Clogged sinks

Clogged sinks occur when water refuses to drain or when it drains very slowly.The result is overflowing sinks. The problem is often unbearable and tedious. Unfortunately, a clogged sink means you can’t wash your dishes, brush your teeth or wash your hands. The problem makes daily activities impossible.  A plunger may come in handy but it’s not always useful. If the water doesn’t drain, one can use an Augerinstead of a plunger. If it the problem persists, a plumber has to be called. Plumbers are experts at unblocking clogged sinks.

Clogged toilets

A clogged toilet can make a house uninhabitable. It’s a bad sight, that is both cumbersome and a real health risk. A plunger should feature in your first attempt to fix the problem. The plunger pushes air into the draining pipes forcing down any causing the blockage. Once the clog is fixed one should flush the toilet to completely clear the drains. If the water doesn’t drain or if the entire process looks cumbersome, an emergency plumber is the best option. Plumbers are equipped with all the necessary tools for unblocking toilets. Therefore don’t stay with a clogged toilet, call in the experts.

Leaking pipes

Leaks are a sign of impending damages. Leaky faucets and toilets cause rustingof pipes which weakens the structural integrity. The leaks also form a breeding ground for moulds that give a discomforting sight.  The sound from a leaking pipe is also irritating and can cause sleepless nights. An emergency plumber can fix leaks and put your plumbing in order.

Burst pipes

An emergency plumber should be called immediately if a pipe bursts. Burst pipes cause excessive loss of water and increase the water bills exponentially. Moreover, the excessive water leaving burst pipes may collect in the house or in your backyard. Consequently, your residence may become uninhabitable. Immediately you notice any signs of a burst, call the plumber before the problem becomes worse. If the burst is from drain pipes or sewage pipes, your response should be swift due to the health risks such bursts pose.

Identifying a burst may be problematic since some can occur out of sight. One of the signs you should look out for is low pressure in your taps. This could be as a result of a hidden burst in your plumbing. Bursting pipes may be due to physical damage during construction. Tree roots may also wrap around the weak points of your water pipes or sewer lines causing the pipes to burst. Another cause is to corrosion. In any case, one should take precaution in case you notice any signs. Call the plumber and minimize damages by protecting the items in your house. Burst pipes can release 100 gallons over 8 hours, therefore, it’s important to respond fast.

Leaking water heater

A leak in your hot water supply can cause property damage and high power bills. A leaky water valve can be replaced but if the entire wall of the heater is rusty, the whole heater needs replacement. A professional plumber can quickly fix the problem and restore the hot water supply in your residence. A leaking water heater can turn the hot water in your shower ice cold. Some faults can make the water too hot. With a plumber a call away, the problem can be assessed and fixed before heavy losses are incurred.

Gas leaks.

Gas leaks are dangerous. When thereis a gas leak vacate the building and call a professional plumber or the gas company immediately. In case of a gas leak, your first response should be to turn off all the gas valves, disconnect the pipes from the main supply and put out any flames in the house. If the leak continues, do not waste time trying to find it. Professional plumbers are fully-equipped to find and fix gas leaks. They take all the precautions to avoid any accidents during their repairs. If the leak is serious the gas company may get involved to ensure the safety of you and your property.

It’s important to have an emergency line for your plumber. Some plumbing problems require immediate attention and waiting only makes them worse.

Read More:

• Outdoor Plumbing Tips
• Why ‘Poor’ Plumbing Practices Can Lead to Bigger Problems Down the Track
• How Long Does A Gas Hot Water Heater Last?

The post Times When You Definitely Need to Call an Emergency Plumber appeared first on Expert Zine.

The culture of gifting dates back to early civilisation. It was customary for visitors to carry gifts into new territories as a sign of peace. Kingdoms exchanged gifts to strengthen their unity and promote peace across their borders. Special occasions like marital unions and birthdays were also flooded with gifts,and the tradition has carried on till today. Gifts can vary in size, cost and type. Although most gift givers associate the cost of a gift with its value to the receiver, there is little correlation. Gifts are either given as practical objects or memorable experiences. It’s hard to decide which of the two is better but when it comes to gifts, it’s the thought that counts.

Choosing a gift is always difficult. The difference between gift givers and receivers makes the search for the perfect gift hamper Australia even more difficult. According to studies, gift givers tend to choose luxurious and lavish gifts while gift receivers prefer more practical gifts. None the less, gifts are central to interpersonal relationships. A gift shows appreciation, gratitude and love. If you are confused which gift to get this Christmas, consider getting a gift hamper. Gift hampers have been a popular selection for many years. Gift hampers allow you to have an array of items to present as a gift. Moreover, the gift is often big enough for the receiver to share with other people and uphold the Christmas spirit.

The most popular Christmas gift hampers have candy, wine and gift cards. Some come with pudding, biscuits or peanuts. The treats in gift hampers have been shown to not only strengthen interpersonal relationships but also deliver unique tastes that make for an unforgettable experience. When it comes to gifts, most people prefer an experience to an object. Gift hampers are packed with goodies that are guaranteed to offer an unparalleled experience. For a low cost, Christmas gift hampers come with an array of treats for everyone to enjoy. Here are some of the popular gift hampers on the shelves of gift shops this Christmas.

The Christmas Sweet Delight

If you are looking for the perfect gift for your friends, family, colleagues or clients, the Christmas Sweet Delight is a stunning option. The hamper comes with a Lindt Lindor milk chocolate pack, Chocolatier chocolates, Fruit & Nut milk chocolate, and Nougat Limar cherry cranberry pistachio. Biscuit House Jam shortbread and Pudding Lane, classic Christmas pudding also feature in the hamper. The hamper is packaged in a premium gift box coupled with classy ribbons, tissue, and a gift card. Other items can be added to the gift hamper including a bottle of wine.

The Festive Sweets with Wine

This is a beautiful hamper to give as a gift as you usher in the festivities. The gift is packed with an array of goodies ranging from Lollyshop Raspberry Cream Bullseyes boiled lollies to the tasty Nougat Limar cherry cranberry pistachio. For the wine selection, you get a McGuigan Private Bin Shiraz 2016 as standard. If you prefer another brand, there are numerous alternatives available. The Pepperjack Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon and the Leeuwin Estate Art Series Chardonnay are among the most popular selections. You can get any wine bottle you desire for a small additional charge. Moreover, you can throw in a pamper item to make the gift complete.

The Christmas Indulgence-Sparkling.

It’s a simple gift hamper that is filled to the brim with all types of delicious treats. The hamper is packed in a stylish premium gift box coupled with beautiful ‘Season Greetings’ ribbons. A gift card also comes with the hamper for you to send out your Christmas greetings and best wishes. Inside the elegant gift box are an array of delicious treats including Chocolatier chocolates, Fruit Mince Tarts infused with St Agnes Brandy and Nougat Limar Cherry Cranberry Pistachio. A 750 ml bottle of McGuigan Black Label Chardonnay Pinot Noir Brut Cuvee Sparkling comes as a standard. If you desire, you can also throw in a pamper item or something for a baby into the gift hamper.

This festive season, warm someone’s heart with an elegant Christmas gift hamper.  Get quality products and tasty treats all packed in one gift box for your family, friends or neighbors to enjoy.

Read More:

• The Most Gourmet Gifts to Give This Christmas
• Luxury Gift Hampers to Enjoy This Winter
• Father’s Day Gift Hampers That Dad Will Love

The post Christmas Gifts That Are Sure to Please appeared first on Expert Zine.

This last point is debatable. After all, services like child care, education, construction, and plumbing are crucial. In the western world, these jobs can earn you a good income. In the third world, they’re considered ‘family business’ because they were traditionally done by family members, and families were large enough that there was always someone available to look after the kids, teach them cultural expectations, or build a new house. This means even today, when these tasks have to be outsourced, people don’t pay very much for them.

Here in the western world though, plumbing is one of those premium services. If your toilet breaks in the middle of a dinner party or your kitchen flood in the middle of the night, you’ll part with a fortune to get that repaired. That emergency plumbing though. There are some more basic tasks you can do on your own. Let’s look at a few outdoor plumbing fixes you can do at home, with or without the assistance of YouTube, starting with the toilet.

Septic situations

According to WikiHow and the almighty YouTube, you can replace your own toilet. Just go to the hardware, buy a bowl and cistern, follow a million steps, and hey presto new toilet. Getting into your septic tank is slightly more complicated. Whether it’s a domestic unit or part of the municipal system, it requires occasional maintenance, and you can’t just yank off the manhole and jump in there. There’s a reason there are so many documentaries and legends about fatbergs and alligators in the sewers (of New York).

But while you can’t dive in wellies-first, you can do a few other things. Like, take notes. That’s not as silly as it sounds. Your septic tank needs to be inspected two or three times a year, just to make sure everything is flowing as it should. And because you don’t always get the same plumber, it helps to keep detailed records of who visited, when, and what they said. You may need their feedback for the next visit, or for a home insurance claim. Note down any repairs they made (and how much they billed). You also need a sketch of your septic system.

Once in three years (or five years for smaller households) your septic tank should be pumped and evaluated. You can’t do that yourself, but you can still keep detailed notes. If you’ve had any yard work done that required permits or adjustments to the sewers, keep a record of that too. If nothing else, your cost-based observations will jog your memory in case the next Sydney plumbers try to overcharge you.

Taps and drains

You’re probably pretty good about routine home checks – making sure doors and windows are locked at night, and that taps are closed when you leave the house. Extend this habit outdoors. Check all your faucets and if there are more than three, use a checklist system. You can even draft a little map to give your house-sitters while you’re away. Every day (or maybe once a week), walk to each tap, open it, and let it run for a few seconds. Ideally, it should run into a bucket or cup to avoid wastage. Then, close the tap.

You’re looking to see if the tap closes effectively, or whether it drips. You’re also reviewing the pressure of your tap. If it sometimes flows and sometimes drips, there might be something blocking the pipe, so you’ll need to call in a plumber. Dripping faucets can also suggest there’s a crack somewhere inside the mechanism of the tap. If you’re pipe-curious, go forth and YouTube – you’ll find a detailed tutorial. Otherwise, just call Mario.

As for your drains, it’s more about cleaning than plumbing. Sweep, blow, or vacuum them to get rid of dead leaves, fallen twigs, and other dirt that may pile up and risk blockage. Regular drain checks will help you spot backed-up pipes before they get stagnant, start to stink or raise a scourge of mosquitoes. You may also need to periodically pour commercial de-clogging products down your drains, or inside your septic tank.

Read More:

• How to Handle a Dripping Toilet
• How Long Does A Gas Hot Water Heater Last?

The post Outdoor Plumbing Tips appeared first on Expert Zine.

A significant decrease in interest in physical intimacy often has a great impact on a woman’s life and can cause great distress in a relationship. While sex therapists have had success treating men with premature ejaculation problems solution, men’s main sexual complaint along with their worries not to be able to last longer in bed, it has long been difficult to help women with low libido. This is why great research has been put into the causes of sexual dysfunction among both genders lately, but despite being able to develop Viagra to treat erectile dysfunction the industry is still struggling to realize a pill that helps women to find their sexual desire again.

It goes to show that sexual desire in women is a problem caused by the combination of both mental and physical factors, hence the issue is more complicated and cannot be treated with a simple pill. Naturally, there is a gender difference when it comes to sex drive and a lot of women find themselves in a relationship where the male partner has a stronger libido than themselves which might make it harder for them to experience their own desire. On the other hand, research shows that the frequency of sexual intercourse does not always have something to do with sexual desire and satisfaction. Women’s low desire issues tend to be closely linked with declining hormones, relationship issues and job stress as well as their daily responsibilities within their families accordingly there seems to be less time for sexual desire.

But there are effective therapies available to put the lust back into a woman’s life and programmes, which teach meditative techniques to help her take emotional time-outs from the daily responsibilities and focus on her own desire. One of the programmes was attended by 45 married heterosexual women and introduced a six-step program that also came out as a book. One of the main techniques the programme focuses on is to promote deep relaxation and positive feelings about self-sexuality in order to let go of negative thoughts such as having a poor body image, overall low self-esteem or previous negative sexual experiences. As low desire often causes a conflict within a relationship, the programme also suggests engaging the partner in a conversation in order to have a constructive discussion on why the female might have lost interest in sex. If a couple has to deal with relationship issues, the women often lose interest in sexual intimacy, which leads to a low sex drive.

Yet communicating with the partner about sexual preferences and needs might help to rekindle the connection and lead to a more laid-back approach on both sides. The programme also addresses the struggle in finding the right time and mood to have sex spontaneously, instead daily life gets in-between and couples often schedule sex in advance rather than letting it happen spontaneously. Scheduling might, in fact, help women with low desire as they can anticipate desire and look forward to it. Furthermore, one of the six steps teaches the male partner to understand that taking the time to seduce the female partner and engaging in a whole-body massage is a fundamental element of lovemaking and not to rush things by focussing entirely on genital touch instead of the sensual caress.

The women attended the programme reported a significant increase in desire and sexual satisfaction.

Read More:

• Decoding Sexual Satisfaction
• What to Expect from Sex Counselling
• 10 Tips to Improve Men’s Sexual Health

The post Effective Self-Help for Women With Zero or Low Sexual Desire appeared first on Expert Zine.

Gifting Gourmet

If you were a gift concierge, what would you put in the hamper? This particular Gourmet Gift basket is available to shoppers all over Australia, with options for same day delivery, but only if you time it right. Part of that requires advance planning and early booking. You don’t want last minute Christmas-week deliveries at hiked prices. Plus, if you shop last minute, many things will be out of stock so your options will be limited. For now, the Gourmet Gift Basket is available and ready to order.

The hamper is built around a bottle of Chandon, and is a mix of sweet and savoury, in a pretty black box, tied with a ribbon, and escorted by a free gift card. It contains a mix of textures, from Dijon mustard to crunchy biscuits and crispy crackers. On the sweet side, there are rolled chocolate wafers, almond roasted biscotti, caramelised biscoff, and strawberry conserve. Over to the savoury, we’re talking pretzels and rice crackers. The hamper also comes with extra virgin olive oil.

Build your own

Glance around the web and you’ll find hundreds of gourmet recipes you can make at home. They’re quick and simple, and you can package them in custom labels. Start by deciding which mix of recipes you’ll combine. It could be anything from five to fifty, though if you’re gifting in multiples, reduce the selection to save time. Pick three or four exceptional snacks and make them in batches. You can buy sparkly Christmas packaging paper, or print some out with a family crest or portrait.

Examples include tart chocolate bars moulded out of dark home-made chocolate. Just melt the chocolate, add tart cherries, and pour the molten mix into Christmassy moulds. They don’t have to be shaped like regular chocolate bars. You can use season-friendly cookie moulds like stars, angels, santas, shepherds, gingerbread figurines, or even sheep. Set the mould by leaving them in the fridge (not the freezer) for 5 to 10 minutes. They’ll stay fresh for a month.

For a taste of savoury, create your own line of spiced salt. Try paprika, chilli, cumin, lavender, dried mushroom, garam, ginger, or lime. To make the flavoured salt, pick your chosen ingredient, grind into powder as needed, then mix it with the salt. Pack each variant in cute glass jars with air-tight lids that hold the flavour in. Pack the jars in sets of six. Close off the trifecta with a sweet-and-savoury treat of popcorn candy stars.

Raid the cookie jar

Think of a Christmassy jar filled with crunchy gourmet biscuits. Accessorise the jar with ribbon and tinsel. It could be as simple as a satiny sash tagged ‘Merry Christmas’, or a mason jar coated in sparkly spray paint. You could even make your own ‘snow globe’ by painting white dots on the jar, along with reindeer, snowmen, santa, or other ‘Christmassy’ motifs.  To fill the jar, bake gingerbread men, snowball cookies, or Christmas-light cookies. The latter are shaped like bulbs, iced in colourful designs, and strung together with liquorice. Decorate the biscuits with candy and mints. Add a jar of toasted cookie dough to the collection.

Close off your gift basket with flavoured vodka. You can use the store-bought kind, or you can flavour them at home using hibiscus, horse radish cucumber, or lime. Package your vodka in clear bottles topped with corks and wrapped with ribbons at the rim. You can put a tag on each ribbon that lists the flavour and offers seasonal sentiments. To season your booze, pour your vodka in a pitcher with flavoured tea bags, cucumber slices, peppercorns, or horseradish roots. If your hamper still feels too light, fatten it up with rosemary honey (just toss in a sprig and close), espresso sugar cubes, or home-made tomato sauce.

Christmas condiments

In case you’ve always wanted to pickle your own fruit, Christmas is as good an excuse as any. Create your delicious delicacies, pack them in clean, see-through jars, label them, and tie coloured string around the rim. You could put a seasonal motif at the end of the string or ribbon. Ideas for your basket of condiments include jam, whisky caramel, olives roasted in fennel, bacon jam, limoncello, or vanilla extracted at home by soaking beans in vodka.

Read More:

• Gifts Ideas for the Family and In-Laws This Christmas
• Christmas Gift Hampers for the Whole Family
• Why a New Shed Is an Awesome Christmas Gift for Your Husband?

The post The Most Gourmet Gifts to Give This Christmas appeared first on Expert Zine.

Moet and Choccies

Nothing says luxury to your mouth more than champagne and chocolate. If I had my way this combination would be a staple in all homes across the globe. But these luxury items are usually a way to treat yourself every now and again. This hamper contains as the name suggests a bottle of Moet, one of the finest champagnes in the world and some amazing handcrafted chocolates. This is the ideal to show that special someone you care. Whether it is an employee who is performing well or a lover who you want to impress this gift basket is a winner and will send their taste buds into a welcomed spin.

California Canyon from Simone Leblanc

The California Canyon gift basket is filled with all the ingredients necessary to pamper yourself into a tizzy. The hamper features scented candles, beauty products, and chocolate. All the things necessary for a night in of treating yourself to some luxury. It’s great fodder for the mind, body, and soul the recipient will surely appreciate all the goodies inside.

The Surprise Me Gift Hamper

The surprise me gift hamper has you covered for an evening of fine food and delicious drinks. This hamper has everything to get the evening started in luxurious style. To wet your whistle there is a bottle of Chandon Sparkling and to snack, there is a laundry list of gourmet treat that will have your mouth watering. There is chocolate and coffee from some of Australia’s finest producers if the not the worlds. There is also an assortment of peanuts and other snacky treats that will help you bring in the evening with a bang. Oh and of course not to be forgotten, some antipasto delights such olives and olive oil.

Dean and Deluca

Dean and Deluca really know how to put a gift basket together. Their gift baskets contain some of the finest winter warmers that will put the boudoir into your life. The chocolate fix basket is one of my favourite and has chocolate in almost every form. From bars to drinking chocolate. If you’re a chocoholic like me there is no doubt in my mind you will be jumping up and down when you see the delivery man rock up.

Dream Weaver Basket

The dream weaver basket is specifically designed for a quiet night after a long week of work. It’s ideal for those who want to wash the grime from work away and feel clean fresh and revitalised. The dream weaver basket contains beauty products from one of the leading brands in the industry, Urban Rituelle. So why not make it a Friday night ritual to treat yourself nice and refresh, rejuvenate and revive your body.

The Bubbles and Bliss Hamper

First, you have the bubbles and no, not the type in your sink when your washing the dishes. The good kind of bubbles. The bubbles in that delicious sparkling drink called Pinot Noir from the fine producers and Bird in the Hand. Then light your scented candle as you run the bath and get ready for some good old fashion pampering. Enter the bath then proceed to give your body a scrub with the Aromatherapy Co. coffee scrub. The Herbs and Heart face mask will have your skin looking vibrant and beautiful and ready to go on a night out on the town.

Don’t let winter get you or someone you love down this season. There are plenty of ways to beat the cold. Heaters, jumpers, and nights in around the fire. Or of course, you could do it luxurious style and pamper yourself silly until the impending cold has dissipated to the soundtrack of the chirping birds of spring.

Read More:

• Father’s Day Gift Hampers That Dad Will Love
• Pamper Her This Easter
• Gifts Ideas For The Family And In-laws This Christmas

The post Luxury Gift Hampers to Enjoy This Winter appeared first on Expert Zine.

Red Wine Lover Hamper

This hamper presents amazing value for the wine and savoury treat lover. The basket comes with a bottle of Pepperjack Cabernet Sauvignon and a decanter with two wine glasses for immediate indulgence. While waiting for the wine to reach the right temperature, your Dad will be able to nibble on selected treats such as a box of salted Port Willunga Pistachios and enjoy Maggie Beer’s Quince Paste with Falwasser Sesame Crispbread.

Gourmet Treats

The name says it so, hence let your Dad experience some of the best gourmet flavours in Australia with this gourmet hamper. The gift basket includes named goodies such as a bottle of Penfolds Bin Shiraz, Simon Johnson Wasabi Peanuts, Byron Bay Cookie Company Cookies and handmade Lavosh by BizzariDolci.

BBQ Bites Hamper

Say Happy Father’s Day with this hamper that includes all your Dad needs to prepare mouth-watering barbecue marinades and delicious accompaniments for next summer’s season. Presented in a signature gift box, this gift includes the recipe book 500 BBQ Bites, a bottle of Pepperjack Barossa Shiraz, oven gloves and an apron, Simon Johnson Wasabi Peanuts and original Beef Jerky.

Chefs Kitchen Hamper

This hamper holds everything the chef at home needs to be safe when cooking up a feast for the family. To have the occasional sip while stirring the pots in his new apron, this gift box even provides a bottle of Shiraz. Furthermore, it is filled to the brim with quality products such as Sea Salt & Black Pepper Kettle Chips from Lillie’s Q, their famous Hot Smoky BBQ Sauce and Just Jerky’s Original Beef Jerky.

Famous Four Cocktail Set

Melbourne’s famous bar, The Everleigh, has now a company which sells their signature cocktails by the bottle. If your Dad is an aspiring bartender he will love this gift hamper which holds starter kit essentials such as a Parisian Shaker, a Japanese Style Jigger and a V Strain. To get the famous taste of Melbourne, the basket includes Everleigh’s four famous cocktails The Martini, The Negroni, The Manhattan and The Old Fashioned.

Mr Black

This hamper is a special gift for the coffee-loving Dad. Stylishly presented in a Signature Gift Box this treat features the gold medal-winning coffee liqueur of Mr Black. Made for coffee purists, the smooth liqueur comes in a beautiful glass bottle and is crafted using cold-pressed single-origin Arabica coffee beans. The treat is best devoured on its own with ice or in cocktails.

Chocolate Bliss

If your Dad has a sweet tooth, he will definitively love this hamper’s delectable range of delicious gourmet chocolates. The Chocolate Bliss hamper lives up to its name and includes Chocolate &Walnut Fudge by Rich, Salted Caramel Mini Melting Moments by Charlie’s, Zozoko’s Dark Chocolate, Rocky Road by Whisk and Pin, Fudge Biscuits and an indulgent Milk and Dark Chocolate Assortment Box.

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The post Father’s Day Gift Hampers That Dad Will Love appeared first on Expert Zine.

Even though we live in an era of digital marketing, catalogues are as important than ever for marketing a brand. Hence investing in good brochure design is essential for every business and company, as it is the best way to get their product or services in front of people. A catalogue is something tangible for potential customers to hold on to and can easily get passed on or shown to family and friends for second thoughts. The prospectus will sell products right off the page and is designed to communicate your business on the market as well as grab tangible attention. A good catalogue will also communicate the personality of your company and its proposal. Hence, great catalogue design can drive your sales as it influences buying decisions by potential customers.

Big brands have learnt that publishing a catalogue does not only boost sales but can have multiple purposes as the print medium can include education, new products and deliver detailed prices in a popular and user-friendly way. It will assist the customer to make an informed decision when buying.

Several big retailers already use the medium to mail their catalogue as a tactic to gain new prospective clients and the market continues to grow all over Australia as catalogues make up about 60% of print advertising in this country. The sales volume that can be achieved through catalogue marketing makes up to one-third of the total sales volume and studies have shown that 8 out of 10 purchases have resulted out of viewing a catalogue as they are a trusted source of relevant information and are often looked through for further reference. Multi-channel shopping has been on the rise and Australia’s biggest companies state that customers who have a multi-channel relationship with them will spend four times as much as those who didn’t receive a catalogue first.

In digital times, catalogues are furthermore the ideal way to reach customers offline and the best way to improve sales is a mix of online and offline marketing tools. It is also possible to make the potential customer go to your website or social platform to mix marketing channels and methods. Having several marketing strategies is vital for your business success and catalogues play well in that area along with email campaigns, online advertisements and well-designed websites, which all add to the branding of your product and to the buying experience.

The handout will not only enlarge your business name but your brand. This piece of a handout is a great way to keep in touch with the customers and stay in mind about your product or service. A detailed prospectus is furthermore a great way for the public to compare prices on the competitive market.

If you are still not convinced about this great sales tool, give a catalogue designer a call and let them persuade you from their work. A qualified brochure designer will make sure that your print media will be used for high-quality marketing using background stories, attractive layout and high-quality print to bring your brand philosophy and identity across next to the products you want to sell.

Read More:

• Banner Display System – Inspiration for Your Business
• The Worst Design Mistakes Made on Display Banners

The post Does My Business Need a Catalogue? appeared first on Expert Zine.

Watching a trail of ants can actually be quite mesmerising. Theway they stop and ‘talk’ to each other, like they’re exchanging gossip. The way they spot food out of nowhere and suddenly there are hundreds of them chomping off tiny bits until it’s all gone. The way you clear their mounds and within hours, a new one appears. It all makes a curious study.

Unfortunately, when their pilgrimage leads them into your kitchen, it becomes a lot less entertaining. Having a colony of ants trooping through your home can be distressing, especially when they get into your wardrobe or food supply. They’re too small and numerous to squish, and you’ll be worried about keeping your edible goods intact. Ideally, you want natural options that won’t toxify your entire kitchen.

Sugar and fats and dirty vats

At home, ants are interested in foods that are sweet or fatty. They are sometimes drawn to less kosher sources. For example, in hospitals, they’ve been known to seek out dressings that are septic, dirty beddings, and unattended bed pans. That situation can get messier than a home ant invasion, and is even more needful of a natural solution and deterrent.

You probably know baking soda and vinegar can take care of everything from blocked drains, tile grout, scorched pans, and cockroaches, so why not ants? Bait one part powdered sugar with one part baking soda, then sprinkle it along ant trails. Target spots where you’ve previously dismantled ant mounds. You could also place the powder on upturned jar lids.

To ants, fine sugar and baking soda seem the same, especially if the particles are similar in size. It isn’t clear why the taste doesn’t alert them, but hey. Either way, the alkali in baking powder mixes with the acid in the ants’ stomachs and they … um … explode. Make it a point to clean the rest of your space, ensuring ants are only drawn to the poisoned bait, rather than spreading to safer food sources.

Acid for the win

Naturally occurring acids seem to work well against ants. Acetic acid in vinegar and ascorbic + citric acid in lemons are both effective. They’re repellents rather than ‘cures’, so a little spray on your countertops, doors, and window ledges will make them far less attractive to ants. These acids are mild – mix them with essential oils, which are also good repellents.

For acid treatments, some residents prefer to wipe surfaces down with citrus-flavoured detergents, but raw home-made acidic sprays are better, because they have no chemical additives. Ants don’t like the smell. Plus it covers up their own natural scent, making it hard for their colony-mates to find and join the trail. The best sprays combine your chosen acid product, water, essential oils, and vinegar.

Try mixing one part apple cider vinegar, white vinegar, or lemon juice with one part water. Add leftover citrus peels and about thirty drops of peppermint, tea tree, lemon, orange, or grapefruit essential oil. For clove, three or four drops is fine. Another recipe is to boil the citrus peels in one part water and one part vinegar, leave overnight, then sieve out the peels.

Sweet oil and alcohol

Option three, make a power spray with a quarter cup of vodka, a quarter cup of (distilled) water, fifteen drops each of peppermint and tea tree, a drop or three of clove oil, and seven drops of your chosen citrus oil. For countertops and food storage areas, leave out the tea tree and double the peppermint. Shake the bottle vigorously and spray entryways or any other spots where ants gather.

Each of these oils can be used on their own as a repellent, with varying active ingredients. Peppermint has a pleasant, strong scent that overpowers the smell of ant trails, disrupting signals. Tea tree has disinfectant abilities, while eugenol in clove oil kills ants the moment they touch it. D-limonene in citrus-based essential oils is equally toxic to ants.

To use oils on their own, put three or four drops on a ball or bud of cotton and use them to wipe skirting boards, window sills, doorways, or any other ant access points. These oils have a pleasant, lingering smell, so you can dip a cotton ball in oil and leave it inside a cupboard or food cabinet to keep ants away, though clove may be too strong. Both the sprays and the cotton wipes will have to be repeated every two or three days until the ants stop coming.

Wax off

Oil and acid sprays keep ants away, but if you’d rather have something that lures them before killing them, try using Dr.Bronner’s soap or diatomaceous earth. The soap can be mixed with water while DE is best in powder form. Sprinkle or spray in ant-rich spaces. Both products dissolve the ants’ waxy exoskeleton, exposing their innards and killing them.

This sounds gruesome, but has no effect on mammals, so it’s safe for use around kids and (mammalian) pets. Many animals actually enjoy the taste of DE. It has a lot of silica, which is great for nails and hair. It anecdotally removes heavy metals, bacteria, and parasites from your system. The powder comprises marine phytoplankton fossils, has no intrinsic scent, and it doesn’t leave stains, so it’s ideal for domestic use.

Make sure you get food grade DE, not the kind used in pools, since the latter is toxic when you inhale it. Keep in mind that all these home remedies are largely effective for keeping ants away. But if you already have an infestation, you probably need a Sydney pest control services Once the commercial pest control team have done their thing, you can use the methods above to keep the bugs away.

Read More:

• Do We Have Bed Bugs Here in Australia?
• How Long Does a Gas Hot Water Heater Last?

The post Is There Any Way to Get Rid of Ants with Natural Products? appeared first on Expert Zine.

For many plumbing scenarios, you should do a bit of first aid and leave the rest to the experts. You can – for example – temporarily plug a leak with insulation tape / duct tape, or wiggle a drain snake in a backed up kitchen sink. Let’s look at some home plumbing escapades that are harder than they look on YouTube, and are best left to trained plumbers. The first thing is accidentally growing your own fat berg.

Breeding fat creatures

If you wash your dishes by hand, you probably don’t think twice about emptying your dishes into the sink. With a dishwasher, it’s different, because the first process is to scrape the plates, cups, pots, and pans into the garbage disposal. When we do a hand-wash, all these leftovers and food deposits land in the sink instead, and get washed into the sewer system – or so we think. Many times, the food particles just get stuck in the sink’s u-curve.

After a while, this blockage accumulates, so dish waster stops flowing out. Some of that piled up decomposing food might even slip back up the drain, causing nasty smells and maggots. At that point, our automatic response is to use a plunger to force the whole mess away. If this works, you home grown fat berg will move into the sewers, fusing with others and forming a blob that could cost city plumbers thousands of dollars to disperse.

Hair balls and fat plugs

On the other hand the blockage on your side of the sink might be so dense that pressing down the plunger pushes the blockage against the sides of the piping, splitting, cracking, or bursting them. Similarly, pouring hot water down the sink when there’s already a clog might compromise the pipes and create a leak. To prevent all these issues, avoid pouring leftovers and greasy foods down the sink.

If there’s a clog, place a bucket or basin below your sink, unclog the u-curve, empty it, and rinse it before you rush for the plunger. Once the u-curve is empty, pour some hot water down it, letting it drain into the bucket. Similarly, be careful when you’re doing your hair, shaving your beard, or grooming. As much you can avoid putting hair down the drain.

Ignore drips at your peril

When your tap or toilet cistern is dripping, you may be vaguely irritated, but you might not think it’s a big enough issue to need fixing. After all, you can simply place a bucket under the drip to catch the water. It’s actually a good technique to see just how much water you’re losing. Plus, after changing out the bucket a few times, you’ll probably grab that spanner yourself. Other times, the leak is in a less visible place.

A good example is a badly flushed toilet which can drip water out of the bowl. You might not notice because it sounds a lot like water refilling the cistern. The difference? Toilet bowl drips aren’t controlled by a ball valve, so the dripping never stops. A drip may also appear in a portion of the house you don’t have access to. To avoid such cases, audit your water bills with the same scrutiny you apply to credit card statements.

Spot the tap

If your weekly or monthly water bill is higher than usual you might have a leak. After all, one drip per second from a kitchen or bathroom tap can add up to over 10,000 litres a year. If your showerhead drips just ten times a minute, you’ll waste close to 2,000 litres of water annually, and that’s in addition to the water wasted through unnecessarily long showers. You can’t fix every leak but be sure to know where the water mains is.

You can turn it off and reduce further wastage before the plumber arrives. You should also do a water faucet audit and know the locations of every individual water cut-off point. This is essential because you can’t just close off water to the whole house. If you know where water comes into the bathroom, kitchen, or hand basin, you can close that specific tap or valve, reducing the water lost while still allowing the rest of the household touse water.

Read More:

• How Long Does a Gas Hot Water Heater Last?
• How to Handle a Dripping Toilet

The post Why ‘Poor’ Plumbing Practices Can Lead to Bigger Problems Down the Track appeared first on Expert Zine.