A pool vacuum is used to clean the floors of a swimming pool. There are different types of pool vacuums depending on your type of pool and personal needs.  Automatic cleaners come in three types. Suction side cleaners are not recommended as they often accidentally suck up things like rocks, which can harm your pool's filtration system. Pressure side cleaners attach to the return jet of your pool filtration system and work by removing debris from filtered water and placing it in a removable bag. However, this requires you to do some filtering. The most efficient automatic cleaner is a robotic pool cleaner. These self-contained units drive around the bottom of your pool collecting debris. The only downside, however, is they tend to be costly.  You can save money by using a manual pool vacuum. You can buy a manual pool vacuum online. You may also find one for sale at a hardware shop. The vacuum should come with instructions for set up and use. Once you've selected the pool vacuum that best suits your needs, set the vacuum up for your pool. Most pool vacuums come with some kind of instructions for use.  For a manual vacuum, there is usually a way to attach the vacuum's head to the telescopic pole. You will then slowly lower the vacuum head into the pool.  You should then feed the hose into the pool. Make sure all air is removed from the hose before attaching it to the pump that comes with most manual vacuum cleaners. Attaching the pump to the hose before the air has been expelled can harm the pump.  Vacuums should always come with individual manufacturer's instructions. If you're unsure how to use a vacuum pump, there is usually a number on the box you can call with questions. A lot of debris and bacteria builds on the bottom of a pool. You should be sure to vacuum your pool at least once a week to keep it clean and safe for use.

Summary: Select a pool vacuum. Set up the vacuum. Vacuum at least once a week.


There are many different situations that qualify for therapy dogs. Most are in institutional settings, but other special situations may also warrant therapy dogs. If you or a loved one are in one of these institutions, continue to work towards getting a therapy dog. Therapy dog uses include:  Cheering up and elevating the moods of patients in hospitals and hospices Countering grief and stress for mental health patients Offering companionship and love to those in nursing homes and hospitals, especially children's wards Being reading partners for children learning to read Visiting libraries and schools to encourage children to socialize and read Lifting morale in disaster situations If you are looking into getting a therapy dog for you or someone you love, you need to make sure that the institution where you want the therapy dog is accepting of the concept. You may need to get them behind the idea by explaining why you want to have a therapy dog visit the facility. When you are trying to get a therapy dog, look for a certified therapy dog organization. These organizations ensure that the therapy dogs have been vetted and are suitable for the institution where you are. There are many different organizations that are certified by the American Kennel Club as well as other private certification organizations.  They also provide the owners and dogs with liability insurance as they go out into the institutions.  Make sure you research these organizations online or ask a local veterinarian. The organization you want to get the therapy dog for may also already have a relationship with a therapy dog organization, so ask them as well. Therapy dog organizations are volunteer organizations that will never ask you to pay for their services. The organization's missions are to help people and provide comfort through animal interaction. Therapy dogs are beneficial for many different institutions. There have been studies done that prove that therapy dogs improve patients health by improving blood pressure, heart rate, and overall health. Therapy dogs also help improve depression, anxiety, loneliness, and quality of life. Therapy dogs are used in schools and libraries as reading aids because some children feel more comfortable reading to a dog than to a teacher. After you've contacted a therapy dog organization, you need to let them know what the purpose of the dog's visit will be. If you are getting a therapy dog for a hospital or hospice, the type of dog that will be allowed in these institutions may vary based on patient needs and allergies.If you are using the therapy dog for a school, library, or nursing home, the restrictions will be different. All therapy dogs work well with children, adults, and seniors, so the needs of the patients or individuals are what has to be taken into account. Although you may be organizing a therapy dog for you or your loved ones, there may be others in the institution that might benefit from the therapy dog as well. Depending on how many people would like visits from the therapy dog, you may need to coordinate to have more than one dog visit or to make multiple visits. Once you have found a proper organization and the right dog for your situation, schedule the visit. Talk to the institution where you want the dog to visit to find times where the dog will be most useful and cause the least disruption.

Summary: Decide if you are a candidate for a therapy dog. Check with the institution. Find a certified therapy dog organization. Know that visits are free. Consider the effect of therapy dogs. Get the right kind of therapy dog. Find individuals who might benefit from a therapy dog. Schedule a visit.


The carpet tool has a flat metal runner on the bottom, a handle on the top, and a blade on one edge. Press the tool flat against the carpet and right up against the baseboard on the sharp side. Push it along the wall, applying pressure as you do.  You can use a box cutter for this purpose, but it must have a new, sharp blade. Run it underneath the baseboard to cut the carpet. If it starts getting dull, replace the blade. Also, use a box cutter to cut out spaces for your floor vents. Look along the edge of the strip you cut off. Make sure no strings are connecting the strip to the main carpet, then pull it up and away from the carpet. If you yank up the strip without checking, you might pull fibers from the carpet that cause a run. This tool has a wide, dull blade that lets you press the carpet in place. Use it to wedge the carpet under the baseboard by pressing into the carpet until it settles in place. If you took doors off, put them back in place. Put the door stops back. If you took up floor vents, screw them back in place. Move your furniture and belongings back in place, and you're done!
Summary: Run a carpet trimming tool along the edge. Check that you cut cleanly through the carpet before taking the strip off. Press the edge of the carpet under the baseboard with a carpet chisel. Return any hardware you removed.