585-955-6300
July 2016

Please enjoy our monthly newsletter that we have put together for you. We hope that you might find helpful information or new ideas and a recipe to try! Please feel free to pass it along by sharing it with your friends or family who might also enjoy reading it.                       
July  
Savings! 
Enjoy: 10% off Carpet Cleaning, $15 off Upholstery Cleaning, and $25 off Tile & Grout Cleaning!
Discount qualifies after the minimum order for each service.
Offer Expires 7/31/16. Min order applies. Ask for details. Residential Only.
Quick Guide to Watering Your Garden 


As the long, hot, dry days of summer roll on in, it becomes increasingly important that you make watering your garden a
priority. While it seems a simple task, gardening experts have
determined that there are better ways of watering that keep plants more hydrated and healthy.
  1. Focus on the roots. You don't need to soak every leaf of
    your plants. In fact, leaves that stay wet for too long are
    more prone to disease, rot, and damage. Water droplets can even focus the sun's light like tiny magnifying glasses
    resulting in slight burn marks too. Aim water streams
    down central stems into root systems when you can.
  2. Water early or water late. Try to avoid watering your
    plants in the middle of the day when temperatures and the
    sun's rays are at their peak. Too much moisture will end
    up evaporating instead of being absorbed by the soil and
    plant. Cool, early morning temperatures and low wind
    levels minimize evaporation. If your schedule doesn't
    allow you to visit the garden early in the morning, then
    water in the afternoon or an hour or so before sundown.
    The key is to give leaves a chance to dry off before
    nightfall to avoid the development of disease and fungus.
  3. Keep the ground covered. Spread a 2-inch thick layer of
    mulch, straw, bark, pine needles, or chopped up leaves
    around the base of plants to cover the soil. This helps retain moisture in the soil to keep your plants hydrated. As
    these materials decompose, they also help to enrich the soil and feed your plants, too.
  4. Heavy and seldom is better than little and often. Instead
    of watering your plants a little bit each day, give them a
    good soaking two to three times a week (depending on
    summer temperatures).

    Here's the best technique: turn your hose on the "soaker"
    setting and water your plants until puddles form. Then
    move to a different section of your garden while you wait
    for the puddles to absorb into the soil. Return to that first
    section and water again.

    By watering heavily, the water sinks deep, deep, deep into
    the soil. As the hot top soil dries out, plant roots dig deeper to reach cooler, moist soil, resulting in stronger root systems and healthier plant growth above ground.

    It's important that plant roots be allowed to dry out slightly in between watering too. Most plants, especially
    vegetables like tomatoes, don't like their "feet" to be too
    wet for too long.
     
HEALTH ADVICE: How to Prevent Joint Pain        


Healthy joints allow us to enjoy a wide range of motion. From simple movements, like waving hello or opening a can of soda, to more complex activities, like running, dancing, and swimming, we depend on our joints to keep us moving.

Our joints are comprised of bone, muscle, synovial fluid, cartilage, and ligaments. They literally "join" all our parts together. There
are many types of articulating joints in our bodies-ball-and- socket joints in our hips and shoulders, gliding joints in our wrists, hinge joints in our elbows and knees-and we need them all.

There's nothing that slows us down quite like joint pain. Osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, gout, strains, sprains, and injury are the most common culprits of joint pain, and can severely impact our lives.

So, what can you do about it? Luckily, most types of joint pain can be managed through medication, physical therapy, or a bit of rest. There are also some steps you can take to prevent joint pain all together.
  • Maintain a healthy weight. Excess weight puts a lot of stress and pressure on your joints, especially knees, hips, and ankles. You can reduce joint stress and improve mobility by taking steps to shed those extra pounds.
  • Get more exercise. Regular activity helps maintain joint strength and flexibility, plus it promotes weight loss too.
    However, if you suffer from arthritis or other degenerative conditions, high-impact activities, like running and weightlifting, can be painful and even damaging. Low-impact activities, like water aerobics or swimming, are great alternatives. Most fitness clubs also have elliptical machines, which help you get your heart rate up while reducing joint
    stress.
  • Stay hydrated. Your body needs water to function. When you're dehydrated, the fluids throughout your body-including those that surround your joints-are reduced, which can lead to discomfort and injury. Drink plenty of water throughout
    the day and eat water-rich foods, like fruits and vegetables.
  • Stretch regularly. If your joints feel too stiff and inflexible, regular stretching exercises can improve your range of motion. Try signing up for a yoga or Pilates class at the gym. If you're having difficulty with basic movements, such as those required to do everyday tasks, talk to your doctor. You might benefit from physical therapy interventions.
     
KID CORNER: 7 Ways to Stay Cool in Summer     


Ah! Summer is here and we can look forward to many hot, sunny days ahead. To help your kids stay cool all summer long, try some of these awesomely fun ways to beat the heat:
  1. Turn on the sprinkler! Who doesn't have fond memories of running through a cold sprinkler on a hot day? Nowadays, you can go to your local toy store to find special sprinkler attachments that screw onto your hose and direct streams of water in all directions. As an added bonus, the grass gets some much needed water at the same time! 
  2. Water balloons! Fill up a few buckets or a small kiddie pool with water balloons. You can throw them at each other, or try a game of catch. Toss a water balloon back and forth, taking a step backward after every catch. See how far apart you can get before the balloon breaks!
  3. Car wash! Your kids will stay cool and your car will shine with this fun activity. All you need are a hose, a bucket of soapy water, and a couple of big, soft sponges. The kids can wash your car or they can wash their toy cars, bikes, and scooters, too.
  4. Ice hammer smash! Fill a small plastic tub with water and small toys and freeze it overnight. Pop the ice block out the next day and let your kids smash it in the driveway with a hammer (closely supervised, of course!). Be sure to give them a pair of safety goggles or make them wear sunglasses to protect their eyes.
  5. "Cold" potato! Fill a water balloon and then poke a tiny hole in it. It should be large enough so that it has a slow, but steady stream of water shooting out. Gather your children together and have them toss the "potato" around. Be sure to throw it quickly: the goal of the game is to pass the balloon before it runs out of water. To make it more challenging, toss two or more balloons at the same time.
  6. Break out the squirt guns! Fill a large storage bin (or two!) with water and give each family member a squirt gun. The water bins are the reloading stations. When someone is reloading, they're "safe" from getting squirted. Once they walk away, however, it's game on!
  7. Make your own fishing pond! Cut out some fish shapes from different colored foam sheets. Attach a paperclip to the head. Make a fishing pole by tying one end of a piece of string around a strong magnet and the other end around a dowel rod. Float the fish shapes in a kiddie pool and let your kids go fishing with their magnetic rod! Make this game educational by using a black Sharpie to draw numbers or shapes on the fish.
Throw Out Less, Reuse More!  


According to the Center for Sustainability at Duke University, the average person generates 4.3 pounds of waste per day. Collectively, Americans generate 220 million tons of waste every year, and 55% of it ends up in landfills.

One way to reduce how much garbage we leave behind is to reuse our
"disposable" items. It's not just good for Mother Earth, but it's also good for our wallets too. Who wants to keep spending money on stuff we just throw away anyway? Check out these innovative ideas:
  • Cereal liner bags. Re-use the bags to wrap sandwiches or cold cuts. You can also cut the bags into large squares and use them to separate meat patties before freezing.
  • Empty berry boxes. Use them to plant spring or fall bulbs in the garden. Gophers and moles won't eat through the boxes, so your bulbs will be protected.
  • Dry cleaning bags. Tie a knot in the end with the hole for the hangars and use the bag as a trash can liner.
  • Ripped, worn-out T-shirts. Great for scrubbing or wiping up spills, old T-shirts double as handy rags for cleaning tasks.
  • Nylons. Cut old nylons into strips and use for plant ties to train climbing plants to climb a trellis.
  • Old salt shakers. Use old salt shakers to hold small seeds. Easily plant them by simply shaking the seeds over the soil.
  • Empty tissue boxes. Use empty tissue boxes to store empty plastic grocery bags. Or keep one in your car and use it to hold garbage.
  • Used aluminum foil. Save your used aluminum foil to use as a scouring pad to clean the gunk off the barbeque grill and stuck-on food from pots, pans, and oven racks.
  • Toothbrushes. Use an old toothbrush to clean your computer keyboard or scrub grout lines.
Homestyle Recipes Just for You
How to Grill the Perfect Burger
 
  
There's nothing quite like a juicy burger hot off the grill. Unfortunately most people don't cook their burgers the right way. The middle is raw, the outside is burned, or the whole thing is overcooked and dry. Here's how the best grillmasters cook a good burger.  

Ingredients:
  • 1 1/2 pounds ground chuck (80% lean) 
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper 

Directions:
  1. Gently mix a generous sprinkle of salt and pepper into the ground chuck. Separate into 4 equal portions (about 6 ounces each), and take care not to over mix or compact, as it results in dense, too-firm burgers.
  2. Roll the portions into balls and then flatten with your hands or against a cutting board. Put a slight indentation in the center. This keeps the patty from swelling and becoming too rounds.  
  3. If you're using a charcoal grill, arrange the coals on half the grill only. This creates one hot side for cooking/searing, and a cooler side for slow, indirect cooking.
  4. Sear the burgers on the hot side, directly over the coals, for about 4-5 minutes until brown. Do not char the meat or press down on the patties- leave all that delicious juice in there.
  5. Once the burgers are seared, move them to the other side of the grill off the direct heat. Cover the grill and allow the burgers to cool until the internal temperature reaches 160°F.
  6. Top with a thick slice of cheese (if desired) just before removing from the grill. Serve immediately on a buttered, toasted bun.
Carpet Talk: Control Carpet Odors


Carpet is a wonderful addition to the comfort and appearance of your home, but if not cared for properly, it can attract dirt and odor like a magnet. Here are some things you can do at home to keep odor under control.
Mold/Mildew Odors . If you notice a musty smell from your carpet, you might have a mold or mildew problem. This is especially the case if your carpet is in a humid environment or was wet for an extended period. The best course of action is to call your professional carpet cleaner. He or she will have the proper chemicals to treat the problem, or will be able to advise you if it is necessary to replace the carpet for your family's health and safety.
Smoke Odors . First, if someone is smoking inside the house, encourage him or her to smoke outside. You cannot keep your carpet deodorized if someone keeps blowing smoke in your home. For occasional smoke odor, shake a bit of baking soda onto the carpet. With a corn straw broom, brush the baking soda into the nap of the carpeting to make sure it gets into the fibers. Leave it overnight. In the morning, give the carpet a thorough vacuuming, going over it several times to pick up as much of the baking soda as possible.
Pet Odors. Part of being a pet owner is cleaning up occasional vomit or urine stains on the carpet. Sometimes, however, we can't get to these little accidents fast enough and big odor problems result. You can use the baking soda method described above (make sure the carpet is dry first!) to remove some of the odor. If it persists, contact your carpet care professional.
We hope you have enjoyed reading the content in our fun and informative newsletter. We would love to hear from you soon using our money saving special. To schedule your next cleaning, call us today 585-955-6300 or respond to this email with the best phone number and office hour times and we'll call you to schedule your cleaning!

Sincerely,
Paul & Tracy Spurling
Owners
In This Issue
Get Cash Back OR Credit Towards Cleaning

Did you know  that every time you refer a new client to us you'll get 10% in CASH or FREE Cleaning?

 

That can total up to be a

lot of money! Your cleanings could potentially be free just by sharing your experience with others.

 

When someone new hires Spurling's Carpet Cleaning and said you told them to contact us when I ask how they heard about us, we'll automatically send you a certificate to redeem for cash or services. 

 

It's your choice and there's no limit! Just tell all your neighbor, friends, family and co-workers about us. 

 

We'd rather give back our customers for referring us than paying for advertising.

 

Be sure your current contact information is on file with us so we always know where to send your reward.
July
1785       
Congress resolves that US currency is to be named the "dollar" and adopts decimal coinage

1799             
The Rosetta Stone, a 6-foot- tall granite slate that was instrumental in deciphering Egyptian hieroglyphics, is found in the Egyptian village of Rosetta by French Captain Pierre-Franois Bouchard

1881
World's first international telephone call takes place between St. Stephen, New Brunswick, Canada, and
Calais, Maine, United States
 
1928             
The first all-talking motion picture, Lights of New York, is shown in New York, NY. The film cost $23,000 to produce, and grossed over $1,000,000
 
1963              
ZIP codes are introduced for United States mail

1983              
US Supreme Court rules that retirement plans can't pay women less than men
CLEANING CORNER:

How to Clean Vinyl Blinds



It's surprising how much dust, dirt, and fingerprint grease
can accumulate on your blinds over time. Here's how to tackle this tricky cleaning task.

Quick Cleaning: Vacuum blinds with the hose or brush
attachment or simply use a feather duster to remove the dust.
Sometimes a good dusting is all that's needed.

Medium Duty Cleaning: Fill a bucket with warm soapy water (regular dish soap is fine). Close the blinds and use a sponge to wipe the length of every blind from side to side. Flip the blinds in the other direction to wipe the other side.

Heavy Duty Cleaning: For super filthy blinds, take them outside and spread them out on the driveway. Wipe each side with a sponge soaked in soapy water, and then use the spray nozzle on your hose to blast away the dirt and grime. Towel them dry and re-hang.
Spurling's Carpet Cleaning | Visit Our Website |585-955-6300 | spurlingscleanandgreen@gmail.com | Williamson, NY