London Travel Report: September 2009

Places You Cannot Miss in London

By Morten Elm

The Summer Olympic Games of 2012 will be held in London. But there is no reason to wait until 2012, before you visit the city, because today you can find great sights, fantastic shopping and a exciting nightlife. And the food is not the typical English dishes.

The London Eye is the newest sight; and also one of the most interesting ones. The Ferris wheel is 135 meter (443 feet) high and can be found between Waterloo and Westminster Bridge. It was opened by Tony Blair for the new millennium. But some technical problems made it impossible to use until March 2000.

The 32 cabins on the wheel have room for 25 persons each. It is a very popular attraction; and because one rotation takes about half an hour, you can expect long queues in the high season. But the view from the top over the central London (including Big Ben and the House of Parliament) is worth the waiting.

A 900 older sight with a very bloody history is the Tower of London. The Traitors Gate was the entrance for many, but the exit for few. The majority were killed because of torture or rats; or executed.

Today the fortress is a more peaceful place (except for the other tourists). It is interesting to watch the famous Ceremony of the Keys where the head of the guards hands over the keys to the head of the night watchmen at exactly 9.52 pm.

There are many interesting places to be seen on a tour of Tower of London. This includes the royal apartment as well as the dungeons. But the most popular sight is the British crown jewels in the Jewel House. Here you can see the scepter of the sovereign with Star of Africa; the worlds largest diamond.

For more great sights, visit St. Pauls Cathedral and Westminster Abbey. Do also take a look at the 106 meter (348 feet) high Big Ben, and go for a walk in Hyde Park. Finish the sightseeing in British Museum, where you find an enormous collection of art.

A must thing to do in London is people watching. In the city you can see everything from punkers with safety pins through their noses and cock's combs to businessmen with bowler hat sand stiff upper lips.

It is actually possible to find great food in London. And no, it is not the notorious fish and chips. Many famous cooks like Gordon Ramsey and Jamie Oliver have restaurant in the city. If you like cheaper options, you can find great, exotic restaurants with inexpensive food. London is a melting pot of multi-ethnic populations; which means you can eat food from all around the world.

London is also a great place to shop. The famous department store Harrods even brags about that they can provide everything you need. Stuff for your home can be found in Designers Guild (wallpaper and fabric) and Muji (Japanese design). For something to the kids, you should visit Hamleys of Regent Street; a six story toyshop - 30244

About the Author:

Morten Elm is writing about city breaks i London on Storbyferie i London. Read more about the shopping in Shopping London.

Are You Entitled To A Tax Refund?

By Liam McGulliver Fletcher

Something we are all used to in this country is the concept of paying tax. We have to pay tax on the vast majority of purchases we make in our lifetime as well as every pay packet we receive. It is what fuels the economy and allows the government to distribute funds where and when needed.

So tax is what makes our economy and more or less the whole capitalist system work by giving the government a slice of the profit from every transaction made in a store and every persons wage packet.

However, despite the fact that tax and its benefits are more or less what separates our country from the less economically developed countries and it allows the country to be run in a way that benefits everyone, but even so, at the end of the day, it is our hard earned money that's being taken away from us, so aren't we at least entitled to a little groan about it once in a while?

However, if you reside and are an official citizen of a country outside the EU and you are visiting the UK (or few other EU countries) then there are select stores from which you can claim back any tax you've paid on your purchases!

There are five steps that you should take in order to claim your tax back, and they are:

1. Each shop that is part of the tax-free shopping scheme will have a sticker indicating so in the window, look out for this sticker and shop in these stores.

2. Ask what the minimum spending amount is to qualify for the tax refund as this can change from shop to shop.

3. Once you've bought your items (ensuring that collectively they are worth over the minimum amount to qualify) and then request and fill in the tax refund cheque form.

4. When you get to customs on your way home, display your passport along with your completed tax refund check form.

5. There will be a tax refund office nearby in the airport, or if you are in a hurry, you can send your tax refund form off to the tax refund company via post and the full amount of tax you paid on your qualifying purchases will given to you in the form of a cheque or credited to your credit card. - 30244

About the Author:

For more information on TFS visit gbtaxfree.com by clicking on UK tax free refund

Getting Rid Of House Dust Mites

By Dan Winters

House Dust Mite House dust mites are insects that can not be seen with the naked eye but microscopic. They are related to ticks and spiders and live in house dust. House dust mites feed on human skin flakes and can be found in pillows, carpets, mattresses, upholstered furniture, clothes bedcovers, and stuffed toys. They are a major problem and can cause itching, sneezing, watery eyes and wheezing. They are also a common cause of asthma and allergic symptoms. There is no way to completely eliminate dust mites, but there are methods to control them through chemical control.

How to get rid of house dust mites keep bedding clean: as we spend a lot of time in our beds and lose a lot of dead skin while they're there. The best thing to do is to change bed frequently. Do it once a week and wash the bedding in hot water. Hot water will kill dust mites. If cold water is used, all it does is wash away most of the dust mites, but many dust mites will live through it. It is also a good idea to use dust-proof bedding covers and get rid of feather pillows and wool blankets. Avoid drying clothes in your bedroom but make sure they are dried thoroughly before putting away.

All carpeting should be removed, and be replaced with a vinyl or hardwood flooring. Use a limited of scattered rugs but should be washed a few times in a year and if you have hard-wood floors, mop. Don?t sweep. Clean all major appliances such as, air conditioner, and filters. Vacuum all the upholstered furniture to minimize accumulation of dust. Take down and wash your curtains. Keep kitchen and bathroom clean and free of mold.

Control dust mites with temperature and humidity Lower indoor humidity. Dust mites prefer things to be warm and humid. Strive to keep humidity levels low by using ventilation fans, air conditioning and dehumidifiers. It is impossible to get rid of all the dust mites but there are some sprays you can use to use to minimize the number of dust mites.

Look for Steri-Fab or BedLam Insecticide. Both are safe for use indoors and can be sprayed directly on beds and upholstery for killing dust mites. - 30244

About the Author:

This is written by the CEO of BENNIS SERVICE LTD.Nathan Nwachukwu who has research, and got his information through books, internet and through his vast experiences throughout his cleaning career running over 15years. The cleaning and laundry service in London. For more information: http://www.bennisservices.co.uk

How To Clean Your Kitchen

By Nathan Nwachukwu

If there is any room in the house that needs to be kept cleaned is the Kitchen for Health and Safety reasons. You don't want to invite any bacteria into a place where you store and prepare food. Kitchen can be hard to clean because there are lots of things and heavy appliances to move, but keeping kitchen spotless is essential.

Steps: Cleaning tools: gather your cleaning equipments together Liquid dish Detergent Kitchen spray Sponges Broom and Dustpan Mop and Bucket Feather Dusters or Cloth Rubber Gloves Trash Bags Vacuum

Clean the Kitchen:

Put on your rubber gloves, and get ready to scrub that floor 'til you can eat off it. Well, literally not, it's a good way to stay motivated.

Get rid of any large pieces of trash from thee cabinets and the floor. Remove any thing that doesn't belong in the kitchen.

Wash off kitchen cabinets with water and liquid dish detergent. Rinse everything and dry it with a dry cloth. Clean the bottom cabinet, if necessary.

Scrape off all the dishes into a trash bag. Try to choose the dishes that are going to be the most trouble to get clean. Soak dishes in a mixture of water and baking soda for about 10-15mins. While the dishes are soaking, use the time to go through the cupboard and chuck anything that is expired or has been used for a while.

Return to the dishes. Wash, rinse and dry.

Wash down the walls, cabinets, countertops. Appliances- (the blender, toaster, microwave. Fridge, oven etc.), sink, floor, and the wall behind your stove. Rinse out sponges and rags. Wash down the visible surfaces.

Clean any windows inside and outside in the kitchen.

Sweep or vacuum the floor, make sure all furniture are moved as needed. Move the floor until its dry.

Wait until the floor is dry to place back any furniture back.

Take out the trash.

To keep the kitchen that way, take a couple of minutes everyday to do the following clean-ups, and your kitchen will be spotless from time to time.

Take a minute to wipe down cabinets, countertops, and sinks.

Give the floor a quick sweep and mop.

Wash your dishes as soon as you finish cooking or clean up after every meal - 30244

About the Author:

How To Clean Your Kitchen

By Nathan Nwachukwu

About the Author:

What To Expect From Your Window Cleaning Contractor

By Marcus P Weeks

How good is your commercial window cleaner? Here are some ideas on what you should be expecting.

Much will depend of course on the nature of your building and other constraints you are under financially. Building useage can also play a large part in the extent to which you need your contractor to perform.

Are all aspects of their business providing you with the information you need, when you need it? Is that communication at the standard you would hope for? Does their publicity information tell you clearly and professionally what you need to know? Are their proposals comprehensive? A really thorough proposal is a sign of a well-organised business. Is their invoicing detailed, timely and accurate? When you contact them, do they resolve your query quickly? Do they email you an attendance sheet to confirm that the work has been done?

Do they have a Health & Safety policy? What evidence is there that the policy is adhered to? How do management check that it is being adhered to? What action do they take when there are problems? What is their accident record?

Do they have a written customer care policy? What standards do they expect from their staff? When cleaning internally, you should expect their staff to be trustworthy, smart, conscientious, non-intrusive, ask before they move anything, remove shoes where appropriate, knock on doors before entering, be respectful, polite and friendly without distracting staff who are working and finally, clean and tidy up when finished

It is not unreasonable for you to expect your window cleaners to turn up on time! Inevitably, from time to time, delays do occur, but when they do a phone call to warn whoever is expecting them is the least that should happen.

When you select a window cleaning company, you want someone you can rely on. To give you the confidence you need, the company should be prepared to offer you guarantees. You should never receive an invoice unless they are completely satisfied that the job has been completed to the standards agreed. If you are not happy with any part of the work carried out, they should revisit the site and put it right within 48 hours of being notified.

What is their staffing like? Each staff member should have been trained and certificated to the relevant standards. There should be a training record available for you to see. You should establish whether staff undergo security checks and what the length of service of all staff are. The longer they have been employed, generally the more secure and well-run the company is. How many of the staff are full time and how many are on contract or subcontractors? - 30244

About the Author:

If you are responsible for arranging office window cleaning make sure you read Marcus P Weeks' very good free guidecalled 'Everything you need to know about buying office window cleaner services' or visit the MPW website.

Techniques of Upholstery Cleaning

By Nathan Nwachukwu

Upholstery furniture is very unique items in your house. The design and decoration of your house, goes hand in hand with the type of upholstery you should have. Coloured and well designed upholstery present a beautiful feeling and good atmosphere. There are different types of upholstery furniture on the market. E.g. conference Upholstery, home upholstery and chair bed. The type of upholstery you buy, depend on the test done. Many decision of purchase are made by house wives; manufacturers always focus their attention on women. Different types of material are used in making upholstery furniture. E.g. velvet, cotton, wool, nylons

Knowing the material is very important in cleaning upholstery furniture. When you buy upholstery, always ask the manufacturers for advice on how to clean. Sometimes, it does affect the warranty. You always see the label under the furniture or at the back of the furniture.

Before, starting your cleaning, there are some precautionary measures, that have to be taken:

1. Always, make sure, you cover the side of upholstery made of wood or other materials that may be affected by any chemical used because, some of the chemical might be harsh. 2. Always have material to cover the floor before you start cleaning. You do not want to damage the floor or the carpet.

3. Always make sure you check for a damage on the upholstery and notify the client. This to avoid any problem at the end of the job.

4. Do not put your hands in corners edges of the upholstery because, they might contain sharp objects. E.g. blade, pins. This is to avoid any injury that might occur. Remember your Health and Safety.

5. Always test the furniture for colour transfer or dye bleed.

Items needed for the cleaning: 1. Your steam cleaning machine 2. Hover 3. White terry towels 4. Brush 5. Detergent (chemical) 6. Buckets 7. Covers for floor and chairs - 30244

About the Author:

Controlling of fleas in Carpet, Furniture and Curtains

By Nathan Nwachukwu

It is very important to vacuum and steam clean your carpet at regular intervals. Vacuum clean three ti9mes a week and carpet clean, every six months or 1 year. This will keep your carpet in a good condition. Keeping your carpet dirty will attract unwanted bugs like (Fleas, Mites, and Flees) est. into your home, especially if, you have pets like cats or dogs. The pets such as cats or dogs lies on the furniture's and carpets making it difficult to clean.

It is very difficult to clean your carpet and furniture than cleaning other types of flooring because; hairs and other dirt can easily stick on the carpet. If you don't clean the hairs regularly, it will build up, making vacuuming really difficult. In this case, you need a hard brush to remove, some of the hairs before vacuuming and deodorising in order to remove the smell.

The fleas multiply so fast. Fleas are insects, a tiny organism when seen under a (Microscope), can be very destructive in nature. This organism bites, and sucks blood from human beings.

This tiny insect lives on host and lay eggs in pets. These eggs are seen on beds, carpets, clothes, curtains, e.t.c. Theses eggs develop into Lava. Within two weeks, the Lava develops into a legless Pupa for 200 days, which remain like that for one year, in a stable condition. They develop into adult fleas, controlling these menacing problems, can be difficult.

Before using chemicals to control fleas, you have to try non chemicals first. You have to vacuum clean carpets, furniture, under the furniture's curtains, and comb your pets. It is advisable to spring clean your house, wash all clothing and curtains because the cats and dogs move around and the fleas fly.

The vacuuming should do every day and all disposable should be taken away from the house, carpets should be steam cleaned.

It is important to make note that controlling pest does not mean it will kill some of the insects. Controlling pests is interfering with the life cycles and managing target populations. - 30244

About the Author:

Carpet Cleaning Procedure and Standard

By Nathan Nwachukwu

Many carpet cleaners do start cleaning, without actually understanding, the meaning of carpet cleaning. There are various things that have to be taken into consideration, before you start cleaning carpets:

1) What type of carpet? 2) What fibre is the carpet made? 3) Can the carpet fade after washing? 4) What backing is under the carpet? 5) Can it be clean with water (possible damage, shrinking, dye bleed)

Before you start cleaning, you have to explain to the customer or client, the possible outcome. If he/she gives you the go ahead, you can start cleaning. This is done to avoid any sort of problem that could occur after cleaning.

The carpet has to be tested for a dye bleed. This has to be done at the corner. This test will determine the type of chemical to use and the PH value.

One possible mistake, I have discovered a lot of carpet cleaners make, is that. They do not break the pile before they start vacuuming.

It is important to vacuum before cleaning, in order to avoid the dust going underground and re-appearing after cleaning.

Heavily traffic, soil and stain area has to be treated properly with stain remover and make sure they do not spread, while trying to remove the stains completely, do not over wet the carpet.

After, you have finished the treatment of the stains and spots. The carpet should be checked after cleaning, making sure, the spots, stains and soiling are properly removed, if not, should be treated again with a proper stain remover.

The carpet has to be uniformed, not patchy. Experience, has shown, that not all stains can be remove but with proper stain removal. You can achieve a good result.

After cleaning, the carpet pile should be combed up with a carpet groom. This will bring back brightness and hast the drying, and if, furniture is to be placed on the carpet, you have to make sure a furniture pad is placed underneath, the carpet to prevent rust, stains on the clean carpet. - 30244

About the Author:

This article is written by the CEO of BENNIS SERVICE LTD.Nathan Nwachukwu who has research, and got his information through books, internet and through his vast experiences throughout his cleaning career running over 15years. The cleaning and laundry service in London. For more information: http://www.bennisservices.co.uk

Instructions On How To Use The Launderette

By Nathan Nwachukwu

Laundrette is an important service for the community. Many people living in certain areas do not have access to a Washing Machine or Dryers. There are a lot of students or young professionals who do not have enough money to buy theses appliances. They visit the Laundrette at least once a week. Alternatively, some Laundrette do offer service collection and delivery service, where your laundry is collected, washed, folded and ironed at an extra cost because this is a labour intensive operation and does need extra employees.

Inside the laundrette there are equipments required such as Washing Machines, Dryers, soap, Fabric Softer, Vending Machines, Spinner, Folding Table, Television, Storage place, CCTV. E.T.C

Customers' coming for the first time to the Laundrette needs help with operating the machines, that is when the laundry attendant comes to the rescue, to help them. There are directions, how to use the washing machines, dryers and all the other equipments, if it is understood then the laundry attendant is there to help.

Instructions on how to use the washing Machines

Select you garments into groups of colours to be washed, if required

Load your garments into the machine and lock the door, make certain that the door is properly locked

Select the temperature (hot, warm, cold or delicate) you would like your garments to be washed

To save time in the dryers you can use the extra buttons saving time depending on the materials being washed

Add your detergents in the 1st and 2nd compartments, and the third, add fabric softer

Bleach may be added if you require into 2nd compartments during the washing cycle

Full loaded washing should be done using half a cup soap

Never try to open the door or out your hand in the door whilst the washing is in operating

Never tamper with the door lock

Children should not be allowed to operate the laundry machines

After wash, put you laundry into a basket. You can use the spinner to spin the excess water out of your garments.

How to use the dryers

First place your garments into the dryer

Makes sure the door is secured safely

Select the temperature for drying (high, medium, low) depending on the type of garments.

When the dryer has stop operating, you then open the door, and remove your garment from the machine straight away, if they are all dried to your satisfaction, to avoid combustion and wrinkling to your garment. - 30244

About the Author:

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London Travel Report

Places You Cannot Miss in London

Are You Entitled To A Tax Refund?

Getting Rid Of House Dust Mites

How To Clean Your Kitchen

How To Clean Your Kitchen

What To Expect From Your Window Cleaning Contractor

Techniques of Upholstery Cleaning

Controlling of fleas in Carpet, Furniture and Curtains

Carpet Cleaning Procedure and Standard

Instructions On How To Use The Launderette

privacy policy

disclaimer

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