Trick-or-Treat Like a Pro

• Bring an adult. Trick-or-treating may for kids, but that doesn't mean they're old enough to do it alone.


• Eat! Having a well-balanced dinner before trick-or-treating helps prevent filling up on candy (and feeling ill).


• Safety is in numbers. If your kids are, in fact, old enough to go it without an adult, then tell them to stay in a group.


• Map it out. Designate a route before your kids begin trick-or-treating, and make sure they stick to it.


• No Shortcuts. Instead of taking short-cuts through secluded areas like parking lots and alleys, have your kids trick-or-treat where there are lots of people around.


• Trick-or-treating Zones. Ensure your kids only visit houses with lights on and Halloween decorations (or other trick-or-treaters).


• Stay outside. Make sure your kids don’t go inside someone’s house. They can get their candy from the porch.


• Remain visible. Dress your kids in a bright costume so others can see them. If their costume is dark, have your kids wear reflective strips or carry a glow stick or flashlight. Everybody loves glow sticks!


• Shorter = safer. Long costumes are easy to trip over, so try to stick to shorter costumes. If not, then be sure to hem the costume.


• Don't cover the face. Instead of masks, have your kids wear make-up so they can see better.


• Prepare your costume. Other costume considerations include: flame retardant costumes (nylon and polyester are fairly flame-resistant), hypo-allergenic makeup, comfortable shoes, and fake weapons that truly are harmless.


• Quality-check treats. Check your kids’ candy before they eat it. Throw out any candy that is not in its original wrapper or looks like it has been tampered with.


• Say "no" to strangers. Tell your kids to never accept a ride or go anywhere with a stranger. Similarly, do not approach unfamiliar pets or animals.


• Watch your step. Be careful to look out for tree roots and curbs, and by all means, do not trample on someone's flower beds.


• Set a curfew. This prevents mucho worrying.


• Call me. Bring a cell phone for easy communication, or some change to use a pay phone.


• What do you say? Thank you. And don't forget it at each house you go to!


• Party on, dude. Consider throwing a Halloween party instead of trick-or-treating. This eliminates many of the common dangers of Halloween.


• Obey the law. Encourage your kids to follow all the regular rules for walking around. That includes looking both ways before crossing, obeying all traffic laws and using cross walks and crossing lights where available.

Sandy Hayden

Safety tips found at: Kaboose, Halloween Web, and KVUE.

Photo Credit: My Remote Radio, ABC News, Youngzine, and Chew on That.

Fun Friday: Let's Go Shopping

You know what I love about America? You can shop for a cause. Ethical consumerism, of sorts. As we are finishing up our week of breast cancer awareness, I thought we might donate to the fight against breast cancer and go shopping... at the same time!



Who says you're limited to a breast cancer t-shirt? ShopKomen.com has a huge variety (from clothes and accessories to items for your pets and your office) of merchandise, all raising funds for the cure.



Help give free mammograms administered by clinics and hospitals by visiting PinkRibbonStore.com!



Similarly, TheBreastCancerSite.com funds mammograms. Check out their wide variety of merchandise. They even have Fair Trade and Green items (two thumbs up on the ethical scale)! Did I mention their stuff was cute?



And last, but certainly not least, comes ReThinkBreastCancer.com. (Name sounds familiar? These are the guys who brought you Your Man Reminder phone app.) Shop in their store and fund their organization, working to rethink the campaign against breast cancer. They've got a real knack for this retail therapy thing.

So whether it's for yourself or for someone else, take this Friday and go shopping for a cause!

Sandy Hayden

Dance.

One of the greatest and oldest expressions we have is dance. It comes as no surprise that it should be so closely linked to the fight against breast cancer, from hot pink mob dances to intricate modern pieces. For many, dancing serves to communicate their fight as they battled breast cancer, to process pain, and to raise awareness. Here are just a few of those dances.

This is a clip from the documentary "Foreign Puzzle," where Sharon, a breast cancer survivor and dancer, faces her inability to handle the disintegration of her body as she undergoes chemotherapy. This dance, "Materiality of Impermanence," shows Sharon escaping to a place where she is unconfined. For more information about the documentary, please visit their facebook page.

[vimeo http://vimeo.com/20945536]

This is a well-known So You Think You Can Dance routine performed by Melissa and Ade choreographed by Tyce Diorio. It is dedicated to Diorio's friend, who was suffering from breast cancer.



One of the most celebrated dances, particularly for breast cancer awareness, is the flash mob dance. Orlando Making Strides Against Breast Cancer supporters come together for this dance, choreographed to Melissa Etheridge's "I Run for Life."

Sandy Hayden

An Interview with Kim Watson

The day I had a coffee interview with Kim Watson I pulled a copy of Lexington Life magazine out of my mailbox to find her face, accompanied by the other four women who make up “The Ta-Tinis,” smack dab on the cover. This group of five came together with the common thread of being diagnosed with breast cancer at a young age—ranging from 26 to 34-years-old at the time of diagnosis.

When I walked into the coffee shop that day I expected someone entirely different than Kim. I had seen Kim before; I knew what she looked like, but to sit across the table from her discussing everything about her experience from the initial phone call to the last chemotherapy treatment—it was hard to believe that a woman with so much radiance had been on Kim’s journey.

She recalled the initial phone call from her doctor. “He asked me if I was by myself... ‘I have cancer, don’t I?’” The treatment was grueling, with reactions varying from nausea to an endless appetite, from extreme exhaustion to an inability to sleep. Refusing defeat, though, Kim insisted on continuing work during treatment.



“Did treatment have an effect on the way you felt about yourself as a woman?” I asked. There comes a time, Kim explained, when you have no breasts, no hair, you’ve gained weight, and you have no energy to exercise or do anything, really. You feel nothing like your former self—you don’t feel like a woman. You try not to take more than one day at a time, but you wonder who will ever want this. After a long journey of treatment, reconstructive surgery, and time, an old you returns—a long lost friend, stronger than before. “One day I looked in the mirror and I didn’t see cancer anymore.”

The Ta-Tinis were formed originally for the support of each other, but realizing the utter lack of support for young women, their support gradually became directed more outwardly to other young women facing the same battle. “It’s an amazing opportunity to take something bad, cancer, and use it to help other women.”

Kim, adorned with a smile, made a comment that revealed precisely what set her apart from other women in a simple yet profound comment: “Most women complain about turning thirty,” she says, “but when you have cancer you celebrate every year.”

For more information about The Ta-Tinis, please visit their website.

Sandy Hayden

Technology + Hot Guys = Early Detection?

There's a new app out for all you iPhone junkies, and it might just be contributing to early breast cancer detection. Brought to you by RethinkBreastCancer.com, this app uses hot guys to remind you to check your breasts. Rethink's goal is to take self breast exams from being scary and complicated to a regular part of your routine--maybe even making it fun. The organization caters to younger women, stating that breast cancer support is not one-size-fits-all; their aim, rather, is to create a campaign that is "age-appropriate, lifestyle-tailored support for young women and their families." It only makes sense to target young women, as early detection is the key. In hindsight, it's a wonder it has taken this long for such a campaign.

So check out the hilarious ad for this app, and maybe consider warming up to the idea of regular self exams. SERVPRO warning: this video may be a tad too hot to handle (don't say we didn't warn you).



For more of Rethink's videos, click here and enjoy.

Sandy Hayden

Lexington Medical Center's Pink Glove Dance

Lexington Medical Center has entered the Pink Glove Dance competition! To vote for their video click here and "like" the video (upper right-hand corner). The contest ends this Friday, so be sure to vote!

Sandy Hayden

Fun Friday: Fall Festivals Near You!

*Yawn* Is it the end of October already? If only there was something we could do to take advantage of the wonderful fall weather we're experiencing... What? What's that? Fall Festivals!? By George! That's brilliant! Here's a list of some local fall festivals in the Columbia area going on for the rest of October:

Northwest Family YMCA
1501 Kennerly Road
Irmo, SC 29063
803-407-8007 
Dates: October 21st
Times: 5:30pm - 7:30pm

Beulah United Methodist Church
161 Beulah Church Road
Gilbert, SC 29054
803-892-2842
Dates: October 22nd
Times: 5:00pm - 8:00pm

Cedar Creek Baptist Church 
1920 Cedar Creek Road
Blythewood, SC 29016
803-754-6230 
Dates: October 22nd
Times: 4:00pm - 6:00pm

Fish Hatchery Rd. Church of God 
3249 Fish Hatchery Road
Gaston, SC 29170
803-755-6120 
Dates: October 22nd
Times: 2:00pm - 6:00pm
Free Fall Carnival for everyone. We will have free food, rides, inflatables and gospel singing. Everyone is welcome!

Great Commission Ministries West 
1631 Trinity Church Rd.
Alcolu, 29001
843-389-0998 
Dates: October 22nd
Times: 5:00pm - 7:00pm
Safe, clean family fun. There will be a hayride, bon fire for a marshmallow roast, hot dogs, trunk or treat, candy, games and more. Everything is Free.  Open to the public. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church 
2501 Heyward Street
Columbia, SC 29205
803-771-4540 
Dates: October 22nd
Times: 11:00am - 2:00pm

Center Pointe Community Church 
6119 Platt Springs Road
Lexington, SC 29073
803-359-6106 
Dates: October 23rd
Times: 5:009m - 8:00pm
Free!  Bring your kids and neighbors' kids out for a safe evening of free fun! Bounce houses, 20-seat swing, giant slide, obstacle course, ponies, hayride, face painting, snow cones, cotton candy, popcorn.

Blaney Baptist Church 
1400 Blaney Road
Elgin, SC  29045
803-438-3161 
Dates: October 26th
Times: 6:00pm - 8:00pm
Celebrate the Fall with us at our Free Fall Festival Event. We will have Trunk-or-Treat, Hayrides, Sno-cones, Popcorn, Carnival Games, and Crafts. It will be a great family event. Come and join in on the fun!

Boiling Springs United Methodist Church 
2373 Calks Ferry Road
Lexington, SC 29073
803-894-3930 
Dates: October 26th
Times: 6:30pm - 8:30pm
Family fun: Country Store/Food/Games (Bible Scavenger Hunt-Candy Bar Bingo-Josephs Coat-Hay ride-Jumpy House and many more & Prizes/ Bring peanut butter & jelly donations for LICS.

First Baptist Lexington 
415 Barr Rd
Lexington, SC 29072
803-957-0686 
Dates: October 26th
Times: 6:00pm - 8:00pm
Fall Festival "Country Fair", Trunk or Treating, Rides, Games, Walk thru Jerusalem, Special guest Abraham the Camel, Popcorn, Cotten Candy, Snow Cones. Corndog dinner $2. Pre-register online at www.fblex.org

Agape Senior 
2705 Leaphart Road
West Columbia, SC 29169
803-939-3000 
Dates: October 27th
Times: 5:30pm - 7:30pm
Decorate the trunk of your care and be a part of the fun! Enjoy the atmosphere, entertainment, and of course candy! To participate or for more information, call Brandi Dixon at 939-3000.

Bethel UMC (Pelion Chg) 
811 Peachtree Rock Rd.
Lexington, SC 29112
803-315-9451 
Dates: October 28th
Times: 6:00pm - 7:30pm

Calvary Baptist Church 
500 South Kilbourne Road
Columbia, SC 29205
803-787-7275
Dates: October 28th
Times: 5:30pm - 7:30pm

Restoring Hope Foursquare Chester 
157 Pinckney St
Chester, SC  29706
803-385-5922 
Dates: October 28th
Times: 7:00pm
There will be kid games, food, music, giveaways, and fellowship. All For Free!!! Come join our fun!!! Games are for 12yrs and under. But all ages are welcome to come and join our fun and fellowship with others.

The Bible Temple 
195 Gause Canal Road
Coward, SC 29530
843-389-7344 
Dates: October 29th
Times: 4:00pm - 9:00pm
Open to the Community Slide, Dunk Tank, Hay Rides, Games, Cake Walk, Hot Dog Supper, and more!

Blackstock First Baptist 
907 Durham Rd.
Blackstock, SC 29014
803-581-5858
Dates: October 29th
Times: 10:00am - 3:00pm
Blackstock First Baptist 4th Annual FREE Fall Carnival. Popcorn, Cotton Candy, Hotdogs, Hay Rides, Carnival Games, Live Entertainment, Inflatable Obstacle Courses, Something For All Ages!

Columbia Grace Church of the Nazarene 
5403 Pinestraw Rd
Columbia, SC 29206
803-787-0339
Dates: October 29th
Times: 10:00am - 1:00pm
We will have inflatables, face painting, cotton candy, prizes games and more. Lunch will be served. Come out to Forest Acres and have a great time with us.

Faith Baptist Church 
2316 Faith Road
Hartsville, SC 29550
843-857-0101
Dates: October 29th
Times: 5:00pm - 8:00pm
Fun games for kids, Hayride, and lots of food. Good, loving fellowship and fun for all ages!

International Praise Church of God
5071 Percival Road
Elgin, SC  29045
803-788-1942 
Dates: October 29th
Times: 5:00pm - 8:00pm
Lots of family fun including Trunk or Treat, bounce houses, hayrides, carnival games, live music, hot dogs, cotton candy, sno cones, popcorn, and Great prizes!

Irmo Church of God 
10215 Broad River Rd
Irmo, SC 29063
803-732-4442 
Dates: October 29th
Times: 5:00pm - 9:00pm

Lugoff First Baptist Church
106 Longtown Road
Lugoff, SC 29078
803-438-1991 
Dates: October 29th
Times: 4:00pm - 6:00pm

Park Street Baptist Church 
2204 Park Street
Columbia, SC 29203
803-252-6434 
Dates: October 29th
Times: 5:00pm - 8:00pm

Pisgah Lutheran Church 
1350 Pisgah Church Road
Lexington, SC  29072
803-359-2223 
Dates: October 29th
Times: 6:00pm - 8:00pm

Refuge Baptist Church
2814 Lockhart Road
Kershaw, SC 29067
803-427-4297 
Dates: October 29th
Times: 6:00pm until

Rivelon Baptist Church 
395 Rivelon Road
Orangeburg, SC 29115
803-534-2395 
Dates: October 29th
Times: 6:00pm - 9:00pm
Come on out and join in on the fun for the whole family with free games, food a hayride and truck a treat for the kids it's a safe way to have fun for the family and stay safe from the streets.

Second Baptist Church 
40 Center Street
Great Falls, SC 29055
803-482-4266
Dates: October 29th
Times: 5:30pm - 8:30pm
Everything is free! There will food, games, clowns, giant slides, etc. Come out and have a great time in the Lord!!

Smyrna United Methodist Church 
16 Smyrna Road
Elgin, SC 29045
803-408-2445
Dates: October 29th
Times: 5:00pm - 8:00pm
Please come join us at Smyrna UMC for our 2nd Annual Trunk or Treat. We are located at Smyrna Road and Highway 31.

South Congaree Assembly of God 
1008 Church St.
West Columbia, SC  29172
803-755-2329
Dates: October 29th
Times: 6:00pm - 8:00pm
We provide a Free, Fun, and Safe environment for the whole family! There's food, hayrides, puppet shows, games, crafts, and costume contests where everyone wins a prize! Last year we had over 100 God-loving children join us and we can't wait to see what this year has in store!

State Street Baptist Church 
1420 State Street
Cayce, SC 29033
803-796-6123 
Dates: October 29th
Times: 4:00pm - 6:00pm
This is our annual gift to the community. Come enjoy this Free wonderful alternative to door-to door truck-or-treating for the families, young and old (please, no scary costumes!) Giant Slides - Jumping Castle - Games and Prizes- "Truck or Treat" - Mini Hayride - Food

Sumter First Church of God 
1835 Camden Road
Sumter, SC 29153
803-905-5234 
Dates: October 29th
Times: Noon - 4:00pm
Gigantic Blow Up Slide, Bouncy House, Dunkin’ Booth, Horse Rides, Hayride, Trunk or Treat, Cake Walk, Bingo, Costume Contest (no scary ones), Family Pumpkin Carving Contest, Games, Prizes, Candy, Hot Dogs, Snow Cones, Popcorn, complimentary family photo, Cotton Candy and More.

Trinity Baptist Church 
1062 Ridgeway Road
Lugoff, SC  29078
803-438-8050
Dates: October 29th
Times: 5:00pm - 7:00pm
Fun for the family! Games, trunk or treat, hayrides, smores. There will be a chili cook-off and a bake off. Come on out!

West Side Baptist Church 
2100 Platt Springs Rd.
West Columbia, SC 29169
803-796-2027 
Dates: October 29th
Times: 6:00pm - 9:00pm
Bible Hero Games, Hayride, Bake Sale, Cake Walk, Contests, Games, Pumpkin Decorating Contest, Southern Gospel Group Channel 146, and Free Hot dog dinner! The hayride takes riders to field behind church where you will learn different bible stories through skits. Fun for all ages!

Bethel Baptist Church 
2401 Bethel Church Road
Sumter, SC 29154
803-481-2160 
Dates: October 30th
Times: 5:00pm - 7:30pm

Crossroads World Outreach Center 
2606 Emanuel Church Road
West Columbia, SC 29170
Dates: October 30th
Times: 5:00pm - 8:00pm

First Baptist Church of Columbia 
1306 Hampton Street
Columbia, SC 29201
803-256-4251 
Dates: October 30th
Times: 3:00pm - 7:00pm
Community-wide, Family Fall Festival corner of Sumter and Washington Street in the Heart of Downtown Columbia. Laser Tag, Inflatables, Rides, Games, Costume Contest. Lots of candy. Special Preschool area. Grandstand Stage w/non-stop entertainment. Hot Dogs, Pizza, BBQ, Nachos, Popcorn, Soft Drinks, Icees www.FirstBaptistColumbia.com

First Baptist of Newberry 
1020 Boundary St
Newberry, SC 29108
276-1841
Dates: October 30th
Times: 6:00pm - 7:30pm
Come have lots of fun for Free! We will have a giant slide, obstacle course, cake walk & other games. We will have Free corn dogs, French fries and funnel cakes of course!

First Baptist Church 
107 E. Liberty St.
Sumter, SC 29151
803-773-3732 
Dates: October 30th
Times: 4:30pm - 6:00pm

Word Of Truth Revealing Ministries 
236 B Main Street
Blythewood, SC 29016
803-231-9496
Dates: October 30th
Times: 10:00am - 1:30pm

Alice Drive Baptist Church 
Sumter, SC  29150
803-905-5200
Dates: October 31st
Times: 6:00am - 8:30pm
Description
Bounce houses, Petting Zoo, Cake Walk, Treat Street, Games, Candy and More. Come celebrate the harvest season with us.

First Baptist Church of Florence 
300 S Irby Street
Florence, SC 29501
843-662-9451 
Dates: October 31st
Times: 5:30am - 7:30pm
Fall Family Festival: Carnival Games, Cake Walk, Candy and Prizes for ages 12 and younger. (Children must be accompanied by an adult.)

First Baptist Church Gaston 
121 Oakey Springs Drive
Gaston, SC 29053
803-794-0377 
Dates: October 31st
Times: 6:00pm - 8:00pm
Fun for the whole family! Please join us for a giant slide and bounce houses. There will be free corn dogs, popcorn and cotton candy. Trunk or Treat for all the kids. And come enjoy live bluegrass music.

Glenn Street Baptist Church 
300 Glenn Street
Newberry, SC 29108
803-276-9707
Dates: October 31st
Times: 7:30pm
Trunk or treat in the parking lot. Free hot dogs and candy for all. Wear your costume and join us!

Life Springs Worship Center 
5630 Platt Springs Road
Lexington, SC 29073
803-957-2221 
Dates: October 31st
Times: 5:00pm - 9:00pm
This annual family event is free to the public, a small fee will be charged for food. This fun and safe environment is designed for ages 1 – 100. Everyone is welcome. Plenty of well lighted parking is available.

New Heights Church 
5501 Broad River Road
Columbia, SC 29212
803-772-6000 
Dates: October 31st
Times: 5:30pm - 7:30pm

North Columbia Baptist Church
8140 Gray Fox Blvd
Columbia,  SC 29223
803-788-6053
Dates: October 31st
Times: 6:00am - 8:00pm
This is a safe environment for kids to have fun and the perfect alternative to knocking on doors of people you don't know. Games, prizes, tons of great food, candy - lots of candy and it is all Free

Sandy Level Baptist Church 
408 Blythewood Rd
Blythewood, SC 29016
803-754-1299 
Dates: October 31st
Times: 6:00am - 8:00pm
Trunk or Treat with Crafty Carnival Games

Content Credit: http://www.wmhk.com/fallfestival-2011-list.htm

Image Credit: http://www.caneycreeklodge.net/index_48_1059065992.jpg

Sandy Hayden

So, uh, what are you doing this weekend?

Yeah, we might be asking you out on a date...

Oktoberfest is Coming to Lexington, South Carolina!

And we'll be celebrating Lexington's German heritage, as we were founded in 1735 as "Saxe Gotha," named after Princess Augusta of the German Duchy of Saxe-Gotha.

German history not your thing? No worries. Oktoberfest has something for everyone! First of all, admission is free. Check out the "German Village" from noon to 5, where you can visit arts and craft vendors, free giveaways, and activities for the youngins (like the bouncy castles, face painting, crafts, balloons... yeah, you get the picture). Local businesses will provide an eclectic mix of activities, giveaways and services for the entire family! In the center of it all will be the Oompah Tent: authentic German food, German beer & live German music from noon until 10pm. Food and beer tickets may be purchased at the event ticket tents. Each ticket is $2.

After 5:30pm Oktoberfest is going to be joined by it's good friend Rocktoberfest, brought to you by Main Street Cafe of Lexington!  Live Music will be provided by  Going Commando and Brian Connor and Freinds on an outdoor stage. Two tickets (or $4) will be required for entry.  American beers will be available on the Rocktoberfest side (if you can't handle deutches beer).  Live German music will still be playing and German food and beer will be served in the Oompah tent all the way until 10pm as well!  Don't worry, access to Rocktoberfest will get you a bracelet, so you will be able to freely enter and exit Rocktoberfest in case you have a late night craving for more German food and beer!

Need more info? Check out lexingtonoktoberfest.com/oktoberfest

So, yeah, will you be our date at Oktoberfest? Meet you at the SERVPRO booth!

Content and image credit: Lexington Oktoberfest

Sandy Hayden

Small Maintenance Can Prevent Big Problems

Don't be fooled. Many innocent-looking home appliances can cause damage to your home if left unattended or go too long between regular maintenance checks. One such culprit capable of causing extensive damage... your hot water heater.

Insurance claims for leaking or ruptured water heaters run into the hundreds of millions of dollars every year. When water heaters are located in remote areas of a home, such as a basement, a leak could go undetected for days or weeks. In addition to the many gallons of water that may need to be cleaned up, damage to the flooring, walls and other surroundings can be severe and costly.

We're not surprised here at SERVPRO of West Columbia and Lexington by the number of calls we receive regarding hot water heaters. That type of appliance is usually installed and left alone. A homeowner often won't even notice a problem until the day the hot water goes out.

We are a national fire and water cleanup and restoration company trained in the cleanup and care of events such as a water leak in your home. An episode like this can be a huge burden on one person, but companies like ours have experience with these types of problems. We can get in there, cleanup the water and leave the homeowner with a sense of security they may not have had since before the leak happened.

Water heaters have a lifespan of 10-15 years, so the appearance of rust or wet spots on the floor around the unit may be a sign a replacement s in the near future. Some preventative measures? At least once a year, the tank on the hot water heater should be drained to remove sediment at the bottom of the tank. Water can be drained out by attaching a garden hose to the drain valve or by purchasing a small electric pump to send the water from your tank to an outside drain.

The pressure relief valve and the dip tube should be checked annually. Also, a faulty electric heating element is another part of a hot water heater that can result in inefficient output. This also involves draining the tank to replace the necessary heating parts. A reputable plumber should be able to handle all of these regular checks to help ensure that a home's hot water heater is in continual good working order.

At our office, we have working relationships with a variety of plumbers in the Great Columbia Area. While a homeowner would rather not have to be in a position to deal with issues surrounding a hot water heater leak, SERVPRO of West Columbia and Lexington is a franchise with the experience to get to the root of the problem and complete the job.

Photo Credit: http://hostedmedia.reimanpub.com/TFH/Projects/FH08MAY_WATDAM_01.JPG

Sandy Hayden

Check Us Out!

Our additions are just about finished! Check us out!

Sandy Hayden

A+ Business

BBB Business Review gave us an A+... I think you'll like us. :)

Fun Friday!

[vimeo http://vimeo.com/30565360]

Luna catches.

Sandy Hayden

The Big 3.

When it comes to fire, smoke, and soot restoration... we've got some all star services. I like to call them The Big 3.

1. Structural Cleaning -- After a smoke or fire damage, ceilings, walls, woodwork, carpeting and floors will often need a thorough cleaning. Your experienced local SERVPRO Professional will pretest to determine the extent of damage, and then use the specific equipment and cleaning products required to clean and protect the different types of surfaces found in your structure. Depending on the amount of soot, we may even be able to reduce the cost of recovery by cleaning lighter soot deposits found on some surfaces, eliminating the expense incurred with repainting or refinishing. In other cases, we will clean to "prepare for painting." This process deodorizes and ensures the new paint will adhere properly to the surface.

2. Contents Cleaning -- All of the restorable contents in affected areas will be profesionally cleaned and deodorized. This includes area rugs, furniture, draperies and upholstery. We begin by carefully inspecting and testing all fabrics in the structure to determine which cleaning methods are most appropriate. We can provide wet or dry cleaning services. Additionally, all the other restorable contents will be cleaned and deodorized to preloss condition. This includes electronics, art, wood furniture, kitchen items, clothing, bedding, bric-a-brac and much more. Finally, we can provide an inventory list of all "to be claimed" items if requested.

3. Deodorization -- We provide specialized services that rid your home or place of business of offensive odors left by fire or smoke damage. We do not merely cover up lingering odors with a fragrance, rather we seek out the sources of the odor and remove them. Ask us to explain the various deodorization methods available and which will work best for you!

Sandy Hayden

12 Feet Above Flood Stage: Like It Never Even Happened

Over 13 inches of rain in the Cumberland River region, winds blasting through downtown Nashville, waters 12 feet above flood stage... this is the story of the Tennessee/Kentucky/Mississippi floods.

Sandy Hayden

There! I Fixed It!

We know all you Do-It-Yourself-ers have got some pretty clever tricks up your sleeves...

But before you try to recover from a water/mold/fire damage, why don't you give us a call?

Cayce/West Columbia and Lexington
1831 Pine St.
West Columbia, SC 29170
803-755-9774

Lovely photos brought to you by thereifixedit.com

Sandy Hayden

Composting 101 (You Know You Want To)

What is it?

Composting is when you use the decomposition of plant and other organic remains (like dead leaves, apple cores, and coffee grounds for example) to make a rich, earthy  substance that is perfect for enriching soil.

Why is that awesome?

Composting allows you to recycle your yard and kitchen wastes. You suddenly endow your banana peel with purpose when you compost. It helps reduce the amount of garbage we send to landfills (what should be viewed as a last resort disposal of waste). Not only does composting supply you with a harmless way to dispose of organic materials, it actually fertilizes your soil (ie. guess who will win this year’s neighborhood Best Garden... mmm hmm).

But is it cool to compost?

Yes! Not only do farmers and avid gardeners compost, but skinny jean-wearing, Mac junky, café-loving espresso drinkers are doing it too! So if protecting the earth and having an awesome garden don’t provide enough incentive, just think about how cool you’ll be!

What can compost do?

• Suppress plant diseases and pests


• Reduce or eliminate the need for chemical fertilizers


• Promote higher yields of agricultural crops


• Facilitate reforestation, wetlands restoration, and habitat revitalization efforts by amending contaminated, compacted, and marginal soils


• Cost-effectively remediate soils contaminated by hazardous waste


• Remove solids, oil, grease, and heavy metals from stormwater runoff


• Capture and destroy 99.6% of industrial volatile organic chemicals (VOCs) in contaminated air


• Provide cost savings of at least 50% over conventional soil, water, and air pollution remediation technologies, where applicable

What can compost not do?

• Heal human disease


• Create its own facebook account


• Fly


• Dissolve sheets of metal

How do I do it!? I must know!

There are many different ways to compost. There are several different ways to use bin systems as well as just having a fenced-in (or not) pile in your yard. For a step-by-step article on creating your own compost pile, see here, or watch this helpful video, How to Make Compost courtesy of KitchenGardeners.org.

For a detailed list of what to put in and leave out of compost, please see EPA.gov. You’ll be amazed at what all you can dispose of this way (and some of the things you have to leave out too).

Content Credit: Veg Web Composting, EPA.gov, How to Make Compost.

Image Credit: Dug.org 

Sandy Hayden

Fun Friday: From the Kitchen to the Walls

It's Fun Friday yet again! And this week we're taking it from the kitchen to the walls! With this easy project, you can take discarded spoons and turn them into a rustic wall display.

What you need: three or more spoons, a plank of wood, paint (optional), strong glue (gorilla glue for example), and tea light candles.

Begin by painting the wood if you like. If this display is going outside or on a porch, I recommend applying a protective coat as well. Heat the spoons in order to bend them at the neck. If warming them with your hands is not enough for bending, try boiling the spoons. Bend and let cool. Apply glue to the neck of the spoons, place on the wooden plank and apply pressure until they dry (I like using encyclopedias for weight). After hanging, place a tea light in each spoon and light. And last but not least, enjoy the new rustic ambiance in your home!

Photo Credit: http://coisinhasoutras.blogspot.com/

Sandy Hayden

What We're Up To

We're working on our office addition! Check out the progress we've made!

Sandy Hayden