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Keeping the floor clean at all costs!

The floor tiles in your house will get dirty and you cannot help it. You would want to keep it as clean as possible but you’re going to find it extremely difficult to keep the floor spotless. However, if you put in a little effort it is not all that tough keep the beauty of your house intact with clean floors. Let’s face it, anytime you head out, you’re going to track in dirt all across the floor and these little dust particles can cause a lot of damage to the floor tiles in your house. The dust deposits in the gap between adjacent tiles and over a certain period of time, the floor starts blackening.

In order to avoid blackening of the floor, you should make sure that you mop the floor on a daily basis. It is pretty obvious that you mop the floor once a day with a wet cloth and that you use a vacuum cleaner on a weekly basis but in case of stains and spills, you would need to put in a little more effort. Hard rubbing or scrubbing is not always a safe bet while cleaning floors and can cause considerable damage to the floor. It is therefore important to use certain cleaning agents that can easily sweep the clean without any scrubbing whatsoever.

Some of the most effective cleaning agents to keep your floor clean are:
• A mélange of hot water and phenol is very effective in killing the germs on the floor. If you have a baby, you should be careful that you floor is free of germs.

• Oxygen bleach is a great cleaning agent simply because it breaks up the stain molecules so that they can be washed away with water with maximum ease. Cleaning agents with oxygen bleach help in removing food stains and grease stains on the floor.

• Here is a great cleaning agent for ceramic tiles, concrete floors, flagstone floors and slate floors:
Half a cup of low-suds is to be mixed with one cup ammonia and half a gallon of cool water. Use a sponge mop to wipe the floor. This cleaning agent helps in getting rid of the hardest of stains and helps in removing extra-tough dirt on the floor.

• You can easily find stain solver powders in the markets. Mixing the powder with oxygen bleach is a good way to make a formidable cleaning agent. However before using the mix on the tiles, you should make sure that the mélange suits the floor. This kind of a mélange is not good for wooden floors and hence you should be careful while choosing a cleaning agent.

While tile floors are not easy to clean but if you want to preserve the beauty of these tile floors, you should mop the floor twice a day with warm water. You should also make sure that you do not over-use cleaning agents. A lot of people use mats to save their floor from dust particles. Even under such cases, it is recommended that you wash the floor once a month.

How to Keep You Furniture Clean

Immaculately clean furniture adds an elegant touch to your living room. A coffee stain on the coffee table in your living room is going to stand out, making everything appear gauche rather than classy. Polishing up your furniture and maintaining it may appear overwhelming, especially if you’re not in the knowhow on how to keep it clean. However with proper knowledge about cleaning agents and cleaning methods, you can increase the life span of your furniture to a large extent.

There are certain important aspects of cleaning that you should take into consideration while cleaning your furniture.
• Make sure that you do not use a wet cloth on the furniture on a daily basis. However, it is good to use a wet cloth if you see a remarkable stain on your furniture.

• Use a dry brush on upholstered furniture every alternate day. Dust tends to settle down at places that are not easily accessible and therefore you should make sure that you wipe off every part of the furniture properly.

• Vacuum cleaner has been regarded as a great invention. Make sure that you remove the cushions on your couch and use the vacuum cleaner on a weekly basis. Doing so helps in sucking out the surface soil and keeps the dust particles away from fibers.

• Spills are no friends of your furniture and you should make sure that you attend to the furniture at the earliest in case of a spill. Use a dry folded towel and make sure that you do not rub hard. A good idea is to gently blot the spot a few times.

• In case of leather and vinyl furniture, you should make sure that you use a cleaning agent that is silicone-free. It is always beneficial to read the manufacturer’s instruction book before choosing a particular cleaning agent for the furniture.

• One of the main problems with upholstered furniture is that the furniture tends to absorb odors and similarly fumes in the kitchen can cause a fair bit of damage to the furniture. Proper ventilation and odor control agents can help you avoid the damage that might come into picture if your furniture is exposed to smoke and fumes from cooking.

• A piece of furniture that you fell in love with requires constant care if you want it to keep its beauty intact. It is recommended that you get help from professionals once in two or three months just to ensure that your furniture is in good shape.

There are plenty of cleaning agents available in the markets but not all cleaning agents would suit the kind of furniture you have purchased. At times, people tend to use a large variety of cleaning agents on their furniture just to keep it fresh. This is not such a good idea as the chemicals present in different cleaning agents can react and damage the furniture significantly.

Stay at Sun & Sand Hotel in Goa for Vacation of a Lifetime

Sun & Sand hotel in Goa is perched on top of a small hill, in Panjim offering a magnificent view of the Boat Cruise center and River Mandovi. It is the first beachfront hotel in India providing excellent comfort and care to international, leisure, and domestic travelers since the last four decades. Location of this four star hotel is such that the main shopping and business centers are at a close proximity.

Distances between tourists attractions and Sun & Sand hotel are:
• Dona Paula Jetty is at 4 km
• North Goa Beaches is at 12 km
• Dudhsagar Falls is at 50 km
• Reis Magos & Fort Aguada is at 11 km

Sun & Sand hotel in Goa offers forty-three exclusively, created rooms and suites. All rooms have been designed in such a manner to incorporate, entire amenities required by sophisticated and refined travelers. The superior room having an approx. total size of 310 sq. ft., has been tastefully furnished, and offers an incredible view of the Panaji city.
As the name suggest, the superior river room provides a stunning view of the River Mandovi and is approx. 320 sq. ft., in total size. The executive room is approx. 400 sq. ft. and includes a living area and terrace that offers a brilliant sight of the garden as well as the city.

Modernly furnished, deluxe rooms in the hotel Sun & Sand have the overall size of 420 sq. ft. approx. and comprises of living area and a terrace where guests can watch, the sunset or sunrise on the River Mandovi. The cozy and spacious rooms of junior suites provide the option of a Portuguese or a duplex room with the total size of approx. 550 sq. ft., which consists of a living area that overlooks the swimming pool and the scenic river. In the Sun & Sand hotel, the most spacious room is the suites with an approx. area of 630 sq. ft, which includes bedroom, living room, and a private terrace that has a similar view as the junior suites.

Various room amenities in Sun & Sand hotel are:
• Tea/coffee maker
• Internet access
• Minibar
• Housekeeping
• Rollaway beds
• Wake-up calls
• Refrigerator
• Cable television channels
Sun & Sand hotel in Goa has a multi cuisine bar and restaurant, Aqua that remains open 24 hours a day and can accommodate 40 persons, at a time. Overlooking the Mandovi River and the swimming pool, Aqua is the place where guests can savor a wide range of cuisines such as Italian, Continental, Goan, Chinese, and Indian. To complement the food, the bar serves the best selection of both international and domestic liqueur.

Many other recreation and leisure facilities are also provided by the Sun & Sand hotel such as fitness center, swimming pool, conference hall, car hire service, travel assistance, and currency exchange. The check in and check out time, at the hotel is noon. To spend vacation of a lifetime be it for leisure or business in Goa then Sun & Sand hotel is the place to be in for as can be seen, it provides ultimate specialized comfort, care, food, and services to make the trip a memorable one.

How to grow tomatoes in your garden

Whether you want to prepare a special pizza for your family or make your own tomato sauce, you would need ripe tomatoes to make your dish special. Although tomatoes are readily available in the market and you can just walk down the road to get them, growing them on your own makes them even more special. Considering that tomatoes are an important ingredient for various dishes, growing them in your garden makes a lot of sense. In addition, all of us know that tomatoes work wonders for our health. They make our skin radiant and purify blood.

Before you get started, it is important for you to keep a few things in mind to grow ripe tomatoes. The first thing that you need to decide is whether you want to grow the vegetable from a seed or buy a tomato plant. If you are patient enough, you can go for the tomato seeds option. Otherwise purchasing a tomato plant will be the best thing for you to do. According to many tomato growers, watching the plant grow from a seed gives immense satisfaction. But owing to the hectic life that we lead these days, it may not always be feasible to spend a lot of time on tendering the tomato seeds. Therefore, if you are choosing a tomato plant do make sure that you select a healthy one. You have to pay close attention to the leaves to find out if the plant is healthy or not. While purchasing the tomato plant, you will find tags on each plant mentioning the diseases it can resist. Here it is important to note that the modern types of tomatoes are more resistant to diseases than their older counterparts. An interesting fact pertaining to the tomato plants is that most of these plants tend to get affected by fungal substances in the lower 12 inches of stalk. It is therefore recommended to remove the bottom leaves of the plant once it reaches 3 feet height.

Planting a tomato plant calls for a lot of love, care and nurturing. The tomato grower should not expect to grow ripe tomatoes without paying proper attention. Like all other plants, the tomato plants also need proper watering. In case, you spend a lot of time outdoors and have difficulty in watering the plant regularly you can put a moisture crystal to ease the process. Apart from these, there are also some small things that should not be ignored while growing tomatoes. For example, if the soil is extremely dry it becomes necessary to add compost in good measure. Moreover, tomato growers should use fertilizers and manures in ample amounts to enhance the growth of their plant. Adding a combination of crushed egg shells and magnesium is a wonderful way to provide calcium to your plant.

An important factor that plays a huge role in enhancing the growth of the tomato plant is the right temperature. According to the experts, tomato plants are required to be kept in a constant temperature of 50º F. To produce fruits from it, the tomato grower should ensure that a constant temperature of 55º F is maintained throughout. Apart from temperature another factor that plays a crucial role in ensuring your plant’s growth is humidity. High humidity can adversely affect the growth of your plant because a high humid condition causes calcium deficiency in tomato plants. It is advisable to maintain a humidity level of around 70% to expedite the growth of the plant.

A good way to enhance growth of the plant is to heat the soil regularly. Many tomato growers complain that despite paying close attention to their plants, they don’t get the best results when it comes to growth. In most cases, it is found that tomato growers place their plants so close to one another that the plants get very little space. As a result, it takes a longer time for the tomato plants to grow. It is therefore advisable to maintain a minimum distance of about two to three feet between two plants. Sometimes, it becomes necessary to provide additional support in the form of a stake to the tomato plant.

It is also quite important to ensure that the plant is kept in a sunny place. If you live in an apartment and have space constraints, you can place your plant in the balcony or close to a window that receives ample sunlight throughout the day. In case, you have difficulty in managing this, you can opt for fluorescent lights that are also a good option. To achieve best results, do make sure that your plant receives ample light for at least 12 hours. You can also use shade cloth to prevent sun scalding. It is commonly believed that a red shade cloth is the best option for tomato growers because it balances the sunlight, thereby ensuring that your plant receives the right amount of light.

Many tomato growers get confused when it comes to understanding the best time to harvest the tomatoes. Experts are of the opinion that tomato growers should harvest tomatoes when they begin to soften. After harvesting, the tomatoes are required to be kept in a dark environment. It is very important to note that post harvesting, tomatoes should not be refrigerated. This is because a drop in temperature can take away the freshness and flavor from the fruit.

Tomatoes that are cultivated on the vine are generally the best if consumed within two to three days of harvesting. In case, it is not possible to consume the entire tomato supply within three days a good option would be to use the tomatoes to prepare tomato sauce. The sauce can be refrigerated and used over a given time period.

Whether you grow tomatoes indoors or in your garden, you must be prepared for a lot of love and care. No matter how busy you are, with some simple tips mentioned in this article you can grow fresh tomatoes in your garden.

How to grow asparagus

Asparagus or Asparagus officinalis belongs to the lily family. It has been cultivated for over 2000 years and is a major source of rich nutrients such as Vitamin A, Vitamin C, phosphorus, calcium, thiamine and riboflavin. Being a perennial plant, asparagus can be produced for several years, provided it is planted and maintained properly. It has compact stems also known as rhizomes and underground storage roots. These rhizomes and underground storage roots produce edible shoots known as asparagus spears. If these spears are not harvested on time then there are high risks of them turning into fern like bushes, measuring 4 feet or more. This foliage produces carbohydrates that are stored in the roots of the plant.

Asparagus has male as well as female plants. Both types flower and the female asparagus plants produce small red berries during the fall. However, the female plants do not last for a longer time when compared to the male plants.

Asparagus is found in various varieties, the oldest variety being the Martha Washington. In comparison to it, the Mary Washington variety is relatively a newer and improved version. Apart from these two varieties, there is also a third variety called Purple Passion which is rich in sugar content. In the past few years, several hybrid varieties of the vegetable have been released. These varieties produce nearly all male plants. The yield is therefore considerably increased because the male plants produce 20 to 25 percent more than the female plants.

If you are planning to grow asparagus at home, you should know that it is one of the best vegetables that can be grown indoors. You can locate the plantings to the side of your garden with other perennial plants such as brambles, strawberries and rhubarbs. It is always advisable to plant your asparagus in a sunlit place where it can receive at least seven to eight hours of sunlight. When it comes to the soil requirements, the good news for asparagus growers is that this plant can survive in almost any well drained soil. The best soil, however, is the deep and loose one. Experts caution asparagus growers against using shallow soils or the heavy textured clays. This is because such soils restrict the root development of the plant and cause root rots. Sandy soils are also unsuitable for asparagus growth because such soils do not retain enough moisture in them. Soils that warm quickly during spring help promote an early harvest. This however, may be a drawback because the developing asparagus spears grow quite slowly during winter and are killed by the freeze. According to most experts, soils with a pH of 6.0 to 6.5 are best suited for asparagus cultivation. Before you planting, it is advisable to take a soil sample that can help you to determine the potash, lime and phosphate levels of the soil. In addition to this, before the spears start to emerge and post harvesting supplement the fertilizer with about 1 pound of ammonium nitrate to retain the fertility of the soil.

Many asparagus growers are recommended to plant during the early spring. It is generally believed that February and early March are the best months to plant asparagus. Although asparagus can be planted from seeds, most home gardeners refrain from opting for this option. This is because the asparagus seeds take a long time to germinate. In addition, it is quite difficult to control the weeds. Owing to these factors, home gardeners usually purchase the 1 year old dormant crowns. Purchasing these is a viable option because it reduces the time before harvest by 1 year. Therefore, the asparagus grower is not required to pay close attention to the small seedlings in the first year.

There is always a risk of damage caused by weeds to the asparagus plants. To achieve best results, it is extremely important to control this problem in time. For this, it is very important to provide full field sanitation. Weeds can be removed using a cultivator, rototiller or a hoe. However, it is essential to ensure that the cultivation is shallow to prevent any harm to the roots. Organic mulches are also quite helpful in controlling the weed problem. These also help in retaining the moisture. Asparagus growers are recommended to apply a 2 inch layer during the fall soon after the foliage dies. This helps reduce weeds all through the year. It is also important to avoid using table salts or any other form of salt to control the weeds. This is because salts reduce yields and shorten the lifespan of the plant considerably.

Apart from the weed problem, asparagus plantings are also susceptible to insect attacks. Asparagus beetles are quite common. These insects are generally ¼ inches long and affect the asparagus plantings most severely. To control this problem, asparagus growers are advised to remove the old foliage as soon as it is affected by a freezing temperature. There are also quite a few home garden chemicals that can be used to get rid of the asparagus beetles.

To get the best yield from your asparagus planting, it is always advisable to avoid harvesting in the first year itself. In the second year, the asparagus grower should go for a light harvest that ensures high yield. It is also considered a good idea to harvest by removing the spears off at the ground when they are about 6 to 8 inches long. This is recommended because it ensures that there is minimal damage caused to the still to emerge spears. In winter, it is recommended to harvest every alternative day while during summer, the asparagus grower should harvest everyday to ensure that the spears do not grow too tall. In case too many spindly spears start appearing, it will be best to stop harvesting that season. At such times, additional fertilizers may be required and the harvesting season may have to be shortened in the coming years.

As far as fertilizing is concerned, asparagus being a fertilizer tolerant crop is compatible with fertilizer applications. To achieve best results, it is recommended that a nitrogen fertilizer is applied twice a year.

Coffee, a tempest and wet dreams.

Well, I am sure that many of you have got the case of the 'wandering feet' and I am sure that like me, many of you are thinking of the next place to visit. Well, that is what I was planning on doing today, especially as the heat was getting to be intolerable. So I decided to go to the roof top restaurant and have a coffee while I let my wandering mind take me to terrains I have not visited yet.

With coffee, one cannot help but think of places like Brazil or Spain, with Spain being one of my hot favorites, the people, the land, the architecture and more importantly, the cuisine. Anyway getting back to the story, as I was pondering whether to visit Spain once again, the wind literally blew my porcelain coffee cup out of my hand and right on to my lap. So imagine yourself in my place, cursing the wind and getting soaked all the way to the undies with strong, bitter hot coffee.

If things were supposed to get better after that, well, someone read the dialogue wrong somewhere. For what happened next would make even the Florida hurricane sit up and take note of it. Let us just say that the wind blew hard and cold, accompanied with but naturally biting bullets of rain. So there I was thinking of places to visit on account of the heat and all of a sudden, I am getting drenched from top to bottom [not to be taken literally, the last part, that is] with cold water from the skies above.

The end result was that my coffee was on the floor, with the restaurant's guests getting soaked to the skin with anything and everything showing up to perfection and I thought to myself, that it seems that the heavens are not intent on my traveling anywhere for the moment. So the decision was made, to put up with the intolerable weather for the moment, both hot and cold, all at the same time. A tempest, it sure was, one that any Goldilocks would have loved but it was just not up to my taste.