Did Santa bring more than presents to your home this season? If a cold or flu made its way down the chimney (or through your front door), your holiday might have been a little less than ideal. Instead of sipping hot cocoa and enjoying your Christmas gifts, once your  family and friends went home you were left with coughing, aches, and not enough tissues. Sanitizing after Santa (or your sniffling out of town guests) is important as it will not only protect your remaining family from whatever germs came into your house, but it will also kick the germs to the curb faster and help you get well. So where should you focus on cleaning, and how should you do it?

Bedrooms. Did your holiday guests come into town with a touch of a cold that quickly turned into a full-blown flu before they left? Have your kids been coughing since Christmas Eve? Taking time to sanitize the bedrooms in your house is important in keeping your home healthy! Wash all bed linens on hot wash if possible, and spray down mattresses, mattress toppers, drapes, and other fabric surfaces that can't be washed with a disinfectant of your choice. Wipe down hard surfaces like bedside tables, headboards, tv remotes, curtain and blind cords/rods, light switches, doorknobs, etc. Pretty much any surface that could have been touched should be sanitized. Finally, open windows for a while if you can to air out the room, and vacuum the space with a HEPA filter to take care of any remaining particles.

Bathrooms. Much like the bedroom, all hard surfaces should be cleaned with sanitizing wipes or cleaners, and don't forget inside the shower or tub! In addition, steam mopping or mopping the floor with an antibacterial cleaner is a good way to take care of any residual viruses hanging around and give you a fresh start to work with.

Extras! Do you keep throws and blankets on chairs and sofas around your home? Wash those for sure! Television remotes are a major hot spot for germs, so cleaning them thoroughly is key when sanitizing after a bout of sickness has hit your household. Other commonly used items that should be thoroughly cleaned include: 

• cell phones 

• the handle on the refrigerator and/or freezer! 

• toothbrushes 

• makeup brushes and hairbrushes

• car keys

Don't forget handy shortcuts that make the cleaning process easier! Most dishwashers for example are equipped with a sanitizing function. Running dishes, or even certain toys, on this function can disinfect them quickly without the need for chemicals!  

If Santa also left evidence of his visit on your roof, leave that to us! We provide the greater Polk County community with roof repair and replacement services. Voted “Best of the Best” in Polk County, we are the top choice for home and business owners when their roof needs some TLC from the pros who know how to get it done right the first time. Our business is built on honesty and integrity. Call us for your estimate!

Happy New Year from EZ Roofing Systems!

2020 was certainly one for the books wasn't it? Over the last year, we have experienced unprecedented circumstances in our communities, states, our country, and around the world. The way we work, communicate with one another, go to the store, and even celebrate holidays changed in a matter of days, and we're still adjusting to this new "normal" we find ourselves in. We're reminded though that one thing hasn't changed in our own community, and that's something we believe could change the world, no matter what circumstances come our way.

It's kindness.

Kindness keeps us connected whether by screen or in person, even when a mask hides our smile. Kindness keeps local businesses running because their friends and neighbors are committed to helping them through this time. Kindness helps teachers and students alike as they push forward on this journey they weren't prepared for.

It's ALWAYS best to choose kindness. With the changes we've experienced over the last year though, it's easy to wonder how we can show kindness in 2021 when so many things are still different than they were before. The ways we might have connected with others in the past are no longer viable options, and it can be hard to adjust your focus and see other ways of doing things in the midst of your own chaotic life. That's why we've put together these 3 easy ways to extend kindness throughout the coming year, no matter what it holds.

Choose Your Words Wisely

A kind word holds power, yet how often do we purposefully share them with those around us? Throughout the coming year, look for moments to interject a word of kindness or encouragement. Your waitress, your checkout attendant, your child's teacher, your lonely neighbor, the mom in your playgroup, or your own family members could all use uplifting reminders of how much they are appreciated. Remember, our words aren't just spoken. What we write (or share) online holds just as much power, and we can make (or break) someone's day with what we put out there for others to see. Choose wisely.

Support Your Local Businesses

This last year has been especially hard for local businesses, and many of them are headed into 2021 wondering how they'll keep going. Keep in mind, these shops, restaurants, and service-providers go far beyond just the owner. Their families, their employees (who also have families) and their many customers who depend on them also need them to stay afloat, and YOU can play a part in making that happen. Make it a resolution this year to shop local as much as possible. Instead of grabbing food from a drive-through window on the way home after a busy day, opt for takeout from a local dive instead. When it's time to buy teacher gifts, birthday presents, valentine surprises, or even household needs, keep our own downtown shops in mind first. When we pay them, we’re not only putting more money in the pocket of some wealthy international CEO...we’re paying for a child's soccer gear, daycare, college savings, or putting food on someone's table.

Take Action

Perhaps this is one of the most impactful ways we can show kindness in the months ahead. Take action and be a part of making our community a better place. Volunteer with our local nonprofits who need help more than ever right now. Check on friends and neighbors, and be the one who shows up to deliver a load of groceries, get their mail, walk their dog, help with virtual learning, or simply bring a cup of coffee and a listening ear. Reach out to those who are hurting and offer, in addition to kindness, some hope and encouragement that they are seen and heard, and that you care. While words are important and matter in a big way, actions definitely speak the loudest, and our choice to show kindness with our own two hands could be the pivotal point for someone who needs a little extra help right now.

EZ Roofing Systems is committed to making kindness a focus of our own business in the year ahead. From the members of our own team, to each customer or potential client we come into contact with each day, our goal is to leave them a little happier and a little more at peace than they were before, and that we will have a reputation of respect, integrity, and yes, kindness here in the community. We want to be an example that any profession can wear kindness well, even roofing. Here’s to this New Year from EZ Roofing Systems!