Tuesday, September 1st, 2009
Water bed owners are among the most loyal of mattress consumers. Water bed mattresses aren’t right for everybody, but those who love them feel very strongly about them. Many people consider water bed mattresses to provide the ultimate ideal for comfortable sleep. To many people, there is nothing so soothing as being lulled to sleep by the gentle movement of their water bed mattress. Water bed mattresses are also long lasting and easy to use.
Water bed mattresses are very low maintenance, but there are a few simple maintenance steps you can do that can help lengthen the lifespan of your water bed mattress, as well as increase the comfort you can experience from your mattress. The most important components in the proper care of your water bed mattress are the periodic addition water bed conditioner to the water in your mattress and maintaining an appropriate water level in your mattress.
Water Bed Conditioner
Adding water bed conditioner to your water bed mattress periodically will prevent the water in your mattress from becoming stagnant. If conditioner isn’t added as it should be, stagnation will result, and a bad smell originating with the stagnant water will emerge from the water bed mattress.
Failure to add conditioner to the water in your water bed mattress can also decrease the life span of your mattress. Deterioration of the mattress will accelerate as a result of algae growth within the mattress. Algae growth can result in hardening and cracking of the vinyl material from which the water bed mattress is made.
To maintain your water bed mattress, you simply need to add eight ounces of high quality, multipurpose water bed conditioner to the water in your mattress once every eighteen months. The best place to find high quality water bed conditioner is from a water bed dealer.
Proper Water Level Maintenance
Keeping the water level in your water bed mattress is an important part of proper water bed maintenance. Overfilling and under filling can both result in damage to your water bed mattress. A mattress that has been overfilled is subject to stretch out. As the vinyl stretches, pressure will be placed on the seams that can cause it to weaken.
Additionally, water bed frames are designed to support the weight of properly filled water bed mattresses. A water bed mattress that has been over filled weighs more than it should. Therefore, additional stress is placed on the water bed frame. When the water bed frame is under excess stress, its ability to properly support the mattress is diminished. Damage to the hardware that keeps the frame together also can occur as a result of excess water in the water bed mattress.
An under filled water bed mattress can result in excess stress being placed on the water bed heater that can cause it to overheat. An adverse effect of an overheated water bed heater is damage to the vinyl material that comes in contact with the heater.
One way to determine if your water bed mattress is filled to an appropriate level involves placing a broom handle across one of the corners of your water bed mattress frame. As the mattress begins to fill, watch the frame. You will know that it is time turn off the water supply when the handle lifts off the frame as a result of the expansion of your water bed mattress. This might not be the most scientific way to be certain your water bed mattress is filled to the correct level, but it is an easy and accurate way to be sure.
Tags: Maintenance, mattress, Proper, Tips, Water
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Sunday, March 15th, 2009
Grow a beautiful garden the water wise way
Saving water and enjoying the beauty and environmental benefits of plants are not only possible, but easy says the American Association of Nurserymen (AAN). “Water Wise” gardening is built on some basic, commonsense principles:
Planning
Planning a water wise garden or landscape is as easy and fun-as planning any type of garden. Talk to the professionals at your local center/landscape firm to see which plants will do well in your area. You may be surprised to find that some very beautiful, colorful plants are low on water consumption-and they may fit into your landscape perfectly.
Group together plants that require the same amount of water. Plant trees and shrubs to provide shade to cool buildings, air conditioning units, patios, decks, and other landscape features. Shelter container plants by moving them to shady areas. Spike or aerate lawns to insure maximum water penetration. Control weeds which compete with useful plants for water.
Soil Improvement
Soil improvement is another easy and beneficial step in building a water wise garden. Soil that is well prepared at the time of planting influences the plant’s initial development and yields the best results. And plants placed in the proper soil will be healthier, often needing less water.
Soil characteristics include texture, structure, depth, and nutrients. To find out more about your soil content, test your soil with the following garden products: Accugrow Soil Test Kit or the Sunleaves Three-Way Meter.
Wise Irrigation
Efficient irrigation is a critical part of water wise gardening. Your irrigation system can be simple, such as a hand-held hose, or elaborate, such as an in-ground sprinkler system. Consider a drip water conservation system, which can save up to 60% of water used by sprinkler irrigation. Whatever you choose, make sure you plan your watering to get best results.
Deep, infrequent watering, promotes root growth and is the wisest use of water and encourages strong rooting. This provides greater tolerance to dry spells. Water early in the day, and on less windy days, to reduce evaporation loss. The ideal time is from dawn to 9:00 a.m. Turn off sprinklers before water is wasted as runoff into gutters and streets.
Mulching
Mulching is always a benefit to your garden and can help prevent soil erosion and evaporation, conserving the water that is available and keeping your plants healthy and strong.
Maintenance
Maintaining your water wise garden means learning how to water all over again. You may find that watering less means having more time to sit back and enjoy your garden. Generally, plants should be watered less often and for a long period of time. Drip, soaker, or deep root watering promotes healthy plants and less water use.
Water Wise Gardening Tips
Follow these handy watering tips from AAN, and you’ll soon be started on your own environmentally sound garden or landscape. For garden products mentioned in this article, please visit http://www.spray-n-growgardening.com
Tags: Beautiful, Garden, Grow, Water, Wise
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