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The Different Types of Vacuum Cleaners for Your Home

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When it comes to keeping your home dust-free, there’s nothing that does the job as well as a vacuum cleaner with the right amount of versatility and suction power. But because there are different types and models with their own features, it can be difficult to find the right one.

Before choosing a vacuum cleaner for your condo or HDB flat in Singapore, it’s important to know the different types of models currently available:

Handheld

Handheld vacuums may be small, but they can actually be quite powerful. Because they are cordless, you can carry them around to different spots around your home to clean up small messes quickly and easily.

However, they do have their own drawbacks. For instance, they have a limited battery life and they aren’t designed for cleaning up large areas or whole rooms. They are also meant to function alongside regular vacuums.

Canister

Canister models use a storage tank that’s connected to a long hose and a sucker end. This is the type of model that has the most number of attachments that you can swap out to adjust according to your cleaning routine.

However, these can be difficult to store or manage, and can be quite cumbersome because of their weight.

Upright

These are the most common models you can find. Upright cleaners have a powerful suction and can be bagged or bag-less, which make them great for most back-and-forth floor and carpet cleaning.

However, bagged models may not be as versatile as other models because of the noticeable lack of attachments. Since they need to be plugged into a wall, they have a limited reach and may not be able to reach tight spaces in your home.

Stick

Stick vacuums are particularly great when it comes to tight spaces and corners, as well as hardwood floors, rugs, and even light carpeting. These models feature a long, narrow handle and a slender design, which also makes them easier to store as a result.

Perhaps the only downside to stick models is that they don’t have the same suction power as other models, which limits them only to collecting light dust and debris.

Backpack

These models are incredibly powerful and easy to move from one location to another since the vacuum’s weight is supported by your back, and this makes them ideal for large, open areas or homes that need regular vacuuming.

However, this ease of cleaning comes with a cost. Not only are they difficult to maneuver for smaller spaces, but they also heat up quite easily, which limits their use to the quick cleaning of areas.

What You Need to Know Before Buying a Vacuum Cleaner

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Shopping for a vacuum cleaner doesn’t seem like much at first, but because there are many different types of vacuums available in your local appliance store, there’s also a lot more to keep in mind to make sure that you get the best one that suits exactly what you need.

Here are the things that you need to know about before you decide to buy a vacuum cleaner for your HDB flat or condo in Singapore:

  1. Budget

While you do need to invest in a high-quality appliance that works well and will last you a long time, there’s no need to go all-out unless you want to. There are many vacuum cleaners you can get that are cheap, but will still last you a long time when given proper care and maintenance.

  • Features

You should especially consider the features that every type of vacuum cleaner brings when looking for the right one to clean your home with, especially since modern models can come in all kinds of designs, shapes, and colors, but may not necessarily have the cleaning capacity you need.

For instance, if you need to clean tapestries, curtains, or carpets, you might be better off investing in models with an adjustable suction control. Motorized brushes are also a must if you want one that protects the finish of bare floors while at the same time avoiding debris.

  • Allergies

Is anyone at home suffering from asthma or allergies? If the answer is yes, you will need a vacuum cleaner more than ever. More specifically, you will need a model that’s specifically safe to handle for those whose allergies or asthma can easily be triggered by the spread of dust.

The best go-to model for this situation would be one that comes with a bag, since it has a higher capacity while also being safer in terms of maintenance and dust disposal.

  • Type of Cleaning

The vacuum cleaner’s capacity should also fit the type of cleaning that you need to do for your condo or HDB flat.

For instance, if you’re looking to clean a place with carpeted floors or a lot of rugs, then a vacuum cleaner with a bag is your best choice. Meanwhile, harder surfaces such as tiled floors are easier to clean with bag-less models (they use canisters instead of bags for easier maneuverability).

  • Ease of Maintenance

Taking care of your appliances ensures that they will last you for a long time. However, not all types of vacuum cleaners can be so easily maintained, so if you don’t have enough time to do this, be sure to get one that you can clean out without too much hassle.

5 Sites to Check Out for Cheap Travels

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Planning for a holiday trip, but still not sure where to book your flights, accommodation, car hire and tours online? Look no further! Here, we’ve shortlisted the most popular and the best travel sites that offer so many great deals wherever your destination may be.

  1. Kayak

Kayak is a one-stop shop. You can log onto the site to scour the internet for great deals on airfares, hotel accommodations and car rentals. One of the best features of this site is its ability to present pricing trends and predict algorithms on when the prices go up and down. This information is extremely helpful when deciding whether you should book now or hold it off first.

  • Groupon

One of the most popular and trusted names in the travel voucher gaming, as well as sells many different international travel deals, is Groupon. Whether it’s just an overnight stay in Hong Kong or a month-long multi-country tour you’re looking for, the site can offer you various package options to choose from. Book your flight and hotel accommodation for up to 65% off, as well as restaurants and other activities for a fraction of a price.

  • Travelocity

Another well-known site and one of the largest travel websites in the world, Travelocity lets you combine flights, hotels, car rentals, tour packages and restaurant reservation in just one booking. And since you are able to book everything in one, you’ll be able to save ore compared to booking each element separately. In fact, according to the travel company, their customers can save S$500 on an average by booking even just their flight and hotel reservation. That’s a lot of money saved!

  • Momondo

Unlike the first three, Momondo won’t let you book flights, but it will help you easily compare prices and find the best schedule for you. From there, you can go somewhere else for booking. The best feature of this site is the Trip Finder tab, which allows you to search booking options based on your preferred activity (e.g. scuba diving, hiking, shopping and others), budget, time and general location.

  • Skyscanner

Skyscanner feature one of the easiest to use interfaces for finding great travel deals anywhere in the world. Their search option is especially helpful when utilized to find travel locations that offer attractive prices. Aside from the website, Skycanner is also available as mobile app, which is available in 30 languages in over 70 different countries.  

Each website is not perfect and has its own sets of pros and cons, but these are the names that many travelers from Singapore and from all around the world fervently use. And while people usually search for flights, hotel rooms and car rentals, keep in mind that these sites can book cruises and other activities as well.

7 Touring Tips That Won’t Make You Feel Just Like Another Tourist

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Travelling is meant to widen your knowledge and experience. If you would rather want to experience new practice and culture, learn how not to be a tourist and experience locals’ way of living first-hand. Here are some touring tips to put local twist on your next trip.

  1. Walk as much as you can

First off, no taxis as much as possible. If you can reach the destination in 10 to 15 minutes walk, we suggest you to do so. You’ll get the chance to familiarize the place and savor the sights leading to your destination. For longer distances, go about how most locals do it—by taking the bus or train.

  • Use maps, not your phone’s GPS

Your phone’s GPS will want you to get you to your destination by the shortest route, but this is an anti-travel practice. If you want to explore the place more, a map will give you context and offers you insight on where the beaten paths are.

  • Try skipping lunch

Not always, though. Since a hearty lunch is going to use up a good amount of your day and make you feel sluggish afterwards, skip having lunch at least a few times during your trip. If you want to make the most of your day, reward yourself a good meal at the end of the day—not in the middle, when you have just started your day. Stop for an afternoon coffee instead in a famous local café, while you’re searching for the best places for a satisfying dinner.

  • Try out ‘ordinary’ eating

And when you already have to eat, outdoor markets, street food stalls and local supermarkets offer not just satisfying meals, but authentic local flavors. In some cities, food courts will provide you with more variations of authentic dishes than you could imagine.  

  • Avoid taking too many photos

Let your eyes, heart and mind take photos of your vacation. Keep a journal, take notes of highlights, ideas and important moments, and savor every second you are in that moment. Write down your discoveries and the things you love about the place. You can take a couple of snapshots though, but do not waste precious time snapping and editing photos for an entire album of your trip. 

  • Tour secondary cities

Think about exploring Malacca City instead of Kuala Lumpur, Surabaya instead of Jakarta, Ishikawa instead of Tokyo, Boseong instead of Seoul and so on. 

  • Learn some key phrases in local language

If you will be going somewhere where English is not their mother tongue, learn a few key phrases, at least. This is a good way to be more connected with locals and help develop a rapport with them.

Get the most out of your trip. Get out of your comfort zone, mingle with locals and enjoy the journey while enriching your knowledge about your destination’s culture and people.

The Importance of Having Enough Sleep

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Lack of sleep is already an apparent problem in Singapore. Some may say that it’s not really a problem because they’re already very much used to it. That can be a valid point, but there’s really more happening in your mind and body without you knowing. Sleep is a natural process and our body simply needs it just as much as food. These days, we are more likely to disregard sleep than disregard eating. Nevertheless, here are some points as to why having enough sleep is important.

Concentration and productivity

Having enough sleep is important to keep the mind fresh and sharp. It also helps with our mood throughout the day. When we are well-rested, we won’t succumb to stress easily and we can concentrate on our work better. We will also be able to stay focused on our tasks without having to feel easily tired or exhausted later in the day. 

Better memory

Having a good night’s sleep not only improves concentration and productivity, it also helps with our memory. It’s simple enough, really. If we get enough sleep, our brains will have time to process all the information and memories you’ve had for the day. Plus, if you lack sleep, you’re basically exhausting your brain. Overloading it with information without giving it time to rest, making you more likely to forget things.

Physical performance.

Much like sleep is important for the brain, it is also very much important for the body. If you’re an athlete or you just like to exercise, spending enough time sleeping is equally important as spending time working out. Perhaps it is even more important actually. When you have enough sleep, you’re giving the body much-needed time to recover from the strain of your everyday physical activities. This also gives the body time to restore nutrients and rebuild muscles tissues for them to keep up with your workouts. 

Can help fight depression.

Another problem that is arising today in Singapore, and even the rest of the world, is depression. The connection between sleep and depression can somehow be considered direct. Lack of sleep can lead to depression while having depression may also cause trouble sleeping. Because having enough sleep promotes relaxation, we can easily get rid of stress and we can improve our mood. By starting there, we might be able to avoid getting depressed. 

Heart health

Sleeping too little can negatively affect your hormones in a lot of ways. One of the more dangerous effects of that can even involve our cardiovascular health. Lack of sleep can affect blood pressure and glucose metabolism, for example. When we have spikes in our blood pressure, you can be sure that there is an increased risk of heart diseases and such. So if you want to protect your heart, get enough sleep!

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