HOW TO CONTROL TERMITES IN YOUR HOME

Termites are annoying insects and cause major destruction to property. Termites are referred to as white ants due to their pale appearance and structure. Termites play an important role in breaking down dead wood in forests and speeding the conversion of nutrients into the soil.

Termites are initially flying insects. They land on soil and penetrate into damp soil and later transform as termites.

When termites attack homes, they cause more damage to homes than what a fire can do. This could include buildings, wooden structure and the critical documents. Termites are observed commonly in older homes, but do not ever underestimate the capability and team work of termites in attacking new homes too. Termites makes way into homes through minute cracks in the concrete . It is estimated that the western countries spend a huge ..huge amount every year on termite control , repair and treatment.

Basically there are two types of termites: subterranean and dry wood. The saddening factor is that you will notice the termite hill on the surface of the wall or wood only after the inner surfaces are totally destructed.

Prevention is the best way to deal with termites.  Mentioned below are tips to control termites from entering your home.

Termites are attracted to moisture.

• Eliminate standing waters in and around your home.
• Fix leaking pipes, drains, sinks, showers.
• The water of Air Conditioning units should be well connected to drains.

Termites are attracted to wood.

• Remove waste timber after construction activities. Remove all debris.
• Firewood and necessary wood should be stacked off the ground and away from the house and external walls.
• Remove wood that is in contact with soil.
• Avoid planting trees close to the foundation. Cut back climbing vines, shrubs from the walls and pillars.

Precautions to be administered to control termites:

• Ensure concrete slab is properly designed, compacted and cured during construction of homes and buildings..
• Treat all timber that is used for interiors to prevent termite attack, Select naturally resistant timber for wood work.
• A good coat of paint on the wood acts as a barrier for dry wood termites. Fill all wood damages timely and paint them.
• Seal all cracks and paint exterior of your homes.
• Screen all vents to prevent termites flying into your homes .
• Inspect for timber powder at the place wood / timber is stacked after purchase and during construction.
• Ensure proper drainage  and access to prevent rain water clogging near the foundation.
• Get your home / buildings inspected or self inspect your home during summer and rainy season- between March and August. This is the period when termites attack homes and wood. Be alert to identify any mud hills and hollow sound of wood surfaces especially the door and window frames.

Early diagnosis will control termites and prevent expensive treatment measures and huge loss of documents due to termites infestation.

You can consult Professional Pest Controllers if you think that the extent of damage is big and the widespread nature of attack. There are chemical and physical control measures that can be deployed upon survey and assessment of termite attack. The guarantee period for chemical treatment is between 3 to 5 years.

You can decide the best methodology to control termites in your home and property.

HOUSE FLY CONTROL- REMEDIAL MEASURES TO KEEP AWAY

Flies pose a threat to hygiene and are a nuisance to humans and animals. They are carriers of a large number of diseases including gastroenteritis, dysentery, typhoid, salmonella and tuberculosis.

Flies are often seen around fruits, cooked food, fermenting food and decaying stuff too. It becomes most important to keep away flies as they cause major health problems. Children love to use the fly swatters available in the market to attack the flies one by one. In summer and rainy season the flies will come into the houses and make you furious with the buzzing sound.

The movie Eeega in Telugu and the remake in Hindi was a good example to cite the power of a house fly. Flies are always in the air , flying throughout the day and rest at night.

A single house fly can carry over one million bacteria. To keep fly populations under control, you must limit the places where they can breed and feed.

In warmer climates, breeding continues throughout the year. Eggs are often laid in moist decaying vegetable matter and animal waste. The complete metamorphosis cycle can be as short as 7 – 9 days in ideal conditions. Adult flies normally live 1 – 3 months.

The first line of defense will be to control flies from entering the premises be it a home or an office. Close all doors and windows. Place insect screens over doors and windows and check if they are in good condition.

House fly Control:

The three basic principles of house fly control are sanitation, exclusion and non-chemical measures. Sanitation will provide the best long-term control, followed by exclusion and non-chemical measures, which provide shorter-term management.

ü  Sanitation: Flies can’t breed in large numbers if food sources are limited. Don’t allow materials such as manure, garbage or other decaying organic matter to accumulate. Keep trash cans clean and tightly covered. Do not pile garbage for long. Dispose off garbage as vegetable and fruit peels are great attracting items. Eliminate areas of stagnating water .

ü  Exclusion: Flies can be kept outside of homes by the use of window and door screens. Make sure screens are tight fitting and without holes. Keep doors closed, making sure there are no openings at the top or bottom. Check for openings around water or gas pipes or electrical conduits that feed into the building. Caulk or plug any openings. Ventilation holes should be screened, as they can serve as entryways for flies as well. Ensure the closing mechanism / spring of mesh doors slide and close quickly after use.

ü  Non-chemical Measures: The use of devices such as ultraviolet-light traps, sticky fly traps, fly swatters, and baited fly traps can eliminate many flies inside a home, but the fly swatter is the most economical control method for the occasional fly.

Chemical controls:

Chemical control is generally part of an integrated fly control program. Spraying non-residual, contact aerosols that are labeled for flies can provide temporary relief by killing the adult flies. However it does not get to the source, so will not provide long-term control. Residual insecticides, labeled for flies, can be sprayed around door and window casings, onto screens, under leaves or around any other fly entry points.

Remedial measures popularly followed at home:

• A few drops of eucalyptus oil on a piece of cotton cloth will deter flies. Hang or leave in areas where flies are a problem.
• Basil plants placed at the entrance of the home at parking areas will keep away flies. In Indian homes basil plants are placed at the entry of the house or window sills .To keep away flies from the kitchen hang a bunch of Holy basil / Tulsi stems and bruise them occasionally to ensure the smell keeps away flies.
• Use mint as a fly repellent. Small sachets of crushed mint can be placed around the home to discourage flies.
• Bay leaves, cloves and eucalyptus wrapped in small cheesecloth squares can be
  hung by open windows or doors.
  

Ideal solution in mechanical control:

UV light traps are a common sight near sweet shops, meat stores and shopping complexes. Ultraviolet light traps are useful and must be properly placed. Right placing is critical. Follow simple requirements for best results:

• Place where it cannot be seen from outside, so it doesn’t attract flies indoors.
• Place not more than 5 feet above the floor – where most flies fly.
• Place away from competing light sources and food preparation areas.
• Place where they are not competing with daytime sunlight.

As a famous quote mentions , It is easier to catch a fly with honey than with vinegar. You can keep away flies and enjoy your time with family.

HOW TO MAKE WHITE CLOTHES LOOK BRIGHTER

You love to wear white clothes but are afraid that it will lose the brightness after a few washes. Therefore you minimize your white clothes collection. But you cannot avoid your child’s school uniform. It has to be maintained throughout the year.

White clothes turn gray gradually as it is washed in hard water. Most of the homes are supplied with hard water and this is the main reason for the soap not to lather and be ineffective. The hardness in water settles as a residue on the clothe leaving it stiff too. You need to add powdered water softeners in the water while soaking white clothes, available in the market.

Whites are worn to churches regularly and is mandatory for individuals in medical profession. Come summer, all family members will prefer wearing white clothes to minimize the heat effect. It becomes all the more painful for the home maker who needs to monitor and upkeep the hubby and kids cupboard .

Here are a few tips to make your white clothes look bright and fresh.

• Wash white clothes separately. Do not mix with color clothes.
• Do not include stained socks along with whites while soaking
• Use lukewarm water or hot water to soak the whites that are soiled as the detergent will dissolve and be effective to completely remove the dirt.

• Whites can be washed regularly in normal water. Use hot water every third wash based on the look of the clothes. You can save on hot water.
• If you feel a particular set of white clothes are looking gray, then soak them in lukewarm water into which detergent is added. Leave it for 24 hrs and then rinse the clothes with Vinegar and water. Dilution to be followed: 2 tspn of vinegar to 1 litre of water.
• You can make white cotton socks look sparkling white by boiling them in a flat vessel containing water and a few slices of lemon for 5 minutes. Lemon is a natural bleach and removes soil and dirt from the clothes and restore color too.
• An alternative for washing soiled white socks will be Dishwashing liquid. Add a spoon of dishwasher to the lukewarm water and soak the soiled socks.
• Follow the same practices for your white bed sheets.
• Follow the washing directions mentioned on the label of your white clothes for best results. This will prevent damage to the fiber of the fabric.

You will be surprised to see your white socks and white clothes looking bright and new. You will receive appreciation for your effort and special attention from loved ones.

Make your jeans look new

Teenagers love to wear whites with jeans and you need to be in sink with the sparkling whites. To prevent your new jeans from fading, soak them in 4 tbsp of Vinegar mixed in 5 litres of water for about 30 minutes. Brush the soiled areas with a brush. Rinse and dry the jeans inside out to prevent fading. This will increase the durability of the clothes.

To make your towels fluffy and white

Minimize usage of detergent while washing towels. Add vinegar in the first rinse cycle. Have extra rinse while washing towels basically to remove all detergent in the clothes. Drying towels in the dryer will make them fluffy and soft than the ones dried on lines.

HOW TO KEEP STAINLESS STEEL SINK FREE OF HARD WATER STAINS

You have cleaned the entire kitchen and are worried to see the Stainless Steel sink full of stains and white patches. You are having a small get together at your home this weekend and you are desperate to find a solution.

These white patches are hard water stains meaning the water droplets have dried leaving those ugly marks on the surfaces. If left uncleaned they will form a thick layer and it will leave permanent scars on the surface.

Hard water stains are a result of mineral content in water like lime, silica and calcium. When the water evaporates the mineral deposits leave a scaly appearance on the areas. Few individuals have replaced the SS sink as they were unable to clean the stains.

Here is a solution for removing the hard water stains from the SS sinks and surfaces.

• Make a paste of baking soda / cooking soda.
• Add ½ cup baking soda and ¼ cup of Vinegar into a container. You will observe a foaming action when the two ingredients are combined. This is normal, wait for the foaming to stop. Mix the solution with a plastic spoon.
• Dip a cleaning cloth ( use soft texture ) into this paste and apply on the sink. Apply the paste on the stained areas in circular motions such the stains are cleaned.
• In another utensil keep warm water. Dip the cleaning cloth into the warm water and clean the sink thoroughly. Remove all cleaning paste and wipe off all water spots with a dry cloth.
• You can recycle old , unused banians and old T- shirts for cleaning. This material will absorb all moisture and leaves your Stainless Steel sink free of stains.
• Recycled cotton material also absorbs oils from gas stoves and kitchen counters.

You can save on money as you are using recycled material and also ensuring the Stainless Steel sink is free of hard water stains.

You can also use the lemon peel after using the juice for cleaning the sink. It also kills all bacteria and leaves your sink smelling fresh.

Precaution is better than cure therefore after all the utensils are washed, drain off all water and clean the SS sink with a dry cloth. This will remove all moisture and you will not see those ugly spots again.

HOW TO REMOVE CANDLE WAX AND BUBBLE GUM STUCK ON CLOTHES

Stains of candle wax on clothes are not easy to get over by washing only. You need to apply tricks to get rid of wax from your clothes. What with power cut for extended hours the usage of candle has increased. Candle lit processions are happening every other day in the city. These are the occasions when there is high chance for molten candle wax to fall on your clothes.

This is a common observation on children’s clothes as they are not alert and will spill the wax onto the nice clothes. The dress will look shabby when there is molten wax on it. We need to address the source of the wax problem…yes,  provide paper cups to prevent the molten wax dripping onto clothes.

Wax removal from clothing:

For stains left by candle wax on clothes and table cloth, scrape off surface wax with a knife. Place wax stain between clean paper towels and press with a warm iron. Replace paper towels if they become saturated.

If some of the dye has seeped into the fabric of your tablecloth and remains after removing the wax, try laundering with a color-safe bleach.

Bubble Gum removal from clothing:

To take chewing gum off your clothes, place the item of clothing in a polythene cover, then freeze it for about an hour. Take the clothing out of the freezer, then bend the fabric across the stain to crack the gum. Chip off the pieces with a dull knife.

If that doesn’t work, let the gum return to room temperature then dampen a cloth with dry-cleaning solution, lighter fluid, salad oil or peanut butter and rub on the gum, then work it off with a dull knife. Launder as usual.

Crayon stains can be treated in the same way as wax.

Bubble gum removal from hair :

You may go wild with anger when your child comes in with bubble gum stuck on hair. The child is already embarrassed and needs assurance from the elders. Do not shout. Sit down with the child and understand how it happened while making arrangements for taking out the gum stuck on hair. If the bubble gum is too close to the scalp try option one and two. If the bubble gum is stuck away from the scalp then try option 3.

1. Applying hair oil and keeping for 15 mins. Use an old toothbrush to ensure the entire gum is covered and you can also comb the affected part.
2. Applying Vaseline gel on the part and gently remove it with a comb.
3. Applying an ice cube over the gum stuck on hair. Keep the ice cube in contact for 15 mins by rubbing constantly over the bubble gum and the gum will come off your hair. Wash with shampoo and dry.

You need not worry . Try these simple tricks and remove your stains and your worries are solved.

HOW TO REMOVE STAINS FROM CLOTHES

Stains on clothes is a disaster for many. We take a long time to choose clothes of our choice and when they accidentally are stained you get upset. The first thought that comes to your mind is to dispose the clothing. You can give a try to the home remedies that are tried and tested to remove common stains that occur on clothes during our day to day proceedings. You will be relieved of the stain and you can wear your loved clothes again.

Ink stains

Ink stains are the most stubborn among stains and a common feature with people of all ages. Now with the revolutionary ball point pens without cap, common practice is to write and place the pen into the pocket. After an hour or so, ink leakage is felt by the individual and realizes that the shirt has got ink stains.

• To remove ink stains from clothes use a nail polish remover on the stained area.
• Rub the area with a cotton bud soaked in eau de cologne (perfume with 70 to 90% ethanol , citrus oil mixed with many other scents and essential oils)
• Wet a sponge with milk and rub the ink stain

Blood stains:

Blood stains occur when you cut yourself, nose bleeding due to external heat or whatsoever reasons. Primarily soak the cloth in cold water and salt for 1 hour and wash with cold water and soap.

• To remove spots of blood from clothing, use 3 percent hydrogen peroxide  available at any medical store. Soak the stain with the peroxide, use your fingernail or the blade of a butter knife to help loosen and scrape away the blood, then rinse it away with more hydrogen peroxide.

• For removing blood , wet the stained area of the fabric with water, sprinkle it with plain table salt, rub one half of the stain against the other to work in the salt and loosen the stain, then immediately launder the garment .
• Another method blot the stain with cold water or soak it in a cold water bath. you’ll want to remove the stain completely before drying, ironing or applying any type of heat to the stain which will just cause it to set in permanently.
• Vinegar works wonders with blood stained clothing .Apply the vinegar directly to the stain and blot. When the stain is removed, blot again with a damp cloth to remove the smell. Launder as usual.
• Mix one part baking soda with two parts water and blot the stain until it lifts. Blot again with a damp sponge to remove the baking soda. Launder as usual.

Paan (Betel leaf) stains:

You may have got betel leaf stains on your favorite shirt and are really worried how to get rid off the stain . Do not worry.

• Soaking the affected area of clothing in curd or lime juice for 2 hours . You will observe that the fade has vanished.

Oil stains

You attend a wedding or puja ceremony and observe small oil droplets on your garments. You may observe oil stains on your pillows too. You need not worry, follow this two way approach

• If fresh the oil stains can be dusted with talcum powder or wheat flour.  This will absorb the oil.  Leave for some time dust off and wash immediately with soap and water. You are sure to observe no patches and the garment is back to normalcy.
• Oil and ghee stains can be removed from clothes by washing in hot water to which washing soda has been added.
• Apply shampoo on the stains and you will be surprised to see that the fabric is clean.

Mud stains

When you go out in the rain your clothes are sure to get wet and high chance for your clothes to get mud stains. Soak the cloth in cold water to remove all the slush and mud on the clothes.  

• Mud stains on clothes can be removed with water of boiled potatoes.

Tea or Coffee stains

• Wash the stained part immediately and then dip the stained area in glycerin over night. Wash with soap and water next day.
• Fresh tea stains can be removed if sponged with cold water immediately. Fresh coffee stains can be removed by washing with soap and water. Drying in the sun often removes old stains.
• To remove tea stains from clothing or table linens, submerge the stained area for several minutes in a small bowl containing heavily sugared water (keep adding sugar in ½ cup of water as much as it can saturate), then launder as usual.

Sweat stains

Perspiration will be more during summer. To remove these stains from clothes apply a little ammonia and place the dress in sunlight. Soda water is excellent for removing white stains. Pour soda water over the stains and wash.

Collar stains

To remove dirty stains from shirt collars and cuffs, dip them in cold water for an hour, and scrub with sugar.

Pour a little shampoo onto the collar, inexpensive one also will do. Rub the collar together to work the shampoo in well, and rinse thoroughly. Then launder as usual.

Turmeric stains

You may have used turmeric as a face pack and have turmeric stains on clothes. Turmeric stains can be removed by rubbing a dry detergent bar soap over it and leave it for an hour before washing it off.

Hair dye stains

This has become a common stain in every household. People apply hair dye and there are high chances of spills over clothes. Clothes stained with hair dye should be cleaned with a piece of raw onion before being washed.

Henna stains

People apply henna on hair for coloring or henna designs are applied on hands and legs as part of ceremonies and weddings. Here are tips to remove henna stains from clothes. Soak the stained portion in hot milk for half-an-hour. Then rinse in cold water and clean with a brush.

HOW TO KEEP YOUR HOME COOL DURING HOT SUMMER

Summer season brings in nostalgic memories of childhood days. The cool shady areas, damp bed sheets and khas khas mats on windows, indoor games , fresh fruits,  homemade lime juice. The time when the elders were busy with pickle preparation, drying vadiyalu (fried rice snack) in the sun, season of jasmine flowers in the garden, raw mango and dry tamarind in the backyard.

Now with all upgradation in facilities and comforts , people moving into multi-storeyed tall apartments , the onset of technology like Air conditioners, Water coolers you can be recollect your childhood days when the power cut  happens on a sunny day.

The AC’s , water coolers and ceiling fans will come to a standstill . Be practical and follow traditional methods of cooling your home and be relaxed in summer.

To implement simple ways of cooling you need to maintain your cool, here are some useful tips…

• Drink lots of water even if you are not thirsty. Keep sipping water.
• Have a bath at least twice daily to remove the salt settled on your body. Apply deodorants to avoid prickly heat and heat rashes.
• Wear light colored cotton clothes to be cool. Avoid black and tight fitting clothes as they absorb heat and make you feel stuffy and worn out.
• Immerse your legs in salted water will remove all the stress in your legs.
• Squeeze water out of the towel and wrap it over the shoulders to cover the back of your neck. Very relaxing while you are working in the kitchen.
• You will feel relief if you wash your face, hands and legs often during peak hours.
• Plenty of fruits are available in the market. Have watermelons, muskmelons, oranges, grapes. Consume coconut water and cucumber slices.
• Avoid tea and coffee as they increase the thirst.

Following above mentioned tips you are relaxed and are ready to apply some tips to keep you home cool. Here are a few tested remedies to keep your home environment cool.

• Open all the doors and windows after sunset to flush out hot air present inside the rooms.
• Fix Ramacham mats ( Vetivar roots mats or Khas Khas grass mats as known in Hindi) on the windows-exterior such that whatever air comes will blow in thru’ the damp mats and you will feel the cool breeze. Thick damp bed sheets are also ideal for this purpose.
• Paint the terrace with a heat reflecting paint that will bring down the room temperature by 4 to 5 degrees inside the room.
• Use venetian blinds if you can afford such that inclined position will partially bring in light and not the heat.
• You can use sun screen film on glass windows to minimize heat entry.
• If you have a balcony facing West and South side place light colored shades over grills or on the wall to allow light to come in not the heat.
• Paint the walls on the west and South side of the house with light colors as the they are facing the sunlight and heat for the maximum number of hours.
• Wipe the floor in the evenings such that the room feels cool. You can sit down on the mat placed on the floor to watch television or have fun with indoor games.
• Plant trees around your house such that you will have shade when the tree grows. You will get ready made tall potted plants to minimize heat from the windows and balcony.
• Use light color bed sheets to minimize heat effect.
• Use double curtains such that heat does not enter in.
• In independent homes the terrace can be filled with 1 inch of water to bring the temperatures down inside the room at night. Remember to block the drain point.

You will be able to overcome summer heat and be cool this summer.

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BAKING POWDER AND BAKING SODA

Baking powder and baking soda are chemical leavening agents that cause dough and  batters to rise when baked. Leavening agents are substances that cause expansion to dough and batters by the release of gases by such mixtures, producing baked products with porous structure.

Baking soda is pure sodium bicarbonate. When baking soda is combined with moisture and an acidic ingredient like yogurt, chocolate, buttermilk, or honey, the resulting chemical reaction produces bubbles of carbon dioxide that expand under oven temperatures, causing baked goods to rise. Baking soda starts to react and release carbon dioxide gas as soon as it is added to the batter and moistened. Make sure to bake the batter immediately.

There are numerous uses for baking soda. Baking soda has an indefinite shelf life if stored in a sealed container in a cool dry place. Baking soda causes reddening of cocoa powder when baked.

Baking powder contains sodium bicarbonate, it includes the acidifying agent (cream of tartar), and also a drying agent (usually starch). Baking powder is available as single-acting baking powder and as double-acting baking powder. Single-acting powders are activated by moisture, so you must bake recipes which include this product immediately after mixing. Double-acting powders react in two phases and can stand for a while before baking. With double-acting powder, some gas is released at room temperature when the powder is added to dough, but most of the gas is released after the temperature of the dough increases in the oven. Because of the two stages, baking of the batter can be delayed for about 15-20 minutes without it losing its leavening power. Store in a cool dry place and it should be replaced every 6-12 months.

Few measures to be followed:

• Follow recipe instructions for quantities.
• Sift baking powder or baking soda with the other dry ingredients before adding to the batter to ensure uniformity in a recipe.  Otherwise the baked good can have large holes.
• Too much baking powder can cause the batter to be bitter tasting. It can also cause the batter to rise rapidly and then collapse. (i.e. The air bubbles in the batter grow too large and break causing the batter to fall.)  Cakes will have a coarse, fragile crumb with a fallen center.
• Too little baking powder results in a tough cake that has poor volume and a compact crumb.
• Too much baking soda will result in a soapy taste with a coarse, open crumb.

Testing for effectiveness for the leavening agent nearing shelf life:

• To test baking powder’s effectiveness: mix 1 teaspoon (5 grams)  baking powder with 1/2 cup (120 ml) hot water and the mixture should bubble immediately.
• To test baking soda’s effectiveness: mix 1/4 teaspoon baking soda with 2 teaspoons of vinegar and the mixture should bubble immediately.

DAMP WALLS IN YOUR HOME. HOW TO CORRECT ?

Are you observing damp walls in your home. Damp walls could be due to various reasons like rains getting in through the walls, moisture being absorbed from the ground, condensation settling on cold surfaces. You need to identify the correct reason otherwise you will be spending more than the required and you will not get the benefit of all the time, effort and money being allocated to this repair jobs.

Damp patches may also be the result of leaks in plumbing work embedded in the wall or from poorly sealed bathrooms. A few examples shared to understand various reasons for dampness in wall.

• Initially when I saw damp patches on the wall in my house I assumed it was due to external impact of rains. Rains came and went away and I’m still observing the wet patches on the wall. This is severe in the mornings and by evening the patch fades away. The dampness leaves stains on the walls. The musty smell and the damage that damp can cause is awful.

After a few days the damp areas in the wall bloated and powdery crust started to fall from the surface. There was a webby covering over the bloated surfaces. The wall had a light connection and a window.

The plumber and his team were informed , they came and checked and gave us a quote for fixing the problem. The plumber and his workmen mentioned that the window sill had a shade , which was damaged. They completed the repair jobs in a weeks time. After a fortnight the inside walls were chipped off and painting was done .

The rooms were back in shape. There were some unexpected rains in mid November and the dampness started to surface again. We realized it was not due to the window shade defect. I forgot to mention we had one more floor above our apartment. We called for a professional in this field . He checked the walls, observed the exterior walls and suggested we have a look at the house above ours.

We were in fact shocked to see the extent of damage in the bathroom floor. The filling between tiles –white cement was totally peeled off from the edges and there was a high chance of water getting trapped in the area between the tile and the main concrete. Collected water was trying to leak out from the weak areas in the wall.

The realization came in then that the apartment above ours was mostly vacant round the year. Usage was a few days in a month. That was the time the water penetration in the walls were observed. A new quote was taken and the work was completed by keeping the bathroom unused for the treatment and curing. Now the problem is fixed. The water already penetrated inside the walls will take time to dry.

• Another classic example: A huge amount was invested in beautifying my cousins house after purchase and after a years time one side of the drawing room started to be damp and had a shabby look.  They contacted the builder for further help. Since it was not long after purchase and with new upcoming projects in the vicinity, the builder agreed to have a look at the problem. and upon investigation it was identified that the problem was water seepage through the walls. Main reason cited was that water collected on the roof – be it rain water or overhead tank overflowing water from the roof had to pass down through tubes embedded in the wall. The workmen did a faulty job. The tube length was short, they did not bother taking a longer one. The cement work was completed with this gap in the pipeline. When heavy rains came the flow of water escaped thru’ the gap and seeped into the walls.

The wall was partially broken and the pipe work corrected. This caused a lot of inconvenience to the inmates , after all the rework the room looks good now.

Exposure to microbial contaminants is clinically associated with respiratory symptoms, allergies, asthma and immunological reactions. Dampness has therefore been suggested to be a strong and consistent indicator of risk for asthma and respiratory symptoms such as cough and wheeze.

Few precautionary measures to be adapted:

• A regular check up and proper maintenance is required for the home to be in good shape. Fix cracks on walls and on the floor too.
• Do not dry clothes in the rooms to avoid excess moisture on the walls. Do not cook in such rooms that have a history of dampness as the steam can cause wetness later. An example of condensation would be bathroom mirror becoming foggy after a hot bath. After some time the moisture condenses as water droplets.
• Check for any damage to windows and doors. The frames are very important as they are close to the walls and the dampness may result in wood rotting.  This will prevent pests infestation too.

HOW TO CONTROL ANTS NATURALLY

Ants are seen in large numbers during summer season. The small red and black ants are a common sight in homes. Ants come in long trails. Remember the famous proverb “ An ant may well destroy a whole dam” . They work as a team going in long lines in search of food.

Ants attack food items. Ants eat up the inner contents and leave the exterior shell intact. Many cases of biscuits becoming hollow, we can see a chain of ants carrying fine bits of the food particles back to their dwelling.

An inspiration to gain from ants is their will power to combat situations, they never give up and keep coming back again. Therefore preventive maintenance plays a major role in controlling ants. You need to keep your floor and table surfaces free from left over food. Close all containers to avoid sweet aroma in the air. Ants are on the search for food and water and they sniff and find their way. They will pick food and take it back to the anthill to feed the queen ant.

Watch out for the long trail of ants. If they sting, the skin will bulge and pain for some time. There are chemical products in the market to stop ants in and around the house and establishments . You can make a difference by controlling ants by natural methods.

Here are few proven and successful methods.

Turmeric powder

Mix quarter spoon of turmeric powder to 2 spoons of wheat flour . Sprinkle it on the ants. Place a little powder at the entry point. This will deter ants from coming home.

Cucumber peels / Orange peels

Place cucumber peels or citrus peels at the point of entry where you see ants or place them on poly bags in the kitchen platform. This will keep away ants. Orange peel is ideal for this purpose.

Borax

Boric acid or Borax is non toxic to humans, but they are poisonous to ants. Mix borax with equal parts of powdered sugar and sprinkle around the entry points at home. In case of large anthills you can sprinkle this powder. The ants will feed the queen ant too and you can destroy the complete ant family.

Baby Talcum powder / Black board chalk piece

If you see ants on bedroom table counters or beds use baby talcum powder. They will put off ants. A line drawn by chalk piece is literally a ‘ Laksman rekha’ and ants will keep away. They will not intrude further.

Vinegar

Use vinegar that is available in your kitchen. It is a natural ant repellent. Wipe down your countertops, cupboards and any other places where you’ve spotted ants with a mixture of white vinegar and water in equal quantities. Repeat this process 4 to 5 times to maintain the efficacy.

Fresh Ground coffee beans

Smell of Fresh ground coffee beans keeps ants away.

Soap solution

Take equal quantities of glass cleaner and liquid soap and mix it together and put it in a spray bottle, spray source areas and the ant hill too. You can spray soap solution too.

Hot water

Pour 3 to 4 liters of hot water if there is a large anthill in your garden area . This is a cost effective method to address the complete ant family.

Spices and Herbs

Sprinkle cinnamon, mint, pepper, garlic cloves in the area where you’ve seen ants . Replace garlic cloves . Bay leaves can be placed in cabinets, drawers and containers to deter ants.

You have got a whole list of natural repellents to address ants. Fill gaps in walls and floors. You need to be focused , always keep in mind the will power of ants. Keep your home clean , table tops free of spilled food and dripping containers. Close all food boxes and I’m sure you can keep the crawling creatures at bay.

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