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Recreation

A Diving Gear Primer from John Michael Hughes

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John Michael Hughes is an avid SCUBA diver with 26 years of diving experience. John Michael Hughes has applied his passion for SCUBA diving to a new business venture, Leisure Excursions, LLC. The clients of John Michael Hughes are treated to first class private diving tours that are worked into a breathtaking vacation package.

Certified as both a PADI Divemaster and Open Water Scuba Instructor, John Michael Hughes brings a wealth of experience, care and knowledge to private diving tours. Most people who are interested in diving, notes John Michael Hughes, have many questions about the methods and equipment that SCUBA diving requires. It’s true that SCUBA diving is a complex water sport, agrees John Michael Hughes, but it remains an accessible and rewarding endeavor.

People that have seen fully outfitted SCUBA divers, observes John Michael Hughes, often comment that they look like space aliens or creatures out of the deep sea. For the benefit of aspiring divers, John Michael Hughes has written about the basics of SCUBA gear. John Michael Hughes explains that deep diving is based on the same principal gear as snorkeling, and that this equipment includes a diving mask, swim fins and snorkel – although much more follows. John Michael Hughes clarifies that a SCUBA diving mask is larger, providing visibility underwater and forming a sealed air space around the diver’s face.

John Michael Hughes further explains that the pocket of air held by a mask helps the diver to equalize the pressure in his or her ears while descending. To find a mask with the right fit, says John Michael Hughes, place the mask over the face and touch the rubber skirt of the mask to the skin. Inhale gently to seal the mask onto the face, adds John Michael Hughes.  Human faces have many different shapes and sizes, points out John Michael Hughes, and it may take many tries to find a mask that seals comfortably, leaving no gaps.

For more information, contact John Michael Hughes at:

Leisure Excursions, LLC
PO Box 34290
Pensacola, Florida 32507
850.390.6680

About the Author

Dedicating a professional career to a single purpose is recognized as admirable in today’s economic environment. For John Michael Hughes it was a focus and interest that began as he exited college. Graduating from the University of South Alabama with a Bachelor of Science degree, John Michael Hughes set his vocational target on the insurance industry early on.

From 1992 until 1995, John Michael Hughes served as an Insurance Adjuster for Pilot Catastrophe Services, Inc. In this position he handled commercial and residential property insurance claims for wind, flood, ice, and earthquake losses. As an early training ground his responsibilities and claim ranges allowed him to develop a strategic understanding of the complexities of insurance claims.

Leveraging this experience in claims, John Michael Hughes has invested the last fourteen years of his professional life in executive management with an all lines public insurance adjusting firm. From 1996 until 2000 John Michael Hughes served as the owner and Chief Executive Officer of JMH and Associates. John Michael Hughes gained further Acts Of God claims experience as well as first hand exposure to the complexities of business ownership. The years of experience tied to natural disasters allowed John Michael Hughes to quantify and qualify claims filed quickly. This skill set was sought after and led to yet another opportunity for John Michael Hughes.

Since 2007, John Michael Hughes has devoted his time and energy to Leeco Consulting Company, LLC, again acting as Chief Executive Officer for the company. With claims services focused mainly in Florida, John Michael Hughes has continued to handle both commercial and residential property claims. His services have also been utilized throughout the Caribbean for both wind and flood losses. John Michael Hughes has further refined his focus and now has a concentration in hurricane claims. With this expansion and professional focus has come larger cases and expanded claims responsibilities. John Michael Hughes currently provides claims settlements that exceed five million dollars.

A natural byproduct of extensive claims settlement work also created opportunities within the area of historical property restoration. With activities generally focused in Alabama, John Michael Hughes acted as a Director for AD, LLC from 1998-2009. John Michael Hughes provided property management and development for this firm. Additionally, from 1996 until 2005 John Michael Hughes managed and consulted on a 26-acre island land development in Florida through Perdido Gardens, LLC. As a partner, John Michael Hughes benefited when the partnership was sold to a public NYSE property development company.

John Michael Hughes continues to blend his knowledge of claims settlements management and restoration complexities in a deep, diversified professional direction that allows him to step outside of most traditional professional vocational paths. It has also allowed him the opportunity to pursue other passions.

John Michael Hughes is currently working toward a Masters in Theology and aspires to complete this training in the fall 2012. John Michael Hughes has reached a point in his life where he will be able to apply decades of experience to a profession and blend this time commitment with a deeper calling that speaks to a different opportunity for his future.

John Michael Hughes has several professional affiliations, including the Florida Association of Public Insurance Adjusters. He continues to participate in industry functions throughout the southeastern United States and is a highly respected veteran within his profession. John Michael Hughes has committed the last eighteen years pursuing a career that combines business, management and involving himself in the lives of people during their most critical times of need.

The need for seasoned claims adjusters has never been greater. The combination of record flooding in areas that traditionally have seen major damage and the increasing seismic activity throughout North America now requires that John Michael Hughes be more mobile. Natural disasters never isolate their occurrences and the demand for claims evaluations can pull many resources together within a very short period of time.

John Michael Hughes also continues his passion for the oceans.  From 1989 until 1992 John Michael Hughes was a PADI open water SCUBA instructor. At that time, he organized, taught and led groups on diving excursions and vacations. He continues to have a passion for scuba diving as well as enjoying golf, fishing, kayaking, water-skiing, snow skiing, racquetball, photography, reading and hanging out with his son.

John Michael Hughes currently resides in Florida and can be reached at johnmichaelhughes.com.

Professional Profiles

Andre Moxie Names the Blackberry as Corporate America’s Favorite PDA

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In today’s digital society, reports Andre Moxie, there are many incarnations of handy personal digital assistants, or PDAs. Andre Moxie notes that PDAs hold contacts, make phone calls, access email and even allow for real time chatting and messaging. All of the basic lines of communication that have been opened by the Internet, adds Andre Moxie, are embodied in the latest PDAs. These features are in addition to the standard address book, calendar and note taking functions.

WIndows Mobile, iPhone, Android and Blackberry are the major players in the PDA market, says Andre Moxie, and each brand has its strengths. For the most part, says Andre Moxie, Windows Mobile is a complex platform–essentially a handheld laptop–which lacks the ease of use that characterizes its competitors. The iPhone platform is fun and sexy, says Andre Moxie, but it is primarily a flashy consumer-oriented interface. Android’s PDA platform is little more than an iPhone emulator without the cost and Apple name brand attached. Android and iPhone devices, says Andre Moxie, rely on cosmetic features and emphasize games, music and social networking.

When it comes to business productivity and a lean operating system, Andre Moxie says that Blackberry still leads the corporate PDA race. The Blackberry provides an uncluttered text-and-icon based interface, notes Andre Moxie, which gives the busy professional easy and uncluttered access to all of their most important information. Blackberry PDAs are the first choice in the corporate world, says Andre Moxie, because they focus on business related tasks like contact management, email connectivity and document management. Andre Moxie explains that other PDAs are geared toward entertainment-based commercial usage and the Blackberry doesn’t waste any functionality on frivolity.

Blackberry devices are also designed for ease of use with just one hand, says Andre Moxie, and that is more than can be said for its competitors. The Blackberry interface also still uses the physical keyboard feature to easily input detailed text, points out Andre Moxie. In his opinion, this is a feature that remains superior to the touch screen keyboard interfaces of other entertainment-oriented PDAs.

About the Author

Andre Moxie entered the world the same year that the Beatles let it be known that they wanted to hold your hand. Born in Ithaca, New York in 1964, Andre Moxie was raised as an independent thinker during a time of great civil unrest. Andre Moxie completed his primary education and then entered the University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware in 1983 where he obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice. Following graduation, Andre Moxie relocated to Yuba City, California and entered the Air Force as a 2nd Lieutenant.

From 1988 until 1991 Andre Moxie served his country as a Personnel Officer in command of 25 military Personnel and 30 civilian volunteers. Andre Moxie was stationed at Beale Air Force Base in California, 15th Air Force, Strategic Air Command. While stationed at Beale AFB, Andre Moxie enrolled at Golden Gate University in 1988 where he earned a MS degree in Human Resources Management. In 1991 Andre Moxie completed his service commitment and received the United States Air Force Commendation Medal for Meritorious Service.

Turning the corner and heading toward a professional carrier in the private sector, Andre Moxie was recruited in 1991 by Pfizer Pharmaceuticals. The company hired Andre Moxie as a sales representative for the pharmaceutical giant to cover the Orlando, Florida territory. In 1995 Andre Moxie left Pfizer for Merck & Co. and was a representative in the Hollywood, Florida territory in the Florida Region.

In 1996, Andre Moxie was promoted to Headquarters for Merck and Company’s. Initially serving as a Field Communications Coordinator for VASOTEC, Andre Moxie acted as a field communication specialist responsible for all field sales communications for Merck’s cardiovascular products. Again advancing in 1997, Andre Moxie accepted the position of Product Trainer HT/HF Market Integration Team Same Sales Trainer at Merck and Co. In that position Andre Moxie was responsible for training representatives about Merck’s cardiovascular products.

In January 1999, Andre Moxie was appointed as Business Manager for the Miami District for Merck and Company. Continuing through the ranks of management, Andre Moxie found himself serving as Acting Senior Director Field of Implementation Team for Hospital and Specialty in 2005. Andre Moxie was entrusted to support and coordinate among sales management, marketing, and direct reports to achieve brand success for all Hospital and Vertical products. Filling yet another management need Andre Moxie accepted an appointment within Merck and Company in 1996 to the position of Senior Director of Training Planning and Brand. In this position, Andre Moxie collaborated with sales and marketing units within the company to fully develop one year and three year training plans, with emphasis on high-quality, value-added programs and resources that affected appropriate behavioral objectives.

Beginning in 2006 and continuing into 2008 Andre Moxie filled the position of Senior Director of Neurology Sales at Merck and Co. for the Southern United States. Andre Moxie was again advanced late in 2008 to the position of Director of Commercial Operations for the Mid South Joint Venture Sales force, Merck and Co.

From January 2010 to the present Andre Moxie has served as the Director of Commercial Operations for the New South Region, Merck and Co. Andre Moxie currently resides in the Metro Atlanta, Georgia area.

Health and Beauty

Dr. William Knudson’s Shoe Buyer’s Guide

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Dr. William Knudson has dedicated his medical career to promoting the health and comfort of his patient’s feet. As an established podiatrist, Dr. William Knudson has years of experience both treating and preventing foot conditions. One of the most effective forms of prevention, says Dr. William Knudson, is to wear a good pair of shoes. Dr. William Knudson provides some health-oriented pointers to shoppers that are in the market for new shoes.

Dr. William Knudson emphasizes the importance of trying on shoes before making a buying decision. When trying on shoes, Dr. William Knudson says that it is important to stand up straight in the new shoes. Dr. William Knudson also points out that to ensure a proper fit there should be about one-half inch of space between the tip of the big toe and the front end of the shoe. This small amount of space, says Dr. William Knudson, allows for a little bit of play while moving about in shoes all day. Too much space will not give enough support, says Dr. William Knudson, while too little space will be restrictive.

Do not buy tight shoes, continues Dr. William Knudson, with the hope that they will stretch over time. Furthermore, walk around the store in the shoes, advises Dr. William Knudson, and make sure that the heel of the shoe does not rub or slip up and down as you walk.

Dr. William Knudson also recommends shopping for shoes that resemble the shape of the foot. Shoes with restrictive toe space or narrow soles, says Dr. William Knudson, can hurt feet and eventually lead to long-term troubles. Check the fit at the ball of the foot. It should rest snugly, says Dr. William Knudson, at the widest part of the shoe. Be sure the shoe’s upper, notes Dr. William Knudson, is made of a flexible material. Most importantly, Dr. William Knudson points out that low-heeled shoes are preferable to high-heeled shoes for comfort, safety and foot health.

Professional Profiles

Dr. Randall Alifano PhD Serves the Association for the Integration of the Whole Person

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Dr. Randall Alifano PhD is a spiritual leader in his community. As a minister of the Association for the Integration of the Whole Person (AIWP), Dr. Randall Alifano PhD has dedicated his life to helping guide individuals to the truth that resides within themselves. Dr. Randall Alifano PhD’s task as a minister is to listen attentively and help people create expressions of their own wisdom.

As part of his ministry Dr. Randall Alifano PhD practices psycho-spiritual counseling. It is a complex field, says Dr. Randall Alifano PhD, with a simple objective. Dr. Randall Alifano PhD’s counseling methods are meant to create a free exchange between the psychological challenges faced by people and the spiritual reality within which they live. Because spirituality is intangible and difficult to define, says Dr. Randall Alifano PhD, people often find it easy to overlook or set aside.

Dr. Randall Alifano PhD works to reveal to his community the spiritual components of worldly life. Using a conjunction of psychological and spiritual methods, Dr. Randall Alifano PhD gives individuals the tools to meet challenges, actualize their sense of self and pursue their own aspirations. Part of Dr. Randall Alifano PhD’s ministerial work is focused in wedding ceremonies and wedding counseling. Before performing a wedding ceremony, Dr. Randall Alifano PhD spends time with the couple to design the ceremony and subsequent celebration. This insures that their customized ceremony communicates their values and identities.

As a pastoral counselor, Dr. Randall Alifano PhD acts as a guide, encouraging individuals to see through their own defenses and familiar emotional patterns to a deeper perspective of who they are. When a person discovers a fresh perspective on him or herself, says Dr. Randall Alifano PhD, it can be the doorway to powerful and fulfilling change. Dr. Randall Alifano PhD explains that unexamined, habituated patterns of thought and feeling create a constriction that prevents an individual from finding solutions. It is Dr. Randall Alifano PhD’s mission to bring a hopeful atmosphere of reflection to the individuals of his community. Helping people forge their own path is Dr. Randall Alifano PhD’s path.

Professional Profiles

Yochanan Jonathan Berkowitz Discusses the Sport of Rock Climbing

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Yochanan Jonathan Berkowitz is a long-time fan of many outdoor recreational activities. One activity in particular that Yochanan Jonathan Berkowitz enjoys is rock climbing. Berkowitz acknowledges that many people think that rock climbing is an exclusive or extreme sport. However, Yochanan Jonathan Berkowitz points out that there is, in fact, a great deal of scalability in rock climbing difficulty levels.

Rock climbing is an adventure pastime, says Yochanan Jonathan Berkowitz, that is accessible to all skill and adrenaline levels. According to Yochanan Jonathan Berkowitz, a person need not be in Olympic shape to rock climb. Yochanan Jonathan Berkowitz says that most people start out rock climbing on boulders or indoor climbing walls. These venues give climbers a chance to explore their balance and physical limitations.

Yochanan Jonathan Berkowitz is frequently called upon to provide tips and guidance to aspiring rock climbers. Before starting a climb, advises Yochanan Jonathan Berkowitz, it is important to adequately prepare for the day. Two simple and essential preparations, points out Yochanan Jonathan Berkowitz, are proper warm up and stretching exercises.

The last thing a rock climber needs or wants, notes Yochanan Jonathan Berkowitz, is a muscle cramp disrupting and endangering a climb. Warm up exercises and thorough stretching, says Yochanan Jonathan Berkowitz, ensure good blood flow and full range of motion. Yochanan Jonathan Berkowitz advises doing 30 minutes of warm up exercises and stretches prior to rock climbing. Yochanan Jonathan Berkowitz explains that 30 minutes is usually necessary in order to raise the heart rate.

Climbers should usually begin, says Yochanan Jonathan Berkowitz, by mastering short, low-altitude climbs wearing a support harness. Over time, Yochanan Jonathan Berkowitz encourages climbers to reach for higher ground and to test their limits. A climber will never know what his or her actual limits are, says Yochanan Jonathan Berkowitz, until they try to exceed them.

These things are central factors, concludes Yochanan Jonathan Berkowitz, in having a successful and enjoyable climb.

Youth Service

Mount Carmel Youth Ranch Offers Breakthrough Parenting Course

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Mount Carmel Youth Ranch is a therapeutic boarding school that offers rehabilitation and a healing program to help troubled teens form more rewarding family relationships. As part of a holistic treatment plan, a Breakthrough Parenting Course is offered to the parents of all young men who attend the Mount Carmel Youth Ranch Boarding school. The agenda of the parenting course at Mount Carmel Youth Ranch tackles every aspect of the parent-child relationship including dynamic approaches that are based on extensive psychological research.

Certified Breakthrough Parenting Experts at the Mount Carmel Youth Ranch empower parents with insights into the psychological framework of their young men and suggest powerful tools to combat family conflict. The Mount Carmel Youth Ranch Breakthrough Parenting Course focuses on teaching parents the importance of teaching responsibility, positive influences and personal boundaries to their offspring as opposed to being caught up in a victim syndrome. A vital component of the parenting program at Mount Carmel Youth Ranch is facilitating the process of building a healthy self-esteem in youngsters.

The Mount Carmel Youth Ranch Breakthrough Parenting course offers effective guidelines for nurturing constructive behavior and developing healthier personalities in children. Mount Carmel Youth Ranch believes in the power of positive influences, the process of learning naturally and developing leadership techniques to highlight individual strengths. The Mount Carmel Youth Ranch Breakthrough Parenting Course also incorporates steps to identify the source of individual behavioral patterns and gain a better understanding of a child’s mind. Solving family problems through the process of imparting a sense of self-responsibility in children is a critical aspect of the parent-child relationship according to the Mount Carmel Youth Ranch.

Building trust, listening, being receptive and keeping all channels of communication open is another important aspect of the parenting course instruction by the Mount Carmel Youth Ranch. The tricky aspects of disciplining children through love verses punishment are also tackled expertly at the Mount Carmel Youth Ranch parenting program. Discussing sensitive subjects and teaching children the value of leading a self-actualized life are other highlights of the Breakthrough Parenting Course at Mount Carmel Youth Ranch.

Home and Family

Chef Ben Vaughn Cites an Interesting Study on Low Fat vs. Low Carb Diets

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During his career, Chef Ben Vaughn has seen the culinary debate swing back and forth between different dieting trends. For a time, says Chef Ben Vaughn, it may seem that low fat diets are best for fitness and weight loss. Then a new rhetoric emerges, notes Chef Ben Vaughn, and low carb diets get touted as the most effective diets for health and weight loss.

It is Chef Ben Vaughn’s strong desire to restore balance to the way people think about eating. In light of this goal, Chef Ben Vaughn reports on a study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine. This journal published a study that compared the efficacy of low carb diets to low fat diets.

The study found, says Chef Ben Vaughn, that neither diet is better than its competitor. Chef Ben Vaughn says the study revealed that neither a low fat diet nor a low carb diet produced lasting healthy weight loss. The two-year study, notes Chef Ben Vaughn, followed the efforts of 307 people diagnosed as obese. These people were divided into two groups based on their diets.

Chef Ben Vaughn reports that both groups experienced comparable average weight loss, about 22 pounds. What’s more, says Chef Ben Vaughn, both groups gained nearly 1/3 of the weight back during the second year. Being restricted to low fat or low carb diets, says Chef Ben Vaughn, also had an effect on the health and morale of the participants.

Side effects of the study, reports Chef Ben Vaughn, included hair loss, bad breath and constipation. Chef Ben Vaughn says that the study was also illustrative of the shortcomings of diets in another way, namely dropout rate. Chef Ben Vaughn notes that over one third of the participants in the study dropped out because the diet was too difficult or unpleasant to stick with.

Finance

FINANCIAL TIPS FROM AMERICAN FINANCIAL | RESPONDING TO A TOUGH ECONOMY

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American Financial is a new kind of organization committed to helping consumers manage debt and rebuild their credit without resorting to credit counseling or consolidation companies. The team at American Financial uses their expertise to empower families and individuals to save money on interest payments and get out of debt more quickly. The clients of American Financial understand the value of their money and want to learn how to keep it out of creditors’ hands.

When a family or individual comes to American Financial, they acquire the tools to deal effectively with creditors and plan for future savings. American Financial helps clients to think differently about their money and debts. The financial guidance provided by American Financial provides the tools individuals need to stop letting creditors take undue advantage of them. American Financial help their clients understand some of the recent unregulated trading practices of big banks and investment groups.

Beyond that, American Financial illustrates how these practices directly affect hard-working, wage earning individuals and families that are now feeling the crunch. Through it all, American Financial stands with their clients. American Financial shows their clients how to negotiate the economic troubles that stem from profit-driven decisions that are made very high up the fiscal hierarchy. American Financial reminds clients that the big banks rely heavily on the customers that they are nickel-and-diming with rate hikes and hidden fees.

When people learn the true dynamics of the economic situation, they are more capable of repositioning themselves as proactive members of the marketplace, rather than under-appreciated customers of a big bank system. Consumers are feeling a real bite from overdraft fees and skyrocketing credit card interest rates. With good financial management techniques acquired from American Financial, clients can prevent the big banks shaving money from their personal and family accounts to cover the bank’s losses. The solutions are not difficult to understand but sometimes they are a challenge to implement. However, with the know-how and support of American Financial, clients can develop the financial skills and discipline to eventually restore personal economic security.

Home and Family, Real Estate

JS Properties, LLC Offers Residential Property Management Considerations

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In addition to residential and commercial real estate sales, JS Properties, LLC, owned and operated by Joyce Smotherman, offers management and marketing services to property owners that choose to lease their properties. For residential owners, whether it is a single family home, apartment complex, duplex, townhome or condo, JS Properties, LLC offers a management agreement that is custom built to fit the needs of the client. Owners that choose to entrust their investments to JS Properties, LLC can be assured that they will receive reliable, professional service from an experienced company for a nominal fee.

One type of agreement offered by JS Properties, LLC is complete management of the property. This includes marketing, which entails running newspaper as well as on-line ads and putting up signs, showing the unit, screening potential tenants through a rigorous application process, entering into a lease agreement with the approved applicant, doing routine inspections and overseeing any day to day maintenance issues. JS Properties, LLC also helps the owner with decisions such as monthly rental amounts, upkeep and other necessary details of property ownership. In the event of an irresponsible or unpredictable tenant, JS Properties, LLC handles all correspondence with the renter as well as any legal action deemed necessary.

Another form of management available is one in which JS Properties, LLC inspects the unit, handles the marketing and showing, screens the potential renter, goes through the leasing process and then turns the property back over to the owner for management purposes. According to JS Properties, LLC, this is a good option for those that like a more hands on approach and prefer to handle the day to day responsibilities of leasing, but who may not have the time or resources needed for the screening process, are uncomfortable with the legal intricacies involved with the lease itself or are unfamiliar with the application process in general.

Whichever method is preferred, JS Properties, LLC, has the experience, knowledge and professionalism to ensure a successful and profitable business relationship. Ideally, the owner, landlord and tenant work together to make the leasing process satisfying and beneficial for everyone.

Home and Family

Tips from SMART Carpet | Prevention in Carpet Care

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The best carpet care recommendation is prevention: keep your carpets as clean as possible in the first place. This purely practical approach may give an inkling as to the reason for his company’s success. SMART Carpet has installed some sixty-five million square feet of both residential and commercial flooring in more than 100,000 homes and businesses across New Jersey, Staten Island and eastern Pennsylvania.

Practical measures like doormats at all entryways, both outside the entrance and inside, are the first line of defense in keeping carpets pristine. Most SMART Carpet customers admit they forget to clean the walk-off mats themselves, as they become soiled. Unfortunately, the experts at SMART Carpet know that if these mats are not cleaned regularly, they become sources of dirt from which soil is tracked inside and onto the carpeting

When the pile on carpets wears down, dirt can get ground in more easily and the overall look of the carpet is affected. A SMART Carpet tip on how to extend the life of carpet is to use good padding during the installation. SMART Carpet includes premium quality padding with every carpet installation FREE!

SMART Carpet professionals remind their customers to be aware of how easily heavy furniture can damage carpeting. Good prevention, say SMART Carpet installation experts, includes using carpet protection pads, such as those seen in offices under desk chairs. Another form of carpet protection, continues the sales teams at SMART Carpet, is the coaster, which help with weight distribution. Coasters also avoid direct contact between the legs of tables or bed frames and carpet pile, which explains SMART Carpet staff, keeps the pile from being irreversibly crushed.

Additionally, points out SMART Carpet staff, direct exposure to sunlight can fade some carpets. Most often people think of curtains and furniture, but carpets should be protected too, according to SMART Carpet best practices. By simply drawing the blinds during the hours that a room tends to receive the most direct sun, SMART Carpet experts say that it is possible to prolong the life (and look) of carpet.

If something is spilled on the carpet, even one that is stain resistant and treated, SMART Carpet professionals encourage customers to clean it immediately and thoroughly.