(NAPSA)—Spring cleaning: It’s not just for springtime anymore. According to a recent survey, 41 percent of adults who conduct “spring cleaning” say there is no set season of the year when they do it. Meanwhile, 76 percent of adults say they conduct their annual cleaning in a nonspringtime month. No matter when people tackle their cleaning tasks, it can take a while to get everything done. An estimated 85 percent of survey re sp o n d e n ts s a y t h a t i t requires at least an entire weekend; 36 percent require a week or longer. To help make your next cleaning excursion less time consuming, here are some helpful tips from the cleaning experts at Hoover: • When you do serious cleaning, you can kick up a lot of dirt just by moving things around. Open the windows to get as much fresh air in the house as possible. • Start at the top and work your way down. Dirt and dust tend to settle in lower places when they’re disturbed, so save the floors and carpets for last. Vacuums such as the Hoover WindTunnel™2 Upright include features such as a telescoping wand and stretch hose with a full 20 feet of combined cleaning reach for cleaning those hard-to-reach places at the tops of rooms, such as shelves, window treatments and ceiling fans. The machine actually lifts and traps dirt so it won’t scatter back into the room. Nearly eight in 10 adults who do annual cleaning rely on cleaning tools for cleaning hard-toreach places, such as corners and the Hoover FloorMate Hard Floor Cleaner. This 3-in-1 unit is made just for those tough jobs: vacuuming, washing and drying hard-surface floors. A solution of Hoover Floor-to-Floor ™ cleaner and water is recommended on marble, ceramic tile, vinyl, laminate and sealed hardwood floors, as well as other surfaces around the house. • To clean up spills on the carpet, first, dab up as much of the spill as possible. Next, take a damp, absorbent cloth and lay it over the spill. Finally, place several heavy books over the cloth for about 24 hours. • Steam cleaning carpets is considered one of the more challenging tasks of deep cleaning. That’s where a machine such as the Hoover SteamVac ™ All-Terr ai n C ar pet and Har d F l oor Cleaner can help, providing professional-quality deep cleaning that keeps your carpet looking bet t er l onger. R ec om m ended steps: First, vacuum the carpets. Then, clean the carpet with the SteamVac ™ and cleaning solution. The Hoover SteamVac™ AllTer r ai n C l eaner i s t he onl y steam cleaner that features an automatic rinse feature, combining both cleaning and rinsing processes into one easy step. • Before doing any wet cleaning, make sure that you have vacuumed your entire home, including drapes, walls and furniture. For more information about Hoover vacuums and cleaners, and for additional household tips from the company’s cleaning experts, visit the Web site at www.hoover.com. When cleaning, save floors and carpets for last. Use a vacuum with a telescoping wand to clean hard-to-reach places. under appliances, or for cleaning curtains and rugs. • Use vacuum wands and hoses to clean cobwebs, walls, drapes and blinds. • Clean miniblinds by hanging them in the shower with suction cups, spraying them with your favorite cleaner and rinsing them clean with a removable showerhead. Vacuum clean between washings with the dust-brush attachment. • Clean windows with a mixture of 1⁄2 cup ammonia in a bucket of water. • Use a vacuum cleaner with a brush tool to clean dirt/lint off baseboards, then follow up with a wet towel. • To take care of hard surfaces, such as hardwood floors and baseboards, consider a cleaner such as ™ What To Do When You Have Concerns With Your Bank (NAPSA)—It’s a comforting thought to know that you can “bank” on something—or that you can “take it to the bank.” But what if you have an experience at your bank that leads you to doubt that you are being treated fairly and honestly? “Fair dealing with customers and prompt resolution of their problems is, first and foremost, the bank’s responsibility,” explains Comptroller of the Currency John C. Dugan. “When that’s not possible, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency stands ready to assist.” Each year, as many as 70,000 people contact the OCC with questions or complaints. The agency employs experienced customer assistance specialists equipped with modern tools to help respond to consumers’ needs. If you have a question or problem with your bank: 1. Call the bank. Speak to a manager and try to resolve the issue directly. 2. If that’s not possible, find out if the bank is a national or a state bank, thrift or credit union. 3. National bank customers can call the OCC at 1-800-613-6743 between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. (Eastern), Monday-Friday, or e-mail Customer. Assistance@occ. treas.gov. 4. State bank, thrift or credit union customers can find the right regulator on-line at http://www. occ.gov/customer.htm. Over the last five years, OCC has generated nearly $30 million in financial relief for national bank customers. In addition to helping bank customers, customer assistance information also supports the agency’s mission of bank supervision by helping examiners The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency provides answers and assistance to national bank customers. develop annual risk assessments, indicating bank or industrywide patterns, developing policy and guidance, and contributing to enforcement actions against institutions participating in unfair or deceptive practices. The OCC has also worked recently with the Conference of State Bank Supervisors to develop a model Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to promote the sharing of complaints between the OCC and state agencies. The MOU allows the OCC to direct non-national bank complaints to the appropriate regulatory agency, preserves customers’ privacy, and allows state officials to get reports regarding their referrals. The OCC was created by Congress to charter national banks, to oversee a nationwide system of banking institutions, and to assure that national banks are safe and sound, competitive and profitable, and capable of serving the banking needs of their customers in the best possible manner. For additional information, visit www.occ.gov. An Ancient Story Revealed In Today’s Headlines (NAPSA)—As the world’s attention is drawn to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, Pastor John C. Hagee, an internationally recognized expert on Middle Eastern religious affairs, offers insightful and informed commentary on the global need for the state of Israel in his new book, “Jerusalem Countdown: A Prelude to War.” Referencing the political history, spiritual significance and strategic role of Israel, Hagee makes the case that this sovereign nation must not be threatened by hostile neighbors. Building on the theme of his prev io u s be s t- s e l l i n g b o o k , “Jerusalem Countdown: A Warning to the World,” Hagee says, “There are clear and urgent threats to the security of Israel and the safety of the Jewish people. T h e e n e mi e s o f fr e e d o m clearly and overtly wish to destroy them.” Hagee has cited threats from leaders of the Arab world, including Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who has said that Israel “should be wiped off the map,” as one of the most pressing reasons for writing his book. “We cannot stand by silently while the enemies of Israel actively plot its destruction.” Pa s to r o f th e C o rn e rs t o n e Church in San Antonio, Texas, Hagee has worked for more than 3 0 ye ar s to bu i l d s o l i d a ri t y between Christians and Jews. He has deep ties with the state of Israel. He has visited the country more than 20 times and has met wit h i ts se n i o r l e a d e r s a n d helped more than 12,000 Russian Jews immigrate to Israel. *** Health is not simply the absence of sickness. —Hannah Green *** *** A wise man should consider that health is the greatest of human blessings, and learn how by his own thought to derive benefit from his illnesses. —Hippocrates *** A new book argues that the survival of the state of Israel is a spiritual, political and strategic necessity. Hagee hosts a radio and television ministry that reaches nearly 100 million people around the world and he has also founded Christians United for Israel (CUFI), an organization that provides a platform for Christians to support Israel. “As people of faith, Christians have a biblical responsibility to speak out in support of Israel and the Jewish people,” Hagee said. “The Bible tells us, ‘For Zion’s sake I will not keep silent, for Jerusalem’s sake I will not remain quiet, till her righteousness shines out like the dawn, her salvation like a blazing torch.’ ” The book is available at Strang.com, at other online retailers and where books are sold. *** One of the most sublime experiences we can ever have is to wake up feeling healthy after we have been sick. —Rabbi Harold Kushner *** *** Quit worrying about your health. It’ll go away. —Robert Orben *** *** A Hospital is no place to be sick. —Samuel Goldwyn *** 10 (NAPSA)—When treated early, colorectal cancer has a 90 percent survival rate. Still, it causes 10 percent of cancer deaths. The disease is often treated with a drug called Eloxatin. Visit www.Elox atin.com for information. *** Sanitizers, such as Lysol Food Surface Sanitizer, can kill bacteria and eliminate the threat of illnesses caused by E. coli and salmonella. The sanitizers need no rinsing and cleanup is quick and effective. For more information, see www.lysol.com. *** College Web sites such as Lehigh’s (www.lehigh.edu/admis sions) are a wealth of information for details about the college and the admissions process. You may also want to check out College Board.com, which offers a free “College MatchMaker” search tool. *** The T.G.I. Friday’s World Bartender Championship competition raises over $100,000 annually for various charities such as Make-A-Wish Foundation and the Children’s Miracle Network. *** This year, Fritos Corn Chips is celebrating its 75th anniversary by returning to retro packaging and sharing its classic recipe. The snack uses cooking products that contain healthy oils such as sunflower and corn oil. *** Celebrities with the best hairstyle in 2006 include Eva Longoria, George Clooney, Beyonce Knowles, Matthew McConaughey, Nicole Kidman and Patrick Dempsey, according to the Best Tressed survey commissioned by Sally Beauty. Learn more at www.sallybeauty.com or call 800ASK-SALLY. *** By doing your homework before buying a car, you’re more likely to get steered in the right direction. To learn about car-shopping resources that will help you become an educated shopper, visit www.AutoTrader.com. *** California Raisins are a tasty new treat for anyone who wants natural nutrition. They are low in sodium, are naturally fat- and cholesterol-free, and raisins deliver important potassium and dietary fiber. Raisins are also one of the richest sources of antioxidants. For healthy snacking ideas, visit www.LoveYourRaisins.com. *** A new approach to dog training is based on a dog’s behavior and uses nonviolent techniques to win dogs over. For information on the book, “Let the Dog Decide” (Marlowe and Co.) by dog trainer Dale Stavroff, visit www.preci siondogs.com.