics and X Gear. 

You’ll be glad to know that there’s also a $50 off promotion from now till 31 May 2022, where you’ll be able to nab these earbuds at $248. 

Get the LG TONE Free FP9 here

This post was brought to you by LG Electronics (Singapore).
Photography by Clement Sim & Brad Lee. 

*Detailed disclaimers relating to product features apply.
Please refer to https://www.lg.com/sg/home-audio/lg-tone-fp9 for more details. 

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Originally Appeared Here

In 2019, just over 60,000 Scouts earned the rank of Eagle. When compared to the number of troops in the United States, around 1 Scout per troop earns the rank each year. Nevertheless, Troop 140 in Buffalo Grove defies these numbers.

This Sunday, 11 Scouts from Troop 140 will receive their Eagle Scout Rank in a ceremony to be held at St. Mary’s Catholic Church where the Troop meets each week. Of the 11 Scouts, ten of the boys are from the same elementary school district: Kildeer Countryside District 96, and seven have been in school together since 1st grade. It has been a fun and memorable journey for this group of boys who have become close friends over the years.

The 11 Scouts include: Jonathan Abraham, Carson Gallagher, Kellen McGowan, Matthew McGowan, Michael Meshboch, Zachary Pipin, Josh Tasher, Liam Thomson, Alastair Tutty, Eric Vondrak, and Daniel Wilson. Their Eagle Scout projects were completed in the past year and included: constructing a wooden boardwalk, winterizing plant beds, painting a world map mural on a school blacktop, landscape trim, sanding and repainting a storage shed, creating concrete tubs for native aquatic plants, building plant propagation beds, deep cleaning and disinfecting exercise equipment, building a wooden retaining wall, creating new trail signs, collecting and spreading seeds, and building new benches.

For Kellen, his project was a test of patience and persistence. As a result of supply chain disruptions, there was a severe shortage in paint. This meant lots of trips to Lowes, Home Depot and Sherwin Williams to find the paint he needed. The ending result was a bright and colorful art piece to liven up the playground area and create a space where students can learn about geography and other students’ backgrounds.

The highlights of the group’s adventures come from a variety of places across the country. From kayaking in the open ocean through the San Juan Islands in Washington State, spelunking Maquoketa Caves in Iowa, all the way canoeing the boundary waters of Minnesota.

For Thompson, one of his favorite highlights was close to home in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. Thompson said that during the 20 mile hike around the lake, he and the others encountered some strange houses, a dead fish, as well as plenty of inside jokes that lived on for years.

        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        

 

The ultimate test of the group’s outdoor skills arrived during a 10 day backpacking trek in Philmont Scout Ranch, New Mexico. The boys hiked around 10 miles per day with 50-70 pound backpacks up steep, rocky slopes, through rivers and across massive valleys of flowers and cattle. They also cooked their own freeze dried meals (sometimes in the rain) while also participating in activities like mountain biking, musket shooting, and axe throwing.

“Overall, Philmont was a bonding experience,” Tutty, a junior at Stevenson High School, said. “It was certainly difficult having to hike through mud in pouring rain, or climb up a slope that felt like 90 degrees, but we did it all together as a team. For myself however, I learned how to live with just a few pairs of underwear.”

In order to acquire these skills, the boys had to learn from their peers and other adults during their regular Monday night meetings. Now, after 7 years, it is they who are the teachers, instructing how to set up tents, tie knots and perform first aid. Over this transition from apprentice to master, the Scouts learned how to become not only better leaders and listeners, but also better people.

“As a younger Scout, I was probably a bit annoying and distracting to the older Scouts,” Kellen said. “Now I really know how they feel when I have to teach Scouts who were once my age. But the lessons that those older Scouts taught me, as well as their patience and dedication, has stuck with me to this day.”

        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        

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Originally Appeared Here

Last month, thousands of negative Shanghai residents were bussed to makeshift quarantine centres

Beijing:

Thousands of Covid-negative Beijing residents were forcibly relocated to quarantine hotels overnight due to a handful of infections, as the capital begins to take more extreme control measures resembling virus-hit Shanghai.

Beijing has been battling its worst outbreak since the pandemic started. The Omicron variant has infected over 1,300 since late April, leading city restaurants, schools and tourist attractions to be closed indefinitely.

China’s strategy to achieve zero Covid cases includes strict border closures, lengthy quarantines, mass testing and rapid, targeted lockdowns.

Over 13,000 residents of the locked-down Nanxinyuan residential compound in southeast Beijing were relocated to quarantine hotels overnight Friday due to 26 new infections discovered in recent days, according to photos and a government notice widely shared on social media.

“Experts have determined that all Nanxinyuan residents undergo centralised quarantine beginning midnight May 21 for seven days,” authorities from Chaoyang district said Friday.

“Please cooperate, otherwise you will bear the corresponding legal consequences.”

Social media photos showed hundreds of residents with luggage queueing in the dark to board coaches parked outside the compound.

“Some of us have been locked down for 28 days since April 23, and we all tested negative throughout,” wrote one resident on the Twitter-like Weibo.

“A lot of my neighbours are elderly or have young children.”

“The transfer really makes us feel like we’re in a wartime scene,” resident and real estate blogger Liu Guangyu posted on Weibo early Saturday.

Residents were told to pack their clothes and essential belongings, and that their homes would be disinfected afterwards, according to screenshots shared on Weibo.

Last month, thousands of negative Shanghai residents were bussed to makeshift quarantine centres hundreds of kilometres away as the metropolis of 25 million doubled down on efforts to contain the spread of the virus.

Weibo users expressed widespread anxiety that Beijing authorities were taking a similar approach to Shanghai, where residents have chafed under a months-long lockdown that has denied many people adequate access to food and medical care.

The Weibo hashtag “All residents of Nanxinyuan compound were dragged to quarantine” was blocked by Saturday morning.

“This is exactly the same as Shanghai, the first step is to cut off water and electricity, then demand keys… then disinfect homes. Electrical appliances, wooden furniture, clothes, food — they’re all done for,” read one comment.

Beijing authorities on Saturday extended work from home guidance to one more district, one day after halting the vast majority of public bus and subway services.

(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

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Originally Appeared Here

Day 10: my 66-year-old mother recovers and returns home!

There was some exciting news for our family – my 66-year-old mom was discharged and returned home!

To my surprise, the great news also made staff members of her residents’ committee and her neighbors happy.

My mom told me that when she returned to the community by bus, she found several staff members of the residents’ committee waiting at the entrance of the residential complex early in the morning. They even held a simple welcoming ceremony to give my mother a little surprise.

My mom is a retired teacher who has done a lifetime of teaching and she is well aware of the so-called social snobbery and fickleness in human heart. However, the special ceremony at this special time moved her a lot. When she told me about it on the other end of the line, she choked up in her speech.

However, I didn’t tell my mother too many details. In addition to the welcoming ceremony, this group of grassroots officials and volunteers also did a lot of things for us, such as disinfecting her home and disposing of the garbage left there.

My mom couldn’t hide her excitement when she returned home after a long absence. It is worth mentioning that my mother, who had the lightest symptoms of COVID-19 in my family, is the first to recover, likely due to having received three doses of the vaccine.

At this moment, my family—me, my wife and my daughter—is still in the makeshift hospital at the Shanghai World Expo Exhibition & Convention Center (SWEECC). I saw a lot of elderly patients in the makeshift hospital after coming here. Most of them don’t have many symptoms. In fact, these elderly patients here are not as “weak” as you might think.

　　

　　A Shanghai uncle smiles for the camera with a medical worker in the makeshift hospital

The Shanghai uncle pictured above is one of the friends I’ve made since I was admitted to the makeshift hospital. He asked me to take this photo for him.

He is a typical Shanghai uncle who speaks Shanghai dialect. He is also a faithful reader of my diaries in the makeshift hospital. Although he is still testing positive for COVID-19, it does not seem to affect his mood at all.“No problem, I’m not in a hurry! It takes time to get well,” he said.

Some elderly patients can optimistically try their best to overcome the difficulties despite there being so many imperfections in the makeshift hospital, such as no bathing facilities, bad conditions in the movable toilets, and insufficient and inadequate flow of interior air.

Therefore, young patients have even less reason to complain. Everyone is a fighter, so just hang in there. Don’t you think so?

　　

　　Two middle-aged patients are getting their prescriptions filled at the doctor’s workstation

　　

　　A patient is on his phone

　　

　　A patient is walking in the makeshift hospital, using a walking stick.

　　

　　An elderly patient is resting in bed.

　　

　　In the corridor of the makeshift hospital, two Shanghai uncles are chatting with each other.

　　

　　An elderly patient is using his phone on his bed

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Originally Appeared Here

Current Reports Increasing for Stomach-Related Illnesses

May 20, 2022

The Wyoming Department of Health (WDH) said reports of stomach-related illnesses known overall as viral gastroenteritis have been recently increasing in Wyoming.

Recent upticks have been reported from the northern part of the state, including Sheridan and Park counties, as well as in southern Wyoming’s Laramie County. “We are specifically seeing increased reports in school and restaurant settings,” said Matt Peterson, WDH surveillance epidemiologist.

Peterson said commonly reported symptoms include vomiting, nausea, chills and diarrhea.

“We are encouraging anyone with these symptoms to stay home from work or school and from social events such as graduation parties and weddings until 48 hours have passed since their last bout of vomiting or diarrhea,” Peterson said.

Commonly described as “stomach flu” or “food poisoning,” gastroenteritis can spread easily when people eat or drink contaminated food and beverages, touch contaminated surfaces or through close contact with someone already sick.

Contamination is almost always not obvious. “We’re usually talking about extremely tiny amounts of poop or vomit we can’t see,” Peterson said

Gastroenteritis can be caused by rotaviruses, noroviruses, adenoviruses, sapoviruses, and astroviruses, along with some bacteria (such as E. coli and salmonella). Noroviruses are most common.

Illness can hit quickly between 12 to 48 hours after a person has been exposed. Symptoms can last from one to ten days, depending on which virus caused the illness, and go away without causing long-term problems.

“Gastroenteritis illnesses can be prevented,” Peterson said. “It sounds too simple, but, truly, good hand washing is critical.”

Recommended steps to help prevent illness include:

• Frequently wash hands, especially after using the restroom or changing diapers, and before eating or preparing food.
• If ill, stay home from work and school, especially if employed in food-handling, healthcare or child care.
• Thoroughly clean and disinfect contaminated surfaces immediately after an episode of vomiting or diarrhea with a solution of 1 cup household bleach per 1 gallon of water and letting the solution sit for one minute.  Always follow manufacturers’ safety precautions.
• Immediately remove and wash contaminated clothing or linens after an episode of illness (use hot water and soap).
• Flush or discard any vomit and/or poop in the toilet and keep the surrounding area clean.
• Ill persons should take extra care to avoid spreading the virus by minimizing contact with other persons while ill and practicing good hygiene.

“Gastroenteritis can be serious when people become dehydrated,” Peterson said. He noted those who become severely ill may need to call or visit a medical professional.  Infants, young children, immunocompromised persons, and persons unable to care for themselves, such as the disabled or elderly, are at higher risk for dehydration and may need hospitalization.

Peterson noted there are two licensed rotavirus vaccines available that protect against severe diarrhea from rotavirus infection in infants and young children. “These vaccines are given to children in their first year of life with other childhood vaccines, but, unfortunately, are not useful against other causes of viral gastroenteritis,” he said.

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Originally Appeared Here

A lot of people would have just said no. The fact that Shelby Moeller decided to take a few extra steps beyond just giving someone an order and leaving probably saved an elderly Temple, Texas woman’s life.

When I first saw these pictures on social media back in March, I was a bit confused.  Then I read the story of Jane Doe. When I reached out to Shelby for permission to share his experience, my hope was that others in similar situations can be helped as well.

An Unusual Delivery

Shelby was delivering food for DoorDash in Temple when he got an odd request. When he came to the home, the person asked if he could come inside and bring the order to a back bedroom. He was somewhat suspicious and a bit uncomfortable, but he felt an urge to see what exactly was going on inside the home.

I proceeded to knock on the door and heard a small frail voice call out to open the door and come in and there was a small elderly (deteriorating) woman living amongst filth that literally tore my heart absolutely asunder! She had just undergone (a few weeks ago I’m hoping/assuming) a hip replacement at Scott and White and when her only family refused to help her animals, she left the hospital early to care for them!

Shelby went on to describe the scene, as the woman, who he said was over 75 years old, tried to eat her food while he was there. She was in so much pain he said she couldn’t get up to answer the door or even use the bathroom.

An Elderly Woman in Distress

He had to leave, but contacted authorities and shared the situation on social media. His original Facebook post received 382 reactions and 329 comments, with almost everyone offering some form of assistance. Shelby didn’t post an update until the following week, but he didn’t stop trying to get the elderly woman the help she needed.

On March 20th, he was able to share some amazing news. Shelby said originally when he posted about the woman’s situation, he wanted to raise awareness that our elderly right here in the Central Texas community are often alone, forgotten, and in need of help. KCEN was able to share the story as well.

After a lot of hard work by a small army of volunteers that stepped up to help Shelby, Jane Doe now has a clean, comfortable living space, and is getting medical help along with other services she needs.

Helping Hands Who Made a Difference

Shelby wanted to thank the following businesses who donated goods and services:

• Bullseye Flooring
• Mike’s Plumbing
• Lowe’s in Temple
• Home Depot in Temple
• Spotless Crime Clean

He also wanted to thank the many individuals who donated their time to this project: Christina and Shyan King, Lisa Pease, Susan Miller, Kimberly Greene, Robin Rochell, Kyli and Josh Abbatoye, Heath, Julie, and Kenny Jones, Misti Smith, and Clean Tollerson.

If You See Something, Say Something!

There are so many bad things happening every day in Central Texas, it’s easy to forget the angels among us that are helping those who cannot help themselves.

I truly believe that Shelby Moeller is one of those angels, along with everyone who stepped up to help him. Jane Doe now has a second chance at life – all because her Door Dash delivery driver shared her story and decided to help instead of turning away.

Scroll down to take a look at the incredible challenge these volunteers faced and the result of their hard work and loving dedication.

This Temple, Texas DoorDasher Helped an Elderly Woman Get Fresh Start

Shelby Moeller never imagined that an odd request while delivering for Door Dash would lead to a life-changing experience for him as well as an elderly woman who needed more than food.

He described his initial encounter on Facebook, thanking people who offered to help the 78-year-old woman he named ‘Jane Doe’ to protect her privacy. On March 20th, he was able to share some amazing news on Facebook.

“Many of you probably remember my post last week about door dashing and coming across an elderly woman in deplorable conditions. When I made the post, I was thinking that I just needed to raise awareness that our elderly right here in our community are often alone, forgotten, and in need of help. I never imagined that through my post, God was going to provide a small but mighty army of volunteers that would jump in and save Jane Doe.”

Jane Doe had to be moved out of her apartment while biohazard disinfecting was done by Spotless Crime Clean. All furniture, carpet, and most of her possessions had to be thrown away. There was also no edible food, as everything in the kitchen was either expired or infested with insects.

Shelby was able to spend some time with the woman, who he described as his ‘new adopted grandma’. He learned about her background, and how she had struggled throughout her entire life, being reduced to having nothing multiple times. She had developed some hoarding behaviors, and he believed that some of that was due to her fear of losing everything again.

Take a look at the before and after photos of the amazing transformation of her home that changed a Central Texas woman’s life and helped her start over in a healthy environment.

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Originally Appeared Here

Wampsville, N.Y. —  Officials in Madison County are sharing some tips to stay tick-free this season.

Officials noted how blacklegged ticks are of concern because the bite from an infected tick could spread Lyme disease, a bacterial infection, to you. Lyme disease is the most common vector-borne disease.

Typical symptoms of Lyme disease include fever, chills, headache, exhaustion, joint swelling, drooping on one or both sides of the face, and a characteristic skin rash called erythema migraines. A healthcare provider may treat a person for Lyme disease based on symptoms or may decide to run blood tests. Blood testing for Lyme disease is more accurate 4-6 weeks after the start of the illness than in the first days or weeks of illness.

There are several actions you can start now and continue through fall to prevent tick bites:

When going outdoors

One of the best ways to avoid a tick bite is to apply insect repellent on your skin and clothes before going outdoors to walk, play, or work. Select an insect repellent known to be effective against ticks (not all are). Use the EPA tool for help selecting an insect repellent with the hourly protection time and ingredients you want at https://www.epa.gov/insect-repellents/find-repellent-right-you.

In some areas, any contact with plants or bushes, even in your backyard, has the risk of contact with ticks. When in wooded and grassy areas, wear light-colored clothing and tuck pants into socks and shirts into pants. Light clothes make it easier to spot ticks and tucking your clothes in helps keep ticks off your skin.
After every two to three hours outdoors, check for ticks on clothing or skin. Brush off any ticks before they can attach to your skin.

When indoors

Do a thorough check of your entire body from head to toe at the end of the day.  Pay close attention to the back of the knees, around the waist, between the legs, behind and in the ears, in and around the hair, under the arms armpits and on the back. Check your children and pets, too.

Properly and quickly remove attached ticks. If an attached tick is removed within 24 hours, the risk of infection is small. Tick removal can be done at home with a set of pointy tweezers. A video of tick removal is available at https://web.uri.edu/tickencounter/how-to-remove-a-tick/.

After removing the tick, disinfect the bite site with soap, rubbing alcohol or hydrogen peroxide. Wash your hands carefully. Record the date and location of the tick bite. Place the tick in a sealed bag or flush down the toilet.

Shower soon after being outdoors to help wash away unattached ticks.
Immediately put your clothes in the dryer on the high setting for 10 minutes to kill any ticks.

Use these simple tips every day to help you prevent tick bites and focus on the outdoor activities you enjoy. To learn more about Lyme disease, visit www.healthymadisoncounty.org.

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Originally Appeared Here

This tutorial is about How to clean and care for wireless earbuds. We will try our best so that you understand this guide. I hope you like this blog, How to clean and care for wireless earbuds. If your answer is yes, please do share after reading this.

Table of contents

Check How to clean and care for wireless earbuds

Let’s use the clothing analogy again. Without a doubt, you leave home every morning with clean and well-washed clothes, right? And are they somehow less clean when you get home later in the day? Yes, your clothes are unconsciously dirty. The technology you put in your ears every day is more or less the same. When you plug your ears, dead skin cells, dirt, earwax, oil, dust, grease, cosmetics, and other facial/skin products stick to different parts of the device and even to the table when you put them in your pocket, purse or, they pick up dirt. everyone. only. day.

That’s why you should clean your headphones at least once a week. But given how small and fragile earmuffs are, how do you clean them effectively? So, you finally made up your mind and spent a few hundred dollars on some fancy new headphones. What do you think now? Wireless headphones have their inherent drawbacks in terms of durability, but there are ways to overcome them. As consumer electronics, these are no longer the headphones you had as a kid – they need some protection.

Lucky for you, we’ve created a guide to help you improve your headphones. Here’s how to get every last bit of metaphorical life out of your new purchase so you won’t have to trade in your new toy for at least a few more years. To clean your wireless headphones, you will need a few tools, such as dishwashing liquid, water, isopropyl alcohol, cotton swabs, toothbrush, microfiber cloth, or alcohol wipes.

How to clean and care for wireless headphones

Clean eartips

If your earbuds have silicone tips, foam tips, or covers, remove them. Mix a solution of one part dishwashing liquid and five parts warm water in a small bowl. Add the tips and let soak for at least 30 minutes. After soaking, use a cotton swab dipped in the soap mixture to give them a better clean. Rinse the tips well and let them air dry for a few hours or overnight. Do not put them back on the headphones until they are completely dry.

Clean the earpiece mesh cover

Use a clean, dry toothbrush, new or old, to gently remove any visible wax from the outside of the earpiece mesh. Place the earpiece with the mesh facing down so that particles fall out and do not go deep into the earpiece.

Sanitize mesh cover

Dip a cotton swab in isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol to clean and disinfect the network of buds and remove any remaining residue. Do not saturate the cotton swab with too much alcohol. You don’t want moisture leaking into the systems inside the ear canal. The wine must dry quickly.

Disinfect the outside of the headset and the cables

Finally, dip the microfiber cloth in isopropyl alcohol and clean the outer surfaces of the ear canal. This will clean and disinfect the surface. Microfiber is lint free and leaves no fibers on the net. You can also use prepackaged alcoholic beverages. If your headphones are wired, use an alcohol-dampened microfiber cloth or alcohol wipe to clean the wires.

Allow the headphones to dry

Allow the headphones to air dry away from direct heat for at least 15 minutes before using or storing them in a case. Do not use fans or hair dryers as they can blow lint back onto the mesh screen.

Headphone Maintenance Tips

• Put the earphones in a case when you are not using them. Every time you put your headphones in your pocket, backpack, or purse, they collect lint and debris.
• Also clean your case, because dust and debris can interrupt charging. When cleaning the headphones, clean the case by wiping the inside of the case with a microfiber cloth moistened with a little isopropyl alcohol. This is particularly important for wireless charging cases.
• Even if your headphones are waterproof, they should not be kept wet for long periods of time because moisture can seep into the inner workings. If they get quite wet, let them air dry away from direct heat.
• Do not store your headphones in your gym shorts or tucked into your sports bra where they are exposed to sweat. Instead, put them in a sealable plastic bag or waterproof box.

Final words: How to clean and care for wireless earbuds

I hope you understand this article, How to clean and care for wireless earbuds. If your answer is no, you can ask anything via the contact forum section related to this article. And if your answer is yes, please share this article with your friends and family to give us your support.

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A CLEANING expert has shared how vodka is one of her secret weapons when it comes to sprucing up her home.

In fact, Caroline, aka @neat.caroline, swears by the hard stuff for a variety of reasons – from killing stubborn mould to stopping your shoes from smelling.

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Caroline has opened up on vodka’s hidden talentsCredit: TikTok/@neat.caroline/

Caroline, who is a professional organiser and homes expert from New York, introduced a new helpful video uncovering vodka’s hidden cleaning benefits. 

Addressing her 155,000 followers, the American cleaning fanatic said: “Here’s some surprising ways to use vodka around the house.”

She then ran them through five different ways the alcohol can be incorporated into a cleaning routine – kicking off with a very handy hack.

Caroline explained: “It kills mould and mildew around the house. Spray the surface with vodka, then let sit for ten minutes. Then rinse the area clean with a damp rag.”

Caroline also said that vodka makes a great “homemade Febreeze” and can surprisingly bring freshness to each room in your home.

Lifting the lid on how you can make your own magic potion, Caroline continued: “Mix equal parts vodka and water to a spray bottle.”

She then showed herself spraying it around her living area, explaining that it can “deodorise furniture, clothes and shoes.”

The third surprising way vodka can be used is to “disinfect razor blades and make them last longer.” 

You simply have to soak the blades in a container of vodka for 10 minutes and see the results. 

Windows and mirrors around the home can also reap the benefits of vodka.

Caroline pointed out that if you spray equal parts vodka and water on to a glass surface and wipe clean with a microfiber cleaning cloth.

And, finally – and perhaps most surprisingly – Caroline says she always used vodka to help take off plasters when she’s suffered a small injury.

She explained: “It makes removing bandaids less painful. Soak a cotton ball in vodka, apply it to the bandaid and remove it.” 

Encouraging her followers to give the tips a try for themselves, Caroline also said: “And if you’re worried about your whole house smelling like vodka, the smell dissipates very quickly.” 

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Vodka can be used to clean glass surfacesCredit: TikTok/@neat.caroline/

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It can also help to fight off stubborn mould in certain areasCredit: TikTok/@neat.caroline/

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Vodka also makes a good air freshener and can deodorise clothes and shoesCredit: TikTok/@neat.caroline/

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The alcohol can also help razorsCredit: TikTok/@neat.caroline/

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Finally, it can help to weaken adhesive to remove plasters in a pain free wayCredit: TikTok/@neat.caroline/

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Originally Appeared Here

May 20, 2022

SEOUL – Lacking vaccines and treatments, North Korea is deploying unconventional methods to fight its growing COVID-19 crisis. In a mere week since “first” cases were acknowledged on May 12, the number of suspected cases there climbed to nearly 2 million. Outside experts say these estimates are likely a vast undercount of the true scale of the outbreak.

Kim Jong-un’s double-masking act

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un was spotted wearing two masks while visiting pharmacies in Pyongyang, according to a footage released by the North’s state broadcaster on May 16.

Back in February, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention backed “double-masking” for enhanced protection against omicron, which is more transmissible than delta was. The strain that was identified as circulating in North Korea is omicron’s BA.2 subvariant, which is associated with even higher transmissibility than the original BA.1.

But double-masking, while more protective than a single layer of a cloth mask or a surgical mask, is only recommended as an alternative to N95 or KN95 masks that offer the best protection against the virus, and can be used alone.

It’s not just Kim who was seen donning suboptimal protective gear. In media appearances North Korean health care workers are in thin surgical masks even as they carry out risky tasks such as disinfecting public places and consulting potential patients.

In this photo published by the Korea Central News Agency on Tuesday, a medical worker at a pharmacy is seen wearing two layers of face mask. (Yonhap)

Disproportionately few deaths

Despite around 20,000 to 30,000 cases of “fever” each day, North Korea’s total associated death count is still in the double digits. Just one additional death was newly registered in the last 24 hours, according to the North’s state-run Korean Central News Agency on Thursday.

The 63 deaths attributed to COVID-19 out of 1,978,230 fever cases as of 6 p.m. Wednesday translate to a case fatality rate of 0.00318 percent — far lower than the 0.18 percent seen in South Korea during the pre-peak stage of its omicron wave in February.

The low number of deaths in North Korea is “not proportional” to the caseloads being reported, experts say.

Because of a population-wide immunological naivete to COVID-19 — meaning no immunity from natural infection or vaccination –, high prevalence of malnutrition and lack of therapies like antivirals, experts have warned North Korea could face a much higher mortality rate than that observed in other countries.

Dr. Cha Ji-ho, a global health professor at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology researching North Korea’s pandemic developments, said the numbers “seem too out of proportion to be credible or derive any scientific interpretations from.”

“As deaths tend to lag cases by two to three weeks, increases are projected in the next three weeks,” said Dr. Paik Soon-young, a virologist at Catholic University of Korea.

North Korea is also seeing a significantly high proportion of pediatric deaths.

According to the latest available statistics from the Korean Central Television, children and adolescents younger than 20 years of age accounted for 30 percent of 56 deaths accumulated up to 6 p.m. Monday in North Korea. In South Korea, less than 1 percent of all known deaths are in those under 20.

This may be partly attributable to North Korea’s relatively younger population. Slightly over 9 percent of North Korea’s population is aged 65 and older, which is nearly half of South Korea’s 17 percent.

“Fever”

North Korea, which is believed to have little or no testing capacity, is only counting people with fever to measure the scale of its omicron outbreak.

Omicron is known to primarily affect the upper respiratory tract, with the most commonly reported symptoms being sore throat, runny nose and sneezing.

The range of temperatures that North Korean authorities are counting as a fever is unknown.

Up to as recently as Wednesday, the country still has not reported any confirmed cases or deaths to the World Health Organization.

A medical worker checks a resident’s temperature using a non-contact thermometer in this photo released by the Korean Central News Agency on Tuesday. (Yonhap)

Unconventional remedies

North Korean authorities are promoting unproven approaches for people to treat themselves at home.

Willow tea leaf, honey and other home remedies were introduced on the Workers’ Party daily Rodong Sinmun on Sunday as possible ways to soothe symptoms. The Korean Central Television on Monday recommended paracetamol and ibuprofen, as well as injections of penicillin as treatments for people with fever.

“Antibiotics like penicillin and fever reducers cannot ‘treat’ COVID-19,” said nfectious disease professor Dr. Kim Woo-joo of Korea University. “The misinformation from state authorities could end up causing more harm,” he said.

In fact, “adverse reaction to medication” is supposedly one of four causes of COVID-19-related deaths as categorized by North Korean authorities. The other three are “underlying illness,” “fever spasm” and “laryngospasm.”

Dr. Choi Jung-hun, who worked at North Korea’s state epidemic control division before fleeing to the South in 2012, said essential medical equipment of all kinds would be in short supply there.

“When the swine flu hit North Korea in 2009, Tylenol doses donated from abroad were prescribed to the most urgent patients only, and even then they could not be given in the standard dosage because there was only a limited amount to go around. The rest were lucky to receive Tylenol,” he said.

After refusing offers of vaccine donations in favor of its zero-COVID strategy, North Korea is “believed to have changed its stance,” according to South Korea’s spy agency Thursday.

Dr. Oh Myoung-don, who heads the clinical committee for infectious diseases at South Korea’s top National Medical Center, said in a virtual forum Monday that that the medical supplies North Korea needs more of at this stage would be treatments rather than vaccines.

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Originally Appeared Here