If you see a group of clover mites inside your house, use a vacuum cleaner to suck them up. Then, vacuum the surrounding floors, walls, and windowsills to pick up any mites or mite eggs that you can’t easily see.  Do not smash the mites. Doing so can leave behind a red, difficult to remove stain. To prevent further infestations, make sure you seal the vacuum cleaner bag before throwing it away. Clover mite eggs are tiny, dark red orbs. To kill a group of mites, spray them with an indoor-safe insecticide like permethrin, diazinon, bifenthrin, or chlorpyrifos. Make sure you apply the insecticide directly to the mites. Repeat the process as necessary until the mites are gone.  Indoor-safe insecticide comes in both standard spray bottles and aerosol cans. You can find it online and at most home improvement stores. Insecticides can degrade the quality of air inside your home, so use them as a last resort. Laundry detergents like Borax contain boric acid, a chemical compound that repels and eradicates clover mites. If you have powdered detergent, sprinkle it over your carpets, rugs, and pieces of furniture. Most clover mites will steer clear of the powder, but you can suck up any that get caught in it with a vacuum. If you have liquid laundry detergent, pour a small amount of the cleaning product into a spray bottle, dilute it with water, and spray it onto the clover mites. If your dog or cat gets clover mites in their fur, washing them thoroughly with soap and water should remove the infestation completely. For the best results, purchase an insecticidal soap from a home improvement, gardening supply, or pet store.  Do not use standard insecticides on your pets, only insecticidal soap. Check the label of an insecticidal soap before using it on your pet. Most soaps are animal safe, but some may not be.

Summary: Vacuum up the clover mites to remove them from your house. Spray the clover mites with insecticide to kill them. Sprinkle boric acid over your furniture to get rid of clover mites. Remove clover mites from pets using soap and water.


Keep the water just below lukewarm (cool, but not tooth-chattering cold) and relax for 10 to 20 minutes. If showering, use a gentle stream of water, not a full blast, to avoid irritating your skin. Air dry or pat gently with a towel to avoid abrading the skin.  Avoid using soap, bath oils, or other detergents as you bathe or shower. Any such products can irritate your skin and possibly make the effects of the sunburn feel even worse. If you have blisters forming on your skin, take a bath instead of showering. The pressure from the shower might pop your blisters. Dampen a washcloth or other piece of fabric with cold water, and lay it over the affected area for 20 to 30 minutes. Re-wet it as often as you need to. Over-the-counter drugs such as Ibuprofen or aspirin can lessen the pain, and may or may not reduce inflammation. Do not give aspirin to children. Instead, opt for something that is specifically marketed as a child's dose of acetaminophen. Child's Motrin (Ibuprofen) is a good option due to the possible anti-inflammatory effect. Drugstores also sell sprays meant to relieve red and itchy skin. Sprays that contain benzocaine, lidocaine or pramoxine have a numbing effect that may help with the pain. However, as these are potential allergens, it may be best to test the medication on an unaffected patch of skin first and wait a day to see if it causes itchiness or redness.  These sprays should not be used on children 2 years of age or younger without a doctor's advice. Sprays containing methyl salicylate or trolamine salicylate may endanger children 12 and under, and capsaicin can be dangerous for people 18 and under, or for anyone with a chili allergy. Baggy t-shirts and loose cotton pajama pants are ideal clothing items to wear while you're recovering from a sunburn. If you can't wear loose clothing, at least make sure your garments are cotton (this fabric allows your skin to "breathe") and fit as loosely as possible. Wool and some synthetic fabrics are especially irritating, due to scratchy fibers or trapped heat. Cortisone creams contain steroidal treatments that may reduce inflammation, although evidence suggests that they have little effect on sunburns. If you think it's worth a try, you can find low-dose, over-the-counter tubes at your local drugstore or supermarket. Look for hydrocortisone or something similar.  Do not use cortisone cream on young children, or in the face region. Ask your pharmacist for advice if you have any doubts or concerns about using this cream. This medication cannot be sold as over the counter sunburn treatment in the United Kingdom.

Summary: Have a cool bath or gentle shower. Apply a cold, wet compress. Take an over-the-counter pain reliever. Try a topical pain reliever. Wear loose cotton clothing over sunburned areas. Consider cortisone cream.


A free spirit is not tied to many things beyond his or her ideals, and people he or she cares about. Part of being a free spirited person is learning to let some things go in life before they hold you back or weigh you down. As a free spirit, you can certainly still worry about and fight for things that matter. If something seems to be holding you back rather than helping you achieve your dreams, however, it might be time to let it go. A home that is larger or more complex than you need, filled with more material things than you need, costs too much, or is in a location you don’t want to be in can keep you from being a free spirit. You could move into a different or smaller home that is more manageable for your free-spirited lifestyle, such as a tiny house. No one can get through life without some material things. However, too many things can weigh you down if you are trying to be a free spirit. Try these techniques:  Buying fewer things will decrease clutter and simplify your life. This will also free up finances for things that might matter more to you, such as traveling or spending time with friends. Buy less, but of better things. Having quality things but fewer things overall can help you be less materialistic. Higher-quality clothes, for instance, will last longer than lower-quality ones, and you will need to have fewer of them. Keep in mind that reducing is good for the environment. Consuming less means less production, less waste, less pollutants, etc. Decluttering your life is one of the first steps you can take toward becoming a more free spirited person. When choosing how to simplify things, consider the following:  Think about how often you use particular items. Many experts suggest that if you are trying to declutter, if you haven’t used an item in six months, you should consider getting rid of it. Irreplaceable items of great sentimental value might be an exception. However, remember that memories are more important than things, and you might not need to keep everything. Photographs, for instance, can be scanned for safekeeping without taking up space, and then discarded. Consider donating items you no longer need to a thrift store, community center, religious organization, or other worthwhile cause. That way, others in need can benefit from the items you can live without.
Summary: Let it go. Consider downsizing your home or moving. Be less materialistic. Decide what to get rid of.