Quick Tips on How to Make Your Cleaning Products Work More

Cleaning products are all around us and used everyday for their primary purpose. However, many of these packaged chemicals have the capability of being used for more than just sanitizing and cleaning up dirt.

Cleaning your windows is almost synonymous with the use of Windex or a similar alcohol-based window cleaner. However, this same product works extremely well in shining up metallic equipment furniture like chrome and brass. Windex also works as an effective stain remover, but only the clear version. The blue Windex will obviously leave a blue stain.

Laundry detergent, the dry powdery type, makes for an effective oil stain cleaner in the garage. Pour a bit of the detergent on the oil dripping and let it sit. If the stain has been there a while, moisten it with water and scrub into the cement a bit. Then let sit for 24 hours before washing away. The oil will be significantly gone if not completely removed.

If you’re an artist or painter, you will love fabric softener sheets. Put a sheet in a cup of water with the brushes, and the chemicals on the sheet will cause the latex paint to come right off the brushes, allowing them to be used again and again. Dryer sheets also make an excellent air freshener for a vacuum cleaner by placing one in the vacuum cleaner bag before using.

Ammonia is one of the harshest cleaning chemicals available, but the fumes alone can rip grease off of metal oven parts. Many folks take some ammonia, but it in a plastic bag with the oven range part, and let it sit outside for a night tied up. The next day, the range part is lost all of its gunk and is ready to wash off for a clean oven use.

The Insurance Shop USA, serving Sandypoint, ID, is in the business of selling insurance, but that doesn’t stop them from sharing great ideas on living as well, including those that give you more bang for the buck.

 

Taking the Pain Out of Updating Your Insurance

It doesn’t matter where in the States you are, be it Sandypoint, ID or even somewhere up in Alaska, the fact is, you need to make sure that your home and vehicle insurances are up to date.  Let’s talk about why it is important to do this. 

Most of the time, people tend to think that once you purchase a home insurance policy, you are done.  However, there are times when it is critical to update it.  When are those times?  Let’s see.

  • Have you made any renovations or home improvements?  Has your bathroom or kitchen had a makeover?  Have you recently added a storage shed?  All of these things are reasons for you to make sure that your homeowner’s insurance is up to date.
  • Do you have the proper amount of coverage for your vehicle and/or home?  Take a peek at your policy and see how much protection you have in the liability area.  This is the part of your policy that deals with bodily injury or property damage claims.
  • If you are missing out on savings, you might want to update your policy.  It is always a good idea to review your policy – be it home or auto – to ensure that you have a working knowledge of your coverages and to take advantage of any savings opportunities.
  • Have you recently bought a big ticket item?  If so, believe it or not, it can impact your current insurance policy.

The items just discussed are just a sample of the things that can have an impact on your insurance policy.  Check with The Insurance Shop USA to review your home and auto insurance policies today.  You never know when you will need it and it needs to be up to date when you do.
 

Tips for Getting Your Boat Ready for Summer

You have probably already noticed that it is getting warmer outside and if you have a boat, you are ready to get it out on the water for some summer fun. Before you get it out to enjoy the longer days of summer, there are a few things you should do in order to get it in tip-top shape for the coming months. Use our tips to make sure everything is in order for your boat.

  • De-winterize your boat. You likely took the time to winterize your boat before the cold weather and if you did, you need to make sure you de-winterize it before you use it this summer.
  • Get a tune up. One of the best things you can do for your boat before using it all summer is get a tune up done to make sure everything is in working order and fix any issues that may be there after not using it for a while. You may even want to make this a yearly thing you do before summer.
  • Check your battery. If you have not used your boat in some time, especially during the winter months, then you should check your battery to make sure it still has power. If it doesn’t, make sure you replace it so you don’t get stuck on the water with a dead battery.
  • Check your life jackets and fire extinguisher. Safety is very important so check these two things to make sure they are in good condition and working properly just in case you need them this summer. 

As always, you should also have a great boat policy on your boat to protect you from anything unexpected. If you do not have one or would like to explore a new option, please contact us at The Insurance Shop USA today. 

Sandypoint: Reasons to Work with an Independent Insurance Agent

When a person goes to purchase insurance, there is a great need to understand that policies can be purchased through multiple providers. In fact, purchasing insurance through multiple providers is often a great choice to make because it helps lead to greater savings in the long run. And even when buying through various brands of insurance, as long as a person goes through an independent agent, bundling discounts are still available, which leads to even greater savings. 

If you’re looking for insurance — no matter the type of policy — you should always consider the advantages that are to be gained by going through an independent agent in Sandypoint. Here’s a close look at three benefits you are sure to gain. 

Individualized Attention Means Better Customer Service

When you go through an independent agent, you can have peace of mind in knowing that this person will handle all of your claims. By working with the same person each time, this helps ensure that the claims process goes as smoothly and quickly as possible. And with better customer service comes greater satisfaction with all of your claims. To make sure you are getting the attention you deserve, make sure to contact an independent insurance agent today. 

Greater Choice of Policies

Another excellent reason to go through an independent agent is because you will have a greater choice of policies to choose from. No matter the type of insurance you are looking for, a greater choice of policies will lead to more competitive pricing, meaning you can save a lot of money. 

To learn more about acquiring services through an independent agent in Sandypoint, contact The Insurance Shop USA today. 

Do You Need Renters Insurance? 4 Facts to Consider

Many people opt to rent a house or apartment in lieu of owning a home. In some cases, this is for financial reasons. Others opt to do so to avoid many of the pitfalls that come with owning your own home.

But what happens when there’s a weather event, fire, or theft? Do you really need renters insurance? Here are four facts to consider.

#1: Your Landlord is Not Responsible for Your Belongings

One really big misconception among renters is that their landlord is responsible for their belongings if an incident occurs. The truth is that your landlord is only responsible for the building itself, not your items. By having renters insurance, you can make sure you are covered against any unexpected losses.

#2: A Fire or Theft Could Happen Anytime

The unexpected usually happens when you are the least prepared. By having a renters policy in place, you can rest assured that if a fire, theft, or other incident occurs, you are ready.

#3: Most Policies Cover Your Items Anywhere in the World

Do you travel often? Or do you leave a variety of different personal items in your vehicle? If you answered yes to either of these questions, purchasing a renters policy is important. Most carriers offer coverage for your items no matter where they are. This means that your laptop that your accidentally left in your passenger seat and that heirloom necklace you took with you on your whirlwind European vacation are both covered.

#4: Renters Policies Are Affordable

Another misconception about renters policies is that they are expensive, when they are quite affordable. Often, you can get total coverage for your belongings for only a few dollars a month. Some policyholders even receive a special discount for having a renters policy and their auto insurance with the same carrier, which often makes the cost of premiums the same or lower than just covering your car alone.

Learn more now. Contact our team at the Insurance Shop USA today for a no-obligation quote.

The Importance of Insurance for Religious Institutions

Religious Institutions are not often thought of when considering who needs insurance coverage but they often need it as much as, if not more than, other facilities. There are a few different reasons that these facilities need insurance and each is as important as the last. For starters, religious institutions are often the repository for very valuable items. This can be things that have been donated, valuable works of art, irreplaceable artifacts, technology and so much more. This is one of the biggest reasons that religious institutions need insurance to protect these items in the case of a fire, a break in, a flood, or some other catastrophe.

There are also employees to consider. There are dozens of employees that keep each religious institution going from day to day and it is important that they are protected as well. This means making sure that they are protected by an insurance umbrella while they are at work and that they have coverage to protect them while they are on the grounds and in the building. This is important as those facilities that do not have coverage are likely to have to deal with any injuries or other issues that pop up on their own.

Lastly, religious institutions are visited by hundreds of people every day and these individuals need to be protected as well. Though most facilities keep their grounds in great shape and they keep their buildings in great shape as well, accidents do happen. This means that there should be some sort of protection in place to help pay out any claims that are made and to protect the assets of the religious institution as best as possible. All of these factors make it necessary and smart for religious institutions to have insurance policies in place.