Tips on How to Clean and Maintain your Appliances at Home

In this time of uncertainty, out of all the places - our home is considered the safest. Despite the stated fact, we should still practice preventive measures like cleaning or disinfecting our homes. It also includes everything that we are using from time to time - like our appliances.

The Enhanced Community Quarantine was implemented for more than a month already and it made us use our appliances more often than usual. The reason why keeping them clean and sanitized is something we should highly consider. According to a study published in March 2020, the SARS-CoV-2 that is now causing a pandemic is more stable on plastics and stainless steel. These two are the most common appliance surfaces at home.

XTREME Appliances recommends the following tips on how to clean and maintain some of your home appliances to keep you and your loved ones healthy:

Wipe off the dust from TV and sanitize your remote

Dust is a common allergen that may cause an allergic reaction when you inhale them. That is why it is best to wipe off dust in your home regularly, especially in the common areas like your living room. Before cleaning the TV, turn it off, let it cool down for a while then unplug. Start by wiping the edges or frames of the TV with a slightly damped microfiber cloth or soft cloth, followed by the screen. Make sure not to press hard on it as it may cause damage.

Do not forget to clean and sanitize the remote control! Remote controls get dirty because of several hands and fingers that have touched it. Remove the battery, face it upside down, and tap the remote against your palm so the debris can fall. Wipe the surface and buttons with alcohol-based wipes or a cloth damped in at least 70% isopropyl alcohol.

Avoid air conditioner filters to get clogged and dirty

Having a clean air conditioner at home will not only give you practical benefits like energy savings and the unit's improved efficiency. Keeping it clean can also help maintain good health. A poorly maintained air conditioner can cause itchy eyes, headaches, and even respiratory problems.

Depending on the frequency of usage, cleaning can be on a daily, monthly or seasonal basis. Cleaning can be through a professional cleaner or even yourself. Start by removing the trim panel or frame, remove dust and dirt from the cooling fins using a fin comb, remove visible build-ups or debris using a vacuum, let it dry, then assemble it back.

Here's an XTREME reminder: Do not use your air conditioner 24/7! Leaving it overworked may cause damage to the compressor and condenser. If left unattended, it may leave you with no choice but to replace it. Who would want a damaged air conditioner while on ECQ, right?

Your food storage also known as “refrigerator” should be kept clean

All appliances found in one of the dirtiest parts of your home - your kitchen - should be clean at all times. The refrigerator regularly acts as storage for your fresh meat and vegetable groceries and even cooked food. A clean refrigerator can help keep food fresh and keep food-borne illnesses away.

Make it a habit to check stored goods in the refrigerator weekly. Throw away expired consumables and keep the remaining in proper storage. Before you start cleaning your refrigerator, remove all food from the fridge, take out shelves and drawers and wash them with dish soap. Wipe the interior but avoid using strong-scented soap to avoid having problems with removing the scent in the fridge that may be absorbed by the food. As an alternative to soap, you can use a mixture of baking soda and vinegar to remove stains. Dry it off with a clean dry cloth before returning the shelves, drawers and stored goods. Make sure to wash raw food from the supermarket and allocations from your local government unit before storing them in your refrigerator. It is always better to be sure than sorry! Clean the exteriors using a soft cloth and dishwashing soap mixed with water. Then, "rinse" the excess soap by using a damp cloth.

Here’s an XTREME tip: Eliminate foul odor and maintain it smelling fresh by putting activated charcoal or open baking soda.

“While our homes act as our haven in this present situation, there is nothing wrong with ensuring that we are free from any sickness even indoors. Our frontliners are working hard to save each life while risking theirs. Let's do them a favor. Stay at home to avoid the risk of getting the virus. Let's stay healthy. ” shares Adrian Lim, XTREME Appliances General Manager

By following these tips on how to clean and maintain some of your home appliances, you can now assure that you and your loved ones are safe and healthy under your roof. Stay safe and healthy!

5 Ways to Beat Mental Stress During Quarantine

One of the sacrifices that many people must make amid the COVID-19 pandemic is to stay at home and distance themselves from other people. While this is one way to protect themselves from the virus, isolation—together with anxiety and fear over the crisis—may raise mental health concerns.

If you find yourself struggling to cope with the current situation, you can do more than just browse through Facebook or watch movies. AXA Philippines, one of the country’s leading insurance providers, shares some activities to help you be productive and fight the blues during this Enhanced Community Quarantine.

Exercise. Staying at home doesn’t mean you have to limit your daily physical activity. You can search for exercise videos online that will help you stay fit! There are so many options to suit your level and preference—from simple but effective walking exercises, high-intensity workouts, zumba, and yoga, among so many other options. This is guaranteed to produce mood-boosting endorphins with the space and equipment you have at home.

Clean your space. With a lot of spare time in your hands, why not use it to clean, declutter, and organize your things at home? Not only will this give you something to do, but sanitizing your home is also another important step in protecting yourself and your loved ones from the virus.

Strengthen relationships. Social distancing doesn’t mean losing connections with other people. If you live with your family, you can now spend some more bonding moments at home. How about a night of watching movies or playing board games together? You can also stay connected to friends from a distance. Carve out some time to call your friends and check on how they are doing via online applications. This will enable you to share experiences and help each other in these trying times.

Learn a new skill. Got an old guitar that you don’t know how to play? You can try learning to play that instrument now. Want to tap into your creative side? Nurture your creativity by trying to draw or write poetry. During the quarantine, many professionals are holding free classes on social media so be sure to stay updated with your favorite ones. There are also countless tutorials and courses that you can find online, so why not try them out? Who knows? Maybe by the time the quarantine has ended, you will have new hobbies for fun or valuable skills that can be helpful in your career.

Meditate. Meditation is one of the best activities to boost mental health. It allows you to connect with your inner self and helps reduce stress and depression and anxiety. The best part is you don’t need much to do it – all you need is a quiet space. You just need to sit down comfortably, close your eyes, and focus on your breathing for a few minutes. If you're new to meditation, you may check out free meditation apps for beginners and soothing music online to help get you started.

Your mental health is a vital part of your overall wellbeing so make sure not to neglect that part.

For more information on AXA Philippines, visit https://axa.com.ph/.

Why Keeping Your Home Clean and Disinfected can Play a Big Part in Preventing the Spread of COVD-19

With the imposed enhanced community quarantine, one of the means directed towards controlling the spread of the dreaded COVID-19 in the country, everyone has been forced to stay put and stay home. Yet, just because you are at home and isolated doesn’t mean you have to let your guard down and stay complacent. On the contrary, those at home can do their share by doing small things with significant impact; steps that are quite basic and easy to do.

For one, keeping your home clean and disinfected can help prevent the spread of infection at home. Frequently-touched surfaces and objects, once contaminated, play some important role in the transmission of disease, especially as COVD-19 is spread from person to person either when we cough or sneeze or through droplets.

Therefore, keeping these surfaces in our home properly disinfected and not just clean is an important step and one of the most essential things we should be doing right now.

Cleaning has the ability to physically remove organic matter such as dirt and germs. This is then best followed up by using a potent household disinfectant because while a surface may appear clean, it can still very much be host to illness-causing germs. This becomes ever more apparent as studies from the New England Journal of Medicine have shown that the COVID-19 virus can live for several hours to days in aerosols and on surfaces.

So, which frequently-touched surfaces should be regularly disinfected with a household disinfectant? Those often shared by members of the household like doorknobs, light switches, countertops, faucets, and the like. Kitchen surfaces for example can harbor foodborne bacteria as well as bacteria transferred from humans and other items. Likewise, phones, remotes, and laptop keyboards are also potential bacteria carriers.

Not to be missed out as well is the bathroom, where showers, toilets, and counters together with bathroom mats have to be disinfected too. In the bedroom, a disinfecting spray is well-suited for mattresses and pillows.

Above all these, do not forget of course to wash one’s hands with soap for minimum 20 seconds thoroughly.

So do keep in mind these tips—simple but very important steps one can and should undertake to keep everyone at home—and outside—healthy and safe.

Easy Ways to Make your Bathroom Look Stylish and Luxurious

A beautiful bathroom should make you feel relaxed, comfortable and luxurious. Although interior design is one important factor, knowing that your bathroom is absolutely hygienic and spotlessly clean is another key to creating a feeling of utmost comfort and self-indulgence.

American Standard, the famous, innovative bathroom and kitchen fixture manufacturer, shares tips on how to give your bathroom that pleasurable and luxurious feel:

Tip #1: Utilize your wall.

Don’t limit your bathroom to flat walls! Add a touch of dimension to it by installing functional but decorative shelves to store your towels, extra toilet paper rolls, candles, and other bathroom essentials.

Tip #2: Use big mirrors.

Big mirrors create an optical illusion of a bigger space. The trick is to strategically place your mirror across from your window. Doing so will make your room visually seem like you have two windows.

Tip #3: Choose light color palettes

When it comes to bathroom interiors, color schemes can make a difference. Sticking to light color palettes such as white, cream, yellow, and beige can make your bathroom look larger. Add value and depth to your bathroom by adding little accessories in dark hues.

Tip #4: Allow natural light

The darker a small room, the more confined and uninviting it may look. Small bathrooms will have a roomier and airy ambience when windows are added to allow natural light to come in.

Tip #5: Invest in innovative and trendy fixtures

To achieve your ideal bathroom, invest in fixtures that are not only innovative and stylish but also ensures your safety. Begin with American Standard’s HygieneClean System delivered by its powerful flushing technologies: Siphonmax, a dynamic vacuum mechanism with side water jets that create a powerful swirl, and a lower jet that removes both heavy and light waste completely; Double Vortex with maximum flushing performance, yet with minimum water usage. It also features the cutting-edge innovation of Aqua Ceramic which prevents dirt and dark ring stains to stick to ceramic surfaces, and Comfort Clean, a revolutionary ceramic glaze with zinc oxide that effectively kills E. coli bacteria inside the toilet bowl for the long term and beyond.

Tip #6: Work with vertical designs

Emphasize on height by accessorizing your bathroom with vertical-striped decorations. This type of pattern makes ceilings appear higher and create a visual impression of more space.

Having a spacious and stylish bathroom is now made achievable by following these tips from American Standard.

For more information on HygieneClean, visit your nearest American Standard retailer where brand ambassadors will help you learn more about how it can ensure bathroom safety in your home.

ZAMBALES, OLONGAPO, BATAAN AND THE GREATER SUBIC BAY CHALLENGE THE YOUTH TO UNLEASH THEIR INNER HEROES IN THE 2018 INTERNATIONAL COASTAL CLEANUP ENVIRONMENTAL SUMMIT

The International Coastal Cleanup (ICC) is a global movement celebrated every 3rd Saturday of September yearly and being participated by more than 100 countries across the globe including the Philippines, as we rally the community towards a common goal of collecting and documenting the trash littering the coastline. In 2017, the Philippines ranked #1 with the most number of volunteers, but on the contrary, the country is ranked #3 as the biggest dumper of plastics in the ocean. According to the Ocean Trash Index, the world's largest item-by-item, location-by-location database of trash found in near-shore environments as a result of the data submitted by all the volunteers of ICC, plastic debris remains a growing concern in the marine environment, and the top five most commonly collected items are cigarette butts, food wrappers, plastic beverage bottles, plastic bottle caps and plastic grocery bags, respectively. The trash data collection is important because it will help governments, manufacturing industries, businesses and individuals in making smart solutions to the marine debris problem. As we participate for this year’s International Coastal Cleanup activity scheduled on September 22, 2018, we encourage everyone to participate in the data gathering efforts so we can have a better assessment of the trash in our area. There is an increasing need to address this issue of marine litter and beach cleanup alone is not enough​. The highlight of this continuous effort is the ICC ENVIRONMENTAL SUMMIT​, a supplement to the annual beach cleanup that will take place on September 27 and 28, 2018 at the Subic Bay Exhibition and Convention Center (SBECC)​.

This year we are launching the Youth Empowerment Symposium (#YES18) as we focus on empowering our youth by tapping into the best practices of top Filipinos and global organizations, inspiring our next generation of leaders to follow-suite and provide the tools that they will need to continue our quest towards a more sustainable future. Together, they can come up with viable solutions for pressing environmental matters and approach new, peaceful and constructive ways of problem-solving. This will be the 4th Summit that will be held in Subic Bay and has always been focused on the new generation - millennials, the most powerful force of our future. If we want to change the world for the better, there has to be a change in people’s behavior. And this year’s theme is “Change Heroes​” a challenge for the youth to be an instrument for change, to spark social consciousness formation towards social change, changing the way we view the world, unleashing our inner heroes, and become better builders of our nation. It will be a symposium participated by youths, mainly the newly elected SK officials from Olongapo, Zambales and Bataan together with experienced executives and organization leaders that will focus on finding more efficient solutions to ensure that the cleanliness of our beaches will continue far beyond the cleanup activity. This event is organized by the Lighthouse Marina Resort Legacy Foundation, Make a Difference (MAD) Travel and the Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary; co-presented by Coca-Cola Philippines, Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority, The Lighthouse Marina Resort and Globe Telecoms as the official connectivity partner; in cooperation with the Philippine Alliance for Recycling and Materials Sustainability, Subic Bay Freeport Chamber of Commerce, International Yachting Fellowship of Rotarians, Miss Scuba Philippines, UP Marine Biological Society, Dakila, Seed4com, and Oceana Philippines; supported by Provincial Government of Zambales, Municipal of Olongapo, and Provincial Government of Bataan, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, National Coast Watch Council, Department of Tourism, Philippine Coast Guard, PNP Maritime Group, Department of Interior and Local Government, and the National Youth Commission; sponsored by Ayala Harbor Point Mall, Anvaya Cove, PLDT Subictel, Think + Talk Creative Communications, VitalStrats Creative Solutions, Standard Insurance and Nanofixit.